Nashville Predators
Ryan McDonagh is out 2-4 weeks with an upper-body injury.
The defenseman was placed on injured reserve by the Predators on Monday. He was struck in the face by a puck during a 4-1 win at the New York Islanders on Friday. He has six assists this season, his first with Nashville after he was acquired in a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning on July 3.
Defenseman Jordan Gross was recalled from Milwaukee of the American Hockey League.
The Predators are off until visiting the Lightning on Thursday.
Vegas Golden Knights
Jack Eichel is a game-time decision for the Golden Knights against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden (7 pm ET; TVAS, NESN, ATTSN-RM, ESPN+, SN NOW).
The center was on the ice for the morning skate. He left in the third period of a 4-1 win at the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday with an apparent lower-body injury. He scored 1:04 into the game.
“He went out, didn’t feel great, so we’ll give him the 6-7 hours, but we’ve got a Plan B, obviously, if he can’t go,” Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said. “We finished the game in Detroit, played well when he was out. If he can’t, someone else will get an opportunity to play in his spot, so to speak. Next man up. Teams go through it. We’re going through it now. I think we’ll be fine.”
Eichel was at TD Garden on Sunday getting treatment, Cassidy said. He has 29 points (13 goals, 16 assists) in 26 games. The native of North Chelmsford, Massachusetts, has not played in Boston since Dec. 29, 2019, when he was with the Buffalo Sabres.
Defenseman Alex Pietrangelo will not play against the Bruins. He has missed the past three games for personal reasons. — Amalie Benjamin
Pittsburgh Penguins
Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin could each be a game-time decision with an illness for the Penguins against the Columbus Blue Jackets at PPG Paints Arena on Tuesday (7 pm ET; TVAS, ATTSN-PT, BSOH, ESPN+, SN NOW).
Pittsburgh’s top two centers did not practice Monday following a day off Sunday. Backup goalie Casey DeSmith was also absent with an illness.
“I’m not sure how they’ll be. Hopefully, they’ll feel better tomorrow,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “Obviously, they weren’t feeling well today. We felt it was best to keep them away from the rink. We’ll see how they feel in the morning.”
Danton Heinena healthy scratch the past three games, replaced Crosby at first-line center with left wing Jake Guentzel and right wing Rickard Rakell. Teddy Blueger moved from the fourth line to the second, taking Malkin’s spot with left wing Jason Zucker and right wing Bryan Rust.
Crosby leads Pittsburgh with 33 points (13 goals, 20 assists) in 25 games, and the NHL in even-strength points with 28 (12 goals, 16 assists). Malkin’s 24 points (eight goals, 16 assists) are tied with Guentzel for second on the Penguins.
Defenseman Kris Letang skated forward Ryan Poehling, who is day to day with an upper-body injury, for about 45 minutes before practice. Letang has not been cleared for any hockey-related activity after having a stroke Nov. 28. — Wes Crosby
Colorado Avalanche
Forwards Arthur Lehkonen (upper body) and Jean-Luc Foudy (lower body) will not play against the Philadelphia Flyers (7 pm ET; NBCSP, ALT, ESPN+, SN NOW).
Lehkonen was injured during the first period of the Avalanche’s 5-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Saturday and is day to day.
Foudy came out briefly during the morning skate and is also day to day.
Lehkonen is fourth on the Avalanche with 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists) in 22 games.
“We’re going to miss him,” coach Jared Bednar said. “Obviously missed him last game. But it just is what it is. Hopefully he’s back sooner rather than later.”
Foudy, who was called up from Colorado of the American Hockey League on Nov. 28 and made his NHL debut the next day, did not have a point in three games.
They join a crowded Avalanche injury list that includes forwards Valery Nichushkin (ankle), Evan Rodrigues (lower body), Shane Bowers (upper body), and defensemen Josh Manson (lower body), Bowen Byram (lower body) and Kurtis McDermid (lower body). In addition, forwards Gabriel Landeskog (knee) and Darren Helm (hip) have yet to play this season with each recovering from offseason surgery.
“It takes a little bit more from everyone involved when you’re down a bunch of guys, so staying mentally tough and sort of letting the positivity shine through I think is really important,” Bednar said.
Forward Charles Hudson, who was recalled from the AHL on Sunday, will play his first NHL game since March 10, 2020, with the Montreal Canadiens. He had 16 points (eight goals, eight assists) in 20 AHL games this season. –– Adam Kimelman
Ottawa Senators
Artem Zub is out at least three weeks with a broken jaw.
Senators coach DJ Smith said the defenseman sustained a “small fracture” after taking a puck to the face in a 3-2 overtime win against the New York Rangers on Friday.
The 27-year-old is averaging 22:01 of ice time per game, second on the Senators behind his defense partner. Thomas Chabot (26:08).
“He plays a lot of minutes, plays against really good players,” Smith said. “Obviously, our record hasn’t been great without him. Other guys are going to have to step up and be better. Our forwards are going to have to hold onto pucks in the [offensive] zone a lot longer to take pressure off of the [defense]”
Ottawa (10-13-1) is 3-6-1 without Zub in the lineup. He has four points (two goals, two assists) and is minus-1 in 14 games.
“You’ll have to play on, clearly, but it’s not ideal losing a guy like him,” Smith said. “But we’ve said it before: Other teams go through injuries, you have no choice, you have to find a way to win.”
Nikita Zaitsev will play on the first pair with Chabot. Zaitsev was recalled from Belleville of the American Hockey League on Dec. 1, three weeks after being waived and demoted by the Senators. Smith said Zaitsev got some “mental reprieve” playing in Belleville. — Callum Fraser
Tampa Bay Lightning
Haydn Fleury is day to day for the Lightning with an upper-body injury.
The defenseman has one assist in 13 games. He was signed to a two-year contract ($762,500 average annual value) by Tampa Bay on July 13.
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