Montreal Canadiens center Phillip Danault suffered a concussion during Thursday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme announced.

Danault was already ruled out for Saturday's rematch against Toronto.

The 28-year-old has registered five goals and 19 assists in 53 games this season. Ducharme said Danault was playing through other injuries before suffering the concussion, according to The Athletic's Arpon Basu.

Montreal was already weak down the middle of the ice; the team will now be forced to rely more heavily on youngsters Nick Suzuki and Jesperi Kotkaniemi and veteran Eric Staal.

Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL will relax its COVID-19 protocols for playoff teams once 85% of a club's traveling party has been fully vaccinated for two weeks, reports Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.

The easements will reportedly allow players to gather socially outside of team facilities, eat and drink outdoors at restaurants, and spend time in each other's hotel rooms.

Additionally, face coverings and social distancing will no longer be required for team meetings and social gatherings, and players won't have to receive PCR testing on off days, notes Johnston.

The changes will only affect U.S.-based teams, for the time being, reports Johnston. Players on Canadian teams have reportedly started to receive their first vaccine shots, but none of the North Division clubs currently qualify for relaxed protocols.

The modifications are reportedly subject to withdrawal for multiple reasons, such as a COVID-19 outbreak. They could also apparently be adjusted if the NHL reaches a deal with Canada's federal government to allow cross-border travel during the third and fourth rounds of the playoffs.

Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner criticized the NHL in April for its handling of restrictions for vaccinated players, saying the league had failed to keep its promises to ease protocols.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly disputed Lehner's claim that the league made any promises to players regarding post-vaccination protocol changes.

Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon won't play against the Los Angeles Kings on Friday due to a lower-body injury, the team announced.

MacKinnon logged 20:28 of ice time during a 3-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday, and it's unclear when the injury occurred.

The dynamic pivot is tied for fourth in league scoring with 65 points through 49 games and ranks second on the Avalanche with 20 goals.

Colorado sits second in the West Division and four points back of the top-seeded Vegas Golden Knights entering Friday's action.

Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens netminder Carey Price returned to the ice Friday after suffering a concussion April 19, but the club announced there's still no timeline for his return with the regular season winding down.

Price was injured after Edmonton Oilers forward Alex Chiasson bumped into him. The 33-year-old owns a .901 save percentage and a 2.64 goals-against average across 25 games this season.

Canadiens forward Philip Danault suffered an upper-body injury during the club's 5-2 loss against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday and will be sidelined for Saturday's rematch.

The two-way pivot has contributed five goals and 24 points through 53 outings.

Montreal needs just one point on Saturday to clinch the final postseason berth in the North Division.

Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

ESPN is out of the running in its pursuit to lure Wayne Gretzky into a broadcasting role, the New York Post's Andrew Marchand reports.

Friday's development opens the door for The Great One to sign with TNT in a similar capacity, according to Marchand, who adds Gretzky's role with Turner Sports would resemble that of Charles Barkley on "Inside the NBA."

ESPN was reportedly willing to pay the legend a salary in the $2-million range but withdrew from the bidding process when the amount escalated beyond that point. Gretzky's likely to seek around $5 million if he joins Turner, reports Marchand.

On Thursday, a report stated ESPN approached Gretzky about a broadcasting position and that the 60-year-old Edmonton Oilers alternate governor hadn't declined, but his interest level was unknown.

The NHL and Turner agreed to a seven-year pact in April to complete the league's new U.S. broadcasting rights arrangement beginning next season. The Walt Disney Company, which owns ESPN, inked a seven-year contract of its own with the NHL in March. The latter deal will make ESPN the league's primary American-based broadcast partner.

Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vancouver Canucks forward Zack MacEwen will have a hearing for kneeing Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Friday.

MacEwen appeared to stick his knee out and clip Nurse's face while the Oilers blue-liner was down on the ice.

Nurse went after MacEwen later in the game.

The two players eventually decided to settle things by dropping the gloves.

MacEwen has two points and 40 penalty minutes in 29 games this season.

Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos said Friday that his goal is to be ready for the postseason opener.

"Everything seems to be trending in that direction," he said, according to NHL.com's Caley Chelios.

Stamkos has been out of the lineup since April 8 due to a lower-body injury. The team was initially optimistic he'd return when he was eligible to come off long-term injured reserve last week.

The 31-year-old has suffered numerous injuries in the latter half of his career. He missed all but 2:47 of the team's playoff run last year due to a lower-body injury, though he did score a goal in that brief time.

Stamkos said that the surgeries he's had, including procedures on his knee, leg, and core, are "all connected" in some way.

"You're never going to feel the same after all that stuff," he said, according to The Athletic's Joe Smith. "No one wants to be out there more than myself."

As usual, Stamkos was productive when healthy this season, racking up 17 goals and 34 points in 38 games.

Nikita Kucherov, who's been out for the entire season with a hip injury, resumed skating nearly two months ago and could also return to the lineup when the playoffs get underway.

With the Carolina Hurricanes inching closer to clinching the Central Division title, it's looking more and more like the Lightning will be matched up with their in-state rivals the Florida Panthers in Round 1 of the postseason.

Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.