NHL Buzz: Chytil back for Rangers against Sabres

Welcome to the NHL Buzz. Throughout the 2020-21 season, NHL.com will have you covered with the latest news.

New York Rangers

Filip Chytil will return to the lineup when the Rangers host the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; MSG+, MSG-B, NHL.TV).
The forward has missed the past 14 games with an upper-body injury and hasn't played since Jan. 24. He has scored three points (two goals, one assist) in five games this season.
"Just adding a guy with that type of speed and skillset certainly makes everybody a little bit better," Rangers coach David Quinn said. "We thought he was playing his best hockey of his career before he got hurt. He was doing an awful lot of good things for us and it's just going to be good to have him back in the lineup."
Chytil will center the third line and play between Kevin Rooney and Julien Gauthier. Quinn said Rooney, who is a natural center, would take face-offs if Chytil needs help in that area.
Rooney has won 47.9 percent of his face-offs, best among Rangers forwards who regularly take face-offs.
Forward Kaapo Kakko, who has missed the past four games, is expected to be removed from NHL COVID-19 protocol but will not play, Quinn said. -- Dan Rosen

Philadelphia Flyers

Travis Konecny will be in the lineup at the Pittsburgh Penguins (7 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SNE, SNO, SNW, ATTSN-PT, NBCSP, NHL.TV).
Konecny was removed from NHL COVID-19 protocol Sunday. He took part in the morning skate and coach Alain Vigneault said the forward will play right wing on the fourth line with
Connor Bunnaman
and Michael Raffl. Nicolas Aube-Kubel, who had been in that spot, will be scratched.
"[Konecny] is one of our top players and he's given me the thumbs up that he's ready to go," Vigneault said. "If that's the case, then trust the player."
Konecny last played Feb. 7 and went on the protocol list Feb. 14. He has scored eight points (five goals, three assists) in 12 games.
The Flyers also play at the Penguins on Thursday and Saturday. -- Adam Kimelman