David Staples of the Edmonton Journal: There have been multiple reports that Oilers Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is progressing well and could be back in the lineup sooner than later. Jason Gregor of TSN 1260 tweeted “RNH to play next Thursday? Had contact today. Week of contact looks highly likely to go vs. Habs, minor chance vs.Devils on Monday.” When he returns, the Oilers lines could look like: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jordan Eberle, David Perron, Taylor Hall, Jesse Joensuu, Nail Yakupov, Mark Arcobello, Ryan Smyth, Ales Hemsky and Boyd Gordon, Mike Brown, Luke Gazdic.
Rob Rossi: Penguins James Neal missed the final five minutes of the first period with an upper-body injury and didn’t come back for the second.
Buffalo Sabres: Sabres Ville Leino has a cracked rib and is out indefinitely.
Helene St. James: Red Wings Daniel Alfredsson (groin) didn’t practice yesterday but expects to play this weekend.
Josh Cooper of the Tennessean: Predators winger Filip Forsberg has a lower-body, he missed last night and will miss their next games as well.
Erik Erlendsson: Lightning’s Sami Salo was a late scratch with an upper-body injury.
