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Jan Rutta Undergoes Surgery

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The Pittsburgh Penguins failed to make the playoffs for the first time in many years, allowing some players to get cleanup surgeries. This week, Jan Rutta went under the knife for a procedure to repair a core muscle injury. The surgery was performed in St. Louis and will keep Rutta out for an estimated eight to ten weeks.

That timeline leaves him plenty of time to get ready for next season, though core muscle injuries are notorious for affecting performance longer than the initial recovery.

Rutta, 32, suited up for 56 games this season in Pittsburgh after signing a three-year, $8.25MM contract in the summer. The deal was a significant payday for the former Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman, who has never had a contract longer than two years previously.

While he’ll never offer much offensive upside, Rutta was given brutal defensive deployment this year in Pittsburgh. While his possession numbers look ugly, the results weren’t nearly as bad. The Penguins outscored their opponents 33-32 while Rutta was on the ice at even strength. Given his strong contribution on the penalty kill, he should continue to play a solid (though limited) role for Pittsburgh moving forward.

Lightning Notes: Hedman, Jeannot, Eyssimont

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The Tampa Bay Lightning could have Victor Hedman back in the lineup tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The big defenseman took the morning skate, and is a game-time decision. Hedman left game one early with what head coach Jon Cooper deemed a”new” injury, but might not miss much important action. The Lightning rolled over Toronto in game one while playing shorthanded, after Erik Cernak also left with a head injury.

Cernak has been ruled out, but it is a good sign for Lightning fans that Hedman is this close, even if he happens to miss tonight.

Here are some more Lightning injury notes:

  • All indications are that Tanner Jeannot will make his Tampa Bay postseason debut tonight, less than two weeks after suffering what appeared to be a serious injury. The former Nashville Predators forward was the team’s big deadline addition and could add another level of physicality to the series. Jeannot scored just one goal in 20 games with the Lightning after the trade but racked up 77 hits, even averaging fewer than 12 minutes a night.
  • Mikey Eyssimont, who also left game one after a big hit, has been ruled out for game two but took part in morning skate. That’s another good sign that he could return this series, giving the Lightning some more depth as they try to knock Toronto out for the second year in a row.

Teuvo Teravainen To Undergo Surgery

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The Carolina Hurricanes will be without Teuvo Teravainen for at least the first round, after suffering a broken hand last night against the New York Islanders. Teravainen will undergo surgery on the hand today, according to Kurt Dusterberg of NHL.com.

Head coach Rod Brind’Amour explained that he was “a little pissed” at the “tomahawk chop” from Jean-Gabriel Pageau that led to the injury late in the third period. Teravainen left with a few minutes remaining, and was unavailable to the Hurricanes in overtime as they managed to take game two. Now out indefinitely, he’ll have to hope that the Hurricanes put together a long playoff run if he wants to play again this season.

While this was a down year by Teravainen’s standards, scoring just 37 points in 68 games, he is still an important part of the deep Carolina forward group. The club is known for rolling out line after line of effective players, wearing you down with a never-ending forecheck. Even if he’s not producing at an elite level, like when he scored 76 points in 2018-19 or 65 last season, pulling Teravainen out of the lineup is a significant loss.

Jack Drury moved to the top line with Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis at the end of the game, and could get a huge opportunity to make an impact early in his career. The 23-year-old forward has just 40 regular season games under his belt to this point.

Despite the considerable depth, injuries are starting to pile up for Carolina. They already lost Max Pacioretty, Ondrej Kase, and Andrei Svechnikov before the playoffs began, and now will be without Teravainen for the foreseeable future.

Wild/Stars Notes: Walker, Wild Injuries, Pavelski

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The Minnesota Wild recalled forward Sammy Walker from AHL Iowa this morning, per the team, adding some extra reinforcements to their playoff roster. He’s not expected to play tonight for Game 2 against Dallas, with coach Dean Evason telling reporters this morning that Walker’s recall is just the team “protecting itself” from any further injuries to their forward corps.

