With Jeremy Swayman potentially returning to the Boston Bruins lineup after a recent upper-body injury, the team is optimistic about his swift recovery. Meanwhile, the Buffalo Sabres face challenges as defenseman Rasmus Dahlin missed practice, although forward Ryan McLeod could be ready to play. The Carolina Hurricanes are making headlines with a significant trade for Mikko Rantanen, while their William Carrier is sidelined for a couple of months due to a lower-body injury that needed surgery.

In other injury news, the Chicago Blackhawks are dealing with Seth Jones and Connor Murphy absent from their recent showdown. The New Jersey Devils will be without Jacob Markstrom for at least a month due to a sprained MCL. Furthermore, the New York Islanders' Noah Dobson is expected to miss several weeks. The Philadelphia Flyers are also grappling with injuries, as Egor Zamula is out, and Pittsburgh Penguins’ Bryan Rust is classified as day-to-day.

Injury updates across the NHL revealed multiple player statuses as teams prepare for upcoming games. Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy is sidelined for a third consecutive game due to an undisclosed injury. The Buffalo Sabres welcomed back forward Jiri Kulich, who returned after missing four games with a lower-body injury. Meanwhile, forward Ryan McLeod of the Buffalo Sabres was placed on injured reserve but is expected to return by week’s end. Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen may be back tonight following a collision with Evgeni Malkin.

Chicago Blackhawks forward Jason Dickinson left a recent game after blocking a shot, but coach Anders Sorensen expressed optimism about his recovery. In Columbus, the Blue Jackets activated forward Justin Danforth from IR. Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty practiced for the first time since his September ankle injury, though coach Jim Hiller couldn’t provide a timeline for his return. New York Islanders player Hudson Fasching participated in a morning skate, while defenseman Noah Dobson left a game early due to a hit.

The Toronto Maple Leafs had forwards Calle Jarnkrok and Anthony Stolarz back on the ice, with Jarnkrok aiming to return from a sports hernia. Max Pacioretty missed a game due to an upper-body injury sustained earlier. The Vancouver Canucks reported that Dakota Joshua is nearing a return, while Noah Juulsen remains day-to-day with an injury. Adam Lowry from the Winnipeg Jets left a game with an undisclosed injury, with updates pending.

Ryan McLeod's two-goal performance led the Buffalo Sabres to a 4-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday night. Alongside McLeod, Dylan Cozens and Tage Thompson contributed to the Sabres' scoring, while Jason Zucker notched two assists. The Sabres have now triumphed in three of their last four matches, with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen standing strong in goal, making 35 saves.

The Hurricanes had a tough night, with Jaccob Slavin and Martin Necas finding the net, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Sabres. Brent Burns provided two assists, yet the team suffered their second loss in a row, with Dustin Tokarski recording 20 saves.

In another intense matchup, the Edmonton Oilers overcame the Minnesota Wild 5-3, extending their winning streak to seven out of eight games. Connor McDavid starred with two goals and an assist, while Vasily Podkolzin scored a crucial tiebreaking goal in the third period. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins also contributed with a goal and an assist, helping the Oilers rally from a 2-0 deficit after Matt Boldy and Marco Rossi scored early for Minnesota. Zach Hyman's goal sparked the comeback, showcasing the Oilers' resilience.

Ryan McLeod achieved his first career hat trick, leading the Buffalo Sabres to a 4-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. The game showcased a solid performance from McLeod, who scored three goals, including one just 43 seconds into the match and another with only seconds remaining in the game. Teammate Dylan Cozens also contributed with a goal, while Jason Zucker provided two assists. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was notable in goal for the Sabres, making 35 saves.

Despite the loss, the Hurricanes had goals from Jaccob Slavin and Martin Necas, but it wasn't enough to overcome Buffalo. The Sabres demonstrated resilience, holding onto their lead after previous games where they had squandered multi-goal advantages. The defeat marked Carolina's second consecutive loss, a rarity for the team since late December.

The Ottawa Senators faced a disheartening 4-0 defeat against the Buffalo Sabres, marking their fourth consecutive loss. Defenceman Thomas Chabot candidly acknowledged the team's poor performance, stating that there were no excuses for the lackluster display. The Senators, who returned to home ice for the first time since mid-December, were met with boos from the crowd.

Despite a strong start earlier in the season, Ottawa has struggled since the Christmas break, managing only one win in five games. Coach Travis Green pointed out that their lack of scoring has significantly hindered their success, with key players like Tim Stutzle and Drake Batherson failing to find the net in recent games.