NHL Status Report: Romanov could return for Islanders before end of season

Welcome to the NHL Status Report. Here is the latest lineup/injury news around the NHL.

New York Islanders

Alexander Romanov could return before the end of the regular season. The 26-year-old defenseman sustained a shoulder injury that required surgery Nov. 18 in a 3-2 win against the Dallas Stars after a hit from Stars forward Mikko Rantanen late in the third period. "There is potentially a chance for the last game or two of the season that he might be back," Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche said. "This week is the first week he's going to do full practice with contact, so sometimes it takes a little while also to get back at it." Romanov had been skating the last handful of practices in a non-contact jersey.

Edmonton Oilers

Zach Hyman (undisclosed) is expected back before the end of the regular season. "Hyman, I would think he's going to play one if not two games before the end of this season, so this week he's out and not playing," Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said Monday. The forward had been playing through a lingering injury, including 16:40 of a 3-1 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on April 2. He has 51 points (31 goals, 20 assists) in 57 games.

Winnipeg Jets

Morgan Barron is week to week with a lower-body injury the forward sustained during a 2-1 win at the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday, Jets coach Scott Arniel said. Barron played 12:59 against the Blue Jackets and did not practice Monday. ... Forward Vladislav Namestnikov returns to play the Seattle Kraken at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg on Monday (7:30 p.m. ET; Prime, KONG, KHN/Prime) after missing 18 games with a lower-body injury.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Stuart Skinner has an upper-body injury and was unavailable for the Penguins in a 5-2 win against the Florida Panthers on Sunday. A recovery timeline for the 27-year-old goalie was not provided. Skinner is 11-8-5 with a 2.99 goals-against average and .886 save percentage in 24 games since being acquired in a trade from the Oilers on Dec. 12. Pittsburgh recalled goalie Taylor Gauthier from Wheeling of the ECHL to back up Arturs Silovs, who made his second straight start after he made 19 saves in a 9-4 win against Florida on Saturday. Gauthier, who has never played in the NHL, signed a one-year contract March 6.