NHL Hockey Player News

Beauvillier took Thursday off but is expected to play in Game 2 as the Islanders go with the same lineup that escaped Game 1 with a 1-0 series lead. Beauvillier had one shot in 11:01 TOI in that contest.

Kampfer recorded an assist in each of the last two games of the season but will sit out Game 1 vs. the Maple Leafs. The Bruins will instead go with rookie Connor Clifton, who has one assist in 19 career NHL games and had six goals and 21 assists (27 points) in 53 AHL games this season.

Backes appeared in 70 games for the Bruins this season but will sit in Game 1 vs. the Maple Leafs. Backes has essentially been replaced by Karson Kuhlman, who played in the final four games of the regular season and had one goal, one assist and eight shots.

Lehner had a phenomenal season, finishing second in the NHL in SV% (.930), third in GAA (2.13) and tied for 18th in wins (25) in 46 games. He also played well in his two starts against the Penguins, going 1-0-1 with a 1.72 GAA and .939 SV%. The Islanders earned home-ice advantage in the first-round—Lehner was 12-6-2 with a 2.05 GAA, .929 SV% and three shutouts at home.

Despite skating on the top power-play in Tuesday’s practice it ultimately looks like Tomas Nosek will skate on the third line in Game 1. Pirri will sit for the sixth time in the Golden Knights last eight games.

Miller appeared in the final six games of the regular season but it looks like he will be a healthy scratch in favour of Jon Merrill for Game 1 in San Jose. Miller is a solid offensive defenseman, collecting three goals and 26 assists (29 points) in 65 games but Merrill brings a more reliable defensive game.

Fleury missed nine games at the end of the season but appeared in the season finale and is ready to start Game 1 in San Jose. Fleury was 1-1-0 with a 1.54 GAA, .950 SV% and one shutout in two starts vs. the Sharks this season. Don’t forget he was 13-7 with a 2.24 GAA, .927 SV% and four shouts in 20 playoff starts a season ago.

Bobrovsky didn’t have his best season but finished the season extremely hot, going 6-1-0 with a 1.50 GAA, .947 SV% and three shutouts in his last seven starts of the year. Despite the hot finish, Bobrovsky is 5-12 with a 3.37 GAA and .898 SV% in 17 playoff games with the Blue Jackets. He will have a difficult time improving those playoff numbers against a Lightning team that won 62 games this season and outscored the Blue Jackets 17-to-3 in their three meetings this season.

Vasilevskiy put together a great season, leading the NHL in wins (39) despite being 15th in starts (53). Vasilevskiy was also tied for fifth in SV% (.925) and 10th in GAA (2.40). In the first-round the Lightning will face a Blue Jackets team that they dominated this season—Vasilevskiy was 3-0-0 wth a 1.00 GAA, .971 SV% and one shutout vs. Columbus this season.