NHL Buzz: Josi day to day for Predators with lower-body injury
Georgiev to make Sharks debut; Barzal skates with Islanders
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Nashville Predators
Roman Josi did not play for the Nashville Predators against the Dallas Stars on Thursday because of a lower-body injury.
The defenseman, who is day to day, left after the first period of a 4-3 loss to the Calgary Flames on Tuesday. He leads the Predators with 23 points (seven goals, 16 assists) in 29 games this season.
Defenseman Kevin Gravel was recalled from Milwaukee of the American Hockey League on Thursday. He has five points (one goal, four assists) in 20 AHL games this season.
Forward Ryan O'Reilly returned to the lineup on Thursday. He had missed the previous three games with a lower-body injury.
San Jose Sharks
Alexandar Georgiev made his Sharks debut against the St. Louis Blues on Thursday.
The goalie was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche on Monday along with forward Nikolai Kovalenko, a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft and a second-round pick in the 2026 draft for goalie Mackenzie Blackwood, forward Givani Smith and a fifth-round pick in 2027.
Georgiev was 8-7-0 with a 3.38 goals-against average and .874 save percentage in 18 games (17 starts) with the Avalanche this season.
"He's a guy that's obviously played in the League for a long time," Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said after the morning skate. "I think he started to find his game as of late when he was with Colorado and try to keep this thing going, get his confidence back." -- Lou Korac
New York Islanders
Mathew Barzal skated with the Islanders on Thursday for the first time since sustaining an upper-body injury during against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Oct. 30.
The forward, who is on long-term injured reserve, was wearing a regular jersey and did not take part in line rushes. He is considered day to day.
Barzal, who has missed 21 games, has five points (two goals, three assists) in 10 games this season.
"It's obviously great. [Barzal] is a big part of this team and a big part of the organization," Islanders forward Bo Horvat said. "And to have him back skating again with us is huge, and hopefully, we can get him back in the lineup here soon.
Forward Anthony Duclair (lower body) and defenseman Adam Pelech (jaw) skated in regular jerseys for the first time since returning to practice and are each day to day. Pelech skated in line rushes on the extra defense pair with Grant Hutton.
Duclair has missed 26 games and has three points (two goals, one assist) in five games this season. Pelech, who has missed 20 games, has four assists in 11 games.
"It's exciting for everybody," Islanders coach Patrick Roy said about having his injured players back on the ice. "[Seeing them on the ice] just tells you that they're getting closer and closer to getting back in the lineup. Sometimes, when those injuries happen, you feel like they'll never come back. Now, seeing them close to coming back, it's a good feeling for everybody."
Semyon Varlamov has not skated since he made 21 saves in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals on Nov. 29. -- Stefen Rosner
Dallas Stars
Lian Bichsel made his NHL debut for the Stars against the Nashville Predators on Thursday.
"It's great, been looking forward to this for many years," Bichsel said Thursday. "My whole youth. It's a dream. Can't put into words."
The 20-year-old defenseman, who was selected with the No. 18 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, was recalled from Texas of the American Hockey League. He played in place of Mathew Dumba, who is out with an upper-body injury.
"I think when you look at his path, I thought he had an outstanding training camp and exhibition series for us," Stars coach Pete DeBoer said. "He was knocking on the door in camp for a job with his play. They did the right thing and sent him down and got him some more experience, and from all the reports down there he's been very good. I think it was just a matter of time."
Bichsel (6-foot-7, 231 pounds) had nine points (three goals, six assists) in 21 games for Texas this season.
"He's a big, big man, but he's also got a really good skill level," DeBoer said. "The word I always find myself using when I watch him is 'poise' with the puck, which is rare for any young defensemen, never mind a guy that size. Maybe because of his size, he's not worried about getting run over, he can hold it for another second."
DeBoer had no timeline for Dumba's injury, saying the Stars are still awaiting test results. The defenseman didn't play the final 4:46 of a 6-2 win against the Calgary Flames on Sunday.
Vegas Golden Knights
Zach Whitecloud returned to the lineup for the Golden Knights, who opened a three-game road trip against the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday.
The 28-year-old defenseman had missed the previous seven games with a lower-body injury.
“He's in tonight. We'll call him a game-time decision because he hasn't played (since Nov. 23), but he's he's passed all the tests we need him to to get back up to speed and practice, so he's good to go," Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. "And we're happy to have him, and it’s good timing for him, I know he really enjoys playing here.”
Whitecloud was born two hours west of Winnipeg in Brandon, Manitoba.
“I’m lucky and grateful to our staff to be able to get me back in time to play in front of my family,” Whitecloud said. “I'm 28 now so I think I kind of have a good idea for what my body needs and how it heals and stuff like that. So, again, I think the most important part of this whole process is our medical staff putting our health and safety first above all else.”
Whitecloud has two points (one goal, one assist) in 21 games this season.
“Getting the chance to have a lot of guys back is definitely good heading into that five-day break,” Whitecloud said. “Give guys time to heal up whatever they've got going on.” -- Darrin Bauming
Toronto Maple Leafs
Jake McCabe returned for the Maple Leafs against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday.
The defenseman had missed the previous five games after taking a puck to the head against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Nov. 30.
"It's never fun being out of the lineup and watching the boys compete but I'm very happy to be back in tonight," McCabe said. "I'm feeling a lot better now than I was last week. Didn't quite feel right, didn't quite feel comfortable putting myself in a situation to play. The medical staff takes great care of us so I got the go-ahead now so I'm ready to get back at it."
McCabe was a full participant at the morning skate Thursday, skating in his regular spot on a pair with Chris Tanev.
"He's a big part of our team back there with him and Tanev as a shutdown pair and penalty killing and just being physical and defending and things like that," coach Craig Berube said. "He's a big part of our team so it will be great to have him back."
McCabe has five assists and is plus-11 in 23 games this season. -- Dave McCarthy
Minnesota Wild
Defenseman Jonas Brodin and forward Mats Zuccarello each skated with the team, but neither played for the Wild against the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday.
"It's really good, just in the sense that they were able to skate," Minnesota coach John Hynes said. "They'll do some extra work after practice and then probably skating [Friday], and then we'll see.
"I don't have a timeline on them yet, other than that they've obviously progressed well to get in the team setting."
Zuccarello, who sustained a lower-body injury after being hit with a shot on Nov. 14, has missed the past 13 games. He has 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in 16 games this season.
Brodin has missed eight games because of an upper-body injury.
"Now maybe we'll get them a little bit of contact and some extra work and see how they respond," Hynes said.
Forward Joel Eriksson Ek, who sustained an upper-body injury following a hit in overtime in a 3-2 loss against the Vancouver Canucks on Dec. 3, has not started skating. He has missed the past three games. -- Jessi Pierce
