NHL Buzz: Ovechkin could play for Capitals against Avalanche

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Washington Capitals

Alex Ovechkin was on the ice for an optional morning skate and will be a game-time decision for the Capitals against the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday (9 p.m. ET; SN1, ALT, NBCSWA, ESPN+, SN NOW).
The forward, who has a lower-body injury, had two shots in 17:54 of ice time in a 4-0 win at the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday but did not play in a 6-2 loss at Vegas on Saturday.
"I thought he looked good, but he's still day to day," Washington coach Peter Laviolette said Monday. "It was good to see him out there. He looked good. He was moving well."
Ovechkin has 52 points in 48 games and is tied for sixth in the NHL with 30 goals. -- Harvey Valentine

Pittsburgh Penguins

Tristan Jarry was scratched because of an undisclosed injury after being initially scheduled to start in goal for the Penguins against the Florida Panthers.
Jarry returned from a lower-body injury Friday, when he made 44 saves in a 4-1 win against the Ottawa Senators. Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said earlier Tuesday that Jarry would start, but he did not participate in warmups.
Casey DeSmith got the start in goal against Florida. Mike Chiasson is the Penguins' emergency backup.
Kris Letang returned after he was activated off injured reserve. He missed 11 games with a lower-body injury sustained against the Detroit Red Wings on Dec. 28. The defenseman was paired with Brian Dumoulin at the morning skate Tuesday, taking full contact for the first time.
Letang left the Penguins on Jan. 2 following the death of his father, Claude Fouquet, before a 2-1 loss to the Boston Bruins in the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park in Boston. He returned to Pittsburgh on Jan. 17, wearing a no-contact jersey in practice.
The 35-year-old was out five games earlier this season after having a stroke, the second of his NHL career, Nov. 28. Letang had four points (one goal, three assists) in eight games after returning Dec. 10.
Defenseman Jan Rutta (upper body) was placed on long-term injured reserve retroactive to Jan. 14, and forward Kasperi Kapanen (lower body) was placed on IR retroactive to Jan. 18. -- Wes Crosby

Seattle Kraken

Justin Schultz is week to week for the Kraken with an undisclosed injury.
The defenseman has missed two games since he fell following a collision with Edmonton Oilers forward Zach Hyman in the first period of a 5-2 loss on Jan. 17.
Seattle coach Dave Hakstol said he expects forward Jaden Schwartz (undisclosed) to miss his sixth consecutive game when the Kraken host the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday (10 p.m. ET; ROOT-NW, SNP, ESPN+, SN NOW). Forwards Andre Burakovsky, Alex Wennberg and Yanni Gourde will be game-time decisions. Wennberg was the only one to practice with the main group Tuesday.
Forward John Hayden was recalled from Coachella Valley of the American Hockey League.

Florida Panthers

Sam Bennett did not play for the Panthers against the Penguins because of a lower-body injury.
The forward was injured in the first period of a 6-2 loss to the New York Rangers on Monday when he crashed into the half-boards by the visitors bench before returning midway through the second and missing the third.
Florida coach Paul Maurice said the injury is not long term but is not sure if Bennett will return for its next game against the Los Angeles Kings on Friday.
Bennett has 30 points (11 goals, 19 assists) in 49 games this season.

Chicago Blackhawks

Tyler Johnson was placed on injured reserve Monday after reaggravating a left ankle injury.
The forward did not return after the first period of Chicago's 2-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday. He left the arena wearing a walking boot on his left foot.
"I'm not sure what happened tonight," Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson said Sunday. "I think last night, even at the end of the game [against the St. Louis Blues] he did something and today just a little bit worse. Before it gets too [much] worse, we thought that was it for today and make sure we get it checked out properly and take whatever course we have to for him."
Johnson was out from Oct. 26-Dec. 13 after injuring his left ankle when the Blackhawks defeated the Florida Panthers 4-2 on Oct. 25. He has 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 22 games this season.
Defenseman Isaak Phillips was assigned to Rockford of the American Hockey League defenseman Filip Roos and forward Luke Philp were recalled from Rockford.
The Blackhawks visit the Canucks on Tuesday (10 p.m. ET; TVAS, SNP, NBCSCH, ESPN+). -- Tracey Myers