NHL Buzz: Tavares game-time decision for Maple Leafs against Flyers

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

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Toronto Maple Leafs

John Tavares will be a game-time decision for the Maple Leafs at the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday. The Maple Leafs center sustained an undisclosed injury in a 5-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Monday.
Forward Ondrej Kase also sustained an undisclosed injury Monday and will be a game-time decision.
"Both are day to day," Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said Tuesday. "They're going to travel with us and come to Philadelphia which obviously is a positive sign they could play, but I expect for both of them, a [game-time decision] would be the case."
Forwards Joey Anderson and Kirill Semyonov were recalled from Toronto of the American Hockey League and practiced Tuesday.
Without Tavares, Alexander Kerfoot was the center on a line with left wing Nick Ritchie and right wing Mitchell Marner.
Keefe said defenseman Justin Holl will play after being scratched the past five games. -- Dave McCarthy

Philadelphia Flyers

Kevin Hayes
could make his season debut when the Flyers play the Calgary Flames on Nov. 16, coach Alain Vigneault said.
The forward has been working his way back from Sept. 21 abdominal surgery. He was expected to need 6-8 weeks to recover.
Hayes is eligible to be activated from long-term injured reserve but won't play against the Maple Leafs on Wednesday, or at the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday and at the Dallas Stars on Saturday.
"He's been fully cleared to practice and contact, hasn't been cleared medically yet," Vigneault said. "We're at the six- or seven-week period so I'm assuming he would be cleared shortly."
Defenseman Ryan Ellis, who has missed seven games because of a lower-body injury, practiced Tuesday and could play against the Maple Leafs. -- Adam Kimelman

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Vegas Golden Knights

Mark Stone joined the Golden Knights for their morning skate but the forward remains out with a lower-body injury and will not play against the Seattle Kraken (10 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, NHL LIVE).
Stone skated but did not take part in line rushes. It's the first time he's practiced since getting injured Oct. 14 against the Los Angeles Kings. He skated on his own and took part in individual drills Oct. 29 at the Golden Knights practice facility.
"It's a great sign," Vegas coach Peter DeBoer said. "We're still not close to [him] playing yet, but it's a great first step."
The Golden Knights also are playing without forwards Max Pacioretty (lower body), William Karlsson (lower body) and Nolan Patrick (upper body), and defenseman Zach Whitecloud (upper body).
"The finish line is still a ways out, but it's a boost for us," DeBoer said. "Coming off the road with some of the things we've dealt with, [it's good] just to see some of these guys around and looking better than when we left 10 days ago, two weeks ago." -- Danny Webster

Nashville Predators

Forwards Filip Forsberg and Nick Cousins were placed on injured reserve Tuesday.
Forsberg has been out for three games because of an upper-body injury sustained during the third period of a 3-2 overtime win at the Calgary Flames on Nov. 2. He is considered week to week.
Cousins did not play in the third period of a 2-1 overtime loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday because of an upper-body injury and is considered week to week.
Forwards Michael McCarron and Mathieu Olivier were recalled from Milwaukee of the American Hockey League.

Ottawa Senators

Defenseman
Victor Mete
has been placed in NHL COVID-19 protocol.
He is the fifth Senators player in protocol, with forwards Connor Brown,
Dylan Gambrell
and
Austin Watson
, and defenseman
Nick Holden
. Associate coach Jack Capuano also is in protocol.
The Senators recalled goalie Filip Gustavsson from Belleville of the American Hockey League and he was available to play at the Boston Bruins on Tuesday (NESN, TSN5, RDS2, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Goalie Anton Forsberg will not play because of a non-COVID-19 illness.

Chicago Blackhawks

MacKenzie Entwistle is expected to be out 4-6 weeks because of an injury to his left ankle, sustained during a 2-1 overtime win against the Predators on Sunday. The forward was placed on long-term injured reserve Tuesday.
Entwistle has scored three points (two goals, one assist) in 12 games this season.
"You finally get your chance, and he's worked hard to get to this level, for something like that to happen, it's kind of a step back for him," Blackhawks coach Derek King said. "I feel for him, but injuries like that, they take a little bit. But when he comes back, hopefully he's stronger and ready to go and he'll take off running again."
The Blackhawks recalled forward Reese Johnson from Rockford of the American Hockey League on Monday, and he could play against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday (8:30 p.m. ET; TVAS, NBCSCH, ATTSN-PT, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). -- Tracey Myers