NHL Status Report: Pesce could return from injury for Devils against Golden Knights

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

New Jersey Devils

Brett Pesce could return from a hand injury when the Devils visit the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday (10 p.m. ET; HBO MAX, truTV, TNT, SN1, TVAS). The defenseman practiced Tuesday and is on a two-game road trip that will conclude at the Utah Mammoth on Friday. Pesce, who has been paired with Luke Hughes, hasn't played since Oct. 26. He has three assists in nine games this season while averaging 19:39 of ice time. “Well, he's going to be on the trip, and there's nothing else to do in Vegas, so you may as well try to get him in the game. So, that's the plan,” coach Sheldon Keefe said Tuesday. New Jersey will not hold a morning skate Wednesday. ... Simon Nemec (lower body) was placed on injured reserve; the defenseman has been out since being injured during practice Dec. 12. … Forward Nathan Légaré was recalled from Utica of the American Hockey League.

Los Angeles Kings

Darcy Kuemper has been placed on injured reserve and won’t be available for the Kings against the Florida Panthers on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET; FDSNW, SCRIPPS, TVAS). The goalie sustained an upper-body injury during the first period of a 4-1 loss at the Dallas Stars on Monday. Kuemper made five saves before a collision with Stars forward Mikko Rantanen at 16:00. He took a forearm to the head and was down on the ice for several minutes before eventually going back to the locker room under his own power. Anton Forsberg will start against the Panthers, and goalie Pheonix Copley was recalled from Ontario of the AHL on an emergency basis. … Center Quinton Byfield will play after missing the game Monday with an illnes, but Phillip Danault (illness) is expected to miss his third straight game.

Minnesota Wild

Jonas Brodin was placed on injured reserve by the Wild on Wednesday. The defenseman already has missed three games because of an upper-body injury. Brodin has nine points (three goals, six assists) and is plus-11 while averaging 22:05 of ice time in 30 games. Defenseman Carson Lambos was recalled from Iowa of the AHL, and the 22-year-old could make his NHL debut against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; FDSNWIX, FDSNNO, FDSNOH).

Tampa Bay Lightning

Andrei Vasilevskiy and Ryan McDonagh, each out because of an undisclosed injury, practiced with the Lightning on Wednesday on the eve of their home game against the Kings (7 p.m. ET; The Spot, FDSNW). Vasilevskiy hasn’t played since Dec. 2, but coach Jon Cooper said he was hopeful his No. 1 goalie would return before the Christmas break. McDonagh, a defenseman, has been upgraded to day to day; he hasn’t played since Nov. 8. … Brandon Hagel did not practice Wednesday; the forward left a 5-2 loss to the Panthers on Monday early in the third period after taking a forearm to the head from Florida defenseman Seth Jones.

St. Louis Blues

Jonatan Berggren could make his Blues debut against the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET; FDSNMW, SN), one day after the 25-year-old forward was claimed off waivers from the Detroit Red Wings. Berggren had six points (two goals, four assists) in 15 games for the Red Wings this season. He was a second-round pick (No. 33) by Detroit in the 2018 NHL Draft. ... Dylan Holloway will be out six weeks because of an injury to his right ankle, the Blues announced before a 5-2 loss to the Nashville Predators on Monday. The forward, who was placed on injured reserve, has 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) in 33 games.

Ottawa Senators

Thomas Chabot (upper body) practiced with the Senators on Wednesday; the defenseman hasn’t played since a 3-2 win at the San Jose Sharks on Nov. 22. Chabot returned for that game after missing the previous three. He has 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in 18 games this season while averaging 21:55 of ice time. Ottawa hosts Pittsburgh on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; RDS2, TSN5, SN-PIT).

Montreal Canadiens

Mike Matheson is day to day because of an upper-body injury and did not play in a 4-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday. The defenseman leads the Canadiens in time on ice per game (24:54) and has 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) in 32 games this season. Montreal hosts the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; RDS, TSN2, CHSN).

San Jose Sharks

Forwards Will Smith (undisclosed) and Philipp Kurashev (upper body) were placed on injured reserve Tuesday. Each was injured during a 6-5 overtime win at the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. Kurashev exited at 8:24 of the second period after sliding into the end boards, and Smith left at 3:30 of the third period following a hit from Parker Wotherspoon. Smith is not expected to return this week, and Kurashev is week to week. Forwards Igor Chernyshov and Ethan Cardwell were recalled from San Jose of the AHL. Chernyshov, 20, had an assist in his NHL debut Tuesday, a 6-3 win against the Calgary Flames. The Sharks host the Stars on Thursday (10 p.m. ET; Victory+, NBCSCA).