Andersen missed one game - a win backstopped by Curtis McElhinney - with an upper-body injury suffered in Buffalo on Saturday. He returns for the first of seven games remaining on the regular-season schedule and with a postseason berth in sight.
In 61 appearances this season, Andersen has posted a record of 30-15-14 with a .918 save percentage.
Northeastern's Zach Aston-Reese, Denver's Will Butcher, and Union's Mike Vecchione were named the final three candidates for the Hobey Baker Award, the selection committee announced Thursday.
The honor is given annually to the top U.S. college hockey player, and the final three are revealed each year as the 'Hobey Baker Hat Trick.'
Aston-Reese led the nation with 31 goals and tied for top spot on the NCAA Division I points list with 63 in 38 games for the Huskies in his senior season.
He signed an entry-level deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins earlier this month, and will spend the rest of this season with the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on an amateur tryout.
Butcher is the first defenseman to be named a Hobey Baker Hat Trick finalist since 2009 winner Matt Gilroy. Butcher ranked second in the nation in points (36) by a blue-liner and was named Offensive Defenseman of the Year in the NCHC.
He's a major reason the top-ranked Pioneers are heading to the Frozen Four, and once his NCAA season ends, the Colorado Avalanche will have until Aug. 15 to sign the graduating rearguard to a contract after making him a fifth-round pick in 2013.
Vecchione finished second behind Aston-Reese with 29 goals and tied him for top spot in the country with 63 points. Vecchione was named ECAC Player of the Year and was a finalist for the conference's Best Defensive Forward award.
The Brandon Wheat Kings were swept by the Medicine Hat Tigers in the opening round of the Western Hockey League playoffs, and Patrick - who's expected to be selected first overall at the 2017 NHL Draft - was unable to suit up during the series due to a lower-body injury.
Patrick missed 25 WHL games and the World Junior Championships earlier this season due to an upper-body injury, but recorded 16 goals and 22 assists in 28 appearances following his return to the lineup.
Last year, Nolan was named WHL playoff MVP and led the club to a league championship.
Still, Patrick ranks first among North American skaters in NHL.com's final prospect rankings, and his draft stock likely won't take a hit despite not playing this postseason.
Vladimir Tarasenko made the trip to Arizona well worth it for Arianna Dougan.
Back in February, the St. Louis Blues star winger surprised Arianna, a young fan undergoing cancer treatment, with a trip for two on the team's charter for late-season games in Arizona and Colorado for her 11th birthday.
On Wednesday, during the first of the two games, Tarasenko scored a goal on the Coyotes, an added bonus.
But even before that, he knew he had done more than enough to make it a memorable trip.
"If you look in her eyes right now, me and my wife make the right decision to buy this and make this little present," he said on the flight to Arizona, per Lou Korac of NHL.com. "It's not much, but when you make a kid happy, this means a lot."
To their credit, the Coyotes did their part to welcome Arianna to Gila River Arena.
"This stranger to us who has befriended our family and done so much for us, he just has the biggest heart and is the kindest person," said Arianna's mother, Lori Zucker. "It's just amazing. It renews your belief in humanity when you meet someone that is so nice and generous."
Arianna and her family will also be in attendance when the Blues visit the Avalanche on Saturday.
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 Thursday, March 30 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockeyand apply to 5v5 situations):
Dynamic Duos
LW Mikkel Boedker (26K) & C Tomas Hertl (42K), Sharks (at Oilers): The Oilers have been expected to allow 2.90 goals per 60 minutes since March 1. While they see more scoring chances than their opponents, they've posted a Corsi For rating of just 46.67 in the past month. San Jose operates at a 51.94 percent possession rate. Hertl hasn't played on a line with a Corsi For rating below 50 percent this season.
C Derick Brassard (45K) & RW Mark Stone (44K), Senators (at Wild): It's been ill-advised to target the Wild this season due to their excellent team goaltending and overall team defense. They're expected to start third-string G Alex Stalock on Thursday, creating opportunity for the Senators. The line of Brassard, Stone and C Zack Smith have averaged 2.61 expected goals per 60 minutes and a 56 percent possession rate.
