Welcome to the NHL Buzz. Each day during the regular season, NHL.com has you covered with all the latest news.
Nashville Predators
Tommy Novak will be out 4-6 weeks because of an upper-body injury.
The forward has 12 points (six goals, six assists) in 14 games this season, tied for second on the Predators in points behind Filip Forsberg (17). Novak is tied for the team lead with six power-play points, and has 44 points (19 goals, 25 assists) in his past 45 games dating to last season.
"It's a big loss, for sure," Nashville captain Roman Josi said. "He's played really well. Obviously he's got a lot of skill, a lot of offense coming from him and a lot of creativity. It's definitely a big loss. But it's just like it always is, right? Next guy stepping up, next man up. Somebody is going to get a bigger role and maybe some more time on the power play. We've got a lot of guys that I think are capable of doing that."
Cody Glass took Novak's place on a line with Kiefer Sherwood and Luke Evangelista when the Predators hosted the Anaheim Ducks at Bridgestone Arena on Tuesday.
"[Novak] has been really good for us," Nashville coach Andrew Brunette said. "Very creative and he's generated a lot of offense. But you've got Cody Glass coming in. It's a great opportunity for him to fill that role and play the way he's capable of playing."
The Predators (5-9-0) are 1-5-0 in their past six games and have been outscored 17-10 during a three-game losing streak. -- Robby Stanley
Anaheim Ducks
Trevor Zegras was placed on injured reserve, retroactive to Nov. 10.
The 22-year-old forward has missed the past two games because of a lower-body injury. Earlier in the week, Ducks coach Greg Cronin said Zegras needed rest after playing through the injury.
Zegras, will miss at least the next two games for Anaheim (8-6-0), which played at Nashville on Tuesday and visits the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday. He will be eligible to return against the Florida Panthers on Friday.
Zegras has two points (one goal, one assist) in 12 games this season.
With Zegras out, Alex Killorn is playing on the Ducks' top line with center Leo Carlsson and forward Troy Terry.
Philadelphia Flyers
Carter Hart could be in the lineup when the Flyers play the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET; MAX, TNT, TVAS).
The goalie practiced Tuesday and might play for the first time since sustaining a mid-body injury during the first period of a 5-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Nov. 1.
"I was on my stomach and when I tried to get up, (Sabres forward Kyle) Okposo falls on my lower back and I just kind of hyperextend my back forward a little bit and felt some sharp pain down my back, my low back," Hart said. "Couldn't bend over for a couple of days. It's fine, feels good now."
Hart also got food poisoning which kept him out the past two games.
Defensemen Rasmus Ristolainen (lower body) and Marc Staal (upper body) practiced in non-contact jerseys. Neither will play Wednesday, but their returns are getting closer.
It was Ristolainen's first practice since he had a setback in his recovery mid-October. He has not played this season.
"I feel good," he said. "Hopefully going to be playing soon. I'm on the right track right now."
Staal hasn't played since Oct. 19, when he collided with Edmonton Oilers forward Warren Foegele and fell awkwardly into the boards.
"[Foegele's] knee went into my ribs and that was it. Pretty painful," Staal said.
Staal had been skating on his own the past few days and said there's a chance he could play against the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday or the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday.
"Probably after the Carolina game, we'll kind of just take it as it comes after that," he said. "Kind of maybe day by day by the weekend, that's where we're at right now. But I'll be on the trip." -- Adam Kimelman
Vancouver Canucks
Carson Soucy is week to week after the defenseman blocked a shot off his left foot during a 5-2 win against the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday.
The Canucks called up defenseman Akito Hirose from Abbotsford of the American Hockey League on Tuesday. The 24-year-old played the two games Soucy missed to start the season because of a knee injury.
"[Soucy] is going to get another evaluation today but it will be more week to week," coach Rick Tocchet said. "We'll see what the tests are, but it kind of [stinks] because I thought his game, the last 3-4 games, him and (Tyler) Myers have been coming together as a really good pair for us."
Myers also missed practice Tuesday after going awkwardly into the boards on the same shift Soucy was injured four minutes into the second period. He was slow to get up, but finished the game and Tocchet expects him to play against the New York Islanders on Wednesday (10 p.m. ET; TVAS, SNP, TNT, MAX).
"Just precautionary," Tocchet said. "I think he'll be fine."
Soucy was considered week to week after he was injured in a preseason game against the Calgary Flames on Oct. 6, but was back on the ice a few days later and in the lineup Oct. 17.
Hirose averaged 12:36 of ice time in his place. He had three assists playing 17:27 per game in seven games after signing as a college free agent March 29.
"Hirose has a great hockey IQ," Tocchet said. "We're not scared to play him." -- Kevin Woodley
