NHL Status Report: Evans out 4-6 weeks for Canadiens with lower-body injury

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

Montreal Canadiens

Jake Evans will be out 4-6 weeks with a lower-body injury, the Canadiens announced Saturday. The forward was injured in a collision with Justin Brazeau in the first period of a 4-0 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Dec. 20. Evans has 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 34 games for Montreal, which visits the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday (5 p.m. ET; The Spot, TSN2, RDS).

New York Islanders

Bo Horvat participated in the morning skate and will return from a lower-body injury against the New York Rangers at UBS Arena on Saturday (6 p.m. ET; MSGSN, MSG 2). The center was injured during a 5-2 win against the Anaheim Ducks on Dec. 11. Horvat leads the Islanders in goals (19) and points (31) in 32 games this season and is expected to play on a line with forwards Jonathan Drouin and Emil Heineman. "I'm feeling good about myself right now and where I'm at," Horvat said. … Ilya Sorokin was placed on injured reserve Saturday, retroactive to Dec. 20; the goalie, who is dealing with a nagging lower-body injury, is 12-10-2 with a 2.55 goals-against average, .910 save percentage and three shutouts in 24 games this season. Marcus Hogberg was recalled from Bridgeport of the American Hockey League under emergency conditions and will serve as the backup for David Rittich against the Rangers.

St. Louis Blues

Forwards Jordan Kyrou and Jimmy Snuggerud will each return for the Blues against the Nashville Predators on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; KMOV-TV, Matrix-MW, FDSNMW, FDSNSO). Kyrou missed nine games after he sustained a lower-body injury during a 2-1 win against the Ottawa Senators on Dec. 5; Snuggerud, who had surgery on his left wrist Dec. 2, missed 12 games since Nov. 29, a 1-0 win against the Utah Mammoth. "I think that was kind of the main goal when I got surgery was around this date," Snuggerud said. "It's nice I get to come back after Christmas and play hockey again."

Vancouver Canucks

Elias Pettersson (upper body) will be back for the Canucks against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday (10 p.m. ET; SN1, CITY, SNP, NBCSCA). The center, who has been out since Dec. 5, has 22 points (eight goals, 14 assists) in 28 games. "Definitely thought it would be [a shorter absence],” Pettersson said. “It was just a lot of pain trying to shoot the puck, but feels good now." ... Filip Chytil (concussion protocol) skated in a noncontact jersey Saturday. There is still no timetable for the forward, who has not played since Oct. 19. Chytil has three goals in six games this season.

Buffalo Sabres

Rasmus Dahlin will not play for the Sabres against the Boston Bruins on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; NESN, MSG-B). “He’s just attending to his fiancée in Sweden; [he] should be back shortly,” Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff said. Dahlin’s fiancée, Carolina, had a heart transplant last summer. The Sabres defenseman and captain took a week-long leave of absence last month to be with her. Ruff said they “believe he’ll be back” for Buffalo’s upcoming three-game road trip, which begins at the St. Louis Blues on Monday. Dahlin is third on the team with 28 points (four goals, 24 assists) in 33 games). Defenseman Ryan Johnson was recalled from Rochester of the AHL. ... Jason Zucker rejoined the Sabres for the morning skate, the first time the forward skated with them since sustaining upper- and lower-body injuries in a 7-4 loss to the Calgary Flames on Dec. 8. Zucker, who has 18 points (nine goals, nine assists) in 21 games, said he does not have a target date for his return. “I'm going to take it day by day and see where it goes,” he said.

Los Angeles Kings

Darcy Kuemper (upper body) will miss his fifth straight game for the Kings when they host the Ducks on Saturday (9 p.m. ET; FDSNW, KTTV, Victory+). The goalie, who hasn’t played since Dec. 15, was on the ice for the morning skate. “It’s hard to give you guys anything outside of the more you see him out there -- the more he progresses, the more it’s shooting and you get into practice, then obviously the closer we get,” coach Jim Hiller said. “I don’t want to say too much, because you just never know.” Kuemper is 10-6-6 with a 2.19 GAA, .917 save percentage and two shutouts in 23 games.

Detroit Red Wings

Patrick Kane (upper body) is questionable to return at the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; FDSNDET, FDSNSO). The Red Wings forward, who has missed their past five games, has 23 points (six goals, 17 assists) in 24 games. He skated with the team at the morning skate prior to a 4-3 overtime win against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday.

Chicago Blackhawks

Nick Foligno could return at Dallas on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; Victory+, CHSN). The Blackhawks captain has been out since Nov. 15, when he injured his left hand blocking a shot by Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe. He has six assists in 15 games this season. ... Forward Landon Slaggert was recalled from Rockford of the AHL.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Brandon Hagel (upper body) participated in the morning skate but will not return against the Florida Panthers on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; The Spot, SCRIPPS). The Lightning forward has been out since being injured during a 5-2 loss to the Panthers on Dec. 15. Hagel has 31 points (18 goals, 13 assists) and is plus-18 in 32 games. ... Ryan McDonagh aggravared a previous injury and will not play; coach Jon Cooper said the defenseman is day to day. ... Defenseman Erik Cernak also participated in the morning skate; he has been out since Nov. 22 because of an undisclosed injury. ... Tampa Bay recalled defenseman Steven Santini and forward Scott Sabourin from Syracuse of the AHL.

Nashville Predators

Jonathan Marchessault (lower body) participated in the morning skate is expected to miss his fourth straight game when the Predators visit the Blues on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; KMOV-TV, Matrix-MW, FDSNMW, FDSNSO). The forward hasn't played since Dec. 17; he has 10 points (seven goals, three assists) in 28 games this season.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Brandon Carlo participated in the morning skate with the Maple Leafs but will not return against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; CBC, TVAS, CITY, SNE, SNO, SNP), the first time the defenseman skated with the team since having foot surgery on Dec. 3. Carlo has missed 18 games since Nov. 13; he has two assists in 18 games while averaging 20:04 of ice time. "He's coming along pretty well. He'll be skating here hopefully now and hopefully no setbacks to get him going. … We have to see how he is going forward. Also, he hasn't been in any real practice with the team."

Pittsburgh Penguins

Blake Lizotte could return from an undisclosed injury against the Blackhawks at United Center in Chicago on Sunday (7 p.m. ET; CHSN, SN-PIT, SNP, SNW, SNE, TVAS). The forward, who has missed nine games, was a full practice participant Saturday, skating as fourth-line center with left wing Connor Dewar and right wing Noel Acciari, for the first time since being injured Dec. 7. "To be honest, it's a mystery for me too; I just started hurting," Lizotte said. "I'm not really sure if it was a certain hit. There wasn't a moment where I was like, 'Oh, something happened.' It just got more and more sore." Penguins coach Dan Muse said he would check with the medical staff before determining Lizotte's status for Sunday. … Evgeni Malkin (upper body) skated on his own Saturday but will miss his 11th straight game Sunday. The 39-year-old center, who has 29 points (eight goals, 21 assists) in 26 games, is week to week since being injured on Dec. 4.