Draisaitl returns for Oilers; Nazar back for Blackhawks
© Steve Babineau/NHLI
Welcome to the NHL Status Report. Here is the latest lineup/injury news around the NHL.
David Perron will miss 5-7 weeks because of a sports hernia that will require surgery. The forward has 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists) in 49 games this season. “It’s been nagging for a while,” Senators coach Travis Green said. “So, he went and got it checked out yesterday and decided that was the best option for him.”
Leon Draisaitl rejoined the Oilers for their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday. The forward had taken a leave of absence on Jan. 17 to attend to a family illness in Germany. Draisaitl, who missed fourth games, has 67 points (25 goals, 42 assists) in 48 games this season.
Frank Nazar returned for the Blackhawks against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday after missing 14 games because of a facial injury. Nazar had been out since taking a puck to the face during the first period of a 6-4 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Dec. 20. He has 21 points (six goals, 15 assists) in 33 games. “The timeline was pretty scattered, how fast it was going to heal,” he said. “It’s good that it happened when I was younger, so it heals faster than if I was older. I think any time you can get away and come back to the game, it’s always a good reset.” … Forward Andre Burakovsky, who missed a 2-0 win against the Winnipeg Jets on Monday because of an illness, also returned on Thursday. … Forward Teuvo Teravainen (upper body) missed his fourth straight game Thursday. “It’s still a day-to-day thing,” Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill said. “He’s not going to travel so he’s not playing [Thursday], but after that I would take it as day by day.” Teravainen has 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists) in 45 games.
Jonas Brodin is out indefinitely after having surgery to repair a lower-body injury. Wild coach John Hynes did not have an updated timeline on the defenseman’s return but said he does not expect him to miss the remainder of the regular season. “I would say I think he got it done at a good time. He will be back, for sure, with more than enough time in the season.” … Forward Matt Boldy (lower body) and defenseman Zach Bogosian (lower body) did not play against the Detroit Red Wings on Friday, but each participated in Minnesota’s morning skate. Boldy missed his fourth straight game and Bogosian missed his ninth.
Mason Marchment was activated off injured reserve and returned to the lineup against the Dallas Stars on Thursday. The forward had missed the past eight games because of an upper-body injury. He has 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists) in 36 games with the Blue Jackets and Seattle Kraken this season. … Defenseman Denton Mateychuk was placed on injured reserve, retroactive to Jan. 11. He has missed five games with an upper-body injury and has 21 points (eight goals, 13 points) in 44 games this season.
Brad Marchand missed his seventh straight game when the Panthers visited the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday because of an undisclosed injury. The forward is second on the Panthers with 46 points (23 goals, 23 assists) in 46 games this season. “He’s certainly close,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said Wednesday. “Day to day. Whether it happens on this road trip, we don’t know yet.” Florida plays at the Minnesota Wild on Saturday and the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday.
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Rasmus Andersson, who was acquired in a trade with the Calgary Flames on Jan. 18, is not yet with the Golden Knights and did not play at the Boston Bruins on Thursday. “He’s got some immigration going on right now, so he will not be playing tonight,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. “Whether he can play in Canada (at the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday), I don’t know yet because he’s been there in Calgary, so that might be easier. But that’s all I know. I think there’s some, obviously some logistics there he has to get through.” Andersson has 30 points (10 goals, 20 assists) in 48 games this season.
Filip Chytil is expected to return for the Canucks against the New Jersey Devils on Friday (10 p.m. ET; SNP, MSGSN). The forward sustained a concussion during a 4-3 win at the Washington Capitals on Oct. 19, the center’s sixth game of the season and has not played since. “As long as today went well, he’s going to play,” Canucks coach Adam Foote said Thursday. “… It looks promising.”
Darcy Kuemper is expected to return for the Kings against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; FDSNMW, FDSNW, KCAL). The goalie sustained an upper-body injury before leaving with 38.8 seconds remaining in the first period of a 4-3 win against the New York Rangers on Tuesday. Rangers forward Jonny Brodzinski collided into Kuemper with 57 seconds to go. Kuemper tried to shake off the contact during a stoppage in play but was eventually replaced by Anton Forsberg. “Kind of got hit on the side of my neck, and it pinched my neck and pinched the nerves, and my arm went dead,” Kuemper said Thursday. “So, yeah, wasn’t allowed to come back in until we did some further testing yesterday.” … Coach Jim Hiller also said forwards Trevor Moore and Anze Kopitar will travel to St. Louis but is unsure if they will play. Kopitar has missed eight games with an upper-body injury, and Moore has missed 11 games with an upper-body injury. “They’re going to travel, so that doesn’t mean they’re going to play, but they’re going to travel, yeah, so that’s really positive for us,” Hiller said. … Defenseman Drew Doughty, who did not play Tuesday because of an illness, practiced Thursday and is expected to play Saturday.
Kris Letang (upper body) did not play for the Penguins against the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. The defenseman, who also did not play against the Calgary Flames on Wednesday, is day to day. Letang played 21:58 and was plus-3 in a 6-3 win at the Seattle Kraken on Monday. He has 25 points (three goals, 22 assists) in 48 games this season. … Defenseman Erik Karlsson (lower body) was activated off injured reserve and returned against the Oilers. Karlsson had been placed on IR on Jan. 13, when it was announced he would be out at least two weeks. Karlsson has 33 points (four goals, 29 assists) in 44 games.
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