NHL Status Report: Luukkonen expected to start for Sabres

Welcome to the NHL Status Report. Here is the latest lineup/injury news around the NHL.

Buffalo Sabres

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is expected to start for the Sabres in their season opener against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; CBJNHL, CBJHN, MSG-B). The goalie was in the starter's net at practice the past two days after he tweaked a lower-body injury during their preseason finale against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sept. 26.... Olen Zellweger will not play Thursday; the defenseman has been in concussion protocol since Sept. 22. Coach Lindy Ruff did not rule him out for the game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday. "He just didn't get through his tests, so he's just got to continue to skate for a couple of days," Ruff said. ... Mattias Samuelsson (lower body) practiced Wednesday, and could play Thursday. The defenseman was injured in a preseason game on Sept. 22 after blocking a shot and had been listed as week to week. "As athletes, you always try to make it a little shorter, so I think it was just kind of one of those situations where if I felt like I was ready to play, I'd be back in the lineup," Samuelsson said.

St. Louis Blues

Tyler Tucker will be out indefinitely for the Blues after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. Blues general manager Alexander Steen said the defenseman will be re-evaluated in six weeks. Tucker had 17 points (three goals, 14 assists) in 69 games for the Blues last season. The Blues open the regular season against the Dallas Stars on Friday (9 p.m. ET; HBO MAX, truTV, TNT, SN1).

Ottawa Senators

Jake Sanderson remains uncertain for the Senators' season opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; SNO, SNP). The defenseman skated on his own before practice Wednesday but did not join the full session after not feeling right, coach Travis Green said. ... General manager Steve Staios told TSN 1200 that defenseman Artem Zub, who is recovering from a lingering knee injury, is on schedule to return early in the season. ... Forward Andre Burakovsky (upper body) has not skated since leaving a preseason game against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, and Green doesn't expect him to play this weekend. ... Green is hopeful forward Warren Foegele (undisclosed) will play Saturday.

Dallas Stars

Matt Duchene (lower body) is doubtful to be available for the Stars’ season opener against the St. Louis Blues on Friday (9 p.m. ET; HBO MAX, truTV, TNT, SN1) coach Glen Gulutzan said. The forward was dealing with the injury throughout training camp. “He's back kind of in a little bit of a maintenance program here,” Gulutzan said. “He skated this morning before practice, and so we're just monitoring now to see where he's going to be at. A little bit of a setback on the road." Duchene had 45 points (16 goals, 29 assists) in 57 regular-season games and nine points (two goals, seven assists) in six Stanley Cup Playoff games last season. Without him, Gulutzan said the Stars could potentially play 11 forwards and seven defensemen.

Chicago Blackhawks

Andrew Mangiapane will be out for the Blackhawks for at least the next two games. The forward left their season opener, a 5-2 loss at the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday, with a lower-body injury after taking one shift in the second period. "He won't play on this trip," coach Jeff Blashill said. "I'm not sure how long or what that means, but he definitely won't play the next two games." Chicago visits the Utah Mammoth on Thursday (9:30 p.m. ET; Disney+, HULU, ESPN+) and Buffalo on Saturday before its home opener against St. Louis on Oct. 6.

New York Islanders

Mathew Barzal could return to the ice this weekend. The forward traveled with the Islanders to Toronto after missing training camp due to an aggravation of a prior injury that caused inflammation, but he did not play in their season opener, a 2-1 loss to the Maple Leafs on Wednesday. "Maybe by the weekend or early next week at the latest, he gets back on the ice," general manager Mathieu Darche said Wednesday. "We will see how things progress, but he had a really good week last week. He's with us on the trip, so hopefully he's back on the ice soon. ... Mat Barzal, you give him a few practices and he will be good to go." Barzal led New York with 72 points (19 goals, 53 assists) in 81 games last season.

New Jersey Devils

Connor Brown sustained a lower-body injury toward the end of Devils practice on Monday and will miss their first two games. "He didn't feel right," coach Sheldon Keefe said Wednesday. "He'll need a little bit of time. I don't expect it to be anything too extensive, but he won't be available for us this week. We'll determine how much more beyond that, but we don't expect it to be anything significant. We're just waiting on some imaging." The forward, who had 43 points (18 goals, 25 assists) in 75 games in his first season with the Devils, will be replaced by Stefan Noesen for their 2026-27 opener against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; Disney+, HULU, ESPN+). Noesen is expected to play on a line with center Cody Glass and left wing Amadeus Lombardi. New Jersey visits the Islanders on Saturday.