NHL Buzz: Greenway returns for Sabres against Red Wings

Welcome to the NHL Buzz. Each day during the regular season, NHL.com has you covered with all the latest news.

Buffalo Sabres

Jordan Greenway returned from a middle-body injury for the Sabres against the Detroit Red Wings on Monday.

The forward, who missed 10 games, had been a full participant since rejoining his teammates at their morning skate on Dec. 5. He was the left wing on a line with Jiri Kulich and Dylan Cozens at practice Sunday and was on the ice for an optional morning skate Monday.

Greenway has six points (three goals, three assists) in 16 games.

The Sabres could also have captain Rasmus Dahlin back by the weekend. The defenseman, who will miss a third straight game with back spasms, skated on his own Monday.

Buffalo hosts the New York Rangers on Wednesday before back-to-back road games at the Washington Capitals and Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday and Sunday.

“I talked to him postworkout and he said he’s feeling pretty good,” Ruff said. “So, hopeful that we can get him back.”

Dahlin is third on the Sabres with 19 points (six goals, 13 assists) in 25 games.

Buffalo (11-13-3) has lost six straight (0-4-2). -- Heather Engel

Nashville Predators

Alexandre Carrier will be out week to week for the Predators because of an upper-body injury.

The defenseman collided with Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk in the third period of a 3-1 loss Saturday.

“I haven’t seen him today,” Nashville coach Andrew Brunette said Monday. “As for the hit, you could talk about it. I don’t know. It’s a little bit unfortunate; [Tkachuk] wasn’t looking to do that. It was just one of those plays.”

Carrier has seven points (one goal, six assists) in 28 games while averaging 20:08 of ice time.

The Predators are also without defenseman Jeremy Lauzon, who has missed the past six games because of a lower-body injury.

Defenseman Marc Del Gaizo, who has been a healthy scratch the past six games, could replace Carrier when Nashville (7-15-6) hosts the Calgary Flames on Tuesday (8 p.m. ET; FDSNSO, SNW). -- Robby Stanley

Boston Bruins

David Pastrnak did not practice Monday ahead of the Bruins’ five-game road trip that begins at the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday (8 p.m. ET; TSN3, NESN).

The forward had an assist in 23:57 of ice time Saturday, a 4-3 overtime win against the Philadelphia Flyers. Pastrnak has one goal and four assists during a four-game point streak and leads Boston (15-11-3) with 27 points (nine goals, 18 assists) in 29 games.

“He’s dealing with an upper-body issue, so we held him off today,” Bruins interim coach Joe Sacco said. “He’s going to be traveling with us and we’re hopeful that he’s ready to go tomorrow. We’ll see how he presents tomorrow.”

Sacco said the team was not planning to recall another forward from the American Hockey League to travel to Winnipeg. -- Amalie Benjamin

New Jersey Devils

Jake Allen (undisclosed) did not practice Monday and is questionable to back up Jacob Markstrom when the Devils host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; HULU, ESPN+, TSN4).

The goalie allowed three goals on 22 shots in a 4-0 loss to the Avalanche on Sunday. Allen is 5-4-1 with a 2.74 GAA and .903 save percentage in 10 games this season.

Coach Sheldon Keefe said Allen was still being evaluated.

New Jersey (18-10-2) is second in the Metropolitan Division, two points behind the Washington Capitals.

Philadelphia Flyers

Samuel Ersson and Jamie Drysdale were activated from injured reserve and in the lineup for the Flyers in their 4-2 loss to the Utah Hockey Club on Sunday.

Ersson missed 11 games and 13 of 15 because of lower-body injuries. The goalie initially left a game against the Boston Bruins on Nov. 2, missed two games and returned to play against the Florida Panthers on Nov. 9 and San Jose Sharks on Nov. 11. However, he left practice early Nov. 13 because of another injury.

Ersson allowed four goals on 25 shots Sunday; he is 5-3-2 with a 2.83 goals-against average and .897 save percentage in 12 games (11 starts) this season.

Aleksei Kolosov backed up Ersson against Utah, and Ivan Fedotov was scratched. Kolosov made 27 saves in a 4-3 overtime loss at Boston on Saturday.

Drysdale was plus-1 in 18:54 of ice time Sunday after missing 12 games; the defenseman has three points (one goal, two assists) in 16 games this season. He replaced defenseman Egor Zamula in the lineup.

Philadelphia (12-12-4), which has lost three straight (0-2-1), visits the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; FDSNOH, NBCSP). -- Adam Kimelman