NHL Buzz: Bellemare to 'miss some time' for Avalanche, coach says

Welcome to the NHL Buzz. Throughout the 2020-21 season, NHL.com will have you covered with the latest news.

Colorado Avalanche

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare will be out for an undetermined period with a lower-body injury, coach Jared Bednar said Friday.
San Jose Sharks forward Ryan Donato lost an edge and fell into Bellemare during the first period of the Avalanche's 3-0 win at Ball Arena on Thursday. The Colorado forward didn't put any weight on his left leg when he was helped off the ice.
"He's going to miss some time," Bednar said. "I don't have a time frame exactly. We'll see how he progresses, see
and forwards
Shane Bowers
and Logan O'Connor from Colorado of the American Hockey League, assigning them to the taxi squad.
"Whenever we go on the road, we're going to load up that taxi squad so we have enough guys in case something happens on the road with injuries," Bednar said. -- Rick Sadowski

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New Jersey Devils

Travis Zajac was placed in NHL COVID-19 protocol Friday, and the forward is doubtful to play at the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday (1 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN, MSG-B, MSG+, NHL.TV).
"He's in the COVID protocol and right now will not travel," coach Lindy Ruff said. "We'll approach it one game at a time. ... But I'll give you the likelihood that he is [out for the two-game set at Buffalo]."
The Devils play the Sabres again Sunday.
Zajac is two games shy of 1,000 in the NHL, all with New Jersey; he would join defenseman Ken Daneyko (1,283 games), goalie Martin Brodeur (1,259) and forward Patrik Elias (1,240) as the only players to play 1,000 games with the Devils.
"As an organization we're all looking forward to him achieving that milestone, but it'll come soon enough," forward Kyle Palmieri said.
New Jersey also will be without goalie Mackenzie Blackwood, who has been in COVID-19 protocol since Jan. 21. -- Mike G. Morreale