Budaj was acquired in a deal that sent former Lightning netminder Ben Bishop to Los Angeles.
He appeared in 53 games with the Kings this season posting a 27-20-3 record, alongside a .917 save percentage, and 2.12 goals-against average. Budaj has posted seven shutouts on the season, one back of Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby for the league lead.
The Lightning own a 29-25-8 record on the season and sit four points outside of the final wild-card seed in the East. A win against the Penguins would see the Lightning leapfrog the Philadelphia Flyers, one of three clubs that stands between Tampa and a playoff position.
Zetterberg leads the Red Wings with 48 points in 61 games, but the team as a whole hasn't been nearly as successful.
Detroit sits last place in the Eastern Conference, holding down 60 points through 61 games, and sitting 10 points back of a playoff position.
Should the Red Wings miss the postseason, it will be the first time since 1990.
Only the Chicago Blackhawks (1970-97) and Boston Bruins (1968-96) have longer playoff streaks in NHL history, standing at 28 and 29 straight, respectively.
Cammalleri suffered the injury in Thursday's contest against the Washington Capitals.
The veteran winger has appeared in 55 games with the Devils this season, registering 10 goals and 20 assists. He dressed for the past four games after being a healthy scratch for the previous two contests.
Jokinen hasn't played in the NHL since 2014-15, but he enjoyed his best years in the Sunshine State, notching at least 34 goals in four of his seven seasons with Florida.
The 38-year-old posted a career-high 39 goals and 91 points with the Panthers in 2006-07.
He'll hang up the skates with 321 goals, 750 points, and 1,231 career games played in 17 seasons with 10 different teams.
Jokinen ranks third all time in goals among Finnish-born NHLers behind Teemu Selanne and Jari Kurri, and fourth in points behind Selanne, Kurri and Saku Koivu.
The Carolina Hurricanes head coach went on a long rant about backup goaltender Eddie Lack - who stopped only 12 of 16 shots in a loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday - when prompted by reporters Friday.
"Well, you’ve got to push,” Peters said, according to The News & Observer's Chip Alexander. “One guy has played 10 games. Eddie has played 10 games and was poor in his last outing, let’s not kid ourselves, right? There were 16 shots, four went in. Not good enough. You look at his numbers in the league, they’re not good enough."
Peters' comments came in response to a question about how the Hurricanes' final 22 games would be split between Lack and starter Cam Ward.
“So I don’t think it’s much of a competition," Peters added. "We’ve got a guy who’s well ahead of the other guy. That’s what I see and the numbers back that up. So when he gets in another game, you better play. You better earn some respect from your teammates. Your teammates are out there working their bag off. You better get some saves and a timely save at the right time wouldn’t hurt."
The head coach had a moment of self-realization before continuing to criticize his No. 2 netminder.
“That’s a little bit honest, eh? I just looked it up. You look up any goalie who has played 10 games in the National Hockey League and the top 60 in save percentage, I know who’s 60. There’s 30 teams. Not good enough."
He then punctuated the media session with a stern ultimatum, according to Alexander:
Peters ended the media scrum by glancing down the hallway, in the direction of Lack’s locker stall, and saying, 'Make a save.' Or something like that. There was another word in there but the point already had been made: the coach was not happy with the player.
Lack is three appearances removed from a shutout victory over the Ottawa Senators, but he gave up five goals in a loss to the Washington Capitals two games before that.
The veteran goalie missed three months earlier in the season with a concussion, and while consistency has eluded him in 2016-17, the opportunities for redemption have been few and far between.
"On the Fly," theScore's NHL roundtable series, is back for an awards edition. We're handing out hardware as teams hit the stretch run.
Believe it or not, the NHL's regular season will wrap up in five-and-a-half weeks. Time flies when every team except the Avalanche and Coyotes can still make the playoffs.
Through three quarters of the season, here are our picks for the annual major awards.
Hart Trophy: Connor McDavid
Sean O'Leary: Before we dive into this, a quick reminder: the Hart Trophy is for "the player judged most valuable to his team," so save the "Who's the best player in the NHL" debates for Twitter and your local pub.
Sidney Crosby and Brent Burns are having remarkable seasons, no question, but subtract Crosby from the Penguins and there's still Evgeni Malkin, Phil Kessel, Kris Letang, etc.
Burns undoubtedly drives the bus for the Sharks, but some of his passengers aren't too shabby in their own right.
