- Jeremy Rutherford of hte St. Louis Post Dispatch: Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk (abdominal surgery) is starting to take some contact.
“That’s kind of my next gauging point and hurdle, I guess, to see how I can handle one-on-ones in the corners,” Shattenkirk said. “I did it about a week or 10 days ago and definitely was not ready for it. Yesterday I felt better and held up a little longer, which was nice.”
He won’t play in any of their next three road games.
- Mark Stepneski of Stars.NHL: It will be up to Stars Valeri Nichushkin (hip) as to when he returns.
“It’s his timetable now, when he feels good enough,” Ruff said. “We thought we had him close a few days ago, but with the harder practices he was starting to feel sore. Kind of backed off a little bit. He’s skating really well. It’s just when it reaches that point when that point when he feels he is going to be good enough to play.”
Travis Moen (upper-body) practiced yesterday. He’s missed the past 14 games. Defenseman Trevor Daley (lower-body) is progressing. He’s missed the past seven games.
- Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch: Boone Jenner and Jeremy Morin have been activated from the IR. Alexander Wennberg suffered a cut that required stitches, which has now become infected.
- Joe Smith: Lightning’s Cedric Paquette said he’s feeling better. He hopes to get clearance for contact in the next couple days and hopes to be able to return next week.
- Steve Zipay: Rangers Kevin Klein (broken left forearm) has been doing lower-body workouts and figures to be about two weeks away from returning.
- Joe Yerdon: With the Sabres returning Chad Ruhwedel to the AHL, has to mean that Zach Bogosian is close to returning to the lineup.
- Jon Rosen: The Kings have activated Alec Martinez from the IR.
- Michael Russo: Sounding like Ryan Carter is a possibility for Tuesday.
- Tom Gulitti: Devils GM Lou Lamoriello said that Patrik Elias (back spasms) skated on his own yesterday and they’ll see today if he’s ready to go.
- Rich Chere: Lamoriello said that Mike Cammalleri remained at the hotel yesterday as he still “didn’t feel any better.”