NHL Status Report: Matthews injured in Maple Leafs loss

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

Toronto Maple Leafs

Auston Matthews left midway through the second period of a 5-3 loss to the Boston Bruins on Tuesday with a lower-body injury. The center was hit by Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov along the boards at 8:30 and exited the game 30 seconds later. Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube did not have an update after the game. ... Anthony Stolarz allowed three goals on 11 shots before leaving after the first period with an upper-body injury and being replaced by Dennis Hildeby. Berube said he didn't think the goalie's injury was serious. The Maple Leafs next play the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; SNO, FDSNW).

Vancouver Canucks

Thatcher Demko returned against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday but left with an undisclosed injury after giving up three goals on eight shots in the first period. A Canucks spokesperson said the injury was not related to what kept Demko out over the weekend. "Lower body," coach Adam Foote said after the game, "and we'll find out tomorrow [the severity]." Demko did not dress for back-to-back games this past weekend due to what was labeled "preventative maintenance." He is 5-4-0 with a 2.80 goals-against average and .903 save percentage in nine games this season. Kevin Lankinen replaced Demko on Tuesday and made 20 saves on 21 shots in relief. The Canucks next play at the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday (7 p.m. ET; FDSNSO, SN).

Tampa Bay Lightning

Defenseman Victor Hedman and forward Pontus Holmberg were not at the morning skate and did not play in a 7-3 loss against the New York Rangers on Wednesday. Each also missed practice Tuesday and is day to day. Ryan McDonagh (undisclosed) was placed on injured reserve after leaving a 3-2 win against the Washington Capitals on Saturday. He'll also miss Saturday's game against the Florida Panthers (5 p.m. ET; The Spot, SCRIPPS). Forward Dominic James (undisclosed) did not play Wednesday. "The guys aren't progressing the way we hope," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. "'Mac' is going to be out for a few games. 'Heddy' is day to day. James, not quite day to day yet; he took a pretty significant puck to the face." ... Cooper also said forward Nick Paul, who hasn't played this season because of an upper-body injury, won't play on Saturday but is nearing a return. Forwards Boris Katchouk and Scott Sabourin were recalled from Syracuse of the American Hockey League on Wednesday. Each played against the Rangers, with Sabourin scoring a goal.

Colorado Avalanche

Valeri Nichushkin will "miss some time" for the Avalanche because of a lower-body injury, coach Jared Bednar said Wednesday. The forward left a 4-1 win against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday at 4:13 of the third period. Nichushkin has 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 17 games this season. The Avalanche next play the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday (9 p.m. ET; KUSA, KTVD, MSG-B, ALT).

Edmonton Oilers

Zach Hyman will make his season debut this week, Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said Wednesday before their 2-1 overtime win against the Philadelphia Flyers. The forward has not played since dislocating his wrist last season during Game 4 of the Western Conference Final against the Dallas Stars on May 27. "Unfortunately not ready for tonight," Knoblauch said. "Definitely sometime this week. Maybe tomorrow if we're really lucky, but definitely by Saturday." The Oilers visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday (7:30 p.m. ET; HULU, ESPN+, SNP, SNW, SNE) and the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday.

Ottawa Senators

Thomas Chabot likely will not play against the Bruins on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; RDS2, TSN5, NESN). The Senators defenseman sustained an upper-body injury after taking a hard hit from Dallas Stars forward Colin Blackwell midway through the first period of a 3-2 overtime loss on Tuesday. "Unlikely he'll play tomorrow," coach Travis Green said Wednesday.

New York Rangers

Spencer Martin signed a two-year contract with the Rangers on Wednesday. The 29-year-old goalie, who was playing in the Kontinental Hockey League earlier this season, was 3-4-1 with a 3.89 GAA and .846 save percentage in nine games (seven starts) with the Carolina Hurricanes last season. He is 24-30-8 with a 3.56 GAA and .883 save percentage in 66 regular-season games (59 starts) for the Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Vancouver Canucks and Avalanche. If he clears waivers, Martin will be assigned to Hartford of the AHL.

Carolina Hurricanes

Charles Alexis Legault will be out 3-4 months for the Hurricanes after having surgery on his right hand on Tuesday. The defenseman, who was placed on injured reserve, had his hand cut in a 5-4 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday. He has two points (one goal, one assist) in eight games this season. "I hate it because he was really starting to find his groove at this level," Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "Hopefully he will heal and be good to go. Tough to swallow, but it is what it is." ... In addition to Legault, the Hurricanes were without defensemen Jalen Chatfield (upper body) and Jaccob Slavin (lower body) for a 4-1 loss to the Capitals on Tuesday.

Dallas Stars

Adam Erne will be out long term for the Stars because of a lower-body injury. The forward played 8:36 in a 3-2 overtime win against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday. "He's going to be out for a little bit, here," Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said Wednesday. "I would say we are talking weeks, a few weeks with a lower-body injury." Gulutzan also said Jamie Benn is progressing; the Stars captain has not played this season because of a punctured lung. "I'm hoping not a few weeks but it's going to be a little bit here, but he's starting to look really good on the ice," he said. "... We're getting excited about that to have our captain back, just want to make sure it's the right timing for him."

Chicago Blackhawks

Frank Nazar did not play in a 4-3 overtime loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday because of a lower-body injury. The forward left after colliding with Calgary Flames forward Joel Farabee in the first period of Chicago's 4-0 win on Friday. ... Jason Dickinson (upper body) skated on his own Tuesday and Wednesday but did not play. ... Forward Andre Burakovsky was also out with an undisclosed injury; forward Landon Slaggert was recalled from Rockford of the American Hockey League and was in the lineup against the Devils, scoring his first NHL goal while playing 9:32.

New York Islanders

Maxim Shabanov (upper body) practiced Wednesday for the first time since the forward was injured Oct. 21 against the San Jose Sharks. Shabanov, who wore a noncontact jersey, has three points (one goal, two assists) in six games. ... Scott Mayfield did not practice; the defenseman and his wife are expecting their first child. The Islanders visit the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday (10 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, MSGSN, SNP, SNO, SNE).

Buffalo Sabres

Jiri Kulich is going "to miss significant time" because of a blood clot issue, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said Monday. The forward missed his fourth straight game when the Sabres lost 5-2 to the Utah Mammoth on Wednesday. Ruff said Kulich could play again this season, however. "That really depends on how things go here in the next three, four weeks," he said. Kulich has five points (three goals, two assists) in 12 games. … Buffalo was also without forward Jason Zucker, who missed his fourth straight game because of an illness, against the Mammoth. "Real severe viral, flu-like thing that he hasn't been able to shake," Ruff said. "Undergone a lot of tests and still isn't doing that well."

Philadelphia Flyers

Tyson Foerster returned to the lineup against the Oilers on Wednesday and played 19:26 with two shots on goal in the 2-1 overtime loss. The forward had missed the past four games because of a lower-body injury sustained blocking a shot during the first period of a 5-2 loss to the Maple Leafs on Nov. 1.