Paul (lower-body) will return to the Lightning lineup on Saturday.
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NHL Injury Report
Matthews suffered a Grade 3 MCL tear in Thursday's game against the Ducks and will miss the remainder of the regular season.
Matthews was involved in a knee on knee collision with Ducks Captain Radko Gudas and immediately left the game. Gudas was issued a five-minute major for kneeing and a game misconduct on the play, and is currently awaiting a decision on any supplemental discipline. Matthews' injury caps what has been a nightmare season for the Maple Leafs. The team did not give any update regarding any potential surgery or timeline for the injury, only saying Matthews would be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks. Matthews' season comes to an abrupt end after 60 games played and career lows of 27 goals and 26 assists.
The Oilers placed Dach (undisclosed) on long-term injured reserve on Friday.
Newly acquired Colton Dach lasted only 1:35 time-on-ice in his third game with the Oilers on Tuesady, exiting with an undisclosed injury. The 23-year-old forward did not play on Thursday and was said to be undergoing further evaluation. He has one assist in three games with Edmonton. Max Jones was recalled from Bakersfield (AHL) in a corresponding move.
Miller (upper-body) appears ready to return in Minnesota on Saturday.
Miller has not played since suffering an upper-body injury on March 2nd, but has resumed practicing this week and could be an option on Saturday against the Minnesota Wild. The Rangers have gone 4-1-0 without Miller, who was picking up production before his injury, scoring 14 points (3G / 11A) in his last 13 games.
Brink (upper-body) is a possibility to return vs. New York on Saturday.
Minnesota acquired Brink in a trade from Philadelphia last week, but he is battling an upper-body ailment and missed Thursday's game against his former team. The 24-year-old has played three games with Minnesota so far and scored a goal for his first point with the team in Tuesday's 5-0 win over the Utah Mammoth.
Cernak (upper-body) is expected to return vs. Carolina on Saturday
Cernak has not played since suffering an upper-body injury on Sunday, missing two games, but should be ready to return to the lineup on Saturday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 28-year-old Slovak defenseman is averaging 17:57 time-on-ice, recording seven points (1G / 6A), 77 blocks, and 81 hits in 43 games this season.
Pearson (undisclosed) missed practice on Friday and is questionable vs. Toronto on Saturday.
Pearson only played 8:58 time-on-ice in Thursday's 2-1 loss to the Washington Capitals and seems to be battling an ailment after missing practice on Friday. The 33-year-old has only played one game with the Sabres since being acquired in a trade from the Winnipeg Jets. He has 13 points (7G / 6A) in 53 games this season.
Samuelsson (undisclosed) missed practice on Friday and is questionable vs. Toronto on Saturday.
Samuelson didn't seem to show any ill effects during Thursday's 2-1 loss to the Washington Capitals, playing 20:30 time-on-ice, but he was absent from practice on Friday. The 25-yer-old defenseman is averaging 23:07 time-on-ice, recording 36 points (12G / 24A), 109 hits, and 130 blocks in 64 games this season.
Jensen (lower-body) missed practice on Friday and is considered day-to-day.
Jensen only played 14:28 time-on-ice in Ottawa's 3-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday, and was absent from practice on Friday. It is unclear if he will be ready to play when Ottawa returns to action on Saturday afternoon against the Anaheim Ducks.
Tuch (lower-body) returned to Sabres' practice on Friday.
Tuch was absent from practice on Wednesday and did not play on Thursday, but was back to practice on Friday, indicating he could be ready when Buffalo returns to action on Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 29-year-old forward has 57 points (28G / 29A) in 64 games this season, including nine points (6G / 3A) during a seven-game point streak.
Caufield (illness) returned to Montreal's practice on Friday.
Caufield was limited to 10:27 time-on-ice in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens, leaving the game due to an illness, and subsequently missing Wednesday's game against the Ottawa Senators. The 25-year-old Caufield is pacing for career-bests in all major offensive categories this season, scoring 64 points (37G / 27A) through 63 games and appears ready to rejoin the team for Saturday's game against the San Jose Sharks.
Stone (upper-body) is on the ice for warmups and is expected to return to the Golden Knights lineup on Thursday.
