NHL Buzz: Marchand, Barzal in COVID-19 protocol

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Boston Bruins

Forwards Brad Marchand and
Craig Smith
were placed in NHL COVID-19 protocol Tuesday.
Marchand took part in the morning skate prior to the game against the Vegas Golden Knights before entering protocol. Smith did not participate.
Boston defeated the Calgary Flames 4-2 at Calgary on Saturday. The Flames have since placed nine players and a member of the training staff in protocol.
Marchand and Smith are the only Bruins in protocol. Coach Bruce Cassidy was removed Monday after missing six games.
"You see what happened in Calgary, we were just there," Cassidy said. "So is there going to be a trickle? All those things come into your head. But at the end of the day, you do your best to try to stay safe.
"Just keep your fingers crossed with this. Hope that a guy like 'Smitty,' it's just minor side effects if he has any at all, [minor] symptoms. But in general, you hope it doesn't go through your team. You saw what happened to the [New York] Islanders (COVID breakout). I think it really puts you behind the eight ball. Or Ottawa [Senators] early on. Hopefully it's one and done."
Marchand was added to protocol shortly after Cassidy spoke.-- Amalie Benjamin

New York Islanders

Mathew Barzal entered COVID-19 protocol and the center did not play against the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday.
"I think we've been doing everything, in terms of the protocols we need to do," Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. "It's a virus, he picked it up and we move on."
The Islanders had two games postponed in November when seven players entered protocol, Nov. 28 against the New York Rangers and Nov. 30 against the Philadelphia Flyers. The game against the Rangers was rescheduled for March 17 at Madison Square Garden.

Edmonton Oilers

Zach Hyman will not play against the Toronto Maple Leafs (9 p.m. ET; SNW, TSN4, ESPN+, NHL LIVE) because of an undisclosed injury.
The forward did not practice Monday and won't play what would have been his first game against the Maple Leafs since signing a seven-year contract with Edmonton on July 28 after six seasons with Toronto.
Hyman was checked into the boards by Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brady Skjei at 16:39 of the third period of a 3-1 loss Saturday and did not finish the game.
Forward Ryan McLeod entered COVID-19 protocol Tuesday. He will not be able to participate in team activities for a minimum of 10 days.
Coach Dave Tippett was not available Tuesday because of precautionary reasons.

Colorado Avalanche

Defenseman Devon Toews entered COVID-19 protocol.
"He's symptomatic, tested positive, so he'll be out until after Christmas," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said.
Toews will be replaced by Justin Barron. The defenseman made his NHL debut against the New York Rangers after he was recalled from Colorado of the American Hockey League.
Avalanche center Nazem Kadri played after missing two games with a lower-body injury.
Bednar said defenseman Jacob MacDonald, who was taken off the ice on a stretcher against the Florida Panthers on Sunday, is improving. MacDonald was injured on a hit by Panthers forward Ryan Lomberg at 2:14 of the second period.
"He's doing better, he's doing good," Bednar said. "I talked to him this morning and he was up and about, doing good, so hopefully on the way to recovery." -- Rick Sadowski

Tampa Bay Lightning

Brayden Point could return to the lineup before Christmas, Lightning coach Jon Cooper said.
"That would be a Christmas present if that was the case," Cooper said of the center, who has missed 11 games with an upper-body injury sustained against the New Jersey Devils on Nov. 20. "That would be big."
Point and forward Nikita Kucherov each took part in drills during an optional morning skate prior to Tampa Bay hosting the Los Angeles Kings.
Kucherov (lower body) hasn't played since Oct. 16 and had a procedure 10 days later. He's in the eighth week of a projected 8-10 week recovery.
Defenseman Erik Cernak (lower body) has missed four games.
"Cernak will be a little longer," Cooper said. "I know I don't have any definitive dates. Definitely not before Christmas."
Center Anthony Cirelli (upper body) and defenseman Zach Bogosian (lower body) each was expected to play Tuesday after each was a late scratch for a 4-0 loss at the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. -- Corey Long

Columbus Blue Jackets

Patrik Laine returned to practice Monday for the first time since he sustained an oblique strain Nov. 3 at the Colorado Avalanche.
The forward missed 17 games after scoring 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in the first nine games this season. Columbus (14-11-1) is 8-8-1 without him.
There is no timetable for the return of Laine, whose father, Harri, died in November, according to the Blue Jackets website.
Laine skated on a line with recent scratches Emil Bemstrom and Yegor Chinakhov.
"These guys have been great supporting me and my family, so it's always nice to come back here with open arms," Laine said. "It's definitely fun being on the ice with them again."
He rejoined his teammates ahead of their game at the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday (10 p.m. ET; SNP, BSOH, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).
"He's been through a lot here, and a lot of times in these situations, [it's good] just to be back with your second family and get out there and have some normalcy in your life," Columbus coach Brad Larsen said. "It's great to see him out there smiling and having some fun and getting back at it."