NHL News: Senators’ Zaitsev out 4 weeks; P.K. Subban and more players added to COVID protocol
Anthony Scultore
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Ottawa Senators defenseman Nikita Zaitsev will be sidelined four weeks with a heel injury, head coach D.J. Smith confirmed Saturday.
Zaitsev exited Thursday night’s 2-1 loss at Tampa Bay with a lower-body injury after jamming his right foot against the boards. He has one goal and one assist in 22 games this season.
“We don’t know the exact timeline but somewhere around that four-week range,” Senators coach D.J. Smith said via NHL.com. “Which hurts us. Hurts us defensively.”
Zaitsev, 30, has 94 points (18 goals, 76 assists) in 358 career games with the Toronto Maple Leafs (2016-19) and Senators.
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P.K. Subban on COVID list
New Jersey Devils defenseman P.K. Subban was placed in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol on Saturday.
Subban is the fifth member of the Devils to enter protocol, joining fellow blue-liners Ryan Graves and Christian Jaros and forwards Nico Hischier and Jesper Boqvist.
Subban, 32, was held out of New Jersey’s 5-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday as a precaution.
A former Norris Trophy recipient as the NHL’s top defenseman, Subban has recorded 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in 27 games this season.
Subban has 456 points (112 goals, 344 assists) in 784 career games with the Montreal Canadiens, Nashville Predators and Devils.
Canucks place Tyler Myers on COVID protocol
Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers entered the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol and will miss Saturday night’s game against the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs.
Myers, 31, has registered nine assists and played in all 31 games this season for the Canucks, who have a six-game winning streak.
He joins forwards Tyler Motte and Juho Lammikko, defensemen Tucker Poolman, Luke Schenn and Brad Hunt, and assistant coach Jason King in the health and safety protocol.
Myers has 316 career points (86 goals, 230 assists) in 789 games with the Buffalo Sabres (2009-15), Winnipeg Jets (2015-19) and Canucks. He won the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie in 2009-10.
Oilers place Jesse Puljujarvi on COVID list
Edmonton Oilers forward Jesse Puljujarvi has been placed on the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol list.
Puljujarvi joins teammates, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Duncan Keith, Devin Shore, Ryan McLeod and head coach Dave Tippet.
Puljujarvi, 23, has 23 points in 28 games this season.
–Field Level Media contributed to this report.