Ice Chips: Leafs' Liljegren returns, Brodie a GTD vs. Penguins
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Keep updated on all the injury news and roster updates from around the NHL with daily Ice Chips.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs will see the return of defenceman Timothy Liljegren to the lineup on Saturday night with the Pittsburgh Penguins in town.
Liljegren practiced with the team during the morning skate on Saturday with head coach Sheldon Keefe later confirming he will play. Liljegren hasn't played since Nov. 2 after suffering a high ankle sprain against the Boston Bruins, missing 17 games.
In other lineup news, defenceman T.J. Brodie was not on the ice for Saturday's morning skate and will be a game-time decision due to an illness while forward Matthew Knies is expected to return to the lineup after missing the past two games with an illness of his own
Martin Jones was the first goalie off the ice and will get his second start of the season.
With Ryan Reaves out of the lineup with an injury, the Maple Leafs recalled fellow forward Pontus Holmberg from the American Hockey League of the Toronto Marlies.
Reaves' lower-body injury, suffered during Thursday's loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, is not as serious as it first appeared, says Keefe. He is likely headed to the injured reserve, but not the long-term injured reserve.
Holmberg, a 24-year-old native of Sweden, has yet to record a point in seven games with the Maple Leafs this season, but is putting up solid numbers in the AHL with six goals and four assists in 11 games.
Maple Leafs Practice Lines
F
Knies-Matthews-Nylander
Bertuzzi-Tavares-Marner
Robertson-Domi-Jarnkrok
Mcmann-Kampf-Gregor
Holmberg
D
Rielly-Liljegren
Lagesson-McCabe
Benoit-Timmins
Lajoie
G
Jones
Samsonov
Calgary Flames
Goaltender Jacob Markstrom was on the ice ahead of Saturday's morning skate, reports TSN's Salim Valji.
Valji adds the Flames do not expect him to play Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, but him being on the ice is a positive step forward. He skated with the AHL's Calgary Wranglers earlier this week.
The 33-year-old netminder has been out since Dec. 2 with a finger injury. He was placed on the injured reserve list a week ago and originally labelled as week-to-week.
Both Markstrom and defenceman Christopher Tanev are "close" to returning, according to head coach Ryan Huska.
Flames' Practice Lines
F
Mangiapane-Lindholm-Sharangovich
Zary-Kadri-Pospisil
Huberdeau-Backlund-Coleman
Greer-Ruzicka-Dube
D
Hanifin-Andersson
Oesterle-Weegar
Gilbert-DeSimone
G
Vladar
Edmonton Oilers
Centre Dylan Holloway, who has been sidelined since Nov. 13 with a lower-body injury, will remain out until after the Christmas break.
The 22-year-old has one goal in 14 games this season.
Montreal Canadiens
Centre Jake Evans returned to the team's morning skate on Saturday after missing Friday's practice says he'll be in the lineup against the New York Islanders.
The 27-year-old Toronto native has two goals and seven assists over 29 games with the Habs this season.
Montreal hosts the New York Islanders Saturday night at Bell Centre.
Seattle Kraken
A day after being recalled from the minors, forward Shane Wright has been reassigned the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the AHL in favour of forward Tye Kartye.
Additionally, forward Jordan Eberle will miss Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Kings with the recently acquired Tomas Tatar expected to make his debut for Seattle.
Chicago Blackhawks
Wyatt Kaiser was recalled from the AHL while fellow defenceman Seth Jones was placed on the injured reserve.
Tampa Bay Lightning
After missing the past two games with an upper-body injury, Norris Trophy-winning defenceman Victor Hedman was at Saturday's morning skate and appears ready to return to the lineup against the Flames.
Detroit Red Wings
The Wings activated two forwards off the injured reserve on Saturday in JT Compher and Klim Kostin.
Compher, 28, has six goals and 13 assists over 24 games while Kostin, 24, has two goals and one assist over 21 games.
Florida Panthers
Defenceman Aaron Ekblad will miss Saturday's game against the Edmonton Oilers for precautionary reasons.
Panthers right winger William Lockwood was recalled from the AHL's Charlotte Checkers. The 25-year-old hasn't recorded a point in seven games with the Panthers this season.