Story Summary
Nick Suzuki will return for the Montreal Canadiens against the Utah Mammoth on Thursday after missing six games with an upper-body injury. The Canadiens captain’s absence halted a 546-game consecutive-games streak to begin his NHL career, but he returns having made a blistering start to the season with 12 points in nine games.
Suzuki’s comeback heads a busy day of NHL availability news. Dallas Stars defenceman Miro Heiskanen will miss the game at the Columbus Blue Jackets after leaving Tuesday’s 6-5 win at the Washington Capitals, while Carolina Hurricanes forward Taylor Hall could return against the New York Islanders. Detroit Red Wings goaltender John Gibson remains under evaluation, and Pittsburgh Penguins centre Evgeni Malkin is set to return against the Boston Bruins.
Key Facts
- Nick Suzuki will return for the Montreal Canadiens against the Utah Mammoth after missing six games with an upper-body injury.
- Suzuki had played all 546 games since beginning his NHL career before sustaining the injury.
- Suzuki has 12 points, including five goals and seven assists, in nine games this season after recording a career-high 101 points and winning the Selke Trophy last season.
- Miro Heiskanen will not play for the Dallas Stars at the Columbus Blue Jackets after leaving early in the second period of Tuesday’s 6-5 win at the Washington Capitals.
- Stars coach Glen Gulutzan described Heiskanen as truly day to day and said he could play in Dallas’s next game against the San Jose Sharks.
- Taylor Hall could return for the Carolina Hurricanes against the New York Islanders after missing nine games with two different upper-body injuries.
- John Gibson will not play for the Detroit Red Wings against the Vegas Golden Knights while his lower-body injury continues to be evaluated.
- Evgeni Malkin will return for the Pittsburgh Penguins against the Boston Bruins after missing their previous game with a lower-body injury.
IHM Discussion
Suzuki’s return gives Montreal back a player whose early production has matched the two-way standard established by last season’s Selke-winning campaign. His 12 points in nine games make the immediate scoring contribution clear, while the 546-game run he carried into this injury underlines how unusual this interruption has been in his NHL career.
Elsewhere, the status report shows how differently clubs must handle short-term absences. Dallas have ruled out Heiskanen for one game but retained day-to-day language around a possible return against San Jose. Carolina have left the door open for Hall after a stop-start spell involving two separate upper-body injuries. Detroit, by contrast, have no fresh timetable for Gibson beyond ongoing evaluation after he left the Tampa Bay game after one period.
There are firmer returns too. Malkin took rushes on Pittsburgh’s second line in practice before being confirmed to play, while Colton Parayko is back for St. Louis and will replace Theo Lindstein in the Blues lineup. Those are practical lineup decisions rather than merely encouraging injury updates.
Why It Matters
Montreal’s news carries particular significance because Suzuki is both captain and a major source of offence. A player coming off 101 points, 29 goals, 72 assists and a plus-37 rating inevitably changes the options available when he is in the lineup. The Canadiens can welcome him back without pretending that six missed games erase the need to manage an upper-body issue sensibly.
For Dallas, Heiskanen’s absence is more immediately difficult to absorb because he is averaging 24:53 per game and has 11 points in 15 appearances. Those minutes touch every part of a match, from defensive-zone exits to transition play and special situations. Gulutzan’s comments offer no guarantee beyond the next checkpoint, but they do leave open the possibility of a short absence.
The wider picture is equally important for clubs trying to stabilise their lineups. Hall has five points in eight games for Carolina, Malkin ranks third on Pittsburgh with 11 points, and Gibson’s 11 appearances have given Detroit an established starter whose situation now requires further assessment.
Mini Q&A
When will Nick Suzuki return for Montreal?
Suzuki will return for the Canadiens against the Utah Mammoth on Thursday after missing six games with an upper-body injury.
Why is Miro Heiskanen out for Dallas?
Heiskanen left early in the second period after being hit into the boards by Justin Sourdif during Dallas’s 6-5 win at Washington and will miss the game at Columbus.
Is Taylor Hall expected back for Carolina?
Hall could return against the New York Islanders after missing nine games with two different upper-body injuries.
What is John Gibson’s status with Detroit?
Gibson is still being evaluated for a lower-body injury and will not play against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Coach Mark Comment
A 546-game streak ending is the detail that makes Suzuki’s return feel different from an ordinary one-game update. That run says he had been available through the everyday bumps and demands of an NHL schedule from the moment he arrived.
Montreal now get their captain back after only six missed games, and the useful part is that his game does not have to be reduced to points. Suzuki can re-enter as a centreman who handles hard minutes as well as creating offence. That gives the Canadiens a familiar presence in the middle without asking the return itself to carry more meaning than it should.
What Comes Next
Suzuki is due to play against Utah on Thursday. Dallas next face the San Jose Sharks, the game Glen Gulutzan identified as a possible return point for Heiskanen. Toronto’s John Tavares could return against Montreal on Saturday, but coach Jim Hiller said he must practise on Friday and pass that test first.
IHM Final View
Suzuki’s confirmed return is the clearest positive development in a packed slate of NHL availability news. Montreal regain their captain and leading early-season scorer, while Dallas, Detroit and other clubs continue to work through less certain situations. The coming games will provide the next concrete checks on Heiskanen, Hall, Gibson and Tavares, with each team’s language reflecting a different stage of recovery and readiness.