NHL Buzz: Andersen activated from injured reserve by Hurricanes

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Carolina Hurricanes

Frederik Andersen was activated from injured reserve and backed up Pyotr Kochetkov for the Hurricanes against the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday.

The 35-year-old goalie has not played since Oct. 26, when he made 18 saves in a 4-1 win against the Seattle Kraken. He was expected to miss 8-12 weeks and returned to practice with the Hurricanes on Jan. 8 after having knee surgery on Nov. 22.

"I've never been through this exact surgery," Andersen said. "But (it was) a good indication right away that the surgeon liked what was going on, and I just tried to push it as quick as I could without any real setbacks. Obviously, it's not going to be linear, but I was really happy with the process."

Andersen is 3-1-0 with a 1.48 goals-against average and a .941 save percentage in four games this season.

"You're always worried about the rust factor," coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "He hasn't played in a long time. It's good to see him out there in a regular game-kind of mode. We can certainly use him.

"Hopefully Freddie gets going here and solidifies that position for us. That's the last line of defense. If that guy can bail you out, it makes your life a lot easier. You certainly play a little more confidently with that."

In Andersen's absence, Carolina has relied on Kochetkov, who is 16-9-2 with a 2.54 GAA, .901 save percentage and one shutout. Dustin Tokarski, who signed on Dec. 2, went 4-2-0 with a 2.18 GAA and .902 save percentage in six games but was assigned to Chicago of the American Hockey League on Friday. Spencer Martin made nine appearances before being returned to the AHL on Dec. 2.

Andersen missed 50 games last season with a blood-clotting issue before returning to the lineup in March.

"You take what you can in terms of any experience. I've had some adversity and that type of stuff the last calendar year or two. Having that trust in myself that I can get through it is obviously going to be a challenge for everyone. I have the mental mindset of knowing and believing that I still have good hockey left in me. (I'm) just trying to work as hard as I can to be back and help the guys out." -- Kurt Dusterberg

Minnesota Wild

Brock Faber will return to the lineup when the Wild visit the Nashville Predators on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; FDSNNO, FDSNSO, FDSNWI).

The defenseman missed four games with an upper-body injury sustained during a 6-4 win against the St. Louis Blues on Jan. 7. Faber has 20 points (five goals, 15 assists) in 41 games while averaging a team-high 24:58 of ice time per game.

"I'm excited. I feel good," Faber said. "It obviously [stinks] being hurt. First time in a really long time that I've had to miss games. It'll drive you crazy, that's for sure. But I feel good. I'm excited to be back with the guys. It's really exciting."

Jakub Lauko will also play on Saturday. The forward has been out since Dec. 14 after reaggravating a lower-body injury. He has four points (two goals, two assists) in 24 games this season.

"I might have overestimated myself a little bit, and I underestimated the injury," Lauko said. "So it happened again, and I had a little bit different issue as well. So, it's been a long time. Was getting a little sick of just lifting, lifting and just everything from far away. So I'm happy to be part of the team, to go on a trip again and hopefully get some games."

Kirill Kaprizov was moved to retroactive long-term injured reserve and will not travel with the team on the two-game trip (also at the Colorado Avalanche on Monday). The forward, who has missed 10 games because of a lower-body injury, practiced with the group on Friday and is eligible to return when healthy.

Kaprizov leads Minnesota in goals (23), assists (27) and points (50) in 34 games this season.

"It hasn't been setback. It's just, I would say it's taken a little bit longer in the recovery process of pushing it and then see how it reacts to that, and then pushing it further and see how that reacts," Wild coach John Hynes said.

Jared Spurgeon also practiced and continues to progress from a lower-body injury. 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 of ice time per game.

Defenseman Jonas Brodin, who suffered a lower-body injury on Dec. 7, has not started skating but is working out off the ice. -- Jessi Pierce

Columbus Blue Jackets

Jake Christiansen signed a two-year, $1.95 million contract with the Blue Jackets on Friday. It has an average annual value of $975,000.

The 25-year-old defenseman has a career-high seven points (one goal, six assists) in 45 games this season.

"Jake is a mobile, puck-moving defenseman who continues to improve and become a consistent contributor on our blueline this season," Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell said. "His high character fits in well in our dressing room and we are excited about his future with our club."

He has 14 points (two goals, 12 assists) in 89 career NHL games since being signed by Columbus on March 4, 2020, as an undrafted free agent.

Dallas Stars

Roope Hintz is day to day for the Stars because of an upper-body injury.

The forward left a 4-1 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday at 7:25 of the first period and did not return after taking a hit from Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews. He took one shift after the hit and exited 6:53 into the game.

Hintz did not play in a 3-1 loss to the Montreal Canadians on Thursday, but has not been ruled out for Dallas' game at the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday (4 p.m. ET; Victory+, ALT).

Hintz has 27 points in 42 games this season and leads the Stars with 19 goals. He is averaging 16:54 of ice time per game and missed one game earlier this season with an undisclosed injury, a 6-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Nov. 27. -- Taylor Baird

New York Islanders

Simon Holmstrom could return to the lineup when the Islanders host the San Jose Sharks on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET, MSGSN, NBCSCA).

"We'll see how he feels tomorrow," Islanders coach Patrick Roy said after practice Friday. "I guess there's some chance that he is playing."

Holmstrom has missed the past seven games after he sustained an upper-body injury in their 3-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Dec. 29. He was placed on injured reserve, retroactive to that date.

Holmstrom was a full participant at practice Friday after skating the last two days in a noncontact jersey. He has 22 points (nine goals, 13 assists) in 37 games.

Defenseman Alexander Romanov did not skate on Friday. He has missed three games with an upper-body injury and is day to day.

Forward Maxim Tsyplakov will have a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety after his illegal check to the head of Philadelphia Flyers forward Ryan Poehling after 8:14 of the first period in their 5-3 loss on Thursday.

Forward Marc Gatcomb was recalled from Bridgeport of the American Hockey League. -- Stefen Rosner