C Valtteri Filppula (29K) & RW Wayne Simmonds (60K), Flyers (vs. Islanders): Filppula set a seven-game high with 18:22 of ice time in Philadelphia's shootout win over the Senators on Tuesday. He has just two goals and two assists with the Flyers, but he tallied multiple shots in each of his past two outings for the first time since his first two games with the team. Simmonds has multiple SOG in 11 of 14 games this month.
(Photo courtesy Action Images)
Goalie Breakdown
TARGET - Tuukka Rask (114K), Bruins (vs. Stars): The Stars have managed just 2.45 expected goals per 60 minutes over the past month, but they've still maintained an average of 28.50 shots on goal per 60 minutes. They rank just 20th in power-play percentage for the season, while the Bruins sit fourth in penalty-kill percentage.
BARGAIN - Cam Ward (76K), Hurricanes (vs. Blue Jackets): Ward allowed at least three goals in each of his first seven games this month before receiving a full week off. He returned to make 21 of 22 saves. The Blue Jackets rank 26th in CF% since March 1.
FADE - Cam Talbot (102K), Oilers (vs. Sharks): The Sharks have averaged more scoring chances per 60 minutes than all but five teams at 9.75 SCF60. They convert those into 2.57 goals per 60 minutes. Talbot has two shutouts this month, but he also allowed four goals on three occasions, including in two of his past three appearances.
CONTRARIAN - G Alex Stalock (110K), Wild (vs. Senators) - As mentioned above, Stalock's billing as a third-string goalie is a prime target for the opposing offense. He is coming off a 32-save shutout in the AHL, and he does have a .911 career save percentage in 62 NHL games (46 starts) with the San Jose Sharks. This will be his first NHL start of 2016-17.
(Photo courtesy Action Images)
Bargain Plays
C Zack Smith (26K), Senators (at Wild): Mentioned above, Smith's averages of nearly two shots on goal and two hits per game offer a stable floor for Squad Up contests, while Brassard and Stone rely much more heavily on offensive contributions. Smith's style lends itself to a productive evening against the Wild's strong defense even if he fails to hit the scoresheet.
LW Nick Ritchie (27K), Ducks (at Jets): Ritchie's ice time has been on the decline, as he has been held below 13 minutes in four of his past five games. He has still totaled two goals, two assists, 15 hits and three blocked shots in those five games. The Jets allow 31.68 shots and 10.41 scoring chances per 60 minutes. Ritchie remains opposite RW Corey Perry on Anaheim's balanced third line.
RW Anthony Mantha (26K), Red Wings (at Lighting): Mantha's ice time has been volatile during Detroit's 3-1-1 run over its past five games. He has three goals but no assists during the stretch, playing a low of 9:47 and a high of 15:42. He tallied seven SOG in his most recent outing and remains the primary shot taker on a line with C Dylan Larkin and LW Justin Abdelkader.
(Photo courtesy Getty Images)
Top Fades
RW Corey Perry (56K), Ducks (at Jets): There has been little difference between the production of Perry and the aforementioned Ritchie since being separated from C Ryan Getzlaf. He has two goals and an assist over his past five games, but he has just 11 SOG. He hit the 18-minute mark just once, falling short of 17 minutes in each of the other four.
C Tyler Seguin (62K), Stars (at Bruins): Boston has allowed a league-low 25.03 shots on goal per 60 minutes since March 1. Opponents have turned these into an adequate 8.04 scoring chances per 60 but just 2.16 expected goals. Seguin has two games with one or fewer SOG out of his past five contests.
LW Max Pacioretty (74K), Canadiens (vs. Panthers): Pacioretty has been held below 18 minutes in two of his past three games. He has gone point-less in three consecutive outings, though he has totaled eight SOG. While the Panthers are expected to deploy G Reto Berra, Pacioretty's salary is much too high relative to his recent performances.
