Welcome to the NHL Buzz. Each day during the regular season, NHL.com has you covered with all the latest news.
Boston Bruins
Pat Maroon is expected to make his Bruins debut against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; ABC, ESPN+).
The forward was a full participant in practice on Friday, skating at right wing on the fourth line with Jesper Boqvist and Jakub Lauko and said he would be in the lineup.
“Obviously we’re playing a Pittsburgh team that’s trying to get in the playoffs,” Maroon said. “So it’s a good start for me. Gets me ready for the playoffs here.”
Maroon spent the past 10 weeks recovering from back surgery in early February. The Bruins acquired him from the Minnesota Wild prior to the NHL Trade Deadline on March 8. He had 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) and 60 penalty minutes in 49 games with the Wild this season.
Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said Maroon is progressing well.
“We got to see how he responds tomorrow,” Montgomery said. “That was a 40-minute practice. He’s a part of every drill for the first time on a regular rotation, so we’ll see how he is tomorrow morning.” — Joe Pohoryles
Minnesota Wild
Liam Ohgren is expected to make his NHL debut when the Wild play at the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday (10 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, BSNX, TVAS).
The 20-year-old forward was recalled from Iowa of the American Hockey League on Wednesday. He was held without a point in three AHL games after arriving from Farjestad BK in the Swedish Elite League, where he had 19 points (12 goals, seven assists) in 26 games this season.
Selected by the Wild in the first round (No. 19) of the 2022 NHL Draft, Ohgren signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Minnesota on July 16, 2022.
The Wild (37-32-9) were eliminated from playoff contention with a 5-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Timothy Liljegren could return for the Maple Leafs when they play Detroit Red Wings on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; CBC, SNO, SNW, SNP, BSDET).
The defenseman, who has missed the past eight games with an upper body injury sustained on March 26 in a 6-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils, practiced Friday for the first time since the injury and skated on a pair with Morgan Rielly.
“Looked good to me, I haven’t got the reports on him but he looked good,” Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. “He went into the practice with the intention of pushing himself with an eye towards tomorrow so that’s the goal and we will see where he is at tomorrow.”
Liljegren has 23 points (three goals, 20 assists) and averaged 19:40 of ice time per game in 52 games.
Forward Max Domi was absent from practice Friday and is day to day with an undisclosed injury. He had two assists and three shots on goal in 11:34 in a 6-5 loss to the Devils on Thursday.
“Just kept him off the ice so we will see how he is tomorrow,” Keefe said. “There’s a chance (he could play against the Red Wings).” — Dave McCarthy
Chicago Blackhawks
Connor Murphy is expected to play for the first time in nearly three months when the Blackhawks play the Nashville Predators on Friday (8:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCH+, BSSO).
“It’s been too long so it’s nice,” said the defenseman, who sustained a groin injury in Chicago’s 3-1 loss to the Dallas Stars on Jan. 13 and has missed 35 games. “The last test is just getting in a game and see how it lasts the whole game.”
Murphy practiced with the team last Friday for the first time since sustaining his injury.
“That extra time that he took to rehab properly, we weren’t in a (Stanley Cup) Playoff run where he may be forced into playing a little bit early and sometimes that always exposes the chance for more injury,” Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson said. “I think he feels really good right now and we’re happy to have his leadership back.”
Murphy, who has eight points (two goals, six assists) in 43 games, will likely play on a defense pair with Ethan Del Mastro. Del Mastro was recalled from Rockford of the American Hockey League on Thursday, and…
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