The Bruins held their game-day skate Thursday morning in advance of the the first game in a home-and-home set with the Canadiens and following the skate, coach Claude Julien indicated that defenseman Adam McQuaid would be back in the lineup. McQuaid has been cleared by the team's medical staff to play. "He's been cleared to go so we'll have seven D's out there tonight, but the possibility of him playing is probably very good," Julien said.

Celebrating their home opener with a revamped MSG Thursday, the Rangers also will unveil an upgrade to their defense. Michael Sauer, who missed the last five games with a lingering preseason shoulder injury, said he will return to the lineup for the first time since Oct. 8. "Most definitely. I'm ready to go. I got cleared so I'll be out there for sure," Sauer, 24, said after skating in the team's recently renovated arena for the first time Wednesday.

Evgeni Malkin returned to Pittsburgh's lineup for Tuesday's 3-0 win against the Islanders. "It feels pretty good, and I'm ready to play the next game," Malkin said. Malkin, who had missed five straight games with knee soreness, skated with the team Tuesday morning at Nassau Coliseum.

Sabres left wing Tyler Ennis will be out indefinitely because of an ankle injury. Ennis was hurt early in the first period of Buffalo's 3-0 loss to Tampa Bay on Saturday, and coach Lindy Ruff said on Monday that his status is week-to-week.

Penguins defenseman Zbynek Michalek will miss four to six weeks with a broken finger, the team announced Monday via Twitter. Michalek, an eight-year veteran in his second season with the Penguins, left Saturday's win over the visiting Devils after blocking a shot.

Injured Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid participated in the team's optional skate Saturday morning but his status remains questionable as the Bruins prepare to host the Sharks. "I'm just waiting for more information before I can even make any decision on him," said Bruins coach Claude Julien. "He skated again this morning so he's really coming around." McQuaid has missed the last three games after slamming head first into the boards during a game in Carolina on Oct. 12.

Devils center Jacob Josefson suffered a broken right clavicle during the first period of the team's game against the Sharks at Prudential Center on Friday, according to an ESPN.com report.

Bruins forward David Krejci will be out of the lineup again Tuesday night against the Hurricanes. Krejci, who suffered a midsection injury Oct. 11 during practice and has missed two games, skated with the team Tuesday morning but is still day to day.

Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa will travel with the team on their two-game road trip and could play Tuesday against the Coyotes. "Hossa is doing better today [Monday]," coach Joel Quenneville said. "We're hoping he can play tomorrow." Hossa did not practice Monday for a third consecutive day and did not play in Saturday's contest against the Boston Bruins. He's been out with an upper-body ailment.

The hit that sidelined Kings defenseman Drew Doughty with an upper-body injury for a week to 10 days continued to produce a domino effect. Dustin Penner, who instigated a fight with Flyers rookie forward Zac Rinaldo after his first-period collision with Doughty on Saturday night in Philadelphia, left the ice midway through practice Monday at Toyota Sports Center because of a knee injury suffered during the skirmish. Despite being "reassured" by a doctor in Philadelphia and the Kings training staff that the injury was just a bruise, coach Terry Murray said Penner decided to have the injury further examined by the team physician. "He wanted to get it checked out by the doctor and see if there's anything further on that," Murray said. "The plan was full practice (Monday) and there was nothing before the practice that was going to lead me to think that it was going to be anything different than that, so obviously it's bothering him."