That's why McDavid's the MVP. He's carried the Oilers well into the playoff race and is 18 points clear of Leon Draisaitl for the team lead. Subtract McDavid from Edmonton, and it's a near certainty the Oilers' postseason drought continues for an 11th season.
McDavid is on pace for a league-leading 92 points, and even if he winds up losing out on the Art Ross (he currently holds a four-point gap on Patrick Kane), it shouldn't effect his case for the Hart.
Last season's shoulder injury somewhat delayed McDavid's ascent to NHL superstardom, but now he's here to stay, and he should be just the third player - joining Crosby and Wayne Gretzky - in league history to win MVP before turning 21.
Vezina Trophy: Braden Holtby
Ian McLaren: This year's top goalie award seems destined to come down to Braden Holtby vs. Devan Dubnyk.
Both players are set to challenge for the league lead in wins as members of the Washington Capitals and Minnesota Wild, respectively, and both sit near the top of the list in terms of save percentage.
At this point in the season, however, it's Holtby who's got the edge, despite trailing slightly in those categories.
What's giving the Capitals netminder a distinct advantage right now is his save percentage at five-on-five. Among the 16 goalies with at least 2,000 minutes of ice time, Holtby leads the pack, stopping 94.1 percent of shots at even strength. Dubnyk, for the record, ranks second at 93.9.
It'll be a tight race, but at the three-quarter mark, the Vezina is Holtby's to lose.
Norris Trophy: Brent Burns
Navin Vaswani: There are defensemen, and there is Brent Burns.
Not only is Burns the highest-scoring defenseman in the NHL, his remarkable 67 points in 63 games are tied for third among all players with Brad Marchand and Crosby. He's only five points back of McDavid.
His 27 goals rank 10th, and he leads the league in shots on goal. He plays just shy of 25 minutes a game in all situations. He is the undisputed leader of the San Jose Sharks, who have every intention of reaching the Stanley Cup Final again, and this time winning it.
It's possible, should Burns go on a run, that he wins the Art Ross Trophy, the Rocket Richard Trophy, the Norris Trophy, and the Hart Trophy. It's possible, should he go on a run, that Burns puts the finishing touches on one of the most dominant seasons by a defenseman in NHL history.
This year, there is no debate. If it isn't unanimous this summer, it should have been. Burns is the Norris winner.
Calder Trophy: Patrik Laine
Josh Gold-Smith: Patrik Laine and Auston Matthews have gone toe-to-toe for the top rookie honor all season, and while both players will surely be nominated, Laine deserves to win it at this point.
The Winnipeg Jets winger has a one-point edge over his Toronto Maple Leafs counterpart for the overall lead among rookies, and the race isn't as close as it might seem when you consider he's done it in seven fewer games.
Laine's also playing more, averaging 18:10 in ice time compared to Matthews' 17:48, and while Matthews plays a more demanding position, he's being outproduced.
This is by no means an indictment of the 2016 No. 1 overall pick, who's been fantastic, nor is it an indication of how the rest of their careers will play out. It's clear, though, that with about a quarter of the season left, the player selected immediately after Matthews has the inside track for this award.
Jack Adams Award: John Tortorella
Craig Hagerman: John Tortorella deserves to win his second Jack Adams Award.
After a disastrous campaign last season that saw the Blue Jackets finish second last in the Eastern Conference and 27th overall, the team has done a 180 and is currently flirting with the fourth-best record in the NHL.
Highlighted by a 16-game winning streak that came just one victory shy of tying the NHL record, the Blue Jackets have quickly become one of the most consistent clubs in the league, sitting in the top five in both goals for and goals against.
The drastic turnaround is thanks to improved performances by some of the club's top players, while some big coaching decisions by Torts appear to have paid dividends.
Earlier in the season, Tortorella put an end to the team's morning skates, feeling they did nothing to aid the club. He also did his best to part with his frequently barbaric attitude in lieu of a more calming approach, and the players appear to have responded positively for it.
The Blue Jackets are one of the many teams to fear in the Metropolitan Division, and the club has Tortorella to thank for steering the ship.
Selke Trophy: Mikko Koivu
Vaswani: The captain of the Minnesota Wild deserves some love, especially considering the dominant season his team is having.
Mikko Koivu's an elite faceoff man, and trails only Ryan Kesler - who deserves major Selke consideration, as well - for the most draws won in the defensive zone. It's no surprise, then, that Koivu starts almost two-thirds of his shifts in the defensive zone. But he's also producing, and is on pace to hit the 60-point mark for the first time since 2011.
