NHL Buzz: Josi day to day for Predators
Georgiev to make Sharks debut; Miller to return for Canucks; Barzal day to day for Islanders
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Nashville Predators
Roman Josi has a lower-body injury and will not play for the Nashville Predators against the Dallas Stars on Thursday (8 p.m. ET; FDSNSO, Victory+).
The defenseman, who is day to day, left after the first period of a 4-3 loss to the Calgary Flames on Tuesday and did not return.
Josi leads the Predators with 23 points (seven goals, 16 assists) in 29 games this season.
Defenseman Kevin Gravel was recalled from Milwaukee of the American Hockey League on Thursday. He has five points (one goal, four assists) in 20 AHL games this season.
Forward Ryan O'Reilly and defenseman Jeremy Lauzon will each return to the lineup on Thursday. O'Reilly has missed the past three games with a lower-body injury; Lauzon has missed the past seven games with a lower-body injury.
San Jose Sharks
Alexandar Georgiev will make his Sharks debut against the St. Louis Blues on Thursday (8 p.m. ET; FDSNMW, NBCSCA).
The goalie was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche on Monday along with forward Nikolai Kovalenko, a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft and a second-round pick in the 2026 draft for goalie Mackenzie Blackwood, forward Givani Smith and a fifth-round pick in 2027.
Georgiev was 8-7-0 with a 3.38 goals-against average and .874 save percentage in 18 games (17 starts) with the Avalanche this season.
"He's a guy that's obviously played in the League for a long time," Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said after the morning skate. "I think he started to find his game as of late when he was with Colorado and try to keep this thing going, get his confidence back." -- Lou Korac
Vancouver Canucks
J.T. Miller will return for the Canucks against the Florida Panthers on Thursday (10 p.m. ET; TVAS, SNP, SCRIPPS).
The 31-year-old forward took part in his first full practice Wednesday since taking a leave of absence for personal reasons on Nov. 19. He had missed the past 10 games.
"I am playing tonight, and I really would appreciate if we just stayed away from the reasons why I wasn't here," Miller said Thursday.
Miller has 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in 17 games this season, the second of a seven-year, $56 million contract ($8 million average annual value) he signed on Sept. 2, 2022.
"One of our better players, engine of our team, him and [defenseman Quinn Hughes], so it's a huge add," forward Conor Garland said of Miller on Wednesday. "He's a big presence on and off the ice. He's one of the best players in the League, so we're lucky to have him."
Defenseman Derek Forbort likely will return against Florida after missing 17 games with a lower-body injury sustained in practice Nov. 4. Forbort, who joined the Canucks by signing a one-year, $1.5 million contract as a free agent on July 1, has played four games this season. The 32-year-old missed six games in October following the death of his father.
"First game back, it's just kind of little nuances of the game like stick positioning, and little things that get better as it goes," Forbort said Wednesday. "It kind of feels like you're starting from scratch, but Game 2 usually feels pretty good." -- Kevin Woodley
New York Islanders
Mathew Barzal skated with the Islanders on Thursday for the first time since sustaining an upper-body injury during against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Oct. 30.
The forward, who is on long-term injured reserve, was wearing a regular jersey and did not take part in line rushes. He is considered day to day.
Barzal, who has missed 21 games, has five points (two goals, three assists) in 10 games this season.
"It's obviously great. [Barzal] is a big part of this team and a big part of the organization," Islanders forward Bo Horvat said. "And to have him back skating again with us is huge, and hopefully, we can get him back in the lineup here soon.
Forward Anthony Duclair (lower body) and defenseman Adam Pelech (jaw) skated in regular jerseys for the first time since returning to practice and are each day to day. Pelech skated in line rushes on the extra defense pair with Grant Hutton.
Duclair has missed 26 games and has three points (two goals, one assist) in five games this season. Pelech, who has missed 20 games, has four assists in 11 games.
"It's exciting for everybody," Islanders coach Patrick Roy said about having his injured players back on the ice. "[Seeing them on the ice] just tells you that they're getting closer and closer to getting back in the lineup. Sometimes, when those injuries happen, you feel like they'll never come back. Now, seeing them close to coming back, it's a good feeling for everybody."
Ilya Sorokin will make his seventh straight start when the Islanders play the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday (7:30 p.m. ET; CHSN, MSGSN). Semyon Varlamov has not skated since he made 21 saves in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals on Nov. 29. -- Stefen Rosner
Dallas Stars
Lian Bichsel will make his NHL debut when the Stars host the Nashville Predators at American Airlines Center on Thursday (8 p.m. ET; FDSNSO, Victory+).
"It's great, been looking forward to this for many years," Bichsel said Thursday. "My whole youth. It's a dream. Can't put into words."
The 20-year-old defenseman, selected No. 18 by the Stars in the 2022 NHL Draft, was recalled from Texas of the American Hockey League. He will play in place of Mathew Dumba, who is out with an upper-body injury.
