Buffalo Sabres forward Sam Carrick is dealing with an unusual hockey injury, though no bones were broken. His recovery timeline is estimated between four to eight weeks. Coach Lindy Ruff indicated Carrick is close to returning to the lineup, and he was seen back on the ice at practice.
Forward Noah Ostlund will miss the second round due to a lower-body injury.
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin has been cleared from concussion protocol and is available to play. Coach Rod Brind’Amour stated that Nikishin has had a couple of good practices, and if he feels ready, he could be an option for the team.
Dallas Stars forward Roope Hintz revealed he tore his hamstring in two places and experienced a setback in his recovery. This was an atypical injury, making a faster recovery difficult. Hintz confirmed the injury occurred during a battle along the boards with Nathan MacKinnon of the Avalanche.
Minnesota Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin and forward Joel Eriksson Ek have missed the initial two games of the second round with lower-body injuries. Both players will be re-evaluated before Saturday’s game.
Tampa Bay Lightning GM Julien BriseBois announced that forward Pontus Holmberg fractured his clavicle after hitting the penalty box door in Buffalo. Aside from this incident, there have been no other significant injury concerns during the playoffs, and no players are expected to require offseason procedures or surgery. One unnamed player is currently undergoing evaluation.
NHL Injury Updates: Sabres, Hurricanes, Stars, Wild, and Lightning
Get the latest NHL injury updates for the Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, and Tampa Bay Lightning, including status reports on key players.