The Buffalo Sabres announced that forward Thomas Vanek will not play Friday against the Ottawa Senators due to an upper-body injury.

It will be the fifth straight game Vanek will miss.

Vanek leads the Sabres in goals (16), assists (17), points (33) and power-play goals (seven).

One day after acquiring Steve Mason from the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Philadelphia Flyers reportedly have agreed to a contract extension with the goaltender.

Sportsnet and CBC are reporting Thursday that Mason will sign a one-year contract for less than the $2.9 million salary-cap number he has this season. Mason is in the final season of a two-year, $5.8 million contract and is scheduled to become a restricted free agent this summer.

Tampa Bay Lightning captain Vincent Lecavalier is on the ice for the team's morning skate in a regular-colored jersey, according to reporters covering the team's practice, and could return to the lineup for the Lightning's game Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Lecavalier has been out since March 12 with a lower-body injury that multiple media outlets have reported to be a broken foot.

Prior to Thursday, Lecavalier had been wearing a red jersey signifying he was not cleared for contact.

The St. Louis Blues have recalled goaltender Jake Allen and placed forward T.J. Oshie on injured reserve, the team announced Tuesday.

Forward Adam Cracknell also was recalled from Peoria of the American Hockey League.

Allen has been recalled under emergency conditions due to goaltender Jaroslav Halak’s lower body injury, which he suffered during the first period in the Blues' 4-1 win against the Minnesota Wild on Monday night.

The Washington Capitals on Tuesday re-signed defenseman Jack Hillen to a two-year, $1.4 million contract extension.

Hillen, 26, has registered one assist and 10 penalty minutes in 10 games with the Capitals this season. Hillen ranks eighth on Washington in average ice time per game (18:21) after missing 25 games with an injury.

The New York Islanders will find themselves in eighth place in the Eastern Conference at the end of Tuesday night with either a victory or a post-regulation loss to the Winnipeg Jets at Nassau Coliseum.

The Islanders begin play Tuesday in ninth, but have 37 points, tied with the eighth-place New York Rangers, who aren't in action again until Wednesday.

The Jets hold down the third seed by virtue of leading the Southeast Division, but they've lost three straight and are four points ahead of the Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals, who face each other Tuesday.

Here's how the lineups could look for the Islanders and Jets:

Thomas Vanek told reporters he will miss his fourth straight game when his Buffalo Sabres play at the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday.

Vanek skated with the team Tuesday morning, but said he has not recovered fully from the upper-body injury that has sidelined him since March 26.

Vanek leads the Sabres with 16 goals and 33 points this season.

ESPN.com is reporting that Los Angeles Kings defenseman Willie Mitchell will not play this season due to a knee injury.

Mitchell had surgery on his knee in the offseason and reinjured it during the lockout. He had been trying to rehabilitate his leg during the season, but ESPN's report states that Mitchell had arthroscopic surgery on the injured knee and will miss the remainder of the season.

The veteran blueliner had career-bests of five goals and 24 points in 76 games last season, and was a plus-7 in helping the Kings win the first Stanley Cup in franchise history.