Eastern Conference News: Bruins, Sabres, Jackets, Senators, Penguins, Lightning and Playoff Races
Penguins Derick Brassard out day-to-day.
On the Boston Bruins …

Boston Bruins: Defensemen Zdeno Chara and Charlie McAvoy and forward Jake DeBrusk are progressing well and could return this weekend. Sean Kuraly is out with an upper-body injury. Rick Nash is out but is doing some off-ice workouts.

Joe Haggerty: The Bruins reassigned defenseman Paul Postma to the AHL and recalled Tommy Cross on an emergency basis.

On the Buffalo Sabres …

Paul Hamilton: Goaltender Linus Ullmark is still listed as day-to-day, but it’s sounding like he isn’t progressing as fast as they had hoped.

On the Columbus Blue Jackets …

Brian Hedger: The Blue Jackets signed defenseman Markus Nutivaara to a four-year contract extension with $10.8 million – a $2.7 million salary cap hit. He’ll get $2.5 million for the first three seasons, and then $3.3 million in the final year.

On the Ottawa Senators …

Bruce Garrioch: Forward Mark Stone was on the ice yesterday, and he could return to the lineup sometime next week.

Bruce Garrioch: Coach Guy Boucher said that Marian Gaborik is week-to-week and that “we’re running out of weeks.”

Brent Wallace: The Senators have recalled forward Colin White.

Bruce Garrioch: Defenseman Chris Wideman is done for the season as he requires more time to recover from hamstring surgery.

On the Pittsburgh Penguins …

Josh Yohe: Coach Mike Sullivan said that Derick Brassard is listed as day-to-day.

Wes Crosby: The Penguins have recalled forward Josh Jorris from the AHL.

On the Tampa Bay Lightning …

Dan Rosen: “The Lightning have fallen out of first place in the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference for the first time since Oct. 18, when Toronto beat Detroit to take the division and conference lead with 12 points.”

Tampa Bay Lightning: Forward Adam Erne is out indefinitely with a lower-body injury.