NHL Buzz: Hall to return for Bruins against Devils

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Boston Bruins

Taylor Hall will play for the Bruins for the first time since Feb. 25 when they host the New Jersey Devils on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; ESPN+, ABC, SN NOW).
There were initial reports that Hall might be out for the remainder of the season when he sustained the lower-body injury against the Vancouver Canucks. He will not play against the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday.
"Tonight's the night for Taylor Hall," Boston coach Jim Montgomery said. "We're excited to have him back."
Hall will be playing on his usual line with forwards Charlie Coyle and Trent Frederic, though his power play time might be limited. He has 36 points (16 goals, 20 assists) in 58 games this sason.
"There's a chance at tying history (62 NHL wins) with the team and being out for so long, it's exciting to come back on a night, playing a really good hockey team, a fast team," Hall said. "The pace of play is going to be what you're seeing in the playoffs. I'm excited to get back and really kind of get thrown into the fire a little bit. I feel like I'm ready."
Defenseman Charlie McAvoy, who left a 2-1 overtime win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday in the second period and did not return after a collision with Patrice Bergeron, will return. David Krejci, who has not played since April 1, remains out.
"He obviously has progressed really well," Montgomery said of McAvoy. "At this point in the juncture where we're at, we would not be risking anything. He's 100 percent."
Nick Foligno (lower body) took part in the team's morning skate in a non-contact jersey. Foligno has been out since taking a hit from Nikita Zadorov in a game against the Calgary Flames on Feb. 28.
Foligno said that returning for the Eastern Conference First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is a possibility.
"That's what I'm shooting for. I feel great," Foligno said. "I think everyone gets excited -- myself included -- being out there. It's a pretty significant injury that I had. It's a credit to our medical staff, Scott Waugh, working with him, that I'm a little further along than probably we were expecting. There's no real timetable. It's just a matter of me feeling as good as I need to feel. When that time comes, we'll know when I'm ready."-- Amalie Benjamin

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Washington Capitals

Alex Ovechkin will be a game-time decision for the Washington Capitals when they host the Florida Panthers on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; NBCSWA, BSFL, ESPN+, SN NOW).
Ovechkin did not take part in Washington's morning skate because of an upper-body injury.
He played 21:50 and had an assist in the Capitals' 6-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday. Ovechkin has gone four games without a goal after scoring at least one goal in four straight games and five of six.
Ovechkin has 74 points (42 goals and 32 assists) in 72 games for Washington (34-35-9), which has been eliminated from playoff contention after eight straight trips to the postseason. -- Harvey Valentine

Vegas Golden Knights

Jack Eichel will not play for the Golden Knights against the Dallas Stars (3:30 p.m. ET; ABC, ESPN+, TVAS).
The forward is day to day with an undisclosed injury. He had an assist and three shots on goal in 18:46 of ice time in a 5-2 win against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday.
Eichel leads Vegas with 65 points (27 goals, 38 assists) in 66 games this season and has 11 points during an eight-game point streak (one goal, 10 assists).
The Golden Knights can clinch the Pacific Division with a win against the Stars and an Edmonton Oilers regulation loss Saturday.

Minnesota Wild

Gustav Nyquist will make his Wild debut when they host the St. Louis Blues (8 p.m. ET; BSN, BSMW, ESPN+, SN NOW).
The forward, acquired in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Feb. 28, has not played since Jan. 25 because of a shoulder injury.
"I'm really excited to get in here, some game action, and get some games in here before the playoffs," Nyquist said.
He will play left wing with Sam Steel at center and Marcus Foligno on the right side.
Prior to the injury, Nyquist had 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists) in 48 games with the Blue Jackets.
"He hasn't played hockey in a long time, right? Or a while, so we're expecting him just to compete," Wild coach Dean Evason said. "Obviously there's going to be some rust, what have you, but you know, anybody who's watched the NHL, we've seen him for years and what he can do. He's got a skill set obviously offensively but he works his butt off and, you know, plays a sound two-way game so should fit in perfect the way the Minnesota Wild play."-- Jessi Pierce

Toronto Maple Leafs

Matt Murray will remain out for the Maple Leafs when they play the Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET; CBC, TVAS, SNE, SNO, SNP, SN NOW, ESPN +).
The goalie has not been on the ice since leaving a 5-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday with a head injury, but coach Sheldon Keefe said Murray will be evaluated Saturday afternoon to determine his status.
"He's been progressing," Keefe said. "He's had some good days here of late so the thought was he would be available to back up here tonight possibly, so we will see. That may not be the case here now, but we will work with the medical team (this afternoon) just to figure out exactly where that is at."
Ilya Samsonov will start against the Canadiens and goalie Jett Alexander, who was signed to an amateur tryout contract Saturday, will dress as the backup.
Forward Calle Jarnkrok is day to day with an undisclosed injury and will not play. Jarnkrok had one shot on goal in 15:34 in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Bruins on Thursday.
"Fairly minor," Keefe said. "He finished the game the other night, he was just a little bit more uncomfortable than you'd want him to be at this time of year."
Defensemen Morgan Rielly and TJ Brodie will each sit out for rest. Erik Gustafsson will play for the first time since March 23. He had been away from the team from March 25-April 4 due to personal reasons.
Timothy Liljegren
, who was a healthy scratch against the Bruins, will play. --Dave McCarthy

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New York Rangers

Patrick Kane will return when the Rangers play the Blue Jackets (7 p.m. ET; BSOH, MSG, ESPN+, SN NOW).
The forward was held out of the past two game with a lower-body injury as a precaution, according to Rangers coach Gerard Gallant.
"I'll probably play the last three (games)," Kane said. "Just a little maintenance there the last little bit. I felt pretty good. I'm excited to be out there."
Kane has 55 points (21 goals, 34 assists) in 70 games this season including 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 16 games since being acquired in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks on Feb. 28.-- Craig Merz