On the Tampa Bay Lightning …
Joe Smith: Coach Jon Cooper didn’t have an update on Ben Bishop‘s injury. He will be re-evaluated and they are hoping it’s a short-term thing.
Joe Smith: Nitika Kucherov hasn’t been on the ice since last Wednesday. Ryan Callahan skated with the team twice last week, and with Ondrej Palat on Saturday.
Joe Smith: There is no timeline on Kucherov, Callahan and Palat: “I would have thought some of those guys would be back now. Rest is what these guys need.”
On the Detroit Red Wings …
Helene St. James: Jimmy Howard had to be helped off ice, dragging his right leg after Erik Condra and Nick Jensen fell on him.
Ted Kulfan: Coach Jeff Blashill said that Jimmy Howard won’t be able to go on Friday. Blashill would’t say how long Howard could be out for.
Helene St. James: Blashill thinks that Justin Abdelkader, Brendan Smith, Darren Helm and Alexey Marchenko could be ready to return after Christmas.
On the Montreal Canadiens …
Renaud Lavoie: Defenseman Andrei Markov could return by the end of the week.
On the Toronto Maple Leafs …
James Mirtle: Forwards Tyler Bozak and Ben Smith won’t play in the Leafs next two games.
On the Washington Capitals …
Tom Gulitti: John Carlsson (illness) should be okay to play tonight against the Flyers.
On the Ottawa Senators …
Bruce Garrioch: Andrew Hammond didn’t practice yesterday and they’ve recalled Matt O’Connor.
On the New York Rangers …
Larry Brooks of NY Post: Forward Rick Nash will miss the next three games with a groin injury.
“He obviously won’t play the next two and since we’re back from Christmas with a morning skate, it’s safe to say Rick probably won’t play in the next three,” coach Alain Vigneault said before Nash missed Tuesday night’s 7-2 thumping by the Penguins. “After that, it will be day to day, where we see how he reacts to treatment.”
Forward Pavel Buchnevich skated for the first time since December 5th. He’s been out with back and core issues.
Mika Zibanejad broke his femur on November 20th and is targeting mid-January.
On the Chicago Blackhawks …
Chicago Blackhawks: The Blackhawks activated Corey Crawford from the IR and reassigned Lars Johansson.
Tracey Myers: Crawford is a possibility for Friday according to coach Joel Quenneville. Artem Anisimov could also return on Friday.
On the St. Louis Blues …
Jeremy Rutherford: Coach Ken Hitchcock said Paul Stastny missed the last part of last night’s game with an upper-body injury. He is listed as day-to-day.