ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin could return to the lineup against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center on Monday.

Larkin, who missed the Red Wings' 3-2 win against the Nashville Predators on Saturday with an upper-body injury, was originally believed to have a better chance of returning when the Red Wings play the second of back-to-back games against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday.

"He looked like he was ready but until I know for sure and he comes back tonight and he feels the same as he did today, we're going to wait and see," Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said.

BUFFALO -- The Washington Capitals are looking to win their eighth straight game, but may be without defenseman John Carlson when they face the Buffalo Sabres on Monday (7 p.m. ET; SNO, SNW, SNP, CSN-DC+, MSG-B).

Carlson didn't practice Sunday and skated briefly before the rest of the Capitals took the ice on Monday to prepare for their game against the Sabres. Whether Carlson plays will be a game-time decision.

"It's always the player's comfort level; right now that's primary, however he feels," Capitals coach Barry Trotz said. "One thing that's great about our group is you just ask them one question. If you feel you can't contribute, then that's to take you out. If you can contribute and you feel safe, then I'll put you in. So that's really the player's decision all the time."

NASHVILLE -- The New York Rangers and Nashville Predators will each get key veteran pieces back into their respective lineups on Monday at Bridgestone Arena (8 p.m. ET; TVA Sports, MSG, FS-TN).

Center Mike Fisher returns for the Predators. Defensemen Dan Girardi and Kevin Klein will be back for the Rangers.

Mike Fisher missed the past 11 games after sustaining a lower-body injury on Dec. 1 in a 5-2 win against the Arizona Coyotes.

"I feel good, and I'm excited to be back at it," Fisher said. "Everything feels great. I've had some good practices and am feeling confident and looking forward to it."

NEW YORK -- Toronto Maple Leafs left wing James van Riemsdyk credits his recent scoring surge to being reunited with center Tyler Bozak.

Van Riemsdyk has six goals and nine points in the eight games since he moved onto a line with Bozak and right wing PA Parenteau. He had seven goals and 16 points in the first 26 games playing primarily with center Nazem Kadri and right wing Leo Komarov.

It's working the other way too. Kadri has nine points, including three goals, since Michael Grabner replaced van Riemsdyk on his line. He had the same line (three goals, six assists, nine points) in the first 26 games of the season.

Toronto is 5-1-2 since coach Mike Babcock put van Riemsdyk and Bozak back together with Parenteau and united Kadri and Komarov with Grabner. It was 8-13-5 the other way.

"For whatever reason, we [van Riemsdyk and Bozak] just seem to find each other on the ice," said van Riemsdyk, who leads the Maple Leafs with 25 points and is second in goals with 13 in 34 games.

Auston Matthews, who many project to be the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, is playing for Zurich in Switzerland's top professional league this season. Matthews is currently playing for the U.S. national junior team in the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship in Helsinki, Finland. NHL.com will follow his journey leading to the NHL Draft this season with a weekly update.

Auston Matthews is certainly no stranger to representing the United States in pressure-packed international events and Saturday was no exception against rival Canada to open the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship at Helsinki Ice Hall.

Matthews, an A-rated skater on NHL Central Scouting's November players to watch list for the 2016 NHL Draft, had a goal, two points, a plus-1 rating and led his team with three shots on goal in a 4-2 victory against Canada. The United States will play Sweden on Monday in the second of four preliminary round matches before the playoff round.

"It was a really intense game, really back and forth and I thought everyone was competing hard and we were able to capitalize on some big chances," Matthews told USAHockey.com. "Getting Canada right off the bat, we needed to be ready. I think everybody played well. We were up for the challenge. It was a good win."

WINNIPEG -- The Pittsburgh Penguins and Winnipeg Jets each will be without a key player at MTS Centre on Sunday.

Jets center Mark Scheifele has a concussion after colliding with captain Andrew Ladd at practice Saturday. The Jets placed Scheifele on injured reserve and recalled forward Adam Lowry from Manitoba of the American Hockey League on Sunday. Coach Paul Maurice said Scheifele will be out of the lineup for at least a week.

Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang also will not play Sunday. He briefly left the game in the third period Saturday of a 3-1 win at the Minnesota Wild after being hit by Minnesota forward Jarret Stoll. He later returned, but coach Mike Sullivan is taking a cautious approach with his defenseman.

Letang sustained an upper-body injury against the Colorado Avalanche on Dec. 9 and missed six games before returning at Minnesota.

At 7:54 of the second period in the Boston Bruins/Ottawa Senators game, video review determined that David Krejci's shot completely crossed the Ottawa goal line. Good goal Boston.

Referee Brad Meier, who is scheduled to work the Blues/Stars game, has experienced a travel delay en route to Dallas. The game will start with one referee and two linesmen.

ANAHEIM -- The Anaheim Ducks returned home to face the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday following a 1-2-1 road trip on the heels of a strong message delivered by general manager Bob Murray.

"After succeeding during the past few regular seasons, suddenly we are underachieving and having to handle adversity," Murray told the Orange County Register. "And some are not physically prepared to work through the challenge."

The Ducks are in last place in the Western Conference with 30 points. They've lost two straight and four of their past five including a 3-2 overtime loss to the New York Rangers on Dec. 22 that concluded the road trip.

The Florida Panthers can earn their sixth consecutive victory for the first time in seven years and possibly take over first place in the Atlantic Division with a win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday at BB&T Center (6 p.m. ET; FS-O, FS-F).

Florida (19-12-4) hasn't had a winning streak of more than five straight since winning seven in a row March 2-16, 2008. The Panthers and Boston Bruins each have 42 points, one behind the Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens.

The Panthers are 11-3-0 since Nov. 27.