Eastern Conference injury updates
Dana Wakiji: Detroit Red Wings defenseman Mike Green and Patrick Nemeth remained out.
Dana Wakiji: Red Wings forward Darren Helm missed last night’s game.
Andrew Gross: The New York Islanders have activated forward Matt Martin from the IR. He’s been out for the past nine games.
Rick Carpiniello: New York Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad practiced (optional) yesterday in a contact jersey. He may travel with the team but not return until he goes through a full practice. It’s not looking like the Rangers will have any full practices before their next three games though.
Sam Carchidi: Philadelphia Flyers forward Nolan Patrick (migraine disorder) is progressing but hasn’t been cleared to play.
Seth Rorabaugh: Pittsburgh Penguins injury updates.
Defenseman Justin Schultz will be out long-term with an undisclosed injury.
Forward Nick Bjugstad will be out for eight weeks after having surgery for a core muscle injury.
Forward Patric Hornqvist returned to the lineup.
Erik Erlendsson: Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper said that Steven Stamkos aggravated a lower-body injury in the first period. He wanted to remain on the bench for the rest of the game so that he could be with his teammates. If he hadn’t sat for so long, he could have went out for a third period power play.
Erik Erlendsson: Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov missed last night’s game with an upper-body injury.
Joe Smith: The Lightning had hoped Kucherov would have felt better yesterday and been able to play. Coach Cooper said they donn’t know if he could be back in the lineup on Saturday.