If he does suit up while on this recall, though, it will be the first Stanley Cup Playoff appearance for the 23-year-old. The free agent signing out of the University of Minnesota wrapped up his AHL regular season with 48 points in 56 games and will be a crucial absence for Iowa as they begin their playoff run. Walker earned nine games of NHL experience with Minnesota this season, recording his first NHL goal and assist.

  • Both Joel Eriksson Ek and Ryan Hartman practiced with the Wild this morning, according to The Athletic’s Joe Smith. Hartman suited up in Game 1, scoring the double-overtime winner, but most watching the game would indicate he didn’t look at 100 percent health. Eriksson Ek, on the other hand, has missed nearly two weeks with a lower-body injury but could be ready to return sooner than expected. His return would be a gigantic boost for a Wild team that’s already stolen home ice in the series, giving the team a more well-balanced offensive attack between their first and second lines.
  • Dallas Stars head coach Peter DeBoer told reporters this morning that Joe Pavelski is “feeling better” after leaving Game 1’s loss due to a collision with Wild defender Matt Dumba, although he remains in concussion protocol. Pavelski will not suit up in Game 2 but has not been ruled out for a return during the series. In his absence, Tyler Seguin is expected to slide in on the top line alongside Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz.

Injury Notes: Bennett, Romanov, Janmark

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Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett will return to the lineup for Game 2 against the Boston Bruins, head coach Paul Maurice confirmed today. Bennett missed the final 12 games of the regular season and 13 overall with a groin injury, his second multi-game absence of the season.

Bennett is a crucial secondary scoring option for a Panthers team that needs all the help they can get to unseat the President’s Trophy winners in the first round. The 26-year-old has continued to progress since joining the Panthers, recording 40 points in 63 games this season while serving as their second-line center. That’s a role he’ll resume tonight, per the Panthers’ line rushes at practice this morning, skating between Eetu Luostarinen and Matthew Tkachuk. With Boston still without Patrice Bergeron, Bennett’s return is a major boost for Florida, who needs to double down on a strong Game 1 effort to tie the series.

  • New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov remains out of the lineup tonight, says The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz. Romanov has been out of the lineup since April 2 with an undisclosed injury and is still listed as day-to-day, although a return doesn’t seem imminent. Samuel Bolduc, who’s drawn in for Romanov down the stretch and did so again in Game 1 Monday, recorded a +1 rating in just 8:51 of ice time against the Hurricanes.
  • Edmonton Oilers winger Mattias Janmark could miss Game 2 against the Los Angeles Kings tonight after blocking a shot off his right foot Monday, TSN’s Jason Gregor reports. Janmark did not participate in this morning’s practice and was seen limping after the Oilers’ Game 1 overtime loss. Gregor expects the Oilers to dress seven defensemen tonight with Janmark absent, meaning youngster Philip Broberg could make his second career playoff appearance. Janmark did register an assist in Game 1.

Morning Notes: Sabres Goaltending, Bergeron, Eyssimont

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The Buffalo Sabres had a rather unconventional system of goaltending this season. With the early-season emergence of youngster Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, the team rotated three netminders for most of the season. That number became four when Devon Levi joined the team late in the year after wrapping up his collegiate career.

Buffalo’s depth chart in the crease will be thinner next season, however. 41-year-old Craig Anderson has ridden off into the sunset after a fantastic final season, leading the team with a .908 save percentage, albeit in just 24 starts. Veteran Eric Comrie, signed through next season, struggled mightily with a .886 save percentage in 19 starts. That leaves Buffalo with Levi and Luukkonen, who head coach Don Granato said today he’s comfortable with as next season’s tandem.

It’s a tall ask of two goalies under the age of 25 to help propel a franchise toward its first playoff appearance in over a decade, especially given Luukkonen’s shaky injury history throughout his development. He did show major promise in the NHL this season, however, and it doesn’t seem Buffalo is at the point yet where they’re prepared to give up on possible major future pieces in exchange for a quick fix.

