NHL Buzz: Dahlin returns for Sabres against Canadiens

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Buffalo Sabres

Rasmus Dahlin returned for the Sabres against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.

The defenseman missed a 3-1 win against the Boston Bruins on Thursday with a lower-body injury.

“I’m feeling really, really, really, really good today, so it’s all good,” he said.

Dahlin, who is second on the Sabres with 21 points (six goals, 15 assists), also missed practice Wednesday and said he’s been playing with the injury “for a while.”

“Just got worse every day pretty much so I had to stay away from the ice for a couple of days to let it heal,” Dahlin said. “But now I’m ready to roll.”

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who missed two games with an illness, joined the team for the morning skate but will not dress against Montreal. Coach Don Granato said the goalie looked good at the skate and although he expects him to be ready for next week, it might take some time.

“This ailment that he’s had, it's depleted the energy reserves so he's building himself back up,” Granato said.

Luukonen is 6-5-1 with a 2.81 goals-against average and .907 save percentage in 13 games (11 starts).

Alex Tuch and Jordan Greenway are each progressing from his respective injury and could be back next week, when the Sabres travel to Colorado, Vegas and Arizona. Tuch (undisclosed) has missed three games and Greenway (upper body) has missed four.

“Tuch and Greenway have a chance to play on our trip, is the way it looks,” Granato said. “Later in the trip is what we’re shooting for.”

Tuch has 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) in 22 games. Greenway has seven points (two goals, five assists) in 21 games.

Zemgus Girgensons, who has been out since Nov. 25 with a lower-body injury, could be out a bit longer than anticipated.

“Zemgus is flatlined a little bit,” Granato said. “He was probably a week or so away it might be a little more than that now.” -- Heather Engel

Washington Capitals

T.J. Oshie returned for the Capitals against the New York Rangers on Saturday after the forward missed the previous six games because of an upper-body injury.

"Ready to rock," Oshie said after morning skate.

Oshie, who has two points (one goal, one assist) in 17 games this season, has not played since being injured on a hit by Edmonton Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm on Nov. 24. The 36-year-old resumed skating last week and rejoined the Capitals at practice wearing a no-contact jersey on Wednesday. He wore a regular jersey for an optional morning skate before Washington’s 5-4 shootout loss to the Dallas Stars on Thursday.

Capitals forward Max Pacioretty, who is recovering from a torn Achilles, participated in the morning skate wearing a no-contact jersey.

Coach Spencer Carbery said there is no target date for Pacioretty to make his season debut but it could come in 2-3 weeks.

“The next big step is him practicing with the group,” Carbery said. “He’ll start, I’m sure, in a noncontact [jersey]. Then, once he gets into that regular jersey, then [it’s] game on, we’re getting pretty close.” – Tom Gulitti

Tampa Bay Lightning

Steven Stamkos is “doubtful” for the Lightning against the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena on Saturday (10 p.m. ET; ROOT-NW, BSSUN, TVAS2).

“[Stamkos] has been fighting an illness,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. “So we’ll see, but he’s probably doubtful for tonight.”

Stamkos, who has 26 points (10 goals, 16 assists) in 26 games, did not participate in the morning skate. The forward did play in a 5-1 loss at the Nashville Predators on Thursday, recording one shot on goal in 18:26 of ice time.

Brandon Hagel replaced Stamkos on Tampa Bay's top power-play unit at the morning skate. -- Darren Brown

Chicago Blackhawks

Kevin Korchinski was placed on non-roster in order to attend to a family matter, coach Luke Richardson said Saturday.

“No timetable yet,” Richardson said after being asked when Korchinski could return. “We just found out last night.”

Korchinski participated in practice Friday before departing Chicago.

The No. 7 pick by the Blackhawks in the 2022 NHL Draft, the 19-year-old  defenseman has seven points (two goals, five assists) in 25 games this season. He’s averaging 19:31 of ice time per game, third on the Blackhawks behind defensemen Seth Jones (25:21) and Alex Vlasic (19:41).

“I think he’s just starting to scratch the surface of his ability in being confident of that at this level,” Richardson said. “I thought last game he had a great rush and he’s starting to shoot the puck over the last few games and we’re trying to promote that, to have the confidence and look for those opportunities because he’s definitely an offensive threat out there. Definitely we’re going to miss him, but we wish him all the best.”

The Blackhawks recalled Isaak Phillips from Rockford of the American Hockey League on Saturday. -- Tracey Myers

Toronto Maple Leafs

Timothy Liljegren was a full participant at the morning skate ahead of the Maple Leafs' game against the Nashville Predators on Saturday.