Stone has not played since suffering an upper-body injury on March 1st, but will return for Thursday's game against the Penguins. For the Golden Knights, Stone's return can't come soon enough, as they have gone 1-5-0 since his injury. The 33-year-old forward has been having a tremendous season, producing at a career-best rate with 60 points (21G / 39A) through 43 games.
Matthews (lower-body) will not return to Thursday's game against the Ducks.
Matthews left the game in the second period after taking an ugly looking knee-on-knee hit from Ducks captain Radko Gudas. Gudas was assessed a five-minute major for kneeing and a game misconduct on the play. We should get an update on Matthews' status ahead of the Maple Leafs game in Buffalo on Saturday.
Sergachev (lower-body) will return to Mammoth lineup on Thursday.
Sergachev has not played in over a week, but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 27-year-old Sergachev is having a terrific season with Utah, scoring 42 points (10G / 32A) in 61 games, and will reclaim his spot on the top powerplay unit when he returns.
Brink (upper-body) will not play against the Flyers on Thursday.
Minnesota acquired Brink in a trade from Philadelphia last week, but he is battling an upper-body ailment and will miss Thursday's game against his former team. The 24-year-old has played three games with Minnesota so far and scored a goal for his first point with the team in Tuesday's 5-0 win over the Utah Mammoth.
Eklund (lower-body) is on the ice for warmups and is expected to play in Boston on Thursday.
Eklund was absence from practice on Wednesday and his status for Thursday's game against the Boston Bruins was up in the air. The 23-year-old Swedish forward has 38 points (11G / 27A) in 58 games this season, but has been held off the scoresheet in three straight.
Tuch (lower-body) will not play against the Capitals on Thursday.
Tuch did not practice on Wednesday, and will be unavailable for Thursday's game against the Washington Capitals. The 29-year-old forward has 57 points (28G / 29A) in 64 games this season, including nine points (6G / 3A) during a seven-game point streak.
Askarov (lower-body) will not dress for Thursday's game in Boston.
With Alex Nedeljkovic already confirmed as the Sharks' starting goalie for Thursday's game against the Boston Bruins, the Sharks announce Askarov will be able to serve as his backup. It does not seem as though Askarov's injury is a long-term concern, given that he was not immediately ruled out of the game.
Sergachev (lower-body) will be a game-time decision vs. Chicago.
Sergachev has not played in over a week, but was back at practice as a full participant on Thursday, indicating that if he is not ready to play on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks, he should be ready for Saturday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 27-year-old Sergachev is having a terrific season with Utah, scoring 42 points (10G / 32A) in 61 games, and will reclaim his spot on the top powerplay unit when he returns.
Colton (upper-body) is expected to be out vs. Seattle on Thursday.
Colton was limited to only 8:15 time-on-ice in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers, exiting the game with an upper-body injury. The 29-year-old Colton scored a goal before leaving the game, giving him 23 points (8G / 15A) through 60 contests this season. If he is unable to play on Thursday, his next chance to return to the lineup will be on Saturday afternoon against the Winnipeg Jets.
NHL Injury Report
Daily Faceoff NHL injury report compiles all of the reported injuries from across the National Hockey League so you can see who is set to be sidelined, what their injury is, and how long they are expect to be out of commission. Injury updates are some of the most important NHL player news for any hockey fan to stay on top of, as winning or losing can ultimately be decided by the absence of a key player from within a team’s lineup. If you’re an avid hockey bettor, it’s crucial to your betting success that you stay informed on the latest injury news. Check out the latest NHL injury report on this page and see who’s set to miss some time this NHL season.
Reading the NHL Injury Report
The daily NHL injury report provides you with information regarding the type of injury a player is suffering from, the severity of it, as well as the timeline for their potential return. Common injury designations are day-to-day (almost fully healthy) out (not healthy, but not a long-term issue), and injured reserve/long-term injured reserve (out for an extended period of time).
Along with our regularly updated NHL injury report, you can also stay in the know regarding NHL injuries through team reporters/beat writers, social media channels and journalists, as well as official site reports from the NHL or their respective clubs.
Common NHL Injuries
In a physical sport such as hockey, injuries are a necessary evil as the toll it takes on each player’s body builds up over the course of an entire season. With the speed the game is played at the NHL level, it is common place for various injures to occur on a game-to-game basis. Whether it’s from a hard hit, inadvertent contact from a stick, or even being pelted by a blocked shot or deflected puck, it can be nearly impossible to avoid getting banged up over the course of an NHL contest.
