Ice Chips: McCabe skates with Maple Leafs; Rifai sent down
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Keep updated on all the injury news and roster updates from around the NHL with daily Ice Chips.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Jake McCabe skated with the team on Wednesday.
McCabe has missed the last three games with an upper-body injury after appearing to suffer the injury during a fight with the Philadelphia Flyers' Garnet Hathaway.
McCabe and Hathaway dropped the gloves near the end of the opening period and McCabe fell hard on the ice with Hathaway landing on top of him. McCabe, whose head appeared to hit the ice, was slow to get up but did leave the playing surface under his own power.
McCabe departed after roughly 10 minutes of practicing, though Maple Leafs head coach noted afterwards that McCabe is "doing really well. There’s no setbacks with him so it’s good to see."
Defenceman Marshall Rifai was assigned to the AHL's Toronto Marlies on Wednesday morning.
The 26-year-old has yet to appear in an NHL game so far this season. He has two goals and two assists in 26 games with the Marlies this season.
He got into two NHL games last February, tallying 23:19 of ice time.
The Maple Leafs skated the following lines in practice on Wednesday:
Minnesota Wild
Superstar forward Kirill Kaprizov skated on Wednesday with the Minnesota Wild, his first practice participation since before the Holiday Break.
Kaprizov, 27, ranks second in the NHL with 23 goals through 34 games played, and has 50 points on the season.
The young forward has a lower-body injury and has not played with Dec. 23, when he recorded a goal in a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.
Ottawa Senators
Ottawa has loaned defenceman Maxence Guenette to the AHL's Belleville Senators, it was announced Wednesday morning.
The 23-year-old has not yet appeared in an NHL game this season. He has three goals and nine points in 27 AHL games in 2024-25.
Washington Capitals
Forward Sonny Milano practised in a non-contact jersey Wesnesday, according to NHL.com's Tom Gulitti.
Gulitti notes it's the first full practice for him since being injured. He has not appeared in an NHL games since Nov. 6.
The 28-year-old had 15 goals and 23 points in 49 games last season.
Buffalo Sabres
Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said via Heather Engel of NHL.com Wednesday that defenceman Mattias Samuelsson is a game-time decision against the Carolina Hurricanes.
The 24-year-old has been out since Jan. 6 with an illness. He has two goals and five points in 26 games so far this season.
Ruff also said that forward Jiri Kulich (lower-body injury) is a longshot to return Friday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Ruff added he should be good to go for the team's road trip out west that begins next Monday.
The 20-year-old Kulich has missed Buffalo's last two games. He has seven goals and nine points in 31 games so far this season.