It was the first time the defenseman has taken part in a full team workout since sustaining a high ankle sprain in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on Nov. 2.

“There is a (target date), but with the nature of that injury, we’re just really not going to know until he is able to put more stress on it in full practices and full competition drills,” Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said. “He’s been skating a lot on his own and it’s felt good. Just knowing the nature of these high ankle sprains, when you really ramp up the stops and starts and digging, it becomes that much more challenging so we really won’t know but obviously he’s getting to that point.”

Liljegren, who has one assist in 10 games this season, remained on the ice for the entire morning skate, participating in drills as the seventh defenseman. -- Dave McCarthy

Vancouver Canucks

Pius Suter returned to practice on Friday after missing almost four weeks with a lower-body injury, and the Canucks’ third-line center could be back in the lineup as early as next week.

Suter, who hasn’t played since Nov. 12, could return to the lineup as early as next week. He was originally listed as day to day, but a setback prevented him from coming back sooner. 

“It took a turn and couldn’t do much about it and just had to wait it out,” Suter said. “It’s nice, a good feeling to be part of a team practice again and just fun to be around the guys more.”

Suter signed a two-year, $3.2 million contract ($1.6 million average annual value) with the Canucks as a free agent Aug. 11 and was being counted on to help improve the penalty kill and center the third line. He had four goals in 15 games prior to the injury, with all four coming in the past six games, and earned praise from coach Rick Tocchet as a player who can help settle the team down.

“You’re looking for one guy just to calm and stop the momentum, and he’s that way,” Tocchet said. “Whether it’s a face-off, being in the right position to break up a play or be the right forechecker, he’ll do something system-wise to calm the situation down, and we missed that calming influence.” -- Kevin Woodley

New York Islanders

Ryan Pulock was placed on injured reserve by the Islanders because of a lower-body injury.

The defenseman was hit in the right leg by a Zach Werenski shot with 1:55 remaining in the second period of a 7-3 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday.

Pulock played six shifts in the third period but sat on the bench for the final 8:14 of the game.

Players on injured reserve must be out for a minimum of seven days, so Pulock will miss at least three games: against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET; MSGSN, BSW), the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday and the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday.

The Islanders already are also without defensemen Adam Pelech (upper body) and Sebastian Aho (upper body).

Pelech resumed skating Friday. The 29-year-old suffered his injury in the first period of a 5-3 win against the Ottawa Senators on Nov. 24.

He is currently on long-term injured reserve and eligible to be activated Dec. 19.

To add depth, New York acquired defenseman Robert Bortuzzo in a trade with the St. Louis Blues for a seventh-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.

"You never want to see guys go down, but there are opportunities, and I'm excited to try and contribute and hopefully do some good things here with a good group who's looking to do some special things," Bortuzzo said.

Bortuzzo will make his Islanders debut when they host the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET; MSGSN, BSW). -- Stefen Rosner

Seattle Kraken

Andre Burakovsky is week to week because of an undisclosed injury sustained during the Kraken's 2-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Thursday.

The forward was hit by Devils defenseman Kevin Bahl with 5:55 left in the second period. He played one more shift in the second before leaving for the locker room with 3:01 remaining. Burakovsky returned for the third period, but played two shifts.

"It's a little bit early to give a real outcome, but it appears he’ll be week to week,” coach Dave Hakstol said after an optional practice Friday.

It was Burakovsky's first game back after missing 20 because of an upper-body injury sustained Oct. 21. Hakstol said Burakovsky's current injury is not related to the previous injury.

Burakovsky also sustained a season-ending torn groin Feb. 7. At the time of the injury he led the Kraken with 39 points (13 goals, 26 assists) in 49 games.

"It's been a tough run in terms of injuries for him," Hakstol said. "Obviously he's a guy that is very important to our hockey team when he's going in his top gear. It's been very difficult for him to put any type of stretch together of that nature, so I'm sure it's frustrating for him." -- Darren Brown

Pittsburgh Penguins

Bryan Rust has an upper-body injury and did not play for the Penguins in their fourth straight loss, 3-1 to the Florida Panthers on Friday.

The Penguins forward did not play in the third period of a 3-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday. Rust's final shift ended with 1:42 remaining in the second period.

Drew O'Connor skated at right wing on Pittsburgh's top line alongside center Sidney Crosby and left wing Jake Guentzel.

The Penguins recalled forwards Marc Johnstone, Jonathan Gruden and Valtteri Puustinen from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League on Friday and sent forwards Joona Koppanen and Alex Nylander to the AHL.

Forward Noel Acciari, who has missed four games because of a lower-body injury, was placed on injured reserve. -- George Richards