Welcome to the NHL Buzz. The 2022-23 regular season is underway, and NHL.com has you covered with all the latest news.
Washington Capitals
Tom Wilson participated in the Capitals morning skate before their game against the Seattle Kraken on Friday (7 pm ET; NBCSWA+, ROOT-NW, ESPN+, SN NOW) wearing a non-contact jersey.
It was the first time the forward practiced since having surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on May 24.
Forward Nicklas Backstromwho is recovering from resurfacing surgery on his left hip June 17, also skated in a non-contact jersey.
Backstrom had skated with the Capitals twice prior to their recently completed six-game road trip. Backstrom and Wilson skated on their own while the team was away.
“This is the next step,” Capitals coach Peter Laviolette said. “We’ve been gone for a while, so we come home and see where the guys have progressed and a lot of good work with (strength and conditioning coach) Mark Nemish here, both off ice and on ice, and this is the next step of progression. So it’s really good to have them out there.”
Defenseman Dmitry Orlov was a full participant in the morning skate but remains day to day and will miss his 16th straight game because of a lower-body injury. Neither goalie Darcy Kuemper (upper body) nor defenseman Martin Fehervary (upper body) skated Friday. — Tom Gullitti
Chicago Blackhawks
Jonathan Toews will be in the lineup when the Blackhawks play the Winnipeg Jets at United Center on Friday (8:30 pm ET; NBCSCH, TSN3, ESPN+, SN NOW).
The forward missed a 3-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday because of an illness. Forward Lukas Reichel was recalled from Rockford of the American Hockey League and played 13:58. He was sent back to the AHL on Wednesday.
Toews practiced with the Blackhawks on Thursday and skated Friday after the team took the day off Wednesday.
“He seemed better, especially after two days,” Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson said Thursday. “Lot better and obviously eating and getting some rest at home [Wednesday] was key. He said he felt much better before practice, going out there.”
Toews is third on the Blackhawks with 14 points (eight goals, six assists) and leads the NHL with a 64.2 face-off winning percentage (minimum 150 face-offs) in 24 games. — Tracey Myers
Seattle Kraken
Jaden Schwartz will be out of the lineup when the Kraken open a four-game road trip at the Washington Capitals (7 pm ET; NBCSWA+, ROOT-NW, ESPN+, SN NOW).
“He’s out day to day,” coach Dave Hakstol said. “Upper body. Won’t play tonight.”
Schwartz has 15 points (eight goals, seven assists) in 25 games and has been skating on the top line with Andrey Burakovsky and Alex Wennberg.
Oliver Bjorkstrand will start in Schwartz’s spot.
“I know how to play with them. Started the season so pretty familiar with them,” Bjorkstrand said. “Anybody I play with I try to make the best of it. When you play with those guys maybe you [get] a little more ice time, a little more opportunity, so take advantage of it.”
Bjorkstrand has 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) in 25 games. — Harvey Valentine
Carolina Hurricanes
Sebastian Aho won’t play against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on Saturday (7:30 pm ET; MSGSN, BSSO, ESPN+, SN NOW) after the forward missed practice for the second straight day due to a lower-body injury.
“We weren’t sure today if he was going to be able to go,” coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “He’s not, so he won’t play.”
Brind’Amour said Aho is day to day and believes it will be a short-term injury absence.
Forward Jesper Fast is doubtful to play Saturday because of an undisclosed injury.
Aho is second on the Hurricanes with 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists) in 26 games this season; forward Martin Necas leads with 28 (12 goals, 16 assists). Fast has eight points (two goals, six assists) in 26 games.
Frederik Andersen practiced for the second straight day since the goalie sustained a lower-body injury Nov. 6. He has missed 14 games.
“It’s a good sign,” Brind’Amour said Thursday. “I was happy to see him out there. Obviously still sharing a net kind of thing; that’s his first practice with us. He’s been out for a long time. Not close to playing, but at least we’re taking the right steps. “
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