Toronto Maple Leafs
William Nylander will be out a minimum of seven days because of NHL COVID-19 protocol, coach Sheldon Keefe said Friday.
The forward did not play in a 3-2 win against the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday because of his exposure to a possible positive COVID-19 case from outside the team.
Nylander has scored 30 points (13 goals, 17 assists) in 39 games this season.
“From what I’ve heard, all the tests have come back negative so that’s a great sign,” forward Mitchell Marner said. “We’re all trying to do our parts by wearing masks and keeping our distance.”
The Maple Leafs host the Ottawa Senators on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; CBC, SNO, SNP, TVAS2, NHL.TV). — Mike Zeisberger
Edmonton Oilers
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will not play at the Calgary Flames on Saturday (10 p.m. ET; NHLN, CBC, SN, NHL.TV) and could remain out until next weekend because of an upper-body injury.
“With ‘Nuge’, we just feel like he’s better if we give him tomorrow (off) and then we have a few days and we’ll give him the rest he needs,” coach Dave Tippett said.
Nugent-Hopkins was injured in a 4-2 win at the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday after he took a high hit from Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot with 4:53 remaining in the third period. The forward did not play in a 3-1 win at Ottawa on Thursday.
Nugent-Hopkins has scored 28 points (12 goals, 16 assists) in 40 games.
“You can’t replace ‘Nuge’, so it’s going to be a good test for our whole lineup,” defenseman Tyson Barrie said. “He’s so poised with the puck and makes little plays and is always in the right spots defensively. He’s a big piece of this team and it sucks to see him out, but hopefully, it’s a quick one and it gives other guys a chance to step up and create opportunities for themselves.”
Following their game against the Flames, the Oilers are scheduled to host the Vancouver Canucks on Monday and Wednesday and visit the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday.
“We’re hoping he’ll be ready to go next weekend,” Oilers general manager Ken Holland said. – Derek Van Diest
Nashville Predators
Forward Eeli Tolvanen (lower body) and defenseman Dante Fabbro (upper body) are week to week after each did not play in a 7-1 win against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday.
Nashville also placed forward Filip Forsberg on injured reserve because of an upper-body injury. He has missed seven games.
Forward Mathieu Olivier will be out 4-6 weeks because of a lower-body injury sustained Thursday.
Nashville also is without defensemen Mark Borowiecki (lower body), Ryan Ellis (upper body), Luca Sbisa (lower body) andAlexandre Carrier (lower body), and forwards Brad Richardson (lower body) and Matt Duchene (lower body).
The Predators host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; BSSO, BSSUN, ESPN+, NHL.TV). — Robby Stanley
Buffalo Sabres
Drake Caggiula was claimed on waivers from the Arizona Coyotes.
The forward has scored seven points (one goal, six assists) and averaged 12:26 of ice time 27 games with Arizona this season. Caggiula played for Sabres coach Don Granato when he was with the Blackhawks in 2018-19.
“He’s got a deep passion and love for the game,” Granato told the Sabres website. “He plays hard, plays a quick game. He can play up and down the lineup, he can penalty kill, he can keep up speed-wise and push the pace with your top players. He just fits anywhere up and down the lineup.”
Caggiula has scored 83 points (42 goals, 41 assists) in 249 regular-season games with the Coyotes, Edmonton Oilers and Chicago Blackhawks, and six points (four goals, two assists) in 21 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
“Teammates love him, I can tell you that,” Granato said. “Coaches love him because he gives you everything he has. And his skill level is a very good skill level, quickness and speed are key attributes.”
Granato isn’t sure when Caggiula will join the team, but expects him to play wing.
“The nice thing with Drake … when I say he’s a hockey player, he plays anywhere in any situation,” Granato said. “He’s ready to jump. He’s competitively ready to go.”
Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche canceled their morning skate as a precaution because one person tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday. That person is in isolation and all other staff and players have tested negative.
Defenseman Bowen Byram was placed on the protocol list Friday.
Colorado is scheduled to play at the Anaheim Ducks (10 p.m. ET; SN, KCOP-13, BSW+, ALT2, NHL.TV).
Montreal Canadiens
Carey Price will be out until next week with a lower-body injury.
The goalie did not play in a 4-2 loss at the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday and will not play at Winnipeg on Saturday. He did not travel for a 3-2 loss at the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday.
“Carey needs a few more days off,” coach Dominique Ducharme said. “He’s been seen by our doctors and he needs some more time. At this point, we think he should be back sometime next week.”
Jake Allen made 23 saves Thursday in his second straight start Thursday with Cayden Primeau as the backup.
Price experienced discomfort during a 3-2 overtime win against the Edmonton Oilers on Monday. He played the entire game before he was looked at by medical staff.
Ducharme said the injury had been lingering prior to Monday and the decision to rest him was partly precautionary.
“It just got a little bit worse,” Ducharme said. “We don’t want to get in a situation where it gets too bad and now he’s missing a long time or so on. We want to be careful with that. That’s the reason why he’s going to get a few games off and we’re confident that somewhere next week he’s going to be back.
“From there? We’ll see. Obviously it’s going to be a balance between playing enough, getting enough rest, practice time, with the schedule we have. We’ll see how he is, how the injury is being managed.”
Montreal hosts Toronto on Monday and the Calgary Flames on Wednesday and Friday. — Sean Farrell
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