NHL Buzz: Krejci returns for the Bruins against the Maple Leafs

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Boston Bruins

David Krejci He returned to the lineup for the Bruins against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday after missing three games with an upper-body injury.

The center, who was injured in the 5-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Oct. 27, was in line with the left wing at center Taylor Hall and right wing To David Pastr.

“We’re deep in the middle,” said Bruins coach Jim Montgomery. “And when you’re deep in the middle, you usually have a good team. At the moment we are getting the results.”

Krejci has eight points (two goals, six assists) in eight games for the Bruins, who are 10-1-0, this season.

Charlie McAvoy attended the Bruins’ morning skate but did not play. The defender has not played this season following off-season shoulder surgery.

“He hasn’t ticked all the boxes yet, so he’s not a player yet,” Montgomery said.

goalie Jeremy Swaymanwho sustained a lower body injury in a 6-5 overtime win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday is absent week after week, Montgomery said. – Dave McCarthy

Vancouver Canucks

Brock Bad will miss his sixth straight game because a scar from hand surgery reopened a day after he said he was “pretty hopeful” that Saturday (10 p.m. ET; CBC, SN360, BSS0, ESPN+) could return against the Nashville Predators.

The Canucks forward was scheduled to be sidelined for 3-4 weeks after surgery on Sept. 26 but returned early to play the season-opener game on Oct. 12. He had four assists in six games before being placed on injured reserve two days later with an undisclosed injury on Oct. 24.

“The scar has opened up a bit,” said Boeser on Friday. “When you play and it gets wet and sweaty, that can happen and unfortunately it did. You can get an infection if you keep playing with it and then it would be much worse, so of course we had to take care of that. “– Kevin Woodley

Washington Capitals

Sonny Milano made his Capitals debut against the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday.

The 26-year-old forward, who signed a one-year, $750,000 contract on Oct. 16, had three points (two goals, one assist) in five games with the American Hockey League’s Hershey before being called up Wednesday.

“Definitely excited,” Milano said. “It’s definitely been a weird summer, so I’m definitely looking forward to getting a game here.”

Milano had 34 points (14 goals, 20 assists) in 66 games with the Anaheim Ducks last season but became a unrestricted free agent after the Ducks decided not to make him a qualifying restricted free agent offer.

He remained unsigned after attending training camp with the Calgary Flames as part of a professional tryout arrangement before the Capitals signed him to add to their forward depth.

Washington is missing forward Tom Wilson (cruciate ligament tear), Nicklas Backstrom (hip surgery), TJ Oshie (Lower body), Connor Brown (cruciate ligament tear) and Karl Hagelin (hip surgery) due to injuries. Having scored eight goals in their last five games, the Capitals are hoping Milano can strengthen their offense.

“He’s a guy who has proven he can excel at the NHL level,” said Capitals coach Peter Laviolette. “He had a good year offensively at Anaheim last year and started well at Hershey so we’re going to give him a chance tonight.” — Tom Gulitti, staff writer

Toronto Maple Leafs

Timothy Liljegren made his season debut for the Maple Leafs against the Boston Bruins on Saturday.

General manager Kyle Dubas announced on Sept. 21 that the defenseman had undergone sports hernia surgery and is expected to be out for six weeks.

Liljegren who ran with me Morgan Rielly At practice on Friday, he had 23 points (five goals, 18 assists) in 61 games last season.

“The body feels good so I’m looking forward to being back in full training,” said Liljegren. “It should be fun, I think [Rielly and I] played a few times [together] last year too. Apparently [he is] a very good defender so I’ll just try to support him as much as possible.

“I was very happy with how my season went last year. I think I made steps throughout the season.”

Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said Liljegren’s absence earlier in the season was felt by the Maple Leafs.

“I just hope Liljegren goes out and is himself,” Keefe said. “He was in a really good groove for us going into the end of the regular season last year and had become a vital member of our team in both 5-on-5s and penalties, so it was difficult not to get him through camp and the early ones part of the season.”

Forward Wayne Simmonds was recalled from Toronto from the American Hockey League on Friday and played on the right wing on a line with center Pierre Engvall and left wing Jarnkrok Street in practice. Simmonds has an assist in three NHL games this season. – Dave McCarthy