Panthers without center Nick Bjugstad for Game 6 at Islanders

Nick Bjugstad was injured in the second overtime period Friday
night against the Islanders. (Robert Mayer/USA TODAY Sports)

NEW YORK (AP) -- Florida center Nick Bjugstad is out for Game 6 of the Panthers' first-round series against the New York Islanders on Sunday night after sustaining a head injury in the last game.

Bjugstad was injured during the first extra period of the Panthers' 2-1 double-overtime loss at home Friday night when he lost his footing after being hit by an Islanders player and going head-first into the boards. He needed stiches to close a cut on his head.

Bjugstad did not travel with the team to New York and Florida coach Gerard Gallant said he was day to day.

The Panthers trail 3-2 in the series and need a win to force a deciding Game 7 on Tuesday night in Sunrise, Florida.

Bjugstad had two goals and two assists in the first five games. He finished the regular season with 15 goals and 19 assists in 67 games.

Capitals D Orpik to miss Game 4 against Flyers

"The Neutral Zone" Staff Report

Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik will miss Game 4
of Round one against the Philadelphia Flyers on
Wednesday.

Washington Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik will not play in Game 4 of their first-round Eastern Conference series against the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday night due to suffering an upper-body injury in Game 3 on Monday.

Orpik suffered the injury in the second period of the Capitals' 6-1 win and did not return after being checked into the boards by Flyers forward Ryan White.

Capitals head coach Barry Trotz said he has confidence in the defense of his team.

"We're really deep at that position," Trotz said after the Capitals' practice on Tuesday. "So that's an area that's a strength for our team."

Capitals D Brooks Orpik injured in Game 3 against Flyers

PHILADELPHIA -- Washington Capitals veteran defenseman Brooks Orpik suffered an upper-body injury during the second period of the Capitals' 6-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday in Game 3 of the two teams' Round one playoff series

Orpik suffered the injury at 11:59 of the second period and did not return after being checked into the boards by Flyers' forward Ryan White.

Capitals coach Barry Trotz said Orpik will be reevaluated Tuesday.

Penguins lose three players for next two games; Fleury making progress

"The Neutral Zone" Staff Report

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced on Thursday that players Olli Maatta, Bryan Rust, and Evgeni Malkin will miss the next two games with injuries.

As a corresponding move, the Penguins have recalled forward Tom Destino from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League.

Fleury making progress: Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan on Thursday said that the team's starting goaltender Marc Andre Fleury is making progress from his injury.

"He is making significant progress," Sullivan said. "He is an important part of this team."

New York Rangers lose Girardi and McDonagh before playoffs; call up Skjei

"The Neutral Zone" Staff Report

Dan Girardi (left) and Ryan McDonagh (right).

New York Rangers defensemen Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonagh are both injured, and have no timetable for their returns.

Girardi was injured on Tuesday in the third period of the Rangers' game against the Tampa Bay Lightning after being checked shoulder-first into the boards. Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault said on Thursday that Girardi is day-to-day and will not be in the Rangers' lineup against the New York Islanders.

McDonagh blocked a shot on Monday against the Columbus Blue Jackets with his right hand in the first period. McDonagh finished the period, but did not return to the game for the second period and beyond.

McDonagh's injury prompted the Rangers to recall defenseman Brady Skjei from the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League on Tuesday before the team's game against the Lightning.

For the Rangers in their game against the Islanders tonight, Henrik Lundqvist will start in goal and Oscar Lindberg will be a healthy scratch, Vigneault confirmed on Thursday.

Medical update - Carey Price not to return to action this season

Press Release from the Canadiens website.

MONTREAL – Canadiens’ general manager Marc Bergevin announced Tuesday that goaltender Carey Price will not return to action this season. The decision was made last night by the Canadiens’ medical staff, head team physician Vincent Lacroix, head orthopedic surgeon Paul Martineau, with Marc Bergevin and Carey Price.

“Now that Carey Price’s season has officially ended, here is a detailed description of his injury: Carey sustained a medial collateral ligament injury (MCL sprain) to his right knee on November 25th, 2015 in a game against the NY Rangers. The MCL provides support to the inside of the knee and is essential for stability and knee function. Acute, isolated MCL injuries are managed without surgery. Rehabilitation treatments lead to full functional recovery. The recovery process can be long in the case of an elite netminder such as Carey, due to the high demand placed on this anatomical structure by modern goaltending techniques. Although Carey has made excellent progress and is very close to being able to return to competition, he has not presently been cleared to do so. He is expected to make a full recovery over the off-season. This injury was not the same as the one he suffered earlier this season (October 29th at Edmonton), nor in previous years,” said the Canadiens’ head physician, Dr. Vincent Lacroix.