(Photo courtesy Getty Images)
Contrarian Options
LW Filip Forsberg (62K), Predators (vs. Maple Leafs): Forsberg has struggled of late, notching just one assist over his past five games. He has notched at least three SOG in three of the five games, but tallied just one in each of the other two. The Maple Leafs' road defense has been porous over the past month, allowing 10.50 scoring chances and 2.91 expected goals per 60 minutes.
C Patrice Bergeron (77K), Bruins (vs. Stars): Bergeron -- typically a pass-first center -- has tallied 19 SOG over his past five games. He has just one goal and one assist and is an uncharacteristic minus-5 over his past three games.
D Cam Fowler (35K), Ducks (at Jets): Fowler has notched an impressive 18 SOG over his past five games, registering three assists. He played at least 23 minutes in each of his past four games. The Jets rank in the bottom-half of the league with 30.36 SOG allowed per 60 minutes over the past month.
The 39-year-old appeared to hint at comments made by the Calgary Flames rookie earlier this week after the Kings dispatched the Flames 4-1 on Wednesday night.
"We were trying to play hard and send a message," Iginla told Bo Hamby of LAKingsInsider.com. "... Hopefully most of that stuff is done and I'm sure there'll be battles for years, but hopefully it'll just be out on the ice."
Tkachuk called out Kings defenseman Drew Doughty on Tuesday, telling Wes Gilbertson of the Calgary Sun that he "expected more from (Doughty), honestly, than to go right to the media and start complaining after a loss."
Iginla, a former Flame and the longest-serving captain in team history, knows how important the first-year player is to the success of the club, but again encouraged Tkachuk to keep his aggressiveness within the playing surface.
"Well, I don't know if I agree with all of it. So we'll just leave it at that," he said.
"He's had a good rookie season. Playing well on the team, an important part, and he looks like he's going to be a really good player but it'd be nice just to see the battles on the ice as opposed to the other stuff and it'll be fun to watch. Obviously our fans are not going to like him for a long time or ever and vice versa but that's part of the fun part of sports."
Iginla posted a Gordie Howe hat trick in Wednesday's victory, his possible final game in Calgary, preventing the Flames from clinching a playoff berth.
The Buffalo Sabres have nabbed a high-scoring forward from the college free-agent ranks.
The club announced the signing of UMass Lowell forward C.J. Smith to a two-year, entry-level contract.
Smith tied for eighth among all NCAA players with 23 goals this past season, and ranked 12th in total points with 51 in 41 games.
Named the Hockey East Tournament MVP after leading the event with eight points (four goals, four assists) in five games, he finished his college career with 56 goals and 69 assists in 120 games over three years.
Mobile app users - expand the banner below to view more on the race to the playoffs.
Each week, theScore looks at the teams, players, and other hockey figures trending upward and taking a step back.
▲ Calgary Flames
The Flames missed a prime opportunity to clinch a playoff berth Wednesday night, but their 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings likely only delayed the inevitable.
Calgary holds an 11-point lead over Los Angeles, the last Western Conference team outside the postseason picture with any hope of getting in. Time is running out on the Kings, who need to go perfect over their final six games - and even that wouldn't guarantee them a spot.
It's essentially not a matter of if, but when for the Flames, which is commendable considering where they were last season, and earlier in this one.
Brian Elliott wasn't great Wednesday night, but he's improved as the season's progressed, and Calgary could certainly do worse than having a playoff-tested netminder in the fold as it prepares to make its return to the festivities for the first time in three seasons.
▼ New York Islanders
The post-Jack Capuano honeymoon is over for the Islanders, who got off to a great start in the Doug Weight era, but have plummeted since.
New York has lost two in a row and won only four of its last 10 games. While the Islanders still have a shot to squeeze into an Eastern Conference wild-card position, it's unlikely.
It's not impossible, but it sure looks like the team that plays in Madison Square Garden will be the lone New York representative in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
▲ Montreal Canadiens
No Atlantic Division club has booked a ticket to the postseason dance yet, but that could change Thursday night.
The Canadiens can lock up a spot with a regulation or overtime win against the Florida Panthers, and while Montreal has basically gone wire-to-wire atop the division, it's closing out the regular season the right way.
