NHL Buzz: Byram, Nichushkin return to lineup for Avalanche

Welcome to the NHL Buzz. NHL.com has you covered with all the latest news.

Colorado Avalanche

Bowen Byram will return for the Avalanche when they visit the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, ATTSN-PT, ALT2, ESPN+).
The defenseman has been out with a lower-body injury since Nov. 5.
"I feel good. It's exciting to be getting ready to play a game. It's been a long time," Byram said Monday, "Just a finicky injury. I don't think we quite knew how serious it was at the start of things, but now that I'm back and playing that's all that matters. It's behind me now."
Byram has five points (two goals, three assists) in 10 games this season.
"He's ready to go. He was probably knocking on the door before the (NHL All-Star) break, and now he's had the [break]," Colorado coach Jared Bednar said Monday. "We just felt like rushing him back to play one game or two games right before the break probably wasn't the best idea considering how long he's been out. And he's worked hard over the break too, to get ready."
Valeri Nichushkin will also return for the Avalanche on Tuesday. The forward has been out since Jan. 24 with an upper-body injury.
Nichushkin has 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) in 20 games this season.
Josh Manson will travel with the team on their three-game road trip, but the defenseman won't play. Manson has been out since Dec. 1 with a lower-body injury.
"He's going to start skating with the group," Bednar said. "You just take it day by day. You see how he feels. Until he says he's ready to go, he's not."
Darren Helm skated in a red, no-contact jersey prior to practice Monday. He's been out since Jan. 12 with a lower-body injury related to his off-season hip surgery. -- Ryan Boulding

Chicago Blackhawks

Jonathan Toews has the flu and will not play for the Blackhawks against the Anaheim Ducks at United Center on Tuesday (8:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCH, BSSC, ESPN+, SN NOW).
"Just keeping him away from the guys," Chicago coach Luke Richardson said. "It's one of those things, middle of winter, we don't want it to go through the team and we have two more days in between the games. So, let him rest up and see where he is on Friday."
The Blackhawks are home against the Arizona Coyotes on Friday and visit the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday.
Toews, who did not practice the past two days, missed two other games this season with an illness: a 3-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Dec. 6, and a 5-1 win against the Calgary Flames on Jan. 26.
The center has 28 points (14 goals, 14 assists) in 46 games this season, third on the Blackhawks behind Max Domi (35 points) and Patrick Kane (34).
Tyler Johnson is expected to play. The forward participated in the morning skate after he missed three games with a left ankle injury. -- Tracey Myers

Pittsburgh Penguins

Kasperi Kapanen and Josh Archibald could return for the Penguins against the Colorado Avalanche at PPG Paints Arena on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, ATTSN-PT, ALT2, ESPN+).
Each forward is available to play after participating in an optional morning skate, coach Mike Sullivan said. Kapanen and Archibald took full contact in practice the previous two days.
Kapanen, who was third-line right wing in practice Monday, has not played since Jan. 18 with a lower-body injury. Archibald, their right wing on the fourth line, has been out since Dec. 18 with a lower-body injury.
"I'm a little rusty, obviously, after being away from the ice for some time and not really getting any team practices before that with the injury," said Kapanen, who has 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in 35 games this season. "But now coming back, I feel great. Went out for a skate today and feel good."
Archibald has six points (four goals, two assists) in 30 games.
Goalie Tristan Jarry was also present for the optional skate, joining his teammates for the first time since sustaining an upper-body injury against the Devils on Jan. 22. He remains day to day, Sullivan said.
Defenseman Jan Rutta skated with the Penguins for the first time since sustaining an upper-body injury Jan. 14. Sullivan said he is unsure if Rutta had been cleared for contact. -- Wes Crosby

Vegas Golden Knights

Zach Whitecloud is expected to return for the Golden Knights when they visit the Nashville Predators on Tuesday (8 p.m. ET; BSSO, ATTSN-RM, ESPN+, SN NOW).
The defenseman missed 21 games after sustaining a lower-body injury Dec. 11 in a 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins.
Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said Whitecloud would play assuming he felt healthy following the morning skate.
"In Zach's case, he's just got to take his first hit," Cassidy said. "Once he takes that first one … your body just supports you, and off you go. That's usually the mental block you go through.
"No matter what your injury is, and why you miss, your timing is going to be a little bit off. So, if you can keep the game in front of you, nice and easy early on, that will make it probably better off in the long run. Sometimes that's just situational, how the game plays out. Hopefully that's where it goes for him."
Whitecloud has six points (one goal, five assists) in 30 games this season, averaging 16:39 of ice time.
"The past few months have been tough to sit out and just kind of sit there and watch," Whitecloud said. "Obviously I think every player can attest to it.
"So, it's been a long road, and it's been having to work on patience a little bit. I've matured through it, I think, taking care of my body, making sure I do the right things so that I'm ready to come back. That's the main thing. If I didn't feel ready to come back and make an impact or help the team, I think I'm far enough along in my career where I can make that decision." --John Glennon