NHL Player News

Mittelstadt (lower body) was activated from injured reserve Friday, Andrew Fantucchio of Boston Hockey Now reports.

Mittelstadt will return to the lineup versus the Rangers on Friday after missing nine games with the injury. The 27-year-old has four goals and five assists in 15 games this season. He will likely play a middle-six role Friday.

Merkulov was called up from AHL Providence on Friday, per Mark Divver of the New England Hockey Journal.

Merkulov snapped a long drought in the AHL on Wednesday with a goal and two helpers, after picking up one assist in the previous nine contests. He has six goals and eight assists in 17 games with Providence this season. The Bruins sent Michael Callahan to Providence in a corresponding move.

Rasmussen (undisclosed) was activated from injured reserve Friday.

Detroit assigned Erik Gustafsson to AHL Grand Rapids in a corresponding move. Following a three-game absence, Rasmussen will return to the lineup against Tampa Bay on Friday. He has contributed two goals, five points, 16 shots on net, 14 blocked shots and 19 hits across 19 appearances this season.

Point (undisclosed) is not partaking in warmups ahead of Friday's game against Detroit, Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site reports.

Point will sit out his third straight game. He has struggled this season with only three goals and 11 points in 21 games, after 95, 90 and 82 point seasons in his last three years. Point could return as early as Saturday against the Rangers in New York.

Olivier (upper body) won't play against Pittsburgh on Friday, Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers reports.

Olivier will miss his second straight game after getting injured early in Monday's 5-1 loss to Washington. It remains unclear when he will be available to return to the lineup. He has contributed three goals, nine points, 29 shots on net, 19 blocked shots, 71 hits and 44 PIM across 23 appearances this season.

Roslovic (undisclosed) didn't participate in Thursday's practice and is questionable for Saturday's game against Seattle, Tony Brar of Oilers TV reports.

Roslovic has compiled 10 goals, 18 points and 53 shots on net across 23 appearances this season. With Curtis Lazar (upper body) and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (undisclosed) set to return to the lineup versus the Kraken, the Oilers have options to offset the potential loss of Roslovic.

Lazar (upper body) is slated to return to the lineup Saturday in Seattle, per Tony Brar of Oilers TV.

Lazar missed four games with the injury. The 30-year-old journeyman has one goal in nine games with the Oilers this season. He should line up on the fourth line against the Kraken.

Ivan logged an assist and two shots on goal in Wednesday's 6-0 win over the Sharks.

This was Ivan's season debut at the NHL level. He had six points in 18 AHL appearances prior to his call-up. The Avalanche have rotated a number of forwards into and out of fourth-line spots this season, so Ivan may not stick there for a long stretch. He'll almost certainly head back to the AHL if Valeri Nichushkin (lower body) is able to return soon.

Colton scored a goal on two shots and added two hits in Wednesday's 6-0 win over the Sharks.

Colton's unassisted tally at 3:39 of the first period was all the Avalanche ultimately needed in this blowout win. The 29-year-old winger has three goals and an assist over his last six outings. For the season, he's at five goals, 12 points, 55 shots, 58 hits and a plus-6 rating in 23 appearances, production that's earned him a spot on the second line in the absences of Valeri Nichushkin (lower body) and Gavin Brindley (lower body).

Dickinson scored a goal on four shots in Wednesday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Wild.

Dickinson has resumed a middle-six role in the last two games since he overcame an ankle injury. The 30-year-old center will be a key player for the Blackhawks as long as he can stay healthy, providing mostly defensive stability. He's been limited to 10 outings so far this season, earning two goals, two assists, 15 shots on net, 12 hits and seven blocked shots.