Washington Capitals
Nicklas Backstrom, Evgeny Kuznetsov, T.J. Oshie and Tom Wilson could play for the Capitals against the Nashville Predators (7 p.m. ET; NBCSWA, BSSO, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).
Backstrom, Kuznetsov and Oshie were removed NHL COVID-19 protocol. Wilson had missed four games with an upper-body injury.
It will be the first time all season the Capitals will have their top four centers, Backstrom, Kuznetsov, Lars Eller and Nic Dowd, in the lineup for the same game.
Backstrom missed the first 28 games of the season recovering from hip surgery, played Dec. 15 and then went into COVID-19 protocol. The same day Backstrom returned, Kuznetsov entered protocol.
“To have the centermen back, we haven’t had that all year,” Capitals coach Peter Laviolette said Tuesday. “It’s such an important position to be strong down the middle. To get everybody back is a bonus.”
Kuznetsov is second on the Capitals with 30 points (nine goals, 21 assists) in 28 games. Wilson has scored 24 points (nine goal, 15 assist) in 27 games. Oshie has scored 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in 14 games.
Edmonton Oilers
Mike Smith will play for the Oilers at the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday (8:30 p.m. ET; SN360, SN1, SNE, SNO, SNW, BSMW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).
The goalie was activated from long-term injured reserve and will play for the first time since sustaining a lower-body injury against the Anaheim Ducks on Oct. 19.
“He’s good to go tonight,” coach Dave Tippett said. “Really good to see him back. He’s an outstanding goaltender but he’s also one of our leaders in that room. He’s a very vocal guy, very passionate about winning. … There an accountability that he brings because he wants to drive our team to be the best it can be and that attitude coming back will be really good for our team.”
Smith is 2-0-0 with a 3.08 goals-against average and .920 save percentage in three games this season.
The Oilers also will have forwards Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Devin Shore and Ryan McLeod, and defenseman Duncan Keith in the lineup.
Hyman missed three games with a shoulder injury sustained against the Carolina Hurricanes on Nov. 11. Nugent-Hopkins, Shore, McLeod and Keith each was removed from NHL COVID-19 protocol.
St. Louis Blues
David Perron, Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou will play for the Blues against the Edmonton Oilers.
Perron missed 11 games because of an upper-body injury, Thomas missed seven because of a lower-body injury and Kyrou missed four games because of an upper-body injury.
“They’re all good to go,” coach Craig Berube said of the returning forwards. “We’re bringing back a lot of skill back in our lineup, power play, all the situational stuff from an offensive standpoint. You’re bringing back a lot of goals and points back in your lineup. Looking at it from that standpoint, that’s a real good thing.”
Thomas leads the Blues with 20 assists. Kyrou is tied for third with St. Louis with 25 points (nine goals, 16 assists) in 27 games. Perron has scored 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists) in 20 games. — Lou Korac
Nashville Predators
Matt Duchene will play for the Predators against the Washington Capitals (7 p.m. ET; NBCSWA, BSSO, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).
The forward missed four games with an upper-body injury.
Duchene has scored 13 goals in 26 games this season, tied with forward Filip Forsberg for the Predators lead.
Nashville also will have forwards Ryan Johansen, Mikael Granlund, Philip Tomasino and Nick Cousins, and defenseman Ben Harpur in the lineup after each was removed from NHL COVID-19 protocol.
Buffalo Sabres
Alex Tuch and Peyton Krebs will debut for the Sabres against the New Jersey Devils at KeyBank Center (7 p.m. ET; MSG-B, MSG+ 2, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).
The forwards were acquired by the Sabres in the trade that sent center Jack Eichel to the Vegas Golden Knights on Nov. 4.
“I’ve just been texting [Tuch] back and forth,” Krebs said Tuesday. “He’s been texting me to see what I’m doing. It’s nice having another guy I can lean on, you’re familiar with when you come into a locker room. That and Cody Eakin, which was nice to come in here and know a few guys. Talking to him a lot. It’s obviously pretty cool.”
Tuch, who grew up a Sabres fan in Syracuse, New York, has missed the first 30 games of this season recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. He’s scored 139 points (61 goals, 78 assists) in 255 NHL games.
“For him to pull that jersey on tomorrow, his preparation that has gone into this moment from the time he’s arrived has been second to none,” Sabres assistant Matt Ellis said. “He’s added a ton on the day to day on the ice and in our locker room. It’ll be a special moment for him. As a group and as an organization, we’re extremely excited to finally get Alex into a game as a Buffalo Sabre.”
Krebs was assigned to the Rochester of the American Hockey League following the trade. He scored 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in 16 AHL games.
“It’s definitely a mental grind coming from a different organization and getting acclimated with different guys,” Krebs said. “[Rochester coach Seth Appert] has been a huge help for me. … Just kind of bringing confidence into my game and making sure I feel comfortable with the process. Really just embracing that process and earning ice time in Rochester and eventually here.” — Heather Engel
Philadelphia Flyers
Kevin Hayes and Morgan Frost will play for the Flyers at the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday (10 p.m. ET; TVAS, ROOT-NW, NBCSP, ESPN+, NHL LIVE) after the forwards were removed from NHL COVID-19 protocol Tuesday.
Frost missed three games after being pulled from a game Dec. 14 and placed into protocol. Hayes entered Dec. 20.
Each was at center during practice Tuesday, Hayes on a line with Joel Farabee and Travis Konecny, and Frost with Gerry Mayhew and James van Riemsdyk.
The Flyers have limited depth at the position, with centers Sean Couturier, Derick Brassard and Scott Laughton in protocol, along with goalie Carter Hart and defenseman Ryan Ellis.
“We don’t have the luxury of waiting to see how things go or giving them a little extra time,” coach Mike Yeo said. “These are important players for us. I haven’t had the opportunity to talk to them post-practice yet. Obviously you’re watching the battle drills, we had a lot of compete, we had a lot of up and down the ice, and I thought that they held up fine. … These are guys that are well conditioned going into that, so I think that they’ll be fine.”
Hayes said he had no issues after testing positive for the virus.
“My COVID battle wasn’t too bad,” he said. “I know it’s a serious thing, obviously, but I had no symptoms at all. I was shocked I tested positive, but I did. Did my quarantine and felt pretty good on the ice today.”
Frost has scored four points (one goal, three assists) in 10 games. Hayes has scored six points (two goals, four assists) in 11 games. — Adam Kimelman