NHL Buzz: Hedman returns for Lightning against Blue Jackets
Dahlin skates, could play Friday for Sabres; Pachal signs 2-year contract with Flames
© Mark LoMoglio/NHLI via Getty Images
Tampa Bay Lightning
Victor Hedman returned to the lineup for the Lightning against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday.
The defenseman and Lightning captain had missed the previous two games. He practiced Friday but did not play in a 5-1 win at the Seattle Kraken on Saturday.
Hedman was a full participant at the morning skate Tuesday.
Hedman has 25 points (four goals, 21 assists) in 26 games this season while averaging 23:21 of ice time. His linemate on the top pair, J.J. Moser, was placed on injured reserve after sustaining an upper-body injury during an 8-3 win against the Calgary Flames on Thursday.
"Moser is in a different situation," Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said. "I would sit here and say that J.J. is week to week." -- Corey Long
Buffalo Sabres
Rasmus Dahlin wore a regular jersey at the morning skate but did not play against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday.
It was the first time the Sabres captain, who has missed seven games, had skated with the team since experiencing back spasms.
“Today was nice to finally get back with the boys,” Dahlin said. “It’s been a while, so I’m very happy I’m back and I feel better. … It’s been a grind, but we figured it out and I’m in a good spot right now.”
The defenseman said the plan is for him to practice Thursday with the goal of returning against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday (7 p.m. ET; HULU, ESPN+, SNO).
Sabres coach Lindy Ruff wouldn’t commit to Dahlin being ready Friday, though.
“I don’t have the answer,” Ruff said. “It was just another good day. He had a good day yesterday, a good day this morning. Hasn’t been in a practice, so I think we’ll evaluate when we get him in one on Thursday.” -- Sean Farrell
Calgary Flames
Brayden Pachal signed a two-year contract with the Flames on Tuesday. It has an average annual value of $1.1875 million.
The 25-year-old defenseman was in the final season of a two-year contract he signed with the Vegas Golden Knights on June 28, 2023, and could have become a restricted free agent after this season. The Flames claimed Pachal off waivers on Feb. 4.
"I think I came here, and management and coaches gave me an opportunity to prove that I can play in this league,” Pachal said. “For me, this contract's just another two years to prove myself. I feel like over the course of my career it's kind of been a theme, just proving myself and continuing to do so. This contract is no different."
Pachal has two points (one goal, one assist) and is averaging 14:31 of ice time in 31 games for the Flames. He is second among Flames defensemen with 72 hits and is fifth with 34 blocked shots.
Carolina Hurricanes
Jack Drury will be out at least four weeks for the Hurricanes after having hand surgery, coach Rod Brind’Amour said Tuesday.
The center broke a bone in his hand during the first period of a 3-2 win against the San Jose Sharks on Dec. 10. He had surgery two days later.
“He’s just rehabbing now,” Brind’Amour said. “I don’t know how long it’s going to take. Minimum four weeks, so we will see where it goes.”
Drury has nine points (three goals, six assists) in 28 games this season while averaging 13:09 of ice time.
Chicago Blackhawks
Petr Mrazek continues to progress, and the goalie could return soon from a groin injury he sustained against the Winnipeg Jets on Dec. 7.
“Real close,” Blackhawks coach Anders Sorensen said prior to their game against the Washington Capitals at United Center on Tuesday (8:30 p.m. ET; CHSN, MNMT). “He had a good day today, (so) real close.”
Mrazek fell awkwardly after making a save at 10:46 of the first period in the 4-2 loss to the Jets. He immediately skated to the locker room and was given a timeline of 1-2 weeks the day after the injury.
The 32-year-old is 7-11-1 with a 2.83 goals-against average and .906 save percentage in 20 games this season.
Sorensen said defenseman Seth Jones skated again on Tuesday and could be back in the lineup soon. Jones has been out since Nov. 14, when he sustained a right foot injury during a 3-1 loss to the Seattle Kraken. He has 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in 17 games.
The original timeline for Jones' return was four weeks.
“(We’re) hoping he’s going to return here shortly,” Sorensen said. “Day by day, kind of, right now.” -- Tracey Myers
Washington Capitals
Alex Ovechkin traveled with the Capitals for their two-game road trip and participated in the morning skate in a noncontact jersey ahead of their 3-1 loss at the Dallas Stars on Monday.
The forward and Washington captain skated with his teammates Saturday in a noncontact jersey for the first time since fracturing his left fibula against the Utah Hockey Club on Nov. 18. He had been skating on his own before practices prior to that.
The Capitals announced Nov. 21 that Ovechkin would be out 4-6 weeks.
“So now he’s back integrated with the group, he’s on the road,” coach Spencer Carbery said after the morning skate Monday. “So the next step would be him taking off that noncontact jersey and practicing full, which should get him into contact drills.”
The Capitals’ two-game road trip concludes at the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday (8:30 p.m. ET; CHSN, MNMT), when Ovechkin was expected to skate again in the morning. The team is off Wednesday and will practice Thursday.
Washington (21-7-2) has gone 8-3-1 in 12 games without Ovechkin.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Marcus Pettersson is week to week because of a lower-body injury.
The defenseman did not practice Monday after being injured during the first period of a 3-2 overtime loss at the Ottawa Senators on Saturday, taking a hit and falling into the boards.
“He’s a tough guy to replace on our group of [defensemen] back there,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. “He’s a stabilizing defenseman no matter what pair we put him with.
“He just has a real conscientious game on both sides of the puck. He helps us. So it’s going to provide opportunities for others to step in and fill roles.”
Pettersson has 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) in 32 games this season while averaging 21:47 of ice time.
The Penguins (13-14-5) host the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; FDSNW, SN-PIT, SNP, SNO, SNE).
Matt Grzelcyk replaced Pettersson on a defense pair with Erik Karlsson at practice.
“I think if we can move the puck together and use each other well, I think we can have some success on the breakout,” Grzelcyk said. “It’s just about being good off the rush and not allowing teams to kind of set up in our own end.” -- Wes Crosby
Florida Panthers
Aleksander Barkov missed his second straight game Monday, a 6-5 win at the Edmonton Oilers, because of an illness.
The center and Florida captain did not participate an optional morning skate after missing a 3-0 loss at the Calgary Flames on Saturday.
"I think we left Anton Lundell in a hotel in Seattle for a week last year, I think ‘Barky’ had pneumonia for a month. So we’re going to be careful with these," Panthers coach Paul Maurice said.
“Guys will play through anything, but sometimes it’s just not the smartest thing to do."
Barkov is third on the Panthers (19-11-2) with 29 points (nine goals, 20 assists) in 22 games this season.
“He’s the best two-way player in hockey, so obviously we could use him in a game like this,” Florida forward Matthew Tkachuk said. “But when you have guys in, guys out, you’ve got to find a way … it doesn’t matter who’s in or who’s out.
“But he’s such a talented player and we’re so lucky to have him. Ever since I’ve been here, he just seems to keep getting better and better, and people still don’t seem to know about it too much. It’s crazy. I don’t get it, but I’m super lucky to play with him. So hopefully we can get him back here soon.” -- Gerry Moddejonge
