Thursday’s NHL board is crowded with late calls, fresh returns and a few crease problems that could reshape the night’s matchups. Carolina could get its top goal scorer back in Edmonton, while the Oilers will dress Ryan Nugent-Hopkins for the first time this season.
Quick facts
- Seth Jarvis is a game-time call for Carolina after offseason right-shoulder surgery.
- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will play his first game of the season when Edmonton hosts the Hurricanes at 9 p.m. ET.
- Ottawa placed Linus Ullmark on injured reserve; the expected absence is one to two weeks.
- Florida may hand goalie Cooper Black his NHL debut against Pittsburgh.
- Detroit gets J.T. Compher back after a seven-game absence.
Jarvis took part in Wednesday’s full Hurricanes practice and skated with Jordan Martinook and Jesperi Kotkaniemi. He also joined Thursday’s optional session ahead of the 9 p.m. ET visit to the Oilers.
The 23-year-old forward is coming off surgery in June to repair a torn labrum and rotator cuff in his right shoulder. He led Carolina with 32 goals last season, then added four goals and seven assists across 19 playoff games as the Hurricanes captured their first Stanley Cup since 2006.
“I’m ready to play,” Jarvis said, leaving the final decision with the coaching staff. He said the physical issue is behind him, though getting back to game pace remains the next step.
Coach Rod Brind’Amour cautioned that Jarvis has been away from game action for a long time, but called his proximity to a return significant for the club.
Edmonton will counter with Nugent-Hopkins, who has been out since suffering a lower-body injury in practice Sept. 28, one day before the season opener. The forward posted 20 goals and 36 assists in 72 games last season.
Nugent-Hopkins said the setback was a difficult way to start the year, but he has enjoyed watching the Oilers’ effort and wants to match it when he steps back into the lineup.
Goaltending carousel in Ottawa and Florida
The Senators moved Ullmark to injured reserve Thursday after a lower-body strain sustained in Wednesday’s 5-1 win over Florida. Ullmark was hurt at 3:25 of the third period after making a right-pad stop and needed help from a trainer and Claude Giroux to leave the ice.
Ottawa coach Travis Green gave a one-to-two-week estimate for the goalie’s recovery. Jonas Johansson has been called up from AHL Belleville and is expected to serve as Samuel Ersson’s backup against San Jose on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET.
Florida, meanwhile, is preparing for Cooper Black to make his first NHL appearance against Pittsburgh at 7 p.m. ET. Black was recalled from AHL Charlotte on Tuesday and backed up Akira Schmid in the loss at Ottawa.
The Panthers are without Jacob Markstrom for an estimated one to two weeks following an upper-body injury in practice. Markstrom, acquired from the New Jersey Devils on June 30, owns a 3-1-1 record, a 2.21 goals-against average and an .897 save percentage through six games.
Islanders await Barzal; Kings monitor Byfield
Mathew Barzal remains without a date to rejoin Islanders practices. The center has yet to play this season after aggravating his knee injury before training camp.
General manager Mathieu Darche said Barzal’s inflammation has improved and that he is skating, but the player still must rebuild strength and comfort before he can work with the team. Barzal paced New York last season with 72 points, including 19 goals and 53 assists in 81 outings.
The Islanders host the Los Angeles Kings at 7:30 p.m. ET Thursday. Los Angeles could be without Quinton Byfield, who is a game-time decision after exiting Tuesday’s 5-2 victory in Washington during the first period with an upper-body injury.
The Kings recalled Jared Wright from AHL Ontario as a precaution. Byfield has a goal and an assist in seven games this season.
More movement around the league
San Jose will be without Alexander Wennberg against Ottawa. The veteran forward is considered week to week with an upper-body injury after missing Tuesday’s 4-3 overtime win in Montreal.
Wennberg has three assists in nine games. Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky praised the forward’s ability to settle play and cover teammates’ mistakes, while stressing that the club must replace that work collectively and compete harder than it did against the Canadiens.
Detroit will put J.T. Compher back in the lineup for Thursday’s 10 p.m. ET game at Vancouver. Compher missed seven games with an undisclosed injury and last played Oct. 4 in Winnipeg; he has no points in two appearances this season.
Calgary forward Mikael Backlund is listed day to day following an upper-body injury suffered in Sunday’s 3-2 win over Carolina. Backlund has one goal and one assist in eight games as the Flames prepare to host Minnesota at 9 p.m. ET.
Washington goalie Logan Thompson did not practice Wednesday and is day to day with a lower-body issue. He made 21 saves in Tuesday’s loss to Los Angeles and has gone 4-3-0 with a 2.90 goals-against average and .901 save percentage in seven starts.
The Capitals host Buffalo on Saturday, when Pierre-Luc Dubois could return after missing five games because of illness. Washington reassigned Jonny Brodzinski to AHL Hershey after he recorded one assist in two games since his Oct. 17 recall.
Dallas defenseman Esa Lindell will miss at least a week after blocking a shot in Saturday’s 4-0 win over Chicago. The lower-body injury removes a defenseman averaging 20:49 per game and leading the Stars with 18 blocked shots ahead of Thursday’s home date with Winnipeg at 8 p.m. ET.
Colorado expects Logan O’Connor to make his season debut Friday against Tampa Bay at 9 p.m. ET. O’Connor has been on long-term injured reserve since Sept. 28 and was required to sit out at least 10 games.
Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said Nicolas Roy and Zachary L’Heureux are both week to week with lower-body and upper-body injuries, respectively. Roy appears nearer to returning than L’Heureux.
