Calgary Flames forward Connor Zary exited a recent game in the first period after colliding with the boards following a hook and push by Panthers’ A.J. Greer. Flames coach Ryan Huska stated Zary is “fine” and “moving around,” but the exact nature of his injury is still being assessed.
The Chicago Blackhawks are dealing with injuries to forward Andrew Mangiapane and defenseman Louis Crevier, who missed Thursday’s and Friday’s games and are likely to miss Sunday’s as well.
For the Colorado Avalanche, forwards Ross Colton, Gabe Landeskog, Artturi Lehkonen, and Logan O’Connor were all seen on the ice recently. Coach Jared Bednar hinted that one player could return as early as Sunday, with a possibility of all returning during their upcoming road trip. Bednar noted that Landeskog and Connor are progressing well and could be cleared at any moment, although they were not ready for the immediate game.
Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola left a recent game in the first period due to a knee-on-knee hit. He required assistance off the ice and struggled to put weight on his left leg.
Los Angeles Kings forward Joel Armia has returned to the lineup after recovering from a back injury that sidelined him for 10 games.
Minnesota Wild forwards Joel Eriksson Ek and Kirill Kaprizov are currently day-to-day and were not in the lineup for their last game. Coach Jon Hynes emphasized the importance of ensuring they are fully ready before their expected return in the near future.
Philadelphia Flyers forward Sean Couturier is dealing with an upper-body injury. While the duration of his absence is uncertain, it is not expected to be a long-term issue.
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Sam Girard might return to the lineup tonight.
The San Jose Sharks had several players absent from practice: forwards Tyler Toffoli and Igor Chernyshov, defenseman Vincent Desharnais, and goaltender Jaroslav Askarov. Forward Ty Dellandrea was practicing in a no-contact jersey. Toffoli is specifically out with a lower-body injury and is expected to miss “a little bit” of time, according to coach David Warsofsky. Desharnais’s status for tonight’s game will be a game-time decision.
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies has been playing through a knee injury. He indicated that the injury is not expected to worsen by continuing to play and, despite the discomfort, he intends to remain in the lineup, acknowledging that many players are dealing with ailments late in the season. Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly was back on the ice after missing a previous game due to illness.
