Byron sat out the Canadiens' last four games with a lower-body injury and did not travel with the team on their latest road trip.
The injury was sustained in a home contest versus the Dallas Stars on Oct. 30. Byron left the game and did not return.
Byron sits eighth in team scoring with seven points in 11 games.
In other injury news, forward Joel Armia underwent an MRI after leaving Tuesday night's game with a lower-body injury. The team is currently waiting on the results, Julien said Wednesday.
Boeser missed Tuesday's contest against the Detroit Red Wings - the first leg of his team's current six-game road trip - with a groin injury.
The 21-year-old will miss Thursday's matchup with the Boston Bruins, but the Canucks haven't ruled out the possibility of Boeser re-joining at some point during their current road swing, which won't conclude until next Thursday.
"He's gotten better, but he isn't over the hump yet," head coach Travis Green said.
Boeser had begun to turn things around after a slow start to the season, notching two goals and four points against the Colorado Avalanche on Friday.
Tkachuk has been limited to just four appearances early in his first NHL season, as Thursday's contest will mark his first since Oct. 15. The 19-year-old has been incredibly productive when healthy, having put up three goals and six points in four games.
After suffering through more off-ice distractions earlier in the week, the Senators will be looking to build off Tuesday's commanding 7-3 win over the New Jersey Devils.
Like sands through the hourglass, prospect rankings are fluid - especially early in the season, when we're still learning who these players are and what they can do with their opportunities. While the top two prospects on our board have stayed the same from version 1.0, there's been plenty of movement down the rest of this list.
Here's the second edition of theScore's 2019 NHL Prospect Big Board:
1. Jack Hughes
C | 5-foot-10 | 161 lbs | U.S. National Team Development Program Age: 17 | Previous Rank: 1
GP
G
A
P
14
3
17
20
Someone might try, at some point this season, to say Hughes isn't the No. 1 prospect. Don't buy it. His vision and hockey IQ are off the charts, allowing him to create plays that many of his peers can't even conceive of. That being said, Hughes' combination of speed and acceleration is probably his biggest asset, and could still get better. He also has a great chance of breaking Auston Matthews' USA Hockey National Team Development Program (USNTDP) single-season points record after falling one short last year. If there's a quibble to be had, it's that Hughes should shoot more often.
2. Kaapo Kakko
RW | 6-foot-1 | 181 lbs | TPS (Liiga, Jr. A SM-liiga) Age: 17 | Previous Rank: 2
GP
G
A
P
16
3
7
10
Don’t brush off Kakko just because he shouldn't or won’t pass Hughes. He’s still in a class by himself compared to the other prospects on this list, and he's started the season strong while playing against men in the Finnish Liiga. Kakko's puck-handling ability is high-end, and he can use it at top speed. Add in his intelligence and patience, and you have an irresistible combination. One interesting thing to watch: Though Kakko's listed as a right winger, he has experience playing center. If he can continue to play the latter position at a high level, it makes him more versatile and valuable.
It'll be interesting to see if Dach can sustain his hot start across a full season. While his blistering scoring pace will likely level out at some point, his high-end hockey sense should allow him to keep producing. If he does, he'll be an early pick in June. Dach combines size with an excellent skill set, and his passing is terrific - crisp, accurate, and able to get through traffic. He has a very high ceiling.
4. Bowen Byram
D | 6-foot-1 | 192 lbs | Vancouver Giants (WHL) Age: 17 | Previous Rank: 3
GP
G
A
P
17
5
9
14
Cam York and Matthew Robertson are hot on his heels, but right now Byram's still the top defenseman on this list. His exceptional skating, puck skills, and vision make him the type of dynamic defender that NHL teams are salivating over right now. While he has room to grow, it’s not difficult to project him quarterbacking a power play at the next level.
Turcotte hasn't played much this season due to injury, so he's one to keep an eye on as things progress. When he's at the top of his game, Turcotte's fast, consistent, and reliable at both ends of the ice. He's got excellent offensive instincts that, when combined with his work ethic and skill set, make him an effective playmaker. One of the best descriptions of Turcotte is that he doesn’t have an off switch. He's strong with the puck, and his hockey smarts make him dangerous without it, too.
Dach may have passed him for now, but Cozens is the kind of player who could move up as the season progresses. Last year’s WHL Rookie of the Year plays with (well-earned) confidence, racking up points thanks to his great passing and excellent shot. His skating is strong in all areas - quickness, acceleration, agility - and he appears to enjoy the physical aspects of the game. When you put it all together, you have a strong contender for a top-five pick come draft time.
Boldy climbs four spots into the top 10, and has the potential to go even higher depending on how the season goes. He's a highly skilled playmaker thanks to his terrific vision, and he's noticeably improved his shot, which wasn't exactly terrible before.
Some pundits have Podkolzin ranked as high as No. 2 after his excellent performance at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, but it’s too soon to know whether he can play a full season like that. That being said, there’s a lot to like about his game, and it seems like he belongs inside the top 10. He’s tenacious and effective in all three zones, and makes intelligent plays at top speed.
Krebs is a smart, well-rounded player, and he uses those smarts to react and make good decisions in pressure moments - important traits in an NHL prospect. He's also creative and elusive with the puck, while his high-end vision allows him to read the ice effectively. He could stand to add a little more muscle, but that's something to consider after you draft him, because he handles physical play just fine.
10. Alex Newhook
C | 5-foot-11 | 183 lbs | Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL) Age: 17 | Previous Rank: 7
GP
G
A
P
45
22
44
66
(*Stats are from 2017-18 season)
It feels like teams are becoming less hesitant to draft guys out of Junior A leagues in the first round, or maybe they’re just getting better at correctly identifying talent in those leagues. One of the things that stands out about Newhook, last year's BCHL Rookie of the Year, is his brain. He's got great hockey sense, which he uses to make quick decisions at game speed. He's also very agile, which is a fun quality in a player who can use it to embarrass opposing defensemen. Combine all that and Newhook's a significant offensive threat. His transition to college hockey should be interesting.
Suzuki has excellent vision, and he’s good at capitalizing on the opportunities he sees. One key issue is that he pretty much avoids physical play. He's no slouch in his own end, but one still hopes he'll become more willing to engage when necessary.
Zegras has enjoyed a phenomenal start to the season, and it doesn't appear to be a fluke. As the USNTDP's second-line center (behind Hughes), Zegras is a creative and speedy center who knows how to exploit his opponents.
High-end instincts, a terrific release, and incredible skating combine to make Caufield's small stature a non-issue - but it would probably be good if he grew a couple inches, anyway.
Kaliyev's a shoot-first forward with an excellent release. He's started the OHL season at nearly a goal-per-game pace, and his puck-protection skills are solid, too.
17. Victor Soderstrom
D | 5-foot-11 | 176 lbs | Brynas IF J18/J20 (J18 Elit/SuperElit) Age: 17 | Previous Rank: 17
GP
G
A
P
14
1
7
8
Soderstrom's a mobile defenseman with sharp instincts who enjoys controlling the pace of the game. He's also a fast skater who isn’t afraid to get physical despite being on the smaller side.
Robertson's a talented defender with solid puck skills and a heavy shot. He’s intelligent, strong in one-on-one battles, and can play in all situations.
Broberg's a powerful skater with a smooth stride who needs to improve his puck skills. He has good playmaking instincts, but he’s still raw and sometimes tries to do too much.
20. Mikko Kokkonen
D | 5-foot-11 | 190 lbs | Jukurit (Liiga) Age: 17 | Previous Rank: NR
GP
G
A
P
18
1
7
8
A solid two-way defenseman who's started the Liiga season strong, Kokkonen's a force despite not playing top minutes. His positioning and work ethic are both top-notch, while his calm, poised game has clear offensive upside.
21. Moritz Seider
picture alliance / picture alliance / Getty
D | 6-foot-4 | 183 lbs | Adler Mannheim (DEL) Age: 17 | Previous Rank: NR
D | 6-foot-0 | 161 lbs | Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL) Age: 17 | Previous Rank: NR
GP
G
A
P
11
1
5
6
44. Tobias Bjornfot
D | 6-foot-0 | 187 lbs | Djurgårdens IF J20 (SuperElit) Age: 17 | Previous Rank: NR
GP
G
A
P
17
3
4
7
45. Thomas Harley
D | 6-foot-3 | 183 lbs | Mississauga Steelheads (OHL) Age: 17 | Previous Rank: NR
GP
G
A
P
17
3
10
13
46. Xavier Simoneau
C | 5-foot-7 | 172 lbs | Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL) Age: 17 | Previous Rank: NR
GP
G
A
P
15
7
10
17
47. Cole Mackay
RW | 5-foot-11 | 185 lbs | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) Age: 17 | Previous Rank: NR
GP
G
A
P
19
6
14
20
48. Lassi Thomson
D | 6-foot-0 | 187 lbs | Kelowna Rockets (WHL) Age: 18 | Previous Rank: NR
GP
G
A
P
17
7
7
14
49. Matvei Guskov
C | 6-foot-1 | 172 lbs | London Knights (OHL) Age: 17 | Previous Rank: NR
GP
G
A
P
16
3
9
12
50. Dustin Wolf
G | 6-foot-0 | 161 lbs | Everett Silvertips (WHL) Age: 17 | Previous Rank: NR
GP
W-L-OT
GAA
SV%
17
11-6-0
1.84
.924
Hannah Stuart keeps a close eye on both drafted and draft-eligible prospects and can usually be found trying to learn more about hockey analytics. She has previously written for FanRag Sports, The Hockey Writers, and Hooked On Hockey Magazine, and can also be found at High Heels and High Sticks. Find her on Twitter @HockeyWthHannah.
Malkin was deemed to have been bracing for impact just before making contact with Oshie and didn't change the angle of his elbow or his stick prior to the collision, Johnston notes.
The Pittsburgh center was ejected from the game and assessed a match penalty on the play. Oshie had the last laugh, as he returned to the game and scored the game-winning goal with just over a minute left in regulation.
Oshie said postgame that after picking up the 2-1 win, he wasn't concerned about Malkin's hit and didn't care whether the league determined it required discipline.
The 27-year-old missed Tampa Bay's last six games after blocking a shot in an Oct. 26 contest against the Vegas Golden Knights. With little progress being made in the recovery, the team decided to shut him down for a few weeks, head coach Jon Cooper noted Wednesday, according to Joe Smith of The Athletic.
Palat has struggled to begin the 2018-19 campaign. Through nine games he remains goalless with just five assists and 10 shots.
The Lightning, meanwhile, have been rolling with three straight victories and four in their last five contests, propelling them to the top of the Eastern Conference.
The Penguins have dropped five straight games and Rutherford voiced his displeasure with his team's poor start and said changes will be made if it can't turn things around soon.
"Certainly if this continues, in short order, we're going to have to make some changes," Rutherford said during a radio appearance Wednesday before the club's 2-1 loss to the Washington Capitals, according to Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
"Actions are louder than words," Rutherford said. "This will be the first move of a few if we don't get it going."
Rutherford didn't use specific names but called out members of the team's supporting cast.
"It's almost like the guys come to the games and say, 'Let's just let the top guys do it. Let's let (Sidney Crosby), (Evgeni Malkin), (Phil Kessel), and (Kris Letang) carry us,'" Rutherford said. "We'll just get through the game and move on to the next game, forget about the work ethic it takes or forget about the role they play.
"But when those guys can't get it done, whether they're shut down or they're not having a good game, that's when we need those other guys to come in and contribute and help win games. We're not getting it."
Outside of those big names Rutherford mentioned, Derick Brassard, Daniel Sprong, Carl Hagelin, Bryan Rust, and Riley Sheahan have combined for just four goals through the club's first 14 games. Meanwhile, Crosby, Malkin, and Kessel are all averaging better than a point per game.
Rutherford wasn't done there, though. He also commented on the team's "inconsistent goaltending," as well as players who recently received big contract extensions.
"They get bigger contracts, and they kind of settle in," he said.
Rutherford questioned whether his team - which has won back-to-back Stanley Cups - is growing stagnant.
"Has this team been together too long? It's something I always have to watch for," Rutherford said. "When do you have to make those changes? The players are doing everything they can to tell me now's the time."