A three-game sweep of the Ottawa Senators during an eight-day stretch earlier this month opened up some breathing room for Montreal in the Atlantic, and the Canadiens appear primed to put last season's disaster fully behind them with another playoff run.
▼ Florida Panthers
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
The Panthers haven't been lucky this season, but they also haven't been good.
Still, the Panthers have been surpassed by most of their Eastern Conference rivals because they simply haven't been able to score all year (23rd in goals per game at 2.53), and because their rate of power-play success has been woeful at 16.9 percent, sixth-worst in the NHL.
Florida's lost two straight and six of its last 10 games. And while the Panthers haven't yet been officially eliminated, that day is certainly coming soon.
After a historic campaign in 2015-16 and an active offseason spent locking up their core, it's surprising to see the Panthers' hopes all but extinguished this spring.
Mobile app users - expand the banner below to view more on the race to the playoffs.
Mobile app users - expand the banner below to view more on the race to the playoffs.
Each week, theScore looks at the teams, players, and other hockey figures trending upward and taking a step back.
▲ Calgary Flames
The Flames missed a prime opportunity to clinch a playoff berth Wednesday night, but their 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings likely only delayed the inevitable.
Calgary holds an 11-point lead over Los Angeles, the last Western Conference team outside the postseason picture with any hope of getting in. Time is running out on the Kings, who need to go perfect over their final six games - and even that wouldn't guarantee them a spot.
It's essentially not a matter of if, but when for the Flames, which is commendable considering where they were last season, and earlier in this one.
Brian Elliott wasn't great Wednesday night, but he's improved as the season's progressed, and Calgary could certainly do worse than having a playoff-tested netminder in the fold as it prepares to make its return to the festivities for the first time in three seasons.
▼ New York Islanders
The post-Jack Capuano honeymoon is over for the Islanders, who got off to a great start in the Doug Weight era, but have plummeted since.
New York has lost two in a row and won only four of its last 10 games. While the Islanders still have a shot to squeeze into an Eastern Conference wild-card position, it's unlikely.
It's not impossible, but it sure looks like the team that plays in Madison Square Garden will be the lone New York representative in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
▲ Montreal Canadiens
No Atlantic Division club has booked a ticket to the postseason dance yet, but that could change Thursday night.
The Canadiens can lock up a spot with a regulation or overtime win against the Florida Panthers, and while Montreal has basically gone wire-to-wire atop the division, it's closing out the regular season the right way.
A three-game sweep of the Ottawa Senators during an eight-day stretch earlier this month opened up some breathing room for Montreal in the Atlantic, and the Canadiens appear primed to put last season's disaster fully behind them with another playoff run.
▼ Florida Panthers
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
The Panthers haven't been lucky this season, but they also haven't been good.
Still, the Panthers have been surpassed by most of their Eastern Conference rivals because they simply haven't been able to score all year (23rd in goals per game at 2.53), and because their rate of power-play success has been woeful at 16.9 percent, sixth-worst in the NHL.
Florida's lost two straight and six of its last 10 games. And while the Panthers haven't yet been officially eliminated, that day is certainly coming soon.
After a historic campaign in 2015-16 and an active offseason spent locking up their core, it's surprising to see the Panthers' hopes all but extinguished this spring.
Mobile app users - expand the banner below to view more on the race to the playoffs.
David Clarkson is doing what he can to remain involved in the game he likely won't resume playing.
The veteran winger has been sidelined for over a year by a chronic back injury. Now he's been named the boys' hockey coach at Upper Arlington High School, located in a Columbus suburb, according to Aaron Portzline of The Dispatch.
Clarkson remains under contract with the Blue Jackets through the end of the 2019-20 campaign at a cap hit of $5.25 million, but he's been placed on long-term injured reserve and hasn't skated with the team this season. He's been seeing a back specialist in New York, Portzline adds, but his chances of resuming his career don't appear high.
Clarkson served as a volunteer assistant for the high school squad this past season. His hiring as head coach still requires approval by the Upper Arlington school board.
