Status Report: Kuzmenko returns to Penguins practice after father's death

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

Pittsburgh Penguins

Andrei Kuzmenko returned to practice with the Penguins on Friday, 10 days after his father died on a fishing trip. The forward left the team on Sept. 24 and gone to Russia to mourn his father, who was a respected hockey coach. "Thank you for everyone who supported me," Kuzmenko said. "I'm happy to go back to Pittsburgh. I missed everyone. I go back to reality, back to my job. And let's go, keep working. I missed hockey. And great start after first game (7-0 win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday). I think it'll be good this season because I believe in this team." Kuzmenko, who signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Penguins on July 1, is expected to make his Penguins debut against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; SN-PIT, SNE, TVAS).

Dallas Stars

Tyler Seguin played in a regular-season game on Friday for the first time since Dec. 2. The forward hadn't played a regular-season game since he tore the ACL in his right knee and had surgery Dec. 16. Seguin, who played in one preseason game last week, had 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) and was plus-10 in 27 games for Dallas prior to the injury. "The biggest thing for me right now is, he's going to try to get his game in order," coach Glen Gulutzan said prior to their game against the St. Louis Blues. "… He's looked good. But it's a significant injury. It's a real injury, so it takes a while to get back into your form. But in the locker room right now, he's a good voice to have."

New Jersey Devils

Seamus Casey will be out 8-10 weeks for the Devils after having knee surgery. The defenseman was injured in a 4-3 preseason shootout loss to the New York Rangers on Sept. 24 after he collided with a Rangers player and didn't return to the game.  The Devils, who defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 in overtime on Thursday, play at the New York Islanders on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; MSGSN, MSG).

Buffalo Sabres

Olen Zellweger practiced with the Sabres on Friday and has been cleared to play against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; CHSN, MSG-B). The defenseman, who did not play in a 6-3 season-opening loss at the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday, had been in concussion protocol since Sept. 22. "We anticipate getting him in the lineup," coach Lindy Ruff said.

Ottawa Senators

Jake Sanderson returned to the ice and skated with the Senators on Friday and could be available for their season opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; SNO, SNP). "See how he is tomorrow," coach Travis Green said. ... Forward Warren Foegele (undisclosed) will play Saturday. … Defenseman Artem Zub (knee) and forward Andre Burakovsky (upper body) skated in noncontact jerseys Friday.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Ivan Provorov is week to week for the Blue Jackets with a lower-body injury and was played on injured reserve Thursday. The defenseman had never missed a game due to injury in his 10-season NHL career prior to a 6-3 win against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday. He had played 778 games, including 375 in a row, and only missed three games due to COVID protocol in 2022. "This guy, he's a warrior, man," Columbus coach Rick Bowness said before the game. "He's just heartbroken that he's not playing. Like he unreal. He would go to 20 doctors and just hopefully find one that would say, 'Right, you can play.' ...He's heartbroken that he's not playing. This guy just loves to play and he's the ultimate team player, the ultimate team warrior. So that's a tough one." Provorov had 31 points (nine goals, 22 assists) in 82 games last season and averaged 24:49 of ice time per game.