NHL Buzz: Doughty practices with Kings for 1st time since ankle injury

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Los Angeles Kings

Drew Doughty practiced with the Kings on Monday for the first time since breaking his left ankle in a preseason game against the Vegas Golden Knights on Sept. 25.

The defenseman practiced in a noncontact jersey and participated in three- and four-man drills. He also skated on his own at the other end of the ice while his teammates did special teams work.

“It was awesome,” forward Trevor Moore said. “We missed Drew a lot; I think it’s no secret. His energy, his elite hockey sense is missed on our team, so we’re happy to see him out there.”

Doughty, 35, had 50 points (15 goals, 35 assists) in 82 games last season and finished second in the NHL in time on ice per game (25:48).

It didn’t take long for Doughty to make his presence known, forward Trevor Lewis said.

“He was already hooting and hollering out there the first day back, so it’s great to have him,” Lewis said.

Los Angeles coach Jim Hiller does not know when Doughty will be able to make his season debut.

“You can ask that question. I don’t know when, and that’s the honest answer,” Hiller said. “But I would say this, it’s coming. It’s coming, and it’s hopefully not too far away.”

Alex Laferriere remains out because of an upper-body injury. Hiller expects the forward will miss home games against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday (10:30 p.m.; FDSNW, SN-PIT) and Florida Panthers on Wednesday.

Laferriere is third on the Kings in goals (13) and points (26) and is plus-11 in 41 games.

“I don’t know when he’ll be back,” Hiller said. -- Dan Greenspan

Boston Bruins

Charlie McAvoy missed his third consecutive game with an undisclosed injury Monday when the Bruins won 6-3 against the San Jose Sharks.

Boston coach Joe Sacco said the defenseman is day to day and will be reevaluated after the game before a decision is made when he can return to the lineup. McAvoy was placed on injured reserve Jan. 14, retroactive to Jan. 11, when he played 21:45 in a 4-3 overtime win at the Florida Panthers.

“Charlie’s a physical player and he relies on that part of his game to be competitive, and if something is nagging him in that situation we’re trying to do what’s best for him individually and the team too,” Sacco said Sunday. “It’s one of those situations where you’re engaged in battles, engaged in 1-on-1 confrontations is probably the part where it effects the most. I know he’ll come back strong from it and he’ll be ready to go.”

McAvoy has 20 points (five goals, 15 assists) in 45 games this season while averaging a team-high 23:41 of ice time.

The Bruins were also without forward Trent Frederic on Monday because of an illness. -- Joe McDonald

Toronto Maple Leafs

Max Pacioretty will not play against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday (7:30 p.m. ET; TVAS, Prime, NHLN, FDSNSUN) because of an upper-body injury.

The forward played 10:19 in a 7-3 win at the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, when he took a shot to the side of the head but was able to finish the game.

"He's out ... [no timeline yet], just day to day right now," Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube said.

Pacioretty has 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 32 games this season.

Fraser Minten, who has been a healthy scratch the past two games since being recalled from Toronto of the American Hockey League, will replace Pacioretty and center a line between Max Domi and Nicholas Robertson. -- Dave McCarthy

Utah Hockey Club

Mikhail Sergachev (upper body) will miss his second straight game against the Winnipeg Jets on Monday (9:30 p.m. ET; Utah16, TSN3, TVAS).

The defenseman last played in Utah's 5-3 loss to the New York Rangers on Jan. 16. He participated in the morning skate prior to a 4-2 win against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday but left the ice early and did not play.

Sergachev is 2nd in the NHL in time on ice per game (25:45) and leads Utah defensemen in goals (eight), assists (22) and points (30) in 44 games. -- Matt Komma

Columbus Blue Jackets

Justin Danforth was activated from injured reserve and will return against the New York Islanders on Monday (7:30 p.m. ET; FDSNOH, MSGSN).

The forward missed 18 games because of a lower-body injury sustained Dec. 10 against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason said Danforth will play on the fourth line with center Sean Kuraly and left wing Mikael Pyyhtia.

Columbus (22-17-7) enters with a seven-game point streak (6-0-1).

