NHL Buzz: Carlson returns for Capitals after injury

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Washington Capitals

John Carlson returned from a lower body injury for the Capitals while they hosted the Tampa Bay Lightning at Washington’s Capital One Arena on Friday.

The defenseman missed six games and was called a game-time decider. Washington went 1-3-2 without him.

Carlson had not played since his first-half injury against the Nashville Predators on Oct. 29. He has six points (two goals, four assists) in nine games this season.

“It was kind of a weird game,” Carlson said after the morning’s skating. “I got spun around and stopped at the same time… I’m feeling a lot better. I’m feeling really good now and I’m just trying to make sure I’m doing the right things on the way back.”

defender Dmitry Orlov competed in the morning skate but missed his third straight game with a lower body injury.

The Capitals were coached by assistant Kevin McCarthy; Head coach Peter Laviolette entered NHL COVID-19 protocol Thursday and will miss at least two games.

“He has no real symptoms,” McCarthy said. “It feels good, but obviously it’s in the record.” – Tom Gullitti

Florida Panther

Aaron Eichenblatt will return for the Panthers vs. Edmonton Oilers on Saturday (4:00 p.m. ET; SN, BSFL, ESPN+, SN NOW).

“You want your best defenseman in your lineup for that, don’t you?” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said on Friday. “So we were kind of glad it went that way because we have to skate really, really well. And even if you skate really well, it still won’t be enough for the two very special players (Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl) that [I] I used to see a lot there in Winnipeg. And they’re worth seeing.”

The defenseman, who was placed on injured reserve with a lower body injury on Oct. 19, has missed the last 11 games with a lower body injury. Florida was 6-4-1 without Ekblad.

“Extremely excited,” said Ekblad. “These things are the worst. Sit it out [stinks], but I’m really proud of how the team played. Certain guys have evolved in big ways. And you’ve seen the true colors of how good some of the players on this team are. So it was fun to watch. It will be even more fun to get back in the action.”

Ekblad, who departed in the second half of a 5-3 loss at the Boston Bruins on October 17, has scored in three games this season. He will skate on a pair with Mark Stahl against the Oilers.

“I’m very happy with how we got through this injury,” said Maurice. “I would never come out and tell you I was worried about it, but you take it [Ekblad] from your lineup… we lost him [the third game of the season]. He’s such an important part of what we’re doing right now. So I was concerned. And I’m really happy. We also learned quite a lot of things along the way. … It was a good experience, but we don’t have to go through it again.” – Alain Poupart

Carolina hurricanes

Frederick Anderson is traveling for the Hurricanes with a lower body injury and the timeline for his return is unclear.

“I’m not going to say week by week because I don’t know,” coach Rod Brind’Amour said Thursday. “He’s not coming back tomorrow.”

Andersen, who was injured in practice Tuesday, is 5-3-0 in eight games with a 2.72 GAA and an .891 save ratio. He made 18 saves in Sunday’s 3-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“He’s just a little bit off. He made some tweaks in practice (Tuesday),” said Brind’Amour. “Goalkeepers are weird. If you don’t feel 100 percent, it’s hard to leave.”

Andersen suffered a cruciate ligament tear on April 16 and missed the rest of last season, including the Stanley Cup playoffs, when the Hurricanes lost to the New York Rangers in seven games in the second round of the Eastern Conference.

Brind’Amour said he wasn’t sure if Andersen would travel to a two-game road trip that begins Saturday (9 p.m. ET; ALT, BSSO, ESPN+, SN NOW) at the Colorado Avalanche.

Pyotr Kochetkov allowed two goals in 22 shots in a 7-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday Anti Ranta served as a backup.

Kotchetkov was recalled from Chicago from the American Hockey League on Tuesday and assisted Raanta in a 3-0 loss at the Florida Panthers on Wednesday.

Raanta is 3-1-1 in five starts this season with a 2.36 GAA and a .915 save ratio. Kochetkov was 3-0-0 with a 2.42 GAA and a .902 save percentage in three NHL games last season.

The Hurricanes said forward Teuvo Teravainen would not be traveling with them prior to the road trip. He had two assists on Thursday before suffering an upper-body injury in the second half and has seven assists in 14 games this season. – Kurt Dusterberg

Vancouver Canucks

Tanner Pearson will be out 4-6 weeks after hand surgery, the Canucks announced Thursday.

The forward, who was placed on injured reserve, did not play in the third period of Wednesday’s 5-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens.
Pearson has five points (one goal, four assists) in 14 games this season for an average ice time of 13:30.

Forward Sheldon Dries was recalled by Abbotsford of the American Hockey League. He has one assist in four games with the Canucks this season.

The Canucks next play the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; CBC, SNO, SNW, SNP, ESPN+, SN NOW).