Status Report: Sanderson back for Sens tonight

Welcome to the NHL Status Report. Here is the latest lineup/injury news around the NHL.

Jake Sanderson will return from a lower-body injury against the Florida Panthers on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET; Prime, SCRIPPS).

The defenseman practiced with the Senators on Monday; he was injured during their season opener Oct. 3, missing eight straight games.

He was paired with Artem Zub at the morning skate Wednesday. "I'm fired up," Sanderson said.

"Long few weeks for me, frustrating for sure. But you know, I think seeing the guys play as good as they have kind of you know makes a little bit better.

So, frustrating, like I said, but man, I'm just so excited to play. Sanderson led Ottawa defensemen last season in goals (14), assists (40), points (54) and time on ice per game (24:50).

Thomas Chabot is out 1-2 weeks because of an upper-body injury, coach Travis Green said. The defenseman did not play in third period of a 3-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.

Rasmus Dahlin (upper body) and Jason Zucker (sports hernia) will be in the lineup for the Sabres against the Flyers on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET; HBO MAX, truTV, TNT).

Dahlin, a defenseman and Buffalo’s captain, was back at practice Monday after missing three games; he was injured in the second period of a 5-3 win against Florida on Oct. 12.

Zucker was activated from injured reserve and will make his season debut; he had 45 points (24 goals, 21 assists) in 62 games for the Sabres in 2025-26. Buffalo placed forward Sam Carrick (middle body) on injured reserve to make room for Zucker.

Seth Jarvis was a full participant at Hurricanes practice Wednesday and could make his season debut at the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday (9 p.m. ET; TVAS, SNW, CARNHL, HHN).

The forward had surgery in June to repair a torn labrum and rotator cuff in his right shoulder. Jarvis led Carolina with 32 goals last season and had 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in 19 games during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, helping win its first championship since 2006.

He skated on a line Wednesday with Jordan Martinook and Jesper Kotkaniemi. "It's getting closer,” coach Rod Brind’Amour said.

“We're trying to get him every (rep), like power-play time and stuff that he hasn't really been doing, in hopes that we get told he's good to go.

Logan Thompson (lower body) did not practice Wednesday and is day to day, the Capitals announced. The goalie made 21 saves in a 5-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday.

Thompson is 4-3-0 with a 2.90 goals-against average and .901 save percentage in seven games this season. Washington hosts Buffalo on Saturday.

Forward Jonny Brodzinski was reassigned to Hershey of the American Hockey League, a sign center Pierre-Luc Dubois could return Saturday after missing five games with an illness. Brodzinski had one assist in two games after being recalled Oct.

17.

Jacob Markstrom will be out 1-2 weeks for the Panthers after sustaining an upper-body injury in practice. The goalie, who was acquired in a trade with the New Jersey Devils on June 30, is 3-1-1 with a 2.21 goals-against average and .897 save percentage in six games this season.

Akira Schmid is expected to start against the Senators on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET; Prime, SCRIPPS), with Cooper Black serving as the backup.

Black, who was recalled from Charlotte of the AHL on Tuesday, will see playing time in Markstrom's absence, Florida coach Paul Maurice said. Defenseman Radko Gudas will return after missing three games with a lower-body injury.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (lower body) will make his season debut against the Hurricanes on Thursday (9 p.m. ET; TVAS, SNW, CARNHL, HHN), Oilers coach Mike Babcock said after a 4-3 overtime win against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday.

The forward has yet to play because of an injury sustained at practice on Sept. 28.

He had 56 points (20 goals, 36 assists) in 72 games last season.

There is still no timetable for Mathew Barzal (knee) to begin practicing with the Islanders, general manager Mathieu Darche said Wednesday. The forward has not played this season after he reaggravated his injury prior to training camp.

“We feel the inflammation is down, but we're still working with him about getting his strength back and how comfortable he feels,” Darche said. “He's skating.

We hope it's sooner, but at the end of the day, every day he's starting to skate a bit more, and we're hoping to at some point get him with the team, and then from there we go from there. Barzal led New York with 72 points (19 goals, 53 assists) in 81 games last season.

The Islanders host the Kings on Thursday (7:30 p.m. ET; Disney+, HULU, ESPN+, SN+).

Quinton Byfield (upper body) is day to day for the Kings and questionable to play against the Islanders on Thursday (7:30 p.m. ET; Disney+, HULU, ESPN+, SN+).

The forward left a 5-2 win at Washington on Tuesday midway through the first period. Los Angeles recalled forward Jared Wright from Ontario of the AHL on Wednesday for “precautionary measures,” coach Peter Laviolette said.

Byfield has two points (one goal, one assist) in seven games this season.

Mikael Backlund is day to day for the Flames with an upper-body injury. The forward was injured in a 3-2 win against the Hurricanes on Sunday.

He has one goal and one assist in eight games this season. The Flames host the Wild on Thursday (9 p.m.

ET; SN1, MINNHL, Wild+).

Esa Lindell will be out at least a week for the Stars because of a lower-body injury. The defenseman was injured blocking a shot in a 4-0 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday.

He is averaging 20:49 of ice time per game and leads Dallas with 18 blocked shots. The Stars host the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday (8 p.m.

ET; KDFW 4, Prime Video, TSN3).

Alexander Wennberg missed a 4-3 overtime win at the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday because of an upper-body injury. The Sharks forward is listed as day to day.

Wennberg has three assists in nine games this season. San Jose visits Ottawa on Thursday (7 p.m.

ET; RDS, TSN5, NBCSCA).

Logan O'Connor (lower body) is expected to make his season debut for the Avalanche against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday (9 p.m. ET; The Spot, ALT, SN360, TVAS).

The forward was placed on long-term injured reserve Sept. 28 and had to miss at least 10 games.

Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said forwards Nicolas Roy (lower body) and Zachary L'Heureux (upper body) are considered week to week, but Roy could be closer to a return.

The Canadiens loaned defenseman David Reinbacher and forward Owen Beck to Laval of the AHL on Wednesday, one day after each was scratched for a 4-3 overtime loss to the Sharks. Reinbacher, the No. 5 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, played 9:09 in his season debut, a 4-3 overtime loss to the Sabres on Saturday.

Beck does not have a point in two games this season with Montreal, which visits Chicago on Friday (8 p.m. ET; CHSN, NHLN, TSN2, RDS).