The Canadiens also announced that the following players will also be out for the remainder of the season due to injuries: P.K. Subban (neck), Mark Barberio (concussion), Victor Bartley (groin/broken foot) and Lucas Lessio (right knee).

Lightning forward Steven Stamkos to miss 1-3 months with injury

"The Neutral Zone" Staff Report

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steven Stamkos will miss one to three months of playing time due to a blood clot near his right collar bone.

Stamkos will have a surgery to try and help repair the injury on Monday.

"Obviously, this situation is extremely disappointing because I wanted to help my team clinch a playoff spot and prepare for the start of the postseason," Stamkos said in a statement Saturday. "During my recovery, I will do all I can to help my teammates, and I hope to rejoin them soon in the Stanley Cup Playoffs."

Stamkos has not missed a game since March 6, 2014, playing 209 consecutive games, including the playoffs.

Sabres forward Evander Kane to miss remainder of season with injury

"The Neutral Zone" Staff Report

Evander Kane

Buffalo Sabres forward Evander Kane will miss the remainder of the 2015-16 NHL season due to an upper-body injury.

Sabres head coach Dan Bylsma said on Thursday that Kane may need three or four weeks to heal the injury.

Losing a good player like Kane at this time for the Sabres really won't hurt them all that much. Buffalo is out of playoff contention and only has five games left in the season.

Kane was injured in the Sabres' game against the Detroit Red Wings on Monday while battling for the puck. 

Devils place Cory Schneider on IR, re-assigned to Albany (AHL) for conditioning stint

"The Neutral Zone" Staff Report

Cory Schneider

The New Jersey Devils on Sunday placed starting goaltender Cory Schneider (Grade 1 MCL Sprain - right knee) on Injured Reserve due to an injury sustained on March 4.

Schneider will be re-assigned to the Albany Devils of the American Hockey League for a conditioning stint.

Schneider will return to the Devils for the team's practice on Tuesday.

In 55 games played this season, Schneider has posted a 26-23-6 record with a .923 SV%, and a 2.17 GAA.

Lightning defenseman Stralman out indefinitely

"The Neutral Zone" Staff Report

Anton Stralman

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Anton Stralman will be out indefinitely after sustaining a non-displaced fracture of his left fibula in a game against the New York Islanders on Friday.

Stralman got part of his skate caught in the ice in front of the Lightning net as he was defending Anders Lee in the first period of the game. 

Lightning coach Jon Cooper said thatb Stralman could return during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which begin April 13.

"Obviously it's a little different getting hurt Oct. 25 than it is March 25," Cooper said. "It hurts the team, but we can't lose focus on what we need to continue to do to put ourselves in a playoff spot."

Jets forward Perreault out indefinitely with concussion

"The Neutral Zone" Staff Report

Winnipeg Jets forward Mathieu Perreault has a concussion and is out indefinitely, coach Paul Maurice announced on Monday.

"He's got to go through the protocol. I don't have any timeline for that," Maurice told the Jets website.

Perreault has nine goals and 41 points in 71 games this season.

Perreault had an assist in the Jets' 3-2 overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday.

Ducks forward Perron week-to-week with shoulder injury

"The Neutral Zone" Staff Report

The Anaheim Ducks will be without forward David Perron for an unknown period of time.

Perron was placed on injured reserve on Monday with a shoulder injury, and is considered week-to-week.

Perron sustained the injury sustained in an overtime victory against the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday.

Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau made the announcement on Monday.

"I don’t know how bad it is but I assume it’s week-to-week," Boudreau said after practice at Bell Sports Complex. "We’re on the road for eight more days. I’ve got to believe it’s week-to-week at this point.

"He’s out for the trip. If he’s going to go home, he’s not going to come back. It’d be lovely if he could and meet us in Edmonton or something but I’m not counting on it."

The Ducks were 21-5-2 this season with Perron in the lineup.

Islanders goaltender Jaroslav Halak out 'six weeks' with lower-body injury

"The Neutral Zone" Staff Report

Jaroslav Halak

Jaroslav Halak will miss the rest of the New York Islanders’ regular season.

“He’s out at least six weeks,” Isles head coach Jack Capuano said. “We’ll go from there.”

