NHL Buzz: Pietrangelo, Dadonov out for Golden Knights against Lightning

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

Vegas Golden Knights

Alex Pietrangelo and Evgenii Dadonov were placed in NHL COVID-19 protocol and will not be available when the Golden Knights host the Tampa Bay Lightning (10 p.m. ET; SN360, SN (JIP), TVAS, ATTSN-RM, BSSUN, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).
Pietrangelo did not participate in the morning skate, but Dadonov did. Golden Knights coach Peter DeBoer said there would be game-time decisions but wasn't specific.
Each will miss his first game of the season.
Pietrangelo leads Vegas defensemen with 22 points (five goals, 17 assists) and in average ice time (25:43). Dadonov, a forward, has scored 14 points (eight goals, six assists) in 31 games during his first season with Vegas.
Nolan Patrick was a full participant at the morning skate but it's unclear if the forward will return to the lineup. Patrick has scored one goal in four games and has not played since Oct. 22 because of an upper-body injury. -- Danny Webster

Tampa Bay Lightning

Jon Cooper entered the NHL COVID-19 protocol prior to the game at the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday.
Assistant Derek Lalonde will coach the Lightning in the final NHL game before the holiday break.
No Lightning players were revealed to have been added to the protocol.
Tampa Bay had not played since Thursday, a 2-1 win at home against the Ottawa Senators.

Ottawa Senators

Coach D.J. Smith, goalie Filip Gustavsson, video coach Mike King, and three support staff members have been placed in NHL COVID-19 protocol.
They joined assistant Davis Payne in protocol.
Gustavsson is 3-7-1 with a 3.78 goals-against average and .893 save percentage in 11 games this season.
Ottawa last played Dec. 18, a 4-3 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. The Senators had three games postponed before the holiday break because of COVID-19 concerns. In November, three games were postponed after 10 players and assistant coach Jack Capuano were placed in protocol.
The Senators are next scheduled to play Dec. 27 at the Washington Capitals.

Minnesota Wild

Joel Eriksson Ek is questionable for the Wild when they return from the NHL holiday break and visit the Winnipeg Jets on Dec. 27.
The forward left at 10:35 of the second period in a 7-4 loss at the Dallas Stars on Monday with an upper-body injury after being hit along the boards. He did not practice Tuesday.
"Ek's getting looked at today," Wild coach Dean Evason said. "We'll have to wait and see. ... We hope his outcome here today is more positive than negative."
Eriksson Ek has scored 20 points (11 goals, nine assists) in 30 games and led the NHL with 21 drawn penalties.
"It's frustrating to lose a guy like that," Wild forward Ryan Hartman said. "He's a big player for us, hopefully he's not out too long."
Jordan Greenway is expected to return against the Jets after the forward was out Monday with a lower-body injury.
"[Greenway] was here [at practice]" Evason said. "We anticipate [Greenway] should be ready to go." --Jessi Pierce