Welcome to the NHL Buzz. Throughout the 2021-22 season, NHL.com will have you covered with the latest news.
Vegas Golden Knights
Jonathan Marchessault returned to play for the Golden Knights against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday (NHLN, CITY, SNO, SNW, SNP, ATTSN-RM, NHL LIVE).
The forward missed five games since he was placed in NHL COVID-19 protocol on Nov. 13 and returned to practice Friday.
Marchessault scored 13 points (nine goals, four assists) in 15 games this season.
Washington Capitals
Lars Eller could return to the lineup when the Capitals visit the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday. The forward has missed six games after testing positive for COVID-19.
“I feel like I’m close,” Eller said after practice Saturday. “We’ll see, talk to [coach Peter Laviolette] later, but I had two good days on the ice.”
Eller tested positive before a 3-2 overtime loss at the Anaheim Ducks on Nov. 16 and said he had symptoms that felt like “a mild flu or a cold for about three days.” He had to quarantine for 10 days in Anaheim, California before returning to Washington on Wednesday.
Eller skated for the third straight day Saturday and Laviolette said he hopes he can play Sunday.
“He feels good today and that’s why I’ll talk to him tomorrow,” Laviolette said. “It’s not a definite that he’s in the lineup, but he was a full participant today. If we did do battle drills, he would’ve been cleared for the battle drills. He would’ve been 100 percent go. So I’ll get an answer on him once we go back and circle up with the trainers.” — Tom Gulitti
St. Louis Blues
James Neal was placed on long-term injured reserve. The forward missed the past two games with an undisclosed injury. He practiced Wednesday but left early after aggravating an injury.
Neal has scored four points (two goals, two assists) in 17 games this season, his first with the Blues.
Forward Dakota Joshua was recalled from Springfield of the American Hockey League. He has no points in six games with the Blues this season.
St. Louis hosted the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday (BSMW, BSOH, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).
Philadelphia Flyers
Nate Thompson likely sustained a dislocated shoulder, Flyers coach Alain Vigneault said. The forward fell into the boards during the third period of a 6-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday.
“Nate had an MRI this morning and I haven’t checked [the results],” Vigneault said Saturday. “From what I saw yesterday after the game his shoulder was dislocated. I’m not expecting positive news.”
Thompson is the fourth Flyers center out with an injury. Kevin Hayes is week to week after reinjuring his surgically repaired abdominal muscles against the Calgary Flames on Nov. 16; Patrick Brown is out indefinitely because of a thumb injury sustained against the Flames; and Derick Brassard is expected to be out at least another week because of a lower-body injury sustained at the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday.
Philadelphia, which has lost five straight games (0-3-2), plays at the New Jersey Devils on Sunday.
“We’re going through a rough patch,” Vigneault said. “… Hopefully in the near future, we have a few players that can come back and help us out.” — Adam Kimelman
Los Angeles Kings
Drew Doughty could return to the lineup for the Kings “over the next few days,” coach Todd McLellan said.
The defenseman skated in a full-contact jersey Wednesday for the first time since injuring his knee Oct. 22. Doughty, who resumed skating in a no-contact jersey Nov. 19, was injured after taking a knee-to-knee hit from defenseman Jani Hakanpaa during a 3-2 overtime loss at the Dallas Stars.
Doughty was expected to be out eight weeks and to need six weeks to resume skating. Nov. 19 marked four weeks since the injury.
The Kings hosted the Ottawa Senators on Saturday (BSW, SN1, TVAS2, ESPN+ NHL LIVE) and host the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday.
“When you haven’t played in a long time and you have a lower-body injury, you start thinking about groins and hip flexors, and you don’t want to set him further back because it creates another injury,” McLellan said Friday. “As he works his way through that, he works his way into full practice, which is what we saw today. Over the next few days, he should be ready to play.”
At the time of the injury, Doughty was second on Los Angeles with seven points (one goal, six assists) in four games and first in average ice time per game (22:37). — Dan Greenspan