Ice Chips: Leafs D Ekman-Larsson a game-time decision vs. Islanders

Keep updated on all the injury news and roster updates from around the NHL with daily Ice Chips.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Veteran defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson was absent from the Leafs’ morning skate on Tuesday as Toronto prepares to take on the visiting New York Islanders on Tuesday night.

He will be a game-time decision for the game.

Ekman-Larsson missed Sunday’s win over the Minnesota Wild for the birth of his child.

The 34-year-old Swede has eight goals and 27 assists over 65 games with the Maple Leafs in 2025-26, his second season with the organization.

Joseph Woll is expected to get the start on Tuesday night.

Winger Michael Pezzetta and defenceman Henry Thrun were sent down to the American Hockey League on Tuesday morning as the Toronto Marlies have a afternoon game.

The Maple Leafs sit second last in the Atlantic Division with a 29-27-12 record through 68 games.

Maple Leafs’ Projected Lines

F

Maccelli - Tavares - Nylander

Knies - Domi - Cowan

Joshua - Groulx - Robertson

Lorentz - Quillan - Jarnkrok

D

Rielly - Myers

McCabe - Carlo

Benoit - Stecher

G

Woll starts

Stolarz

Ottawa Senators

Defenceman Nick Jensen will be undergoing knee surgery for a torn meniscus and is expected to be out at least six weeks.

The 35-year-old Jensen, who was injured on March 11, has four goals and 13 assists over 61 games in 2025-26.

Fellow American blueliner Jake Sanderson is expected to resume skating sometime over the next week after suffering an upper-body injury on March 7.

The 23-year-old has 11 goals and 37 assists over 62 games.

Brady Tkachuk, Thomas Chabot, Claude Giroux, Shane Pinto and Tim Stutzle all missed Ottawa’s optional skate on Tuesday.

Ottawa, sitting four points out of a Wild Card playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, will take on the Capitals in Washington on Wednesday.

Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens forward Kirby Dach will miss two-to-four weeks with an upper-body injury, the team announced on Tuesday.

The 25-year-old exited Sunday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks three minutes into the first period after taking a hit from Ducks’ winger Jeffrey Viel. Dach fell to the ice and gingerly made his way back to the dressing room before he was ruled out for the rest of the game.

Winger Zachary Bolduc and defenceman Jayden Struble will be in the lineup for Tuesday game against the visiting Boston Bruins while defenceman Arber Xhekaj will sit out.

Jakub Dobes will get the start in net.

Winnipeg Jets

Defenceman Neal Pionk was wearing a non-contract jersey on Tuesday during Winnipeg’s morning skate ahead of their game against the visiting Nashville Predators.

Following practice, head coach Scott Arniel will join the team on their upcoming three-game road trip and will soon begin practicing with contact.

The 30-year-old American hasn’t played since Jan. 13 with an undisclosed injury.

Pionk has tallied two goals and six assists over 40 games this season with the Jets.

Winnipeg maintains a 28-28-10 record through 66 games, five points behind the Seattle Kraken for the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference with four teams still to jump.

Jets’ Projected Lines vs. Predators

F

Connor - Scheifele - Iafallo

Perfetti - Lowry - Vilardi

Nyquist - Toews - Rosen

Koepke - Barron - Lambert

D

Morrissey - DeMelo

Samberg - Salomonsson

Fleury - Bryson

Extra: Heinola, Pionk (in non-contact jersey)

G

Hellebuyck

Comrie