- Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times: Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov left last night’s game in the first period with a lower-body injury. He was hit hard by Stars winger Remi Elie.
- Tracey Myers of CSN Chicago: Blackhawks Artemi Panarin has been out with an upper-body injury. He practiced yesterday and could be play in the Blackhawks final preseason game.
- Randy Sportak of the Calgary Sun: Flames Joe Colborne had offseason wrist surgery, and is now dealing with an issue with his other hand after blocking a shot from Andrew Ladd.
“He’s gonna be re-evaluated by our medical staff (Friday). At this point, I have no more updates,” head coach Bob Hartley said.
- Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press: Red Wings Danny DeKeyser is awaiting results on his injured lower left leg. DeKeyser was injured during the third period of Wednesday’s game. Kyle Quincey is questionable with a lower-body injury for their weekend games, and Teemu Pulkkinen is doubtful with an upper-body injury. Mike Green has missed a few games with a groin issue. Pavel Datsyuk won’t be back until early November. Darren Helm hasn’t started skating yet after suffering a concussion and a separated shoulder.
- Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: Senators Andrew Hammond wasn’t able to make his start last night as he suffered a groin injury at their morning skate. Matt O’Connor was recalled.
“Hammond isn’t going. He tweaked a groin,” said Cameron Thursday morning. “Tweaked groin is all I know. I have no time limit on it. I don’t know (how long he is out). I haven’t talked to anybody. I got the information relayed to me.”
- DJ Bean: Zdeno Chara skated before Bruins practice yesterday.
- Rich Chere of NJ.com: Devils Patrik Elias will be put on the IR and will miss the start of the season.
“Elias is still in the same situation right now. No progress. Indefinite right now,” Hynes said.
Tom Gulitti: Devils coach John Hynes on Kyle Palmieri’s injury: “It will be a day-to-day, touch-and-go type of thing, but it’s nothing too serious right now.”
- Brian Compton: Islanders coach Jack Capuano when asked if there is any concern that goalie Jaroslav Halak won’t be ready for next Friday: “Don’t know yet.”
- Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post: Capitals Nicklas Backstrom practiced with the team yesterday in a non-contract jersey. There is no timetable for his return.
“He won’t start the season,” Trotz said. “I know that for sure. I wouldn’t think that’d he’d play through those first four games.”
- Lisa Dillman of the LA Times: Kings defenseman Jake Muzzin is optimistic that he’ll be ready for their season opener. Matt Green is out with an upper-body injury and hasn’t resumed skating yet.
“The only concern with those two guys being hurt is it’s one thing to be ready, it’s another not to have training camp,” Kings Coach Darryl Sutter said. “Greener and Muzz have played five and 10 minutes … no, Muzz has played in two games. He played in Anaheim.
“Greener’s played a grand total of 10 minutes, so we’re stretching there.”