NHL Status Report: Luukkonen expected to start for Sabres on Thursday

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

Buffalo Sabres

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is expected to start for the Sabres in their season opener against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; CBJNHL, CBJHN, MSG-B). The goalie had been dealing with a lower-body injury after tweaking something in a preseason game on Sept 26. ... Defenseman Olen Zellweger will not play Thursday; he has been in concussion protocol since Sept. 22. Coach Lindy Ruff did not rule him out for the game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday. ...  Mattias Samuelsson practiced Wednesday and Ruff said "hopefully he's an option for us tomorrow." The defenseman was injured in a preseason game on Sept. 22 after blocking a shot and had been listed as week to week with a lower-body injury.

Chicago Blackhawks

Andrew Mangiapane will be out for the Blackhawks for at least the next two games. The forward left a 5-2 opening-night loss at the Vegas Golden Knights with a lower-body injury after taking one shift in the second period. "He won't play on this trip," Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill said. "I'm not sure how long or what that means, but he definitely won't play the next two games." Chicago plays at the Utam Mammoth on Thursday and at the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday before their home opener against the St. Louis Blues on Oct. 6.

New York Islanders

Mathew Barzal could return to the ice this weekend. The forward traveled with the Islanders to Toronto after missing training camp due to aggravating a prior injury that caused inflammation, but will not play in their season opener against the Maple Leafs on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET; Prime, MSGSN). "Maybe by the weekend or early next week at the latest, he gets back on the ice," Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche said Wednesday. "We will see how things progress but he had a really good week last week. He's with us on the trip so hopefully he's back on the ice soon. ... Mat Barzal, you give him a few practices and he will be good to go." Barzal led New York with 72 points (19 goals, 53 assists) in 81 games last season.