"I think when you look at his path, I thought he had an outstanding training camp and exhibition series for us," Stars coach Pete DeBoer said. "He was knocking on the door in camp for a job with his play. They did the right thing and sent him down and got him some more experience, and from all the reports down there he's been very good. I think it was just a matter of time."
Bichsel (6-foot-7, 231 pounds) had nine points (three goals, six assists) for Texas this season.
"He's a big, big man, but he's also got a really good skill level," DeBoer said. "The word I always find myself using when I watch him is 'poise' with the puck, which is rare for any young defensemen, never mind a guy that size. Maybe because of his size, he's not worried about getting run over, he can hold it for another second."
DeBoer had no timeline for Dumba's injury, saying the Stars are still awaiting test results. The defenseman didn't play the final 4:46 of a 6-2 win against the Calgary Flames on Sunday.
Vegas Golden Knights
Zach Whitecloud is expected to be back in the lineup when the Golden Knights open a three-game road trip against the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre on Thursday (8 p.m. ET; TSN3, SCRIPPS).
The 28-year-old defenseman has missed the past seven games while dealing with a lower-body injury.
“He's in tonight. We'll call him a game-time decision because he hasn't played (since Nov. 23),” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. “But he's he's passed all the tests we need him to to get back up to speed and practice. So he's good to go. And we're happy to have him, and it’s good timing for him, I know he really enjoys playing here.”
Whitecloud was born two hours west of Winnipeg in Brandon, Manitoba.
“I’m lucky and grateful to our staff to be able to get me back in time to play in front of my family,” Whitecloud said. “I'm 28 now so I think I kind of have a good idea for what my body needs and how it heals and stuff like that. So, again, I think the most important part of this whole process is our medical staff putting our health and safety first above all else.”
Whitecloud has two points (one goal, one assist) in 21 games this season, and returns as the Golden Knights play for the first time in six days; a 3-2 win against the Dallas Stars on Dec. 6.
“Getting the chance to have a lot of guys back is definitely good heading into that five-day break,” Whitecloud said. “Give guys time to heal up whatever they've got going on.” -- Darrin Bauming
Toronto Maple Leafs
Jake McCabeMcCabe will return for the Maple Leafs on Thursday when they host the Anaheim Ducks (7 p.m. ET; SNO, Victory+).
The defenseman has missed the past five games after taking a puck to the head on November 30 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
"It's never fun being out of the lineup and watching the boys compete but I'm very happy to be back in tonight," McCabe said. "I'm feeling a lot better now than I was last week. Didn't quite feel right, didn't quite feel comfortable putting myself in a situation to play. The medical staff takes great care of us so I got the go-ahead now so I'm ready to get back at it."
McCabe was a full participant at the morning skate Thursday and skated in his regular spot on a pair with Chris Tanev.
"He's a big part of our team back there with him and Tanev as a shutdown pair and penalty killing and just being physical and defending and things like that," coach Craig Berube said. "He's a big part of our team so it will be great to have him back."
McCabe has five assists and is plus-11 in 23 games this season. -- Dave McCarthy
Detroit Red Wings
Cam Talbot could start for the Red Wings against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; FDSNDET, NBCSP, SNP) after the goalie missed four games because of a lower-body injury.
Coach Derek Lalonde said a decision would be made after warmups.
"We're going to wait on the goaltending," he said. "We hope to have Cam, but we want to get through warmups. So both goalies (also Ville Husso) will be ready. I know it's unique but both goalies will get through warmups and then we'll make a decision after warmups.
"We'll get through warmups and if [Talbot] is good, he'll be the guy in net."
If Talbot doesn't start, Lalonde said he is healthy enough to back up. Talbot and Husso are the only healthy goalies on the Red Wings roster; Detroit sent goalie Sebastian Cossa to Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League on Wednesday.
Goalie Alex Lyon, who will miss his eighth straight game because of a lower-body injury, is with the Red Wings and could play as soon as Dec. 18 against the Flyers in Detroit.
"I would probably call him unavailable through the weekend," Lalonde said of Lyon. "We're probably shooting for next Wednesday. So a positive that he is here. He's getting some reps, so hopefully by next Wednesday." -- Adam Kimelman
Minnesota Wild
Defenseman Jonas Brodin and forward Mats Zuccarello each skated with the group for the first time, but neither will play when the Wild host the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday (8:30 p.m.ET: ESPN+, HULU, SNW).
"It's really good, just in the sense that they were able to skate," Minnesota coach John Hynes said. "They'll do some extra work after practice, and then probably skating [Friday], and then we'll see.
"I don't have a timeline on them yet, other than that they've obviously progressed well to get in the team setting."
Zuccarello suffered a lower-body injury after being hit with a shot on November 14 and has missed the past 12 games. He has 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in 16 games this season.
Brodin will miss his eighth game Thursday because of an upper-body injury.
"Now maybe we'll get them a little bit of contact and some extra work and see how they respond," Hynes said.
Forward Joel Eriksson Ek, who sustained an upper-body injury following a hit in overtime in a 3-2 loss against the Vancouver Canucks on Dec. 3, has not started skating. He has missed the past three games. -- Jessi Pierce
