NHL Buzz: Scheifele in COVID-19 protocol, out for Jets against Ducks

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

Winnipeg Jets

Mark Scheifele was placed in NHL COVID-19 protocol on Thursday and is not playing against the Anaheim Ducks (8 p.m. ET; TSN3, BSSC, BSSD, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).
A Jets spokesperson said the center tested positive Wednesday morning and negative at night. Scheifele tested positve Thursday morning and is ineligible to play
"We're going to wait for a test, we've done that in the past, and we've got two lineups, two plans, and two power-play groups," Jets coach Paul Maurice said after the morning skate. "Mark is in the protocol now, so we're going down one direction. We've got that set for tonight. If we get good news on Mark here, we'll just quickly switch."
Scheifele, who led Winnipeg in scoring last season with 63 points (21 goals, 42 assists) in 56 games, has two assists in two games. He did not play in a season-opening 4-1 loss at the Ducks on Oct. 13 because he was serving the final game of a four-game suspension he received for charging Montreal Canadiens forward Jake Evans in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Second Round last season.
Forward Blake Wheeler remains in protocol after testing positive Monday. Wheeler is required to miss at least three more games.
Forward Dominic Toninato was recalled from Manitoba of the American Hockey League. -- Tim Campbell

Pittsburgh Penguins

Jeff Carter and Tristan Jarry were placed in COVID-19 protocol.
Carter, who is tied for the Penguins lead with four points (one goals, three assists) in four games, tested positive, coach Mike Sullivan said. He had been the center on the top line with
Sidney Crosby
and
Evgeni Malkin
each out with an injury.
Jarry has started three of the Penguins' four games. He is 2-0-1 with a 1.62 goals-against average and .935 save percentage.
"We did a really good job last year. I don't think we had one, or maybe we had one case the whole year," forward Evan Rodrigues said. "It just seems like this year, we're not catching the breaks. ... At the same time, when one guy goes down it's another opportunity for someone else. It's just going to have to be a collective effort from the whole group."
Crosby, who hasn't played this season, will not play against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. If Carter doesn't play, Rodrigues will be the first-line center.
"A mistake a lot of young guys make is, they get bumped up the lineup and they try to create more offense or play a different game," Rodrigues said. "The reason why you have success is by playing your game. Whether it's me, whether it's [Drew O'Connor] or whoever is getting more minutes, you play your game. You do your thing. The game will take care of itself." -- Wes Crosby

Boston Bruins

Nick Foligno could be out for the next two games for the Bruins because of an upper-body injury.
The forward sustained the injury in a 6-3 loss against the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday and did not practice Thursday. Coach Bruce Cassidy said Foligno won't play at the Buffalo Sabres on Friday (7 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, NHL LIVE) and is unlikely to be in the lineup at home against the San Jose Sharks on Sunday.
"We'll put him as day to day for now until we get an update probably by Saturday," Cassidy said. "We'll know by Sunday, but I suspect he'll miss Sunday as well."

Buffalo Sabres

Cody Eakin will miss at least the next two games for the Sabres with an undisclosed injury he sustained in practice Wednesday.
Sabres coach Don Granato said the forward is day to day and will not play against the Boston Bruins on Friday or at the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.
The Sabres host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday.
Eakin has scored two points (one goal, one assist) in three games.

Chicago Blackhawks

Mike Hardman is not playing for the Blackhawks against the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday (8:30 p.m. ET; SNP, NBCSCH, ESPN+, NHL LIVE) because of a head laceration.
The 22-year-old forward, who is in concussion protocol, was injured after being checked into the boards by New York Islanders forward Matt Martin in the third period of a 4-1 loss during Hardman's season debut Tuesday. Playing on the third line with left wing Alex DeBrincat and center Henrik Borgstrom, Hardman played 9:54 with two shots on goal, a team-high six hits and two blocked shots.
"I think he did exactly what we hoped he would do," coach Jeremy Colliton said. "That line was probably our best line and DeBrincat's best game. We'll see how long it is, but kind of just picked up where he left off in camp, I thought." -- Tracey Myers