Unlike many other professional sports leagues across the globe, the NHL tends to keep injury details close to the vest, reporting injury designations as either an upper body injury or lower body injury after players undergo tests. Below we’ll dive into some of the most common injuries that occur across the NHL, how they can affect players, and how long these injuries can sideline them from action.
Upper Body Injuries
Upper body injuries encompass all injuries that occur from the waist and up which includes the torso, arms, back, as well as the head. Common upper body injuries include shoulder dislocation, clavicle fractures, and broken/sprained wrists. An upper body injury could happen in a number of ways.
One of the most common and severe injuries that occurs across the NHL are concussions. Concussions are caused when the brain bounces or twists within the skull. This can be caused in a number of ways in hockey, generally from a hard impact whether that’s against another players body, the ice, or the boards. Recovery timelines for concussions vary from case-to-case with some players suffering mild effects and clearing protocol within a few weeks, to drastic scenarios where a player could miss the remainder of the season.
Lower Body Injuries
While players are often able to play through upper body injuries, a lower body injury can force a player to miss an extended amount of ice time depending on the location and severity of the issue. Lower body injuries encompass all issues from the waist down.
With so many pivotal muscle groups found within the lower body, these types of injuries often leave athletes unable to practice, let alone compete. Arguably the worst lower body injury a player can experience is a knee injury. From ACL tears, to MCL strains, or even broken patellas, there a numerous key ligaments and muscles, within the knee that are essential to a hockey players ability to hit the ice. Severe injuries to the knee can lead to lengthy absences from the lineup as well as a host of potential issues down the line of a players career if not successfully rehabbed. Other common lower body injuries in hockey include hip pointers, groin strains, and sprained/broken ankles.
Reserve Lists
In the NHL, players are often moved in and out of the lineup due to injury but when an issue occurs in which a player is set to miss an extended period of time, they must be placed under the official designation of the injured reserve list. NHL teams utilize reserve lists as a way to provide injured players time to recover from their physical ailments, as well as to free up space within their active roster to replace the output of their missing player.
There are two versions of reserve lists in the NHL, the injured reserve list (IR) and the long term injured reserve list (LTIR). Each reserve list holds their own distinctions for players to qualify, as well as how teams are able to replace members of the roster when they are forced to send an injured athlete to an injury reserve list. Below are the key differences between each reserve list and how an injured player can find themselves placed there in a season.
Injured Reserve List
The injured reserve list (IR) is for any player who is set to miss seven calendar days or more due to injury, disablement or illness is designated. Once a player is sent to injured reserve they must spend at least seven calendar days out of the teams lineup, but is still able to attend practices, team meetings, as well as travel with their team. Players are eligible to stay on the injured reserve until they are cleared by their team medical staff as ready and fit to return to competition…. When a player is sent to the injured reserve list, clubs are able to call up players from their roster to replace them whether that is from a scratched member of their main roster, a call up from the minors (AHL/ECHL), or by signing a free agent (cap space permitting).
Long Term Injured Reserve List
Similar to the injured reserve list, the long term injured reserve list (LTIR) is designed for teams to make up for severe injuries that have occurred to a player during the season. A player can be placed on the LTIR if they have been evaluated by medical staff and are ruled out of action for a minimum of 24 calendar days or 10 NHL games. Players often spend a much longer time on this reserve list once they are placed there due to the nature and severity of their injuries.
One major difference between the IR and the LTIR is the ability to circumvent the salary cap. When a player is placed on the LTIR, teams are able to pull from what is referred to as the “LTIR Pool”. The LTIR pool is the amount in which a team is granted in cap space after a player has been assigned to the LTIR. This amount is determined by subtracting the total amount of cap space remaining for a team from the affected player’s salary cap hit for the season. The amount given in the LTIR pool is also dependent on whether a team is under or over the salary cap at the beginning of the regular season.
For example, if a player who has a $2 million annual cap hit is placed on the LTIR and their team was under the salary cap by $500K, they would deduct the $500K in remaining cap space from the player’s annual salary hit, leaving the team with $1.5M to spend on replacements for their injured player.
