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NHL Buzz: Toews returns for Avalanche, Carlo back in Bruins lineup

Colorado Avalanche

Devon Toews will return to the lineup for the Avalanche against the New York Rangers on Tuesday (8 pm ET; ESPN, ESPN+, SN NOW).

The defenseman, who took part in the morning skate, had missed the past two games with an undisclosed injury. He has three assists in four games this season.

“He’ll play tonight,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “Kind of got that feeling the other night. Couldn’t go against Seattle (on Friday), tried it in warmups against Vegas (on Saturday), but now the couple of days off did him some good, so he’ll play tonight “

Toews had NHL career highs in goals (13), assists (44) and points (57) last season and led NHL defensemen with a plus-52 rating.

Toews will replace Jacob MacDonald in the lineup. MacDonald had 10:52 of ice time in a 3-1 win against the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday. — David Satriano

Boston Bruins

Brandon Carlo will return to the lineup for the Bruins against the Dallas Stars at TD Garden on Tuesday (7 pm ET; SNE, SNO, SNP, TVAS, NESN, BSSW, ESPN+, SN NOW) after missing four games with a concussion.

The defenseman sustained the injury in Boston’s 6-3 win against the Arizona Coyotes on Oct. 15. After returning to practice in a non-contact jersey on Saturday, Carlo progressed to full participation on Monday.

“[Carlo’s] full-go, we’re ready to go,” Montgomery said Tuesday. “Met with him this morning. Yesterday was a pretty rigorous practice, and he felt great today.”

Carlo had 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in 79 games in 2021-22. Through two games this season, he has no points, with six hits and three blocked shots.

Carlo is expected to replace Jakub Zboril on Boston’s third pair with Mike Reilly.

“He’s a good hockey player, we need him in our lineup. Makes us better,” Montgomery said.

After Matt Grzelcyk‘s season debut on Thursday following offseason shoulder surgery, Boston is awaiting top-pair defenseman Charlie McAvoy‘s (shoulder) return for their defensive corps to reach full strength. — Joseph Pohoryles

Philadelphia Flyers

James van Riemsdyk will have surgery Friday to repair a broken finger and is out indefinitely.

The forward was injured blocking a shot by the San Jose Sharks forward Kevin Labanc with 6:26 remaining in the first period of the Flyers’ 3-0 loss Sunday.

“We’ll find out more after surgery,” coach John Tortorella said.

The Flyers could have forward Owen Tippett and defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen in the lineup against the Florida Panthers on Thursday after each practice Tuesday.

Tippett has been out five games because of a concussion sustained Oct. 13. He skated at right wing on a line with left wing Noah Cates and center Scott Laughton.

“Want to get ‘Tip’ right into it,” Tortorella said. “I think Tip was playing very well. He’s only played a few minutes but I think his [training] The camp was going in the right direction. Want to get him in a top six-type situation. That’s what went into the lines.”

Ristolainen has not played this season because of a lower-body injury.

“Risto went through the whole practice,” Tortorella said. “I haven’t talked to the trainer since the practice has been over. His hip feels great, he just has to pass the protocol. … I would think if he gets through a couple days of practice here without any problems I would figure he’ll be in the lineup [Thursday]” — Adam Kimelman

St. Louis Blues

Pavel Buchnevich was placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury.

The forward hasn’t played since getting one goal and one assist for the Blues in their season-opening 5-2 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Oct. 15. He has 78 points (31 goals, 47 assists) in 74 regular-season games since he was traded to St. Louis by the New York Rangers on July 23, 2021.

“He’s getting looked at again today and reevaluated today just to try and speed up the process here a little bit,” coach Craig Berube said. “It’s not serious, but it’s aggravating so it’s keeping him out of the lineup.”

Berube also said Brandon Saadwho did not play Monday in a 4-0 loss against the Winnipeg Jets with an upper-body injury and did not practice Tuesday, is day to day.

Forward Tyler Pitlick signed a one-year, $750,000 contract. The 30-year-old was with the Blues on a professional tryout contract in training camp. He had five points (one goal, four assists) in 39 games for the Calgary Flames and Montreal Canadiens last season.

“Good to have a job and go from there, looking forward to getting in and playing. It should be good,” Pitlick said. “It’s just been going on for a while with the extra time here so yeah, it’s a little nerve wracking and you never know if it’s going to happen until you actually sign your name on the paper, so it’s a relief and excited to get going. “

Pitlick, who suffered a lower-body injury Sept. 27 in a 4-1 preseason win against the Chicago Blackhawks and played Sept. 29 against the Columbus Blue Jackets, was released from his first PTO before the Blues brought him back Oct. 16.

“He was having a good camp,” Berube said. “He got injured, which was unfortunate for him, but he’s the type of player that you can use in a couple different spots. He’s a good skater, penalty killer, he knows how to play the game properly. We like his speed and size. “

The Blues host the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET; SN, BSMW, ESPN+, SN NOW). — Lou Korac

Seattle Kraken

Philipp Grubauer was placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury.

The goalie left a 3-2 win at the Colorado Avalanche on Friday at 10:17 of the third period. Martin Jones made one save in relief.

Jones will start for the Kraken against the Buffalo Sabers in Seattle on Tuesday (10 pm ET; ROOT-NW, MSG-B, ESPN+, SN NOW). He made 22 saves in a 5-4 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday. Joey Daccord is the other goalie on the roster.

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