NHL Buzz: Larkin playing for Red Wings against Lightning

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

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Boston Bruins

Jake DeBrusk was a healthy scratch at the New York Islanders (TVAS, MSG+ 2, NESN, NHL.TV).
The forward has scored one goal in 17 games, two seasons after an NHL career-high 27.
"At the end of the day, we're not quite getting out of Jake what we want," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. "Some of that is circumstance and situational. He's moved around, been hurt. His center he's played with in the past has been hurt, but I still feel he's been given ice time to perform to the best of his ability. We just feel that we're not getting the effort required. It's not always about the scoresheet. It's about being one of 20 guys helping you win and some nights it's there, some nights it's not."
Sean Kuraly played in DeBrusk's place. He was a healthy scratch for a 1-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils on March 7.
Tuukka Rask is not on the road trip. Cassidy said an injury the goalie sustained in the loss to the Devils isn't considered serious. Jaroslav Halak started and
Dan Vladar
was the backup .
"He's feeling better, but we just felt, why mix in a couple of plane rides when not necessary," Cassidy said. "Obviously if something happened to 'Jaro' between now and game time might be a problem, but at the end of the day that's what we felt was best for him.
"It's just a little maintenance for him. Save a trip. Simple as that."-- Amalie Benjamin

Colorado Avalanche

Nathan MacKinnon is expected to return for a home game against the Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday.
"It should give us a big lift," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. "This is one of the top players in the world. He's our on-ice leader and we need him and his offensive punch."
The center has missed three games after not feeling well as a result of a hit to the head by San Jose Sharks forward Joachim Blichfeld on March 3. He's second on the Avalanche with 22 points (five goals, 17 assists in 19 games) behind Mikko Rantanen (25 points; 12 goals, 13 assists in 23 games).
"When Nate gets into scoring areas, he draws attention to himself and he either winds up with a good scoring chance or his linemates do, and the top players tend to finish off more of their scoring chances than other guys," Bednar said. "So it's going to be a big lift for us to get him back."
Cale Makar (upper body) did not take part in an optional practice Tuesday. The defenseman skated Sunday and before the morning skate Monday.
"There's no specific setback," Bednar said. "I'm just not getting any information that says he's coming back tomorrow. Until I hear from our medical staff or from Cale himself that he's good and ready to play or gearing up to play our next game, I don't know when that's going to be. It could be as early as tomorrow or it could be two months from now. I have no idea."
Makar has missed six games since Feb. 26. -- Rick Sadowski, independent correspondent

Vancouver Canucks

Elias Pettersson is probably out at least another week, coach Travis Green said. The forward has missed three games with an upper-body injury.
Pettersson was injured against the Winnipeg Jets on March 1. He scored one goal the next night in a 5-2 loss at Winnipeg. He took part in the morning skate last Thursday but left earlier than usual and was a late scratch against the Toronto Maple Leafs that night.
"He got hit and banged up a little bit the first game in Winnipeg," Canucks general manager Jim Benning said March 5. "He played the second game and tweaked what he had going a little bit from before,. As soon as he's 100 percent healthy he'll get back playing again."

Pittsburgh Penguins

Jared McCann did not play when the Penguins hosted the New York Rangers (NBCSN, SN, ATTSN-PT, MSG, NHL.TV).
The forward has an upper-body injury and is day to day.
McCann was injured late in the second period of a 5-1 win against the Rangers on Sunday. He left the game and did not return.
"He's playing really well for us," coach Mike Sullivan said Sunday. "He's got good offensive instincts. It's discouraging to see him go down with an injury. Hopefully, it won't be too long and we get some positive news."

Detroit Red Wings

Dylan Larkin is playing against the Tampa Bay Lightning after the forward and red Wings captain missed four games with an upper-body injury.
"I felt pretty good," Larkin said after practicing Sunday. "It's kind of a day-to-day thing. The big thing is [Monday] and see how it feels and take it from there."
Larkin skated on his own during a 1-3-1 road trip that ended with a 5-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday.
Tyler Bertuzzi did not practice Sunday. The forward missed his 18th game because of an upper-body injury.
"It's just been a longer process than what we realized and that happens sometimes with injuries," Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said. "So we just sit and wait until he's fully healthy and can get back at it."

Chicago Blackhawks

Kirby Dach practiced Monday for the first time this season and the forward is accompanying the Blackhawks on their six-game road trip.
"We'll take him, just so we can keep skating him," coach Jeremy Colliton said. "Whenever we can we'll get him with the group, whether that's with the taxi squad or full group. Obviously, it's another step for him to be joining the team in some way, but he still has a way to go."
Dach broke his right wrist during a pretournament game with Canada at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship on Dec. 23. He had surgery Dec. 29 and was expected to be out 4-5 months.
"A lot of it is just time," Colliton said. "He's going to look like he's ready to play and we're still going to hold him out, probably, to be smart. He's definitely moving through here and it's a positive for everyone."
The 20-year-old scored 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) in 64 regular-season games and six points (one goal, five assists) in nine postseason games last season.