Kopitar to return for Kings; Luukkonen makes season debut for Sabres; Reichel to make Canucks debut
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Welcome to the NHL Status Report. Here is the latest lineup/injury news around the NHL.
Roman Josi is week to week because of an upper-body injury, the Predators announced Saturday. The defenseman, who played 18:09 in a 2-1 win against the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday, has five points (one goal, four assists) in eight games this season. The injury is not related to Postural Tachycardia Syndrome, which Nashville’s captain was diagnosed with late last season. … Defenseman Nicolas Hague will be a game-time decision against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; FDSNW, FDSNSO); he has not played this season because of an upper-body injury sustained during a preseason game.
Anze Kopitar was activated off injured reserve Saturday and will return against the Predators (8 p.m. ET; FDSNW, FDSNSO). The center and Kings captain missed four games with a foot injury and had been listed as week to week. Kopitar has four assists in four games this season.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made his season debut for the Sabres against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday (5 p.m. ET; SN1, MSG-B). The goalie was recalled from a conditioning assignment in the American Hockey League on Thursday and backed up Alex Lyon in a 5-3 win against the Maple Leafs on Friday. Luukkonen sustained an upper-body injury during his preseason debut Oct. 1 and was sidelined with a separate injury a few days later.
Patrick Kane will miss his fourth straight game because of an upper-body injury when the Red Wings host the St. Louis Blues on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; FDSNMW, FDSNDET). Detroit coach Todd McLellan said the forward is “skating, but not playing,” and is listed as day to day. Kane has been out since crashing hard into the boards during a 2-1 overtime win against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Oct. 17.
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Lukas Reichel will make his debut for the Canucks against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; CBC, TVAS). The forward was acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday for a fourth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. Reichel, who will center a line with Evander Kane and Brock Boeser, has four points (two goals, two assists) in five games this season.
William Nylander (undisclosed) missed his second straight game when the Maple Leafs hosted the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday (5 p.m. ET; SN1, MSG-B). The forward left late in the third period of a 5-3 loss to Buffalo on Friday. … Morgan Riellyreturned to the lineup Saturday after not playing Friday because of an undisclosed injury. … Goalie Joseph Woll rejoined the team and will resume on-ice activities. He has not played this season after being granted a leave of absence on Sept. 23 for personal reasons.
Brady Tkachuk was on the ice with the Senators on Saturday for the first time since having surgery on his right thumb on Oct. 16. The forward is expected to be out 6-8 weeks after he was injured during a 4-1 loss to the Predators on Oct. 13 when he was cross-checked by Josi in the first period. He didn’t partake in any drills with the team, but wore a noncontact jersey before and after the main skate only using only his left hand on the stick. “It just goes to show how much he loves being around the team and around the guys,” Senators forward Drake Batherson said. “With an injury like that, usually guys just kind of hang out at home, but it shows he wants to be around the guys and still lead even though he’s not playing and that’s what he’s doing.” Ottawa visits the Washington Captals on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; MNMT, NHLN, SN360).
Caleb Jones is expected to miss eight weeks with a lower-body injury. The defenseman, who was placed on injured reserve, left a 5-3 win against the Florida Panthers on Thursday with 6:48 remaining in the third after his feet went into the boards while battling forward Brad Marchand for the puck.
Alex Kerfoot underwent a procedure to repair a core muscle injury and is expected to miss 8-10 weeks. The forward was listed as week to week with a lower-body injury at the start of training camp and has not appeared in a game this season. He had 28 points (11 goals, 17 assists) in 81 games last season.
Forwards William Carrier and Eric Robinson are each expected to be out for an extended period. Carrier left a 5-4 shootout win against the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday with a lower-body injury in the first period, and Robinson left after the second period with an upper-body injury. “They’ll be out long. Nobody is coming back anytime soon,” coach Rod Brind’Amour said proir to their game at the Dallas Stars on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; FDSNSO, Victory+). “… It’s not great news for us.” … Defenseman K'Andre Miller will miss his second straight game Saturday after he was a late scratch with an undisclosed injury on Thursday. Brind’Amour said he is “more day to day.” … Shayne Gostisbehere will not play Saturday because of a lower-body injury.
Brandon Montour is expected to return for the Kraken against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday (10 p.m. ET; KHN, KONG, SN1, CBC). The defenseman missed four games following the death of his brother. He has four assists in four games this season. … Jared McCann (lower body) was placed on injured reserve Saturday. He has missed the past three games.
Pierre-Luc Dubois (lower body) likely will play against the Senators on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; MNMT, NHLN, SN360). The center, who has missed five games, was activated off injured reserve Saturday afternoon. Dubois was cleared to practice with contact on Thursday for the first time since he was injured against the New York Rangers on Oct. 12. Forward Ethen Frank was assigned to Hershey of the American Hockey League.
Jacob Markstrom (lower body) could return for the Devils during their four-game road trip that begins at Colorado on Tuesday. The goalie took part in practice Saturday after missing his fifth straight game Friday (3-1 win against San Jose). “He’ll be on the trip,” coach Sheldon Keefe said Saturday. “We see him playing on the trip. When exactly that is, we’ll have to see how he got through today and what that looks like.” New Jersey hosts the Avalanche on Sunday (1 p.m. ET; MSGSN, NHLN, ALT, SN) prior to the road trip. … Forward Cody Glass, who has missed the past two games with a lower-body injury, is going to miss extended time.
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