Rod Brind'Amour announced Saturday that he was hopeful the Hurricanes would have defensemen Jalen Chatfield back for the start of their upcoming Eastern Conference Final. The 29-year-old stay-at-home defenseman missed Game 5 of the Hurricanes' previous series vs. Washington with an undisclosed injury after posting a goal and a +6 plus/minus through nine games in the playoffs so far.
Oettinger allowed three goals on 34 shots (.912 SV%) in Dallas' Game 5 loss but will look to bounce back and close out their second-round series as the Stars host Winnipeg on Saturday. Oettinger has been on top of his game throughout 12 starts in the playoffs so far, with his .916 SV% and 2.60 GAA to go along with his 7-5-0 record. Winnipeg will look to force a Game 7 at home on Monday if it can keep the series alive on Saturday night.
Toronto was unable to provide an injury update on the extent of Matthew Knies' injury after he left Game 6 with an undisclosed injury. It did not look great for the 22-year-old winger, who has five goals and seven points in 12 playoff games this year. Head Coach Craig Berube is expected to provide an update on his status for Game 7 on Saturday afternoon.
Chesley was Washington's 2022 2nd round pick (37th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Friday. The 21-year-old defenseman spent 2024-25 with the University of Minnesota (NCAA) where he captained the team and put up eight goals and 20 points in 40 total games played.
Keskinen is Columbus' 2023 7th-round pick (194th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Friday. The 21-year-old center represented Finland at the 2025 World Jr Championships and spent the entire 2024-25 season with Tappara (Liiga), where he scored 15 goals and 35 points in 59 games played in Finland's top league.
Ekholm has yet to appear in the playoffs after suffering an undisclosed injury on April 11th and is expected to remain out of the Oilers' lineup for Games 1 and 2 of the Western Conference Final, but is hopeful to return for Game 3. The 34-year-old will be welcomed back with open arms as he is a defensive stalwart on Edmonton's back end, averaging 22:12 TOI during the regular season.
Pickard is undefeated in the playoffs through 7 games played but has not played since Game 3 vs. Vegas due to an undisclosed injury. The 33-year-old netminder has been ruled out for the opening games of Edmonton's upcoming Western Conference Final but is hopeful to return in the middle of the series.
Bobrovsky will unsurprisingly start his 11th straight playoff game on Friday as Florida tries to close out Toronto in Game 6. The 36-year-old netminder had his second straight shutout bid in Game 5 broken late by a Nicolas Robertson goal, but still excelled, stopping 31 of 23 shots (.969 SV%) in the win. He will host the Toronto Maple Leafs, who are looking to extend the series to a Game 7 and make it beyond the 2nd round for the first time in over 20 years.
Yurov is Minnesota's 2022 1st round pick (24th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Friday. The 21-year-old Russian forward spent 2024-25 with Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL) and had 13 goals and 25 points in 46 games played.
Robertson was Toronto's only goal scorer in Game 5, but will take a seat in the press box for Game 6 on Friday in Florida as Pontus Holmberg returns to the lineup. Robertson has only appeared in three postseason games this year, but still has an impressive 2 points (1G/1a) in 3 games played, despite receiving only 9:59 TOI/GP.
Jarnkrok was a healthy scratch for Toronto's Game 5 loss but will draw back into the lineup on Friday as a replacement for David Kampf. The 33-year-old has been held pointless in Toronto's last nine playoff games and will slot back into the third line on Friday.
Kampf's only playoff appearance was Game 5 vs. Florida, but he will take a seat yet again in the press box as Calle Jarnkrok returns to Toronto's lineup for Game 6. Kampf had five goals and 13 points in the bottom-six role during the regular season but has struggled to find himself in Toronto's lineup for the playoffs.
Despite only having one assist in 10 playoff games, Pontus Holmberg will draw back into Toronto's lineup on their 2nd line for Game 6 in Florida on Friday as he replaces Nicolas Robertson. The 26-year-old winger set career highs during the regular season with 19 points in 68 games played, but has struggled to find any sort of offence during the postseason with one point in 10 playoff games played.
With Anthony Stolarz still out with a concussion, Joseph Woll will remain in the Maple Leafs' net for Game 6 in Florida on Friday. The 26-year-old was pulled in Game 5 after allowing five goals on 25 shots (.800 SV%) and has struggled mightily in the playoffs with an .877 SV% and 4.02 GAA. He will head to Florida for Game 6, who is looking to close out the series and reach the Eastern Conference Final for the fourth straight season.
The Hurricanes can advance to the Eastern Conference Finals with a victory on Thursday in Game 5, rolling with Andersen between the pipes. Andersen has been excellent for the Hurricanes through eight games this postseason (6-2), boasting a 1.41 GAA and .935 SV%. The Hurricanes enter Game 5 as -164 road favorites against the Washington Capitals.
Nikishin will slot in for Jalen Chatfield, who is out with an undisclosed injury. Nikishin was Carolina's third-round pick, 69th overall, in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old Nikishin has spent the previous few seasons in the KHL. He scored 46 points (17G / 29A) in 61 games with St. Peterburgh SKA (KHL) this season.
Chatfield was banged up in Game 4 but was expected to play in Game 5. The 29-year-old defenseman has one point (1G / 0A), six penalty minutes, and 11 blocks in nine games this postseason. Alexander Nikishin will make his NHL debut in his place.
Lindgren will return to serve as Washington's backup after missing the last three games for personal reasons. Lindgren has made one relief appearance so far this post-season, allowing one goal on five shots in a 6-3 loss to the Canadiens.
The Capitals enter a must-win Game 5, trailing the Hurricanes 3-1 in the series, and will roll with Thompson between the pipes. The Hurricanes have outscored the Capitals 12-6 through four games. Thompson has allowed four goals in consecutive games (0-2) but will look to rebound in Game 5 at home. The 28-year-old netminder has a 2.45 GAA and .918 SV% through nine games (5-4) this postseason. The Capitals enter Thursday's contest as +147 home underdogs against the Hurricanes.
The Stars can advance to the Western Conference Finals with a victory on Thursday in Game 5. Oettinger will be between the pipes for the Stars, looking to improve on an excellent 2024-25 postseason. The 26-year-old netminder was stellar in Game 4, saving 31 shots (.969 SV%) in a 3-1 victory. He has a 2.55 GAA and .917 SV% through 11 games this postseason (7-4). The Stars enter Thursday's contest as slight +111 road underdogs against the Winnipeg Jets.
