NHL Buzz: MacKinnon out for Avalanche at Red Wings

Welcome to the NHL Buzz. Throughout the 2021-22 season, NHL.com will have you covered with the latest news.

Colorado Avalanche

Nathan MacKinnon did not play against the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday because of a lower-body injury.
"He's dealing with a minor issue that isn't getting better, so we're going to hold him out tonight," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. "The idea is for him to be ready for Friday."
Colorado hosts the Winnipeg Jets on Friday and plays at the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday.
MacKinnon missed four regular-season games and the 2022 Honda NHL All-Star Game because of a concussion and facial fracture, and subsequent nose surgery. The forward was injured on a hit by Boston Bruins forward Taylor Hall early in the first period of a 4-3 overtime win Jan. 26.
MacKinnon is on a five-game point streak (three goals, two assists). He's scored 48 points (12 goals, 36 assists) in 36 games this season.

Boston Bruins

Brad Marchand is expected to rejoin the Bruins on Thursday when he's eligible to play the Seattle Kraken in his return from a six-game suspension.
Marchand did not practice Thursday because of a family matter. He was suspended by the NHL Department of Player Safety one day after roughing and high-sticking Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry during a 4-2 loss at TD Garden on Feb. 8.
Marchand has scored 49 points (21 goals, 28 assists) in 39 games, tied with David Pastrnak for the Boston lead.

Chicago Blackhawks

Jujhar Khaira will likely be out the rest of the regular season after the forward had back surgery Tuesday.
The 27-year-old, who last played in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Seattle Kraken on Jan. 17, is expected to be out 10-12 weeks. Chicago's last regular-season game is at the Buffalo Sabres on April 29.
"You're just trying to fight it off," Blackhawks coach Derek King said. "Hopefully there's something where it's, 'He's going to be OK, he'll be back in a week.' But as you prolong it and he gets a second and third opinion to make sure, and then this is what they came up with, it's too bad. Obviously right now we could use a body like that, but he's got to do the right thing."
Khaira entered NHL concussion protocol after he was taken off the ice on a stretcher following a hit by New York Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba in the second period of a 6-2 loss at United Center in Chicago on Dec. 7 and left the hospital the next day. He returned Jan. 1 and played eight games. He's scored three goals in 27 games this season.
King said Tyler Johnson could return this weekend after the forward practiced on the top power-play unit. Johnson had neck surgery Dec. 3 and was projected to be out three months. He last played for Chicago in a 6-3 loss at the Carolina Hurricanes on Oct. 29.
The Blackhawks host the New Jersey Devils on Friday and the St. Louis Blues on Sunday.
Goalie Kevin Lankinen (right hand) was activated off injured reserve and goalie
Arvid Soderblom
was assigned to Rockford of the American Hockey League. -- Tracey Myers