NHL Buzz: Tavares is expected to play for the Maple Leafs in the season opener

Toronto Maple Leafs

John Tavares is expected to play when the Toronto Maple Leafs open the regular season at the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET: SN, TVAS, ESPN+).

“I’m feeling good, tomorrow looks good so I’m looking forward to it,” said Tavares. “The process it took to get here is not ideal, but the medical staff, the performance staff that have helped me get to this point has been tremendous. So I give them a lot of credit and I’m happy to be there from the start – going.”

The Maple Leafs center suffered an oblique injury in a 4-1 preseason win over the Ottawa Senators on Sept. 24. Their captain was expected to be out for at least three weeks but he has recovered faster than expected.

Tavares trained fully for the second straight day on Tuesday, centering a line with the left wing Denis Malgin and right wing William Nylander.

“It certainly gives the team a boost and encouragement,” said coach Sheldon Keefe. “His talent and what he brings to our team makes us much more dynamic and harder to control and defend. And he’s our captain, so it’s always good to have your captain’s presence from the start of the season, certainly better than not. Power play, all those things from the start of the season, everything is how you envisioned it, so we’re thrilled to have him back.

Tavares had 76 points (27 goals, 49 assists) in 79 games last season. — David McCarthy

buffalo saber

Kyle Okposo has been cleared for Thursday’s season opener against the Ottawa Senators (7 p.m. ET; MSG-B, TSN5, RDS, ESPN+, SN NOW).

The forward wore a regular training jersey on Tuesday after wearing a non-contact jersey on a Monday. Okposo, who was named Sabers captain on Saturday, suffered an upper-body injury in a preseason game against the Carolina Hurricanes on Oct. 4.

“Yes, he will not be denied. He is good,” said coach Don Granato. “He was released. I’m comfortable with that. I have more information than when I spoke to you yesterday. It’s obvious by the way he competes in training that he’s ready to go.”

After moving into online rushes on Monday, Okposo was back on a regular line Tuesday, running along on the right wing Zemgus Girgensons and center Rasmus Asplundand one device on one of the two Powerplay units.

After Monday’s practice, Okposo wasn’t sure he would be ready for the opening game but was hopeful.

“Definitely work hard to get that back,” he said. — Heath Angel

Vancouver Canucks

Brock Bad is a game decider for the Edmonton Oilers’ season opener on Wednesday (10 p.m. ET; SN, ESPN+, SN NOW), just 16 days after the forward had surgery on his left hand.

Boeser trained in a regular jersey on Tuesday and was a full participant for the first time since the operation on September 26. He was supposed to be out for 3-4 weeks but said several times that he was planning to play in Edmonton.

“I feel ready and looking forward to tomorrow,” said Boeser. “I’m feeling pretty good out there. I feel like I’m good with the stick and passing the puck well and shooting the puck pretty well and it doesn’t hurt when I take one-timers so it’s good enough to go like that.”

Boeser, who had 46 points (23 goals, 23 assists) in 71 games last season, moved back to the top of the right wing with the center J T Miller and left wing Tanner Pearson on Tuesday. The 25-year-old was injured in a training camp workout on September 24 but was able to skate within a week of the surgery.

“It was a strange, accidental injury. Someone slammed my arm and wrist in a weird direction and I felt it snap or pop, whatever you want to say so it’s quite frustrating but I’m just glad to be back for the first game Boeser said. “I’ve been trying to stay positive and doing everything I can to get to this point to be able to play (on Wednesday), so I’m looking forward to getting out of there.”

QuinnHughes is also a game-time decision after returning to training on Tuesday. He missed two days with an illness.

“I’m feeling good,” said Hughes. “I will play.”

Forward Ilya Mikheyev, who performed week-to-week after suffering a lower-body injury in a 3-2 preseason loss to the Calgary Flames on Sept. 25, returned to practice Monday in a non-contact jersey but will not on Wednesday to play. — Kevin Woodley

New Jersey Devil

Nico Hischier returned to training on Tuesday but remains doubtful for the start of the regular season with a hamstring strain.

“I definitely need to do some more stuff in the gym, start skating with the team [regularly]’ Hischier said. “I’ve been feeling good, but there are definitely things I still need to work on with my hamstring at the moment, so it’s more or less day-to-day, a game decision.”

New Jersey opens the season Thursday (7 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, SN NOW) with the Philadelphia Flyers.

“At the end of the day I have to feel ready,” said Hischier. “I don’t want to come back too early in a long season. It’s something small. If you start too early, it will bother you for a while. You have to be careful with that.”

The center was limited to 6:24 ice time due to cramps in a 2-1 preseason win at the Montreal Canadiens on September 26 and did not play in any of the remaining preseason games.

“He got out of there, he practiced and he got where we wanted him to go,” said coach Lindy Ruff. “Most likely he will train again tomorrow and we will see where he is.

Hischier had NHL career bests in goals (21), assists (39) and points (60) in 70 games last season. — Mike G. Moreale

Carolina hurricanes

Derek Stepan signed a one-year, $750,000 deal on Tuesday. The striker took part in a professional trial at the training camp.

Stepan had 19 points (nine goals, ten assists) in 58 games for the Hurricanes last season. He did not have a point in three Stanley Cup playoff games.

“Because Derek was in Carolina last season, we know what he brings to the table and what he adds to our team,” said general manager Don Waddell. “He gives us extra forward depth and gives us another veteran presence in the dressing room.”

The 32-year-old has 504 points (177 goals, 327 assists) in 817 regular-season games with the New York Rangers, Arizona Coyotes, Ottawa Senators and Hurricanes and 54 points (20 goals, 34 assists) in 109 playoff games.