Welcome to NHL Buzz. NHL.com has all the latest news.
toronto maple leafs
Morgan Rielly is scheduled to return to the lineup when the Maple Leafs host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET, TVAS, SN, BSSN).
The defenseman suffered an upper-body injury in a 2-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on March 24 and had missed the past four games. He has 51 points (7 goals, 44 assists) in 65 games this season.
“I feel good,” Riley said Tuesday. “Right now it’s just one day at a time so we’ll see how it goes tomorrow. But I feel good. It’s not a big deal and it’s nothing I really want to work on. We’ll see if we’re fit for the playoffs. only.”
Rielly was paired with Ilya Lyubushkin for Wednesday morning’s skate.
Forward Mitch Marner is likely to return this weekend. He has missed 11 games with an ankle sprain. Marner had 76 points (25 goals, 51 assists) in 62 games.
“I haven’t had a chance to talk to him here yet since he’s come off the ice, but just to get a feel for it with him and talk about it, we’ll probably make it a goal for the weekend,” Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. He said this.
Toronto (43-22-9) can qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs with just one point on Wednesday. — Dave McCarthy
vegas golden knights
Tomas Hertl could make his Golden Knights debut Friday against the Arizona Coyotes.
The 30-year-old forward, who continues to skate by himself, has not played since Jan. 27 and opted to undergo surgery on Feb. 12 to remove free cartilage in his left knee. He said he hopes to do so on March 11th. He will be back on the ice in Las Vegas in two weeks.
Hartl practiced with the Golden Knights in their regular white jersey for the first time on Tuesday, but did not play in the 6-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks.
“I don’t know the answer (when to play),” Cassidy said. “I’m not saying no (until Friday) because he’s full. If he doesn’t play, I don’t know if he’s going to travel or if they want him to go. It’s full contact again. Next steps. is to play, so that’s what I will do.”I haven’t ruled out taking him out or putting him in on Friday, but he’s progressing.”
The Golden Knights (42-25-8) are in third place in the Pacific Division, five points behind the Los Angeles Kings.
“It’s important [Hertl] “Just to avoid my teammates and that kind of environment,” Cassidy said after Monday’s practice. “He was out here skating by himself for a little bit while we were gone. He started interacting and seeing what it was like and how we were practicing. I think that’s great. … This is good for him and obviously he’s getting closer.”
Hartl, who was injured with the San Jose Sharks, was acquired by Vegas before the 2024 NHL trade deadline on March 8 for forward David Edstrom and a 2025 NHL Draft first-round pick. The Golden Knights also received third-round picks in the 2025 and 2027 NHL Drafts in the deal.
Hertl, who has 34 points (15 goals and 19 assists) in 48 games this season, has six seasons remaining on an eight-year contract he signed with San Jose on March 16, 2022. He had to waive his no-transfer clause in 2022. He is ordered to be acquired by Las Vegas. — Paul Delos Santos
winnipeg jets
Nino Niederreiter will be sidelined for about a week due to a deep cut on his lower leg.
The forward left the game in the third period of Monday’s 4-3 win against the Kings.
“It’s a pretty deep wound. If it was deeper, it could have been much worse,” Jets coach Rick Bowness said after Wednesday’s practice. “Those (Kevlar) socks probably saved him. The blades are very sharp today. I think all players should wear wristbands as well.”
Niederreiter played in 75 games this season, scoring 33 points (18 goals, 15 assists).
Winnipeg (45-24-6), third in the Central Division, concludes its five-game homestand Thursday against the Calgary Flames.
Forward Tyler Toffoli, who missed Monday’s game with an illness, will fill in for Niederreiter on the third line along with Adam Lowry and Mason Appleton.
“[Toffoli] He plays a lot on the left wing and has scored 30 goals. [so] Let’s see how it goes,” Bowness said. — Darin Bauming
dallas stars
Chris Tanev is expected to play when the Stars host the Edmonton Oilers at American Airlines Center on Wednesday (9:30 p.m. ET, MAX, truTV, TNT, SNW, SN360).
The defenseman appeared to be seriously injured when he crashed into the boards on a hit from Seattle Kraken defenseman Adam Larson during the third period of Saturday’s 3-0 win.
“It was a nasty hit. It was a strange movement going into the board like that,” Tanev said after Tuesday’s practice. If I can go out and play and help the team, I will. ”
Tanev has a goal and an assist in 12 games with Dallas since being acquired in a three-way trade between the Flames and New Jersey Devils on February 28.
“If you listen to the players talk about him when he played in Calgary, everyone praised his courage and endurance. Playing through pain and blocked shots and doing whatever it takes. His drive,” Stars coach Pete DeBoer said. “Most players wouldn’t have been able to come back for that game. He not only came back, he came back and played. Most players wouldn’t have been here at practice today, but he practiced. A player who’s here, first in, last out. That’s great leadership.”
Dallas (47 wins, 19 losses, 9 draws) is in first place in the Central Division with a three-point lead over the Colorado Avalanche. — Taylor Baird
minnesota wild
Marcus Foligno will miss the remainder of the Wild’s regular season after undergoing core surgery on Tuesday.
The 32-year-old forward has not played since March 23, but is expected to be ready by the start of training camp in September.
Foligno played in 55 games for Minnesota (36-29-9) this season, recording 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists) and joining the Kings in the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference to advance to the playoffs. The difference was 6 points.
washington capitals
TJ Oshie did not participate in Wednesday’s optional practice after missing Tuesday’s game against the Buffalo Sabres, which went 2-6 with an upper body injury.
Capitals coach Spencer Carberry did not provide an update on the forward, who has 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists) in 47 games. Oshie played 19 minutes, 07 seconds in Saturday’s 3-2 shootout loss to the Boston Bruins.
With Oshie absent on Tuesday, Nicolas Aube-Coubert was added to the lineup.
Rasmus Sandin played on Saturday after suffering a lower-body injury late in the game.
The defenseman has 23 points (3 goals, 20 assists) in 65 games and averages 21:19 on ice, second on the team behind defenseman John Carlson (25:43). — Heather Engel
