Heiskanen expected back for Stars; Draisaitl takes leave from Oilers
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Welcome to the NHL Status Report. Here is the latest lineup/injury news around the NHL.
Forwards Matthew Tkachuk and Brad Marchand are nearing returning from injury, Panthers coach Paul Maurice said before a 5-2 win at the Washington Capitals on Saturday. Tkachuk, who is recovering from surgery to repair a torn adductor muscle and sports hernia on Aug. 22 and expected to play for Team USA at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 next month, was on the ice Florida’s extra players at the morning skate, and Maurice said he has responded well to workouts. “He’s close,” Maurice said. “He’s getting pushed hard on the ice. He’s coming back. The recovery has been good. He hasn’t felt at a hundred percent, but the last two days he pushed hard, came back, felt good. So, I don’t think he’s very far away now.” Marchand, who is on Team Canada’s roster, missed his fifth straight game with an undisclosed injury. Although he did not skate with the Panthers’ extra players Saturday, Maurice said, “I would say [he is] fairly close too. Neither one of those guys should be out very much longer.” Florida hosts the San Jose Sharks on Monday (6 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, NBCSCA).
Miro Heiskanen is expected to be back in the Stars lineup against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday (2 p.m. ET; The Spot, Victory+, NHLN, SN, TVAS). The defenseman, who will represent Team Finland at the Olympics, missed two games because of a family matter but returned to practice on Saturday. Heiskanen has 36 points (seven goals, 29 assists) in 46 games and ranks third in the NHL in time on ice per game (26:04).
Leon Draisaitl is taking a leave of absence due to a family illness in his native Germany, the Oilers announced Saturday before their 6-0 win at the Vancouver Canucks. The forward is expected to return next week. Draisaitl, who will play for Team Germany at the Olympics, ranks fifth in the NHL with 67 points (25 goals, 42 assists) in 48 games. “Obviously we’ll miss him, but [the] job comes second,” Edmonton captain Connor McDavid said. “Everybody in here is a brother, father, son, whatever it is, and that stuff comes first and he’s got to go home and be with his family. We’re obviously thinking about him and his entire family and we’ve got to take care of things while he’s gone.” The Oilers host the St. Louis Blues on Sunday (8 p.m. ET; TVAS, SN, FDSNMW).
Go deep with NHL.com’s full coverage of the men’s hockey action at the Olympic Winter Games
Tom Wilson (lower body) could return against the Colorado Avalanche on Monday (4 p.m. ET; HBO MAX, MNMT, truTV, TNT). The forward has missed the Capitals’ past seven games, including a 5-2 loss to the Panthers on Saturday. Wilson participated in an optional morning skate but did not play. Named to Canada’s roster for the Olympics, Wilson has 42 points (22 goals, 20 assists) in 41 games. … Washington reassigned forward Brett Leason to Hershey of the American Hockey League on Sunday.
Erik Karlsson (lower body) practiced with the Penguins in a noncontact jersey Sunday. The defenseman was placed on injured reserve Jan. 13, when the team announced he would be out at least two weeks. Karlsson, who is on Team Sweden’s roster for the Olympics, has 33 points (four goals, 29 assists) in 44 games this season. He will travel with Pittsburgh for its four-game road trip that begins at the Seattle Kraken on Monday (5 p.m. ET; KHN/Prime, SN-PIT, KONG, TVAS).
Dylan Holloway will return against the Oilers on Sunday (8 p.m. ET; TVAS, SN, FDSNMW) after missing 15 games with an ankle injury. The Blues forward sustained the injury in a 3-2 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Dec. 12. Holloway has 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) in 33 games this season. “I’m really excited to be back,” Holloway said after the morning skate. “I’ve been skating for about two weeks now, and it’s progressively been feeling better in the last week or so. I’ve been feeling good and have been able to push a little harder.”
Rodrigo Abols (lower body) was placed on injured reserve by the Flyers on Sunday. The forward was injured in the first period of a 6-3 loss to the New York Rangers on Saturday. Abols, who is on Team Latvia’s roster for the Olympics, was battling for a puck along the boards when he fell, his right leg twisting awkwardly underneath him at 6:10. He was helped off the ice and went straight to the locker room, not putting any weight on his right leg. Abols has 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 42 games this season. “It’s not good. I’m not going to get into it, but it’s not good,” coach Rick Tocchet said. Philadelphia recalled forward Lane Pederson from Lehigh Valley of the AHL. … Dan Vladar (undisclosed) did not play Saturday and is considered day to day. The goalie left a 5-2 loss at the Buffalo Sabres on Jan. 14 after the first period. Tocchet said it’s possible Vladar travels on a three-game road trip that begins at the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday (8 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, NBCSP+). … Forward Bobby Brink (upper body) missed his sixth straight game; he skated Saturday morning and could return Monday. … Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, who is on Finland’s roster, missed his third straight game and was placed on injured reserve; he could miss at least another week, Tocchet said. Defenseman Hunter McDonald was recalled from Lehigh Valley.
Josh Norris (upper body) did not practice Sunday and has been downgraded to week to week, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. The forward missed his second straight game on Saturday, a 5-4 overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild, and won’t be available to play at the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday (1:30 p.m. ET; HBO MAX, truTV, TNT). Norris had been day to day since being cross-checked by Flyers defenseman Nick Seeler on Jan. 14. “He’s not really recovering the way we had hoped,” Ruff said. Norris has 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in 19 games. … Konsta Helenius, the No. 14 pick at the 2024 NHL Draft, is expected to make his NHL debut Monday. The forward has 30 points (nine goals, 21 assists) in 34 games with Rochester of the AHL this season. … Alex Lyon (lower body) practiced on Sunday; the goalie has not played since Dec. 29, when he made 16 saves in a 4-2 win against the Blues. Ruff said Lyon, who is 10-6-3 with a 2.82 goals-against average and .906 save percentage in 21 games (19 starts) this season, is expected to play this week.
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