NHL Buzz: Gurianov granted leave of absence by Stars

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Dallas Stars

Denis Gurianov will be out indefinitely for the Stars because of family reasons.
The 25-year-old forward has five points (two goals, three assists) in 25 games this season; he did not play in the Stars' most recent game, a 2-1 win at the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday.
Gurianov had an NHL career-high 31 points (11 goals, 20 assists) in 73 games last season.

Nashville Predators

Ryan McDonagh returned for the Predators against the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday.
The defenseman missed seven games after being hit on the head with a puck during a game against the New York Islanders on Dec. 2. Nashville was 1-4-2 without McDonagh.
"You hate being out; you hate being injured and watching the guys play and missing games," McDonagh said. "Thankfully, I came back pretty strong, maybe a little bit quicker [than expected]. I'm excited about it."
McDonagh wore a full face shield and said he will do so in games for "a week or two, probably."
He has six assists and is averaging 20:16 of ice time in 23 games this season.
"It's really good to have him back," Predators coach John Hynes said. "He's a big part of our team, on and off the ice. He's a guy you rely on in a lot of key situations. He's an excellent penalty killer. I think the leadership and the demeanor that he has around the team is really good for our group." -- Bruce Miles

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Washington Capitals

T.J. Oshie will miss at least two more games with an upper-body injury he sustained against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.
The forward did not practice Wednesday after he was unavailable for a 4-3 overtime win against the Detroit Red Wings on Monday, and coach Peter Laviolette said he will also miss Washington's game at the Ottawa Senators on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, TSN5, RDS, NBCSWA, ESPN+, SN NOW) and its home game against the Winnipeg Jets on Friday before the NHL holiday break.
The Capitals first game after the break is at the New York Rangers on Dec. 27.
"The break gives that extended time and then when he comes back (from the break), we'll assess and see where he's at, where it's at," Laviolette said. "… It will be close to a week by the time we're back and then we'll see where it's at."
Goalie Darcy Kuemper is expected to start one of the next two games after the backing up Charlie Lindgren on Monday. It will be Kuemper's first game since he sustained an upper-body injury against the Calgary Flames on Dec. 3.
Forwards Nicklas Backstrom (hip surgery) and Tom Wilson (ACL surgery) practiced Wednesday on a line with Alex Ovechkin but did not make the trip to Ottawa. Defenseman Martin Fehervary (upper body) and forward
Beck Malenstyn
(finger) also did not make the trip. Forward Nic Dowd (non-COVID illness) and defenseman Alexander Alexeyev (upper body) did travel.-- Tom Gulitti, Staff Writer

Colorado Avalanche

Andrew Cogliano will be out the next two games after the Avalanche forward sustained an upper-body injury in a 1-0 shootout win against the Islanders on Monday.
He did not play after the 13:39 mark of the third period.
"He's going to miss the next two games," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said Tuesday. "He'll continue to get evaluated over the break."
Asked if the 35-year-old avoided anything major, Bednar said: "Yeah, we're hoping so."
Colorado hosted the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday and visits Nashville on Friday before the holiday break.
Cogliano has seven points (four goals, three assists) in 30 games this season. A key penalty killer, he leads Avalanche forwards in short-handed ice time per game (2:21).

Florida Panthers

Anton Lundell returned for the Panthers and had an assist in a 4-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday.
The forward missed nine games because of an upper-body injury he sustained against the Vancouver Canucks on Dec. 1. Lundell has 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in 25 games this season.
Forwards Aleksander Barkov (lower body) and Chris Tierney (concussion), and defenseman Radko Gudas (concussion), are expected to remain out until at least Dec. 29 against the Montreal Canadiens, Florida coach Paul Maurice said.
Forwards Patric Hornqvist (concussion) and
Anthony Duclair
(Achilles) are not expected to return as soon. Hornqvist, who last played Dec. 3, could be out "potentially far more long term," Maurice said.
"That's a significant injury," Maurice said of Hornqvist's second concussion this season. "This one is more serious. He's not 25 anymore, so that's a big number of concussions. Those are the conversations we're having."-- Wes Crosby

Columbus Blue Jackets

Yegor Chinakhov was placed on injured reserve Tuesday with an ankle injury.
The forward will be out indefinitely after he was injured 1:20 into the first period of a 2-1 loss to the Stars on Monday after forward Joel Kiviranta fell on the back of his left knee.
Chinakhov has 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in 30 games.
"He's out tonight. He's not even with us on this trip," Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen said prior to a 5-3 loss at the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday. "So, he's out for sure for a little bit here. We'll get more results today and tomorrow."
Columbus recalled goalie Jet Greaves from Cleveland of the American Hockey League with Elvis Merzlikins out with an illness. Greaves backed up Daniil Tarasov against the Flyers. -- Adam Kimelman