NHL Buzz: Connor, Schmidt back for Jets against Red Wings

Welcome to the NHL Buzz. Throughout the 2021-22 season, NHL.com will have you covered with the latest news.

Winnipeg Jets

Kyle Connor and Nate Schmidt returned for the Jets in a 3-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday after each missed three games in NHL COVID-19 protocol.
Connor, a forward, and Schmidt, a defenseman, each tested positive March 30 and had to quarantine for five days. Winnipeg was 1-2-0 without them.
Connor, who leads the Jets with 41 goals and 82 points in 68 games, had not missed a game this season. Schmidt had an assist Wednesday; he has 32 points (four goals, 28 assists) in 67 games.
Forward Jansen Harkins and defenseman Ville Heinola were scratched for Winnipeg.

Vancouver Canucks

Brock Boeser will not play for the Canucks during their two-game road trip because of an upper-body injury.
The forward was injured late in the second period of a 3-2 overtime loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday. He was holding his right arm after getting hit awkwardly into the boards by teammate Elias Pettersson while trying to check Golden Knights defenseman Ben Hutton. Boeser returned for the third period but did not play at Vegas on Wednesday and is also out for the game against the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday.
"He's getting evaluated back home," Vancouver coach Bruce Boudreau said. "We'll know more about the scenario when we get home on Friday. That's the date we'll have a little more information."
Boeser has 38 points (19 goals, 19 assists) in 64 games this season.
Quinn Hughes also did not play against the Golden Knights because of a stomach illness. Hughes has 53 points (five goals, 48 assists) in 66 games this season.
Canucks defenseman Tucker Poolman could be out for the season, Boudreau said.
Poolman returned Sunday after missing 26 games because of migraine headaches but left after the first period with what Boudreau said was a recurrence.
"I'm not a doctor, but it would be hard with 12 games to go," Boudreau said. "More worried about him getting better. We'll take it a day at a time, but I'm not holding out hope for this year." -- Kevin Woodley

Montreal Canadiens

Carey Price will travel with the Canadiens for their road trip but is not expected to play in either of the two games.
The 34-year-old goalie has not played this season while recovering from knee surgery he had July 23. The expected recovery time was 10-12 weeks, but it was announced Jan. 17 that he would have to restart his rehabilitation. There was no timeline for a return.
Price has since progressed and has participated in several practices.
Montreal visits the New Jersey Devils on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; MSG+2, RDS, TSN2, ESPN+, NHL LIVE) before playing at the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.
The Canadiens (19-40-11) have the fewest points in the NHL after reaching the Stanley Cup Final last season and have allowed the second most goals per game (3.80; Red Wings, 3.84).

Pittsburgh Penguins

Jason Zucker could return for the Penguins against the New York Rangers on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, SNE, SNW, SNP, NHL LIVE).
The forward is day to day after taking full contact in practice Wednesday for the first time since missing two games with a lower-body injury sustained against the Minnesota Wild on March 31. That was Zucker's first game back after having core muscle surgery Jan. 25.
"I thought he had a good practice today," Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. "He didn't miss too much time, which is encouraging. We were able to put him in a full-participation circumstance. I thought he did really well."
Zucker skated at second-line left wing with center Evgeni Malkin and right wing Rickard Rakell on Wednesday.
Since playing against the Devils on Dec. 19, Zucker has been sidelined for 39 of 41 games. He returned from a lower-body injury with two goals in a 5-3 win against the Golden Knights on Jan. 17 before missing the next 30 games.
"I'm just excited to be back in the lineup and playing, whenever that is," Zucker said.
Zucker has 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in 32 games this season. -- Wes Crosby

Colorado Avalanche

Gabriel Landeskog could return to the ice this week for the Avalanche for the first time since having knee surgery March 14, coach Jared Bednar said, according to the Denver Post.
Landeskog has 59 points (30 goals, 29 assists) in 52 games this season. Bednar said he expects the forward to return before the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Bednar also said forward Nazem Kadri, who has missed the past two games with an upper-body injury, could return soon. Kadri leads Colorado with 83 points in 65 games.
Forward Valeri Nichushkin will play against the Jets on Friday after missing a 6-4 win against the Penguins on Wednesday with a non-COVID-19 related illness. Defenseman Samuel Girard has been cleared to return after missing 12 games with a lower-body injury.

Boston Bruins

David Pastrnak did not play for the Bruins in a 5-3 loss to the Red Wings on Tuesday because of an undisclosed injury.
The forward aggravated a previous injury in the third period of a 3-2 overtime win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday.
"He had an injury there against Winnipeg (on March 18), goalie exchange with (Linus) Ullmark that flared up one day," Boston coach Bruce Cassidy said Tuesday. "I don't know if this is the exact same thing or not -- I just found out. If that ends up being the case -- if that's the message we get that he's going to need whatever amount of time to get it right -- I don't think it's long term, but we'll put him as day to day. But who knows?"
Pastrnak leads the Bruins with 38 goals and is tied with Brad Marchand for the team lead with 71 points.
Boston plays the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday.-- Dave Hogg