Welcome to the NHL Buzz. Each day during the regular season, NHL.com has you covered with all the latest news.
Boston Bruins
Patrick Maroon is expected to make his Bruins debut against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; ABC, ESPN+).
The forward was a full participant in practice Friday, skating at right wing on the fourth line with Jesper Boqvist and Jakub Lauko and said he would be in the lineup.
"Obviously we're playing a Pittsburgh team that's trying to get in the playoffs," Maroon said. "So it's a good start for me. Gets me ready for the playoffs here."
Maroon spent the past 10 weeks recovering from back surgery in early February. The Bruins acquired him from the Minnesota Wild on March 8. He had 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) and 60 penalty minutes in 49 games with the Wild this season.
Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said Maroon is progressing well.
"We got to see how he responds tomorrow," Montgomery said. "That was a 40-minute practice. He's a part of every drill for the first time on a regular rotation, so we'll see how he is tomorrow morning." -- Joe Pohoryles
Colorado Avalanche
Mikko Rantanen could return to the lineup against the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday (4 p.m. ET; ALT, TSN3).
The forward has missed the past two games because of a concussion.
He was a full participant in practice Friday and skated on a line with Casey Mittelstadt and Valeri Nichushkin.
"Mikko's probable for tomorrow," coach Jared Bednar said. "We'll see in the morning."
Rantanen has been out since leaving a 6-2 loss at the Edmonton Oilers on April 5 during the second period following a hit from Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm.
Rantanen is eighth in the NHL with 102 points (40 goals, 62 assists) in 77 games. Prior to the injury, he had played 161 consecutive games.
Forward Miles Wood likely will miss a third consecutive game because of a lower-body injury.
"'Woody' is probably doubtful for tomorrow," Bednar said. -- Ryan Boulding
Minnesota Wild
Liam Ohgren made his NHL debut when the Wild lost 7-2 at the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday.
The 20-year-old forward had two shots on goal and was minus-1 in 14:07 of ice time after being recalled from Iowa of the American Hockey League on Wednesday. He was held without a point in three AHL games after arriving from Farjestad in the Swedish Elite League, where he had 19 points (12 goals, seven assists) in 26 games this season.
Selected by the Wild in the first round (No. 19) of the 2022 NHL Draft, Ohgren signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Minnesota on July 16, 2022.
The Wild (37-33-9) were eliminated from playoff contention with a 5-2 loss to the Avalanche on Tuesday.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Timothy Liljegren will return for the Maple Leafs when they host the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; CBC, SNO, SNW, SNP, BSDET).
The defenseman, who missed the past eight games because of an upper-body injury sustained March 26 during a 6-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils, practiced Friday for the first time since the injury and skated on a pair with Morgan Rielly.
Liljegren has 23 points (three goals, 20 assists) and has averaged 19:40 of ice time in 52 games.
Forward Max Domi will also play after he was absent from practice Friday because of an undisclosed injury. He had two assists and three shots on goal in 11:34 of ice time in a 6-5 loss to the Devils on Thursday.
Defenseman Joel Edmundson (undisclosed) will not play. -- Dave McCarthy
Chicago Blackhawks
Connor Murphy played for the first time in nearly three months when the Blackhawks lost 5-1 to the Nashville Predators at home Friday.
The defenseman, who sustained a groin injury during Chicago's 3-1 loss to the Dallas Stars on Jan. 13, had missed 35 games.
"It's been too long so it's nice," Murphy said before finishing with one shot in 19:05 of ice time. "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 44 games, played on a defense pair with Ethan Del Mastro. Del Mastro was recalled from Rockford of the American Hockey League on Thursday and played 18:35 against Nashville in his NHL debut. -- Tracey Myers
Washington Capitals
Rasmus Sandin is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season for the Capitals because of an upper-body injury.
The defenseman did not play the past two games and has not skated since being injured on a hit from Ottawa Senators forward Parker Kelly at the end of the first period of a 3-2 overtime loss Sunday.
"Nothing new," Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said after practice Friday. "Didn't skate today, so I don't think he'll play before the end of the regular season."
Sandin has 23 points (three goals, 20 assists) and is second on Washington in average ice time per game this season (21:07) in 68 games.
The Capitals (37-31-11) trail the Pittsburgh Penguins by one point for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference and have three games remaining, beginning with hosting the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday (5:30 p.m. ET; MNMT, BSSUN). -- Tom Gulitti
