NHL Buzz: Bergeron won't play for Bruins on Thursday

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Boston Bruins

Patrice Bergeron will not play for the Bruins against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday because of an upper-body injury.
The center left with 8:44 remaining in the third period of a 4-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday after colliding with Sidney Crosby and crashing into the boards.
"It's involving his head, so we have to be careful," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said Wednesday. "This is a guy that's had a head injury in the past. We want to make sure everything checks out. He wants to make sure everything checks out. In the immediate term here, he didn't skate today, won't play tomorrow and hopefully he's in good shape the next few days. But we're going to obviously take as much time as we need."
Bergeron has scored 35 points (12 goals, 23 assists) in 43 games this season.
Boston could also be without forward Brad Marchand, who has been offered an in-person hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety for roughing and high-sticking Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry on Tuesday.
"Replacing your captain (Bergeron) and then a player like 'Marshy' is not just as simple as everyone doing a bit more," Bruins forward Taylor Hall said. "We're going to miss those guys, there's no doubt, so we have to find a way to all be the best version of ourselves and play collectively as a team." -- Amalie Benjamin

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Philadelphia Flyers

Derick Brassard returned to the lineup for the Flyers against the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday.
The forward missed 11 games and has played two games since Nov. 23, because of a lower-body injury.
"It's been a long two months," Brassard said Tuesday. "Came back too quick like three times. … Hopefully I'm ready to go here. Probably take a few games to get back to normal. Try to keep everything simple and just have fun out there."
Brassard had scored 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in 19 games this season.
"I think that in the game tonight, he's going to play somewhere between 10 and 15 minutes, is what I would expect," Flyers coach Mike Yeo said.
"Max is a really good skater, he's helped us this year, and same thing for Gerry," Brassard said. "He's a proven goal scorer in the [American Hockey League] and he's been scoring some key goals here for us. He's been relentless on pucks. … I'm not setting up any expectations, just try to be on the same page as those guys and do the best that I can."
Forward Kevin Hayes, who had surgery Jan. 18 to have fluid drained from the adductor region of his hip, skated before practice Tuesday but did not play Wednesday. He was expected to be out 3-4 weeks. -- Adam Kimelman

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Pittsburgh Penguins

Evgeni Malkin
could return for the Penguins against the New Jersey Devils on Sunday.
The center was placed in NHL COVID-19 protocol Monday and expected to miss at least two games. He missed a 4-2 win against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday and will not play against the Ottawa Senators on Thursday.
"It is my understanding that 'Geno' tested out of the protocol today," Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said Wednesday. "I am still waiting on confirmation on Geno. If that is the case, he will be available Sunday against New Jersey."
Malkin was on a nine-game point streak (three goals, seven assists) and scored 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in 12 games since making his season debut against the Anaheim Ducks on Jan. 11. He missed the first 34 games recovering from knee surgery he had in June.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Patrik Laine left practice early for the Blue Jackets on Wednesday but is expected to play against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday.
The forward was on the ice for the start of practice before leaving after 10 minutes.
"He's got a little irritation," Columbus coach Brad Larsen said. "I think he'll be all right. But we just wanted to get him off, make sure. Re-evaluate tomorrow."
Laine has scored nine points (six goals, three assists) in a four-game point streak, including two goals in three straight games.
"Yeah, that would [stink]," Larsen said if Laine wasn't able to play.
Defenseman Zach Werenski (maintenance) did not practice but is expected to play. Werenski played 24:16 in a 5-4 win against the Washington Capitals on Tuesday after participating in the 2022 Honda NHL All-Star weekend. -- Heather Engel

Buffalo Sabres

Forwards Casey Mittelstadt and Zemgus Girgensons were downgraded to week to week.
Mittelstadt rejoined the Sabres for practice Wednesday in a no-contact jersey. The center returned Jan. 25 after missing 16 games following surgery for an upper-body injury. He played two games before missing Buffalo's final game prior to the NHL All-Star break. Mittelstadt, who has one goal and one assist in seven games, missed 21 games with an upper-body injury sustained Oct. 14.
"The surgery was fine, but it was muscles around it," Sabres coach Don Granato said Tuesday. "It was some fluid; because of the intensity we ratcheted up to him a higher tempo, the body responded different, which was natural, according to the doctors. So he's got to go through and resolve that."
Girgensons has missed eight of his past nine games with a lower-body injury. He's scored 12 points (seven goals, five assists) in 34 games.
"I would expect him probably by the end of the week or early next week," Granato said. "This week is going to be a little more rehab. It should get him to the point where he'd be integrated with us by early next week."
Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen practiced Tuesday for the first time since sustaining a lower-body injury against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Jan. 11. Vinnie Hinostroza also returned to practice wearing a no-contact jersey but left early with discomfort. The forward has been out since Jan. 18 with a lower-body injury.
The Sabres host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday. -- Heather Engel