Buzz: Crosby, Malkin in Penguins lineup against Blue Jackets

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Pittsburgh Penguins

Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin were each in the lineup for the Penguins against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday after being game-time decisions because of an illness.
Pittsburgh's top two centers did not practice Monday, although Malkin took part in an optional morning skate Tuesday. Backup goalie Casey DeSmith returned after he was absent with an illness Monday. He served as the backup for Tristan Jarry against Columbus.
Crosby leads Pittsburgh with 33 points (13 goals, 20 assists) in 25 games, and the NHL in even-strength points with 28 (12 goals, 16 assists). Malkin's 24 points (eight goals, 16 assists) are tied with Guentzel for second on the Penguins.
Defenseman Kris Letang skated Monday with forward Ryan Poehling, who is day to day with an upper-body injury and did not play, for about 45 minutes before practice. Letang has not been cleared for any hockey-related activity after having a stroke Nov. 28. -- Wes Crosby

Chicago Blackhawks

Jonathan Toews did not play because of an illness for the Blackhawks against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday.
Toews, a forward and the Blackhawks captain, did not participate in the morning skate after feeling sick this morning. Forward
Lukas Reichel
was recalled from Rockford of the AHL.
Toews is third on the Blackhawks with 14 points (eight goals, six assists) and leads the NHL with a 64.2 face-off winning percentage (287-for-447; minimum 150 face-offs) in 24 games this season.
Chicago placed goalie Petr Mrazek (groin) on injured reserve Tuesday, retroactive to Dec. 3.-- Mike G. Morreale

Los Angeles Kings

Alex Iafallo was in the lineup for the Kings against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday after the forward missed 23 games with a lower-body injury he sustained in a game against the Detroit Red Wings on Oct. 17.
"He's been out for eight weeks. It's been a long time," Kings coach Todd McLellan said. "So, for us or anybody watching, to think that he's coming in and going to wave the magic wand and be the savior, I think that's very unfair for him or any other player coming back in that situation.
"But when he is up and running and playing to his capacity, he's a very trustworthy player on both sides of the puck. He can play in all special teams. Interestingly enough, when you're talking to teammates about, 'Who would you like to play with?' sometimes coaches ask that question, his name comes up an awful lot. I think that's a real compliment that one teammate can pay the other."
Iafallo has five points (two goals, three assists) in four games this season. He had 30 points (13 goals, 17 assists) in 55 games last season.

St. Louis Blues

Forward Pavel Buchnevich (lower body) and defenseman Torey Krug (upper body) did not play against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on Tuesday.
St. Louis coach Craig Berube said each needs further evaluation by team doctors before knowing the severity.
Buchnevich is third on the Blues with 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists) in 20 games; Krug has 11 points (five goals, six assists) in 24 games.

Nashville Predators

Ryan McDonagh is out 2-4 weeks with an upper-body injury.
The defenseman was placed on injured reserve by the Predators on Monday after he was struck in the face by a puck during a 4-1 win at the New York Islanders on Friday. He has six assists this season, his first with Nashville after he was acquired in a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning on July 3.
The Predators recalled defenseman Jordan Gross from Milwaukee of the American Hockey League. They next play at the Lightning on Thursday.

Montreal Canadiens

Brendan Gallagher is out at least two weeks for the Canadiens with a lower-body injury.
The forward had missed the past three games after he was injured during a 4-0 loss to the San Jose Sharks on Nov. 29. He has eight points (three goals, five assists) in 22 games this season.
David Savard did not play in a 7-6 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Monday because of an upper-body injury. The defenseman was injured during a 5-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday but finished the game. He has eight points (one goal, seven assists) in 24 games.
"It will be an extra challenge for us, but our young 'D' back there are excited," defenseman Kaiden Guhle said. "We try to jump on these opportunities when guys get hurt. We try to stop up and fill-in these roles, so us young D are excited tonight to get that opportunity.
"[Savard] is a big player for our team offensively and defensively. He blocks shots, he's always sound in the D-zone, moving pucks. We're going to have to step up our game here a little bit and we're excited to do that."
The Canadiens visit the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday (10 p.m. ET; ROOT-NW, TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, SN NOW) and host the Kings on Saturday.

Philadelphia Flyers

James van Riemsdyk could return against the Washington Capitals on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET; NBCSP, NBCSWA, TVAS, ESPN+, SN NOW).
The forward has been out since Oct. 23 because of a broken left index finger. He had surgery to repair the injury Oct. 28 and was expected to need six weeks to recover.
"I think if we get a good report today [from the training staff], he has a chance of playing," coach John Tortorella said Tuesday.
Van Riemsdyk has said he's cleared for contact and is working on getting his timing back.
"I'm getting closer and closer, taking it day by day at this point," he said. "Just trying to go from there. We'll see. I've been able to skate the whole time so [conditioning] is as good as it can be. Playing in games, you can't really mimic that type of hockey shape, but you try to do your best as far as skating, staying in shape in other ways. I've just got to jump in the water at some point and go from there."
Van Riemsdyk has five points (two goals, three assists) in six games. The Flyers are 5-10-5 without him.
"When you're watching, it's always tough, you think you can be out there and contribute and make a difference in some of the games," van Riemsdyk said. "I feel like the team has been playing pretty well lately so I just want to hop in and have a seamless transition and contribute in whatever way I can."
The Flyers placed forward Tanner Laczynski on injured reserve because of a lower-body injury sustained during the third period of a 5-3 win against the Colorado Avalanche on Monday. He is considered week to week. Laczynski scored Monday and has four points (two goals, two assists) in 19 games. -- Adam Kimelman