NHL Buzz: Barkov returns to practice with Panthers

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Florida Panthers

Aleksander Barkov took part in practice Monday for the first time since sustaining a lower-body injury against the New York Islanders on Nov. 16.
The forward wore a non-contact jersey and did not take part in line rushes. He also skated for about 40 minutes prior to the start of practice.
"It was great to see him," coach Andrew Brunette said. "It was good he's out there for the guys too. It was nice to see him skate. … We'll see how he makes out every day and get reevaluated."
Barkov was injured in a knee-on-knee collision with Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield and is considered week to week. He has scored 17 points (nine goals, eight assists) in 15 games and is tied with forward Anthony Duclair for the Florida lead in goals.
Brunette said Duclair, out the past two games because of a lower-body injury, is day to day, and defenseman Gustav Forsling is considered week to week with a lower-body injury. Forsling left a 4-1 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Sunday with 3:46 remaining in the third period.
The Panthers host the Washington Capitals on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, BSFL, NBCSWA, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).

Vegas Golden Knights

Alec Martinez still doesn't have a timeline to return to the Vegas Golden Knights, coach Peter DeBoer said Monday.
The defenseman, who has yet to resume skating, has not played since taking a skate to the face in the first period of a 3-2 win against the Minnesota Wild on Nov. 11. Martinez required at least 50 stitches on the cut and also sustained a head injury on the play.
"When you're dealing with head injuries, you hope it's a week, but sometimes the symptoms last longer," DeBoer said.
DeBoer also announced that forward William Karlsson, who is out 4-6 weeks after breaking his foot Oct. 29, was placed in NHL COVID-19 protocol. Forward Michael Amadio returned to practice Monday after being placed in protocol Nov. 17.
Center Nolan Patrick, who has been out since Oct. 22 because of an upper-body injury, has been skating on his own but is still a ways from returning, DeBoer said.
"Taking positive steps, skating, but I wouldn't call him close," DeBoer said. -- Danny Webster

Buffalo Sabres

Alex Tuch practiced with the Sabres for the first time since he was acquired as part of the trade with the Vegas Golden Knights for center Jack Eichel on Nov. 4.
Tuch has not played this season while recovering from shoulder surgery in July. The forward was expected to need six months to recover.
"I feel really good. We're progressing right on schedule," Tuch said. "Obviously, I've skated before, this wasn't my first time on the ice. So we would try to get it out of the way before the guys came in. But I would stick around and try to go to all the meetings and just try to be around the guys, get to know different guys each day, not try to be too big of a pain or too in way around the locker room."
Coach Don Granato said there is no timetable for Tuch to play but that it will be at least another few weeks.
"We were very excited as a staff and I think the players were as well to see him out there," Granato said.
Forward Casey Mittelstadt, who has not played since sustaining an upper-body injury in the season opener Oct. 14, could play at the Panthers on Thursday or at the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday.
The Sabres hosted the Seattle Kraken on Monday. -- Heather Engel

Carolina Hurricanes

Brett Pesce
and Tony DeAngelo have been placed in NHL COVID-19 protocol.
The defensemen each played in a 4-2 home loss to the Washington Capitals on Sunday.
DeAngelo is fifth among NHL defensemen with 19 points (four goals, 15 assists) in 20 games. Pesce has scored seven points (one goal, six assists) in 15 games; his average ice time of 21:22 per game is second among Hurricanes defensemen, behind Jaccob Slavin (23:10).
Defenseman Ethan Bear has been in COVID-19 protocol since Nov. 22.
Carolina plays at the Dallas Stars on Tuesday (8:30 p.m. ET; BSSW, BSSO, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).

St. Louis Blues

David Perron is day to day with an upper-body injury, and the forward is doubtful to play when the Blues host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday (8 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, NHL LIVE).
Perron was injured in the first period of a 3-2 overtime loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday when his head hit the glass on a hit by Blackhawks defenseman Jake McCabe. Perron left the game at 8:06 of the period, and he didn't play in a 6-3 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets at home Saturday.
"He came in today, did some light workout stuff, but that's where he's at right now," coach Craig Berube said. "Nobody knows, right? The only person that knows is the person himself. We'll see what happens with that."
Perron is the third Blues forward out with an injury. Klim Kostin (upper body) was placed on long-term injured reserve Sunday, and James Neal (undisclosed) was placed on injured reserve Saturday. Forward Logan Brown was recalled from Springfield of the American Hockey League on Sunday.
Brown was acquired in a trade with the Ottawa Senators for forward Zach Sanford on Sept. 25 and is expected to make his Blues debut Tuesday.
"He looked more confident to me," Berube said of Brown. "He looked stronger than he did at training camp, he looked quicker, more direct with the puck. It was good stuff. He's played really well down there. I'm looking forward to seeing him."-- Lou Korac