NHL Buzz: Malkin out for Penguins, placed on injured reserve

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Pittsburgh Penguins

Evgeni Malkin will not play against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday because of a lower-body injury (7 p.m. ET; MSG+, ATTSN-PT, NHL.TV).
Malkin was hit by Boston Bruins defenseman Jarred Tinordi at 6:42 of the first period during a 2-1 loss Tuesday. The center returned to the bench at 12:29 of the first but went to the locker room again after taking part in a power play that began at 13:13.
Malkin, who played 3:43 on Tuesday, entered the game with 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in an eight-game point streak. He is one of four Penguins to have played each of their 29 games this season (Jake Guentzel, Bryan Rust, Brandon Tanev).
Evan Rodrigues could take Malkin's spot at second-line center with Tanev elevating from third-line right wing to left wing on the second line. Kasperi Kapanen would remain right wing on that line.
Malkin, who was placed on injured reserve retroactive to Wednesday, will miss at least the next three games. He is third on the Penguins with 24 points (eight goals, 16 assists).
"We've just got to carry the momentum we've had the last couple weeks we've been playing well here," Kapanen said. "Obviously, [Malkin's] a huge part of that. He's been playing really well. He's feeling himself. We're going to miss him out there, but we're ready for the challenge."
Forward Teddy Blueger (upper body) was also placed on injured reserve Thursday retroactive to Tuesday. He has scored 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) in 28 games.-- Wes Crosby

Colorado Avalanche

Cale Makar will return to the lineup against the Minnesota Wild (9 p.m. ET; ALT, FS-N, FS-WI, NHL.TV).
"We obviously feel with Cale coming back … I mean, he's a superstar and we've got to get him back in the lineup playing here," coach Jared Bednar said. "He's healthy, and we know what he can do and how he can help us."
The defenseman, who has scored 14 points (one goal, 13 assists) and is plus-6 in 15 games this season, has missed the past 10 games with an upper-body injury. The Avalanche were 7-2-1 in that span.
Defenseman Bowen Byram also will play. Byram, who has two assists in 15 games this season, has missed the past nine games with an upper-body injury.
"I'm super excited, obviously," Byram said. "Being out for a couple weeks [stunk], it felt like forever. Got a big game tonight against Minnesota, so just trying to stay focused on that. The past is gone now, so just excited to be back."-- Rick Sadowski

Philadelphia Flyers

Robert Hagg is expected to be out 2-4 weeks because of a shoulder injury.
The defenseman left 3:28 into the second period of a 9-0 loss to the New York Rangers on Wednesday.
"He's with us on the trip," coach Alain Vigneault said. "We'll get a chance when we get back home to have our doctors look at him, but that's the first evaluation we have."
The Flyers visit the New York Islanders on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; MSG+2, NBCSP, NHL.TV) and again Saturday to end a four-game road trip.
Hagg has scored two points (one goal, one assist) and is averaging 14:27 of ice time in 21 games. -- Adam Kimelman

Ottawa Senators

Joey Daccord will be out for "the next little bit" with a lower-body injury, coach D.J. Smith said.
The goalie leaned awkwardly on his left leg and was helped off the ice in the third period of a 3-2 shootout loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday. He allowed two goals on 21 shots and was replaced by Filip Gustavsson, who made eight saves in his NHL debut.
Daccord, who is 1-3-1 with a 3.27 goals-against average and .897 save percentage in eight games (six starts) this season, was making his fourth straight start with Matt Murray (upper body) and Marcus Hogberg (lower body) out.
The Senators acquired goalie
Anton Forsberg
on waivers from the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday. He is 12-25-4 in 48 NHL games (42 starts) but has not started an NHL game this season.
Smith said Forsberg is not an option for their next game against the Calgary Flames on Monday (7 p.m. ET; TSN5, RDS2, SNF, NHL.TV). Murray is day to day, and Hogberg is skating.
"There's a lot of question marks there as to who could be ready over the next three days, so we're hopeful a lot of guys get healthy and we have some choices," Smith said. "But if it's 'Gus,' I thought he looked great again today in practice, thought he came in (Wednesday), for having no idea that he'd be in, in a pressure situation, the way he came in and when he did, I wouldn't be afraid to put him in for sure."-- Nicholas J. Cotsonika