NHL Status Report: Elias Lindholm returns for Bruins against Sharks

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

Boston Bruins

Elias Lindholm (lower body) was activated from injured reserve and returned against the San Jose Sharks on Sunday. The Bruins center, who had missed 10 games since sustaining the injury against the Buffalo Sabres on Oct. 30, has nine points (four goals, five assists) in 13 games. "He's a big part of our team," Bruins coach Marco Sturm said. "As a player, when you come back from being out with an injury for a while, we have to help him get up to speed a little bit. He feels good. He feels ready to go, and hopefully he's going to have a good game. ... I'm not planning on [limiting his ice time]. He's going to be back on the power play on the first unit. [We are going to] try to give him regular 5-on-5 shifts, just like we've done in the past." … The Bruins placed defenseman Charlie McAvoy (upper body) on injured reserve, retroactive to Nov. 15. ... Forward Tanner Jeannot did not practice Saturday (maintenance).

Buffalo Sabres

Zach Benson (lower body) returned for the Sabres and had an assist in a 4-1 win against the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday. The forward missed 10 games, having not played since Oct. 30. Benson has nine assists in nine games ... Bowen Byram was in the lineup after being a game-time decision; the defenseman briefly left a 9-3 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday after he fell awkwardly into the end boards. ... Buffalo reassigned forward Isak Rosen to Rochester of the American Hockey League.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Victor Hedman has been placed on long-term injured reserve, coach Jon Cooper said before a 5-3 win at the Washington Capitals on Saturday. The defenseman was placed on injured reserve Thursday, when Cooper said he was "probably a couple of weeks away still" from returning due to an undisclosed injury. Hedman has missed Tampa Bay’s past six games. ... Cooper said Ryan McDonagh (undisclosed) will likely resume skating next week but is probably two weeks away from returning. The defenseman has also missed the Lightning’s past six games.

Minnesota Wild

Nico Sturm made his season debut at the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday after the forward had back surgery as the result of an injury sustained during training camp. Sturm split last season between the Sharks and the Florida Panthers; he played eight Stanley Cup Playoffs during the latter’s championship run. … Vinnie Hinostroza “is going to be out a little bit,” Wild coach John Hynes said Saturday; the forward likely will be sent back to Minnesota for evaluation. Hinostroza left in the second period after a hit by Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Ryan Graves during the Wild’s 5-0 win on Friday.

Chicago Blackhawks

Jason Dickinson was activated from injured reserve and returned against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday. The Blackhawks forward missed 10 games because of an upper-body injury he sustained at Winnipeg on Oct. 30. Dickinson has three points (one goal, two assists) in eight games this season.

New York Rangers

J.T. Miller (upper body) is day to day and did not play Saturday, a 3-2 loss at the Utah Mammoth. The forward and Rangers captain scored twice and played 20:33 in a 6-3 loss at Colorado on Thursday. "We'll take it as it comes ... he's a tough guy to replace," New York coach Mike Sullivan said. Miller has 12 points (six goals, six assists) in 22 games.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Auston Matthews (lower body) skated Saturday morning but missed his fifth straight game Saturday, a 5-2 loss at the Montreal Canadiens. The Maple Leafs captain has 14 points (nine goals, five assists) in 17 games. … Matthew Knies (lower body) also skated Saturday morning but missed his third straight game; the forward has 22 points (five goals, 17 assists) in 19 games. … Anthony Stolarz has not been on the ice since the goalie sustained an upper-body injury Nov. 11. "Worse than we thought (initially)," Toronto coach Craig Berube said. "... I really don't have a timetable for him."

Washington Capitals

Nic Dowd (upper body) could return against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Capital One Arena on Monday (7 p.m. ET; FDSNOH, MNMT). The forward, who has missed three games, practiced with the Capitals on Sunday, one day after participating in the morning skate prior to a 5-3 loss to the Lightning. Dowd has five points (one goal, four assists) in 19 games this season.

St. Louis Blues

Alexandre Texier had his contract terminated by the Blues, the team announced Sunday. Texier, a forward, had one assist in eight games for St. Louis this season. The 26-year-old has 91 points (40 goals, 51 assists) in 240 NHL games with the Blue Jackets and Blues.