NHL Buzz: Makar active for Avalanche against Jets

Welcome to the NHL Buzz. Each day during the regular season, NHL.com has you covered with all the latest news.

Colorado Avalanche

Cale Makar is active for the Avalanche in their Thursday game against the Winnipeg Jets.

The defenseman was a game-time decision after he left a 6-3 win against the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday with a lower-body injury after taking one shift in the third period.

Makar had two assists and extended his season-opening point streak to 13 games (five goals, 18 assists).

"He made the trip, that's good news," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said Thursday. "He was on the ice this morning. It seems to have gone pretty well. But he'll be a game-time decision."

Forwards Valeri Nichushkin (suspended) and Jonathan Drouin (upper body), and goalie Kaapo Kahkonen did not travel with the team.

Captain Gabriel Landeskog still doesn't have a timeline to return from cartilage transplant surgery in his right knee that he had May 10, 2023.

"I don't know if you can call it [a setback]. That's what I said on [Altitude Sports Radio this morning]," Bednar said Wednesday. "I think there's ups and downs throughout the course of his rehab, especially now, when he's feeling better and getting closer to play. He's pushing himself into different areas, and sometimes he reacts well and moves on to the next thing, and then the next thing might not feel great for him. … And so right now, he's continuing his work and in the gym every day, and he'll get back on the ice soon."

Nichushkin has been cleared to practice and will play when the Avalanche host the Washington Capitals on Nov. 15.

The 29-year-old forward has been in Stage 3 of the NHL/NHL Players' Association Player Assistance Program since May 13. He set NHL career highs in goals (28) and points (53) in 54 games last season and was tied with Zach Hyman of the Edmonton Oilers for the League lead in Stanley Cup Playoff goals (nine) before being suspended without pay for a minimum of six months. -- Ryan Boulding

Philadelphia Flyers

Matvei Michkov was scratched from Thursday night's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The forward is tied for the NHL rookie lead with 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 13 games, but has one assist in his past five games.

"It's just part of the process," coach John Tortorella said Thursday. "With young guys, they can watch games too as far as development. It’s trying to help him."

Michkov previously had been benched for 10 minutes during the first period of a 2-1 win against the St. Louis Blues on Oct. 31 after poor play in the defensive zone.

"He's a 19-year-old kid playing in the best League in the world," Tortorella said at the time. "I think he's beginning to see what the National Hockey League is, as far as the speed, as far as time and space, all the things that come with it. There are going to be some major struggles within 5-on-5. We expect that. … But if we keep on seeing the same mistake, and it just totally is not concentrating on a certain part of the game ... I've been very honest with him about that. He's going to miss some ice. He's going to watch the game.

"I didn't want to sit him a period. I didn't. I just wanted him to sit, relax, think about what I said to him. I think he missed two or three rotations, we put him back out there. That's the way it's going to be. He may miss games. Who knows? I don't know what's going to happen. But that that's part of the development of a 19-year-old kid."

Anthony Richard, who was recalled from Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League on Wednesday, made his Flyers debut and had two shots on goal in 16:44 of ice time. -- Adam Kimelman

St. Louis Blues

Dylan Holloway is active for the Blues in their Thursday game against the Utah Hockey Club.

The forward was a game-time decision after he was injured late in the first period of a 3-2 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning when a puck struck his Vagus nerve on the right side of his neck with 2:35 to play in the period. Play was stopped with 1:11 remaining and Holloway was removed by a stretcher and taken to a hospital.

He rode a bike on Wednesday and took part in an optional morning skate Thursday, saying he was "ready to go".

"I felt good, I felt completely normal," Holloway said. "... I just want to go out there and kind of forget about it, put it in the past. I feel good, just excited to get out there."

However, Blues coach Drew Bannister took the cautious approach when asked about Holloway's status.

"He'll be a game-time decision," Bannister said. "Rode the bike yesterday, was out on the ice this morning, pushed himself hard, but we want to see how he reacts through he day so we'll make a decision at game time." -- Lou Korac

Boston Bruins

Andrew Peeke is week to week for the Bruins with an upper-body injury.

