NHL Buzz: Trouba could return for Rangers during road trip

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

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New York Rangers

Jacob Trouba practiced with the Rangers on Thursday for the first time since breaking his thumb and is day to day.
The defenseman was expected to be sidelined 4-6 weeks after he was injured in a 5-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Feb. 16. He has missed the past six games.
"He's certainly made a lot of progress," Rangers coach David Quinn said. "He's tracking sooner than later from the original diagnosis. It's a situation where he's day to day and how he handles each passing day will determine when he gets in the lineup."
The Rangers begin a six-game road trip at the Devils on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; MSG+, MSG+ 2, NHL.TV) and also play them on Saturday. They then visit the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins for two games each.
Forward Kaapo Kakko, who was removed from NHL COVID-19 protocol Tuesday, skated but will miss his sixth straight game. -- Mike G. Morreale

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Calgary Flames

Sam Bennett is expected to be a healthy scratch against the Ottawa Senators (9 p.m. ET; SNW, RDS2, TSN5, NHL.TV).
The forward, who reportedly requested a trade in late January, was previously a healthy scratch Feb. 4 and was benched for the third period of a 2-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Feb. 19.
Bennett has one point, a goal, in his past nine games and a minus-7 rating in his past eight games. He played 11:01 and was minus-2 in a 5-1 loss at Ottawa on Monday.
Bennett has scored four points (three goals, one assist) and has a minus-10 rating in 22 games this season. He led Calgary with five goals and tied Sean Monahan for the team lead with eight points in 10 games in the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs. -- Aaron Vickers