NHL Hockey Player News

Skinner had a forgetful performance in Game 1, allowing the game-deciding goal late in the third period, one of the six he allowed on 30 shots (.800 SV%) in the 6-5 loss to the Los Angeles Kings. The 26-year-old Skinner will return to the crease for Game 2 on Wednesday. He saw limited action in the previous month, recovering from an injury, but played phenomenally in his final two regular season games (2-0-0), posting a 0.50 GAA, .972 SV%, and one shutout. The Oilers enter Game 2 as +112 road underdogs against the Kings.

Clutterbuck did not play in the 2024-25 season and has announced his retirement, ending his career with 293 points (143G / 150A) in 1064 games. The 37-year-old was drafted 72nd overall by the Minnesota Wild in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, going on to play 17 NHL seasons, splitting time with Minnesota and the New York Islanders.

Cirelli exited Tuesday's 6-2 Game 1 loss to the Florida Panthers after playing only 6:21 time-on-ice due to an undisclosed injury. Nick Paul centered Tampa Bay's second line after Cirelli's injury. The 27-year-old Cirelli scored a career-high 59 points (27G / 32A) in 80 games this season.

Ehlers has only played twice in the last three weeks and will await his 2024-25 playoff debut, not travelling with the Jets to St. Louis for Game 3. As they are with Gabriel Vilardi (upper body), the Jets are taking a cautious approach with returning two integral offensive pieces to their lineup with a comfortable 2-0 lead over the Blues. The 29-year-old Ehlers scored 63 points (24G / 39A) in 63 games this season.

George was a second-round pick, 57th overall, of the Kings in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 18-year-old goalie had a serviceable final season in the OHL, posting a 3.35 GAA and .909 SV% in 47 appearances (17-22-6) with the Owen Sound Attack.

Up 2-0 in the first-round series against the St. Louis Blues, the Jets are taking a cautious approach with returning Vilardi to the lineup. Vilardi appears to be nearing a return but without a rush to insert him into to the lineup, the Jets will likely wait until Vilardi returns to 100% health before proceeding with full-contact practices. The 25-year-old Vilardi was having a tremendous season for the Jets before his injury, scoring 61 points (27G / 34A) in 71 games.

The Canadiens scored two goals in the third period in Game 1, sending the game to overtime, before falling short after Alex Ovechkin beat Montembeault for the game-winning goal. The 28-year-old Montembeault will return to the crease on Wednesday for Game 2. He saved 29 of 32 shots (.906 SV%) in Monday's loss, his first career playoff appearance. The Canadiens enter Game 2 on Wednesday as +161 road underdogs against the Capitals as they hope to tie the series before heading to Montreal for Game 3.

Protas missed the final six games of the regular season and missed Game 1, but could return to the lineup for Game 2. The 24-year-old Protas scored an impressive 66 points (30G / 36A) in 76 games this season.

Alexeyev exited Game 1 on Monday due to an upper-body injury after playing only 14:02 time-on-ice. The 25-year-old defenseman only played eight gams this season, scoring zero points. He could be ready to return to the lineup for Game 2 on Wednesday.

The Capitals had a dramatic 3-2 overtime win over the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1 and will likely roll with Thompson between the pipes on Wednesday for Game 2. Thompson was excellent in Game 1, his first game in nearly three weeks, perfect through two periods and saving 33 of 35 shots (.943 SV%) in the victory. The 28-year-old Thompson made his playoff debut last season with the Vegas Golden Knights and improved his career totals to a 2.27 GAA and .926 SV% in five games (3-2-0). The Capitals enter Game 2 as -172 home favorites against the Canadiens.

Landeskog participated in the pregame skate on Monday but was a late scratch, delaying his return to the lineup. He has not played in an NHL game since the 2021-22 season, but appeared in two AHL games during a conditioning loan this month. The Avalanche did not confirm that he would play, but implied a realistic chance that he returns to the lineup on Wednesday for Game 3.

