This week in the NHL saw a significant number of injury updates that could greatly impact fantasy lineups as teams near the end of the regular season. The Buffalo Sabres are grappling with key absences as Josh Norris missed a game due to a mid-body injury, while Sam Lafferty was absent from practice. The Calgary Flames also faced setbacks with Mikael Backlund sidelined, while MacKenzie Weegar and Joel Farabee made their returns.

The Chicago Blackhawks are particularly hit hard, as Jason Dickinson is out for the season with a wrist injury, and Alec Martinez is day-to-day. In Detroit, the Red Wings are monitoring Elmer Soderblom, who will miss the upcoming game after re-aggravating an injury. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Kings’ Tanner Jeannot exited a game with an undisclosed injury, and Alex Turcotte is day-to-day.

Other notable mentions include the St. Louis Blues’ Colton Parayko, who is skating but not ready to return, and Tampa Bay Lightning’s Erik Cernak, who also suffered an injury. The Vegas Golden Knights are managing Tomas Hertl's absence on a road trip, while Alex Pietrangelo is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. With the regular season winding down, these injuries could significantly affect playoff aspirations and fantasy rosters alike.

Calgary Flames forward Mikael Backlund has resumed skating after missing five consecutive games due to an upper-body injury. Flames' coach Ryan Huska is uncertain about Backlund's readiness for tonight's lineup, stating that they need to assess his reaction post-practice. Meanwhile, defenseman MacKenzie Weegar is expected to return tomorrow after dealing with a lower-body issue.

In other news, Colorado Avalanche winger Gabriel Landeskog is back on the ice and progressing well. The Columbus Blue Jackets welcomed Erik Gudbranson back into the lineup after a shoulder injury, while the Dallas Stars' Tyler Seguin is set to ramp up skating activities as he recovers.

The Calgary Flames are in a heated battle for an NHL playoff spot as they approach the final stretch of the regular season. Currently sitting at 33-25-11, they are trailing just one point behind St. Louis and holding three games in hand over them. The Flames have shown resilience, winning three consecutive games, including a dramatic overtime victory against the New York Islanders. Veteran forward Blake Coleman emphasized the importance of every point, likening the current intensity to playoff hockey.

Calgary's success is partly attributed to their veteran leadership, with key players like Jonathan Huberdeau, who recently scored his team-leading 27th goal, and captain Mikael Backlund nearing a return from injury. Head coach Ryan Huska has praised the team's understanding of their playing style and the strong goaltending duo of Dustin Wolf and Dan Vladar, who have kept the team's spirits high despite challenges. As they prepare to face the Seattle Kraken and the Dallas Stars at home, the Flames are determined to secure their playoff position.

Injury reports loom large as multiple NHL teams navigate player absences. The Anaheim Ducks are facing a setback with forwards Sam Colangelo and Ross Johnston sidelined by upper-body injuries, missing their last game. Meanwhile, the Buffalo Sabres are dealing with uncertainty regarding Josh Norris, who missed practice due to an undisclosed injury, and JJ Peterka, who is out with a lingering lower-body issue.

The Calgary Flames are managing a week-to-week absence for Mikael Backlund due to an upper-body injury sustained during a recent game. The Carolina Hurricanes continued to miss Andrei Svechnikov and Dmitry Orlov, with the latter sidelined for four consecutive games. Nashville Predators forward Michael Bunting made his return from IR, while the Winnipeg Jets await updates on Neal Pionk's week-to-week absence and have Nikolaj Ehlers back in the lineup.

Mikael Backlund, the captain of the Calgary Flames, will be sidelined for a week-to-week duration due to an upper-body injury sustained during a recent game against the Vancouver Canucks. In the 4-3 shootout loss, Backlund recorded 24 points this season with 11 goals and 13 assists over 64 games.

To address the injury, the Flames have recalled Dryden Hunt from the AHL's Calgary Wranglers. Hunt has demonstrated strong performance, posting 48 points (15 goals, 33 assists) in 48 games this season. With Calgary in a tight playoff race, currently vying for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference alongside Vancouver, every player will need to step up as they face the Colorado Avalanche next.