NHL Injuries: Bruins, Sabres, Lightning, Pens, Ducks, Kings and more
OEL traveling with the Coyotes. Sabres hopeful Reinhart can play tonight. Laine could play if cleared today. Dumoulin to IR, Letang day-to-day. Thornton skating.
On the Boston Bruins …

Boston Bruins: Forward David Backes didn’t travel with the team and will be evaluated after the weekend. He could join the team at some point on their road trip.

Amalie BenjaminTuukka Rask is traveling with the team.

On the Buffalo Sabres …

John Vogl: Forward Jack Eichel walked through the Sabres dressing room yesterday with an ankle brace on … no walking and scooter.

On the Dallas Stars …

Mark Stepneski: A decision if Jason Spezza (lower-body) and Jiri Hudler (illness) are able to play will come this morning.

On the Minnesota Wild …

Rachel Blount: Defenseman Jared Spurgeon is expected to be in the lineup today. They are hopeful that Erik Haula will be able to return early next week.

On the Ottawa Senators …

Bruce Garrioch: Forward Clarke MacArthur was on the ice skating yesterday in a no-contact jersey.

On the Tampa Bay Lightning …

Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times: The Lightning are saying forward Nikita Kucherov is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. His status for tonight is not known yet. There has been no word given as what the injury is, but it’s thought to be around his left shoulder.

On the Pittsburgh Penguins …

Dave Molinari of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Defenseman Kris Letang didn’t practice yesterday, but he could be back in the lineup during their four game road trip which starts tonight. Letang had a scheduled doctor’s appointment yesterday and will meet the team in Philadelphia.

On the Anaheim Ducks …

Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: Simon Despres is on the LTIR with a concussion and it sounds like it may not be on the issue at hand.

“The Despres situation is one that … is a very sensitive issue and it’s one that … my whole goal hopefully is make it that Simon at the end of all this lives a happy, healthy, normal life,” Murray said. “It’s going to take some time before we get to that point. Really, it’s all I want to say at this time on that because it is sensitive and I feel real bad for Simon.”

On the Los Angeles Kings …

Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider: Coach Darryl Sutter on Marian Gaborik‘s recovery.

“He had his three-week when you asked about it last time. Yeah. Basically got an X-ray and healing, that’s all.”

Sutter on Jeff Zatkoff‘s recovery.

“Couldn’t tell you. Haven’t seen him, haven’t talked to him.”