NHL Buzz: Anderson expects to return for Canadiens against Coyotes

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

Montreal Canadiens

Josh Anderson said he expects be in the lineup when the Canadiens play at the Arizona Coyotes on Monday (4 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, TSN2, RDS, NHL LIVE).
The forward has missed 11 games because of an upper-body injury sustained against the Colorado Avalanche on Dec. 2. He was expected to be out 2-4 weeks.
"Anytime you're out for any period of time it's difficult not to be out there with your teammates," Anderson said Saturday. "All you want to do is try to help them and you can't do that up in the stands. Hopefully I'll be back next game and bring a lot of energy to the lineup."
Anderson is tied with Nick Suzuki for the Canadiens lead with seven goals, and his 13 points in 25 games are fourth. Montreal is 1-7-3 since he was injured.
"I'm just hoping to bring the game that I play, the energy, being physical, being fast to the puck, and hopefully bring some other guys along with me," Anderson said. "I'm excited to get back."
Goalie Jake Allen is expected to be out one week after he was injured in the first period of a 5-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Wednesday. Goalie Cayden Primeau was recalled from the taxi squad on an emergency basis.

St. Louis Blues

Vladimir Tarasenko, Brayden Schenn and Colton Parayko will be in the lineup for the Blues when they host the Nashville Predators on Monday (8 p.m. ET; BSMW, BSSO, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).
Tarasenko and Schenn, each a forward, and Parayko, a defenseman, skated the past two days and participated in a full practice Sunday after being removed from NHL COVID-19 protocol.
Tarasenko missed four games, and Schenn and Parayko each missed two games.
"They'll all be available tomorrow, they're off COVID so they're ready to go," Blues coach Craig Berube said. "Obviously, these guys are real good players for us. They have been in the past. It's nice to get them back."
Tarasenko is third on the Blues with 34 points (14 goals, 20 assists) in 34 games, Schenn has scored 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 22 games, and Parayko leads the Blues in average ice time per game (24:10).
Forward David Perron was eligible to exit COVID-19 protocol Sunday but did not practice, and the Blues were waiting to see if he tested negative. He's questionable for Monday.
"Not that I heard of today, no," Berube said of Perron's test results. "As of right now, I don't have him in, but we still got a day, right?"
Forward Logan Brown, out the past two games with a non-COVID illness, practiced Sunday.
"He did good today, so he's a possible player tomorrow," Berube said. -- Lou Korac

Washington Capitals

John Carlson
did not play when the Capitals lost to the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 after the defenseman was placed in NHL COVID-19 protocol Sunday.
Carlson had not missed a game this season. He is tied with Kris Letang of the Pittsburgh Penguins for sixth among NHL defensemen with 32 points (eight goals, 24 assists) in 38 games.
T.J. Oshie also also did not play against the Canucks after the forward sustained an upper-body injury in a 2-0 win at the New York Islanders on Saturday.
Oshie has scored 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in 18 games this season.
Defenseman Dmitry Orlov and forward Carl Hagelin returned for Washington after each was removed from COVID-19 protocol Sunday. Orlov was minus-1 with two shots on goal, two hits and one blocked shot in 21:44, and Hagelin was minus-1 with two shots on goal and one blocked shot in 15:50.

Buffalo Sabres

Jacob Bryson will be out with an upper-body injury, and
Peyton Krebs
will return to the lineup when the Sabres host the Detroit Red Wings on Monday (1 p.m. ET; SN, MSG-B, BSDET, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).
"'Brys' is going to be out, he will not play tomorrow," Sabres coach Don Granato said. "We play back to back. I don't expect him these two, but he should be clear soon after that."
The defenseman sustained the injury in a 4-0 loss to the Red Wings on Saturday, when he played 17:23. He has seven assists in 32 games.
"He played through it, and then obviously after the game a little more aggravating," Granato said. "Held him off today and we'll hold him off for at least a couple."
Krebs missed four games in NHL COVID-19 protocol. The forward has one assist in 12 games this season, including one assist in three games with the Sabres after they acquired him from the Vegas Golden Knights as part of the trade for center Jack Eichel.
"He's excited, enthused and he's skilled so he can help us, all that can help us, obviously," Granato said. "It's always exciting to get a talented kid like that in the mix, and he's enthusiastic."
Forward Zemgus Girgensons will miss his second straight game with a lower-body injury.
After hosting the Red Wings, the Sabres will visit the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday. -- Heather Engel

Seattle Kraken

Chris Driedger was placed in NHL COVID-19 protocol Sunday and will not be available when the Kraken host the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday (5 p.m. ET; ROOT-NW, NBCSCH, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).
The goalie made 19 saves in a 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday and is 3-6-0 with a 3.18 goals-against average and .896 save percentage in 11 games (nine starts) this season.
"Chris entered the protocol this morning," Kraken coach Dave Hakstol said. "That'll mean, for tomorrow's game, obviously, we have to recall a goaltender and most likely just due to some logistics and actual weather, it will be [Antoine] Bibeau, to be recalled for tomorrow's game."
Bibeau has played 10 games with Allen of the ECHL and has a 2.74 GAA and .928 save percentage. He has yet to play a game with the Kraken and has appeared in four NHL games, two with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2016-17 and two with the Colorado Avalanche in 2019-20).
It's expected that Bibeau will back up Philipp Grubauer against Chicago. -- Andy Eide