MacKinnon due to rejoin Avalanche Sunday
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon took another step toward returning to the lineup when he participated in an optional practice Thursday, wearing a regular jersey rather than the noncontact jersey he wore in previous practices this week.
MacKinnon, 22, who leads the Avalanche with 61 points (24 goals, 37 assists) in 49 games, likely will return for the home game Sunday against Edmonton.
Despite his absence for the past seven games because of an undisclosed upper-body injury, the surprising Avalanche entered Thursday tied for eighth in the Western Conference and very much in playoff contention.
Blackhawks
Chicago traded defenseman Ville Pokka to the Ottawa Senators for center Chris DiDomenico. Pokka, who was acquired in the October 2014 trade that sent defenseman Nick Leddy to the New York Islanders, had four goals and 18 assists in 46 games with Rockford of the American Hockey League. Pokka, 23, has yet to appear in an NHL game. DiDomenico, 28, had six goals, four assists in 24 games with Ottawa this season and will report to Rockford.
Maple Leafs
Toronto traded forward Nikita Soshnikov to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for the Blues’ fourth-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. The Blues said the team anticipates the speedy Russian will report to the team once he attains a U.S. visa.
Devils
Nico Hischier, the No. 1 overall pick in the draft last summer, had a goal and two assists, and Stefan Noesen scored twice to lead host New Jersey to a 5-2 victory against the Carolina Hurrricanes in a game between the teams currently in wild-card playoff positions in the Eastern Conference.
Islanders
Jaroslav Halak made 50 saves in his first shutout this season as the host New York Islanders kept up their mastery of the crosstown Rangers with a 3-0 win. Josh Bailey, Jordan Eberle and Thomas Hickey scored for the Islanders, who have won all three meetings this season and 10 of the past 11. Rookie Mathew Barzal had three assists as the Islanders moved into a tie with Columbus, one point behind Carolina for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference.