NHL Buzz: Makar out for Avalanche against Blackhawks

Welcome to the NHL Buzz. NHL.com has you covered with all the latest news.

Colorado Avalanche

Cale Makar won't play for the Avalanche when they host the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday (9 p.m. ET; ALT, NBCSCH+, SN NOW, ESPN+).
The defenseman is day to day with a lower-body injury.
"He's out. Tweaked something in the Detroit game on Saturday]. Felt good after. Yesterday, sore. Sore again today," coach Jared Bednar said. "Not going to risk it and have it drag on."
Makar leads the NHL averaging 26:36 in ice time per game and is third on the Avalanche with 61 points and second with 45 assists in 55 games.
Erik Johnson was a full participant in the morning skate. The defenseman is not ready to play yet but is progressing from a broken ankle sustained Feb. 11.
"He's doing well, so he's going to be with the main group now for good. Doesn't mean he won't do a little extra before and after," Bednar said. "Working his way back to a return, hopefully sooner rather than later."
Avalanche captain
[Gabriel Landeskog
participated in a portion of the morning skate in a red, no-contact sweater. The forward had knee surgery in October and has not played this season.
"Nothing major to report there. He'll be working on his own for quite a while yet," Bednar said. -- Ryan Boulding

Pittsburgh Penguins

Marcus Pettersson was placed on long-term injured reserve retroactive to March 18 with a lower-body injury.
The defenseman is week to week after leaving at 3:51 of the third period in a 6-0 loss to the New York Rangers on Saturday.
Pittsburgh will be without Pettersson, and defensemen Jeff Petry, Jan Rutta and Dmitry Kulikov, when it tries to end a three-game losing streak against the Ottawa Senators at PPG Paints Arena on Monday (7 p.m. ET; SNE, SNO, SNW, ATTSN-PT, RDS, ESPN+, SN NOW).
"I think we can rally around this," coach Mike Sullivan said. "It's a great opportunity for some guys to step up and play some more significant roles back there. It's a great opportunity for all the rest of us to make sure we play an inspired game, a spirited game."
Petry is day to day with an upper-body injury and will miss a second straight game; Rutta did not play Saturday with a lower-body injury that has him week to week. Kulikov is also week to week with a lower-body injury sustained March 12.
"I think you have to be a little more desperate and understand that simplifying things becomes more important," Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said. "You know guys will be playing different roles and different minutes. You just want to make sure you're helping each other."
Pettersson, who has 24 points (one goal, 23 assists) in 67 games, was on the top defense pair with Kris Letang on Saturday. Pierre-Olivier Joseph will likely take his place against Ottawa.
Taylor Fedun worked on a third defense pair with Mark Friedman during the morning skate after being recalled on an emergency basis from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League on Monday. -- Wes Crosby

Toronto Maple Leafs

Noel Acciari is expected to return for the Maple Leafs on Tuesday when they visit the New York Islanders (7:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, TVAS, TSN4)
The forward practiced Monday after he did not play in a 5-4 shootout win against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. He took a high hit from Jesse Puljujarvi at 19:45 of the first period in a 5-2 win against the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday and did not return.
"He looked good on the ice," coach Sheldon Keefe said. "He's had good days since he left the game the other night so all signs point towards him being available tomorrow."
Acciari practiced at right wing on a line with center David Kampf and left wing Zach Aston-Reese on Monday.
"Feel good," Acciari said. "Glad to be back out there with the guys. Happy to be out there. I watched the hit a couple times. He was trying to hold the line, I was trying to backcheck and it caught me off guard when he put his hands up, that's all.
Acciari has three goals in 13 games with the Maple Leafs since he was acquired in a trade with the St. Louis Blues on Feb. 18.
TJ Brodie did not practice Monday after blocking a shot against the Senators. Keefe said the defenseman is day to day.
"Just needs a little time to settle down so he's day to day, didn't skate today. So, we will make a decision on him tomorrow," Keefe said.
Brodie has 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in 47 games this season. -- Dave McCarthy