NHL Buzz: Gaudreau out for Blue Jackets, consecutive games streak ends

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Columbus Blue Jackets

Johnny Gaudreau had his consecutive games streak end at 349 when he did not play for the Blue Jackets against the Dallas Stars on Saturday because of a lower-body injury.
The forward sustained the injury in a 3-1 win against the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday. He is day to day.
Gaudreau's streak was the third-longest current streak in the NHL, behind Vegas Golden Knights forward Phil Kessel (1,037 games) and Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brent Burns (733).
"I think we're breaking history," Columbus coach Brad Larsen said. "We're breaking his, I think it's [349] games. You kind of smile and go, 'Yeah, that's kind of how the season's gone.'"
The Blue Jackets (17-34-4) are last in the Metropolitan Division.
Gaudreau leads Columbus with 52 points and is tied for second with 15 goals, behind forward Boone Jenner, who has 16. -- Taylor Baird

Boston Bruins

Jake DeBrusk returned for the Bruins and had a goal and an assist in a 6-2 win against the New York Islanders on Saturday.
The forward missed 17 games with injuries to his hand and leg that he sustained during Boston's 2-1 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the 2023 Winter Classic on Jan. 2. The Bruins were 12-4-1 in his absence.
"He's been cleared to play for a little while," coach Jim Mongtomery said Friday. "But it's where he's at with the tenderness and just getting back into checking the boxes to be able to be ready to play mentally and physically for himself as well."
DeBrusk played right wing on the top line with Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron.
"The plan is he'll go right where he was, in my mind," Montgomery said. "But I always like to ask my assistants what their thoughts are."
DeBrusk scored both goals for Boston at the Winter Classic and has 30 points (16 goals, 14 assists) in 36 games this season. He ranks fourth on the Bruins in points per game (0.833). -- Joe Pohoryles

Toronto Maple Leafs

Ilya Samsonov did not dress for the Maple Leafs when they hostecthe Montreal Canadiens due to an illness.
Goalie Joseph Woll, who allowed four goals on 40 shots in his season-debut, a 4-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Feb. 11, started for Toronto. Erik Kallgren, who was recalled from Toronto of the American Hockey League on Saturday, served as the backup.
"Samsonov is feeling better, not quite to the point where he'd be able to participate in the game tonight in either role," coach Sheldon Keefe said. "He came in here and got a bit of a skate, he is feeling better and hope that he gains more energy and strength throughout the day today."
Keefe said the hope is that Samsonov will be able to play when the Maple Leafs visit the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday.
"We will make a decision, first of all will he fly with us tonight and then secondly would he play tomorrow? Our hope is that he can get back up to feeling good enough to play in tomorrow's game but we will have to just see how he is throughout the day," Keefe said.
Samsonov, who is 19-6-2 with a 2.31 goals-against average and .918 save percentage this season, played Wednesday, when he made 27 saves in a 5-2 win against the Blackhawks.
Goalie Matt Murray, who last played Jan. 17 when he was pulled after allowing four goals on eight shots against the Florida Panthers, was placed on long term injured reserve as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury, general manager Kyle Dubas confirmed Saturday.
Murray will be eligible to return Feb. 28 against the Edmonton Oilers but Keefe said Friday there remains no timeline for his return. He has been on the ice periodically working with goalie coach Curtis Sanford but has yet to participate in a full practice.
"Matt will be back healthy and ready to roll," Dubas said Saturday. "This might be a blessing that it lets him recharge and be ready to roll and get him 100% healthy for the stretch for the stretch." -- Dave McCarthy

Vancouver Canucks

Oliver Ekman-Larsson is out "some weeks," according to Canucks coach Rick Tocchet, after the defenseman sprained his ankle against the New York Rangers on Wednesday.;
Ekman-Larsson was injured trying to make a hit on forward Vladimir Tarasenko along the boards at 13:30 of the first period. He limped to the dressing room without putting much weight on his left leg and did not return.
Christian Wolanin was recalled from Abbotsford of the American Hockey League to take Ekman-Larsson's spot against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday (10 p.m. ET; CBC, SNP, NBCSP, ESPN+).
Wolanin is tied for fourth in AHL scoring and leads AHL defensemen with 55 points (six goals, 49 assists) in 49 games.
"Puck-moving defenseman, see what he's got," Tocchet said. "This is evaluation time to see if he can do some stuff we're looking for."
Vancouver forward Curtis Lazar won't play Saturday and is day to day with a lower-body injury sustained in the third period against the Rangers. Jack Studnicka, who missed six games with an illness that caused him to lose 12 pounds, will take Lazar's spot.
Thatcher Demko also won't dress against the Flyers after planning to be the backup goalie Saturday as part of his return from a Dec. 1 groin injury. Demko practiced in full for the first time Tuesday and said he hoped to play next week, but left practice early Thursday and wasn't at the morning skate Saturday.
Tocchet downplayed reports he suffered a setback.
"He skated five or six days in a row so we just wanted to give him a maintenance day," Tocchet said. "I think he's fine." -- Kevin Woodley

Colorado Avalanche

Cale Makar returned for the Avalanche when they defeated the St. Louis Blues 4-1 on Saturday.
The defenseman missed four games after sustaining a head injury in a 2-1 overtime loss at the Pittsburgh Penguins on Feb. 7.
"He's coming with us. That's all I can give you," coach Jared Bednar said Friday. "There's a chance he'll play
was recalled from Colorado of the American Hockey League and made 19 saves Saturday.
Gabriel Landeskog
is on track to rejoin the Avalanche for on-ice rehab this month. The forward has missed all 53 games this season following knee surgery.
There's still no specific date set for his return.
"He's planning on coming back here soon," Bednar said. -- Ryan Boulding

St. Louis Blues

Torey Krug did not play for the Blues when they concluded a four-game homestand with a 4-1 loss to the Avalanche on Saturday.
The defenseman, who left in the second period of a 6-2 win against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday, returned to play Thursday in a 4-2 win against the New Jersey Devils.
Krug, who played 17:26 on Thursday, did not practice Friday. He has 22 points (five goals, 17 assists) in 38 games this season.
Calle Rosen moved up from third defensive pair and played alongside Justin Faulk in the top four and Robert Bortuzzo, a healthy scratch the past four games, played with Tyler Tucker on the third pairing.
Sammy Blais returned to practice Friday, and the forward was in the lineup Saturday after leaving the win against the Devils with 8:53 remaining in the third period when he was on the receiving end of an illegal check to the head from New Jersey forward Miles Wood. Blais was removed from the game by concussion spotters. --Lou Korac