Toronto Maple Leafs
Matt Murray‘s availability for the Maple Leafs sport against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday is uncertain.
“Murray had some discomfort in his groin in the morning skate so we just decided it made sense to remove him from the skate, get him assessed and that process is still ongoing,” Toronto trainer Sheldon Keefe mentioned. “So we’ll get him assessed this afternoon in the next little bit and make some determinations on his status for tonight based on that. It’s still too early to give much on ‘what-if’ scenarios.
“It came about within the skate lately, he used to be one hundred pc high quality (after his get started against the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday).”
Murray made 19 saves in a 4-3 loss to the Canadiens in his Maple Leafs debut. He was acquired in a trade with the Senators on July 11.
Murray, who was expected to start against the Senators (7 p.m. ET; CBC, SNO, SNW, SNP, ESPN+, SN NOW), left the ice following the first series of drills during the morning skate after consulting with goalie coach Curtis Sanford and did not return.
Keefe said that Ilya Samsonov, who made 24 saves in a 3-2 win against the Washington Capitals on Thursday, is preparing as if he will start, though Murray could still play if he is medically cleared.
Goalie Erik Kallgren sustained an injury on Friday with Toronto of the American Hockey League, so it is unclear who would back up Samsonov if Murray is unable to dress. — Dave McCarthy
New Jersey Devils
Nico Hischier will make his season debut for the Devils against the Red Wings (7 p.m. ET; MSG, BSDET, ESPN+, SN NOW).
The center missed a 5-2 loss at the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday because of a hamstring strain he sustained in a 2-1 preseason win at the Montreal Canadiens on Sept. 26.
“I’m feeling excellent, unquestionably extra assured and I’ll be in this night,” Hischier said. “I think the place I wish to be. I’m simply taking a look ahead to play a sport, get in the market with the blokes, struggle in entrance of our house crowd. It’s going to be a amusing sport, a really perfect environment, so I’m unquestionably pumped for this sport.”
Hischier set NHL career highs in goals (21), assists (39) and points (60) in 70 games last season.
“I feel that after Nico is going in, the whole thing adjustments,” coach Lindy Ruff said. “We’re getting a really perfect competitor, an actual excellent chief, and we all know what he can do. Slightly bit disillusioned that he needed to leave out a while, however clearly to get him again is excellent.” — Mike G. Morreale
St. Louis Blues
Alexey Toropchenko will play for the Blues in the season opener against the Columbus Blue Jackets (8 p.m. ET; BSMW, BSOH, ESPN+, SN NOW).
The forward was originally projected to be out until mid-December following offseason shoulder surgery in July that Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said was a 4-5 month recovery before Toropchenko was reevaluated.
“He’s excellent to move,” Blues coach Craig Berube said Saturday. “We’re excited, he is excited. He’s a excellent participant for us. I believed he introduced so much ultimate 12 months to our staff and within the playoffs. We’re truly excited that he is early, going to play.”
Toropchenko had two goals in 28 regular-season games and two assists in 12 Stanley Cup Playoff games last season.
“Yep, one hundred pc,” Toropchenko said Friday when asked if he was playing. “Excited, feels sturdy, wholesome, able to move. Of direction, laborious paintings all summer season. You can see the place I’m at presently. Way forward of agenda and I’m able to move.”
Forward Logan Brown, who sustained an upper-body injury in a 5-2 preseason loss to the Dallas Stars on Oct. 1, did not practice Friday, and will not play. — Lou Korac
Philadelphia Flyers
Forwards Owen Tippett and Cam Atkinson, and defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen all will be out when the Flyers host the Vancouver Canucks (4 p.m. ET; SNP, NBCSP, ESPN+, SN NOW).
Tippett was placed on injured reserve Saturday because of an upper-body injury sustained in a collision with New Jersey Devils forward Ondrej Palat with 36 seconds left in the first period of the Flyers’ 5-2 win Thursday.
Atkinson (upper body) and Ristolainen (undisclosed) are day to day. Atkinson has been out since Sept. 25; Ristolainen left practice early Wednesday, but coach John Tortorella said the injury had been lingering.
Forward Jackson Cates was recalled from Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League, and defenseman Ronnie Attard was sent to the AHL. Forward Hayden Hodgson was placed on waivers, and forward Linus Sandin cleared waivers and returned to Sweden for personal reasons. — Adam Kimelman
Boston Bruins
Jake DeBrusk will not play for the Bruins against the Arizona Coyotes (7 p.m. ET; NESN, BSAZ, ESPN+, SN NOW) because of an upper-body injury.
“He’s now not eligible to play the following day however we expect that he is going to be again faster than we anticipated when it initially came about in order that’s excellent information,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said Friday.
DeBrusk was injured in a 5-2 win against the Washington Capitals on Thursday on a hit from Alex Ovechkin with 40 seconds remaining in the second period.
Trent Frederic will enter the lineup with DeBrusk out.
Arizona Coyotes
Nick Schmaltz won’t play for the Coyotes on the Boston Bruins (7 p.m. ET; NESN, BSAZ, ESPN+, SN NOW).
The ahead sustained an upper-body damage within the first length of a season-opening 6-2 loss on the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday.
Schmaltz used to be 2d at the Coyotes in objectives (23) and issues (59) in 63 video games ultimate season.