NHL Status Report: Kuzmenko makes debut for Penguins

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

Pittsburgh Penguins

Andrei Kuzmenko made his Penguins debut against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday. The forward returned to practice Friday, 10 days after his father died on a fishing trip. He left the team Sept. 24 to Russia to mourn his father, who was a respected hockey coach. "I'm happy to go back to Pittsburgh. I missed everyone," Kuzmenko said Friday. "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." ... Forward Blake Lizotte (lower body) did not play in the regular-season opener but took part in an optional skate Saturday and was in the lineup.

Los Angeles Kings

Corey Perry will make his season debut for the Kings against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday (10 p.m. ET; ABTV , NBCSCA). The forward, who signed a one-year contract on July 1, missed training camp and a season-opening 8-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday for personal reasons. Perry had 28 points (11 goals, 17 assists) in 50 games with Los Angeles last season before he was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 6.

Carolina Hurricanes

Pyotr Kochetkov started for the Hurricanes against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday, his first NHL game since Dec. 20 after having surgery for a lower-body injury. Kochetkov was 6-2-0 with a 2.33 goals-against average, .899 save percentage and one shutout in nine games (eight starts) prior to the injury. He had been cleared to skate in April and was with the Hurricanes during their run to the Stanley Cup last season but was the third goalie behind Brandon Bussi and Frederik Andersen. "It's a long road back, but we all know how important that position is," coach Rod Brind'Amour said Saturday. "So we need him to be what we think he can be, which is a really good goalie." ... Defenseman Mike Reilly will made his season debut after being scratched the first two games of the season. He had nine points (one goal, eight assists) in 42 regular-season games and two assists in two Stanley Cup Playoff games. "We got to get him going," Brind'Amour said. "We don't want him to sit too long. ... He was really good for us, and you don't want to let a guy sit out too long. It gets to be tough when you need him to get back in there."

Ottawa Senators

Jake Sanderson played for the Senators in their season opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, but did not return to the game after the first period. The defenseman left a preseason game on Sept. 26 for precautionary reasons and had been held out of practice before returning Friday. ... Forward Warren Foegele (undisclosed) was in the lineup Saturday. … Defenseman Artem Zub (knee) and forward Andre Burakovsky (upper body) skated in noncontact jerseys Friday but did not play Saturday.

Chicago Blackhawks

Bowen Byram did not play for the Blackhawks at the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday because of a family matter. The defenseman, who was acquired by Chicago in a trade with Buffalo on June 23, signed a six-year, $75 million contract on July 1 that begins next season. Byram had a career-high 42 points in 82 games last season (11 goals, 31 assists).

Seattle Kraken

Mackie Samoskevich was activated off injured reserve and made his debut for the Kraken at the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday. The forward did not play in their season-opening 6-1 win at the Calgary Flames on Thursday because of an upper-body injury. He was acquired in a trade with the Florida Panthers on June 21. ... Forward Jacob Melanson was placed on injured reserve and is week to week with an upper-body injury. He played 9:31 against the Flames.​

Buffalo Sabres

Olen Zellweger made his Sabres debut against the Blackhawks on Saturday. The defenseman, who was acquired from the Anaheim Ducks on June 26, did not play in their season-opening 6-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday; he had been in concussion protocol since Sept. 22 before returning to practice on Friday.

Vancouver Canucks

Jake DeBrusk will not play for the Canucks against the Calgary Flames on Saturday (10 p.m. ET; SN, TVAS2) because of an illness. The forward has played two games and has one assist in 15:36 of ice time per game this season.

New York Islanders

Mathew Barzal is progressing but still not skating for the Islanders. The forward missed training camp due to aggravating a prior injury and did not play in a season-opening 2-1 loss at Toronto on Wednesday. Barzal is expected to skate by the end of next week. He led New York with 72 points (19 goals, 53 assists) in 81 games last season.