NHL Buzz: Draisaitl expected to return for Oilers

Welcome to the NHL Buzz. Throughout the 2021-22 season, NHL.com will have you covered with the latest news.

Edmonton Oilers

Leon Draisaitl is expected to return for the Oilers against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday (10:30 p.m. ET; SN1, BSSC, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).
The forward did not play in a 2-1 overtime win at the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday because of a lower-body injury.
Draisaitl participated in the morning skate and Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft said he "looked pretty good out there" but would have to hear back from the team's medical staff before confirming his availability.
Draisaitl leads the Oilers with 50 goals, and his 51 assists trail Connor McDavid (65) on the team. Draisaitl is third in the NHL with 101 points, behind McDavid (106) and Jonathan Huberdeau of the Florida Panthers (102).
"He's obviously such a difference-maker, one of the top players in the League, so anytime he's out of the lineup we miss him, and anytime that you can bring him back in he brings a lot of life, a lot of poise," Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse said of Draisaitl. "He's just one of those special players in the League, anytime he's in your lineup makes a difference."-- Dan Greenspan

Vancouver Canucks

Quinn Hughes will miss his second straight game when the Canucks visit the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday (10 p.m. ET; BSAZX, SNP, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).
The defenseman did not play in a 5-1 win against the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday because of an illness.
Hughes has scored 53 points (five goals, 48 assists) in 66 games this season.
Forward Brock Boeser will not play Thursday because of an upper-body injury.
Boeser was injured late in the second period of a 3-2 overtime loss to the Golden Knights on Sunday. He was holding his right arm after getting hit awkwardly into the boards by teammate Elias Pettersson while trying to check Golden Knights defenseman Ben Hutton. Boeser returned for the third period but did not play at Vegas on Wednesday.
"He's getting evaluated back home," Vancouver coach Bruce Boudreau said Wednesday. "We'll know more about the scenario when we get home on Friday. That's the date we'll have a little more information."
Boeser has scored 38 points (19 goals, 19 assists) in 64 games this season. -- Kevin Woodley

Boston Bruins

David Pastrnak will miss his second game for the Bruins when they visit the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday.
"No, I don't think he's [out for] a while," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. "We listed him as day to day, he's still on the trip. I think if it was anything long-term, he would've gone home by now. Will he be ready Sunday (against the Washington Capitals)? I guess when we get on the ice Saturday, if he's out there, we'll be able to give you a better idea then. But that's where he's at now."
The forward aggravated a previous injury in a 3-2 overtime win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday and did not play in a 5-3 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday.
Pastrnak has scored 71 points (38 goals, 33 assists) in 69 games this season.
Hampus Lindholm has not been ruled out Friday after the defenseman left in the second period Tuesday because of a lower-body injury.
"Lindholm, [the doctors] weren't sure," Cassidy said. "They were hoping to get him on the ice today. Didn't work out that way. ... so I won't rule him out yet."
Lindholm has four assists in seven games with the Bruins since he was acquired in a trade with the Anaheim Ducks on March 19.

New Jersey Devils

Jimmy Vesey will be out at least a week for the Devils because of a lower-body injury.
The forward left in the second period of a 3-1 loss to the New York Rangers on Sunday and could not walk.
Vesey has scored 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in 66 games this season.
New Jersey is hosting the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday (MSG+2, RDS, TSN2, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).

Montreal Canadiens

Carey Price traveled with the Canadiens for their road trip but is not expected to play in either of the two games.
The 34-year-old goalie has not played this season while recovering from knee surgery he had July 23. The expected recovery time was 10-12 weeks, but it was announced Jan. 17 that he would have to restart his rehabilitation. There was no timeline for a return.
Price has since progressed and has participated in several practices.
Montreal is visiting the New Jersey Devils (MSG+2, RDS, TSN2, ESPN+, NHL LIVE) before playing at the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.
The Canadiens (19-40-11) have the fewest points in the NHL after reaching the Stanley Cup Final last season and have allowed 3.80 goals per game, the second-most in the NHL (Detroit Red Wings, 3.84).

Pittsburgh Penguins

Jason Zucker is not playing for Penguins at the New York Rangers (ESPN+, HULU, SNE, SNW, SNP, NHL LIVE).
The forward is day to day after taking full contact in practice Wednesday for the first time since missing two games with a lower-body injury sustained against the Minnesota Wild on March 31. That was Zucker's first game back after having core muscle surgery Jan. 25.
Since playing against the New Jersey Devils on Dec. 19, Zucker has been sidelined for 39 of 41 games. He returned from a lower-body injury with two goals in a 5-3 win against the Golden Knights on Jan. 17 before missing the next 30 games.
Zucker has scored 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in 32 games this season. -- Wes Crosby

Colorado Avalanche

Gabriel Landeskog could return to the ice this week for the Avalanche for the first time since having knee surgery March 14, coach Jared Bednar told the Denver Post.
Landeskog has scored 59 points (30 goals, 29 assists) in 52 games this season. Bednar said he expects the forward to return before the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Bednar also said forward Nazem Kadri, who has missed the past two games because of an upper-body injury, could return soon. Kadri is second on the Avalanche with 83 points (26 goals, 57 assists) in 65 games.
"Kadri is feeling better," Bednar said. "'Landy' is still a ways out ... he's getting ready to get on the ice, probably out on his own to start. Kadri too, but obviously Kadri has missed way less time than him; he'll be able to come back quicker."
Forward Valeri Nichushkin will play against the Jets on Friday after missing a 6-4 win against the Penguins on Wednesday with an illness not related to COVID-19. Defenseman Samuel Girard has been cleared to return after missing 12 games because of a lower-body injury.

Florida Panthers

Aaron Ekblad has begun skating for the Panthers in his recovery from a lower-body injury.
The defenseman is expected to return to the lineup in early May; the Panthers have clinched a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which begin May 2.
Ekblad was injured during a 3-0 win against the Anaheim Ducks on March 18 after he collided with teammate Aleksander Barkov.
Ekblad has scored an NHL career-high 57 points (15 goals, 42 assists) in 61 games this season.

Minnesota Wild

Matt Dumba will not play for the Wild against the St. Louis Blues on Friday (8 p.m. ET; BSMW, BSN, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).
The defenseman left with an upper-body injury after hitting Nashville Predators forward Michael McCarron at 4:01 of the second period during a 6-2 loss on Tuesday.
"[Dumba is] still on [the trip] with us," Wild coach Dean Evason said Thursday. "It's more positive than we anticipated. He's out tomorrow. We'll see how it goes."
Defenseman Jon Merrill (upper body) and forward Matt Boldy (upper body) each practiced, but neither will play Friday.
Merrill, who joined the team in Nashville, and Boldy were each injured in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 31 and have missed three games.
"[They're] getting close," Evason said. -- Jessi Pierce