NHL Buzz: Marchand returns from suspension for Bruins

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

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Boston Bruins

Brad Marchand played for the Bruins at the Seattle Kraken returning from a six-game suspension issued by the NHL Department of Player Safety.
The forward did not practice Wednesday to be with his wife, who gave birth to their daughter.
"I think I'm just going to move past [the suspension] and it is what it is at this point," Marchand said. "I respect the decision. Just want to get back to playing this game. I missed being around the guys, just being a part of that group. So I am just so excited for that and to be back."
Marchand was suspended for high-sticking and roughing Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry during a 4-2 loss on Feb. 8. Boston was 3-2-1 without Marchand.
Marchand was suspended three games for slew-footing Vancouver Canucks defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson on Nov. 29.
"Brad's ready to go, this is a great place to do so," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. "He's got to play on the Brad edge but not cross it, and we've said that before; it's not something he hasn't heard before but he's really got to be careful now. We're getting into almost March. The next [suspension] could be more punitive. So I think he understands."
Marchand scored 49 points (21 goals, 28 assists) in 39 games. -- Andy Eide

Columbus Blue Jackets

Zach Werenski is day to day because of an upper-body injury and did not play against the Florida Panthers on Thursday.
The defenseman scored 33 points (eight goals, 25 assists) in 48 games and led Columbus with an average ice time of 26:03 per game.
The Blue Jackets placed goalie Elvis Merzlikins on injured reserve, retroactive to Feb. 17, because of a lower-body injury. He missed his third game. Goalie Daniil Tarasov had hip surgery Wednesday and is out for the season.
Forward Emil Bemstrom and defenseman Jake Christiansen were recalled from Cleveland of the American Hockey League.

Minnesota Wild

Jordan Greenway did not play for the Wild against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday because of an upper-body injury.
The forward was injured in a 4-3 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday and did not practice Wednesday.
"(Head athletic trainer) John [Worley] said it was maybe a little more serious than we thought obviously," Wild coach Dean Evason said Thursday. "But clearly him not playing tonight makes it more serious than we anticipated, so we'll just see how it progresses."
Greenway will stay on the road trip and travel for the game at the Calgary Flames on Saturday. He scored 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in 41 games.
Forward Mats Zuccarellowas expected to return against the Maple Leafs after not playing against the Senators because of an upper-body injury.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Jake Muzzin was placed on long-term injured reserve by the Maple Leafs on Thursday.
The defenseman left a 5-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Monday after colliding with Montreal defenseman Chris Wideman. Muzzin did not play in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday.
Muzzin missed seven games this season because of a concussion. He scored 12 points (two goals, 10 assists) in 41 games.
"Well, he has a concussion, and in terms of the [long-term injured reserve], it's not a decision that's on my plate, but when we looked at it, it's the second situation like this in a short amount of time, and the last one, it took a few weeks before he felt comfortable playing in games," Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said ."So I think it's something I know [the medical staff] is going to want to be patient with Jake in particular given what he's been through the last little while, so it takes away any sort of pressure for him and there's no day to day asking how he's doing and how he's feeling. It's going to be a long process to give him ample opportunity to feel as good as possible."
Defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin played his second game since he was acquired in a trade with the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday.
"[Muzzin's injury] provides a ton of opportunities for others," Keefe said. "We will try out different things. Bringing in Lyubushkin, the timing is good for us to have another defenseman come in."-- Dave McCarthy

Colorado Avalanche

Nathan MacKinnon could return Friday after the center did not play in a 5-2 win 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 Wednesday. "The idea is for him to be ready for Friday."
Colorado hosts the Winnipeg Jets on Friday (9 p.m. ET; ATL, TSN3, ESPN+, NHL LIVE) and plays at the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday.
MacKinnon missed four games because of a concussion, facial fracture, and nose surgery. He was injured Jan. 26 on a hit by Boston Bruins forward Taylor Hall early in the first period of a 4-3 overtime win.
MacKinnon scored 48 points (12 goals, 36 assists) in 36 games.

Chicago Blackhawks

Jujhar Khaira likely will be out the rest of the regular season after the forward had back surgery Tuesday.
Khaira, who last played Jan. 17 in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Seattle Kraken, is expected to be need 10-12 weeks to recover. 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 Wednesday. "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 Dec. 7 after he was taken off the ice on a stretcher following a hit by New York Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba during the second period of a 6-2 loss. He returned Jan. 1 and played eight games. He scored three goals in 27 games this season.
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 Oct. 29 in a 6-3 loss at the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Blackhawks host the New Jersey Devils on Friday and the St. Louis Blues on Sunday.
Goalie Kevin Lankinen (hand) was activated off injured reserve, and goalie Arvid Soderblom was assigned to Rockford of the American Hockey League. -- Tracey Myers