NHL Buzz: Lehner sent home by Golden Knights for injury evaluation

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

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Vegas Golden Knights

Robin Lehner will be evaluated for a lower-body injury and was unable to play for the Golden Knights at the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday.
"We sent him home for some tests," Golden Knights coach Peter DeBoer said. "Not upper body. It] was last time. This isn't upper body."
Lehner made 19 saves in a 2-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday and started four of the prior five games since returning from an upper-body injury that caused him to miss five games.
Lehner was 21-15-1 with a 2.77 goals-against average, .909 save percentage and one shutout in 38 games this season.
Laurent Brossoit started against the Sabres with
[Logan Thompson
his backup.
Forward Reilly Smith did not play because of an undisclosed injury.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Alexandre Texier was granted a leave of absence from the Blue Jackets on Thursday.
"Recently, 'Tex' has experienced personal losses of people very close to him, and our priority right now is to support him in every way possible," Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said. "We are going to give him the time he needs and look forward to welcoming him back to the Blue Jackets family when he is ready."
Texier missed 17 games since he sustained a fractured finger Jan. 26. The 22-year-old forward scored 20 points (11 goals, nine assists) in 36 games this season.

Los Angeles Kings

Drew Doughty will not play for the Los Angeles Kings against the San Jose Sharks (10:30 p.m. ET; BSW, NBCSCA, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).
The defenseman is day to day because of an undisclosed injury, coach Todd McLellan said. Doughty participated in the morning skate and stayed on the ice for additional skating and movement drills.
He led Kings defensemen in goals (seven), assists (24) and points (31) and was averaging 25:44 of ice time per game.
Doughty missed 16 games from Oct. 23-Nov. 27 because of a knee contusion. He missed three games in December while in NHL COVID-19 protocol.
Defenseman Jordan Spence will make his NHL debut and play on the second power-play unit.
The Kings will also be without defenseman Mikey Anderson, Doughty's usual defense partner, because of an upper-body injury, and forwards Viktor Arvidsson (lower body) and Brendan Lemieux (lower body), who are each week to week. -- Dan Greenspan

San Jose Sharks

Erik Karlsson will return for the Sharks at the Los Angeles Kings after missing 15 games. The defenseman had surgery Jan. 24 to repair a torn muscle in his left forearm.
Karlsson led Sharks defensemen with eight goals in 33 games and his 26 points were second to Brent Burns.
Karlsson is expected to be paired with Jaycob Megna against the Kings. Megna will return after missing 10 games because of a foot injury that required surgery. He scored one goal in 19 games.
"I think 'Karly' and 'Megs' will have more offensive-blue-line starts," Sharks coach Bob Boughner said. "Just to try and manage the situation, manage their minutes a little bit." -- Dan Greenspan

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St. Louis Blues

Pavel Buchnevich did not play for the Blues against the New York Rangers on Tuesday because of NHL concussion protocol.
The forward, who was third on St. Louis with 46 points, tied for second in goals with 19, and fourth in assists with 27, was injured Tuesday in the third period of a 4-1 win against the Ottawa Senators after taking a hit from forward Austin Watson.
"He feels a little bit better today," Blues coach Craig Berube said of Buchnevich. "That's basically all I can tell with you that right now. ... We lose a real good player, I think, in all aspects of the game. He's in penalty kill, power play, 5-on-5 play, he's been a very good player, a 200-foot player."
Buchnevich did not practice Wednesday and did not take part in the morning skate Thursday. Forward Logan Brown played after being a healthy scratch the past seven games.
"It's tough. We don't want to lose a player like that for sure, but 'Brownie' will come in and do the job," Berube said.
Defenseman Marco Scandella returned after missing 11 games with a lower-body injury. Forward Oskar Sundqvist missed a second straight game with a lower-body injury.-- Lou Korac

Colorado Avalanche

Samuel Girard was sent to Colorado to be reevaluated for a lower-body injury.
Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said there was no time frame for the defenseman's return to the lineup, but he did not play at the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday.
The Avalanche next play the Calgary Flames on Sunday.
Girard scored 27 points (five goals, 22 assists) in 56 games this season, averaging 21:44 of ice time per game.