In the latest NHL updates, Buffalo Sabres forward Jiri Kulich exited a game with a lower-body injury. Meanwhile, Colorado Avalanche coach Jared Bednar confirmed that Valeri Nichushkin is projected to participate in the upcoming three-game road trip.

In Detroit, Red Wings defensemen Jeff Petry and Justin Holl missed practice, with Petry being assessed for an undisclosed injury, ruling him out for the next game. However, Holl is expected to play.

Florida Panthers' Aaron Ekblad participated in morning skate, while Niko Mikkola remains sidelined due to an upper-body issue. The Minnesota Wild reported that Mats Zuccarello and Kirill Kaprizov are nursing lower-body injuries, and Jared Spurgeon has been placed on the IR.

Montreal Canadiens forwards Patrik Laine and David Savard are also missing games, while Nashville Predators’ Jeremy Lauzon is on the IR. The New Jersey Devils will be without Erik Haula for several weeks due to a sprained ankle.

Ottawa Senators defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker left practice injured. The Senators' Travis Hamonic is out due to a knee injury, but Nick Jensen has returned to practice. San Jose Sharks' Logan Couture is still recovering and hasn't yet returned to the ice.

Toronto Maple Leafs placed defenseman Jake McCabe on the IR, and Vancouver Canucks’ Elias Pettersson participated in practice but isn’t ready to play. Quinn Hughes returned from an upper-body injury, and Dakota Joshua has been placed on the IR.

Finally, Vegas Golden Knights' Nicolas Roy returned to practice without contact as he recovers from an upper-body injury.

The Minnesota Wild are set to face the San Jose Sharks on Thursday, with rookie forward Michael Milne called up from Iowa for the road trip. Milne, who has shown promise in the AHL, may make his NHL debut after a recent loss to Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, the Sharks have improved their standing by winning four of their last five games, including a recent overtime victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Key players like Vitek Vanecek and Macklin Celebrini are contributing significantly, although the team will be without Logan Couture and Marc-Edouard Vlasic due to injuries.

The 2024-25 NHL season kicks off with a focus on the Pacific Division, featuring teams like the San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks, and Seattle Kraken. The Sharks are in a rebuilding phase with promising young talents like Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith, while the Ducks continue to struggle despite some key players like Trevor Zegras.

The Kraken aim for improvement with center Matty Beniers needing to bounce back, and the Golden Knights face challenges after losing key players. The Oilers and Canucks are expected to be strong contenders, with Edmonton bolstering their offense and Vancouver needing to address their goaltending situation.