NHL Buzz: Malkin returns for Penguins against Kraken
Heineman of Canadiens involved in traffic accident, out 3-4 weeks
© Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images
Pittsburgh Penguins
Evgeni Malkin returned for the Penguins against the Seattle Kraken at PPG Paints Arena on Tuesday.
The 38-year-old center, who participated in the morning skate, had missed the previous four games with an upper-body injury.
Malkin took his usual spot as the second-line center with left wing Michael Bunting and right wing Cody Glass. He is fourth on the Penguins with 32 points (eight goals, 24 assists) in 41 games.
Bunting also returned after missing a 5-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday, when he was involved in an auto accident outside of PPG Paints Arena. -- Wes Crosby
Montreal Canadiens
Emil Heineman will be out 3-4 weeks because of an upper-body injury he sustained in a traffic accident as a pedestrian on Monday.
“I just know that he got hurt crossing the street yesterday,” Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said before their game at the Utah Hockey Club on Tuesday (9 p.m. ET; Utah16, TSN2, RDS). “I don't think it was at a high speed, but enough to cause some damage. So, it's unfortunate."
The 23-year-old rookie forward has 17 points (10 goals, seven assists) in 41 games this season.
“We reached out just to make sure he's been OK,” forward Jake Evans said. “It's a tough accident, I guess, and a freak accident, tough luck. [But] it seems like he's in good spirits, and I guess, you know, it could have been a lot worse too.
"You're obviously just worried about his health. Again, it could have been worse, so just stuff you don't expect to happen, especially, you know, it's pretty quiet here in the city, and so, yeah, we're just happy he's OK. It could have been a lot worse." -- Matt Komma
Utah Hockey Club
John Marino could make his Utah debut against Montreal on Tuesday (9 p.m. ET; Utah16, TSN2, RDS).
The 27-year-old defenseman sustained a back injury prior to the beginning of training camp and had surgery Oct. 23. Marino, who was acquired from the New Jersey Devils on June 29, has been a full participant in practice this month.
Utah coach Andre Tourigny said after the morning skate Marino would be a game-time decision.
Marino had 25 points (four goals, 21 assists) in 75 games for the Devils last season. He has 107 points (18 goals, 89 assists) in 328 games with New Jersey and Pittsburgh. -- Matt Komma
Anaheim Ducks
Troy Terry returned for the Ducks against the Washington Capitals on Tuesday after the missing the previous four games while on personal leave following the birth of his son on Jan. 7.
The forward said his son, Theo, has improved, and he and his wife, Dani, hope he will be able to come home from the hospital soon.
“It’s been kind of a roller coaster of a week, but we’re so happy to have the little guy here,” Terry said. “The best way to say it, is he just needed a little help getting going. They’ve done a great job where he’s being taken care of, and the team has been great to me just letting me be there for him and also my wife.
“But he’s doing way better, and I’m happy to be back with the guys and feel good about where he’s at.”
Terry’s focus when he was home was on Theo and Dani but said it was also strange watching the Ducks (18-20-5) play without him the past week. Terry leads Anaheim in goals (14), assists (19) and points (33) in 39 games this season.
“The reality is these guys are all my closest friends, too, so being able to get back here and be with the guys makes leaving home a little easier and I’m excited to get back in action tonight,” Terry said. -- Tom Gulitti
Boston Bruins
Charlie McAvoy (undisclosed) was placed on injured reserve by the Bruins on Tuesday, retroactive to Jan. 11.
The defenseman played 21:45 on Saturday, a 4-3 overtime win at the Florida Panthers.
McAvoy has 20 points (five goals, 15 assists) in 45 games this season while averaging a team-high 23:41 of ice time.
“Charlie’s been dealing with a nagging injury for the last little while here,” coach Joe Sacco said. “So, he’s going to be shut down for the next couple of games and then we’ll reevaluate him after the game in Ottawa on Saturday and we’ll see where he is next week.”
Boston recalled forward Matt Poitras and defenseman Michael Callahan from Providence of the American Hockey League prior to its game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at TD Garden.
Defenseman Hampus Lindholm was also placed on long-term injured reserve (retroactive to Nov. 12), and forward Mark Kastelic was placed on IR (retroactive to Jan. 9).
Minnesota Wild
Kirill Kaprizov, Brock Faber and Jared Spurgeon each skated before practice Tuesday and are unlikely to play for the Wild against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday (8:30 p.m. ET; MAX, truTV, TNT, SN, TVAS).
