NHL Buzz: Sharks' Celebrini is being evaluated for lower-body injury

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San Jose Sharks

Macklin Celebrini did not practice Friday due to a lower-body injury and is still being evaluated.

The No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft, Celebrini scored a goal and an assist in 17:35 minutes of ice time in his NHL debut, a 5-4 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues on Thursday.

Coach Ryan Warsofsky wasn't sure if the center would be available when the Sharks host the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday (10 p.m. ET; Victory+, NBCSCA, KCOP-13).

“He’s still being evaluated today, so I can’t answer that question,” Warsofsky said. – Max Miller

Florida Panthers

Aleksander Barkov suffered an apparent leg injury in Thursday's 3-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators.

The center left with 1:10 remaining in the third period after he slid into the boards during a battle for the puck with Senators forward Tim Stutzle. Barkov did not put any weight on his right leg as he was helped off the ice and into the locker room.

After the game, Panthers coach Paul Maurice said Barkov “will be examined tonight and probably tomorrow.”

The Panthers, who did not practice on Friday, play at the Buffalo Sabers on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, MSG-B).

Barkov, who has one assist in two games this season, led the Panthers in scoring with 22 points (eight goals, 14 assists) in 24 Stanley Cup playoff games last season and helped Florida win the Cup .

Colorado avalanche

Jonathan Drouin is day-to-day with an upper-body injury and will miss at least the Avalanche's next two games.

The forward was injured in an 8-4 loss at the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday. He finished the game minus-1 in 21:25 minutes of ice time.

“He certainly won’t play tomorrow (Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets) (or) Monday (New York Islanders),” coach Jared Bednar said, “and then he’ll keep re-evaluating and see where it goes.”

Drouin finished fourth in his career with 56 points (19 goals, 37 assists) in 79 regular season games with the Avalanche and signed a one-year contract on July 1.

“Every player missing makes the job more difficult, but it forces our team to immediately address the details and commitment of the game,” Bednar said. “We have said before that we have to expect that everyone in our lineup has to be at their best, not just playing in a role, but also being successful in that role in order to be successful. So that’s a little bit of pressure right out of the gate.”

Nikolai Kovalenko could take his place at the top alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen.

Bednar said he will consider either recalling a forward from Colorado of the American Hockey League or fielding a lineup of 11 forwards and seven defensemen when the Avalanche host the Blue Jackets on Saturday (9 p.m. ET; ALT, BSOH). The team currently has eight defenders, including Oliver Kylington and John Ludvig.

The Avalanche claimed goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen off waivers from the Winnipeg Jets on Friday.

The 28-year-old posted a 7-24-3 record with a 3.64 goals-against average and .898 save percentage in 37 games (33 starts) for the San Jose Sharks and New Jersey Devils last season.

“He’s played well in some places, he’s free and we have space,” Bednar said. “So if we can push our goalies like we don’t know how it’s going to turn out, right? So we've seen better from our goalkeepers than we've seen here recently and if they can improve their game that's great.” . And if Kahkonen can come in and play well, great.” – Ryan Boulding

Philadelphia Flyers

Nick Seeler was placed on injured reserve retroactive to Oct. 1 and will miss the Flyers' regular-season opener at the Vancouver Canucks on Friday (10 p.m. ET; SNP, NBCSP).

The defender is being considered daily due to numbness in his right leg. He was injured while deflecting a pass during a preseason game against the Boston Bruins on October 1, and told NBC Sports Philadelphia the next day that the ball hit the peroneal nerve and left his leg numb. Seeler did not practice in Vancouver on Thursday and did not participate in the morning skate on Friday, his seventh straight day without ice.

“(Seeler) is a big hole for us, penalties, shot blocking, just our whole identity,” Flyers coach John Tortorella said. “So other guys have to take over and (defender) Rasmus Ristolainen will certainly be one of them.”

Erik Johnson will be in the lineup without Seeler. Johnson skated alongside Ristolainen on the third pair in training, but both are right-handed, as is Jamie Drysdale, who trained alongside left-back Egor Zamula.

“Where the (second and third) pair will be, I’m not sure,” Tortorella said. “We will find out as the game progresses.

The Flyers recalled defenseman Emil Andrae from Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League on Friday. Philadelphia, which continues its four-game season opener at the Calgary Flames on Saturday, did not have an additional defenseman. –Kevin Woodley

Boston Bruins

Matthew Poitras could make his season debut against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday (1 p.m. ET; BSW, NESN, SN).

The forward, who missed the first two games due to an undisclosed injury, has not played in a regular season game since Jan. 25 after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.

“He’s really close, he’s making the right progress,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said Friday. “I will say he is a possibility (Saturday). We’ll just have to see how he reacts later today.”

Poitras practiced on the third line Friday with Trent Frederic and Justin Brazeau. Last season he scored 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in 33 games.

“I’m really excited,” Poitras said. “Hopefully I can get into the lineup and play. It's been a long time since I played a meaningful game. The preseason games mean something, you want to try and prepare for the season, but now it really means something. I just want to go out and play.”

Detroit Red Wings

Jeff Petry will not play for the Red Wings against the Nashville Predators on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; BSSO, BSDET).

The defenseman suffered an upper-body injury in the second period of a 6-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday. Petry had one shot on goal in 9:34 of ice time.

“Jeff isn't available tomorrow, but he'll be there on a day-to-day basis … we'll get through tomorrow and see if he's available for Monday (against the New York Rangers),” Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde said after Friday's practice.

Justin Holl has been recalled by Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League and will be added to the lineup on Saturday.