NHL Buzz: Horvat out for Canucks against Predators

Welcome to the NHL Buzz. Throughout the 2021-22 season, NHL.com will have you covered with the latest news.

Vancouver Canucks

Bo Horvat did not play when the Canucks visited the Nashville Predators after entering NHL COVID-19 protocol Tuesday.
The forward led the Canucks with 13 goals and scored in each of their past two games. He also led Vancouver with five power-play goals and was fourth with 23 points.
The Canucks were expected to move Elias Pettersson from left wing to center with Horvat out. Vasily Podkolzin would then play left wing on the second line, moving up from the fourth line. Forward Justin Dowling, who recently returned from COVID-19 protocol, replaced Horvat in the lineup. -- John Glennon

Tampa Bay Lightning

Ondrej Palat is doubtful to return to the lineup when the Lightning visit the Los Angeles Kings (10:30 p.m. ET; BSW, BSSUN, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).
The forward has missed two games with a lower-body injury and took part in an optional morning skate Tuesday after practicing Monday. He is tied with Brayden Point for second on the Lightning with 15 goals in 38 games, behind Steven Stamkos (18), and is fourth with 30 points.
The Lightning will also likely be without Erik Cernak and Jan Rutta. Neither defensemen practiced Monday and only Rutta skated Tuesday. Cernak missed a 3-1 win against the Dallas Stars on Saturday with a lower-body injury; Rutta's injury is undisclosed.
"We're waiting to see if these guys can (play), but it's looking doubtful," coach Jon Cooper said.
Zach Bogosian is expected to be out 2-3 weeks with a lower-body injury the defenseman sustained in the win against Dallas.
"Our poor [defensemen] are taking a beating," Cooper said. "I don't know what's up. I guess it's just probably a little unfortunate side of things. Hopefully we can get this out of us soon. A couple of weeks [for Bogosian] isn't too bad."
Cernak, Rutta and Bogosian play on the right side for the Lightning. Cooper said defenseman Mikhail Sergachev may have to move from the left side to the right against the Kings.
"He has the ability to do it and do it quite well," Cooper said. "It is a luxury to have guys that can swing over there and 'Sergy' is definitely one of them." -- Corey Long, Dan Greenspan

Toronto Maple Leafs

Jake Muzzin has been diagnosed with a concussion and will miss the next two games.
"Yesterday after practice, he reported that he wasn't feeling quite right," Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said Tuesday. "He took that hit in the game ... (a 6-5 win against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday). They were monitoring him for that but he felt he was OK to practice. Due to the intensity of practice, he wasn't liking how he was feeling. At this point, he's been diagnosed with a concussion so he's not going to travel with us and won't be available this week."
Muzzin took a hit along the end boards from Blues forward Klim Kostin at 3:30 of the second period Saturday but finished the game.
"It rocked me kind of pretty good a little bit, so it definitely kind of startled me the rest of that shift, that's for sure," Muzzin said after practicing Monday.
With Muzzin unavailable, Rasmus Sandin skated with
Alex Biega
and Travis Dermott skated with Timothy Liljegren at practice. Morgan Rielly remained on a pair with TJ Brodie.
The Maple Leafs visit the New York Rangers on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET; TNT, SN, TVAS, NHL LIVE) and the New York Islanders on Saturday.
Muzzin scored 11 points (one goal, 10 assists) in 35 games this season. -- Dave McCarthy

Dallas Stars

Denis Gurianov and Braden Holtby were removed from NHL COVID-19 protocol Monday and returned for the Stars against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday.
Gurianov missed three games and was expected to play on a line with Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin. The forward scored 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in 31 games.
"He's not 100 percent, so I'm not sure how much he'll play," Stars coach Rick Bowness said. "If I see he's having a tough time breathing, I'll put [Joel Kiviranta] up there. But at this time, he's going in there."
Holtby, who last played Jan. 9, backed up goalie Jake Oettinger. Holtby is 6-8-1 with a 2.56 goals-against average and .920 save percentage in 17 games. -- Taylor Baird

Montreal Canadiens

Cole Caufield and Joel Armia did not play against the Stars after each forward was placed in NHL COVID-19 protocol Tuesday.
Caufield scored eight points (one goal, seven assists) in 29 games. Armia scored five points (one goal, four assists) in 32 games.

Edmonton Oilers

Stuart Skinner was placed in NHL COVID-19 protocol Monday.
The goalie is 4-6-0 with a 2.93 goals-against average and .907 save percentage in 11 games. He made 20 saves in a 6-4 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.
The Oilers are also without goalie Mike Smith, who is out 1-2 weeks with a partially torn tendon in his thumb.
Goalie Mikko Koskinen is expected to start against the Florida Panthers on Thursday. Edmonton's game against the Chicago Blackhawks scheduled for Tuesday was postponed.