“I won’t know until tomorrow,” coach John Hynes said. “Some of it depends on the player. I think with those particular guys, being veteran guys, I think similar to (Mats Zuccarello), I think he had one pregame skate and he was ready to play.
“I think (Brodin’s) track record of he’s out, out, out and magically shows up in the game. So, you know, I think that they’re all making good progress, but I would say right now, I probably won’t know anything. … I wouldn’t classify the injuries as day to day, but their readiness could be day to day, if that makes sense.”
Kaprizov has missed nine games with an upper-body injury. The forward leads Minnesota in goals (23), assists (27) and points (50) in 34 games.
“He’s bored out of his mind,” Hynes said. “Wants to get back, obviously very disappointed that he’s been out. I mean, he loves the game, loves to compete, but he’s going through his process, working hard and doing everything that he needs to do to get himself ready to go. He wants to play, so, but his body will tell him when he’s ready.”
Faber, a defenseman, has missed three with an upper-body injury sustained during a 6-4 win against the St. Louis Blues on Jan. 7, the same game that defenseman Jonas Brodin (lower body) blocked a shot late in the third period. Brodin has been working out off the ice but has not resumed skating.
Faber has 20 points (five goals, 15 assists) in 41 games while averaging a team-high 24:58 of ice time.
Spurgeon last played Dec. 31 and was placed on injured reserve Jan. 6. The defenseman and Wild captain has 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in 32 games and is averaging 20:43.
Hynes confirmed Faber and Brodin will not play Wednesday and Spurgeon "probably not."
"I don’t think there’ll be guys back for tomorrow," Hynes said, "but you never know." -- Jessi Pierce
New York Islanders
Ilya Sorokin dressed as the backup for the Islanders against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday.
The Islanders’ No. 1 goalie, who made 30 saves for his second shutout of the season in a 4-0 victory at the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday, returned to practice on Monday after he missed the Islanders' 2-1 win at the Utah Hockey Club on Saturday due to an illness.
Sorokin is 13-13-4 with a 2.83 goals-against average and .902 save percentage in 30 games this season.
Marcus Hogberg made his second straight start on Tuesday after he made 21 saves on Saturday for his first NHL win since Apr. 28, 2021.
Isaiah George also returned on Tuesday. The 20-year-old rookie defenseman missed the previous three games after he sustained an upper-body injury following a hit by forward Max Domi during a 2-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Jan. 2.
George has five points (one goal, four assists) in 25 games while averaging 16:38 of ice time. -- Stefen Rosner
Colorado Avalanche
Scott Wedgewood practiced Monday and will be available for the Avalanche against the New York Rangers on Tuesday (9 p.m. ET; KTVD, MSG, ALT, SNO (JIP), SNE (JIP), SN1 (JIP), SN360).
The goalie has missed four games with an ankle injury sustained during the second period of a 6-5 overtime win against the Buffalo Sabres on Jan. 2.
“Still have some issues down there, but luckily it wasn't anything that was going to be like in the timeline that those high ankles [sprains] are,” Wedgewood said. “That's exactly what I felt as soon as Matt [Sokolowski], our athletic trainer, came out.
“Just obviously all the bad words you can think in your head were going off and alarm bells were going off. [I] couldn't put weight on it right away.”
Wedgewood is 4-2-0 in seven games (six starts) since being acquired in a trade with the Nashville Predators on Nov. 30. He has a 2.35 GAA and .917 save percentage.
Samuel Girard (upper body) will miss his third straight game Tuesday; the defenseman has 18 points (two goals, 16 assists) in 42 games.
“He's not good to go, no,” Bednar said. “Day to day.”
Forwards Miles Wood (upper body) and Valeri Nichushkin (lower body), and defenseman Oliver Kylington (upper body) each skated but did not practice Monday. They are not close to returning.
“Probably still some distance to go yet for those guys, but we'll see how it goes,” Bednar said. -- Ryan Boulding
Columbus Blue Jackets
Zach Aston-Reese signed a one-year contract with the Blue Jackets on Monday for next season.
The 30-year-old forward has 11 points (four goals, seven assists) and 94 hits in 42 games this season, his first with Columbus.
“Zach has been a great addition to the Blue Jackets on the ice and in the dressing room,” Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell said. “He brings speed, grit and versatility to our forward group and we are excited that he will continue to be a part of our club.”
Aston-Reese who was not drafted, has 145 points (46 goals, 45 assists) in 352 regular-season games with the Penguins, Ducks, Detroit Red Wings and the Blue Jackets, and five points (two goals, three assists) in 29 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Columbus (20-17-6) hosts the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; FDSNOH, NBCSP+).