More from around the league this morning:

  • While Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron skated on his own before practice this morning, he didn’t join the team’s full session, per The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa, and is expected to remain out of the lineup for Game 2 against the Florida Panthers tonight. Florida made more noise against the Bruins than most expected in the opening match, but Boston still secured a 3-1 win without their captain’s services. Bergeron is still dealing with a minor injury and illness that have sidelined him for approximately the past week.
  • The Tampa Bay Lightning lost the services of two defensemen to injury last night, but also had to contend without forward Michael Eyssimont for most of the game after a hit from Toronto Maple Leafs defender Jake McCabe. Eyssimont had recorded two assists in 15 games with the Lightning since arriving from the San Jose Sharks at the trade deadline.

No Supplemental Discipline Coming For Matt Dumba

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The Minnesota Wild scored an impressive overtime victory over the Dallas Stars last night, but some wondered whether they would lose a key defenseman for the next matchup. Matt Dumba’s huge hit on Joe Pavelski caused a ton of chatter across the hockey world, with some believing it was a clear suspension and others seeing it as a legal hit.

Greg Wyshynski of ESPN reports that the league falls in the latter category. There will be no supplemental discipline for Dumba, with Wyshynski’s NHL source saying it was “close to being late, but within [the] allowable window.”

Dumba earned a two-minute roughing penalty on the play after a review from the on-ice officials deemed it not worthy of a five-minute penalty.

Pavelski would play just over ten minutes, recording an assist before exiting with a head injury.

This is not the first time that the veteran forward has been involved in a controversial (and scary) playoff incident. In 2019, while still with the San Jose Sharks, he landed awkwardly on the ice after a faceoff against the Vegas Golden Knights as blood pooled under his head. The Sharks received a five-minute powerplay for that event, a decision that even Pavelski didn’t agree with in the light of day.

The Stars are now down a game and potentially without one of their leaders for a little while. Head coach Peter DeBoer explained last night that Pavelski was doing okay, but that he wasn’t confident about his status for game two.

East Injury Notes: Jeannot, McLeod, Foligno

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Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said today that forward Tanner Jeannot is progressing quicker than expected in his recovery from a leg injury and could suit up sometime during their First Round series. He listed Jeannot’s status as day-to-day and confirmed he will not play in Game 1 against Toronto tomorrow, although he did practice this morning.

Jeannot missed the last three games of the regular season after sustaining the injury in an April 6 game against the New York Islanders. The 25-year-old has struggled offensively with Tampa since he was acquired for a massive haul ahead of the trade deadline, recording a goal and three assists in 20 games. The Lightning are hoping Jeannot’s aggressive style of play can make more of an impact in the postseason when he returns to playing health.

  • New Jersey Devils forward Michael McLeod is available for Game 1 against the New York Rangers tomorrow, head coach Lindy Ruff confirmed. McLeod missed the Devils’ 81st game of the season with an undisclosed injury and was scratched for their final game. The 25-year-old, who had 26 points in 80 games this season, is expected to make his playoff debut Tuesday.
  • While the availability of some other Boston Bruins players is uncertain, head coach Jim Montgomery said there’s a “strong possibility” Nick Foligno returns to the lineup tonight after a months-long absence. Foligno missed the last 22 regular-season games with a lower-body injury, but his return from long-term injured reserve gives the Bruins an additional 62 games of playoff experience to inject into their lineup. He notched one assist in seven playoff games with Boston last year.

West Injury Notes: Nutivaara, Makiniemi, Klingberg, Eriksson Ek

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Veteran defenseman Markus Nutivaara didn’t end up playing a single game with the San Jose Sharks this season, despite signing a one-year, $1.5MM deal to be a blueline regular. Injury trouble was the reason, and it’s issues staying healthy that cost Nutivaara the 2021-22 campaign as well, as he played just one game for the Florida Panthers that season. Today, Sharks general manager Mike Grier gave the media, including The Athletic’s Corey Masisiak, a clearer look at Nutivaara’s situation. According to Grier, it was a hip injury that kept Nutivaara out for the whole season, and Masisiak adds that it could be a career-ending injury for the 275-game veteran.

