NHL Buzz: Tyler Johnson returns for Blackhawks against Sabres

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Chicago Blackhawks

Tyler Johnson returned to the lineup when the Blackhawks played the Buffalo Sabres on Monday.
The forward missed six games after he sustained a concussion against the Ottawa Senators on March 12.
"Yeah, he feels fine," Blackhawks coach Derek King said. "I mean, I probably could've thrown him in the road trip (a three-game trip that ended Saturday). We thought we'd bring him on the road and he could hang out with the guys and be a part of all that, so we just decided we'll get him in. We kind of had it either today's game or obviously in Florida (against the Panthers on Thursday). One of those games. Figured it'd be a good time to do it now."
Johnson had artificial disk replacement surgery on Dec. 3 and missed 46 games. He returned on March 3 against the Edmonton Oilers and played six games before sustaining the concussion.
He has scored three points (one goal, two assists) in 14 games this season. -- Bruce Miles

Washington Capitals

Nic Dowd did not play for the Capitals against the Carolina Hurricanes.
The forward, who took part in line rushes during morning skate, missed his fifth straight game with an upper-body injury.
Dowd has scored 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) in 50 games. He plays on the Capitals top penalty-killing unit and leads Washington in face-off winning percentage (54.4 percent).
With five centers available, rookie Connor McMichael was on the third line and Lars Eller moved to left wing during the morning skate.
"Lars for me is one of those guys that can play anywhere," Washington coach Peter Laviolette said. "I know he's a natural center. One of the things we're trying to do is put some more centermen back into the lineup going into the playoffs. We'll start here, try it, see how the game goes. Lars can go back to the middle when we need him."
Eller has scored 23 points (nine goals, 14 assists) in 57 games.
"It's probably been like six years or something since I played there," Eller said of left wing. "I have played there before so it's not completely new to me but obviously I'm more comfortable at center. But you've got to be able to adapt and it's good to be versatile and bring value to your team to be able to play more positions." -- Harvey Valentine

San Jose Sharks

Kevin Labanc could play for the Sharks next week after he returned to practice Monday, coach Bob Boughner
told the Mercury News
.
The forward hasn't played since having surgery to repair a dislocated shoulder in late December. Labanc scored six points (three goals, three assists) in 21 games prior to the injury.
"He looked good," Boughner said in remarks published Monday. "You can tell he's fresh. He had some pop in his legs. His conditioning is pretty solid at this point. That's all he had been doing, so that's a good thing. A positive sign."
Jonathan Dahlen skated Sunday and could also return soon. The rookie forward has missed three games after he was hit in the face by a puck in the third period of a 4-2 win against the Arizona Coyotes on March 20. He's scored 22 points (12 goals, 10 assists) in 52 games
San Jose (29-28-8) is 10 points behind the Vegas Golden Knights for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference.