Ice Chips: Matthews, Knies skate at Leafs practice

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

Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs captain Auston Matthews was on the ice Friday morning for a fourth-straight day as the star forward continues to work his way back from an injury he sustained last week against the Boston Bruins.

Matthew Knies got on the ice for the first time since he was a late scratch before Tuesday’s game against the St. Louis Blues.

Sammy Blais was also on the ice for the second-straight day after leaving Tuesday’s game against the Blues and coughing up blood.

All three players skated on the “fifth line” which is usually for projected scratches.

Nicolas Roy, who is nursing an injury of his own but returned to the ice the past couple of days, has no timetable for his return, head coach Craig Berube said on Friday.

The Leafs projected lines for tomorrow’s game against the Montreal Canadiens:

Nylander - Tavares - Jarnkrok

McMann - Domi - Robertson

Lorentz - Laughton - Cowan

Joshua - Quillan - Maccelli

Knies, Matthews, Blais

Rielly - Ekman-Larsson

Benoit - McCabe

Mermis - Stecher

Myers

Woll

Hildeby

Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens forward Jake Evans did not practice Friday after taking a hit from Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson in last night’s game.

The team deemed the absence as a therapy day and has not ruled him out for Saturday’s game against the Maple Leafs.

Winnipeg Jets

The Jets projected lines for tonight against the Carolina Hurricanes

Connor - Scheifele - Vilardi

Namestnikov - Toews - Perfetti

Niederreiter - Lowry - Iafallo

Koepke - Barron - Nyquist

Morrissey - Demelo

Samberg - Pionk

Stanley - Schenn

Comrie

Milic

Buffalo Sabres

Forward Jason Zucker will return to the Sabres’ lineup Friday as they take on the Chicago Blackhawks. He has missed the past eight games due to illness.

Zach Benson participated in morning skate and could return Sunday but remains day-to-day, according to head coach Lindy Ruff.

Josh Norris, who has been out since the season opener on Oct. 9, participated in practice on Nov. 17, his first team session since the injury, but has no timetable for his return.

Minnesota Wild

The Wild activated defenceman Zach Bogosian and forward Nico Sturm from injured reserve and reassigned blueliner David Jiricek to the Iowa Wild.

New Jersey Devils

The Devils assigned defenceman Ethan Edwards to the AHL’s Utica Comets.

St. Louis Blues

The Blues assigned forward Alexandre Texier to the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds after he was placed on waivers Thursday.

He has one assist in eight games this season.

In 240 career NHL games, he has 40 goals and 91 points.