NHL Buzz: Landeskog out for Avalanche due to COVID-19 protocol

Welcome to the NHL Buzz. Throughout the 2021-22 season, NHL.com will have you covered with the latest news.

Colorado Avalanche

Gabriel Landeskog was placed in NHL COVID-19 protocol Monday and is not playing for the Avalanche against the Seattle Kraken.
The forward was named NHL First Star for the week ending Jan. 9 after scoring seven points (four goals, three assists) in three games. The Colorado captain is third on the Avalanche with 35 points (14 goals, 21 assists) in 26 games this season.
Forward Valeri Nichushkin is expected to return to the lineup and replace Landeskog. Nichushkin missed four games with an upper-body injury and has scored 16 points (10 goals, six assists) in 18 games this season.

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Boston Bruins

Charlie McAvoy returned to the lineup when the Bruins visited the Washington Capitals.
The defenseman last played Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils and missed two games with a lower-body injury. He leads the Bruins with an average of 24:23 of ice time per game.
Defensemen
Derek Forbort
and
Connor Clifton
each is experiencing COVID-19 "testing issues," Boston coach Bruce Cassidy said. Urho Vaakanainen will remain in the lineup, regardless of the availability of Forbort and Clifton.
Forward Nick Foligno, who left in the first period of a 5-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday with a lower-body injury, will have an MRI in Boston on Tuesday.
"We'll have a better update once they take those pictures and get back to us," Cassidy said. -- Amalie Benjamin

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New York Rangers

Artemi Panarin is playing for the Rangers against the Los Angeles Kings.
The forward was removed from NHL COVID-19 protocol Sunday and practiced after missing four games. He skated in his usual left wing position on the second line with center Ryan Strome and right wing Barclay Goodrow.
"We're not sure," Rangers coach Gerard Gallant told USA Today. "Today was just about flow drills, so no line combinations. They made their own lines, but as a coaching staff, we'll talk about it later. We want to make sure we have everyone ready to go."
Panarin also returned to the first power-play unit with Strome, Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad and Adam Fox. He said he symptoms for the first couple of days in protocol.
"For sure, I'm ready," Panarin said. "I hope for long term I don't have any problems with conditioning.
Panarin's 36 points are tied with Fox for the Rangers lead.
The Rangers will be without Gallant after he entered protocol Sunday. Kris Knoblauch, coach of New York's American Hockey League affiliate in Hartford, will replace Gallant in his absence.
Patrik Nemeth also practiced after he was added back to the roster. The defenseman missed four games for personal reasons.

Arizona Coyotes

Goalie Scott Wedgewood, defensemen Jakob Chychrun, Cam Dineen and Anton Stralman, coach Andre Tourigny and goaltending coach Corey Schwab were placed in NHL COVID-19 protocol.
The Coyotes cancelled practice Monday for precautionary reasons. They're scheduled to host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday before a home-and-home series against the Colorado Avalanche on Friday and Saturday, and a home game against the Montreal Canadiens on Jan. 17.
Phil Housley, Cory Stillman and Mario Duhamel are Tourigny's assistants.
Arizona (7-23-3) is last in the NHL with a .258 points percentage. It lost 4-2 to the Nashville Predators on Saturday.

St. Louis Blues

Brayden Schenn and Colton Parayko entered NHL COVID-19 protocol and will miss at least one game, against the Seattle Kraken on Thursday.
Each played in a 2-1 win against the Dallas Stars on Sunday. The Blues have had 19 skaters and one assistant (Mike Van Ryn) enter protocol this season.
Schenn has played three games after missing five with an upper-body injury. The forward has scored 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 22 games.
Parayko has scored 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) in 36 games. The defenseman leads the Blues with an average of 24:10 in ice time per game.
Forward Vladimir Tarasenko and defensemen Scott Perunovich and Jake Walman, each placed in protocol Thursday, could return to the lineup against the Kraken. Tarasenko, who has missed two games, is second on the Blues with 34 points (14 goals, 20 assists) in 34 games. -- Lou Korac

Columbus Blue Jackets

Gregory Hofmann was suspended by the Blue Jackets on Monday.
The 29-year-old forward last played in a 4-3 loss at the Vancouver Canucks on Dec. 14.
"Gregory was given permission by the club to step away for personal reasons and informed us today that because of those reasons he has decided not to return," Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen. "Obviously, we are disappointed, but we have no other recourse than to suspend him."
Hofmann made his NHL debut Oct. 14, playing 16:19 in an 8-2 win against the Arizona Coyotes. He scored his first NHL goal during a 4-1 win against the Dallas Stars on Oct. 15 and has scored seven points (two goals, five assists) in 24 games. He was acquired in at trade with the Carolina Hurricanes on Feb. 13, 2021, and signed a one-year contract with the Blue Jackets on June 14, 2021, after playing 11 seasons in the National League, the top professional league in Switzerland.
The Blue Jackets (16-16-1) are scheduled to play the Chicago Blackhawks at Nationwide Arena on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; BSOH, NBCSCH, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Their game at the Montreal Canadiens on Monday was postponed because of COVID-19 concerns.