Colorado Avalanche
Cale Makar will be a game-time decision for the Avalanche when they host the Ottawa Senators on Thursday (9 p.m. ET; ALT, TSN5, RDSI).
"We'll see," Colorado coach Jared Bednar said when asked about Makar's availability. "Potentially."
Makar was a full participant at the morning skate after missing the past three games with a lower-body injury. He is third on the Avalanche and second in the NHL among defensemen with 37 points (eight goals, 29 assists) in 27 games.
Defenseman Samuel Girard, who has missed the past 16 games after entering the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program Nov. 24, was a participant at the morning skate but won't play Thursday.
Girard has four points (one goal, three assists) in 15 games.
"We're excited to have him back," Bednar said. "Obviously, a big piece of our team, and the sooner we can get him up and ready to join our team the better off we're going to be. We'll just monitor him and keep an eye on him when he's on the ice. We'll converse every day, and when he's feeling like he's ready to play, then he'll go in, but it won't be today." -- Ryan Boulding
Anaheim Ducks
Forward Mason McTavish and defenseman Jamie Drysdale are expected to return when the Ducks host the Calgary Flames on Thursday (10 p.m. ET; BSSC, SNW, SNO, SNE SN1).
McTavish has missed the past seven games with an upper-body injury, and Drysdale the past 29 with a lower-body injury.
McTavish was second on the Ducks in points with 21 (10 goals, 11 assists) prior to being injured during a 4-3 shootout win against the Colorado Avalanche on Dec. 2.
Drysdale, who missed 76 games last season with a shoulder injury, sat out most of the preseason while negotiating a contract, and then played the first two games this season before he was sidelined. He has two assists this season.
"It's obviously been a long time coming, but it's nice to be back out there," Drysdale said. "I think the boys are actually playing good hockey. It's just a matter of a few little details that can be cleaned up and I think we're going to start getting on the other side of these games."
The Ducks have won two in a row following a five-game losing streak. -- Dan Arritt
Buffalo Sabres
Jeff Skinner and Jordan Greenway each returned when the Sabres hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; MSG-B, SNO).
Skinner, a forward who missed three games after sustaining an upper-body injury Dec. 13 against the Avalanche, returned to practice Wednesday in his usual spot on the top line with Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch. Skinner also took part in the morning skate Thursday.
Skinner is tied for the team lead with 12 goals and has 22 points in 30 games.
Greenway, who missed nine games with an upper-body injury sustained Dec. 2 against the Carolina Hurricanes, skated at left wing on a line with Casey Mittelstadt and Zach Benson at practice Wednesday. The forward has seven points (two goals, five assists) in 21 games this season. -- Heather Engel
Tampa Bay Lightning
Mikhail Sergachev was not in the lineup for the Lightning against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, BSSUN) because of an injury to his left foot.
Sergachev was injured blocking a shot with the back of his foot during the first period of a 6-1 win against the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday. He left the arena on a knee scooter with his foot in a boot.
"He is day to day," Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said. "He'll miss one, maybe two games."
The Lightning visit the Washington Capitals on Saturday before returning from the NHL holiday break to host the Florida Panthers on Dec. 27. Sergachev has 19 points (two goals, 17 assists) while averaging 22:56 of ice time in 33 games this season.
Defenseman Sean Day was recalled from Syracuse of the American Hockey League on Thursday, although he did not play. Haydn Fleury was in the lineup for a second straight game; he had a goal and an assist and was plus-4 against the Blues.
"He played well the other night," Cooper said of Fleury. "We need that. … every organization needs depth. He's waited his turn and again, hopefully 'Sergy' isn't out very long. But Fleury had a heck of a game last game, and I hope it continues." -- Corey Long
Vegas Golden Knights
Logan Thompson is day to day with an upper-body injury and did not play for the Golden Knights against the Lightning on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, BSSUN).
Thompson played against the Carolina Hurricanes in a 6-3 loss on Tuesday, but was removed at 4:44 of the third period against giving up his sixth goal.
Jiri Patera, who made 10 saves in relief of Thompson, made his fourth NHL start Thursday. He is 3-0-0 with a 2.99 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage in four NHL games (three starts).
Cassidy said there's no immediate timetable for Thompson's return. He is 10-5-3 with a 2.71 GAA and a .905 save percentage in 19 games (17 starts) this season.
Vegas is also without Adin Hill, who is 10-2-2 with a 1.93 GAA and a .933 save percentage.
"We've got some untested goaltenders going in there and we've got to play well in front of them," Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said. "Every team goes through different parts of the year when you get tested. That's what we're doing right now."
The Golden Knights recalled Isaiah Saville from Henderson of the AHL to be the backup Thursday. A fifth-round pick (No. 135) in the 2019 NHL Draft, Saville is 3-0-0 with a 1.33 GAA and .950 save percentage in four AHL games (three starts) this season.
"I will say this -- we're probably the only team that's dressing a [goalie] tandem in the NHL that's undefeated," Cassidy said. "That's the positive." -- Corey Long
Toronto Maple Leafs
Mark Giordano won't return before next week, although the Maple Leafs defenseman participated in the morning skate prior to their game against the Sabres on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; MSG-B, SNO).
It was the first time Giordano skated with Toronto since he broke his finger against Florida on Nov. 28. He has missed the past nine games.
“It is encouraging,” Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. “Great to see him out (on the ice). He’s been progressing very well. He won’t play here before Christmas. The timeline points more towards him being day to day as we return from the Christmas break.”
Toronto plays the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday before the NHL holiday break; their first game following the break is against the Ottawa Senators on Dec. 27.
Giordano, who was on a fourth pairing with William Lagesson at the morning skate, has five points (one goal, four assists) and is averaging 17:52 of ice time in 20 games. -- Heather Engel
