Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour has announced that defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere will be sidelined due to an upper-body injury, although the exact duration of his absence remains uncertain. In addition, forward Jack Drury has been placed on the injured reserve list, while defenseman Riley Stillman has been recalled to the roster. Drury did not participate in practice recently, and while he is eligible to return from IR, no updates on his condition have been provided.
In other league news, Colorado Avalanche forward Jonathan Drouin is set to make his return to the ice tonight after being out for 16 games due to an upper-body injury. However, teammate Ivan Ivan will not be playing due to a similar ailment. The Columbus Blue Jackets have also reported that forward Yegor Chinakhov was absent from practice, raising concerns about his availability.
Dallas Stars coach Pete DeBoer stated that there is no significant update on forward Colin Blackwell, who may have suffered a broken nose. Meanwhile, Mason Marchment's recovery timeline is anticipated to align closely with that of Matt Dumba, who is nearing a return from his injury.
For the Florida Panthers, defenseman Niko Mikkola skated yesterday but remains out due to an upper-body issue. Coach Paul Maurice expressed confidence that Mikkola's injury is not chronic but rather a matter of pain tolerance. In Toronto, Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson missed practice due to illness, while star forward Auston Matthews will miss his fifth consecutive game due to an upper-body injury. Coach Craig Berube noted Matthews' participation in practice as a positive sign, even though he will not play in the upcoming game.
Lastly, Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dylan Samberg was seen practicing in a no-contact jersey, taking shots on goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, indicating progress in his recovery.
