NHL Buzz: Lehner practices, won't play for Golden Knights against Sharks

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

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Vegas Golden Knights

Robin Lehner returned to practice but won't play against the San Jose Sharks at home Monday (10 p.m. ET; ATTSN-RM, NBCSCA, NHL.TV).
The goalie hasn't played for the Golden Knights since an upper-body injury sustained Feb. 7. He was on a conditioning loan with Henderson of the American Hockey League since March 10.
"I think [Lehner] is getting very close," coach Peter DeBoer said. "He's going to reintegrate with our group this week, then he'll be considered day to day once he gets a couple practices in with our group and should be ready to go. And then it's going to be important over the last 25 games ... to get that work-to-rest ratio right for our goalies."
Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is expected to start for the sixth straight game with Logan Thompson the backup. Fleury has started 15 of the 16 games Lehner has been out, going 10-5-0 with a 1.96 goals-against average, .933 save percentage and three shutouts.

Washington Capitals

Lars Eller won't play at the Buffalo Sabres on Monday (7 p.m. ET; MSG-B, NBCSWA+, NHL.TV) and is considered day to day with a lower-body injury.
The Capitals center left the game 5:14 into the first period of a 5-4 win at the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday after playing three shifts. He had missed a 5-3 victory against the Flyers on Thursday because of a family matter.
"We felt great getting him back in the lineup and then we had to take him out of the lineup for the rest of the game," coach Peter Laviolette said. "So right now it's just day to day."
With forward Tom Wilson also out while serving the fifth game of his seven-game suspension from the NHL Department of Player Safety for boarding Brandon Carlo of the Boston Bruins on March 5, Laviolette said Washington will dress 11 forwards and seven defensemen including Trevor van Riemsdyk. It will be van Riemsdyk's first game since Feb. 7 against the Flyers. -- Tom Gulitti

Boston Bruins

Tuukka Rask joined the Bruins in Pittsburgh ahead of their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins (7 p.m. ET; SNE, SNO, ATTSN-PT, NESN, NHL.TV), but will not play in either game a back-to-back set.
The goalie has not played since March 7, when he grabbed his back at the end of a 1-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils. He practiced with the taxi squad Monday.
"I don't know what he'll be able to do," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. "It's his first time back, but he's out there."
Jaroslav Halak will make his fourth consecutive start. Cassidy said Halak is unlikely to start Tuesday, meaning Dan Vladar or Jeremy Swayman will play. It would be Swayman's NHL debut.
Vladar has played one NHL game, replacing Halak in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Second Round against the Tampa Bay Lightning last season. -- Amalie Benjamin

St. Louis Blues

Tyler Bozak and Jaden Schwartz could play against the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday.
Bozak hasn't played since an upper-body injury sustained against the Vegas Golden Knights on Jan. 26. The forward has been out the past 21 games.
"Bozak skated today and he looks like he's a go," Blues coach Craig Berube said. "Yeah, I would say so, yes (for the next game)."
Schwartz hasn't played since an upper-body injury sustained against the Arizona Coyotes on Feb. 12. Berube said a determination on the forward's availability will be made Tuesday.
"Schwartz is making great progress," Berube said. "I'll know more tomorrow on him for Wednesday, but he practiced with us today, he was on a line, he looked good. So we'll see."
The Blues were supposed to play the Kings on Monday, but the game was postponed because of weather-related issues for the Kings, who were unable to return home after playing at the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday. They practiced instead.
Berube said defenseman Colton Parayko, who has been out 12 games with an upper-body injury, hasn't started to skate but is making progress. He also said center Robert Thomas, who has been out 16 games with a broken left thumb, skated Monday with the taxi squad and could practice Tuesday but there's no timetable on his return.
Center Jacob de la Rose, who has been out seven games with a lower-body injury, practiced Monday and is "probably" available if the Blues need him, according to Berube. -- Louie Korac