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Vegas Golden Knights
Jack Eichel hasn't been ruled out to return to the lineup for the Vegas Golden Knights against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; HULU, ESPN+).
The center has missed 18 games since sustaining a knee injury in a 2-1 overtime win against the Boston Bruins on Jan. 11. He took part in his first full contact practice on Friday.
"I haven't been told he's out for tomorrow," Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said Friday. "I don't expect him to play but that could change. As I said, it's been kind of a fluid thing here once he got on the road with us, he's graduated to a full practice."
Eichel rejoined the team Tuesday in a no-contact jersey and was back in a regular sweater at the morning skate in Boston, prior to a 5-4 loss on Thursday.
He is third on the Golden Knights with 44 points (19 goals, 25 assists) in 42 games this season.
"We've been keeping an eye on him," Cassidy said. "He skated in Boston, but it's a morning skate so it's not the same. I'll have to go get a feel for how he did with the trainers and himself. Didn't seem to be hindered at all, so I think it's progressing well. We were not sure at the start of the trip whether he'd play in this trip, and we still don't know. … I think it's a daily decision now that falls into Jack and the medical trainers hands. And when he's ready, he's in. It's that simple for me. But he's got to make that call."
After their game Saturday, Vegas concludes a five-game road trip at the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday. -- Heather Engel
Washington Capitals
Nick Jensen and Sonny Milano will each return for the Capitals when they host the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday (7 p.m. ET; MNMT, NHLN, NBCSP, TVAS).
Jensen, a defenseman, missed the past two games after sustaining a lower-body injury during a 3-2 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers on Saturday. Milano, a forward, missed the past two games because of an illness.
Forward Tom Wilson also will play after missing practice Thursday for personal reasons.
Forward Nic Dowd participated in an optional morning skate wearing a non-contact jersey and moved closer to returning from an upper-body injury that has kept him out of the past four games.
"He's in a non-contact jersey but doing a full morning skate is another small step," Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said.
Carbery was unsure if Dowd would be without the non-contact jersey for practice Saturday.
Defenseman Martin Fehervary, who has missed the past five games because of a lower-body injury, skated before the Capitals morning skate. Forward T.J. Oshie, who has missed the past three games because of an upper-body injury, has yet to resume skating. --Tom Gulitti
Ottawa Senators
Artem Zub will return to the lineup from a lower-body injury when the Senators host the Arizona Coyotes on Friday (7 p.m. ET; RDS, TSN5, SCRIPPS).
The defenseman, who missed three games, took reps on the top pair with Jake Sanderson during the morning skate Friday.
"That's a good addition," coach Jacques Martin said of Zub. "I think he really helps settle our defense, settle one pair. I think he's a key member of our penalty killing. So I think that will be a big help."
The Senators went 1-2-0 and allowed 13 goals in three games without Zub.
Defenseman Thomas Chabot and forward Tim Stutzle each will play after missing practice Thursday for maintenance, Martin said.
Center Josh Norris, who left a 4-1 loss to the Nashville Predators on Tuesday because of an upper-body injury, was placed on long-term injured reserve Friday. Norris collided with Predators forward Cole Smith in the second period and appeared to get his left shoulder stuck on the back post of the net. Norris has had multiple surgeries on his left shoulder but the Senators would not confirm if it was a similar injury to one he has sustained in the past.
Defenseman Travis Hamonic is week to week because of an undisclosed injury sustained against the Predators. -- Callum Fraser
Toronto Maple Leafs
Mark Giordano is going to be out "some time" after the defenseman sustained a concussion during a 4-2 win against the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday.
Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving said Giordano either is or will be going on injured reserve.
"He's doing better today," Treliving said Friday. "He's in the protocol and we'll see how things respond over the course the next few days, but he's going to miss time."
The 40-year-old left the game at 10:48 of the first period after hitting his head on the boards after a diving redirection at the top of the crease that Coyotes goalie Connor Ingram stopped with his right pad.
"I think everybody in the building caught their breath a little bit. He went in hard," Treliving said. "He was out for a little bit. But he was doing better after that game."
The game Thursday was Giordano's second straight after he missed five games following the death of his father, Paul Giordano, on Feb. 15.
"When you compound that on what he's gone through here the last month," Treliving said, "… it's been tough, but he's doing well with it."
Giordano has seven points (one goal, six assists) and 76 blocked shots and is averaging 16:41 of ice time in 38 games this season.
The Maple Leafs (34-17-8), who acquired defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin from the Anaheim Ducks in a three-way trade Thursday, host the New York Rangers on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; SN, MSG). Toronto is eight points behind the Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers for first in the Atlantic Division.
Arizona Coyotes
Clayton Keller likely will be sidelined until next week for the Coyotes because of an upper-body injury.
The forward was injured during a 4-3 overtime loss at the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday. He is expected to miss his third straight game when Arizona visits the Ottawa Senators on Friday (7 p.m. ET; RDS, TSN5, SCRIPPS).
Keller leads Arizona in goals (22), assists (30) and points (52).
Columbus Blue Jackets
Kent Johnson will be out indefinitely for the Blue Jackets because of an upper-body injury.
The forward was injured during a 4-1 loss at the New York Rangers on Tuesday; he had three shots on goal in 14:42 of ice time, and was on the ice for his last shift when the game ended.
Johnson has 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in 42 games this season.
Alexandre Texier took his spot in the lineup in a 4-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday.
