NHL Buzz: Bunting out final two regular-season games for Maple Leafs

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Toronto Maple Leafs

Michael Bunting will not play the final two regular-season games for the Maple Leafs because of a lower-body injury and will be reevaluated prior to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which begin May 2.
The forward sustained the injury in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers on Saturday and did not play in a 4-3 shootout win against the Washington Capitals on Sunday.
"He obviously skated today so a very positive sign," Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said Tuesday. "He's not going to play this week and then we will reevaluate him from there but things are looking positive."
Bunting leads NHL rookies with 63 points (23 goals, 40 assists) in 79 games.
Defenseman Rasmus Sandin, who has not played since March 19 because of a knee injury, will see a doctor on Tuesday and if all goes well, is expected to participate in a practice at some point this week.
Forward Ondrej Kase, who has not played since March 19 with a concussion, participated in a full-team morning skate Tuesday but Keefe said there is no timeline for his return.
Goalie Petr Mrazek, who has not played since March 29 because of a groin injury, skated again Tuesday. Keefe said he is progressing well but that there is still no timeline for his return.
Defenseman Jake Muzzin, who missed six games with an undisclosed injury, returned against the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday and skated on a pair with TJ Brodie. -- Dave McCarthy

Minnesota Wild

Jared Spurgeon did not play for the Wild against the Arizona Coyotes because of an upper-body injury.
Spurgeon was injured after taking a hit from Filip Forsberg in the first period of a 5-4 overtime win against the Nashville Predators on Sunday.
"We were more encouraged yesterday and today how he felt," Wild coach Dean Evason said Tuesday. "So that's positive I guess. As far as a timeline, we don't have one. We'll just see where he's at but he won't play tonight."
Spurgeon has 39 points (10 goals, 29 assists) in 64 games this season and is third on the Wild in average ice time per game (21:08).
Minnesota is also without defenseman Matt Dumba (upper body) and forward Mats Zuccarello (lower body). Zuccarello missed his second straight game, but Evason said he remains out more for precautionary reasons heading into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Dumba, who has missed 10 games, is hopeful to play at least one regular-season game. Minnesota has two remaining after Tuesday.
"(Dumba's) just not ready yet," Evason said. "Did we plan on him playing tonight? Probably. But again, things change and guys progress from injuries quicker or slower. Hopefully (Dumba) will get a game before we get to that point in the playoffs."
Forwards Jordan Greenway and Marcus Foligno each returned. Greenway missed seven games with an upper-body injury; Foligno missed four in NHL COVID-19 protocol.
"It's been tough watching, but the guys have been doing such a great job," Foligno said. "You see a tough game in Nashville, and just the battle of it all, you miss it. Tough to watch. I think your heart races way more watching than you do playing. Just happy to back now and obviously healthy and ready to finish off the season with the guys and get ready for the playoffs." -- Jessi Pierce

New Jersey Devils

Mackenzie Blackwood made his first start in three months for the Devils against the Ottawa Senators.
The goalie, who missed 41 games with a recurring left heel injury, played his first game since Jan. 19.
"It's been a tough year managing my injury but getting back to a place where I feel a lot better now," Blackwood said Monday. "I think it's important to me, to the team and everyone to get in a couple games. There'll be a lot of unknowns from a lot of people had I not been able to go. I'm at a good place with the foot. It's getting better and better all the time and will continue to get better through the offseason."
Blackwood is also expected to play the season finale at home against the Red Wings on Friday, one night after visiting the Carolina Hurricanes. He had surgery on his heel in June and missed the first eight games of the season. He also missed one game in January while in NHL COVID-19 protocol.
"It's very frustrating," he said. "Did the surgery, came back and thought it would keep getting better but it didn't. Took some time off and started to make the strides we were looking for. Showing signs that it'll continue to improve and get to a place where we're totally confident over the summer here and ready to go be 100 percent next year." -- Mike G. Morreale

Montreal Canadiens

Carey Price will travel with the Canadians on their road trip and have his knee reevaluated in New York.
The goalie had arthroscopic knee surgery July 23 to repair a torn meniscus. He was held out of the lineup Sunday (5-3 loss to the Boston Bruins) after starting four of five games.
"He's going to be reevaluated when he's seen in New York," Montreal coach Martin St. Louis said Tuesday. "So I don't know if it's a relapse, but I was happy that he was able to play and we'll see what the next few days bring."
Price made 17 saves in his season debut, a 3-0 loss to the New York Islanders on April 15, his first start since Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final. He allowed six goals in each of his past two starts, and is 0-4-0 with a 4.03 goals-against-average and .853 save percentage.
"Is it a blow? No, I thought it was a big plus for him to fight and get back from a long year of dealing with his injury," St. Louis said. "But we knew that him playing, it wasn't just going to be smooth sailing, you know, there's possibilities, and I think that's where we're at and that's why he's getting looked at."
Sam Montembeault, who made 37 saves against the Bruins on Sunday, is expected to start at the New York Rangers on Wednesday.-- Sean Farrell

Vancouver Canucks

Thatcher Demko is day to day with an undisclosed injury and won't play when the Canucks host the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday (10 p.m. ET; SNP, ROOT-NW+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).
Demko has appeared in seven straight games for the Canucks, and 31 of the past 34 games dating back to Feb. 1 but wasn't at practice on Monday and won't play on Tuesday.
"He's being evaluated," coach Bruce Boudreau said. "Right now it's just day to day. He's got a little bit of an ouch, but he's not going to be playing tonight."
Demko is 33-22-7 with a 2.72 goals-against average and .915 save percentage this season, his first as the Canucks undisputed No. 1.
Spencer Martin will start against Seattle because backup Jaroslav Halak is also out with an upper-body injury sustained in the first period of a 4-3 shootout loss against the Ottawa Senators on April 19 and isn't expected back this season. Martin went 1-0-2 with a .958 save percentage in late January, his first NHL games in five seasons.
Arturs Silovs was called up from Abbotsford of the American Hockey League on Tuesday morning on an emergency basis to back up Martin. -- Kevin Woodley

Columbus Blue Jackets

Boone Jenner and Sean Kuraly are out the rest of the season for the Blue Jackets.
Jenner, a forward hasn't played since March 11. He had 44 points (23 goals, 21 assists) in 59 games this season, his first as captain.
Kuraly injured his foot in a 5-2 win against the Edmonton Oilers on April 24. The forward had 30 points (14 goals, 16 assists) in 77 games.
Zach Werenski returned against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday. The defenseman (upper body) was injured April 17.

Ottawa Senators

Matt Murray is done for the season with an upper-body injury.
The goalie has not played since March 5. He's 5-12-2 with a 3.05 goals-against average, .906 save percentage and one shutout in 20 games.
"We thought maybe he could get in at the end and it's just not going to happen," Senators coach D.J. Smith said Tuesday. "The big thing for [Murray] was him coming back up, getting his confidence back and getting going, and then it gets derailed with another injury. I think the key was getting him building confidence toward next year, but unfortunately, he's not going to be able to play. Now it's training in the summer and exhibitions, and it's not the same. But it is what it is."
Mathieu Joseph will also not play the final three games of the regular season. The forward has missed six games since March 5 with an upper-body injury.
"It won't be much long after [the end of the season], but the injury was like a two, three-week thing. It just doesn't make a lot of sense to rush him in."
Joseph had 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in 11 games after the Senators acquired him in a trade with the Lightning for forward Nick Paul on March 20. -- Callum Fraser