The Islanders' goaltender suffered a lower-body injury in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“He’s an experienced guy who’s been down this stretch before and played some big games for us as we’ve made our playoff run,” Capuano said. “It’s a big loss for our team, but guys are going to get an opportunity to step in and hopefully can do the job.”

Details for this article came from the Islanders' website.

Devils recall G Yann Danis from Albany (AHL)

"The Neutral Zone" Staff Report

The New Jersey Devils on Saturday morning recalled goaltender Yann Danis from the Albany Devils of the American Hockey League.

The reason for the call up was the injury to Devils starting goaltender Cory Schneider. In the Devils' game on Friday night against the Stars, Schneider recieved a possible leg injury after jamming his let into a net post.

Two defenseman injured for the Montreal Canadiens

"The Neutral Zone" Staff Report

The Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday and Thursday announced that two players will miss the remainder of the season.

Defenseman Jeff Petry is out for the season with an abdomen injury, and another Canadiens defenseman, Tom Gilbert is out for six months with a left knee injury.

Petry's injury was announced Thursday, whild Gilbert's injury was announced Wednesday. Gilbert had surgrey on the knee on Wednesday as well.

Blues Place Elliott on Injured Reserve

Statement from the Blues website.

Brian Elliott (Getty Images)

ST. LOUIS - Blues goalie Brian Elliott has been placed on long-term injured reserve with a lower-body injury and will be re-evaluated in four weeks.

Elliott was injured Monday while attempting to make a save during a goal-mouth scramble with 7:01 remaining in the first period. After being attended to by Head Medical Trainer Ray Barile, Elliott left the game and did not return.

Jake Allen, who was serving as the backup in his first game since Jan. 8 due to injury, took over between the pipes.

The Blues have recalled goaltender Pheonix Copley from the Chicago Wolves. Copley recently served as the backup goaltender when Allen was out and is 12-12-2 with a 2.73 goals-against average and a .907 save-percentage with the Wolves this season.

Elliott has played in 34 games for the Blues, registering a 17-7-6 record. He ranks fifth in the League in goals against average (2.14) and third in save percentage (.929) while his recent stretch of 18 consecutive starts is the longest by any goaltender this season.

Days after return, Rangers' McDonagh may once again be injured by Leafs' Komarov

"The Neutral Zone" Injury Report

New York Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh was injured in the team's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night.

McDonagh was hit in the jaw in the 1st period of the game.  

Maple Leafs forward Leo Komarov delivered the blow. It was a pretty decisive decision for officials, as they gave Komarov a match penalty for illegal hit to the head. Komarov was ejected from the game.

McDonagh went to the Rangers bench after the incident but did not go out onto the ice for the second period.

Flames goaltender Ramo done for season with torn ACL

"The Neutral Zone" Staff Report

Karri Ramo

New details surfaced today of Calgary Flames backup goaltender Karri Ramo.

Ramo is done for the 2015-16 season with a torn ACL and meniscus damage.

The news is horrible for the goaltender, who was injured in a game on Feb. 11 after colliding with San Jose Sharks forward Joonas Gonskoi.

Ramo posted a record of 17-18-1 this season and had a save percentage of .909.

Rangers' McDonagh could play on Wednesday

"The Neutral Zone" Staff Report

Ryan McDonagh

Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh may return to the team's lineup on Wednesday after having missed the past four games with a concussion sustained Feb. 6 against the Philadelphia Flyers.

"I feel pretty good out there," McDonagh told BlueshirtsUnited.com. "Really not even thinking about [the injury] anymore, and that's the biggest thing for me. Just focusing on the way I need to play and having fun out there."

McDonagh practiced with the team on Tuesday morning in full-contact equipment.

#NYR Captain @RMcDonagh27 on the ice in a regular practice sweater today. pic.twitter.com/nxbmZfGBTx

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 16, 2016

The Rangers do have some other defenseman to worry about, however. Dan Boyle missed this morning's practice with the flu, and Marc Staal did not practice because he is expecting a child in the next few days.

If neither Stall nor Boyle can play on Wednesday, then a call-up will have to be made by the team from their AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack.

INJURY NOTEBOOK: Kreider returns for Rangers, but Gaborik may have leg injury

"The Neutral Zone" Staff Report

Early in the first period between the New York Rangers and the Los Angeles Kings on Friday, Rangers forward Chris Kreider was seen heading to the team's locker room holding his jaw, but he returned for the Rangers later in the period.

But even later in the period, Kings forward Marian Gaborik was injured in a knee-on-knee collision that caused him to limp off the ice while not putting pressure on his left leg.

We will have all updates on Gaborik's condition when they are available.