Peter Baugh: Colorado Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said that defenseman Bowen Byram suffered a setback to his upper-body injury and itâs not related to his time that he was on the COVID protocol list. Bednar added that when heâs ready to play, theyâll get him into a few AHL games first.
Rick Sadowski of NHL.com: The Avalanche could get Philipp Grubauer, Mikko Rantanen and Joonas Donskoi back in the lineup on Friday, All were on, and have since been removed from the COVID protocol list. Grubauer has been out since April 14th and started skating on Tuesday.
âTrying to build him back up to be able to be the starter for us, hopefully Friday,â Bednar said. âHeâs on the ice today for the first time. Heâs been in the building with us for three or four days working out and working on his conditioning, strengthening of his groins and abdomen and everything he needs to do.â
Pens Inside Scoop: Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said that Evgeni Malkin has been fully cleared for contact.
âGeno participated full contact today in practice. Freddy Gaudreau did the same. Tans skated with the taxi squad before practice today and is making progress. Theyâll all travel with us.â
Jeremy Rutherford: St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko wasnât ready to last night.
Brendan Batchelor: Vancouver Canucks coach Travis Green on Thatcher Demkoâs injury yesterday before their game: âIt had nothing to do with COVID. He tweaked something in the morning, and heâs more than ready to play tonight.â