NHL Buzz: Tkachuk out for Panthers with illness
Rust makes season debut for Penguins; Saros back for Predators
© Joel Auerbach/Getty Images
Florida Panthers
Matthew Tkachuk did not play for the Panthers against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday because of an illness.
"He won't go today," coach Paul Maurice said. "We'll dress 11 (forwards) and seven (defensemen)."
Tkachuk, who has two assists in two games this season, finished second on the team last season with 88 points (26 goals, 62 assists).
His absence left the Panthers without two of their top forwards against the Sabres. Captain Aleksander Barkov is expected to be sidelined for 2-3 weeks because of a lower-body injury he sustained Thursday against the Ottawa Senators.
Spencer Knight started for the Panthers, his first game since Feb. 18, 2023. He entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program six days after his last appearance and did not play in the NHL last season, playing 45 games with Florida's American Hockey League affiliate in Charlotte. -- Heather Engel
Pittsburgh Penguins
Bryan Rust made his season debut for the Penguins against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.
The forward, who missed the first two games of the season with a lower-body injury, was a full participant in the morning skate, working on the top line with wing Anthony Beauvillier and center Sidney Crosby. Rust also worked with the top power-play unit.
Rust had 56 points (28 goals, 28 assists) in 62 games last season.
Goalie Alex Nedeljkovic was on the ice, but coach Mike Sullivan said there was no change in his progress. Nedeljkovic is week to week with a lower-body injury.
Nashville Predators
Juuse Saros started for the Nashville Predators against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday after missing the season opener with a lower-body injury.
Saros, who has played at least 63 games each of the past three seasons, sat out a 4-3 loss to the Dallas Stars on Thursday after sustaining a minor injury in the final preseason game.
Scott Wedgewood allowed four goals on 20 shots with Matt Murray serving as the backup.
Saros was 35-24-5 with a 2.86 goals-against average and .906 save percentage in an NHL-leading 64 games last season. He has led the League in games played in each of the past three seasons.
Vancouver Canucks
Tyler Myers is day to day with a right leg injury, but the Canucks defenseman will travel with the team on Sunday for a four-game road trip that begins at the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday.
Myers left a 3-2 shootout loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday after stepping up along the right boards to make a hit on Joel Farabee in the Philadelphia zone 1:46 into the game. The defenseman was on the ice for several minutes while being attended to by Canucks medical staff before being helped off the ice by teammates without putting weight on his right leg.
"We might have dodged a bullet," coach Rick Tocchet said after practice on Saturday. "It looked worse. He was hurt, but I think talking to him today and after the game, we might have dodged a bullet. We'll see what happens on day to day here."
Vincent Desharnais, who was a healthy scratch against the Flyers, took Myers' place at practice on the second defense pair with Carson Soucy. Desharnais signed a two-year contract as an unrestricted free agent July 1 but was minus-2 in his Canucks debut, a 6-5 overtime loss to the Calgary Flames on Wednesday. -- Kevin Woodley
Boston Bruins
Matthew Poitras had an assist in his season debut in a 2-1 overtime win against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.
The forward, who missed the first two games with an undisclosed injury, had not played a regular-season game since Jan. 25 after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.
"Little winded, but I felt pretty good," Poitras said after the game. "Legs felt good at the start of shifts and the end of shifts, I think maybe I just got to keep it a little bit shorter. First game in a while, haven't really played, so yeah, I felt pretty good."
Poitras, who had 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in 33 games last season, started on the third line with Trent Frederic and Justin Brazeau, but had an assist on David Pastrnak's goal in overtime on Saturday, playing 16:05.
Toronto Maple Leafs
John Tavares did not play for the Maple Leafs against the Penguins on Saturday because of an illness.
The forward had one goal, two shots on goal and was plus-1 in 15:04 in Toronto's 4-2 win against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday.
"He's been super solid, he scored a super nice goal in New Jersey," forward William Nylander said. "He was battling a little bit last game, feeling a little bit down."
Pontus Holmberg replaced Tavares at the morning skate, working on his line between Nylander and left wing Bobby McMann.
Max Domi moved down from left wing to center Max Pacioretty and right wing Nicholas Robertson.
Ryan Reaves skated at right wing with center David Kampf and left wing Steven Lorentz. -- Dave McCarthy
Buffalo Sabres
JJ Peterka did not play against the Panthers on Saturday but could return when the Sabres visit the Penguins on Wednesday.
"Not ready yet," Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff said. "Obviously, he's going to get in a good skate, good workout. I would anticipate next game."
The forward missed his second straight game since sustaining a concussion in the first period against the Devils on Oct. 5. Peterka returned to practice Wednesday and has skated with his teammates each day since.
"I think almost back to normal," Peterka said Wednesday. "From the other day, just better and better."
Peterka has one assist in two games. He had a career-high 50 points (28 goals, 22 assists) in 82 games last season. -- Heather Engel
Colorado Avalanche
Jonathan Drouin is day to day with an upper-body injury and will miss at least the next two games for the Avalanche.
The forward was injured in an 8-4 loss at the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday. He finished the game minus-1 in 21:25 of ice time.
"He won't play tomorrow (Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets) [or] Monday (New York Islanders), for sure," coach Jared Bednar said, "and then he'll keep getting reevaluated and see where it goes."
Drouin finished fourth on the Avalanche with a career-high 56 points (19 goals, 37 assists) in 79 regular-season games last season and signed a one-year contract July 1.
"Every guy that's missing makes the job more difficult, but it forces our team to dig in on the details and the commitment side of the game right away," Bednar said. "We said it going in, we have to expect that everyone that's in our lineup has to be on top of their game, not just be in a role but thrive in that role in order to have success. So, that's a little bit of pressure right out of the gate."
Nikolai Kovalenko could take his spot on the top line alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen.
Bednar said he will contemplate either recalling a forward from Colorado of the AHL or utilizing a lineup of 11 forwards and seven defensemen when the Avalanche host the Blue Jackets on Saturday (9 p.m. ET; ALT, BSOH). The team currently has eight defensemen rostered, with Oliver Kylington and John Ludvig available to play.
The Avalanche claimed goalie Kaapo Kahkonen off waivers from the Winnipeg Jets on Friday.
The 28-year-old was 7-24-3 with a 3.64 goals-against average and .898 save percentage in 37 games (33 starts) with the San Jose Sharks and Devils last season.
"He's played well in places before, and he's free and we've got room," Bednar said. "So, if we can push our goalies, like we don't know how it's going to play out, right? So, we've seen better from our goalies than we've seen here recently, and if they can elevate their game, great. And if Kahkonen can come in and play well, great." -- Ryan Boulding
Detroit Red Wings
Jeff Petry did not play for the Red Wings against the Nashville Predators on Saturday.
The defenseman left in the second period of a 6-3 loss to the Penguins on Thursday with an upper-body injury. Petry had one shot on goal in 9:34 of ice time.
"Jeff is unavailable for tomorrow but he will be in a day to day … we'll get through tomorrow and see if he's available for Monday (against the New York Rangers)," Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said after practice Friday.
