NHL Buzz: Marner day to day for Maple Leafs with lower-body injury

Welcome to the NHL Buzz. Each day during the regular season, NHL.com has you covered with all the latest news.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Mitch Marner was absent from practice Monday after the forward did not play in a 3-2 win at the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.

Marner sustained a lower-body injury during a 4-1 loss at the Boston Bruins on March 7, though he finished the game. Marner scored and had three shots on goal in 20:51 of ice time.

Toronto (37-19-8), which is third in the Atlantic Division, visits the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday.

“Mitch is day to day, unlikely to play on Thursday,” Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. “We think this time is important for him, but day to day from that point.”

Forward Nicholas Robertson was recalled from Toronto of the American Hockey League on Monday.

Jake McCabe (maintenance) also did not practice; the defenseman had an assist and two shots in 21:53 against the Canadiens.

Defenseman Mark Giordano was a full participant in practice for the first time since sustaining a concussion Feb. 29 during a 4-2 win against the Arizona Coyotes. He skated on an extra pair with Connor Timmins. -- Dave McCarthy

Carolina Hurricanes

Brendan Lemieux signed a one-year, $775,000 contract with the Hurricanes on Monday.

The 27-year-old forward has three points (two goals, one assist) in 25 games this season. He played his 300th NHL game against the Calgary Flames on Sunday, a 7-2 win at PNC Arena.

Lemieux had signed a one-year, $800,000 contract July 11, 2023, and could have become an unrestricted free agent after the season.

"Brendan has brought an element of toughness to our lineup," Carolina general manager Don Waddell said. "He understands his role with our club, and we're glad to keep him in Raleigh for another season."

Selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the second round (No. 31) of the 2014 NHL Draft, Lemieux has 72 points (35 goals, 37 assists) in seven seasons with the Hurricanes, Philadelphia Flyers, Kings, Rangers and Winnipeg Jets, and one goal in eight Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Justin Danforth has a concussion and will be out longer than day to day, Blue Jackets coach Pascal Vincent said Monday.

The forward missed a 2-1 loss to the Predators on Saturday with an illness. He had one assist and was plus-2 in 10:35 of ice time in a 4-2 win against the Edmonton Oilers on March 7.

Goalie Elvis Merzlikins is likely to start for Columbus at the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; RDS, TSN2, BSOH). He was day to day with an upper-body injury and last played March 2, when he made 26 saves in a 5-2 win at the Chicago Blackhawks.

Chicago Blackhawks

Andreas Athanasiou is nearing a return for the Chicago Blackhawks, who host the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday (8:30 p.m. ET; BSSD, BSSC, NBCSCH).

The forward has not played in four months since sustaining a groin injury during a 5-3 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Nov. 9. He had a setback in early December but has been skating since Feb. 10.

Athanasiou has four assists in 11 games this season.

Defenseman Nikita Zaitsev, who has been out since January, returned for a 4-1 loss at the Washington Capitals on Saturday. Zaitsev sustained a right knee injury during a 2-1 shootout win against the San Jose Sharks on Jan. 16.

Zaitsev has seven points (two goals, five assists) in 28 games.