The latest NHL injury report provides crucial updates on key players across several teams, impacting their regular season finales and playoff preparations.
Chicago Blackhawks
Forward Andrew Mangiapane has made his return to the lineup after missing the last nine games due to an undisclosed injury, boosting the Blackhawks’ forward depth.
Edmonton Oilers
Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch announced that star forward Leon Draisaitl may not be fully ready for the commencement of the playoffs. Draisaitl is expected to skate this week but will not play any remaining regular-season games. Knoblauch anticipates his return “sometime in the first round” of the playoffs, though he did not entirely rule out a return for the first game if his recovery progresses exceptionally well. The coach noted that the initial anticipated return timeline was around the end of the regular season or the start of the playoffs.
Nashville Predators
Defenseman Nicolas Hague was sidelined for last night’s game due to an upper-body injury he sustained on Saturday. His status is currently listed as day-to-day.
Tampa Bay Lightning
- Forward Anthony Cirelli missed last night’s game and is listed as day-to-day.
- Brandon Hagel has now missed his third consecutive game.
- Coach Jon Cooper shared a concerning update regarding forward Pontus Holmberg, stating his condition is “not good.” This follows an incident where Holmberg’s shoulder struck an open penalty box door, prompting Cooper to criticize the dangerous situation and the attendant responsible for leaving the door ajar.
Vancouver Canucks
- Coach Adam Foote provided an update on goaltender Kevin Lankinen, who is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Foote suggested the injury might be a cumulative effect of playing multiple games and expressed hope for a quick recovery.
- Regarding Evander Kane, Foote mentioned that the forward has been “fighting something” for a few weeks, especially in the lead-up to his 1,000th career game.
Winnipeg Jets
Forward Nino Niederreiter has returned to the lineup after a significant absence, having missed the past 20 games due to a lower-body injury.
