NHL Buzz: Malkin day to day with upper-body injury for Penguins
Kreider placed on injured reserve by Rangers; Miller of Jets to miss at least 2 weeks with fractured larynx
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Pittsburgh Penguins
Evgeni Malkin is day to day with an upper-body injury and did not play in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets at PPG Paints Arena on Tuesday.
The 38-year-old forward was a full participant at the morning skate on Tuesday, skating in his normal spot at center on the second line. Cody Glass replaced him on that line against Columbus alongside left wing Michael Bunting and right wing Anthony Beauvillier, who was expected to be a healthy scratch with forward Jesse Puljujarvi entering the lineup for the first time since Dec. 7.
"I don't know when it happened," Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said after the loss. "I don't have anything else to add other than what the team put out."
It was the first game Malkin has missed since April 12-21, 2022, when he was suspended four games by the NHL for cross-checking.
In his 19th NHL season, Malkin is third on the Penguins with 32 points (eight goals, 24 assists) in 41 games, behind Sidney Crosby (44 points; 11 goals, 33 assists) and Rickard Rakell (35 points; 20 goals, 15 assists).
The Penguins (17-17-8) were also without forward Philip Tomasino, who is week to week with a lower-body injury. Tomasino skated on an individual basis Tuesday.
New York Rangers
Chris Kreider was placed on injured reserve by the Rangers on Tuesday because of an upper-body injury.
The forward was a late scratch for a 6-2 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday.
The move was retroactive to Sunday, meaning Kreider will miss at least the next three games, which began with a 5-4 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars on Tuesday.
Kreider has 15 points (13 goals, two assists) in 34 games this season.
New York claimed Arthur Kaliyev off waivers from the Los Angeles Kings on Monday. He did not play Tuesday.
"Unexpected, obviously, but it’s kind of a dream come true," said Kayliev, who is from Staten Island. "I grew up watching and obviously living down here for a long time. I didn't expect it, but excited and a little bit nervous. It was awesome."
The 23-year-old forward has yet to play in the NHL this season because of a fractured clavicle sustained on the second day of training camp. He was five games into a conditioning stint with Ontario of the American Hockey League (one goal, one assist).
"Young player. He's big (6-foot-2, 210 pounds)," Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said. "He's strong. A new opportunity for him. We got him out on the ice today for the first time. We'll see where he fits in."
Winnipeg Jets
Colin Miller will be out at least two weeks with a fractured larynx.
The defenseman took a puck to the throat late in the first period of a 4-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.
"A dangerous situation, but (he's) doing a lot better," Jets coach Scott Arniel said Tuesday. "He's around, here's here (at the facility). Just, it's more now, he can't get hit again, obviously."
Miller will be reassessed after two weeks.
"He's actually on a bike [today]," Arniel said. "He's around the guys, talks a little quieter, but at the end of the day he's upbeat. Just, the biggest thing is it's precaution now and just making sure. It's got to heal."
Miller is one of three regular defensemen out of the lineup. Dylan Samberg (foot) and Haydn Fleury (lower body) are each on injured reserve. -- Darrin Bauming
Florida Panthers
Aaron Ekblad was on the ice after the morning skate Monday but did not play in a 3-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche.
Florida coach Paul Maurice did not disclose the defenseman's injury after he did not practice Sunday, saying only he would be a "morning skate decision."
Maurice did say whatever Ekblad is dealing with "just cropped up" during a 3-2 shootout win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday. Ekblad was held out for the end of the third period and did not appear in overtime.
Niko Mikkola participated in the morning skate but is also did not play. The defenseman has missed the past five games with an upper-body injury.
The Panthers recalled defenseman Tobias Bjornfot from Charlotte of the American Hockey League on Sunday.
Florida visits the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday (10 p.m. ET; MAX, truTV, TNT, SN1, TVAS). -- George Richards
Vancouver Canucks
Dakota Joshua was placed on injured reserve Monday retroactive to Jan. 3.
The forward went to the dressing room in the second period of a 3-0 loss to the Nashville Predators on Friday after Canucks forward Teddy Blueger hit Predators defenseman Roman Josi into his legs.
Joshua returned for the third and finished the game.
Thatcher Demko took part in the morning skate Monday but did not dress for a 5-4 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens. Demko sustained back spasms during a 4-3 shootout win at the Seattle Kraken on Thursday, leaving in the second after getting spun around in a collision with teammate Noah Juulsen.
The Canucks visit the Washington Capitals on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET; MNMT2, SN). -- Sean Farrell
Minnesota Wild
Kirill Kaprizov has not resumed skating and remains day to day with a lower-body injury.
The forward has missed the Wild’s past six games since he last played Dec. 23, a 4-3 win against the Chicago Blackhawks. Minnesota is 5-1-0 without Kaprizov.
Jake Middleton returned in a 6-4 win against the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday. The defenseman, who sustained an upper-body injury blocking a shot 37 seconds into the first period of a 7-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 12, was activated off injured reserve earlier in the day.
Middleton finished the game with a goal and an assist in 22:29 of ice time.
"We're going to see after he skates now and then talk with the trainers and see whether he'll be available or not," Wild coach John Hynes said. " ... He said it felt pretty good, so we'll see again today and then I'll have to sit with the trainers and see if he's going to be going or not."
Jared Spurgeon (lower body) was placed on injured reserve Monday. The defenseman and Wild captain has 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in 32 games. He last played Dec. 31. -- Jessi Pierce
Boston Bruins
Hampus Lindholm skated on his own ahead of the morning skate Tuesday, but the defenseman still has no timeline for a return from a lower-body injury.
Lindholm, who was injured against the St. Louis Blues on Nov. 12, has missed the past 26 games for the Bruins.
"There's still no timeline right now," Bruins interim coach Joe Sacco said prior to their 4-0 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. "I don't have a timeline yet."
Sacco said it remains up to the medical staff to clear Lindholm, who was injured blocking a shot. Sacco has previously said weeks when asked about Lindholm's timeline.
Lindholm had seven points (three goals, four assists) in 17 games while averaging 20:51 of ice time prior to the injury.
"We miss Hampus," Sacco said. "He plays in all situations for us. He plays against top lines, eats up a lot of minutes, a big guy that defends well. When the time comes, it'll be a nice addition to our group." -- Amalie Benjamin
New Jersey Devils
Erik Haula will be out several weeks with a sprained ankle, coach Sheldon Keefe said Monday.
The forward has 11 points (five goals, six assists) in 42 games this season.
“He’s going to miss some time,” Keefe said. “It’s going to be weeks, so in terms of the actual timeline, it will [depend] on how he recovers, but he’s got a sprain on his ankle. It’s going to take some time for sure.”
The Devils visit the Rangers on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; MSGSN, MSG). -- Darren Brown
New York Islanders
Hudson Fasching, Simon Holmstrom and Isaiah George will not travel for the final two games of the Islanders' three-game road trip, which will continue at the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday.
Fasching, a forward, is day to day with an upper-body injury after he took a hit from Boston Bruins forward Mark Kastelic at 12:22 of the third period in a 5-4 overtime win Sunday.
Holmstrom is on injured reserve. The forward has missed three games with an upper-body injury sustained in a 3-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Dec. 29.
George, who is day to day with an upper-body injury, has missed two games. The defenseman was hit by Toronto Maple Leafs forward Max Domi in the second period of a 2-1 home loss Jan. 2.
"It [stinks] seeing guys get hurt," defenseman Noah Dobson said. "The moral of the story this year is that guys have stepped up."
Defenseman Grant Hutton was recalled from Bridgeport of the AHL. -- Stefen Rosner
