NHL Hockey Player News

Rutta split his campaign between the Blackhawks and Lightning and spent half the year in the AHL. Rutta had four goals and eight assists (12 points) in 26 AHL games and eight points (2G / 6A) in 37 NHL games. With the Lightning’s blueline banged up at the end of the season, Rutta appeared in all four playoff games, where he had two helpers. He will likely serve as a sixth/seventh defenseman with Tampa Bay next year.

Bortuzzo replaced Joel Edmundson in Games 3 and 4 but will come back out of the lineup in an important Game 5 in St. Louis. Carl Gunnarsson will move down to play in Bortuzzo’s spot on the third-pairing.

Edmundson was a healthy scratch in Games 3 and 4 but will replace Robert Bortuzzo in Game 5. Edmundson, who will be back on the top-pairing with Alex Pietrangelo, has two assists, four PIMS and 10 shots in eight playoff games.

Binnington allowed four goals on 31 shots in the Blues 4-2 loss in Dallas in Game 4. The series now becomes a best-of-3 and the Blues are going to need more out of Binnington in Game 5. After a strong start to the series, Binnington has allowed a combined 10 goals on 96 shots (.896 SV%) in the last three games. On home-ice in the playoffs, Binnington is 2-2-1 while stopping 136 of 151 shots (.901 SV%).

Greiss and Robin Lehner split games during the regular season but Greiss has not played during the playoffs. Lehner has not beaten the Hurricanes in seven career games, whereas Greiss was 3-1-0 with a 1.76 GAA and .949 SV% in four games this season. The 33-year-old was also 11-7-0 with a 2.20 GAA, .933 SV% and two shutouts on the road this year.

McElhinney made his first career playoff start in Game 3 and stopped 28 of the 30 shots that the Islanders fired his way to secure a 5-2 win. With Petr Mrazek still out with a lower-body injury, McElhinney will be given the opportunity to complete the sweep on home-ice. In 93:33 of playing time, the 35-year-old netminder has allowed just two goals on 47 shots (.957 SV%).

Shesterkin, 23, was a fourth-round pick (No.118 overall) in 2014 and enjoyed an outstanding season as with St. Petersburg SKA (KHL). Shesterkin went 24-4-0 with a 1.11 GAA, .953 SV% in 10 shutouts in 28 games this season.

Kravtsov, 19, was the No.9 overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft and one of the Rangers top prospects. The Russian right winger had eight goals and 13 assists (21 points0 in 50 games with Chelyabinsk Traktor of the KHL this season.

Steen, 21, was a sixth-round pick (No.165 overall) in 2016 and recorded 17 goals and 20 assists (37 points) in 46 games with Farjestads BK Karlstad (Sweden). The 21-year-old represented Sweden at the 2018 World Juniors, where he had two goals and two assists in seven games.

Jones allowed two goals on 27 shots in the Sharks 4-2 win in Game 3. Since falling down 3-1 to Vegas, Jones has gone 5-1 while posting a .935 SV% in his last six starts. The Sharks have a chance to put the Avalanche on the ropes heading back to San Jose and if Jones can continue to play well, they should be able to take a commanding 3-1 series lead of their own this time.

Rask allowed two goals on 34 shots in the Bruins 2-1 loss in Columbus in Game 3. All three games in this series have been one-goal games, with Rask allowing just seven goals on 97 shots (.928 SV%). Through four road playoff games, Rask is 2-2 while stopping 123 of the 134 shots (.918 SV%).

Bobrovsky allowed one goal on 37 shots in the Blue Jackets 2-1 win in Game 3. Bobrovsky has played very well all postseason, but particularly vs. the Bruins, where he has stopped 99 of the 105 shots (.943 SV%) that he has faced. Bobrovsky will look to stay unbeaten in Columbus in Game 4—he is 3-0 while allowing just five goals on 101 shots (.951 SV%) in the first three postseason games at Nationwide Arena.

Shortly after being acquired from the Hurricanes, Fox has agreed to an entry-level contract with the Rangers. The Hobey Baker Award finalist had nine goals and 39 assists (48 points) in 33 games at Harvard University.

Calvert missed Game 3 with an upper-body injury he suffered late in Game 2 but head coach Jared Bednar expects him to play in Game 4. In seven postseason games, Calvert has tallied three assists while averaging just over 13:30 TOI/gm.

Grubauer surrendered three goals on 30 shots in Colorado’s 4-2 loss to the Sharks in Game 3. After playing exceptionally well in the first-round, Grubauer has allowed a combined 10 goals on 90 shots (.889 SV%) in his first three starts in round two. The Avalanche will stick with Grubauer in Game 4—he has stopped 89 of the 96 shots (.927 SV%) that he’s faced in the Pepsi Center during the postseason.

Kuhlman played in Game 3 after sitting as a healthy scratch in Games 1 and 2 vs. the Blue Jackets but will come back out of the lineup tonight in Columbus. David Backes will replace Kuhlman on the Bruins second line.

Backes has been a healthy scratch since Game 5 of the Toronto series but will replace Karson Kuhlman in Game 4. Backes has one assist and nine shots on goal in his four playoff appearances this year. Backes will skate on the second line with David Backes and Jake DeBrusk.

Olivier is an undrafted centre who played five years in the QMJHL, where he had 27 goals and 22 assists (49 points) with Sherbrooke in his final season. Olivier turned pro this year, collecting four goals and eight assists (12 points) in 54 games with Milwaukee (AHL).

Blidh’s contract is a two-way deal and the 24-year-old is coming off of his fourth year in the AHL, where he had 10 goals and 13 assists (23 points) in 74 games. Blidh has just one goal and one assists in 21 career NHL games.