NHL Buzz: Aho questionable for Hurricanes with lower-body injury

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Carolina Hurricanes

Sebastian Aho did not practice for the Hurricanes on Thursday, and the forward is questionable for their game against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on Saturday.
"He's got a little lower-body injury that is bothering him, so we'll see where it goes," Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "But if he's not able to practice [Friday], he won't be playing on the island."
Aho is second on the Hurricanes with 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists) in 26 games this season; forward Martin Necas leads with 28 (12 goals, 16 assists).
Frederik Andersen practiced for the first time since the goalie sustained a lower-body injury Nov. 6. He has missed 14 games.
"It's a good sign," Brind'Amour said. "I was happy to see him out there today. Obviously still sharing a net kind of thing; that's his first practice with us. He's been out for a long time. Not close to playing, but at least we're taking the right steps."
Forward Ondrej Kase was on the ice prior to practice Thursday. He has not played since the season opener Oct. 12 because of a concussion.
"We knew that was an issue," Brind'Amour said. "Obviously it's been kind of around him since the last few years, and hopefully he can put it behind him and get back with us. He's not practicing with us so until that happens, there's not really much to talk about."

Chicago Blackhawks

Jonathan Toews is expected to be back in the lineup when the Blackhawks play the Winnipeg Jets at United Center on Friday (8:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCH, TSN3, ESPN+, SN NOW).
The forward did not play in a 3-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday because of an illness. Forward
Lukas Reichel
was recalled from Rockford of the American Hockey League and played 13:58. He was sent back to the AHL on Wednesday.
Toews practiced Thursday after Chicago had a day off.
"He seemed better, especially after two days," coach Luke Richardson said Thursday. "Lot better, and obviously eating and getting some rest at home yesterday was key. He said he felt much better before practice going out there."
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 (minimum 150 face-offs) in 24 games this season. -- Tracey Myers

St. Louis Blues

Forward Pavel Buchnevich (lower body) and defenseman Torey Krug (upper body) were unavailable when the Blues lost 5-2 to the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday.
Neither played in a 7-4 win against the Islanders on Tuesday. Krug was the extra defenseman at the morning skate Thursday; Buchnevich did not skate.
Buchnevich is tied for 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.

Vegas Golden Knights

Jack Eichel missed his second straight game for the Golden Knights when they lost 5-1 to the New York Rangers on Wednesday.
The center is day to day because of a lower-body injury.
Eichel leads Vegas in goals (13) and points (29), and is tied for third in assists (16).