NHL Hockey Player News

Vanecek ended his impressive first 2022-23 regular season campaign with New Jersey with a 33-11-4 record, .911 SV% and 2.45 GAA and will draw the start for game 1 vs. the New York Rangers. The 27-year-old has yet to see any playoff action throughout his three-year career and will be making his postseason debut Tuesday. He will take on the New York Rangers, who finished their season with a 47-22-13 record and had the seventh-best powerplay in the NHL (24.1%)

Kinkaid was 1-0-0 with a 1.37 GAA and .950 SV% in two appearances between Colorado and Boston this season but spent the majority of his 2022-23 in the AHL and has been recalled Tuesday to act as Colorado's third goaltender throughout the playoffs. The 33-year-old played in two NHL playoff games in 2017-18 with New Jersey, struggling mightily with his 0-2-0 record, 5.88 GAA and .804 SV%.

Vilardi has been out since March 26th due to an undisclosed injury and did not suit up for Game 1 vs. Edmonton but says he feels healthy and ready to rejoin the Kings for game 2 Wednesday. The 23-year-old enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2022-23, with his 23 goals, 41 points, 122 SOG, 18 PIMs and +10 plus/minus through 63 games prior to the injury.

Johnson finished 2022-23 regular season with eight assists, 98 SOG, 12 PIMs and a +8 plus/minus through 63 games but will be a healthy scratch Tuesday for Game 1 vs. Seattle. Jack Johnson will be in Colorado's lineup in favour of the 35-year-old Erik.

Sprong finished his 2022-23 season with 21 goals, 25 assists, 147 SOG, 14 PIMs and a +13 plus/minus through 66 games and is expected to play in Game 1 Tuesday vs. Colorado after being a game-time decision originally due to an undisclosed injury. The 26-year-old brings three games of NHL playoff experience to the Kraken, as he picked up an assist and 11 SOG with the Washington Capitals in 2020-21.

Manson has not played since March 1st due to a lower-body injury but is expected back for the Avalanche in Game 1. vs. Seattle Tuesday. The 31-year-old bruising defenseman missed a great chunk of the 2022-23 season due to injury, but still had two goals, eight assists, 41 SOG, 42 PIMs and a +13 plus/minus through 27 games this season.

Hellebuyck had a fantastic regular season, finishing second in Jets history in wins in a season with his 37-25-2 record, 2.49 GAA and .920 SV% and is expected to start game 1 Tuesday vs. Vegas. The 29-year-old has previously played in 35 playoff games for the Jets, posting a 16-19-0 record, 2.46 GAA and .921 SV% across four separate postseasons. He will face the Vegas Golden Knights, who finished their season 51-22-9 and are 14th in the NHL in goals per game (3.26).

Grubauer closed out yet another disappointing regular season with the Kraken after going 17-14-4 with a 2.85 GAA and .895 SV% but is expected to start Game 1 vs. Colorado Tuesday. The 31-year-old has an impressive playoff resume, with his 19-10-1 record, .913 SV% and 2.50 GAA across 33 games between Colorado and Washington. He takes on his old team in the Colorado Avalanche, who finished the season 51-24-7 and eighth in the NHL in shots on goal (33.3) and 10th in goals per game (3.34).

Ehlers' missed the Jets' final game of the season due to an upper-body injury but will be a game-time decision for Game 1 Tuesday vs. Vegas. The 27-year-old ended his 2022-23 regular season with 12 goals, 38 points, 132 SOG, 11 PIMs and a -2 plus/minus through 45 games prior to his injury.

Georgiev completed his impressive first full regular season in Colorado by placing second all-time in Wins in franchise history as he went 40-16-6 with a 2.53 GAA and .919 SV% and will start Game 1 vs. Seattle as expected Tuesday. The 27-year-old has never started an NHL playoff game but did appear twice for New York Rangers in 2021-22, posting a 0-1-0 record, with a .935 SV% and 2.04 GAA. He takes on the Seattle Kraken, who are making their first-ever playoff appearance as a franchise after finishing the season 46-28-8 and fourth in the NHL in goals per game (3.52).

Stenlund left the Jets' final game of the season after just 8:36 TOI due to a lower-body injury and will be a game-time decision Tuesday vs. Vegas. The 26-year-old had six goals, nine points, 63 SOG, 20 PIMs and a +3 plus/minus through 54 games during the regular season.

Bergeron missed Game 1 Monday due to an illness and is still questionable for Game 2 Wednesday according to head coach Jim Montgomery. The 37-year-old's illness makes for a massive loss for the Bruins, as he has 127 Pts (49G/78A) in 167 career playoff games and will hopefully be back sooner rather than later.

Shesterkin ended his regular season with a 37-13-8 record, .916 SV% and 2.48 GAA and will take the crease as expected for Game 1 vs. New Jersey Tuesday. The 27-year-old Vezina winner has 21 games of playoff experience throughout his career, with his 10-10-0 record, He takes on the New Jersey Devils, who finished their 2022-23 regular season with a 52-22-8 record and fourth in the NHL in goals per game (3.52).

Pavelski exited Monday's game vs. Minnesota after just 10:08 TOI due to an undisclosed injury after taking a large hit from Matt Dumba which resulted in a roughing penalty. The 38-year-old will be a massive loss if he is unable to dress, having 28 goals, 77 points, 184 SOG, 13 PIMs and a +27 plus/minus through 77 games during the regular season.

With Matt Murray still recovering from a concussion, Erik Kallgren has been recalled from the Toronto Marlies (AHL) as the Maple Leafs' third goaltender on the playoff roster. The 26-year-old appeared in 10 games for the Maple Leafs this season, posting a 3-2-4 record, with a .898 GAA and 2.67 GAA during his brief stint with the club early in the season.

Vanecek ended his impressive first 2022-23 regular season campaign with New Jersey with a 33-11-4 record, .911 SV% and 2.45 GAA and will draw the start for game 1 vs. the New York Rangers. The 27-year-old has yet to see any playoff action throughout his three-year career and will be making his postseason debut Tuesday. He will take on the New York Rangers, who finished their season with a 47-22-13 record and had the seventh-best powerplay in the entire NHL (24.1%)

Samsonov closed out his impressive inaugural season with the Maple Leafs with a 27-10-5 record, .919 SV% and 2.33 GAA and is the expected starter for Game 1 vs. Tampa Bay. The 26-year-old brings in eight games of NHL playoff experience, where he is 1-6-0 with a 2.98 GAA and .907 SV%. He will take on the Tampa Bay Lightning, who rounded out the year with a 46-30-6 record and were eighth in the NHL in goals per game (3.41).

Klingberg suffered a lower-body injury during Saturday's practice and was not on the ice for Monday's morning skate. Head coach Dean Evason would not disclose his lineup for Game 1 and Klingberg did not come out for warmups so is considered out.