NHL Hockey Player News

Boyle has been out since Game 1 after having a procedure on his appendix but will replace Miika Salomaki in the lineup for Game 5. Boyle had an assist in 14:45 TOI n his only appearance in this series.

Grimaldi missed Friday’s practice and was listed as a game-time decision but will play in Game 5 vs. the Stars. Grimaldi has provided a spark for the Predators since being inserted in the lineup in Game 2, scoring two goals on eight shots in three games.

Ehlers was banged up late in Game 5 and is questionable for Game 6 in St. Louis. Par Lindholm is expected to dress and replace Ehlers if he is unable to play in a must-win game for Winnipeg.

Hellebuyck allowed three goals on 29 shots in the Jets loss to the Blues in Game 5. The Jets fell apart in the third period and are now one loss away from being eliminated from the postseason. The road team has won every game in this series so the Jets hope that trend continues tonight in St. Louis—Hellebuyck has stopped 57 of 61 shots (.934 SV%) in their two road games in this series.

Rinne was pulled after allowing four goals on eight shots in the Predators 5-1 loss in Dallas in Game 4. Rinne was hung out to dry early in the contest and it resulted in a short night for the veteran netminder. The series heads back to Nashville, where Rinne stopped 48 of the 52 shots (.923 SV%) in the first two games of the series.

Bishop made 34 saves on 35 shots in the Stars 5-1 win over the Predators in Game 4. It was another strong performance from Bishop, who has allowed just eight goals on 137 shots (.942 SV%) through four games. The Stars have shown more than capable of having with the higher seeded Predators and Bishop has been a difference maker for Dallas so far.

Bishop made 34 saves on 35 shots in the Stars 5-1 win over the Predators in Game 4. It was another strong performance from Bishop, who has allowed just eight goals on 137 shots (.942 SV%) through four games. The Stars have shown more than capable of having with the higher seeded Predators and Bishop has been a difference maker for Dallas so far.

Binnington allowed two goals on 31 shots in the Blues come from behind a 3-2 win in Winnipeg in Game 5. After a tough Game 3, Binnington has played well in the last two games, stopping 66 of the 70 shots (.943 SV%) that he faced. The 25-year-old continues to show that the regular season was no fluke and will look to close-out the Jets tonight on home-ice.

Holtby allowed two goals on 24 shots in the Capitals 2-1 loss in Carolina in Game 4. Holtby surrendered seven goals on 69 shots (.899 SV%) in back-to-back losses in Games 3 and 4 but now returns to Washington, where he is 4-0 with a .939 SV% in four games against the Hurricanes this season—including a .912 SV% Games 1 and 2 of this series.

Game 5 will be Smith-Pelly’s first NHL games since February 17th. Smith-Pelly went to the AHL after that game and had six goals and eight assists (14 points) in 20 games with Hershey. Smith-Pelly was effective during the Capitals’ Stanley Cup run a year ago, scoring seven goals with one assist (eight points) in 24 postseason games.

Unfortunately for the Capitals, it sounds like Oshie is going to be sidelined for a long period of time and will likely miss the rest of the playoffs, regardless of how deep they go. Oshie was hurt following a hard hit from Hurricanes’ winger Warren Foegele in Game 4. Devante Smith-Pelly has been recalled from Hershey (AHL) and will replace Oshie in the lineup for Game 5.

Binnington allowed two goals on 31 shots in the Blues come from behind a 3-2 win in Winnipeg in Game 5. After a tough Game 3, Binnington has played well in the last two games, stopping 66 of the 70 shots (.943 SV%) that he faced. The 25-year-old continues to show that the regular season was no fluke and will look to close-out the Jets tonight on home-ice.

Martinook left Game 4 on Thursday with a lower-body injury and is questionable to play in Game 5. Aleksi Saarela was recalled from Charlotte (AHL) and will replace Martinook if he can’t play.

Boychuk was forced to leave Game 4 in Pittsburgh with a lower-body injury and will likely miss most of the second-round against the Capitals/Hurricanes. Thomas Hickey is expected to replace Boychuk in Game 1 of the next round.

Neal has struggled to get anything going against the Avalanche, failing to record a point with seven shots and a minus-3 rating. Neal will be replaced by Austin Czarnik on the Flames’ third-line.

Czarnik has been a healthy scratch for the first four games of the playoffs but will replace James Neal on the third line in Game 5. The 26-year-old had six goals and 12 assists (18 points) in 54 games this season.

Smith stopped 49 of 52 shots in the Flames 3-2 overtime loss in Colorado in Game 4. The Flames find themselves down 3-1 heading back to Calgary but Smith has played exceptionally well, posting a .931 SV% through four games.That number is even more impressive when you realize that he is facing an average of 43.3 shots per game and saw 50-plus in back-to-back games in Colorado.

Jordan Martinook was hurt in Game 4 so Saarela has been recalled and could make his NHL debut in Game 5. Saarela was a third-round pick of the Rangers in 2015 and has registered 30 goals and 24 goals (54 points) in 69 AHL games this season.