– Anders Lee is expected to miss Thursday’s game as he’s out one-to-two weeks with an upper-body injury, which he suffered on Sunday. Max Tsyplakov is also considered day-to-day after missing Wednesday’s skate for maintenance.
– Kashawn Aitcheson was returned to his junior team, the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League, on Wednesday after playing a pair of preseason games.
– Calum Ritchie will play in his second consecutive preseason game on Thursday night. Ritchie recorded a two-point game (1PPG, 1A), took a team-high four shots on goal in 17:50 TOI against the Devils on Tuesday, but what stood out to Head Coach Patrick Roy the most was the 20-year-old’s ability to match up against NHL vets such. Roy wants to see him build off his first game.
“I thought he was really good, played against their top line,” Roy said. “Probably the same today. I want to see him keep playing that way and how confident he can be when things don’t go his way, how he’s going to react.”
Ritchie is vying to make a roster spot. Ritchie played in seven games for the Colorado Avalanche last season after making their opening night roster.
“I don’t think he came here just to make an impression, I think he wants to make the team,” Roy said. “You cannot ask for a better scenerio.”
– Roy is planning to have David Rittich start and play two periods and bring in Marcus Hogberg for the third period.
