Keep updated on all the injury news and roster updates from around the NHL with daily Ice Chips.
Montreal Canadiens
Oliver Kapanen and Joe Veleno were both on the ice at the Montreal Canadiens’ optional skate on Wednesday, TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun reports.
Kapanen has no points through four games in the series after scoring 22 goals in 82 games in the regular season. The 22-year-old has averaged 8:39 of ice time in the series so far.
Veleno has not appeared in the series to this point.
LeBrun also noted that Brendan Gallagher was not on the ice at the optional session, and suggested that the veteran may slot in to the lineup for Game 5 on Wednesday.
The 33-year-old Gallagher scored seven goals and finished with 23 points in 77 games in the regular season, and has not played in this series to this point.
LeBrun also reported that Noah Dobson was on the ice at the optional session. The star defenceman has been out of the lineup since Apr. 11, when he suffered an upper-body injury against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The team does not expect Dobson to be ready to return to action until at least the beginning of the second round, should they get that far.
The pivotal Game 5 of the series goes Wednesday from Benchmark International Arena in Tampa Bay, with the series tied 2-2.
Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres forward Noah Ostlund is going to miss some time, Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff told reporters on Wednesday.
Per The Athletic’s Matthew Fairburn, Ruff said that there wasn’t a great update on Ostlund’s injury. The 22-year-old has a goal and an assist in three games in the series - he slotted in to the lineup in Games 3, 4 and 5, but departed Game 5 after just 2:55 of ice time.
Ruff also said that centre Josh Norris is ready to return for Game 6 of the series. Norrs hasn’t played since he suffered an undisclosed injury in Game 2.
The Sabres own a 3-2 series lead and will take a second chance to eliminate the Boston Bruins in Game 6 on Friday. The Bruins extended the series with a 2-1 win in overtime on Tuesday.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Brandon Hagel will be in the lineup for the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 5 of their series against the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday, LeBrun reports.
Per LeBrun, defenceman Victor Hedman is still not expected to play in the series, while defenceman Charle-Edouard D’Astous is considered a game-time decision.
Hagel, 27, has starred for the Lightning through the first four games of this series. The forward scored twice in the third period in Game 4 to propel the Lightning to a come-from-behind 3-2 victory, and has a playoffs-leading six goals so far.
Hagel did not practice on Tuesday, though the team did not report any issue for the forward.
D’Astous, 28, has been dealing with an undisclosed injury throughout the series after he sustained a big hit in the series opener.
The pivotal Game 5 of the series goes Wednesday from Benchmark International Arena in Tampa Bay, with the series tied 2-2.
