On the Lightning …
- Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times: Lightning’s Victor Hedman left five minutes into the second period after his head hit hard off the boards from hit by Jamie Benn. Hedman was able to skate off under his own power, but did not return. Hedman went through the concussion protocol, and coach Jon Cooper said he was “okay.” Cooper added that more will be known today.
“It’s a big loss to our team, but that’s an obvious statement,” center Brian Boyle said. “We’re concerned for his well-being. We want him to recover so he can get healthy, especially with what the injury might be.”
Nikita Nesterov was assessed a five minute boarding penalty for his hit on Stars Curtis McKenzie. McKenzie was taken to the hospital in “excruciating pain,” with a lower body injury according to Stars coach Lindy Ruff.
- Erik Erlendsson: Lightning’s Alex Killorn is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. He has apparently been bother by a shoulder injury.
On the Sharks …
- Curtis Pashelka of the San Jose Mercury News: Sharks Logan Couture was helped of the ice during practice and left the arena on crutches with a protective boot on his right foot and ankle. More details of the injury will be known this morning.
“I don’t jump to any conclusions,” Wilson said Thursday afternoon. “I’ll let the doctors do their work, and they’ll do a proper evaluation.”
On the Capitals …
- Isabelle Khurshudyan: Capitals coach Barry Trotz said that Nicklas Backstrom playing on Saturday against the Hurricanes is possible.
On the Flames …
- Roger Millions: Flames Lance Bouma had surgery on his broken fibula. They inserted a plate and six screws.
On the Coyotes …
- Sarah McLellan: Coyotes coach Dave Tippett said that Antoine Vermette is day-to-day: “I don’t think it’s too serious.”
On the Red Wings …
- Gregg Krupa: Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said that Darren Helm took a step back yesterday. He’s ruled out for Friday, but not Saturday.
- Ansar Khan of MLive: Johan Franzen suffered another set back and his future could be in doubt.
“He’s had a return of some of the headaches, some of the symptoms that he’s had in the past,” coach Jeff Blashill said Thursday.
Franzen hasn’t skated in two days, has been placed on the IR and is out for at least seven days.
“I think right now, we don’t know what the future’s going to hold,” Blashill said. “We’re focused on the 20 guys we’re going to have dressed tomorrow night.
“Obviously, we want him to get well, but again I don’t know what that means, I don’t know what the future holds with that.”
On the Penguins …
- Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Penguins Beau Bennett missed last night with an undisclosed injury.
“He’s going to be further evaluated like any other injury after a game,” coach Mike Johnston said. “He was evaluated yesterday and today, and (hopefully we’ll) start to get some news on how long that injury may be.”