Should this injury indeed end the 28-year-old Finn’s career prematurely, Nutivaara will hang up his skates having proven himself in the world’s toughest league. Nutivaara’s career highlights include a memorable 2014-15 rookie season in Liiga with Karpat, where he established himself at Finland’s top level of hockey and played in 16 playoff games en route to a Liiga championship. Another highlight is the 2018-19 season, where Nutivaara set a career-high with 80 games played, scoring 21 points and helping the Blue Jackets create one of the biggest upsets in the history of hockey, sweeping the 62-win Tampa Bay Lightning.

Some other injury notes from across the NHL:

  • Grier also updated the media (via Bay Area News Group’s Curtis Pashelka) on the status of another player: Eetu Makiniemi. Makiniemi suffered a labrum tear, and was shut down for the season instead of making a comeback attempt in order to help him get ready for fall training camp. Makiniemi last played on February 11th, stopping 27 of 31 shots in a shootout loss to the Calgary Wranglers. The 2017 fourth-round pick was acquired by the Sharks in last summer’s Brent Burns trade and posted a .900 save percentage in 22 contests for the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda.
  • Per Sarah McLellan of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Minnesota Wild defenseman John Klingberg didn’t practice today after suffering a lower-body injury at practice yesterday. Wild head coach Dean Evason termed Klingberg’s status as “we’ll see” for this team’s first playoff game against the Dallas Stars, meaning it’s possible the Wild are without the skilled offensive defenseman to start their series. Klingberg has in the past been a prolific playoff performer (he scored nine points in 13 playoff games in 2018-19 and 21 points in the Stars’ 26-game run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2019-20) so the Wild will hope he’ll be able to draw into their lineup relatively soon.
  • McLellan also reported an update on Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek, who is one of Minnesota’s top pivots and a crucial two-way contributor. He skated again today, and will travel with the team to Dallas. Eriksson-Ek last played on April 6th, and was designated as week-to-week, so while it remains relatively unlikely that he’s going to be immediately ready to join the Wild for playoff games, the fact that he is consistently skating and now travelling with the team should be viewed as a good sign for his availability.

East Injury Notes: Bergeron, Lafferty, Samuelsson

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Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney inferred on Sunday that team captain Patrice Bergeron will be a game-time decision for Game 1 of the team’s first-round playoff series against the Florida Panthers tomorrow. Sweeney confirmed that Bergeron, 37, had been dealing with both an illness and an injury. He also stated that the veteran center “doesn’t need extra days of practice” to prepare for the upcoming matchup. Bergeron recorded 27 goals and 31 assists in 78 games during the Bruins’ record-breaking regular season.

The team will likely leave the decision up to their captain, with Sweeney telling reporters, “if [Bergeron’s] feeling well enough, he’ll play.” If Bergeron cannot play, Pavel Zacha has taken line rushes between Brad Marchand and Jake DeBrusk on the Bruins’ top line during practice this weekend.

Other injury notes from the Eastern Conference on Sunday:

  • Toronto Maple Leafs forward Sam Lafferty has returned to the team after missing the last three games of the regular season due to an undisclosed injury. He was seen back on the ice at practice today, as reported by TSN’s Mark Masters, indicating his potential readiness for Game 1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday. Lafferty’s return provides a boost to the Leafs’ depth heading into the playoffs, recording six points in 19 games down the stretch after arriving via trade from the Chicago Blackhawks.
  • Buffalo Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson played through a broken hand and a sprained MCL towards the end of the season, according to a tweet from The Buffalo News’ Lance Lysowski. Despite the injuries, Samuelsson appeared in all but three of the Sabres’ final 10 games. The 23-year-old defenseman averaged over 22 minutes per game this season and led Sabres defensemen with a +14 rating.

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