The Florida Panthers have returned goaltender Jacob Markstrom to their American Hockey League affiliate in San Antonio, according to reports.

Markstrom was recalled last week and started consecutive games for the Panthers. He lost to both the Penguins and Bruins, but stopped 65 of 71 shots, a .915 save percentage.

A second-round pick in the 2008 NHL Draft, the 23-year-old Markstrom is 2-7-1 with a 2.77 goals-against average and .919 save percentage in 10 career appearances for Florida.

Ottawa Senators center Jason Spezza skated on his own before teammates took the ice at Scotiabank Place on Monday for the first time since undergoing surgery to repair a herniated disc earlier this month.

Spezza was projected to miss 6-8 weeks, which would put his earliest return around the end of March.

Spezza, who has two goals and five points in five games this season, has collected 228 goals and 621 points in 611 career games, all with the Senators. The Senators have won four straight and are sixth in the Eastern Conference with 24 points.

X-rays on Dan Girardi's right foot were negative, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie on Sunday morning, after the New York Rangers defenseman blocked a shot in a game against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night.

Girardi absorbed a one-timer blast from Canadiens defenseman PK Subban in the final minutes of a 3-0 loss Saturday night at Bell Centre and had to be helped off the ice. Earlier in the game, Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh had to leave after a hit from behind by Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty that resulted in a boarding penalty.

The 28-year-old Girardi leads the Rangers in ice time at 25 minutes per game and was an All-Star in 2012. He is tied for 10th in the NHL in blocked shots with 45, but as played fewer games than everyone ahead of him.

The Rangers have yet to announce the health status of either player and likely won't do so until they practice Monday in Greenburgh, N.Y.

The New York Islanders officially assigned goaltender Rick DiPietro to Bridgeport of the American Hockey League on Saturday.

DiPietro, who was placed on waivers Friday, has eight years remaining on his contract at $4.5 million per season. Injuries and ineffective play have stalled the career of the No. 1 pick in the 2000 NHL Draft.

Including three games this season, DiPietro has only appeared in 50 for the Islanders since the start of the 2008-09 campaign. He has wins in 14 of those appearances.

To replace DiPietro on the roster, the Islanders recalled Kevin Poulin from Bridgeport. Poulin, a fifth-round pick in the 2008 NHL Draft, has appeared in a total of 16 games for the Islanders in the previous two seasons.

Washington Capitals defenseman Mike Green will miss a third straight game with a groin injury.

Green participated in warm-ups for the second straight contest, but is not in the lineup for the Capitals against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday afternoon at Verizon Center. Green has two goals and seven points in 14 games for the Capitals this season.

He played in a total of 81 games in the previous two seasons because of a myriad of injuries.

The Orange County Register reported Friday that Anaheim Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau said he expects defenseman Cam Fowler to return to the lineup in one of the team's next two games.

According to the report, Boudreau said Fowler should be available for either the Ducks' game Sunday at home against the Colorado Avalanche or their game Monday at the Los Angeles Kings.

Fowler has missed the last eight games with an upper-body injury sustained Feb. 2 in a game against the Kings when he was hit into the boards in the second period by the Los Angeles forward Jarret Stoll.

The Minnesota Wild will be without forward Cal Clutterbuck for at least one game when they play at the Calgary Flames on Saturday.

Clutterbuck was injured in a collision with Edmonton Oilers forward Taylor Hall in the third period of Thursday's game and suffered what coach Mike Yeo called a thigh contusion. Hall was assessed a major penalty for kneeing and a game misconduct, and has a disciplinary hearing scheduled for Friday with the NHL Player Safety Department.

The Wild also recalled forward Charlie Coyle from Houston of the American Hockey League and will have him available for Saturday's game. Coyle had no points and six shots on goal in five games with the Wild earlier this season.

Minnesota also announced forward Johan Larsson had been sent to the AHL.

The New York Rangers on Friday announced forward Rick Nash will miss his third straight game when the Rangers play at the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.

The Rangers have not given a reason for Nash's absence.

The team also announced defenseman Steve Eminger has been recalled from the Connecticut Whale of the American Hockey League.

Marian Hossa told reporters he expects to be in the lineup Friday for the Chicago Blackhawks when they host the San Jose Sharks (8 p.m. ET, NHLN-US).

"I should be ready to go," he said. "I feel good."

Hossa was knocked out of the Blackhawks' last game, Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks, when he was hit in the back of the head by Canucks forward Jannik Hansen 1:10 into the third period. Hansen was called for roughing during the game, and was suspended for one game by the NHL on Wednesday.

The Hawks are one game away from passing the 2006-07 Anaheim Ducks' 16-game mark for most consecutive games without a regulation loss to start a season.