NHL Playoffs Buzz: Avalanche will get Makar, Manson back for Game 1

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Colorado Avalanche

Cale Makar and Josh Manson are expected to be in the lineup for the Avalanche when they play the Seattle Kraken for Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena on Tuesday (10 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN360, TVAS, ALT, ROOT-NW).
Makar and Manson each practiced Monday with Makar declaring himself good to go afterwards.
Forwards Andrew Cogliano and Denis Malgin could also be available.
Makar missed the final seven games of the regular season with a lower-body injury, but led NHL defensemen with an average ice time of 26:33 per game in 60 games and finished third on the Avalanche with 66 points.
Manson, also a defenseman, missed the final 23 games after reinjuring a previous lower-body injury March 1. He also missed 31 games after leaving a 6-4 win at the Buffalo Sabres on Dec. 1. He has 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in 27 games this season.
"I think it will be a little bit tougher than stepping back into a regular season game just because things are going to be ramped up and whatever, but that's why I want to make sure that the practices that I do are full go," Manson said Thursday. "[I'm] working on all those little things and really challenging myself, pushing myself, and trying to get up to speed the best I can, because, yeah, playoffs will be tougher."
Makar, Manson and Helm were all full participants in practice Monday. On Sunday. Helm (lower body) was on the ice in a red, non-contact sweater.
Cogliano left in the first period of a 4-2 win against the Winnipeg Jets on April 13 with an upper-body injury. Malgin left in the third with an undisclosed injury.
"Could have been a lot worse, I think, and at the end of the day, I feel pretty good," Cogliano said. "I think at this time of the year, everyone plays with something, and injuries are a part of it and playing. Giving everything you have is something that's required, so we'll see how it goes." -- Ryan Boulding

Minnesota Wild

John Klingberg is questionable for Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round at the Dallas Stars on Monday (9:30 p.m. ET; ESPN2, SN360, TVAS2, BSSW, BSN, BSWIX).
The defenseman sustained a lower-body injury at practice Saturday.
"Had an issue from yesterday's practice, so we'll see," Wild coach Dean Evason said.
Klingberg, acquired in a trade with the Anaheim Ducks on March 3, has nine points (two goals, seven assists) in 17 games with Minnesota.
Forward Joel Eriksson Ek has been on the ice with skating coach Andy Ness the past two days. Evason said the plan is for him to travel to Dallas for Games 1 and 2.
Eriksson Ek has been sidelined with a lower-body injury after blocking an Evgeni Malkin shot against the Pittsburgh Penguins on April 6. Evason said there's "always a chance" when asked whether he could play either game.
"Normally the process is that a player skates with Andy and then he progresses to us before practice and what have you," Evason said. "It's the time of year, and certainly he's the type of person and player that if the doctors and he says, 'I'm ready to go,' then he's in our lineup."
Oskar Sundqvist returned to practice after he was day to day with a lower-body injury. The forward will likely be a healthy scratch. -- Jessi Pierce

Winnipeg Jets

Nikolaj Ehlers skated on his own but did not practice with the Jets on Sunday.
The forward is questionable for Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday (9:30 p.m. ET; ESPN2, SNW, TVAS2, ATTSN-RM) because of an upper-body injury.
"He skated prior, but he's day to day and we'll see where he is tomorrow," Jets coach Rick Bowness said. "He's just not in a position yet to practice with the team."
Ehlers was injured in 3-1 win against the Minnesota Wild on April 11 after he was hit by Wild forward Ryan Hartman, who was suspended one game for interference.
"We'll see what's going to happen in the first game, see if he's in or not," Jets forward Nino Niederreiter said. "I mean, it's probably just a maintenance day, so we go from there. But he's a terrific player. It's obviously great if we have him in the lineup, especially on the first power-play unit. He brings that attack-to-the-net mentality and he's a high-end player."
Ehlers missed the Jets' regular-season finale, a 4-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche two days later. He finished the regular season with 38 points (12 goals, 26 assists) in 45 games, including seven points (three goals, four assists) in his final six games.
The hit Tuesday occurred with 8:29 remaining in the third period. Ehlers said he was cleared to return.
"I'm good to go," Ehlers said Saturday. "Personally, for me, there really hasn't been much concern. I feel ready to go… I never thought there was no chance of me playing. It's the playoffs, I want to play."
Jets forward Kevin Stenlund did not skate Sunday. He is day to day with a lower-body injury sustained Thursday. -- Darrin Bauming

Toronto Maple Leafs

Ryan O'Reilly was the center on a line with left wing John Tavares and right wing William Nylander at Maple Leafs practice Sunday, a decision that offered a glimpse into a potential lineup against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of Eastern Conference First Round at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday (7:30 p.m. ET; ESPN, CBC, TVAS, SNE, SNO, SNP, BSSUN, ESPN+, SN NOW).
They most recently skated together for a 7-1 win against the Montreal Canadiens on April 8 and a 2-1 overtime win against the Florida Panthers on April 10.
"He's got a skill set to be able to play with those guys offensively, but obviously, defensively he's able to take on a lot of the load there and he makes it so you can play that line against anybody," Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said of O'Reilly. "And I like the chemistry they've had together."
O'Reilly has 11 points (four goals, seven assists) since he was acquired in a trade with the St. Louis Blues on Feb. 17. He had skated on a third line without Tavares and either Mitchell Marner or William Nylander in three of 13 games.
"It just works but it's obviously easy for me to adjust it the other way if it's necessary," Keefe said.
Auston Matthews was the center with left wing Michael Bunting and Marner. Noel Acciari was between left wing Alexander Kerfoot and right wing Calle Jarnkrok, and David Kampf in between Zach Aston-Reese and right wing Sam Lafferty. Forwards Wayne Simmonds and Matthew Knies skated as extras.
On defense, Jake McCabe was paired with TJ Brodie, Mark Giordano with Justin Holl and Morgan Rielly with Luke Schenn. Erik Gustafsson and Timothy Liljegren were an extra pair. -- Dave McCarthy

Seattle Kraken

Daniel Sprong is day to day with an undisclosed injury and the Kraken forward could miss Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round against the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday (10 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN360, TVAS, ALT, ROOT-NW).
Sprong played 14:01 in Seattle's final regular-season game, a 3-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday, his last shift ending with 19 seconds left in the third period. He wasn't on the ice for practice this weekend.
"He's out day to day," Kraken coach Dave Hakstol said Saturday. "I'm not going to talk about any of that. You can count on very little on injuries. You can count on very little on lineup. ... That's just how it is at this time of year."
Sprong set NHL career highs in goals (21), assists (25), points (46) and plus-minus (plus-13) in 66 games in his first full season with Seattle and was sixth on the Kraken in scoring despite averaging 11:25 of ice time per game playing mostly on the fourth line and second power-play unit.
"You look at our stats through the year, every line has been contributing," Kraken forward Oliver Bjorkstrand said. "Obviously, we'd like that to carry over in the playoffs."
Jesper Froden took Sprong's spot on the fourth line in practice the past two days.
Seattle goalie Martin Jones practiced and will be available for Game 1 after missing the final three regular-season games with an upper-body injury. The Kraken haven't revealed whether Jones or Philipp Grubauer will start. -- Kevin Woodley