Tom Wilson's Continued Absence: Capitals Star Out for 8th Straight Game

Welcome to the NHL Status Report. Here is the latest lineup/injury news around the NHL. Washington Capitals Tom Wilson missed his eighth straight game because of a lower-body injury when the Capitals visited the Colorado Avalanche on Monday. The forward, who was named to Team Canada's roster for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, has 42 points (22 goals, 20 assists) in 41 games. ... Justin Sourdif (upper body) was activated from injured reserve after the forward missed three games. ... Washington reassigned forward Brett Leason to Hershey of the American Hockey League on Sunday. Pittsburgh Penguins Erik Karlsson (lower body) practiced with the Penguins in a noncontact jersey on Sunday. The defenseman was placed on injured reserve Jan. 13, when the team announced he would be out at least two weeks. Karlsson, who is on Team Sweden’s roster for the Olympics, has 33 points (four goals, 29 assists) in 44 games this season. He is with Pittsburgh for its four-game road trip that begins at the Seattle Kraken on Monday (5 p.m. ET; KHN/Prime, SN-PIT, KONG, TVAS). ... The Penguins recalled forward Joona Koppanen from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL; forward Rutger McGroarty was activated from injured reserve and loaned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Chicago Blackhawks Teuvo Teravainen (upper body) will miss his third straight game for the Blackhawks when they host the Winnipeg Jets on Monday (8:30 p.m. ET; CHSN, TSN3, TVAS). There is no timeline for the forward’s return. The 31-year-old, who will represent Team Finland at the Olympics, has 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists) in 45 games. … Forward Frank Nazar practiced on Sunday for the first time since taking a puck to the face in the first period of a 6-4 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Dec. 20, but he’s not expected to return Monday. Chicago coach Jeff Blashill said the team wants Nazar to get at least one more practice in “and see where we go from there.” Nazar has 21 points (six goals, 15 assists) in 33 games. Toronto Maple Leafs Matthew Knies will be a game-time decision against the Minnesota Wild on Monday (7:30 p.m. ET; Prime, FDSNNO, FDSNWI). The Maple Leafs forward was not on the ice at the morning skate because of an undisclosed injury that kept him out of the morning skate prior to a 6-5 overtime loss at the Vegas Golden Knights on Jan. 15. “He's still dealing with the same thing," Toronto coach Craig Berube said. "It's bothering him a lot for quite some time and hasn't got much better other than when he gets some breaks, Christmastime and stuff he came back and felt better, but it's an ongoing issue." Scott Laughton replaced Knies at right wing on a line with left wing Matias Maccelli and center John Tavares. … William Nylander was also not on the ice for the morning skate Monday and will miss his second straight game with a groin injury. "I don't know how long time line will be for him," Berube said. "When he feels good enough to get on the ice and he goes out there and skate and it feels good, I expect him to be back fairly quick then. But until then, I'm not sure when he is going to be on the ice." Philadelphia Flyers Dan Vladar (undisclosed) is with the Flyers for a three-game road trip that begins at the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday (8 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, NBCSP+). The goalie is not expected to dress; he has been day to day since leaving a 5-2 loss at the Buffalo Sabres on Jan. 14 after the first period. Vladar is 16-7-4 with a 2.46 goals-against average and .905 save percentage in 28 games this season. … Rodrigo Abols (lower body) was placed on injured reserve by the Flyers on Sunday, one day after the forward was injured in the first period of a 6-3 loss to the New York Rangers. Abols, who is on Team Latvia’s roster for the Olympics, was battling for a puck along the boards when he fell, his right leg twisting awkwardly underneath him at 6:10. He was helped off the ice and went straight to the locker room, not putting any weight on his right leg. Abols has 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 42 games this season. "It's not good. I'm not going to get into it, but it's not good," coach Rick Tocchet said. Philadelphia recalled forward Lane Pederson from Lehigh Valley of the AHL. ... Forward Bobby Brink (upper body) is expected to play Monday after missing six games. … Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, who is on Finland’s roster, will miss his fourth straight game; he is on injured reserve and could miss at least another week, Tocchet said. Defenseman Hunter McDonald was recalled from Lehigh Valley. Buffalo Sabres Josh Norris (upper body) did not practice Sunday and has been downgraded to week to week, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. The forward will miss his third straight game on Monday when Buffalo visits the Carolina Hurricanes (1:30 p.m. ET; HBO MAX, truTV, TNT). Norris had been day to day since being cross-checked by Flyers defenseman Nick Seeler on Jan. 14. "He's not really recovering the way we had hoped," Ruff said. Norris has 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in 19 games. ... Konsta Helenius, the No. 14 pick at the 2024 NHL Draft, is expected to make his NHL debut. The forward has 30 points (nine goals, 21 assists) in 34 games with Rochester of the AHL this season. ... Alex Lyon (lower body) practiced on Sunday; the goalie has not played since Dec. 29, when he made 16 saves in a 4-2 win against the St. Louis Blues. Ruff said Lyon, who is 10-6-3 with a 2.82 GAA and .906 save percentage in 21 games (19 starts) this season, is expected to play this week. Colorado Avalanche Valeri Nichushkin did not play for the Avalanche against the Capitals on Monday because of an upper-body injury. The forward had an assist and was minus-3 in 15:18 of ice time in a 7-3 loss to the Predators on Friday. Nichushkin has 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists) in 38 games this season. New York Rangers Carson Soucy is back with the Rangers but will not play against the Anaheim Ducks on Monday (10 p.m. ET; Victory+, KCOP-13, MSG). The defenseman was away from the team for personal reasons and missed a 6-3 win at Philadelphia on Saturday and then practice on Sunday. Soucy has eight points (three goals, five assists) and is plus-5 in 44 games this season. ... Forward Anton Blidh was recalled from Hartford of the AHL. Carolina Hurricanes William Carrier (lower body) returned for the Hurricanes against the Buffalo Sabres on Monday. The forward missed four games since Jan. 10, when he scored in a 3-2 win against the Seattle Kraken. Carrier has 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 38 games. ... Shayne Gostisbehere(lower body) missed his third straight game; the defenseman played 18:59 in a 3-0 loss at the St. Louis Blues on Jan. 13. Boston Bruins Henri Jokiharju was designated non-roster by the Bruins on Sunday due to a family matter. The defenseman, who will play for Finland at the Olympics, has nine assists and is plus-3 while averaging 17:53 of ice time in 32 games. Boston recalled defenseman Billy Sweezey from Providence of the AHL ahead of its game at the Dallas Stars on Tuesday.