Washington Capitals
Alex Ovechkin had an assist for the Capitals in a 4-3 win against the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday.
The 38-year-old left wing was a game-time decision after he took a maintenance day from practice on Saturday after limping off the ice following a collision with Jordan Staal in the third period of a 6-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday.
Ovechkin, who extended his point streak to five games (two goals, four assists) in the win against the Kings, has 26 points (eight goals, 18 assists) in 38 games this season.
Defenseman Rasmus Sandin missed his second straight game on Sunday after not practicing again because of an illness. Goalie Charlie Lindgren participated in practice on Saturday and skated on Sunday morning, but Hunter Shepard backed up Darcy Kuemper. --Tom Gulitti
Colorado Avalanche
Bowen Byram was placed on injured reserve by the Avalanche on Saturday, retroactive to Thursday.
The defenseman left in the third period of a 5-4 overtime win against the Dallas Stars on Thursday with a lower-body injury.
"He's going to miss a handful of games here," coach Jared Bednar said. "He's a lower body. Not serious at this point, so seven to 10 to 14 days, someplace in there. We put him on the IR today, so he's going to miss at least seven."
Byram has 12 points (six goals, six assists) in 39 games this season and is averaging 20:20 of ice time per game.
Dallas Stars
Jake Oettinger is getting closer to a return but did not dress for the Stars in a 4-3 loss to the Nashville Predators on Saturday.
The goalie's status was recently changed from week-to-week to day-to-day. He sustained a lower-body injury against the Ottawa Senators on Dec. 15, when he was helped off the ice at 8:03 of the first period after stretching out his right pad to stop a shot attempt.
"It's getting close, and I'm just itching to get back to this team," Oettinger said Saturday.
Oettinger is 11-7-2 with a 2.93 GAA, .901 save percentage and one shutout in 21 games this season.
In Oettinger's absence, the Stars have turned to Scott Wedgewood, who is 11-3-3 with a 3.11 GAA and .897 save percentage in 17 games. -- Taylor Baird
New Jersey Devils
Jack Hughes did not play for the Devils in a 6-4 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday because of an upper-body injury.
Hughes sustained the injury when he fell awkwardly on a rush late in the third period of a 4-2 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday.
“Jack won’t play. Nondefinitive how long he will be out,” Devils coach Lindy Ruff said prior to the game. “It’s still being evaluated. We’ll have a full update once he’s gone through all the protocol.”
Hughes leads New Jersey with 45 points (15 goals, 30 assists) in 32 games this season. He also missed five games in November because of an upper-body injury.
Graeme Clarke made his NHL debut in Hughes’ absence. He was plus-1 in 9:32 of ice time.
“Clarke will play. It’s an opportunity for a lot of people,” Ruff said. “When you take a big piece out of your lineup, other players will get a bigger role inside the power play. For Graeme, it’s a great opportunity to get his first NHL game, and for other players it’s an opportunity. You get a chance to seat up and get a little more ice time.”
New Jersey (21-15-2) will also be without Jonas Siegenthaler for some time after the defenseman broke his foot in the loss to the Canucks.
“Jonas is not OK," Ruff said. "Jonas broke his foot with that shot, so he'll be out.”
