Ice Chips: Tavares a 'possibility' for Saturday due to illness
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Toronto Maple Leafs
Forward John Tavares did not participate in the Toronto Maple Leafs' morning skate on Saturday due to an illness, the team announced.
He is a "possibility" to play against the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, according to head coach Craig Berube.
Tavares, 34, scored a goal in the season opener on Wednesday. He played in both of the first two games of the season.
Berube also told reporters that there is currently no timetable for goaltender Justin Woll, who did not skate on Saturday, to return to action.
He has not skated since suffering a lower-body injury before the season opener.
Montreal Canadiens
Jayden Struble practiced for the Montreal Canadiens in their morning skate on Saturday, rotating with Arber Xhekaj in the third defensive pairing.
Struble, 23, has yet to make an appearance for the Canadiens after playing in 56 games a season ago.
The defenceman scored three goals and tallied 10 points in his first season in Montreal last year.
Montreal battles the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night, and the following lines skated in practice on Saturday morning:
Caufield-Suzuki- Slafkovsky
Newhook-Dach- Armia
Anderson-Evans- Gallagher
Heineman-Dvorak- Kapanen
Matheson- Guhle
Hutson- Savard
Xhekaj- Barron
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators skated the following lines in practice on Saturday:
Tkachuk-Stützle-Giroux
Gregor-Norris-Batherson
Perron-Pinto-Amadio
Cousins-Greig-MacEwen
Sanderson-Zub
Chabot-Jensen
Kleven-Hamonic
Ullmark
Forsberg
Edmonton Oilers
Calvin Pickard was in the starter's net in practice on Saturday morning for the Edmonton Oilers.
With a weekend doubleheader scheduled, Stuart Skinner, who started their disastrous 6-0 defeat in the season opener, is likely to start on Sunday.
Travis Dermott and Darnell Nurse skated as a defensive pairing in practice, per TSN's Ryan Rishaug, with Ty Emberson and Brett Kulak forming another defensive pairing.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Joel Blomquist is expected to start in net for the Pittsburgh Penguins against the Maple Leafs on Saturday.
The 22-year-old won his first career start in the Penguins' 6-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday.
Bryan Rust also skated with Sidney Crosby's line on Saturday morning and is expected to make his season debut for Pittsburgh against Toronto.
The 11th year veteran has won two Stanley Cups with the Penguins in his career.
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals skated the following lines in practice on Saturday:
Ovechkin-Strome-Mangiapane
McMichael-Dubois-Wilson
Milano-Lapierre-Protas
Duhaime-Dowd-Raddysh
Chychrun-Carlson
Fehervary-Roy
Sandin-van Riemsdyk
Lindgren
Thompson
The Capitals play their season opener against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday evening.
New York Rangers
Igor Shesterkin was the first goalie off the ice at the New York Rangers' practice on Saturday morning, indicating he is expected to start.
Matt Rempe also participated in drills and is expected to take the place of Jonny Brodzinski in the lineup on Saturday against the Utah Hockey Club.