The Wild don't play the possession game - that's not Bruce Boudreau's style - and Dubnyk's been otherwordly in goal, but Koivu's a big reason why Minny is one of the best defensive teams in the league.
(Photos courtesy: USA TODAY Sports, Getty Images, Reuters)
The Dallas Stars forward will miss the next six-to-eight weeks with a hand ailment, and head coach Lindy Ruff confirmed Roussel is likely done for the season, the club announced Friday.
He was two points away from tying a career high of 29 that he set in 2013-14 and equalled in 2015-16. His 12 goals were also only two back of his career-best mark set three years ago.
He appeared in at least 80 games in each of the previous three seasons, and he's in his fifth campaign with the Stars, who signed him out of the AHL in 2012 after he went undrafted in 2010.
Terry ranks fifth in the AHL with 21 goals and sits tied for second with 50 points in 38 games for the St. John's IceCaps. His 1.32 points per game mark is tops among AHLers with at least 24 games played this season.
The 27-year-old winger is playing 2016-17 on a two-way deal, having appeared in 14 NHL contests with the Canadiens earlier in the campaign.
Terry spent nine seasons in the Carolina Hurricanes' organization after they made him a fifth-round pick in 2007.
Follow theScore's fantasy feed on Twitter (@theScoreFantasy) for the latest news, features and more. And download Squad Up, theScore's free-to-win-money sports game.
Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Friday, March 3 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockeyand apply to 5v5 situations):
Dynamic Duos
C Mathieu Perreault (48K) and RW Patrik Laine (47K), Jets (vs. Blues): Laine is closing his rookie campaign strongly; he's on a six-game point streak that's included five multi-point efforts. Perreault has been along for the ride, amassing three goals and six assists in that stretch. Both players represent significant savings from linemate Mark Scheifele (69K) and have a favorable matchup at home to the Blues, who have the NHL's sixth-worst 5v5 save percentage.
C Jonathan Toews (52K) and LW Richard Panik (41K), Blackhawks (vs. Islanders): Toews' six-game point streak was snapped on Wednesday, but with five goals and eight assists over his last seven contests, he's again worth rolling out against the Islanders, who have allowed 11 goals in their last two games and will be playing on back-to-back nights. With at least one point in seven straight games, Panik has rediscovered his early-season scoring form.
C Tyler Johnson (48K) and RW Nikita Kucherov (62K), Lightning (at Penguins): The line of Johnson, Kucherov and LW Ondrej Palat has been reformed, resulting in a blistering streak for Kucherov, who has six goals, six assists and 28 shots over his last five games. Pittsburgh allows the seventh-most scoring chances against per 60 minutes, and a free-flowing style should suit both teams. Johnson has played set-up man, compiling six assists and one goal over his last four games.
Goalie Breakdown
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
TARGET - Brian Elliott (95K), Flames (vs. Red Wings): Elliott has been showing the form the Flames were hoping for when they traded for him in the offseason. The veteran went 7-1-1 with a 2.24 GAA in February, and Calgary has won five straight games overall. Ranking 26th in goals per game, Detroit should be further weakened by the trade of Thomas Vanek at the deadline.
BARGAIN - Cam Ward (79K), Hurricanes (vs. Coyotes): Arizona has lost four straight road games and will be playing its third contest in four nights on Friday. Ward has been far better in Carolina, winning 15 of 25 home starts and maintaining a 2.37 GAA. There's some risk involved given a matchup of two bad teams, but given that the Coyotes have just eight road wins, Ward makes for a viable budget option.
FADE - Jean-Francois Berube (86K), Islanders (at Blackhawks): Berube's three wins this season have come at home, and he looks to be thrown to the wolves on the road against the Blackhawks, who have won 10 of their last 11 games, while scoring at least four goals in all of their victories. Berube won't be helped by the fact that the Islanders allow the second-most scoring chances against per 60 minutes.
CONTRARIAN - Andrei Vasilevskiy (75K), Lightning (at Penguins): Vasilevskiy doesn't draw an easy assignment on the road against the high-scoring Penguins, but Pittsburgh has lost two straight games, scoring just three goals in the process. The young Russian has won both of his two starts since Ben Bishop was traded away, and with Pittsburgh averaging a league-best 33.9 shots per game, he should have plenty of chances to accumulate save points.
Bargain Plays
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
C Jake Guentzel (28K), Penguins (vs. Lightning): For anyone who feels the prices of Sidney Crosby (79K) and Evgeni Malkin (78K) are staggeringly high, Guentzel presents a low-cost alternative. Playing on Crosby's right wing, the 22-year-old rookie has notched 15 points in 25 games, with three points and nine shots over his last three contests.
