Bruins’ Rask Out, Former Habs Coach Demers Suffers Second Stroke, Kings’ Zatkoff Injured & More News

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Bruins’ Rask Out of Lineup

The Boston Bruins will take on the Montreal Canadiens without starting goaltender Tuukka Rask, the team announced on Saturday.

Anton Khudobin will get the start for the Bruins against the Canadiens. (Marc DesRosiers-US PRESSWIRE)
Anton Khudobin will get the start for the Bruins against the Canadiens. (Marc DesRosiers-US PRESSWIRE)

Rask did not practice on Friday because of what head coach Claude Julien called “general soreness” and he was absent at Saturday’s morning skate.  The Finnish netminder is doing better than he was on Friday and Julien said he is not worried about him.

Rask has started three games in 2016-17 and posted three wins, a 1.67 goals against average and a .947 save percentage.

The Bruins will start goaltender Anton Khudobin against the Habs. Khudobin’s lone start this season was in a 4-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Julien says he wants Khudobin to give the Bruins the chance to win their fourth game of the season.

“We just need a strong performance from him,” Julien said, according to Caryn Switaj with the Bruins. “I think when you look at putting your goaltender in, you want him to give you a chance to win, and that’s all you can ask from your goaltender.”

Zayne McIntyre has been recalled from the Providence Bruins to back up Khudobin on Saturday.

Former Canadiens Coach Demers Suffers Second Stroke

In sad news out of Montreal, former Canadiens head coach Jacques Demers has been admitted to the hospital after suffering his second stroke in the past six months, according to Radio-Canada on Saturday.

The 72-year-old coach of the Canadiens’ 1993 Stanley Cup team suffered his first stroke in April. Demers participated in a pre-game ceremony before the Canadiens’ home-opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins — his first public appearance since his first stroke.

After suffering the stroke in April, Demers underwent an intensive rehabilitation program of physical therapy.

There are no other details about his condition known at this time.

Kings’ Zatkoff Injured in Practice, Placed on IR

The Los Angeles Kings placed goaltender Jeff Zatkoff on injured reserve after he suffered a groin injury at practice, head coach Darryl Sutter announced on Saturday.

Jeff Zatkoff was injured during practice. (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)
Jeff Zatkoff was injured during practice. (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)

Zatkoff had been the team’s starter since Jonathan Quick went down with an injury in the Kings’ season-opener and was placed on the IR.

The Kings have recalled goaltender Jack Campbell from the AHL’s Ontario Reign to back up Peter Budaj, who will get the start against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday.

In a unique twist, given the timing of Zatkoff’s injury, the Reign will be starting goaltender Jonah Imoo against the San Jose Barracuda on Saturday. Imoo will be making his first AHL start and will be backed up by his father, Dusty Imoo — the team’s goaltending coach and Jonah’s father!

Odds and Ends

— The Dallas Stars have placed Jiri Hudler on injured reserve as he continues to battle an illness, the team announced. The Stars activated forward Ales Hemsky who will make his season debut against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.

— The New Jersey Devils honored former goaltender Martin Brodeur by dedicating a statue of the netminder before the Devils host the Minnesota Wild on Saturday. Brodeur’s statue shows the all-time wins leader in his well-known “salute” pose.

https://twitter.com/NJDevils/status/789840686166241281

— The Nashville Predators are currently battling a bout of food poisoning believed to be caused by some chicken soup that players ate before a game against the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena on Friday. Ryan Johansen and Craig Smith left the game because of the illness and did not return. As a precautionary measure, the team has re-called five players from the American Hockey League.

— The Arizona Coyotes assigned defenseman Jarred Tinordi to the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners on Saturday. Tinordi, 24, was waived on Friday but unclaimed by another team.

— The Stars will begin wearing a sticker on the back of players’ helmets in support of the team’s announcer, Dave Strader, who is currently battling cancer.