NHL Buzz: Rodrigues out 2-4 weeks for Avalanche

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Colorado Avalanche

Evan Rodrigues is expected to miss 2-4 weeks for the Avalanche because of a lower-body injury.
The forward was injured taking a shot in the first period of a 4-3 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday. He has nine points (six goals, three assists) in 18 games this season.
"He'll be week to week," Colorado coach Jared Bednar said after morning skate on Saturday. "I expect him to miss 2-4 weeks."
Bednar also provided updates on defenseman Bowen Byram and forward Darren Helm, who are each are out with a lower-body injury.
"Bo skated yesterday, today. He's on his own. 'Helmer,' same thing," Bednar said. "So hopefully those guys will be in a position to [return to practice]. The idea is to get them a few days of skating on their own, going through some things, and then hopefully get them with (skills coach) Shawn (Allard) here while we're gone on the road, hopefully early in the week, if not early to midweek, and start ramping them up to get them joining the group." -- Ryan Boulding

Chicago Blackhawks

Alex Stalock skated with the Blackhawks on Sunday for the first time since being placed in concussion protocol Nov. 1.
Stalock was injured after a collision with New York Islanders forward Casey Cizikas at 2:56 of the first period of the Islanders' 3-1 win against the Blackhawks on Nov. 1. He made two saves. Arvid Soderblom made 28 saves in relief.
Cizikas was assessed a five-minute major penalty for goalie interference and a game misconduct.
Stalock faced shots from the Blackhawks coaches on Sunday.
"He's a great voice in the dressing room, so him just being healthy again around the guys, it's a huge boost for this team," coach Luke Richardson said before the Blackhawks hosted the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, NBCSCH, TSN3, SN NOW). "He's a character and he's well liked in the dressing room, so it's nice to have him back. First day on the ice [with the team], we'll see how he feels with shots and everybody out there." -- Tracey Myers

Boston Bruins

Linus Ullmark is day to day for the Bruins because of an upper-body injury.
The goalie left at 6:57 of the third period of a 3-2 overtime win against the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday. He was replaced by Jeremy Swayman, who made six saves.
Ullmark is 13-1-0 in 16 games (15 starts) this season and leads the League in goals-against average (2.00) and save percentage (.935) among goalies who have played at least 10 games.
Forward Craig Smith also sustained an upper-body injury in the second period against the Hurricanes. Meanwhile, forward Trent Frederic (upper body) has missed the past two games, and defenseman Derek Forbort (hand) has missed 11 games.
"On everybody's it's day to day," Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said Saturday. "No one has received bad news, which is good, but how quickly they are going to be back, we don't know."
Boston next plays against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Rudolfs Balcers is expected to miss the next three games for the Lightning.
The forward sustained an upper-body injury after being checked by St. Louis Blues defenseman Justin Faulk in a 5-2 win on Friday.
The Lightning's next three games are on the road against the Buffalo Sabres on Monday, the Boston Bruins on Tuesday, and the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday.
Balcers has five points (three goals, two assists) in 17 games this season, including one goal in three games with the Lightning since he was claimed off waivers from the Panthers on Nov. 13.

Minnesota Wild

Jonas Brodin returned for the Wild in their 4-3 win against the Arizona Coyotes on Sunday.
The defenseman misssed the past two games with an illness. He had one assist and three blocked shots in 17:57 of ice time.
"I talked to him on the ice and he said he was fine, but obviously we'll see how his energy level shakes out here today," Wild coach Dean Evason said Saturday. "But that's the plan (to play Sunday)."
Brodin has four assists in 19 games this season and leads the Wild in ice time per game.