Lyon starts for Sabres; Dach returns for Canadiens
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Welcome to the NHL Status Report. Here is the latest lineup/injury news around the NHL.
Anthony Stolarz has been sent to Toronto of the American Hockey League on a conditioning loan, the Maple Leafs announced Tuesday. The goalie has been out with an upper-body injury since Nov. 11, when he left a 5-3 loss to the Boston Bruins after the first period. Stolarz was back practicing with the Maple Leafs during their four-game road trip last week. “Just full practices and lots of different types of work and shots — that’s important for him to get that in before he is ready to go,” coach Craig Berube said after practice Tuesday. “I don’t have a timeline on [how long he will be in the AHL).” Stolarz is 6-5-1 with a 3.51 goals-against average and .884 save percentage in 13 games this season. … William Nylander (groin) did not practice. Berube said the forward is rehabbing off the ice but hasn’t resumed skating. Nylander is expected to play for Team Sweden at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 next month.
Alex Lyon (lower body) made his first start since Dec. 29 when the Sabres visited the Nashville Predators on Tuesday. The goalie practiced Sunday and backed up Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in a 2-1 loss at the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday. Lyon is 10-6-3 with a 2.82 GAA and .906 save percentage in 21 games (19 starts).
Kirby Dach (broken foot) returned for the Canadiens against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday. It is the forward’s first game since he was injured on Nov. 15. Dach, who was expected to miss 4-6 weeks, was on a line with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield at the morning skate. He has seven points (five goals, two assists) in 15 games this season. “We just wanted to make sure we dotted all the I’s and crossed all the T’s and make sure that everything was ready to go, and we did all the preparation and got enough skates in to feel healthy and to feel good enough to play,” Dach said. … Forward Alexandre Texier (lower body) did not play and is day to day. He has 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) in 27 games with Montreal this season.
Go deep with NHL.com’s full coverage of the men’s hockey action at the Olympic Winter Games
Defensemen Victor Hedman (elbow), Ryan McDonagh (lower body) and Emil Lilleberg (undisclosed) are back skating, Lightning coach Jon Cooper said before their game against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday. “That’s definitely a good sign,” Cooper said. Hedman, their captain, has not played since Dec. 9. He has 12 assists in 18 games and is averaging 21:05 of ice time. He is expected to play for Sweden at the Olympics. McDonagh, who has eight points (four goals, four assists) in 18 games, has not played since Dec. 22. Lilleberg, who has been out since Dec. 13, has six points (two goals, four assists) and is plus-9 in 32 games.
Luke Hughes will be out with an undisclosed injury when the Devils face the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday (10 p.m. ET; TVAS, SNW, TNT, truTV, HBO MAX). The defenseman was injured in a 2-1 overtime win at the Calgary Flames on Monday. Hughes went straight to the bench after getting tangled with Flames forward Justin Kirkland in a battle for the puck along the boards in the second period. “No update,” Devils coach Sheldon Keefe said after the morning skate Tuesday. “It’s going to take a bit before we know the full extent of it.” Hughes has 26 points (five goals, 21 assists) and is averaging a team-high 23:04 of ice time in 49 games.
Corey Perry participated in an optional morning skate and will be back for the Kings when they host the New York Rangers on Tuesday (10 p.m. ET; FDSNW, MSG, SNP, SNE). The forward missed three games while attending to an ill family member. Perry, who has 23 points (10 goals, 13 assists) in 37 games, is expected to be on the top line with Adrian Kempe and Alex Laferriere. Perry missed two games Jan. 7-9 for the same reason.
Valeri Nichushkin missed a 5-2 win against the Washington Capitals on Monday after the forward sustained an upper-body injury in a car accident on his way to Ball Arena in Denver. “He had some minor injuries,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said after the game. “Came to the rink, got checked out and everything seems to be OK. Just a little bit of a precautionary day, and we’ll see what tomorrow brings for him.” Nichushkin, who has 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists) in 38 games this season, could return when Colorado hosts the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday (9 p.m. ET; Victory+, KCOP-13, ALT).
Kris Letang (upper body) did not practice Tuesday and is day to day. The defenseman played 21:58 and was plus-3 in the Penguins’ 6-3 win at the Seattle Kraken on Monday. Letang has 25 points (three goals, 22 assists) in 48 games this season. … Defenseman Erik Karlsson (lower body) practiced in a regular jersey but is not expected to play at Calgary on Wednesday (9:30 p.m. ET; TVAS, SN1, SNW, SN-PIT); he was placed on injured reserve Jan. 13, when it was announced he would be out at least two weeks. Karlsson, who will play for Sweden at the Olympics, has 33 points (four goals, 29 assists) in 44 games. “He’s progressing,” Pittsburgh coach Dan Muse said. “He was out there again with us today. His status hasn’t changed, but he’s progressing. So, we’ll continue to take it one day at a time.”
Oskar Sundqvist is day to day and will not play against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday (8 p.m. ET; TSN3, FDSNMW). The forward sustained a deep cut above his ankle after colliding with Connor McDavid in the third period of a 5-0 loss at the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday. Sundqvist has 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) in 39 games. Forward Jonatan Berggren, who was a healthy scratch, is expected to play.
Henri Jokiharju did not play against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday after the defenseman was designated non-roster by the Bruins on Sunday due to a family matter. Jokiharju, who will play for Team Finland at the Olympics, has nine assists and is plus-3 while averaging 17:53 of ice time in 32 games. Boston recalled defenseman Billy Sweezey from Providence of the AHL.
Carson Soucy will be back in the lineup against the Kings on Tuesday (10 p.m. ET; FDSNW, MSG, SNP, SNE). The defenseman returned Monday after leaving the Rangers for the birth of his third child but did not play in a 5-3 loss at the Anaheim Ducks. Soucy has eight points (three goals, five assists) and is plus-5 in 44 games this season.
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