NHL Buzz: Hischier could play the next game in the Devils

Welcome to NHL Buzz. NHL.com provides you with the latest news for the period 2021-2022.

New Jersey Devils

Nico Hischier could return to Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday.

The center, who didn’t play in a 5-3 loss to the Boston Bruins on Tuesday due to a lower body injury, skated alone before an optional Wednesday practice.

“He’s going to attend tomorrow’s morning skating,” Devils coach Lindy Ruff said. “And chances are that if things go well, he should play for us.”

Hischier have scored 20 points this season (seven goals, 13 assists) in 28 matches. He was injured on Sunday in overtime at the Washington Capitals 4-3.

Ruff will return as coach on Thursday after three games in the COVID-19 protocol.

“It was frustrating to look at, but I stayed pretty close to the games, stayed in Zoom and thought the team did a great job,” Ruff said.

New Jersey won two of three games under assistant Alain Nasreddine.

Ahead Jimmy Vesey was removed from the COVID-19 protocol on Wednesday after the absence of four games and is expected to play. – Mike G. Morreale

Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks placed Elias Pettersson in the NHL COVID-19 protocol on Wednesday.

Vancouver will not play against the Ottawa Senators until Saturday.

The Canucks match against New York Islanders scheduled for Wednesday was postponed due to Canadian participation restrictions.

Pettersson have scored 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in 34 games this season. The center has scored five points (two goals, three assists) and averages 17:21 ice time in nine games since Bruce Boudreau coached his first game in Vancouver on December 6th.

Brock Boeser has not played in three games since the Canucks returned from vacation. The attacker was recorded in the minutes on December 29th.

Attackers Jason Dickinson, Phillip Di Giuseppe and Justin Dowling are also on the protocol.

Buffalo Sabers

Alex’s fabric, Peyton Krebs and Anders Bjork was placed on the NHL COVID-19 protocol on Tuesday.

Sabers will host the San Jose Sharks on Thursday.

Tuch has a goal and a pass and Krebs has three games in Sabers. Bjork have scored five points (four goals, one pass) in 29 games.

“We’re all going through it for the first time to this level,” Sabres coach Don Granato said Tuesday. “This is a new level. It wasn’t like that last year. We didn’t have so many days when you wait and try to practice your plan and lose guys an hour before, 45 minutes before, half an hour before, and you have to readjust again what you’re doing. “

The attackers joined forward Kyle Okposo and defenders Casey Fitzgerald and Jacob Bryson protocol.

“You [handle it] day by day, “Granato said.” And I have every confidence that whatever happens to us, we will make the best of it. I think our staff and players, as well as their attitude and outlook, are in a good position. “

Defender Henri Jokiharju was considered in practice as a precautionary measure “for the future [COVID-19] testing to ensure certainty, ”Granato said.

Defender Colin Miller, who has missed three matches due to an undisclosed injury, practiced for the first time since December 28th. – Heather Engel