Earlier today, Ryan Pike of Daily Faceoff Calgary provided updates on two injured Calgary Flames forwards. Although he won’t return tonight, the most notable update is that captain Mikael Backlund is close to returning.
Backlund, 37, has been recovering from a lower-body injury for the past week. Even though he won’t suit up against the Detroit Red Wings, he may return on Monday when the Flames host the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Backlund scored one goal and two points in eight games before the injury.
Additionally, Pike offered an update on winger Jonathan Huberdeau, who has been recovering from offseason hip-resurfacing surgery. Unfortunately, his prognosis isn’t as positive as Backlund’s.
Huberdeau will begin practicing with Calgary from time to time, but isn’t close to returning.
Additional notes from the Pacific Division:
Elsewhere in Alberta, the Edmonton Oilers will lose a key defenseman for the foreseeable future. Although the Oilers never specified netminder Devon Levi’s injury, Sportsnet’s Mark Spector reported that Mattias Ekholm is out with a concussion.
It’s a difficult blow to absorb for Edmonton, since they typically play Ekholm with Evan Bouchard. The pairing has combined for a 56.7% xGoals% this season, according to MoneyPuck.
Forward Igor Chernyshov had already returned home before tonight’s game between the Boston Bruins and San Jose Sharks. Chernysov suffered an upper-body injury against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday and is expected to miss the next few weeks, according to Curtis Pashelka of the Bay Area News Group.
Chernysov has registered two goals and four points in 11 games for the Sharks this season.