Haula has been listed as questionable for game one, but travelling to Dallas suggests that he will be in the lineup on Thursday. With that said, monitor his status during tomorrow’s morning skate.
Vanek missed the final three games of the regular season and will miss at least the first two games of the playoffs. Vanek’s week-to-week status suggests that he could miss the entire first round.
There were reports that Parise will miss an extended period time, but the Wild confirmed that he will not travel to Dallas for Game 1 or 2 of their first round series with the Stars. With Parise out, Jason Zucker will play on the top line and Chris Porter will move into the top 6.
Johnson took part in the Lightning’s optional morning skate this morning, but remains a game-time decision for Game 1 vs. the Red Wings. The Lightning vs. Red Wings get underway at 7:00 p.m., so monitor his status when they hit the ice for warmups at 6:30 p.m. Johnson torched the Red Wings last season, scoring six goals with one assist (seven points) in seven games. He finished the playoffs with 23 points (13G / 10A).
Fleury missed the final five games of the regular season with a concussion, but he practiced at the start of the week and practiced in the starter’s crease this morning. He was also the first goalie off of the ice, so all signs are pointing towards him returning tonight. He is officially listed as a game-time decision, so monitor his status when the Penguins hit the ice for warmups at 7:30 p.m. ET. Fleury was 3-1-0 with a 1.97 GAA and .922 SV% in four starts vs. the Rangers this season.
Rielly appeared in all 82 games this season, picking up nine goals and 27 assists (36 points). In his first three NHL seasons, Rielly has collected 19 goals and 73 assists (92 points) and a minus-46 rating in 236 career games. Rielly will be the backbone of the Maple Leafs' blueline for years to come.
Statistically Kadri didn’t have the greatest season but the Maple Leafs were impressed with his development and have inked him to a very reasonable six-year extension. Kadri will look to build off of his 2015-16 season where he had 17 goals and 28 assists (45 points) in 76 games. This raise should also help him pay for all those fines that seem to be adding up.
Lundqvist did not finish the season very well. He lost four of his final six starts while allowing at least three goals in each of those defeats. However, he finished with 35 wins, a 2.48 GAA and .920 SV% on the season and was 1-2-1 with a2.69 GAA and .917 SV% vs. the Penguins. The playoffs haven’t been great to him either—winning just 48.6 percent of his 111 career playoff starts despite posting a strong 2.22 GAA, .928 SV% and nine shutouts.
Johnson centred the Lightning’s top line in Tuesday’s practice and appears to be on track to play in Game 1 vs. the Red Wings. Johnson is expected to take part in Wednesday’s morning skate before he makes a decision whether or not he can play in the series opener.
Fleury practiced again on Tuesday but he status for Wednesday’s series opener remains uncertain. Matt Murray is also day-to-day with an upper-body injury, so if Fleury can’t go in Game 1, look for Jeff Zatkoff to get the nod.
Maatta was on the ice for the second day in a row and skated alongside Kris Letang in Tuesday’s practice, but remains a game-time decision for Game 1 vs. the Rangers. Monitor his status during the Penguins morning skate on Wednesday, but things are trending in the right direction for him to return after a nine-game absence.
Lundqvist did not finish the season very well. He lost four of his final six starts while allowing at least three goals in each of those defeats. However, he finished with 35 wins, a 2.48 GAA and .920 SV% on the season and was 1-2-1 with a2.69 GAA and .917 SV% vs. the Penguins. The playoffs haven’t been great to him either—winning just 48.6 percent of his 111 career playoff starts despite posting a strong 2.22 GAA, .928 SV% and nine shutouts.
Greiss won four of his last five regular season starts and finished the year at 23-11-4 with a 2.36 GAA and .925 SV%. He had a strong year as the Islanders’ backup, but has been the starter since early March when Jaroslav Halak went down with a lower-body injury. Tonight will be his first career NHL playoff start and it comes in Florida—Greiss was 9-7-1 with a 2.55 GAA and .924 SV% on the road this season.
Parise was diagnosed with a herniated disk that was pressing on a nerve in January and aggravated the injury last week. Parise was listed as day-to-day on Monday, but it’s looking more like he will miss a few games or even the entire first round with a debilitating back injury.
Callahan missed the Lightning’s final three games of the regular season, but he was on the ice for Monday’s practice and appears to be on track for Game 1. Monitor his status on Tuesday, but all things are pointing towards him playing on Wednesday.
Johnson suffered an upper-body injury in the Lightning’s season finale on Saturday and did not return. He was not on the ice for Monday’s practice so the Lightning will wait and see if he is available for Tuesday’s practice.
Gudbranson missed the last three games of the regular season, but will be back in for the start of the playoffs. Gudbranson doesn’t do much in the way of offence, but he is a big, physical defenseman who will play a big part in a playoff series for the Panthers.
Trocheck has missed the last six games and appears to be in danger of missing the start of the playoffs. Trocheck did not skate on Monday and is still wearing a walking boot, so his return does not appear to be imminent. This is a tough break for Trocheck, who had 25 goals and 28 assists (53 points) in 76 games this season.
Vlasic has been out since March 17th with a lower-body injury, but he will return just in time for Game one of the playoffs. Vlasic is an excellent two-way defenseman, who picked up 39 points (8G / 31A) in 67 games this season. Look for him to be reunited with Justin Braun.
Anisimov missed the last two games of the regular season, but will be in the lineup in Game 1 vs. the Blue. Anisimov had a strong season between the NHL’s leading scorer Patrick Kane and rookie sensation Artemi Panarin, posing 20 goals and 22 assists (42 points) in 77 games.
