Toronto will be without John Tavares for an undetermined stretch after the veteran center was labeled week to week with a lower-body injury. Tavares was hurt Thursday against Buffalo when he collided with Sabres forward Josh Norris early in the third period, staying down for roughly 90 seconds before skating off with a trainer.
The Maple Leafs take on the New York Islanders on Saturday, and Bo Groulx is expected to draw in after sitting as a healthy scratch Thursday. Tavares had two assists before leaving the 5-4 overtime loss to Buffalo and has seven points, including two goals, through seven games.
“John was playing well,” Toronto coach Jim Hiller said. “That’s a tough one for us” after Chris Tanev’s absence as well. “Those are two veteran players, so you just have to find a way.”
Quick facts
- Florida No. 1 goalie Jacob Markstrom is set to start against Seattle after an undisclosed injury.
- Edmonton gets Zach Hyman, Colton Dach and Jake Walman back against Utah.
- Carolina forward Seth Jarvis could make his season debut Sunday in Calgary following June shoulder surgery.
- Dallas center Wyatt Johnston returns from illness, while Oskar Back is out four to six weeks with a broken finger.
- Winnipeg has placed both Vladislav Namestnikov and Josh Morrissey in the week-to-week category.
Carolina held Seth Jarvis out at Winnipeg on Saturday, but the 32-goal scorer could be ready for the next stop of the Hurricanes’ five-game trip, Sunday against the Calgary Flames. Jarvis has not yet received medical clearance after shoulder surgery in June.
Coach Rod Brind’Amour said he hoped Jarvis would get into a game on the trip, but stressed that the forward must first be cleared. Jarvis also recorded 11 points in 19 playoff games last spring.
In Florida, Markstrom returns to the crease against the Kraken after departing Monday’s loss in Buffalo following the first period. He had allowed two goals on 11 shots and had been considered day to day.
Panthers defenseman Radko Gudas skated Saturday but will miss a third consecutive game after taking a hit around the knee in Buffalo. Coach Paul Maurice indicated Gudas could be back when Florida visits Ottawa on Wednesday.
The Oilers will make three injury returns against the Utah Mammoth. Hyman had missed six games and had not played since Edmonton’s Sept. 29 opener against Vancouver, while Dach had been sidelined for four games and Walman for three.
“They’re all playing,” Oilers coach Mike Babcock said. “If they’re good, they’re getting to play more minutes and if they’re not, they’re going to play less.”
Chicago defenseman Bowen Byram remains day to day with an upper-body issue and will miss a second straight game against Dallas. Byram, acquired from Buffalo on June 23, leads the Blackhawks at 24:42 per game and has one assist in six outings.
San Jose will decide on Darnell Nurse closer to puck drop against Detroit. The defenseman missed Thursday’s shootout win in Nashville with an upper-body injury; he has one goal and shares the Sharks lead with 12 blocked shots.
Ottawa could get Jake Sanderson back Wednesday against Florida. Sanderson, injured in the Senators’ opener, will miss an eighth consecutive game Saturday in Philadelphia, but coach Travis Green expects the defenseman could be available for the next one.
Montreal brings Oliver Kapanen into the lineup for his season debut against Buffalo. The forward is slated to skate with Kirby Dach and Jake Evans after a lower-body injury kept him out following the preseason.
Kapanen has 22 goals and 39 points across 100 NHL regular-season games, plus one assist in 10 playoff appearances. Defenseman David Reinbacher, the fifth pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, will also make his first appearance of the season after his recall from AHL Laval.
Washington beat New Jersey 4-1 on Saturday without Matt Roy, who missed a sixth straight game with a lower-body injury despite participating fully in Friday’s practice. Pierre-Luc Dubois was placed on injured reserve with an illness and missed a fourth straight game, though coach Spencer Carbery said the center was feeling somewhat better and could resume practice next week.
Capitals forward Justin Sourdif also sat out because of illness after missing Friday’s practice. Washington recalled Jonny Brodzinski from Hershey, and the forward entered Saturday’s lineup.
Buffalo captain Rasmus Dahlin will miss a third consecutive game against Montreal. Dahlin appeared to be injured while firing a slap shot in the second period of Monday’s win over Florida and is improving, but was not ready to play Saturday.
Dahlin has two goals, two assists and a 23:38 average ice time through six games. Norris, meanwhile, will play after leaving Thursday’s overtime win against Toronto when he fell awkwardly on Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson late in the extra period.
Sabres forward Jason Zucker, still awaiting his season debut following sports hernia trouble, skated Saturday. Buffalo hopes he can return Wednesday against Philadelphia.
Dallas gets Johnston back against Chicago after illness ended his 333-game ironman run to begin his NHL career. The center said missing time was a new and unwelcome experience.
“You never want to miss a game,” Johnston said. “You want to be out there with your teammates and you want to be playing.”
Stars forward Oskar Back was placed on injured reserve after breaking a finger Wednesday against Colorado. He is expected to miss four to six weeks, though coach Glen Gulutzan expressed hope the recovery could come in at the shorter end of that range.
Seattle defenseman Brandon Montour will not play at Florida after leaving Thursday’s overtime loss in Tampa Bay with a lower-body injury. Montour has five assists in eight games, and the Kraken recalled defenseman Ty Nelson from AHL Coachella Valley on Friday.
Winnipeg forward Vladislav Namestnikov is out week to week after crashing into the boards during Thursday’s morning skate. The Jets also moved top defenseman Josh Morrissey from day to day to week to week with an upper-body injury, though coach Scott Arniel said surgery will not be needed.
Morrissey was hurt on an Oct. 7 hit involving Colorado forward T.J. Hughes, briefly returning for one shift in the second period before leaving for good. He has three assists in four games; Namestnikov has one assist in six.
Los Angeles forward Mats Zuccarello will miss a third straight game against Boston, but the Kings expect him to travel on their five-game road trip beginning Tuesday in Washington. Zuccarello, who signed a one-year deal July 1, has one assist in three games.
