Penguins’ Murray close to returning

Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Matt Murray is nearing a return from a lower-body injury that has sidelined him since mid-November.

The two-time Stanley Cup winner practised with his teammates on Tuesday for the first time since going on injured reserve last month. The 24year-old has struggled this season when able to play. He is 4-5-1 with a 4.08 goals-against average in 11 appearances but declined to use the injury as an excuse for his shaky performance.

“I was sore, but it was nothing to come out of play,” Murray said.

“I was playing with it for a few weeks and it was fine. I just tweaked it one day. It didn’t hinder many parts of my game. It’s a specific place. Just giving it time to heal is the biggest thing.”

Murray said he’s uncertain when he’ll be cleared to play. The Penguins face the Blackhawks on Wednesday night, then return home on Friday to play Boston.

Casey DeSmith has played well in place of Murray. DeSmith is 16-9-4 with a 2.35 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage for Pittsburgh.

The Penguins have recovered from a poor start and are 6-2-2 in their past 10 games. CHAD CLAIMED: The Anaheim Ducks have claimed goalie Chad Johnson off waivers from St. Louis. The Ducks announced the move shortly before revealing Tuesday that backup goalie Ryan Miller will be out for about six weeks with a sprained knee ligament.

Johnson has appeared in 183 games with six NHL franchises over the past decade. He went 2-6-0 with a 3.54 goals-against average and a . 884 save percentage in 10 games this season with the Blues, who signed him as a free agent in July. HUNWICK ON MEND: The Buffalo Sabres are sending Matt Hunwick to the minors on a rehabilitation assignment in the veteran defenceman’s next step in recovering from a neck injury he sustained last summer.

Coach Phil Housley said Hunwick will play at least one and possibly two games for Buffalo’s AHL affiliate in Rochester.

Hunwick is an 11-year veteran, who was acquired with forward Conor Sheary in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins in June.

He was hurt while working out on his own and has yet to play a game for Buffalo.