Injury question marks linger for many NHL teams on the eve of the playoffs

From Evgeni Malkin to Steven Stamkos to Ryan McDonagh, injuries are affecting a number of teams as the post-season gets set to start.

A round-up of the various injuries, many of which leave teams with big question marks:

Pittsburgh — Evgeni Malkin, Olli Maatta, Marc-Andre Fleury, Matt Murray

A number of key Penguins aren’t certain bets to play in the first round against the Rangers, including Malkin, who is about four weeks into the 6-8 week prognosis of an upper-body injury suffered in mid-March. He hasn’t played since Mar. 11. Equally concerning are questions in goal with Fleury suffering from a concussion late last month and his backup, Murray, banged up a few days later.

Maatta and Fleury did practice with the Penguins on Monday and are hopeful to play in Game 1.

Dallas — Tyler Seguin

The Stars don’t seem to know just yet if Seguin will be ready to play against the Wild. The 24-year-old hasn’t suited up since mid-March because of an Achilles injury that was due to keep him out 3-4 weeks. Seguin did practice Monday. His absence would hurt but not completely damper a Stars offence that scored more goals than any team during the regular season.

St. Louis — Jake Allen, David Backes

Allen has since returned from a late season injury, but evidently Brian Elliott will start the Blues playoff series with Chicago. St. Louis captain Backes, meanwhile, is expected to be ready for the start of the playoffs after sitting late in the regular season with a lower-body injury.

Tampa Bay — Steven Stamkos, Anton Stralman

About a week after the Lightning learned that Stralman would miss the remainder of the season with a broken leg, Tampa lost its captain to a blood clot. Stralman was one-half of Tampa’s top pair on defence, injured in late March after a check from the Islanders Anders Lee. Stamkos led the team with 36 goals before it was announced that he would undergo vascular surgery.

New York Rangers — Ryan McDonagh, Dan Girardi

The Rangers won’t have McDonagh to start the playoffs against Pittsburgh, though they’re hopeful their captain will return at some point from an upper-body injury. McDonagh was injured late in the regular season after blocking a shot against Columbus. Girardi, his long-time defence partner missed the final two games of the season, but is expected to be ready for Game 1 against the Penguins.

Minnesota — Zach Parise, Thomas Vanek, Erik Haula

The Wild are the lowest-scoring Western playoff team, so playing without Vanek (18 goals), Parise (25 goals), and Haula (14 goals) would hurt. Vanek has already been ruled out to start the series with Dallas, while Parise and Haula remain as question marks.

Los Angeles — Marian Gaborik

The Kings hoped to have Gaborik back from a knee injury before the end of the regular season, but the 34-year-old has yet to play since Feb. 12. A force during the 2014 post-season, Gaborik would be a huge boost if he can return at some point for the Kings.

Anaheim — David Perron, Rickard Rakell, Kevin Bieksa

Acquired by trade from Pittsburgh, Perron found a nice fit with the Ducks (20 points in 28 games) before separating his shoulder in Winnipeg on Mar. 20. He was due to miss 4-6 weeks. Bieksa, meanwhile, hasn’t played in weeks because of an upper-body injury. A first-time 20-goal-scorer this season, Rakell missed the end of the season with appendicitis and is an uncertain bet to start the post-season.

San Jose — Marc-Edouard Vlasic

A quiet but crucially important piece of the San Jose backend, Vlasic missed the final 12 games with a lower-body injury. Second to Brent Burns in ice-time for San Jose this season, he’s expected to be ready to return for the start of the post-season.

Florida — Vincent Trocheck, Erik Gudbranson, Steven Kampfer

A surprise 25-goal man this season, Trocheck blocked a shot in a late season game against Toronto and injured his left foot. He’s not expected back for the start of the post-season, nor is Kampfer from all indications. The Panthers should get a boost on defence though with Gudbranson returning from a late season injury, also suffered against the Leafs.