NHL Buzz: Stutzle out at least one week for Senators with shoulder injury

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Ottawa Senators

Tim Stutzle
is out at least one week with a shoulder injury.
"If he's back in seven or 10 days, whatever it is, it's certainly lucky," Senators coach D.J. Smith said.
The forward, second on Ottawa with 27 points (10 goals, 17 assists) in 28 games, left in the first period of a 3-0 win against the Anaheim Ducks on Monday after a hit from Ducks forward Brett Leason.
Stutzle's right arm bent awkwardly at impact. Smith said there is no structural damage to the shoulder, only a contusion.
"We would never put him at risk, but if it's at the point where he can't make it worse, I would assume he'll play," Smith said of Stutzle. "I wouldn't count him out before Christmas, but he may not [play before then]."
Derick Brassard will take Stutzle's place at first-line center with Brady Tkachuk and Drake Batherson.
"A guy that's been able to help out in all situations when he's healthy," Smith said. "Whether it's two or three or four games, he'll be back at center with these guys, and we'll see how it goes, but he's able to play in all situations."
Forward Tyler Motte is week to week after a hit from Ducks defenseman Simon Benoit. Stutzle and Motte join an injured list that includes forwards Josh Norris (shoulder) and Mathieu Joseph (lower body), and defenseman Artem Zub (jaw).
Forward Jacob Lucchini was recalled from Belleville of the American Hockey League by the Senators and made his NHL debut in a 3-2 win against the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday. -- Callum Fraser

Montreal Canadiens

Jonathan Drouin returned for the Canadiens against the Senators after missing 13 games with an upper-body injury.
The forward, who has four assists in 13 games, played through the injury for four games before being placed on long-term injured reserve Nov. 16.
"I felt like before he got hurt, he was really starting to feel good and look good," Montreal coach Martin St. Louis said. "And now, he's missed time again and we have to build it back up. I'm curious to see how quickly he gets physically back up to speed, but I know the assets, the mind, the intelligence, are going to be there. It's just physically how fast can he get back into the beat here."
Drouin had wrist surgery in April and was still rehabbing at the beginning of training camp. He missed the first two games of the season.
"He had a slow start, physically, coming back from an injury and missing time at camp, missed some games at the beginning of the season," St. Louis said. "It's hard to start late in this league, physically."
Drouin was the center on the fourth line with Michael Pezzetta and Joel Armia.
Defenseman David Savard (upper body) and forward Sean Monahan (lower body) are out 2-3 weeks. -- Fraser

Pittsburgh Penguins

Jason Zucker is week to week with a lower-body injury, Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said.
The forward left late in the second period of a 2-1 win against the Dallas Stars on Monday but returned for the third. Zucker is fourth on the Penguins with 20 points (six goals, 14 assists) in 27 games.
Zucker and Jeff Petry will not play at the Florida Panthers on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; BSFL, ATTSN-PT, ESPN+, SN NOW).
Petry was placed on long-term injured reserve Tuesday, retroactive to Dec. 11, with an upper-body injury. By being placed on LTIR, the 35-year-old defenseman will be out for a minimum of 24 days and 10 games.
"We've got other guys that we're going to put in the lineup that, once again, we believe we have capable guys," Sullivan said. "We have enough to win. It's going to provide opportunities for others to step up and play more significant roles."
Danton Heinen, a healthy scratch in five of the past seven games, moved into Zucker's spot at left wing on the second line with center Evgeni Malkin and right wing Bryan Rust in practice Wednesday.
Kris Letang, who was out five games after having a stroke Nov. 28, has replaced Petry on the top defense pair with Marcus Pettersson.
Zucker missed two games with an undisclosed injury earlier this season before returning Oct. 29. He was sidelined 41 games with various injuries last season.
"We feel for 'Zuck' because he's played extremely well for us," Sullivan said. "It's been a struggle since he's been a Penguin just keeping him healthy."
Petry said he was fine after leaving a 3-1 win against the Buffalo Sabres on Dec. 10 with 1:51 remaining in the third following a hit into the boards by Sabres forward Alex Tuch. He missed the win against the Stars on Monday that extended the Penguins' winning streak to six games.
Petry has 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in 28 games this season, his first with Pittsburgh after he was acquired in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens on July 16.
Forward Drew O'Connor and defenseman Mark Friedman were recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL. -- Wes Crosby

Calgary Flames

Chris Tanev is day to day after being hit in the head with the puck during a 2-1 shootout loss at Montreal on Monday.
The defenseman did not play against the Vancouver Canucks at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary on Wednesday.
"He's better," Flames coach Darryl Sutter said. "We'll go day to day with him. Thankful there's no fracture with where it him."
Tanev left the game in the second period Monday after Canadiens center Nick Suzuki's slap shot hit him in the side of the head. He was taken to a hospital for tests, which were negative, and cleared to travel to Calgary.
Tanev has five assists and a team-high 55 blocked shots in 24 games this season for the Flames (13-11-5).

St. Louis Blues

Pavel Buchnevich will return for the Blues against the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday (9 p.m. ET; SNW, BSMW, ESPN+, SN NOW).
The forward has missed four games with a lower-body injury sustained in a 6-4 loss to the New York Rangers on Dec. 5. He practiced in full Wednesday before the start of a five-game road trip but also took part in the morning skate before a 1-0 overtime win against the Nashville Predators on Monday.
"He was good in practice today, I thought he looked good," Blues coach Craig Berube said. "Never heard anything after. Should be good to go.
"He's an all-situational guy for us. He's a good defensive player for sure, has got a great stick, but he has great anticipation out there. He's got great vision. He makes plays, he's got really great vision. He can also shoot too. We all know that, but his vision is probably his No. 1 asset."
Buchnevich will skate on a line with Brayden Schenn and Vladimir Tarasenko, the first time the Blues have used that line combination this season. He has 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists) in 20 games.
"Schenn and 'Buchy' have played together before and obviously with 'Vladi' (and Robert Thomas), but not all three of them, no, Berube said. "I think you've got a little bit of everything on that line with Buchy being a playmaker and Vladi obviously a scorer. 'Schenner' scores but grit. Hoping it's a competitive line and a good line." -- Lou Korac

Vegas Golden Knights

Jack Eichel is day to day, Shea Theodore week to week and Zach Whitecloud month to month for the Golden Knights, each with a lower-body injury.
Eichel, a forward, missed a 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Sunday. He had one shot on goal in 20:15 of ice time in a 2-1 overtime win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday after missing the previous two games and leads the Golden Knights in points (29) and goals (13) and is third in assists (16).
Theodore, a defenseman, left the game Friday in overtime after colliding shins with Philadelphia defenseman Travis Sanheim, and was helped off the ice and immediately and went to the tunnel. He leads Vegas at the position with 22 points (four goals, 18 assists).
Whitecloud was injured during the second period Sunday when he collided with Boston forward Taylor Hall. The defenseman has six points (one goal, five assists) in 30 games.
Forward
Jonas Rondbjerg
, and defensemen
Kaedan Korczak
and
Brayden Pachal
, were recalled from Henderson of the AHL.