Calgary Flames
Jacob Markstrom could return as early as this weekend, according to Flames coach Ryan Huska.
Calgary’s No. 1 goalie has missed the past four games because of a lower-body injury. Markstrom is 22-17-2 with a 2.68 goals-against average and .910 save percentage in 41 games this season.
"We're expecting him to skate three more times this week coming up," Huska said Monday. "Hopefully everything keeps progressing the right way and he's in our net on the weekend."
The Flames (33-30-5), who are eight points back of the Vegas Golden Knights for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference, play at the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday before hosting the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday.
Rookie goalie Dustin Wolf made his third straight start in a 5-2 loss to the Washington Capitals at Scotiabank Saddledome on Monday. Wolf, who has played four games (three starts) in Markstrom's absence, is 2-1-0 with a 2.13 goals-against average and .931 save percentage since being recalled from Calgary of the American Hockey League on March 12.
"He’s played well, so he deserves an opportunity to stay in there," Huska said. -- Aaron Vickers
Toronto Maple Leafs
Mitch Marner will not travel with the Maple Leafs on their two game road trip this week while he continues to recover from a high ankle sprain.
Toronto will visit the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; NBCSP, TSN4, TVAS) before facing Washington on Wednesday.
Marner did not skate Monday, the third consecutive day that he has been off the ice after skating on his own Thursday and Friday.
“Trying to get him to the point where he is comfortable throughout the week, so he’s day to day away from being day to day,” coach Sheldon Keefe said. “It’s just that it hasn’t been responding the way they (medical staff) had hoped, so it’s just stepping back a little bit with it.”
Marner has missed three games because of the injury sustained in a 4-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on March 7. He is third on the Maple Leafs with 76 points (25 goals, 51 assists) in 62 games.
Defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin did not practice Monday because of an illness and will not travel. He is doubtful to play against the Flyers, Keefe said. -- Dave McCarthy
Montreal Canadiens
David Reinbacher was assigned to Laval of the American Hockey League by the Canadiens on Monday.
The 19-year-old became the highest-selected Austrian defenseman ever, and tied Thomas Vanek (Buffalo Sabres, 2003) as the highest from Austria when Montreal selected him with the No. 5 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
Reinbacher had 11 points (one goal, 10 assists) in 35 games this season for Kloten in the Swiss National League.
Carolina Hurricanes
Teuvo Teravainen missed a second straight game when the Hurricanes won 7-2 at the Ottawa Senators on Sunday.
The forward also did not play in a 5-4 shootout win at Toronto on Saturday because of an upper-body injury.
“We’re hoping (he is available at some point during the week),” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said Saturday. “… We will see Tuesday. I don’t think his [injury] is going to be long term.”
The Hurricanes visit the New York Islanders on Tuesday (7:30 p.m. ET; HULU, ESPN+) before hosting the Flyers on Thursday.
Teravainen, who had played all of Carolina’s games this season until Saturday, has 47 points (21 goals, 26 assists) in 66 games.
The Hurricanes (42-20-6) are second in the Metropolitan Division, four points behind the first-place New York Rangers. -- Dave McCarthy
