NHL Buzz: Sergachev practices with Lightning in noncontact jersey
Oshie could return for Capitals; Red Wings loan Husso to AHL for conditioning
© Mark LoMoglio/NHLI via Getty Images
Tampa Bay Lightning
Mikhail Sergachev practiced in a noncontact jersey Monday for the first time since sustaining a leg injury during a game at the New York Rangers on Feb. 8.
The 25-year-old defenseman had surgery soon after to stabilize fractures in his left tibula and fibula but resumed skating March 18. He had 19 points (two goals, 17 assists) in 34 games while averaging 22:33 of ice time, second on the Lightning behind defenseman Victor Hedman (24:49).
“I felt good,” Sergachev said. “I loved being out there with the guys. It's much better than just being by myself on the ice or with a couple of guys; it's the whole team. I just wanted to get out there and see where I'm at speed-wise. Not just my legs, but thinking and stuff like that."
Sergachev, who is on long-term injured reserve, helped Tampa Bay win the Stanley Cup in 2020 and 2021. He has 257 points (48 goals, 209 assists) in 475 regular-season games, and 33 points (nine goals, 24 assists) in 98 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
The Lightning (43-27-7), who hold the first wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference, host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; BSSUN, BSOH).
“I’m trying to come back as fast as possible, but you never know with injuries,” Sergachev said. “It’s gone up and down. It’s kind of a roller coaster, one day you feel good, another day it hurts. So, we’ll see.”
Lightning coach Jon Cooper quickly shot down the idea of Sergachev returning for the start of the playoffs April 20.
“Obviously a confidence booster, a morale booster for both us and him,” Cooper said. “Baby steps. He’s still got a long way to go, but it’s great to have him out there.
“He’s making progress, but don’t read into it that he’s going to be a first-round playoff participant, because he won’t be. But who knows? We win a round or two, never say never.”
Washington Capitals
T.J. Oshie will travel with the Capitals and could return from an upper-body injury when they visit the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; ESPN).
The forward, who has missed the past four games, said he felt good after practicing Monday, but coach Spencer Carbery said they’ll wait to see how Oshie feels Tuesday before deciding if he’ll play against the Red Wings.
Oshie has 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists) in 47 games this season for Washington (36-30-11), which has lost six in a row (0-4-2) and trails Detroit and the Pittsburgh Penguins by one point for the second wild card in the East. Pittsburgh has played one more game.
“In my situation we’re going to kind of go day to day, but hopeful that I feel good tomorrow morning,” Oshie said.
Defenseman Rasmus Sandin (upper body) won’t be available for the two-game trip, which concludes at the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, and could potentially miss the remainder of the regular season.
Sandin did not practice Monday after being injured on a hit from Parker Kelly at the end of the first period of a 3-2 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators on Sunday.
The Capitals recalled defenseman Lucas Johansen from Hershey of the American Hockey League on Monday.
“Possible, but we’ll see,” Carbery said of Sandin missing the Capitals’ final five regular-season games. “Definitely not on the road trip, not traveling. So that’s getting limited once we get back. So we’ll see.” -- Tom Gulitti
Detroit Red Wings
Ville Husso was loaned to Grand Rapids of the AHL on Monday for conditioning.
The 29-year-old goalie has not played for Detroit since Feb. 13 because of a lower-body injury. He is 9-5-2 with a 3.55 goals-against average and .892 save percentage in 19 games (18 starts) this season.
Alex Lyon has started the past four games for the Red Wings (38-31-8), who are tied with the Pittsburgh Penguins, who have played one more game, for the second wild card in the East.
Colorado Avalanche
Mikko Rantanen is in concussion protocol and did not play for the Avalanche in a 7-4 loss to the Dallas Stars on Sunday.
The forward left a 6-2 loss at the Edmonton Oilers on Friday during the second period because of an upper-body injury following a hit from Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm.
"He worked out yesterday. He skated this morning on his own. He's out," Colorado coach Jared Bednar said Sunday. "He's [in] concussion protocol. So he's day to day, I would say."
Rantanen is tied for sixth in the NHL and ranks second on the Avalanche with 102 points (40 goals, 62 assists) in 77 games. He had played in 161 consecutive games.
Forward Miles Wood also didn't play for Colorado because of a lower-body injury. He is day to day.
Wood has 24 points (nine goals, 15 assists) in 72 games this season. -- Ryan Boulding
New Jersey Devils
Curtis Lazar could be out for the season because of an upper-body injury.
The forward sustained the injury on his third shift of the second period of a 4-3 win at the Senators on Saturday. He had one shot on goal and three hits in 6:38 of ice time against the Senators.
"He's not great," coach Travis Green said Sunday. "I don't know if we'll see Lazar for the rest of the regular season."
New Jersey (37-36-4) is six points behind the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference with five games remaining. -- Mike G. Morreale
Ottawa Senators
Tim Stützle is day to day because of an upper-body injury and did not play in a 3-2 overtime win against the Capitals on Sunday.
The center was slow to get up after taking a hit from defenseman Niko Mikkola in a 6-0 loss to the Florida Panthers on Thursday and did not play in a 4-3 loss to the Devils on Saturday.
Stutzle leads the Senators with 70 points (18 goals, 52 assists) in 75 games this season. -- Callum Fraser
