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, Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche said Monday. 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," 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 past handful of practices in a noncontact jersey. New York plays its first of four remaining regular-season games on Thursday, when it hosts the Toronto Maple Leafs (6:45 p.m. ET; HULU, ESPN+, TSN4). ... Semyon Varlamov was a full participant at practice Monday, his first full session with the Islanders since the goalie had both of his knees replaced. Varlamov, who hasn't played since Nov. 29, 2024, will not play this season.

Edmonton Oilers

Zach Hyman (undisclosed) is expected back before the end of the regular season. The Oilers 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. "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," coach Kris Knoblauch said Monday.

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.