NHL Buzz: Barkov out for Panthers against Hurricanes

Welcome to the NHL Buzz. Throughout the 2021-22 season, NHL.com will have you covered with the latest news.

Florida Panthers

Panthers center Aleksander Barkov is not playing against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday because of a lower-body injury.
The Florida captain scored five goals in his past three games, including two in a 5-4 overtime win against the Washington Capitals on Thursday. He scored 12 points (seven goals, five assists) in 10 games this season.
Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (upper body) also did not play. Christopher Gibson was recalled from Charlotte of the American Hockey League to back up Spencer Knight.

Montreal Canadiens

Jonathan Drouin did not play for the Canadiens against the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday (CITY, SNE, TVAS, ATTSN-RM, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Montreal coach Dominique Ducharme said after the morning skate that the forward would be a game-time decision.
Drouin was hospitalized Tuesday after being hit in the head with a shot by teammate Brett Kulak during the first period of a 3-0 win against the Detroit Red Wings and didn't play in a 6-2 loss to the New York Islanders on Thursday.

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Colorado Avalanche

Devon Toews made his season debut for the Avalanche against the Columbus Blue Jackets (BSOH, ALT, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).
The defenseman missed the first nine games recovering from offseason shoulder surgery.
Forwards Mikko Rantanen and Andre Burakovsky also were in the lineup. Rantanen missed three games because of a lower-body injury and Burakovsky didn't play in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Blue Jackets on Wednesday because of an upper-body injury.
"It's exciting for our group," Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. "We're kind of muddling through the first part of the year here and we've played some good games and digging in on some things we have to get better at. It makes the job easier, and I think we can be a little more dangerous offensively now, especially when we get these guys back."-- Craig Merz

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Toronto Maple Leafs

Petr Mrazek did not play against the Boston Bruins (NHLN, CBC, SNO, SNP, NESN, ESPN +, NHL LIVE) because of an issue related to a groin injury the goalie sustained Oct. 14.
"He's getting evaluated here now," Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said. "We'll find out more tomorrow specifically but he tweaked something the other day and just wasn't feeling right."
Joseph Woll
, who was recalled from Toronto of the American Hockey League on Saturday, backed up Jack Campbell against the Bruins.
Mrazek was out six games after initially sustaining the groin injury and returned to make 27 saves in a 5-4 win against the Detroit Red Wings on Oct. 30. He was Campbell's backup the past two games despite Keefe saying Wednesday that Mrazek was not completely healthy. -- Dave McCarthy

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Buffalo Sabres

Goalie Craig Anderson is day to day because of an upper-body injury and did not play against the Detroit Red Wings (MSG-B, BSDET, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).
Anderson last played at the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday, making 22 saves in a 5-3 loss. He was the backup to Dustin Tokarksi in a 5-2 loss at the Seattle Kraken on Thursday.
"He's still being evaluated," Granato said of Anderson. "We don't have enough information but we think it's very short."
The Sabres called up Aaron Dell from Rochester of the American Hockey League.
Forward Victor Olofsson did not practice Saturday and missed a third straight game because of an undisclosed injury.
"We don't want to [mess] with the progress that he's made," Granato said. "We think it will be resolved within the next few days to where he will be full-go rather than having him reaggravate and have it linger for an extended time."
Casey Mittelstadt, who has been out since Oct. 14 because of an upper-body injury, has begun skating on his own and the center is progressing. Granato said there is no timeline set for Mittelstadt's return. -- Heather Engel

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Pittsburgh Penguins

Bryan Rust returned for the Penguins against the Minnesota Wild (ATTSN-PT, BSN, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).
The forward was activated off injured reserve Saturday. He took full contact in practice Friday for the first time since sustaining a lower-body injury Oct. 14. Rust skated at right wing on the first line with center Jeff Carter and left wing Jake Guentzel.
"Obviously you don't like getting hurt ever, but that quick into a season it stings maybe a little bit more," Rust said Friday. "Feeling good now. Felt good on the ice. … We'll see how things go here in the next little while and just go from there."
Rust normally plays on the first line with Guentzel and center
Sidney Crosby
, who is in NHL COVID-19 protocol. Crosby was unavailable Saturday for the ninth time in 10 games this season. The Penguins captain missed the first seven games after having wrist surgery Sept. 8.
Coach Mike Sullivan and defensemen Brian Dumoulin, Marcus Pettersson and Chad Ruhwedel also are in COVID-19 protocol. -- Wes Crosby

St. Louis Blues

Ryan O'Reilly was removed from NHL COVID-19 protocol Friday and the center is expected to play against the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday. O'Reilly was out four games after testing positive for COVID-19.
"Yes, he is back. His quarantine period is over," Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said Friday. "He's with the team now and skated today, I believe, and I think he'll be ready to play on Sunday, which is a real positive."
Center Brayden Schenn returned to St. Louis from the road trip for evaluation of an upper-body injury. He played the first period of a 5-3 win at the San Jose Sharks on Thursday. Coach Craig Berube said after the game that Schenn was considered day to day.
"He got injured a couple games ago [against] Chicago," Armstrong said. "He came back and tried to play. The injury got aggravated yesterday so we decided to fly him home. He's going to see our doctors over the next couple days and we'll reevaluate everything and have an update when the team returns from the road trip (which ends Tuesday)."
Defenseman Torey Krug was placed in COVID-19 protocol Friday, and defenseman Calle Rosen was recalled from Springfield of the American Hockey League. Forward Dakota Joshua was sent to Springfield. -- Lou Korac