Chicago Blackhawks

Patrick Sharp has begun skating while recovering from a right knee injury. Quenneville said the winger reported he was "OK" after taking the ice Thursday in Chicago for the first time since suffering the injury Nov. 4 against the Canadiens. - Chicago Tribune

Edmonton Oilers

Head coach Dallas Eakins confirmed Saturday morning that defenceman Nikita Nikitin will be a healthy scratch for tonight's game against the Blackhawks. - TSN

Calgary Flames

“Still uncertain,” Hartley said of Russell’s activation for Saturday’s visit by the New Jersey Devils. “We’re going to wait and see. I would say that Kris Russell is closer (to returning) than David Jones.” - Calgary Herald

Ottawa Senators

The Senators are expected to use the same lineup that trumped the Predators, which means rookie Curtis Lazar will miss his second game with a minor injury. Lazar was dinged up during a 1-on-1 drill in Wednesday's practice. He participated in Friday's on-ice session, and expressed an anxiousness to get back in action as quick as possible. - Ottawa Sun 

Detroit Red Wings

Pavel Datsyuk will miss his third game in a row, sitting out for the fifth time in the past seven games due to a pulled groin, when the Detroit Red Wings visit the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday. Datsyuk skated after practice Thursday in Winnipeg but the entire team did not skate Friday after arriving in Toronto, opting for an off-ice workout. Coach Mike Babcock said even if Datsyuk has skated Friday he wouldn't have been ready to play. - Michigan Live 

Boston Bruins

Brad Marchand is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury. Marchand practised Thursday, but was ruled out of the Columbus game. - Montreal Gazette

Buffalo Sabres

The Sabres are relieved to learn goaltender Michal Neuvirth’s lower-body injury is not as bad as first feared and he could be back practicing in a few days. In the interim, it’s Jhonas Enroth’s show. - Buffalo News

Los Angeles Kings

Defenseman Alec Martinez skated but didn’t practice with his teammates on Friday because his surgically repaired left pinky finger is still healing. However, Coach Darryl Sutter said Martinez would accompany the team on the road. - LA Times

San Jose Sharks

The Sharks placed winger Adam Burish on waivers Saturday. - TSN