Welcome to the NHL Buzz. The 2022-23 regular season is underway, and NHL.com has you covered with all the latest news.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Ilya Samsonov is week to week for the Maple Leafs after sustaining a knee injury.
The goalie left a 2-1 win against the Boston Bruins on Saturday at the end of the second period after attempting to make a save. Brad Marchand‘s penalty shot goal at 4:59 of the second period.
“He’s feeling pretty good all things considered,” Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said after the morning skate Tuesday. “He was on the ice today to test it out and see how he is. He’s not full-go or anything like that but felt good. He’s not going to be available for us this week. The timeline is uncertain. Call it week to week at this point but the fact he’s on the ice today and feeling good enough to do that is encouraging.”
Samsonov is 6-2-0 with a 2.23 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage in eight games.
Matt Murraywho has missed the past 11 games with an adductor muscle injury, took part in the morning skate on Tuesday and is expected to be a full participant in practice on Wednesday.
Erik Kallgren will start against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday (7 pm ET; TSN4, ATTSN-RM, ESPN+, SN NOW) and Keith Petruzzelli will be the backup.
“Murray got through the skate today,” Keefe said. “A long day for him today, lots for work for the first time being in a practice setting. I’m told physically he feels good. Just continue to monitor that and see how it goes. The plan would be for (Wednesday) for his first full practice, that’s a big milestone for him to get through in his recovery. Physically he feels good and strong, it’s just a matter of building back up and seeing shots and pucks in a practice setting.”
Murray allowed four goals on 23 shots in his only appearance this season, a 4-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Oct. 12. — Dave McCarthy
Vancouver Canucks
Brock Boeser will return to the lineup for the Canucks against the Ottawa Senators (7 pm ET; RDs2, TSN5, SNP, ESPN+, SN NOW) after missing the past six games with a hand injury.
The forward was supposed to miss 3-4 weeks after surgery on Sept. 26 but returned ahead of schedule to play the season-opening game on Oct. 12. He had four assists in six games before coming out of the lineup on Oct. 24 and being placed on injured reserve two days later with what was listed as an undisclosed injury.
Boeser will play right wing on the first line alongside left winger Tanner Pearson and center JT Miller.
Boeser previously said he was “pretty hopeful” to play this past Saturday against the Nashville Predators, but was not in the lineup.
Boeser had 46 points (23 goals, 23 assists) in 71 games last season.
Buffalo Sabres
Rasmus Dahlin and Ilya Lyubushkin will return to the lineup for the Sabers against the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday (7 pm ET; MSG-B, BSAZ, ESPN+, SN NOW).
Dahlin, a defenseman, was a late scratch prior to a 5-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday with an upper-body injury. He is tied for the Sabers lead in points with 15 (seven goals, eight assists).
“After the game (against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday), I was kind of feeling a little bit off so I took the sure before the uncertain,” Dahlin said Tuesday. “When it comes to the head, you’ve got to be careful. I’m all good now and I’m ready to go.”
Lyubushkin, a defenseman, did not take part in the morning skate but will play. He has one assist in seven games.
“It’s really nice to have both of those guys back in the lineup,” Sabers coach Don Granato said. “I don’t know when the last time we had them both back in with ‘Boosh’ being out. Could have been two games ago for all I know, but it just seems like a while.” –Heather Engel
Florida Panthers
Aaron Ekblad is expected to return to the lineup for the Panthers against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.
The defenseman, who was placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury on Oct. 19, will miss his 11th straight game against the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday.
Ekblad left in the second period of a 5-3 loss to the Boston Bruins on Oct. 17. He has one goal in three games this season and 292 points (98 goals, 194 assists) in 557 regular-season games since the Panthers chose him with the No. 1 pick in the 2014 NHL Draft.
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