Down 0-1 in their first-round matchup against the Golden Knights, the Wild will roll with Gustavsson between the pipes for Game 2, looking to even the series. The 26-year-old Gustavsson was beaten three times in Game 1, allowing three goals on 26 shots (.885 SV%) in a 4-2 loss. The Swedish netminder had a solid 2024-25 campaign, posting a 2.56 GAA and .914 SV% in 58 appearances (31-19-6) and has been serviceable in limited playoff action, posting a 2.45 GAA and .915 SV% in six career outings (2-4-0). Still, Minnesota enters Game 2 as a sizeable +192 road underdogs against Vegas.

Tkachuk suffered a lower-body injury as a member of USA's team in the 4-Nations Face Off and has not played since. After practicing with the Panthers the last several days, he appears set to return to the lineup for Game 1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 27-year-old Tkachuk scored 57 points (22G / 35A) in 52 games this season.

The battle of Florida is the only playoff series yet to commence, but it will get underway on Tuesday, with Vasilevskiy tending the twine for Tampa Bay. Vasilevskiy had a tremendous season, rebounding after an uncharacteristically averaging 2023-24 campaign, posting an impressive 2.18 GAA and .921 SV% in 63 games (38-20-5). The 30-year-old netminder has a 2.41 GAA and .920 SV% in 115 career playoff games (66-46). Tampa Bay enters Game 1 on Tuesday as slight -115 home favorites against the Florida Panthers.

As expected, the Panthers will hand their franchise netminder the opening start of their round one series against the Lightning. It's been eight days since Bobrovsky's last start, so the 36-year-old netminder should be well rested heading into Tuesday's series opener. The two-time Vezina Trophy winner finished the regular season with a 33-19-2 record and a .905 SV%. The Panthers enter action on Tuesday at an even +100 on the money line.

The Maple Leafs are leading their series 1-0 over the Ottawa Senators and will roll with Stolarz between the pipes. The 31-year-old Stolarz was excellent in his Game 1 victory, saving 31 of 33 shots (.939 SV%) in a 6-2 win, the first playoff victory of his career. Dating back to the end of the regular season, Stolarz has been outstanding, winning seven straight while allowing only eight combined goals and posting an absurd .961 SV%. The Maple Leafs enter Game 2 on Tuesday as -163 home favorites against the Senators.

The Senators will unsurprisingly turn back to Ullmark between the pipes for Game 2 in Toronto. Ullmark had a night to forget in Game 1 on Sunday, allowing six goals on 24 shots. The six minor penalties his teammates were guilty of certainly didn't help matters, but Ullmark will undoubtedly need to be at the top of his game if the Senators are going to even the series on Tuesday. Ottawa enters action at +135 on the money line.

Tkachuk suffered a lower-body injury as a member of USA's team in the 4-Nations Face Off and has not played since. That said, he has been practicing with the Panthers the last several days and could return to the lineup for Game 1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 27-year-old Tkachuk scored 57 points (22G / 35A) in 52 games this season.

Kane has spent the entirety of the 2024-25 season recovering from abdominal surgery but could make his return to the lineup in Game 2 on Wednesday. The 33-year-old Kane has spent the previous three seasons with the Oilers, tallying 111 points (62G / 49A) in 161 games.

Down 0-1 in their first-round matchup against the Golden Knights, the Wild will likely roll with Gustavsson between the pipes for Game 2, looking to even the series. The 26-year-old Gustavsson was beaten three times in Game 1, allowing three goals on 26 shots (.885 SV%) in a 4-2 loss. The Swedish netminder had a solid 2024-25 campaign, posting a 2.56 GAA and .914 SV% in 58 appearances (31-19-6) and has been serviceable in limited playoff action, posting a 2.45 GAA and .915 SV% in six career outings (2-4-0). Still, Minnesota enters Game 2 as a sizeable +192 road underdogs against Vegas.