The defenseman was injured in a 4-0 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday. He left at 11:24 of the first period after taking a hit into the corner boards from Maple Leafs forward Max Pacioretty. Peeke went to the locker room and was ruled out for the rest of the game.

Parker Wotherspoon practiced in Peeke's place alongside Mason Lohrei on Boston's third defense pair during Thursday's morning skate, and is expected to fill in that role for the duration of Peeke's absence.

Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said the team does not plan to recall another defenseman from Providence of the American Hockey League "right now," but a move could be possible in the coming days.

Peeke has two assists in 13 games this season. -- Joe Pohoryles

Vegas Golden Knights

Ilya Samsonov did not travel with the Golden Knights and will miss the next two games because of an undisclosed injury.

The goalie did not play in a 4-3 overtime win against the Utah Hockey Club on Saturday because of soreness.

Vegas defeated the Edmonton Oilers 4-2 on Wednesday and visits the Seattle Kraken on Friday. Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy doesn't expect Samsonov's injury to be long term, and he could play in their game against the Hurricanes on Monday.

Samsonov is 3-1-1 with a 2.95 goals-against average and .906 save percentage in five games this season.

Adin Hill started against the Oilers with Akira Schmid, who was recalled from Henderson of the American Hockey League on Wednesday, serving as the backup. -- Gerry Moddejonge

Pittsburgh Penguins

Bryan Rust did not play for the Penguins against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; FDSNSO, SN-PIT) but could play at the Washington Capitals on Friday.

Rust took part in an optional morning skate Thursday after participating in a full contact in practice Wednesday. He had previously missed four games with a lower-body injury. Normally right wing on one of the top two lines, he has four points (three goals, one assist) in eight games this season.

Rust was initially labeled week to week. He was injured Oct. 26 in the third period of a 4-3 loss at the Vancouver Canucks, favoring his right leg after battling with forward Nils Hoglander along the boards.

"It's always a good feeling when you're able to kind of rejoin the team and get back into somewhat normal things," Rust said Wednesday. "It's been a lot quicker than I expected. I wasn't as optimistic at first. ... I think now they've done a really good job of getting me back into shape. Hopefully things keep going in the right direction."

Forward Kevin Hayes will not play Thursday because of an upper-body injury. -- Wes Crosby

Ottawa Senators

Artem Zub returned against the New York Islanders at Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday, playing 21:01 and registering one shot on goal.

The defenseman, who has missed nine games with a concussion, took part in an optional skate Wednesday and skated with Jake Sanderson on a defense pair at the morning skate Thursday.

"I'm probably anticipating that it might take him a little bit [to get his legs back], but he's a veteran guy, he takes really good care of himself, he's a great professional," Senators coach Travis Green said. "I don't expect anything other than his best as far as his compete level, and the rest will fall into place."

Jacob Bernard-Docker was be a healthy scratch.

Forward Shane Pinto missed his seventh straight game with an undisclosed injury. There is no timetable for his return.

Following the skate Wednesday, coach Travis Green called Zub a "possibility" to dress against the Islanders and said Pinto was "close."

Forward David Perron skated with the team for the first time in weeks but missed his eighth straight game due to personal reasons.

"Any time a player leaves for a significant amount of time over personal reasons, it's always nice and a breath of fresh air to see him back," Green said. "I'm sure he's happy to be back. There is life outside of hockey and when a player's going through something, you know they miss the team. It's good to see him back." -- Callum Fraser

Tampa Bay Lightning

Brayden Point missed his second straight game Thursday because of an undisclosed injury.

The center did not play in a 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday and will not dress against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday (7:30 p.m. ET; HULU, ESPN+).

Point took part in morning skate, mostly doing individual drills and skating on his own. He did not participate in line rushes.

"He's not playing tonight," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. "Ask me in a week."

The Lightning will not play again until Nov. 14 against the Jets. Cooper said the additional time off was a factor in the decision to keep Point out of the lineup.

"Yes, it helps, having six days off," Cooper said. "No question."

Point has 13 points (eight goals, five assists) in 12 games and led Tampa Bay with 46 goals last season. -- Corey Long