New York Rangers forward Blake Wheeler left Thursday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens following contact with Jayden Struble.
Wheeler found himself with the puck behind Samuel Montembeault’s net when he was knocked down by the defender. His right leg became trapped as he fell and he later painfully left the ice towards the locker room.
The Rangers organization confirmed later in the game that Wheeler was dealing with a lower-body injury and would not return to the game.
Before this game, the 37-year-old forward had amassed nine goals and 12 assists in 53 games in his first season with the Rangers.
Bedard’s return to the game
Connor Bedard will return to the Chicago Blackhawks lineup on Thursday night as the team hosts the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Bedard has been sidelined since January 5 due to a broken jaw caused by a hit by New Jersey Devils defenseman Brendan Smith.
Despite missing 14 games, the young Hawks sensation is still first in rookie scoring, tied with Brock Faber, with a total of 33 points.
The team said the decision on Bedard’s status will be made later today.
Connor Ingram out for at least a week
Arizona Coyotes head coach André Tourigny said that goaltender Connor Ingram’s injury is not major, but that he will be out for 7 to 10 days.
The Coyotes goaltender left Wednesday night’s game against the Minnesota Wild during the second period due to an injury.
Ingram serves as Arizona’s No. 1 goaltender this season, his second with the team. In 35 games since the start of the campaign, the 26-year-old goaltender has a record of 17-13-2, a goals against average of 2.76 and an efficiency rate of .912.
Return to the game of Viktor Arvidsson
The Los Angeles Kings have removed forward Viktor Arvidsson from the injured reserve list.
The Swede has still not played a match this season, having been bothered by a back injury, which required an operation.
Arvidsson had 59 points in 77 games last season with the Kings.
Separately, the team announced that Carl Grundstrom and Blake Lizotte had been placed on the long-term injured list.
Maxence Guenette urgently recalled to Ottawa
The Ottawa Senators have recalled defenseman Maxence Guenette from Belleville in the American League.
The 22-year-old Quebecer has 23 points in 41 games this season in Belleville. Guenette made his NHL debut in the final game of the regular season last year.
For his part, Jake Sanderson was present at Thursday’s training, wearing a “no contact” jersey, while Artem Zub was absent.
Thursday evening, the Sens will receive a visit from the Anaheim Ducks. This match will be presented at 7 p.m. on RDS2 and RDS.ca.
Senators training lineup:
Tkachuk-Norris-Batherson
Joseph-Stützle-Giroux
Greig-Pinto-Tarasenko
Kubalik-Kastelic-Kelly
Chabot-JBD
Chychrun-Hamonic
Brannstrom-Guenette
Frederik Andersen on his way home
Goaltender Frederik Andersen is back with the Carolina Hurricanes. He participated in practice this morning for the first time since being diagnosed with a blood clotting problem in November.
Andersen, 34, was 4-1-0 with an .894 save percentage in six games before being sidelined. He is under contract through the end of the 2024-25 season at a salary of $3.4 million.
In Andersen’s absence, Antti Raanta, Pyotr Kochetkov, Spencer Martin and Yaniv Perets alternated in goal. The Hurricanes currently sit second in the Metropolitan Division with a 30-17-5 record and 65 points in 52 games.
Andersen made his final appearance with the Hurricanes on November 2, stopping 24 of the 26 shots he faced in a 2–1 loss to the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen injured in lower body
Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will miss at least one game with a lower-body injury, the Buffalo Sabers announced.
The Sabers said Luukkonen’s condition will be re-evaluated daily without disclosing the nature of the injury or when it occurred.
Luukkonen posted a 33-save shutout in his last start, Tuesday against the Los Angeles Kings. The Sabers won 7-0 and the Finn became the first Sabers goaltender to record four shutouts in a season since Ryan Miller in 2011-12.
Luukkonen is 7-5 in his last 12 starts, allowing 19 goals and recording three shutouts.
During his absence, goalkeeper Eric Comrie should take over. Former Montreal Canadiens Dustin Tokarski was recalled from the minors to assist him.
