NHL Status Report: Kings 'hopeful' Byfield can return against Rangers

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

Los Angeles Kings

Quinton Byfield could return for the Kings at the New York Rangers on Monday (7 p.m. ET; ABTV, NHLN, MSG, TVAS). Coach Peter Laviolette said he is “hopeful” the center is able to play; Byfield has missed the past two games and wore a noncontact jersey at practice Sunday. He has two points (one goal, one assist) in seven games this season. … Mats Zuccarello (upper body) will not be available; the forward did not play the last 7:01 of a 3-1 loss at the New Jersey Devils on Saturday. The injury initially forced Zuccarello to miss three games from Oct. 10-17. He has one assist in six games this season.

Carolina Hurricanes

Taylor Hall (upper body) practiced with the Hurricanes on Monday for the first time since being injured in the second period of a 4-2 win against the Capitals on Oct. 13. He is week to week. Hall has five points (three goals, two assists) in eight games this season. He had 19 points (seven goals, 12 assists) in 19 Stanley Cup Playoff games to help Carolina win the Cup last season. He is three games shy of 1,000 in the NHL, with 792 points (305 goals, 487 assists) in 997 games for the Edmonton Oilers, New Jersey Devils, Arizona Coyotes, Buffalo Sabres, Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks and Hurricanes.

Calgary Flames

Mikael Backlund wore a regular jersey at the morning skate and could return from an upper-body injury for the Flames against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday (8:30 p.m. ET; SN+). The forward missed two games after being injured during a 3-2 win against the Hurricanes on Oct. 18. He has two points (one goal, one assist) in eight games this season.

Seattle Kraken

Jared McCann (lower body) will be out 10 weeks and has been placed on injured reserve, the Kraken announced Sunday. The forward was injured during a 5-3 win against the Utah Mammoth on Thursday and missed a 5-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Saturday. McCann has eight points (three goals, five assists) and is plus-5 in 11 games this season. Seattle recalled forward Jani Nyman from Coachella Valley of the American Hockey League on Saturday. The Kraken host the Maple Leafs on Wednesday.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Evgeni Malkin (illness), Egor Chinakhov (lower body), Justin Brazeau (lower body) and Samuel Girard (lower body) practiced with the Penguins on Sunday, one day after each was unavailable for a 3-2 overtime win against the Nashville Predators. Malkin, a forward, participated in an optional morning skate Saturday but did not play. Chinakhov, a forward, has missed Pittsburgh's past two games. Brazeau wore a regular jersey Saturday morning, but the forward has yet to play this season after he was injured during a preseason game Sept. 21. Girard was placed on injured reserve Saturday. The defenseman has missed the past three games. “All the guys that were out with the bigger group today were all full contract,” coach Dan Muse said. “No status update other than it's another step for those guys." The Penguins don't play again until Thursday, when they host the Mammoth.

Utah Mammoth

John Marino (upper body) is week to week after initially being listed as day to day, Mammoth coach Andre Tourigny said before their 5-4 overtime win against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. The defenseman was a late scratch for a 5-4 victory against the Penguins on Oct. 19. Marino has five points (two goals, three assists) and is plus-5 in nine games while averaging 20:23 of ice time. Utah hosts Minnesota on Tuesday.