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.
Petersen is in the first season of a three-year, $15 million contract extension he signed Sept. 22, 2021.
Los Angeles is 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 1-2-3 in their past six games. They have allowed four or more goals 12 times (3-8-1) in 25 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
Detroit Red Wings
Tyler Bertuzzi was placed on injured reserve Thursday with an undisclosed injury. The forward left a 5-4 shootout loss to the Buffalo Sabers on Wednesday late in the third period after being hit on the left hand with a shot.
Bertuzzi, who has four points (one goal, three assists) in nine games this season, will be out for a minimum of one week. He missed 13 games earlier this season after breaking his right hand in a game against the Devils on Oct. 15.
Detroit recalled forward Austin Czarnik from Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League. He has one goal in four games for the Red Wings this season.
Detroit (11-6-5) hosts Vegas on Saturday.
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.
Minnesota Wild
Jonas Brodin did not play for the Wild against the Oilers on Thursday because of a lower-body injury.
The defenseman had an assist and three blocked shots in 17:57 of ice time in a 4-3 win against the Coyotes on Sunday.
“It’s not as bad I guess as we anticipated, but he will not play in tonight’s game,” Minnesota coach Dean Evason said Thursday. “The plan is to bring him on the road though, so that’s positive.”
After Thursday, the Wild next host the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday before starting a four-game road trip at the Dallas Stars on Sunday.
Brodin leads Minnesota in average ice time (22:00) and has four assists in 19 games this season.
Defenseman Andrej Sustr was recalled from Iowa of the AHL on Thursday but was a healthy scratch against the Oilers. — Jessie Pierce
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.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Patrick Laine could return from injury Friday when the Blue Jackets play at the Winnipeg Jets.
The forward injured his ankle Nov. 12 against the Islanders and has missed the past seven games. He was removed from injured reserve Thursday.
“He got in a good practice. He’s feeling better,” Columbus coach Brad Larsen said Wednesday. “We’ve got another good practice for tomorrow and then we’ll make that decision on him in Winnipeg.”
Laine said he was not targeting the return to Winnipeg, where he played from the 2016-17 season until being traded to the Blue Jackets on Jan. 23, 2021.
“It doesn’t matter if we’re going to Buffalo, I’d still want to play,” he said. “It doesn’t matter where it is, who we’re playing against, I still want to play.”
Laine, who also missed six games since Oct. 14-23 with an elbow injury, has four points (two goals, two assists) in eight games.
“I had a really good summer and camp and preseason,” he said. “Then I was out a couple or three weeks early in the season, so it’s definitely frustrating.” — Craig Merz
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