Welcome to the NHL Status Report. Here is the latest lineup/injury news around the NHL.
Los Angeles Kings
Anze Kopitar is week to week because of a foot injury. The forward did not play in a 4-2 loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday because of a lower-body injury. He had not missed a game because of injury in the past four seasons. … Corey Perry practiced Friday in a regular jersey. The forward has been out since having knee surgery Sept. 12 for an injury sustained during a pre-training camp skate. He was expected to be out 6-8 weeks.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Nikita Kucherov did not play against the Detroit Red Wings on Friday because of an illness. The 32-year-old forward has three points (two goals, one assist) in four games this season for the Lightning (1-2-1). He is three points shy of becoming the second player in Tampa Bay history to get 1,000 career points, joining Steven Stamkos (1,137).
Detroit Red Wings
Lucas Raymond did not play against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday. It was the second straight game the forward has missed because of an upper-body injury he sustained on a hit during the second period of a 3-2 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday. Coach Todd McLellan said Raymond is day to day.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Auston Matthews skated on his own prior to practice Friday and the center is expected to be in the lineup against the Seattle Kraken at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; CBC, SNO, SNP, NHLN, KONG, KHN). … Steven Lorentz was a full participant at practice and likely will play Saturday. The forward was a healthy scratch for a 2-1 overtime win against the New York Rangers on Thursday after missing the previous two games because of an upper-body injury.
Calgary Flames
Jonathan Huberdeau was activated from injured reserve and expects to make his season debut against the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday (10 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, CITY, SN, CBC). The forward missed the first five games of the season because of an undisclosed injury sustained during a preseason game Oct. 1. “It’s been a long few weeks watching the guys but I’m ready to go, excited,” Huberdeau said after practice Friday. “Hopefully I can make a difference out there.” The Flames sent forward Matvei Gridin to Calgary of the American Hockey League to open a roster spot.
Dallas Stars
Thomas Harley did not practice Friday because of illness but the defenseman is expected to play against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; FDSNMW, Victory+). … Defenseman Nils Lundkvist missed practice and is being evaluated for a lower-body injury. He left a 5-3 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday with 5:27 remaining in the second period.
Colorado Avalanche
Mackenzie Blackwood had his conditioning loan to Colorado of the American Hockey League terminated Friday. The goalie did not play a game during his AHL stint, which began Monday. Blackwood has missed Colorado’s first five games because of a lower-body injury. The Avalanche next play against the Boston Bruins at home Saturday (9 p.m. ET; KTVD, NESN, ALT).
Buffalo Sabres
Mattias Samuelsson could play against the Florida Panthers on Saturday (1 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, MSG-B, SNP, SNO, SNE) after the defenseman missed the past two games because of an undisclosed injury. … Justin Danforth is expected to be out more than a month because of a “significant” lower-body injury, coach Lindy Ruff said Friday. The forward left an 8-4 win against the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday because of injury.
Washington Capitals
Pierre-Luc Dubois did not play against the Minnesota Wild on Friday, missing his second straight game because of a lower-body injury. The forward did take part in the morning skate wearing a noncontact jersey. Coach Spencer Carbery said it “would be a bit of a stretch” for Dubois to play against the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday, saying sometime next week was more likely for him to return. Forward Ethen Frank was recalled from Hershey of the American Hockey League.
New York Islanders
Alexander Romanov‘s availability for against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday (3 p.m. ET; RDSI, TSN5, MSG) will be a game-time decision after the defenseman had a maintenance day and missed practice Friday.
Seattle Kraken
Frederick Gaudreau was placed on injured reserve because of an undisclosed injury. The forward did not return to the Kraken’s 4-3 shootout loss to the Ottawa Senators on Thursday after taking a hit from Senators defenseman Tyler Kleven in the final minute of the second period. Seattle recalled forward John Hayden from Coachella Valley of the American Hockey League.