NHL Buzz: Thompson returns for Sabres against Wild
Drouin week to week for Avalanche; Laine not ruled out for Canadiens this weekend
© Ben Ludeman/NHLI
Buffalo Sabres
Tage Thompson returned from a lower-body injury for the Sabres against the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday.
The center had missed five games after sustaining the injury on Nov. 11 against the Montreal Canadiens. He played one shift in the second period before leaving the game.
“I think just taking that week to make sure I was 100 percent and make sure it's not something that's going to nag the rest of the season,” Thompson said after practice Tuesday. “So, feeling good, had a good day today and ready to go tomorrow.”
Thompson, who leads Buffalo with 11 goals and is third with 18 points in 16 games, skated in his usual spot between forwards Alex Tuch and JJ Peterka and took full reps on the top power-play unit Tuesday.
He told the coaching staff he was ready to play if needed Saturday, a 4-2 win at the San Jose Sharks, but with three games in four days out west and no time to practice, the Sabres (11-9-1) opted to hold off.
“You go into that last couple games and you’re not practicing as a team, you didn't practice in between, it was going to be hard to evaluate really where he was at,” coach Lindy Ruff said.
Buffalo went 4-1-0 in Thompson’s absence, including a three-game sweep of their California trip.
“I just love the compete and the will to not give up, especially being down in a couple of those games, clawing our way back,” Thompson said. “I think it just speaks to the character of our guys in our room, and I think there's obviously no doubt from the guys inside these walls that we can do something special, so it's just being consistent.”
Jordan Greenway remains out with a mid-body injury. Ruff said the forward, who has missed four games, had “a procedure that could possibly help” and they’ll know more “within the next couple days, and then we’ll see where he’s at.” -- Heather Engel
Colorado Avalanche
Jonathan Drouin is week to week with an upper-body injury.
The forward was injured in Colorado's 7-4 win at the Florida Panthers on Saturday. He had two goals in 23:37 of ice time.
"It's part of what he was dealing with before," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said.
Drouin has been limited to five games this season (two goals, two assists) and missed five weeks with an upper-body injury.
"It's not ideal. It would be better if we would have [a healthy team] for 30 games straight at least, but that's not how it goes sometimes," forward Mikko Rantanen said. "It's unfortunate things happen in hockey and sports, injuries, but [we're] trying to battle without him. He's a good player, but we've been in this situation before."
Drouin finished fourth on the Avalanche last season with a career-high 56 points (19 goals, 37 assists) in 79 games.
Chase Bradley was recalled from Colorado of the American Hockey League and will make his NHL debut against the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday (10 p.m. ET; MAX, TNT, ALT, SN360). He has three goals and one assist in 17 AHL games.
"Obviously we liked what we saw out of him in college and were expecting big things, and all of a sudden, he's starting to produce," Bednar said. "He's playing really well now. It's a perfect time to call him up and get a look at him, and I'd like to see him continue what he's been doing down there, which is all like rave reviews, especially for the last few weeks."
Forwards Nathan MacKinnon and Miles Wood didn't participate in the morning skate because of maintenance, but each is expected to play Wednesday. -- Ryan Boulding
Nashville Predators
Jeremy Lauzon is week to week for the Predators because of a lower-body injury sustained in a 5-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Monday.
The defenseman, who has one assist in 22 games, was playing on Nashville's top defense pair with Roman Josi prior to the injury.
The Predators recalled defensemen Adam Wilsby and Nick Blankenburg from Milwaukee of the AHL on Wednesday.
"I think they had really good camps for us," Nashville coach Andrew Brunette said. "They're very mobile, both guys. I think Wilsby has good physicality that maybe you don't notice all the time. He's pretty heavy on pucks, and Blankenburg is a really competitive kid. Looking forward to seeing them." -- Robby Stanley
Toronto Maple Leafs
Max Domi missed his third straight game for the Maple Leafs when they played the Florida Panthers on Wednesday because of a lower-body injury.
The forward did not travel for Toronto’s two-game road trip, which will conclude at the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. Domi has six assists in 19 games.
“Still recovering now,” coach Craig Berube said Tuesday. “No ice yet.”
Matthew Knies, who left a 3-0 win against the Golden Knights on Nov. 20 with an upper-body injury, also did not play against the Panthers. The forward has 12 points (eight goals, four assists) in 20 games.
“It was great,” Berube said. “He’s good, he’s practicing. Hopefully he keeps progressing in the right way. We will get him on the ice again tomorrow and see where he’s at.” -- Dave McCarthy
Vegas Golden Knights
Alex Pietrangelo and William Karlsson will each return against the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday (10 p.m. ET; MAX, TNT, ALT, SN360).
