Kuemper placed on injured reserve by Kings; Ristolainen makes season debut for Flyers
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Welcome to the NHL Status Report. Here is the latest lineup/injury news around the NHL.
Joseph Woll started against the Chicago Blackhawks at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday. The Maple Leafs goalie, who missed the previous four games because of a lower-body injury, is 4-3-1 with a 2.44 goals-against average and .928 save percentage in eight games this season. … Defenseman Chris Tanev practiced Monday for the first time since being taken from the ice on a stretcher because of an upper-body injury he sustained during a game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Nov. 1. He did not play against Chicago. “I feel good,” Tanev said. “It was great to be out there with everyone and participate in my first full practice. It’s a very fluid situation here, so we are going to go day by day and see how things are progressing here.” Tanev has played eight games this season. He missed four because of a concussion he sustained Oct. 21, then was injured against the Flyers in his first game back.
Darcy Kuemper was placed on injured reserve by the Kings on Tuesday after the goalie sustained an upper-body injury during the first period of a 4-1 loss at the Dallas Stars on Monday. Kings coach Jim Hiller did not have an update after the game on Kuemper, who made five saves before a collision with Stars forward Mikko Rantanen at 16:00. Kuemper took a forearm to the head and was down on the ice for several minutes before eventually going back to the locker room under his own power. Goalie Pheonix Copley was recalled from Ontario of the AHL. … Centers Quinton Byfield and Phillip Danault did not play Monday because of an illness.
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Rasmus Ristolainen made his season debut against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday. The defenseman had surgery to repair a ruptured right triceps tendon on March 26 and was expected to miss about six months. Ristolainen began practicing earlier this month, and coach Rick Tocchet said on Dec. 11, “I’d be shocked,” if Ristolainen didn’t play before the Christmas break.
Artyom Levshunov was a healthy scratch against the Maple Leafs on Tuesday after the defenseman was late for practice on Monday, coach Jeff Blashill said after the morning skate at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. Levshunov, the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, has 14 points (one goal, 13 assists) in 31 games while averaging 17:12 of ice time. “He understands we have a standard, and that’s been pretty clear,” Blashill said. “… He’s disappointed. It’s hard when you feel like you didn’t do it on purpose, and I get it, but you can’t lack on your standard.” Levshunov was replaced by Ethan Del Mastro, who was recalled from Rockford of the American Hockey League.
Mike Matheson is day to day because of an upper-body injury and did not play against the Flyers on Tuesday. The defenseman leads the Canadiens in time on ice per game (24:54) and has 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) in 32 games this season. … Rookie goalie Jacob Fowler made his first start at Bell Centre after going 1-0-1 with an .896 save percentage in road games at the New York Rangers on Dec. 13 and the Pittsburgh Penguins on Dec. 11.
Forwards Will Smith (undisclosed) and Philipp Kurashev (upper body) were placed on injured reserve and won’t be available when the Sharks host the Calgary Flames on Tuesday (10 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, SNP, SNW, SN360). Each was injured during a 6-5 overtime win at Pittsburgh on Saturday. Kurashev exited at 8:24 of the second period after sliding into the end boards, and Smith left at 3:30 of the third period following a hit from Parker Wotherspoon. Smith is not expected to play this week, and Kurashev is week to week. Forwards Igor Chernyshov and Ethan Cardwell were recalled from San Jose of the AHL. Chernyshov, 20, has 23 points (11 goals, 12 assists) in 25 AHL games this season.
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Brett Pesce (hand) practiced with the Devils on Tuesday and will travel on a two-game road trip that will begin at the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday. The defenseman, who has been paired with Luke Hughes, hasn’t played since Oct. 26. He has three assists in nine games this season. “Well, he’s going to be on the trip, and there’s nothing else to do in Vegas, so you may as well try to get him in the game. So, that’s the plan,” coach Sheldon Keefe said. New Jersey visits the Utah Mammoth on Friday. … Simon Nemec (lower body) was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday. The defenseman has been out since being injured during practice on Dec. 12. Forward Nathan Legare was recalled from Utica of the AHL.
Jonatan Berggren was claimed off waivers by the Blues from the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday. The 25-year-old forward played 15 games for the Red Wings this season and had six points (two goals, four assists). Berggren was a second-round pick by Detroit (No. 33) in the 2018 NHL Draft. … Dylan Holloway will be out six weeks because of an injury to his right ankle, the Blues announced before a 5-2 loss to the Nashville Predators on Monday. The forward, who was placed on injured reserve, has 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) in 33 games. … Alexey Toropchenko was activated from injured reserve. The forward, who missed seven games after sustaining burns to his legs in a home accident, has two points (one goal, one assist) in 18 games.
Ryan McDonagh has been upgraded to day to day but did not return for the Lightning in a 5-2 loss against the Florida Panthers on Monday. The defenseman has not played since Nov. 8 because of an undisclosed injury. McDonagh, who signed a three-year, $12.3 million contract ($4.1 million average annual value) with Tampa Bay on Dec. 4, has six points (three goals, three assists) in 15 games while averaging 20:10 of ice time. … Coach Jon Cooper said he’s hopeful Andrei Vasilevskiy (undisclosed) will play before Christmas. The goalie has missed the past seven games. … Emil Lilleberg was placed on injured reserve Monday and is week to week. The defenseman did not play after the second period in a 3-2 shootout loss at the New York Islanders on Saturday.
Vladislav Kolyachonok was claimed off waivers by the Bruins from the Stars. The defenseman played 11 games for Dallas and had three points (one goal, two assists). … Jonathan Aspirot was placed on injured reserve. The defenseman, who has one goal in 19 games, sustained an upper-body injury during a 6-3 victory at the Winnipeg Jets on Dec. 11.
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