Matt Stajan will be back in the lineup to face his former team the Leafs – look for him to step it up.

Pekka Rinne is “really close” to returning, according to the Tennessean. He had a solid practice today and I’m thinking the weekend is a possibility.

Sergei Kostitsyn was back in practice, which is nice as he was getting really hot and now he can continue with that.

My mistake on the Lehtonen info below – I thought I had Mike Heika’s blog to reference and I did not, but have now added it. Apparently, Kari Lehtonen had a great practice and could start tomorrow. Richard Bachman was actually sent to the minors today, further making me look stupid. But when I already look stupid natually, what can they do to me really?

Scott Gomez and Jaroslav Spacek are good to go for tonight’s game. Gomez will be playing with Pacioretty and Gionta.

Semyon Varlamov will get the start tonight. And the Washington Post also reports that Alex Semin is questionable. If Semin doesn’t go, I’d like to see the underrated (but inconsistent) Eric Fehr get a real shot on a top line. See what happens.

To hear the talk around Dallas, I get the impression that Kari Lehtonen (LBI) is still a week or two away. Raycroft will continue to start, but if he has another poor outing, look for Richard Bachman to sneak in a start. I’m pulling for him, I’ve had my eye on him for several years now, much like Corey Crawford. And I like it when my early hunches start to look decent.

Notable cuts from Team Canada’s WJ roster: Calvin Pickard, Joey Hishon, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Brandon Pirri and Riley Sheahan.

Final WJC roster for Canada:

Goalie: Olivier Roy (EDM); Mark Visentin (PHO)

Defense: Ryan Ellis (NSH); Tyson Barrie (COL); Jared Cowan (OTT); Simon Despres (PIT); Calvin de Haan (NYI); Erik Gudbranson (FLA); Dylan Olsen (CHI)

Forward: Carter Ashton (TB); Casey Cizikas (NYI); Brett Connolly (TB); Sean Couturier (’11); Cody Eakin (WAS); Marcus Foligno (BUF); Curtis Hamilton (EDM); Quinton Howden (FLA); Ryan Johansen (CBJ); Zack Kassian (BUF); Louis Leblanc (MTL); Brayden Schenn (LA); Jaden Schwartz (STL);

Nic Bergfors and Ben Eager will be healthy scratches for the third straight game.

Andreas Nodl has been logging a lot of ice time lately, but it hasn’t done him a whole lot of good. He is pointless in his last four. Perhaps he should go back to getting third-line ice time and no power-play time. He was really doing well when that was the case.

The Flyers ended the Pens 12-game winning streak, but Sidney Crosby’s point streak continues. He had two assists lining up with Evgeni Malkin.

Wish I knew why Jeff Carter has been so mediocre this season. You should be aggressive in trying to acquire him, as he is far far better than a 60-point player (his current pace).

Alex Goligoski has points in four games in a row. He started the season with points in seven in a row, so you know how streaky he can get.

Caps insider Katie Carrera reports that Alexander Semin and Marcus Johansson were not in practice. Semin is “day to day” and Johansson has the flu.

Man is this funny. Full marks to Down Goes Brown. I’m not sure which I like better – the Toskala or Kovalchuk joke. But another gem from DGB

Alex Pietrangelo is out for the next couple of games with a UBI. look for Carlo Colaiacovo to pick up the slack. I’m not certain if Erik Johnson will – his problem producing is not related to ice time or opportunity.

Chris Drury returns to action tonight. I know you’ve been waiting for that massive piece of news.

Jose Theodore and Niklas Backstrom have been taking turns lately. This doesn’t bode well for Backstrom owners. But thankfully, he’s competing against Jose Theodore. So that shouldn’t last too long. But for the next three weeks or so, Backstrom will be pretty useless in roto leagues, weekly.

Kudos to Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle for getting his weak team into the Top 8 and signing a contract extension. Then again, Anaheim has played more games than any other team in the league and they are on pace to actually miss the playoffs. But don’t let quick and easy math stop you from spending millions of dollars.

Yeah, so if you can trade an Anaheim player for a Los Angeles or Vancouver player of equal value, you gain five games on the transaction.

Buffalo has sent Luke Adam down.

The Avs have recalled Jonas Holos, although he’ll probably just sit in the press box. He’s a talent and has proven that he belongs…but the Avs are too deep to play him.

With Brian Boucher on a hot streak and Michael Leighton now off injured reserve, the Flyers may be best served sending Bob down to the minors. I didn’t see it as a possibility a week ago, but now it seems likely.

If Nashville, who were struggling a little a week ago, lost the last three games instead of won them, then coach Barry Trotz would be on the hot seat. But that guy doesn’t know how to flounder for prolonged periods. Somehow, he gets his team some W’s before any losing skid can get a foothold. The other coaches in the league keep winning the Coach of the Year award (Jack Adams Trophy) for playing in bigger markets, or winning in a huge way, or playing more exciting hockey – but year in and year out, Barry Trotz gets it done. And let’s face it, the Preds have sucked for…well, always. But they get into the playoffs almost every year. And that’s not goaltending. It’s not offense. It’s not even defense. It’s coaching.

Suck is a strong word. I should say – the Preds have wallowed in mediocrity…forever. I’d hate to have both Nashville fans write in angrily to me.

Cody McCormick is on pace for 11 goals, 24 points, 200-plus PIM and a plus-8 rating. I don’t see why he can’t reach any of those marks. Solid fantasy season so far for the Buffalo tough guy. His career high is 12 points.

Dustin Penner has 11 points in his last 13 contests. Last year he stepped up with Hemsky and Horcoff out of the lineup. This year, well whaddya know, they’re out of the lineup again. Look for continued production like this for another six weeks or so. Then he’ll hit the same wall that stopped him last year.

Paging Mr. Hudler. Mr. Jiri Hudler. Please come to the service desk and pick up your NHL career.

Wow – great battle here. Orr vs. Stortini