NHL Buzz: Makar back for Avalanche against Stars

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Colorado Avalanche

Cale Makar will return when the Avalanche visit the Dallas Stars on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, ABC, SN, SN1, TVAS).
Makar missed five games after symptoms from a head injury sustained in a 2-1 overtime loss at the Pittsburgh Penguins on Feb. 7 resurfaced following contact in a separate incident in a 4-1 win at the St. Louis Blues on Feb. 18. He missed four games when in concussion protocol initially.
"Very, very mild. It just kind of lingered and stuck around," Makar said Friday. "I would have been more inclined to feel like playing, if I didn't have that first collision, after this [last] one. I think it would have been fine, but obviously you don't want these things to compound. I think [I'm] ready to go."
Makar is third on the Avalanche with 45 points (13 goals, 32 assists) in 46 games. He leads the NHL with an average of 26:57 in ice time per game.
Josh Manson could be out week to week after reaggravating a lower-body injury in a 7-5 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday.
"He's out. He's going to miss some time," Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. "It's related to the injury that he just had."
Manson previously missed 31 games after leaving a 6-4 win at Buffalo on Dec. 1. He has 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in 27 games this season. -- Ryan Boulding

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Florida Panthers

Aleksander Barkov and Sam Bennett will each return for the Panthers against the Pittsburgh Penguins (6 p.m. ET; BSFL, ATTSN-PT, ESPN+, SN NOW).
"Those two players are huge for our team and huge for our group," forward Carter Verhaeghe, told the Panthers website. "It makes everyone's job a little easier tonight."
Barkov has missed three games with a hand injury sustained when the forward was injured when he blocked a shot in the second period of a 7-1 victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Feb. 6. The center didn't play their next game Feb. 9 before playing six straight. Barkov then missed three games in a row.
Barkov has 50 points (16 goals, 34 assists) in 49 games this season.
Bennett hasn't played since Feb. 14, missing six games because of a lower-body injury. The center has 35 points (14 goals, 21 assists) in 56 games.
"The hands and the skill is fine, but two big men in the middle of the ice makes a difference to your D-zone coverage and how well you can hang onto the puck in the offensive zone," Panthers coach Paul Maurice said about Barkov and Bennett.

Minnesota Wild

John Klingberg will make his debut for the Wild when they play the Calgary Flames (10 p.m. ET; CBC, SN, CITY, BSWI, BSNX, ESPN+, SN NOW).
Klingberg was acquired from the Anaheim Ducks in a trade for defenseman Andrej Sustr, unsigned forward prospect Nikita Nesterenko and a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
The 30-year-old is expected to be on a defense pair with Jon Merrill.
"Skill set, a calm demeanor, competes," Wild coach Dean Evason said of Klingberg. "We remember him when he played in Dallas against us extremely well. We're looking forward to adding not only an offensive element to our group but to defend as well as our group defends as well."
Klingberg, who can become an unrestricted free agent after the season, has 24 points (eight goals, 16 assists) in 50 games this season.
Forward Oskar Sundqvist, who was acquired in a trade with the Detroit Red Wings for a fourth-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, will not play against the Flames because of flight issues.
"Couldn't get out of Detroit," Evason said. "Apparently there's a big storm. We're hoping maybe he could get in this afternoon but that doesn't look good so he will not play.
"Both (Klingberg and Sundqvist have) size, both real good skill set. Both compete. Obviously both have been in the playoffs. One's won a Cup (Sundqvist with the St. Louis Blues in 2019). We're exited to get them involved in our lineup." -- Aaron Vickers

Buffalo Sabres

Rasmus Dahlin returned to the lineup for the Sabres against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.
The defenseman, who missed three games with a lower-body injury, had an assist in 15:43 of ice time in a 5-3 win.
Dahlin is second on the Sabres with 63 points (14 goals, 49 assists) in 57 games.
Buffalo was 1-2-0 in his absence. -- Heather Engel

Boston Bruins

Tyler Bertuzzi made his Bruins debut in a 4-2 win against the New York Rangers on Saturday.
The forward, who was acquired in a trade with the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday, had one assist in 16:31 of ice time.
"I'm excited for this opportunity," Bertuzzi said Friday. "I guess I had an idea that I was going be getting traded. Didn't know where, but I'm very happy that it's here, and I'm looking forward to get going. Obviously a special group here. I met most of the guys today, coaches, everything, so it's going take me a little bit to get used to everything, but I'm excited."
Bertuzzi had 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in 29 games with the Red Wings this season, and has missed time because of hand injuries.

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Toronto Maple Leafs

Matt Murray is expected to return to start for the Maple Leafs against the Vancouver Canucks (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN).
"I'll chat with the medical staff and see exactly where he's at but if he gets through today well, which we believe he will, then he will be playing," Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said Friday.
Murray, who hasn't played since Jan. 17, took part in an optional practice on Friday and has been ramping up his work load the past six days while on Toronto's four-game road trip.
"I feel really, really good," Murray said after practice.
Murray is 11-5-2 with a .911 save percentage in 19 games in his first season with the Maple Leafs but has missed two long stretches with injury, also including adductor injury that kept him out a month after getting injured In Toronto's first game of the season.
"It's definitely tough mentally when you're away from the team and you're not doing your normal routines and you're on a bit of a different schedule, but I just try to focus my attention and my energy in the best places and that's trying to get better each and every day," Murray said. "And now I'm hoping to get back in soon and start contributing." -- Kevin Woodley

Columbus Blue Jackets

Sean Kuraly will be out six weeks for the Blue Jackets because of a left oblique strain.
The forward sustained the injury in practice Thursday. The timeline likely means he will miss the remainder of the season.
"A big blow to us but there's not much we can do about it," Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen said Friday. "You've got to move forward and it's an opportunity for some other centermen to fill those minutes. He's very consistent performer and what you get from him, the intangibles, the stuff people don't really talk about. He's very low maintenance.
"He gives max effort. He's physical, he's good in the face-off circle (49.1 percent), his penalty kill. You can match him up against other top lines. He can skate. So, all those things are going to be missed, no question."
Kuraly has 17 points (10 goals, seven assists) in 59 games this season. He leads Columbus in hits (156) and leads its forwards in short-handed ice time per game (2:17).
"It's definitely gutting," linemate Mathieu Olivier said. "He's an important guy for us. He's out best penalty killer. He's a great face-off guy. You can put him in any situation." -- Craig Merz