Ice Chips: Ovechkin sheds non-contact jersey; Jets' Stanley out through Christmas
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Keep updated on all the injury news and roster updates from around the NHL with daily Ice Chips.
Washington Capitals
Caps star Alex Ovechkin skated with his team again on Friday, this time without a non-contact jersey.
Head coach Spencer Carbery recently said Ovechkin is 'real close' to returning to the lineup.
"I'm not going to give a percentage or anything like that, but he's getting real close.," Carbery said after practice on Thursday. “Won’t play tomorrow and then we'll sort of see how the next 48 hours go and see if there's a potential of him playing in one of those, LA or Boston.”
Ovechkin was originally given a four-to-six week timeframe for his return after sustaining a fractured fibula injury on Nov. 18
The 6-foot-3 winger was on a tear prior to the injury, recording 15 goals and 25 points in 18 games and is 26 goals behind Wayne Gretzky for the most in NHL history.
Forward Lars Eller won't play Friday against the visiting Carolina Hurricanes due to an illness.
Winnipeg Jets
Defenceman Logan Stanley will be sidelined until after the holiday break after blocking a shot in the third period against the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old from Waterloo has tallied one goal and three assists over 22 games this season for the first-place Jets.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews and goalie Joseph Woll missed practice on Friday, but both players are expected to dress against the Buffalo Sabres.
Matthews has 10 goals and 22 points in 23 games this season, having missed time due to an upper-body injury.
Woll has a 9-4-0 record on the season with a .918 save percentage and a 2.30 goals-against average.
Backup goalie Matt Murray was recalled from the minors on Friday.
The 30-year-old Murray will start Friday's game against the Buffalo Sabres. He last played in the NHL in April of 2023 as he's dealt with multiple injuries, including having hip surgery in October of 2023.
Lines at morning skate
F
Nylander - Dewar (placeholder for Matthews) - Marner
Knies-Tavares-Pacioretty
McMann-Domi-Robertson
Holmberg-Kampf-Lorentz
Eextra: Reaves
D
Rielly-Timmins
Ekman-Larsson-Tanev
McCabe-Myers
Buffalo Sabres
Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin has missed the last seven games with back spasms, but is expected to return on Friday against the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs.
The 24-year-old Swede has six goals and 13 assists over 25 games this season, his seventh in Buffalo.
The Sabres are on an 11-game winless streak.
New York Rangers
Rangers star Artemi Panarin, who has missed the last two games with an upper-body injury, will once again be a game-time decision for Friday's game in Dallas against the Stars.
Tough guy Matt Rempe will be in the lineup.
The 33-year-old Russian has 15 goals and 21 assists over 29 games, his sixth season with the Rangers.
Florida Panthers
Forward Sam Bennett is still a game-time decision for Friday's game against the St. Louis Blues. The 28-year-old missed Wednesday's game against the Minnesota Wild with the illness.
Bennett has 13 goals and 14 assists over 31 games this season.
Detroit Red Wings
Defenceman Simon Edvinsson will miss Friday's game against the visiting Canadiens and Saturday's game in Montreal.
The 21-year-old has three goals and 10 assists over 30 games this season with the Wings.
Cam Talbot will get the start in net on Friday.
Dallas Stars
Left winger Mason Marchment is a game-time decision for Friday's game against the New York Islanders.
The 29-year-old left Wednesday's loss against the Toronto Maple Leafs with an undisclosed injury. However, X-rays have since came back negative.
Marchment has 12 goals and 15 assists over 30 games this season.
Forward Justin Hryckowian and defenceman Lian Bichsel have been recalled from the AHL.
Minnesota Wild
Forwards Travis Boyd and Devin Shore have been recalled from the minors.
Philadelphia Flyers
Defenceman Emil Andrae was loaned to the AHL.