NHL Hockey Player News

Following a 23-save shutout in Game 4, the first of his career, Blackwood allowed several questionable goals in Game 5, saving 13 of 18 shots (.722 SV%) before being relieved in the second intermission in a 6-2 loss to the Dallas Stars. Still, the 28-year-old Blackwood has a 2.38 GAA and .909 SV% through five games this postseason (2-3). Colorado faces elimination, trailing their series 3-2, and enters the action on Thursday as -190 road favorites against Dallas.

Robertson has not played since suffering a lower-body injury in the final game of the regular season but is inching closer to a return. That said, he has not participated in full-contact practice yet and is likely targeting a round-two return to the lineup if the Stars can advance.

Heiskanen continues to ramp up intensity at practice but will remain out of the lineup on Thursday for Game 6. The 25-year-old Heiskanen has not played since suffering a knee injury in late January and continues to be day-to-day.

The Stars can advance to the second round with a victory on Thursday in Game 6 and will roll with Oettinger between the pipes. The 26-year-old Oettinger saved 26 of 28 shots (.929 SV%) in Monday's 6-2 win, guiding the Stars to a 3-2 series lead. He has a 2.58 GAA and .914 SV% through five games this postseason (3-2). The Stars enter Game 6 as +169 underdogs on the road in Colorado, where Oettinger has a stellar .935 SV% in two games this postseason.

Ehlers has only played twice in the last fours weeks and will likely await his 2024-25 playoff debut despite travelling with the team for Game 6. The Jets lead their series 3-2 over the St. Louis Blues and continue to be cautious with Ehlers' return. The 29-year-old Ehlers scored 63 points (24G / 39A) in 63 games this season.

Scheifele exited Game 5 on Wednesday after an open-ice hit by Radek Faksa of the St. Louis Blues. The 32-year-old Scheifele played only 8:05 time-on-ice. He has six points (2G / 4A) in five games this postseasons and will miss at least one game due to an undisclosed injury.

With Pavel Dorofeyev battling an undisclosed injury, Olofsson will re-enter the Vegas lineup on Thursday for Game 6. The 29-year-old Olofsson has been sidelined the previous two games. He has zero points and -1 plus/minus through three games this postseason.

Dorofeyev did participate in the Golden Knights' morning skate on Thursday, battling an undisclosed injury, and will not play in Game 6. The 24-year-old Dorofeyev has two points (1G / 1A) through five games this postseason. Victor Olofsson will draw into the lineup as Dorofeyev's replaement.

Hill has been far from dominant through five games this postseason but has been solid enough to guide his team to a 3-2 series lead and will return to the crease in Game 6. The 28-year-old Hill has a 3.00 GAA and .865 SV% this postseason (3-2). The Golden Knights can advance to the second round with a victory on Thursday and enter the contest as -159 road favorites against the Minnesota Wild.

Andersen exited Game 4 in the second period after an awkward collision due to an undisclosed injury. He was replaced by Pyotr Kochetkov, who started and won Game 5, helping Carolina advance to the second round. The Hurricanes likely have several more rest days before the second round commences, allowing the team some time to determine Andersen's status.

Gustavsson exited Game 5 in the 2nd intermission on Tuesday, with Minnesota trailing Vegas 2-1 due to an illness. Minnesota lost the contest 3-2 in overtime, falling behind 3-2 in the series. The 26-year-old Gustavsson has seemingly recovered from his ailment and will likely be between the pipes for a must-win Game 6. He has a 2.63 GAA and .919 SV% through five appearances this postseason. Minnesota enters Game 6 as +143 home underdogs against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Cranley was a sixth-round pick, 163rd overall, of the Blues in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old goalie spent most of the 2024-25 season in the ECHL, posting a 2.71 GAA and .896 SV% in 23 games with the Florida Everblades (11-9-3).

After jumping out to a 3-0 series lead over the Ottawa Senators, the Maple Leafs find themselves in a crucial Game 6, turning to Stolarz between the pipes. The 31-year-old Stolarz only allowed six goals in his first three games this postseason (3-0), posting a .926 SV%, but has allowed six in his last two (0-2), posting a .842 SV%. The Maple Leafs enter Game 6 as slight +101 road underdogs against the Senators.

Savard played 14 seasons with the Blue Jackets, Lightning and Canadiens, winning a Stanley Cup in 2021 with Tampa Bay. He finishes his career with 54 goals and 188 assists (242 points) in 870 regular-season games. He added 17 points (1G / 16A) in 62 career playoff games.

Scheifele exited Game 5 on Wednesday after an open-ice hit by Radek Faksa of the St. Louis Blues. The 32-year-old Scheifele played only 8:05 time-on-ice. He has six points (2G / 4A) in five games this postseasons and there has not been an update on his injury status.

Binnington was excellent in Sunday's 5-1 Game 4 victory over the Winnipeg Jets, saving 30 of 31 shots (.968 SV%). With the series tied 2-2, Binnington will return to the crease in a pivotal Game 5. The 31-year-old goalie has a solid 2.29 GAA and .907 SV% through four games this postseason (2-2). St. Louis returns to Winnipeg for Game 5 as +159 road underdogs against a Jets team that defeated them in both of their home games this series.

With their backs against the wall, Vasilevskiy and the Lightning will be looking to rebound from a disappointing 4-2 loss in Game 4. After a pair of strong performances in Games 2 and 3, the former Vezina Trophy winner stopped just 19 of the 22 shots he faced on Monday. Vasilevskiy owns a 2.79 GAA and an uncharacteristically low .884 SV% through the opening four games of the playoffs. The Lightning enter Wednesday's must-win game at -115 on the money line.

The Panthers will of course have their franchise netminder between the pipes when they search for a series clinching victory in Tampa Bay on Wednesday. Bobrovsky turned in a solid performance in Game 4, allowing just a pair of goals on 20 shots in the 4-2 win. The two-time Vezina Trophy winner has posted a 2.01 GAA and a .902 SV% through the first four games of the series. The Panthers enter action on Wednesday at -105 on the money line.

Carrier was limited to only 13:39 time-on-ice in Sunday's 5-2 Game 4 loss to the Washington Capitals, exiting the contest due to an undisclosed injury. The 28-year-old defenseman had two points (1G / 1A) and was averaging 22:00 time-on-ice in the three games before his injury.

Raddysh will take a seat on Wednesday to make way for Aliaksei Protas' return from a foot laceration. Raddysh logged zero goals and one assist in the first four games of the series, averaging 11:40 in ice time.