NHL Buzz: Kempe to play for Kings after exiting COVID-19 protocol

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

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Los Angeles Kings

Adrian Kempe is playing against the New Jersey Devils on Sunday (MSG+, BSW, ESPN+, ESPN LIVE) after being removed from NHL COVID-19 protocol.
The forward participated in the morning skate after missing three games in protocol.
"He'll be in the lineup," Kings coach Todd McLellan said. "He hasn't skated the past five days, and it's not ideal, but he has a pretty good engine and real good legs. I think he'll be just fine."
Kempe started the game on the top line with center Anze Kopitar and right wing Alex Iafallo. He led the Kings with 17 goals entering the game, and his 24 points in 38 games were tied for third with Viktor Arvidsson. -- Mike G. Morreale

Philadelphia Flyers

Wade Allison is expected to be out until after the NHL All-Star break with an MCL injury.
The forward injured his knee in his season debut Saturday, a 6-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, and did not play after the second period. He sustained a high-ankle sprain during rookie camp in September and scored four points (three goals, one assist) in seven games for Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League when he returned to play Dec. 11.
The Flyers resume their schedule after the All-Star break against the Detroit Red Wings in Philadelphia on Feb. 9.
Forward Zack MacEwen is questionable against the Dallas Stars on Monday (7 p.m. ET; NBCSP, BSSW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). He sustained an undisclosed injury Saturday and did not practice Sunday.
Derick Brassard continued his rehabilitation of a hip injury off the ice Sunday. The forward has missed 22 of 24 games since Nov. 23.
"Just nudging him along," Flyers coach Mike Yeo said. "Basically, doing what he can do as far as trying to get the conditioning back and making sure that we push it near the limits, but not past the limits, of what he's capable of."
Yeo said forward Sean Couturier (upper body) and defenseman Ryan Ellis (lower body) have not started skating. Couturier has been out since Dec. 18. Ellis has played one game since Oct 20.
"I really don't have a timeline for them to even get on the ice as far as even getting into non-contact drills, even just to begin skating, let alone the conditioning and everything else that goes along with it," Yeo said. "I can't even begin to guess at what time that is. Obviously the first step is to get a timeline as far as when we can start to expect them on the ice, and then from there we can determine when they're going to be ready to play." -- Adam Kimelman

San Jose Sharks

Erik Karlsson is day to day with an upper-body injury, and the defenseman missed a 7-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.
Sharks coach Bob Boughner said it is not the same injury that caused him to miss two games this month.
"You could probably tell last game (a 3-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Thursday) that he wasn't 100 percent," Boughner said. "He tried to muscle through it but just can't go today. It'll be reevaluated."
Karlsson has scored 26 points (eight goals, 18 assists) in 33 games this season.

Montreal Canadiens

Jonathan Drouin was placed on injured reserve and returned to Montreal to have his upper-body injury evaluated.
The forward was given a major penalty and a game misconduct and was fined $5,000 for cross-checking Tyler Seguin at 12:00 of the third period of a 4-3 overtime loss at the Dallas Stars on Thursday.
Drouin has scored 20 points (six goals, 14 assists) in 32 games.
Defenseman Jeff Petry, forward Josh Anderson and goalie Sam Montembeault each had therapy days Friday and did not practice.
Petry and Anderson played for the Canadiens during a 3-2 loss at the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday. Montembeault was scratched with a minor upper-body injury and is day to day. Goalie Michael McNiven was recalled from the taxi squad and backed up Cayden Primeau. -- Sean Farrell