NHL Buzz: Chytil may not play again this season for Canucks

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Vancouver Canucks

Filip Chytil may not play again this season because of lingering symptoms from a concussion the Canucks forward sustained on a hit into the boards March 15.

Chytil, who was centering the Canucks' second line after being acquired from the New York Rangers on Jan. 31 as part of the trade for forward J.T. Miller, hasn’t played since getting hit from behind by Chicago Blackhawks forward Jason Dickinson in the third period of a 6-2 win.

Chytil has skated on his own in the 2 1/2 weeks since leaving that game, but with mixed results, according to Vancouver coach Rick Tocchet.

“Good days and bad days he's had,” Tocchet said after practice Tuesday. “He'd go out and skate, felt good, the next day not as good. So, to be honest with you guys, does he play this year? Maybe the odds are against it. You don't want to put a guy in that type of position but when a guy has good days and bad days, obviously, you're not going to play the guy.”

Chytil also missed time due to head injuries while with the Rangers, playing only 10 games in 2023-24. He had six points (two goals, four assists) in 15 games with the Canucks after having 20 points (11 goals, nine assists) in 41 games with New York this season.

Tocchet also updated the status of injured forwards Elias Pettersson and Nils Hoglander, who were playing together on the top line before each was injured during a 5-3 loss at the Rangers on March 22, which resulted in them missing the final four of a six-game road trip.

Hoglander practiced in a noncontact jersey Wednesday at the morning skate prior to Vancouver's game against the Seattle Kraken. Hoglander also practiced Tuesday, but Pettersson wasn’t on the ice with the team and Tocchet said he remains day to day with an upper-body injury.

“He's skated I think once or twice, didn't skate that hard, a little bit of discomfort,” Tocchet said of Pettersson, who is third on the team with 45 points (15 goals, 30 assists) in 64 games this season. “When a guy is day to day, you expect him to play, but I don't know the discomfort level, where it's going to go.”

Hoglander and Pettersson were both out against Seattle on Wednesday.

Tocchet said Hoglander, who has 21 points (six goals, 15 assists) in 66 games this season, is closer to returning. -- Kevin Woodley

Carolina Hurricanes

Jordan Staal missed his second straight game Wednesday, a 5-1 win against the Washington Capitals, because of a lower-body injury.

The Hurricanes captain missed a 6-4 win against the New York Islanders on Sunday.

Brind’Amour said after practice Tuesday that Staal’s injury was not believed to be serious.

Staal, a center, has 33 points (12 goals, 21 assists) in 71 games.

Carolina (46-24-4) clinched a Stanley Cup Playoff berth with the win against the Capitals. -- Kurt Dusterberg

Pittsburgh Penguins

Evgeni Malkin will travel with the Penguins on a three-game road trip that begins at the St. Louis Blues on Thursday (8 p.m. ET; FDSNMW, SN-PIT).

The 38-year-old center has missed three games with an upper-body injury. In his 19th NHL season, Malkin is fifth on the Penguins with 46 points (15 goals, 31 assists) in 62 games.

Malkin and defenseman P.O Joseph, who has been out since March 1 with an upper-body injury, skated on an individual basis Wednesday. Forward Tommy Novak, labeled as day to day since sustaining a lower-body injury March 9, did not skate.

Rickard Rakell practiced at second-line center, Malkin’s usual spot. He could play a second straight game there after leading Pittsburgh with 32 goals mostly at left wing on the first line.

Forward Joona Koppanen was recalled on an emergency basis from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League.

“We’ve got a few guys that are banged up,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. “They’ll all make the trip. [Malkin] is coming, yes.” -- Wes Crosby

Vegas Golden Knights

Tomas Hertl participated in an optional practice Wednesday wearing a noncontact jersey.

The forward has not played since sustaining an upper-body injury during a 4-2 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning on March. 23.

“He wants to be around his teammates; he's been putting the work in,” Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said. “We weren't sure how it was going to come along, but good to see him back out there. That's the medical team's return-to-play protocol. It's always step one, [to] get around your teammates. So, we'll see how he progresses from there, how he reacts to today.

“Having him out on the ice, obviously, is a positive.”

Hertl ranks second for Vegas with 31 goals and is third with 59 points in 70 games this season. He has eight goals in his past 10 games.

Alex Pietrangelo is nearing a return from a lower-body injury. The defenseman was a late scratch for a 5-1 win against the Minnesota Wild on March 25 and did not play during the Golden Knights' three-game road trip, which ended Saturday. Pietrangelo also did not play in Vegas’ 3-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday, which ended a six-game winning streak.

But he has practiced each of the past two days and has not been ruled out for Thursday, when Vegas hosts the Winnipeg Jets (10 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, TSN3). Pietrangelo has 32 points (four goals, 28 assists) and is plus-11 in 67 games while averaging 22:29 of ice time.

“We'll see about tomorrow, Cassidy said. “I'm sure I'll get an update today here in a minute, see how he does in the morning, and he could be available. I'm not saying he will be, but he could be.”

The Golden Knights (45-21-8) are first in the Pacific Division and have clinched a playoff berth. They are five points ahead of the Los Angeles Kings. -- Paul Delos Santos

Boston Bruins

Charlie McAvoy practiced in a regular jersey on Monday, although there still is no timeline for the defenseman's return.

McAvoy, who has not played since the 4 Nations Face-Off, sustained an injury to his right shoulder while playing for the United States against Finland on Feb. 13. He played against Canada on Feb. 15 before being admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital with pain in his shoulder. He was diagnosed with an infection and a significant injury to his AC joint.

"We're going one day at a time, I think that's how I'm approaching it and how our staff is as well, just doing every day what we can to try and improve my shoulder," McAvoy said Monday.

When asked if it was more about pain or building strength, McAvoy said, "Both."

McAvoy, who joined the Bruins for a portion of their recent road trip, has 23 points (seven goals, 16 assists) in 50 games this season.

"He's out of the red (noncontact) jersey, he was into a black jersey, which is the next step in his progression," Bruins interim coach Joe Sacco said. "Today (he) was able to start some initial contact with the group. We still have no timeline on his return yet."

Asked if he would return to play with Bostonunlikely to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Sacco said, "I think if he's ready and he's cleared to play, like any player, they want to get back in there."

The Bruins (30-36-9) are last in the Eastern Conference, 10 points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the second wild card. -- Amalie Benjamin