Pietrangelo, a defenseman, has missed the past three games with an upper-body injury. He has 14 points (two goals, 12 assists) in 19 games this season.
Karlsson, a forward, missed a 5-4 shootout win against the Flyers on Monday because of the birth of his second child. He has 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 13 games.
'Karly's' a proud papa for the second time, and everybody's good and healthy back home," Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. "So, we're happy for him and his family. So he's ready to go, and 'Petro' is healed up and also ready to go, so good adds late in the trip." -- Ryan Boulding
Montreal Canadiens
Patrik Laine traveled with the Canadiens to Columbus but did not play against the Blue Jackets on Wednesday.
The forward did not play in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Utah Hockey Club on Tuesday after he practiced in a regular jersey on Monday for the first time since sustaining a sprained left knee in a preseason game Sept. 28. Laine was expected to be out 2-3 months after he collided with Cedric Pare of the Maple Leafs at Bell Centre in Montreal. He opted not to have surgery and began skating again Nov. 6.
"He's getting closer," Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said Wednesday. "He's worked really hard the last couple of months. When it first happened, we weren't sure how long it's going to be and we felt like we got some pretty good news that it's going to be shorter than we thought."
St. Louis said he doesn't think Laine will play this weekend (at the New York Rangers on Saturday, at the Boston Bruins on Sunday) but "wouldn't really rule it out."
Laine, who was acquired by the Canadiens in a trade with the Blue Jackets on Aug. 19 with a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft for defenseman Jordan Harris, was limited to 18 games last season, the last coming Dec. 14, 2023, because of a broken clavicle. He had nine points (six goals, three assists).
"When you miss a lot of time you find yourself away from the team a little bit, and we've tried to do a good job of keeping him involved and we've done that," St. Louis said. "Now for him to get back into a day-to-day routine on the road and stuff, I know he's not playing, but he's skating this morning, going to get a pregame meal. He's going to come to the game, just trying to get him acclimated."
Laine began receiving care from the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program on Jan. 28 and was cleared from the program July 26.
He scored 44 goals for the Winnipeg Jets in 2017-18 but had nine points (six goals, three assists) in 18 games last season. He has two seasons remaining on a four-year, $34.8 million contract ($8.7 million average annual value) he signed July 22, 2022. -- Craig Merz
Ottawa Senators
Artem Zub was placed on long-term injured reserve by the Senators on Tuesday because of a fracture in his foot.
The defenseman was injured blocking a shot during a 4-3 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday, though he finished the game. It’s the second significant injury Zub has dealt with this season. He missed nine games because of a concussion.
Zub was replaced by Travis Hamonic on the first pair for Ottawa's 4-3 win against the Calgary Flames on Monday.
"It [stinks]. He's had some bad luck in the past few months,” Zub’s defense partner Jake Sanderson said. “I feel for him for sure, but he's a tough guy and I know he'll be back soon."
Zub has two assists and is averaging 18:19 of ice time in 11 games this season.
The Senators recalled defenseman Donovan Sebrango from Belleville of the AHL. -- Callum Fraser
New York Rangers
Chris Kreider, who is day to day with an upper-body injury, missed his second straight game for the Rangers against the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday.
The forward took part in an optional skate Wednesday after missing a 5-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Monday. He played 16:04 in New York’s 6-2 loss at the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.
Kreider has nine goals in 19 games this season.
Forward Filip Chytil is also day to day but missed his sixth straight game Wednesday because of an upper-body injury.
Detroit Red Wings
Patrick Kane missed his second straight game because of an upper-body injury when the Red Wings played the Calgary Flames on Wednesday.
"[Kane] is still day to day, but he's getting closer," Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said Wednesday.
Kane did not play in a 4-2 win at the New York Islanders on Monday and did not practice Sunday. He played 16:23 in a 2-1 loss to the Bruins on Saturday.
The 36-year-old forward has 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 20 games after signing a one-year contract with the Red Wings on June 30.
San Jose Sharks
Marc-Edouard Vlasic (upper body) will accompany the Sharks on their upcoming six-game road trip that begins Saturday at the Seattle Kraken.
"He's inching closer," coach Ryan Warsofsky said Monday before a 7-2 win against the Los Angeles Kings. "Probably sometime on that road trip, he'll be ready to go."
Vlasic, a defenseman, hasn't played this season and rejoined the team Nov. 18. The 37-year-old had 12 points (six goals, six assists) in 57 games for the Sharks last season.
"He's just got to practice," Warsofsky said. "Obviously, [he missed] training camp. I think he's had two practices with us. He needs more practice time." -- Max Miller
