NHL Buzz: McDonagh returns for Lightning against Blue Jackets

Welcome to the NHL Buzz. Throughout the 2020-21 season, NHL.com will have you covered with the latest news.

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Tampa Bay Lightning

Ryan McDonagh returned to the lineup against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday.
The defenseman had missed four games with a lower-body injury.
McDonagh was a limited participant Tuesday before taking part in a full practice Wednesday, which included work on the penalty kill. He has scored eight points (two goals, six assists) in 31 games, ranks third on the Lightning in ice time per game (21:58) and first in shorthanded ice time per game (3:09).
Defensemen Jan Rutta, who has missed three games with a lower-body injury, and Erik Cernak, who sustained a lower-body injury in a 3-1 loss to the Blue Jackets on Tuesday, aren't close to returning.
"No timeline," Cooper said of Rutta. "He is being evaluated today, so we should find out more." -- Corey Long

Carolina Hurricanes

Petr Mrazek made 43 saves in a 5-2 win for Chicago of the American Hockey League against Grand Rapids in a conditioning stint Thursday.
The goalie will fly back to North Carolina with the Hurricanes after their game against the Chicago Blackhawks (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, NBCSCH; NHL.TV).
"It's been eight weeks since I played a game, so I was really happy I could see the action and see the puck, see the puck through traffic and battle hard so it was positive," Mrazek said. "I don't think there's anything better than facing 45 shots. That's a good conditioning game."
Mrazek has missed 29 games following right thumb surgery Feb. 3. He's 2-1-0 with a 0.99 goals-against average, a .955 save percentage and two shutouts in four games with the Hurricanes this season.
"We just want to take it day by day here," Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said Thursday. "Obviously with him being out as long as he has, it would be tough to say, 'Hey let's throw you into an NHL game, not knowing how you feel,' because obviously there's still a question mark in his mind. So hopefully this alleviates all that. ... But we'll make decisions after [the conditioning stint]." -- Brandon Cain