"It's tough to miss games, but it makes it a little easier when the team's doing well," Danforth said after the morning skate. "They've been playing great. Every guy's been playing hard and playing the right way, so I have to raise my level and that's what I plan on doing."

Danforth has eight points (three goals, five assists) in 25 games this season.

Forward Kevin Labanc is expected to be a healthy scratch. -- Stefen Rosner

Buffalo Sabres

Jiri Kulich returned to the lineup at the Seattle Kraken on Monday (4 p.m. ET; KHN, KONG, MSG-B, TVAS) after missing four games with a lower-body injury.

The Sabres forward was a full participant at practice since rejoining the team for its morning skate Jan. 15. At practice Sunday, the center skated between Jason Zucker and Tage Thompson on the top line, where Ryan McLeod played the past two games.

"I was so excited to be back with the boys," he said Friday. "It was pretty boring the first week."

The 20-year-old started the season on the wing but has been a regular fixture at center, his natural position, since early December. He has seven goals and nine points in 31 games.

"I think Jiri has really played well in the middle," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. "He's really skated well, broke the puck well out of his own zone. I think now he's finding people around him. It's a little bit like playing with McLeod, a guy with real good speed, and he's been defending well."

McLeod is out with an upper-body injury. He was placed on injured reserve Saturday after taking a hit in practice Thursday. He played 16:56 in a 5-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday and has 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists) in 45 games.

"I know we've got him on IR, but I expect him back by the end of the week," Ruff said.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was not available against Seattle with the goalie dealing what Ruff called nagging issues and the effects of a hit from Penguins center Evgeni Malkin on Friday. He could be back at the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. -- Heather Engel

Ottawa Senators

Linus Ullmark traveled with the Senators for their three-game road trip that began with a 2-1 win at the New Jersey Devils on Sunday.

"We're still day by day,” coach Travis Green said of Ullmark following a 6-5 shootout win against the Boston Bruins on Saturday.

Ullmark, a goalie, has not played since leaving after the first period of a 3-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 22 with a tweaked back. Heading into that game, the 31-year-old was 8-0-1 with a 1.43 goals-against average and .954 save percentage in his previous nine starts.

Anton Forsberg made 25 saves, 16 in the first period, against the Devils. Leevi Merilainen, who is 4-0-1 with a 1.57 GAA and .940 save percentage in his past five games, was the backup.

Ottawa (24-18-4) visits the New York Rangers on Tuesday and Boston on Thursday. -- Callum Fraser

Philadelphia Flyers

Ryan Poehling (upper body) was placed on injured reserve by the Flyers on Monday.

The forward was injured on a hit by Islanders forward Maxim Tsyplakov during the first period of Philadelphia's 5-3 win Thursday and missed a 3-1 victory at the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.

Tsyplakov received a three-game suspension from the NHL Department of Player Safety for an illegal check to the head.

"That type of situation with a head injury, there's ups and downs, day to day," coach John Tortorella said. "Haven't checked in with Tommy [Alva, head athletic trainer] today, but I'm not sure what the timetable is. Those things I leave up to Tommy and 'Poehls' and they'll come to me. I think each day he's getting better."

Forward Scott Laughton missed practice Monday. Tortorella said he was unsure if Laughton would be available to play against the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; FDSNDET, NBCSP, SN1).

The Flyers recalled forward Rodrigo Abols from Lehigh Valley of the AHL on Monday. The 29-year-old could make his NHL debut; he has has 19 points (nine goals, 10 assists) in 34 AHL games.

"Just keep my game simple," Abols said after practice Monday. "It's a dream come true get an opportunity to play here, so make the most of it and use the strengths that I have and see from there." -- Adam Kimelman

Edmonton Oilers

Derek Ryan was placed on waivers by the Oilers on Sunday.

The 38-year-old forward has five points (one goal, four assists) in 33 games this season, his fourth with Edmonton.

Ryan has 208 points (82 goals, 126 assists) in 603 regular-season games with the Oilers, Calgary Flames and Carolina Hurricanes, and 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 60 Stanley Cup Playoff games. He had one assist in 19 playoff games last season when Edmonton reached the Stanley Cup Final.

The Oilers also sent defenseman Josh Brown to Bakersfield of the AHL on Sunday. He has one assist in eight NHL games this season.