NHL Status Report: Miller week to week for Rangers with upper-body injury

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

New York Rangers

J.T. Miller is week to week for the Rangers after the forward sustained an upper-body injury during a 5-4 shootout win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday. The injury is not expected to hinder his chances of being named to Team USA's roster for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Miller, who is Rangers captain, was injured from a hit to the right shoulder by Nick Seeler midway through the third period. He has 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists) in 35 games this season. “He just means so much to this team,” coach Mike Sullivan said on Sunday before New York's 2-1 loss to the Nashville Predators. “I think he’s the leader of this group in so many ways, emotionally with how he plays the game. I think his game was really building too. I think his game was really starting to come, especially on the offensive side. … I talked to him. I know he was feeling better and better with every game that he played. It seems like this early part of the season, every time he starts to build his game he gets banged up. And we’re just going to have to work through that, but J.T. is not an easy guy to replace. He’s a terrific player first and foremost, but he impacts this team in so many different ways.”

Edmonton Oilers

Tristan Jarry is going to "be out a couple of weeks," Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said Sunday. The goalie was placed on injured reserve because of an undisclosed injury he sustained during the second period of a 3-1 win against the Boston Bruins on Thursday. It was Jarry's third game since being acquired in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Dec. 12. "Nothing too specific," Knoblauch said. "... We won't see him until the New Year at some point. That's it." Jarry is 3-0-0 with a 3.08 goals-against average and an .887 save percentage since the trade.

Chicago Blackhawks

Frank Nazar will be out roughly four weeks for the Blackhawks after the forward took a shot from Jordan Spence to the face in the first period of a 6-4 loss at the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. “He’ll be out for a while,” coach Jeff Blashill said after the game. Nazar has 21 points (six goals, 15 assists) in 33 games this season.

Detroit Red Wings

Patrick Kane (upper body) missed his fourth straight game for the Red Wings on Sunday, a 3-2 overtime win against the Washington Capitals. The forward, who hasn’t played since Dec. 13, has also been ruled out against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday. Kane has 23 points (six goals, 17 assists) in 24 games and is two goals away from 500 in the NHL.

Vegas Golden Knights

Jack Eichel (illness, lower body) was not with the Golden Knights for their two-game road trip, which concluded with a 4-3 loss at the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday. The forward, who leads Vegas with 41 points (12 goals, 29 assists) in 31 games, also missed a 6-3 loss at the Calgary Flames on Saturday. … Defenseman Shea Theodore is week to week because of an upper-body injury. He has 20 points (four goals, 16 assists) in 31 games while averaging a team-high 24:01 of ice time.

Washington Capitals

Ryan Leonard is progressing in his recovery from shoulder and facial injuries but remained out against the Red Wings on Sunday. The forward, who sustained the injuries against the Anaheim Ducks on Dec. 5, did not return for a 5-2 loss to Detroit on Saturday after he practiced in a regular jersey on Friday. Leonard has 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists) in 29 games this season.

Nashville Predators

Jonathan Marchessault (lower body) did not play for the Predators in their 2-1 win against the Rangers on Sunday. The forward, who is day to day, also missed a 5-3 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. Marchessault sustained the injury during the second period of a 4-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday. He has 10 points (seven goals, three assists) in 28 games.