NHL Status Report: Makar sustains upper-body injury in Avalanche win

Welcome to the NHL Status Report. Here is the latest lineup/injury news around the NHL.

Colorado Avalanche

Cale Makar sustained an upper-body injury in a 9-2 win against the Calgary Flames on Monday. The defenseman had three assists in the win, including the primary assist on Nathan MacKinnon’s power-play goal with 35 seconds left in the second period on what was his final shift of the game. Two shifts earlier, Makar was hit by Flames forward Adam Klapka with 5:28 left in the second period. Makar did not take any shifts in the third period. “Upper body. (Makar) went out to get evaluated, we’ll know more (Tuesday),” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “I don’t have an update, really.”

Buffalo Sabres

Jordan Greenway was a full participant at practice Monday, and the forward is an option to play against the Islanders at KeyBank Center in Buffalo on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; MSGSN2, MSG-B), which would be his first game since Jan. 22. Greenway skated at left wing with Sam Carrick and Beck Malenstyn, the first time he was on a line since rejoining the Sabres on March 24. "Just a relief," Greenway said. "It's been a long journey, so, yeah, the excitement, just happy it worked out. It has worked out up to now, and I'm feeling great." The Sabres had Greenway on a load management plan to help his recovery from multiple hernia surgeries during the past year. He sought out a different treatment option since he last played and said it's worked out great. "He's feeling a lot better," coach Lindy Ruff said. "He's been involved in a lot of non-practice physicality drills that he's looked really good. He's skated really well." … Noah Ostlund has continued skating. The forward remains day to day because of an upper-body injury sustained during a 4-3 overtime loss to the Boston Bruins on March 25.

Washington Capitals

Aliaksei Protas did not practice Monday and won't play when the Capitals host the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; MNMT, NBCSP) because of an upper-body injury. The forward was injured in a collision with former teammate Nic Dowd during the first period of a 5-4 shootout win at the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday. "He's going to miss a little bit of time," Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said. "Won't play tomorrow and then we'll sort of reassess later." … Carbery said Protas' absence potentially could create an opportunity for forward David Kampf to play for the first time since he was acquired in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks on March 6. Kampf previously was unavailable while awaiting the paperwork for his work visa to be completed and then returned to Vancouver to be with his wife, Eliska, for the birth of their daughter, Isabella, on March 19. ... Forward Pierre-Luc Dubois did not practice Monday for maintenance, but Carbery said he is expected to play against the Flyers.

Chicago Blackhawks

Artyom Levshunov missed a 5-3 loss at the New Jersey Devils on Sunday because of a small fracture in his left hand, which Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill said before the game was discovered with more imaging. Levshunov was injured during a 4-3 win against the Islanders on March 24. He has 24 points (two goals, 22 assists) in 68 games this season.

Dallas Stars

Forwards Roope Hintz (lower body) and Radek Faksa (lower body) are on pace to return before the Stars end their regular season April 15, coach Glen Gulutzan said. Hintz missed his 12th straight game Sunday, a 2-1 overtime loss at the Philadelphia Flyers, and has played once (March 6) since the break for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Gulutzan said it's likely more than 10 days before either player returns, but Hintz could be further ahead in his recovery. "There's probably a chance more for Roope before the regular season ends than there is for 'Faks,' but there's a chance for both," Gulutzan said Sunday. "But Roope's probably trending quicker than Radek. ... It's just nice to see them, that they have a time frame to come back before the playoffs." … Forward Sam Steel (undisclosed) returned home and will be out at least a week.