However, if a team is over the salary cap to begin the regular season the LTIR pool is divided differently. In this case whatever the value of the overage in salary cap is at the start of the season will be the LTIR pool funds available for a club. For example, if a team is over the salary cap by $1 million, and a player with a $5 million cap hit is placed on the LTIR, their LTIR pool is valued at $1M as that is the amount they were over the cap to begin the season.
When a player is removed from the LTIR, the team must be under the annual salary cap hit on that day.
Considering Injuries When Placing NHL Bets
Considering injuries when placing NHL bets is incredibly important. By staying informed about the latest injury news heading into a matchup, you can better formulate how a matchup may play out based on the personnel available for action. Here’s how you can use the NHL injury report to influence your next bet and help give you a knowledgeable boost on all your wagers placed on tonight’s clashes.
Moneyline and Puck Line Bets
When placing a moneyline or puck line bet, knowing who is suiting up for action can make or break your chances of winning your wager. It only takes the absence of one player to shift the lines and change the outcome of the game. By waiting for the latest injury report prior to puck drop, bettors can make informed decisions before throwing down a wager on an upcoming matchup.
For example, if the New Jersey Devils are set to play the Columbus Blue Jackets but Jack Hughes is out due to injury, you may not want to back the Devils on the moneyline. Instead, you can use this information to reevaluate where the best value is on the adjusted moneyline and puck line for this contest.
Goal Total Bets
Each team relies heavily on their top goal-scorers to produce on a nightly-basis. If one of these performers is sidelined due to injury this could majorly effect the final score of the game. For example, if Minnesota Wild star forward Kirill Kaprizov is out of action due to injury heading into a contest against the New York Islanders, you could use this information to your advantage by betting the Under on the matchup due to the elite goal-scorer’s absence.
The same can be said inversely about a team’s goaltending. If the Tampa Bay Lightning are set to be without superstar netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy in their clash with the Toronto Maple Leafs, it may be in your best interest to bet the Over as his backup may not be able to handle the oppositions high-powered offence.
Prop Bets
Player injuries are also a prevalent factor to take into account before placing a prop bet on a matchup. If a team is without some of their top line players, it can leave the door open for someone lower in the depth chart to step up in their place.
For example, if The Ottawa Senators are taking on the San Jose Sharks, but Brady Tkachuk is listed as out on the latest injury report, other members of the Senators may be due for an increase in output as they look to make up for the void in production left by their team captain.
Futures Odds
While you don’t need a crystal ball to place a successful futures bet, knowing the latest injury news for each team can make a positive impact on your bets potential success. The NHL regular season is a vigorous journey that takes a heavy toll on the bodies of the athletes competing, and can sometimes lead to key members of a roster winding up on the injured reserve as a result. If a team does end up with an injury to one of their top players, this could completely derail their hopes of competing into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
For example, if Colorado Avalanche superstar forward Nathan Mackinnon suffers a season-ending injury just before the All-Star break, you can expect to see their Stanley Cup future odds drop drastically as their best player is put on the shelf. On the other hand, you can also expect to see the ripple effects of this change in odds as other top contenders see their Stanley Cup odds increase as the competition among the top of the league is dropped.
NHL Injury Report FAQs
How often does the NHL injury report get updated?
The NHL injury report is updated daily so that you can see the latest injury news ahead of puck drop in any of today’s matchups. Seeing timely updates to the NHL injury report can make a major impact on your daily fantasy sports picks and wagers on a particular game. All information provided on the NHL injury report is provided directly by the NHL and each respective franchise to ensure accuracy.
How long can a player stay on the injured reserve list?
While the minimum amount of time spent on the injured reserve list is seven calendar days, there is no maximum amount of time that a player can be placed on the injured reserve list. If a player is set to be sidelined for longer than 24 calendar days or 10 NHL games, then a club may opt to place them on the long-term injured reserve instead. This allows franchises with the ability to exceed the salary cap while a player is placed on this reserve list.
How long does it take to recover from an ice hockey injury?
No injury recovery timeline is the same as another as there are several factors that go into the rehab process for a player being affected by injury. Factors include but are not limited to, injury severity, player injury/medical history, age, as well as the location of the injury. Some injuries are able to clear up in a matter of days, while others may take an athlete out of action for the entirety of a season.