NHL Status Report: Injuries and Lineup Changes
Welcome to the NHL Status Report, where we bring you the latest updates on player injuries and lineup changes across the league.
St. Louis Blues
The Blues are facing a setback as forward Dylan Holloway will be out for six weeks due to a right ankle injury. Holloway, who has been placed on injured reserve, has accumulated 17 points (8 goals, 9 assists) in 33 games this season. Meanwhile, Alexey Toropchenko has returned to the lineup after missing seven games due to burns sustained in a home accident. He has contributed one goal and one assist in 17 games.
New York Rangers
The Rangers are dealing with a disciplinary issue involving forward Mika Zibanejad. Zibanejad was scratched from the lineup against the Anaheim Ducks after missing a team meeting in the morning. Coach Mike Sullivan expressed his disappointment, emphasizing the importance of team rules. Zibanejad, who has 25 points (11 goals, 14 assists) in 33 games, is expected to return to the lineup soon.
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins have made some strategic moves by acquiring Stuart Skinner and Brett Kulak in a trade with the Edmonton Oilers. Skinner, a goalie, and Kulak, a defenseman, could make their debut against the Oilers on Tuesday. Skinner has a strong record with the Oilers, while Kulak has been a solid contributor with two assists in 31 games. The Penguins have also reassigned Sergei Musharov to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton team in the American Hockey League.
Detroit Red Wings
The Red Wings are dealing with an upper-body injury to forward Patrick Kane, who is expected to miss at least the next two games. Forward John Leonard has been recalled from the AHL and sent defenseman Erik Gustafsson to the AHL. Leonard, who leads the AHL with 19 goals in 20 games, could make his season debut against the New York Islanders.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs are optimistic about the return of goalie Joseph Woll, who has missed the past four games due to a lower-body injury. He participated fully in practice on Monday and could return to the lineup against the Chicago Blackhawks. Defenseman Chris Tanev, who has been out since November due to an upper-body injury, is also making progress and will not play against Chicago.
Los Angeles Kings
The Kings are facing some challenges with illnesses affecting their centers, Quinton Byfield and Phillip Danault. Both players will miss the game against the Dallas Stars on Monday. Byfield and Danault have been key contributors to the team's success this season.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning are dealing with an undisclosed injury to defenseman Ryan McDonagh, who has been upgraded to day-to-day status. McDonagh, who signed a new contract with the team, has been a valuable player with six points in 15 games. The team is also hopeful that goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy will return before Christmas.
Dallas Stars
The Stars are set to welcome back defenseman Nils Lundkvist, who missed two games due to an illness. Lundkvist has been a solid contributor with three points in six games. The team is also closely monitoring the recovery of forward Tyler Seguin, who is expected to undergo surgery for an ACL injury sustained in a game against the New York Rangers.
