Welcome to the NHL Buzz. Each day during the regular season, NHL.com has you covered with all the latest news.
Detroit Red Wings
Andrew Copp has a broken cheekbone and did not play at the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday.
There is no timetable to return for the forward, who was injured when he was hit by Washington Capitals forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel at 14:06 of the third period of the Red Wings' 2-1 loss Tuesday.
Copp has 33 points (13 goals, 20 assists) in 77 games this season for Detroit (38-32-8), which is tied with Pittsburgh, one point behind Washington for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference. Each team has four regular-season games remaining.
Copp was replaced by Zach Aston-Reese, who will play on the fourth line. Joe Veleno will move into Copp's spot on the third line.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Joel Edmundson returned for the Maple Leafs against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday.
The defenseman missed the previous eight games after blocking a shot on March 24 in a 2-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. He was acquired from the Washington Capitals on March 7.
"It was definitely frustrating but we have so many solid defensemen that can jump in and they've been playing solid so definitely makes it a little easier, but it's never fun watching hockey," Edmundson said. "If it was playoffs, I would have played right through it, it wasn't that big an injury but we wanted to make sure I was 100 percent before I got back."
Defenseman Jake McCabe did not play against the Devils because of maintenance. -- Dave McCarthy
Chicago Blackhawks
Connor Murphy is expected to play for the first time in nearly three months when the Blackhawks play the Nashville Predators on Friday (8:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCH+, BSSO).
"It's been too long so it's nice," said the defenseman, who sustained a groin injury in Chicago's 3-1 loss to the Dallas Stars on Jan. 13 and has missed 35 games. "The last test is just getting in a game and see how it lasts the whole game."
Murphy practiced with the team last Friday for the first time since sustaining his injury.
"That extra time that he took to rehab properly, we weren't in a (Stanley Cup) Playoff run where he may be forced into playing a little bit early and sometimes that always exposes the chance for more injury," Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson said. "I think he feels really good right now and we're happy to have his leadership back."
Murphy, who has eight points (two goals, six assists) in 43 games, will likely play on a defense pair with Ethan Del Mastro. Del Mastro was recalled from Rockford of the American Hockey League on Thursday, and is expected to make his NHL debut against the Predators. -- Tracey Myers
Carolina Hurricanes
Jackson Blake, a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award as the top men's NCAA ice hockey player, signed a three-year, entry-level contract Wednesday.
The 20-year-old forward is fourth among NCAA players with 60 points (22 goals, 38 assists) in 40 games for the University of North Dakota this season, which had its season end with a 4-3 loss to the University of Michigan in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on March 29.
He was selected by the Hurricanes in the fourth round (No. 109) in the 2021 NHL Draft. The Hobey Baker winner will be announced Friday (6 p.m. ET; NHLN).
"Jackson is an explosive playmaker who has played a key role in North Dakota's success over the past two seasons," Carolina general manager Don Waddell said. "Hockey is in his blood, and we can't wait to see how his game continues to grow at the next level."
His father, Jason Blake, played 871 NHL games as a forward for the Los Angeles Kings, New York Islanders, Toronto Maple Leafs and Anaheim Ducks from 1998-2012 and was a two-time Hobey Baker Award finalist at North Dakota.
The Hurricanes (50-22-7), who are second in the Metropolitan Division, play the St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center on Friday (8 p.m. ET; BSSO, BSMW, NHLN, TVAS).
Minnesota Wild
Liam Ohgren was recalled from Iowa of the American Hockey League and could make his NHL debut at Vegas on Friday (10 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, BSNX, TVAS).
The 20-year-old forward was selected by the Wild in the first round (No. 19) of the 2022 NHL Draft. He was held without a point in three AHL games after arriving from Farjestad BK in the Swedish Elite League, where he had 19 points (12 goals, seven assists) in 26 games this season.
Ohgren signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Minnesota on July 16, 2022.
The Wild (37-32-9) were eliminated from playoff contention with a 5-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday.
St. Louis Blues
Justin Faulk will miss the remainder of the regular season because of an upper-body injury.
The defenseman was injured during the second period of a 3-2 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks on Saturday following an altercation with Sharks forward Luke Kunin. Faulk did not play in a 6-5 shootout win against the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday.
The Blues (42-32-5) have three games left after defeating the Chicago Blackhawks 5-2 at home Wednesday. They trail the Vegas Golden Knights by three points for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference.
"I think he's week to week. We want to be cautious with his injury," St. Louis coach Drew Bannister said after practice Tuesday. "Even if this was two months ago, it would still be week to week with him. It is what it is.
"With a week left right now, and pending how we play and other teams play around us, that could be extended, so there is a possibility he could be back in the lineup with our season being extended, but we'll see how that plays out."
Forward Jake Neighbours is day to day because of an upper-body injury also sustained during the second period Saturday and did not play Wednesday. Neighbours, who is tied with Pavel Buchnevich for second on the Blues with 27 goals, two behind Jordan Kyrou, also did not play Sunday.
"As of today he's feeling normal," Bannister said of Neighbours. "Obviously yes, we're going to be cautious and we'll go through the protocols of getting him back on the ice here working out, getting back on the ice and then skates with us." -- Lou Korac
