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NHL Buzz: Laine to return for Blue Jackets against Jets

Columbus Blue Jackets

Patrick Laine will return from injury when the Blue Jackets play at the Winnipeg Jets on Friday (8 pm ET; TSN3, BSOH, ESPN+, SN NOW).

The forward injured his ankle Nov. 12 against the Islanders and missed seven games. He was removed from injured reserve Thursday.

Laine, who also missed six games since Oct. 14-23 with an elbow injury, has four points (two goals, two assists) in eight games.

“It’s definitely frustrating for me, but crying about it is not going to help,” Laine told the Blue Jackets website on Friday. “I just have to work myself back. I’m happy to be playing tonight and get back into rhythm and hopefully have a good rest of the season.” — Craig Merz

Toronto Maple Leafs

Calle Jarnkrok will miss at least two weeks for the Maple Leafs with a groin injury.

The forward was injured in a 3-1 win against the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday. He played 9:04 before leaving in the second period and not returning.

“He’s going to be at least two weeks and we’ll kind of take it from there,” coach Sheldon Keefe said. “He won’t travel with us here, we’ll see where he is once we return and that will give us a better sense maybe of what it looks like beyond that.”

Toronto begins a two-game road trip against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday (7 pm ET; NHLN, SN, BSSUN, SN NOW) and continues at the Dallas Stars on Tuesday.

Jarnkrok has nine points (five goals, four assists) in 25 games this season.

TJ Brodie will travel with the Maple Leafs on the road trip but is not expected to play. The defenseman has missed the past 10 games with an oblique injury.

“He’s progressing well,” Keefe said. “Not necessarily expecting him to play on this trip but we do have a practice day in Dallas and obviously morning skates, I think we will see him more involved in regular team activities.”

Brodie has two assists in 15 games this season. — Dave McCarthy

Los Angeles Kings

Cal Petersen was loaned to Ontario of the American Hockey League on Thursday after clearing waivers.

The 28-year-old goalie is 5-3-2 with a 3.75 goals-against average and .868 save percentage in 10 games (nine starts) this season. He allowed four goals on 16 shots in a 9-8 overtime loss to the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday after replacing Jonathan Quick in the second period.

“I think the idea here is Cal can go down to the American League and play in games and get that structure that we believe in, and come back up and help us,” Kings general manager Rob Blake said.

Pheonix Copley was recalled from the AHL and served as Quick’s backup against the Arizona Coyotes. Quick made 18 saves in a 5-3 win.

Petersen is in the first season of a three-year, $15 million contract extension he signed Sept. 22, 2021.

Los Angeles entered Thursday 27th in the NHL in goals-against average (3.60) and last in save percentage (.879).

“It’s obviously a sign or a signal of performance,” coach Todd McLellan said. “And one guy bears the brunt of it, and he plays a big part in it, but we’re all responsible for goals-against average and save percentage. And we haven’t done a sufficient enough job of protecting our goaltenders and helping them up. You can’t play perfect and they have to make a big save every now and then, but we still can do a better job of insulating them.”

The Kings are 2-2-3 in their past seven games. They have allowed four or more goals 12 times (3-8-1) in 26 games this season.

Petersen allowed at least three goals in nine of his 10 games.

“I felt sorry for him because, you know, maybe he hasn’t performed to the best of his ability, and he would probably be the first to say that,” defenseman Drew Doughty said. “But at the same time, we haven’t played well in front of him. … And, yeah, it was a little shocking, but I have full confidence that Cal is going to play well when he gets down there and when he comes back, he’s going to really help us.” — Dan Greenspan

Montreal Canadiens

Brendan Gallagher did not play for the Canadiens against the Calgary Flames on Thursday because of a lower-body injury.

The forward remains day to day with the team on its road trip, which continues at the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday, the Vancouver Canucks on Monday and the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday.

Gallagher has eight points (three goals, five assists) in 22 games this season.

Vegas Golden Knights

Alex Pietrangelo did not play for the Golden Knights in a 4-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday.

The defenseman also missed a 3-2 shootout win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday due to personal reasons, but could return at the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.

Pietrangelo leads Vegas in time on ice per game (23:39) and assists (18) and is second in points (21) behind Jack Eichel (28).

New York Islanders

Kyle Palmieri was placed on injured reserve Thursday, retroactive to Nov. 21, because of an undisclosed injury.

The forward has missed the past four games and has nine points (six goals, three assists) in 20 games this season.

Forward Cal Clutterbuck is day to day with an upper-body injury sustained in a 3-1 loss to the Flyers on Tuesday. He has three points (two goals, one assist) in 22 games this season and is fifth in the NHL in hits (85).

Forwards Cole Bardreau and Hudson Fasching were recalled from Bridgeport of the AHL on Thursday. Bardreau hasn’t played in the NHL since 2019-20; Fasching played 11 games with the Coyotes last season.

The Islanders host the Nashville Predators on Friday (7:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU).

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