LW Micheal Ferland (27K), Flames (vs. Red Wings): Ferland has taken up a spot on Calgary's first line alongside Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan. He's scored in two straight games and recorded six goals and an assist in 12 February outings.
D Nikita Zaitsev (25K), Maple Leafs (at Ducks): Zaitsev is a safe choice as a budget defenseman; the rookie leads Toronto blueliners in ice time (just over 22 minutes per game), and sees frequent duty on the power play. He has a solid 28 points in 63 games, and scored a goal on Thursday against the Kings. His propensity to accumulate hits and blocked shots further helps his appeal.
Top Fades
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
LW Tomas Tatar (52K), Red Wings (at Flames): Squad Up seemingly has a lot of respect for Tatar, making him the third-priciest player at his position despite the fact that he's only gotten his name on the score sheet in three of 11 February games. The above-mentioned strong form of Calgary's Elliott is another reason to look for a cheaper alternative.
RW Blake Wheeler (62K), Jets (vs. Blues): Following a January in which he recorded 15 points, Wheeler slumped to just one goal and five assists in February, though he does enter Friday on a two-game assist streak. He isn't necessarily a poor choice, but his hefty price tag offers little value when compared to position-mate Laine, who's been in fine form and comes 15K cheaper.
D Justin Faulk (47K), Hurricanes (vs. Coyotes): Despite 16 shots on goal, Faulk hasn't found the score sheet in seven straight games. Despite an appealing home matchup to Arizona, which allows the second-most goals per game (3.25), it's hard to justify Faulk's status as a premium-priced blueliner. Noah Hanifin (26K) has even begun to eat into Faulk's power play real estate, notching two assists on the man advantage over the last three games.
Contrarian Options
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
LW Andrew Ladd (38K), Islanders (at Blackhawks): There's a narrative element in play here, as Ladd, a former Stanley Cup winner with the Blackhawks, returns to the Windy City. He scored a goal in a home meeting against Chicago this season, and also netted on Friday against Dallas, seeing 18 minutes of ice time on New York's second line.
C Ryan Getzlaf (72K), Ducks (vs. Maple Leafs): Getzlaf and the Ducks should be rested (or rusty) coming off their "bye week," but a home matchup against a Maple Leafs squad that allows the third-most expected goals against per 60 minutes looks favorable. Playing on a line with Nick Ritchie and Ondrej Kase may not seem advantageous, but the trio has managed a team-leading 60.87 Corsi For percentage in limited action.
D Alex Pietrangelo (34K), Blues (at Jets): Pietrangelo monopolized power play time in St. Louis' first game since trading Kevin Shattenkirk, notching an assist on the man advantage in a Tuesday loss to Edmonton. Pietrangelo averages just over two shots and two blocks per game. The Jets have no trouble scoring, but struggle to keep the puck out of their net, allowing the fourth-most goals per game (3.19).
The James Reimer signing is looking more and more like a stroke of genius.
The Florida Panthers backup goaltender was stellar again Thursday night in relief of the injured Roberto Luongo, and he'll be counted on to keep it up now that the 37-year-old will miss at least a week after aggravating a nagging ailment that's apparently related to his hip problems from a season ago.
Luongo's injuries and subpar play have allowed Reimer to secure a larger share of the work than most backups, and he's seized the opportunity. Here's how the two goalies have stacked up over the course of the season:
Goalie
GP
Record
GAA
SV %.
Luongo
40
17-15-6
2.68
.915
Reimer
28
12-8-5
2.43
.922
Reimer has been particularly effective since the calendar flipped to 2017, outperforming Luongo considerably since Jan. 1:
Goalie
GP
Record
GAA
SV%
Luongo
15
6-6-1
3.18
.906
Reimer
13
7-3-2
2.24
.929
Luongo recently admitted Reimer deserves to be playing over him, and the veteran's latest injury concern further emphasizes the importance of the backup's presence in a crease that would be otherwise handed to journeyman Reto Berra, who was recalled Friday to serve behind Reimer.
The oft-sidelined Luongo has played through hip and shoulder injuries over the last two seasons, and those woes, combined with his age, were clearly reasons that Panthers management sought a reliable backup with starting experience who could step in should Luongo be felled again.
The signing of Reimer to a five-year, $17-million contract last July 1 was largely viewed as a smart move at the time, but the transaction appears more and more brilliant as Reimer continues to play well, and especially prescient now that Luongo's injury concerns have returned.
