With Brandon Bollig suspended, Regin will enter the lineup in game 5 tonight. Regin will centre the fourth line tonight, but will need to shake off the cobwebs, after not playing since April 12th. Regin was playing solid minutes as the regular-season ended, part of a third line with Bryan Bickell and Jeremy Morin. He was a plus-3 in his final four regular-season games.
Bollig will miss game 5 and 6 because of the suspension and is expected to be replaced by Peter Regin in the Hawks' lineup tonight. It’s the first time Bollig has been fined or suspended in his three-year NHL career.
Crawford surrendered four goals on 31 shots in a 4-2 loss in game 4. After allowed seven goals in two games in Minnesota, Crawford heads back to Chicago where he is 5-0 with a 1.35 GAA and .955 SV% this postseason. The Wild have been able to shut the Blackhawks down in the last two games, but this is a powerful offence that can not be held down forever.
Byrzgalov allowed two goals on 20 shots in the Wild's 4-2 win in game 4. Bryz allowed a soft goal late in the first period, but rebounded well for his seconds consecutive win. Tonight, Bryz looks for his third-straight playoff win; it would be the first time earning three-straight victories since 2012. Bryzgalov has a 2.25 GAA and .889 SV% in the first four games of round two.
Maatta did not take part in the Penguins morning skate in New York earlier today. Maatta was sent back to the Penguins’ hotel upon arriving at MSG on Sunday morning. Several Penguins teammates implied he was not feeling well.Coach Dan Bylsma did not provide an update on Maatta, who has played in all 11 of the Penguins’ playoff games. Team policy is not to divulge details of players’ medical conditions during the playoffs.
Gibson stopped all 28 shots that he faced to earn his first playoff win and first playoff shutout in his first ever NHL playoff start. Viewed as the NHL's top goalie prospect, Gibson has done nothing but impress in his first four NHL outings. He has won all four while posting a 0.99 GAA and .965 SV% with two shutouts. THe John Gibson era in Anaheim is officially underway, and the 20-year-old will try and give the Ducks a 3-2 series lead tonight.
Lundqvist stopped 31 of 32 shots in a 5-1 win over the Penguins in game 5. It was a great outing for King Henrik and the Rangers, who had lost the previous three games. Tonight, New York has reason to be confident, because Lundqvist is 6-0 with a .965 SV% (two shutouts) in his last six home games while facing elimination from the playoffs. He is also 8-2 with a 1.38 GAA .953 SV% in his last 10 games (home and away) with the Rangers facing elimination.
Fleury allowed four goals on 34 shots in the 5-1 loss to the Rangers in game 5. The Penguins squandered a chance to put the Rangers away, but they will get a second chance tonight in New York. In the first two games at MSG this series, Fleury has stopped 48 of 50 shots (.960 SV%) while going 2-0.
Perreault was banged up in game 3 and the injury was serious enough to keep him out of the lineup tonight in game 4. He will be replaced by Rickard Rakell.
Clearly head coach Bruce Boudreau has lost all faith in Jonas Hiller and it is time for the John Gibson era to begin in Anaheim. Gibson is viewed as one of the best goaltending prospects in the NHL and tonight he will make his first playoff start. He was 3-0 with a 1.33 GAA and .954 SV% with the Ducks towards the end of the regular season; along with a 4-2 record, 1.45 GAA and .955 in six AHL playoff starts with the Norfolk Admirals.
Quick allowed three goals on 22 shots in a 3-2 loss to the Ducks in game 3. While it was not Quick's best performance, the Ducks goaltending situation is up in the air again, which means the Kings have the goaltending advantage heading into game 4. Quick comes into play with a 6-4 record, 2.72 GAA and .920 SV% in 10 playoff starts.
Perreault was forced to leave game 3 early and did not skate this morning because he was getting treatment, but listed himself as a game-time decision for Saturday's game 4.
WInnik is expected to replace the injured Matt Beleskey in game 4 on Saturday night. Beleskey was injured in game 3 and is unable to go tonight, so Winnik will slide back in for the first time since game 6 of the first round.
Beleskey was injured in game 3 and did not return. His lower-body ailment kept him off of the ice this morning and will hold him out of game 4 tonight in Los Angeles. Expect Daniel Winnik to slide back into the Ducks' lineup.
Andersen left game 3 with a lower-body injury midway through the third period and did not return. He also did not skate this morning so it will be either Jonas Hiller or rookie John Gibson manning the goal for the Ducks in game 4 tonight.
Hiller was also the first off of the ice before Game 3 on Thursday, but it was Frederik Andersen who got the start. Andersen was injured in the contest and was not on the ice this morning, which suggests it will be Hiller in goal in game 4. However, much like in game 3 when Andersen was close behind Hiller leaving the gameday sake, rookie John GIbson was not far behind HIller leaving the ice this morning. We will know the goalie come pre-game warmups.
Rask turned aside all 33 shots he faced in the Bruins' 1-0 OT win in game 4. They head back to Boston to start the best of 3 to see who moves onto the Eastern Conference Finals. Rask has posted the same 2.26 GAA as Carey Price through the first four games, but a slightly lower SV% at .916.
Price allowed one goal on 35 shots in a 1-0 OT loss in game 4. Price has posted a 2.26 GAA and .932 SV% in the first four games of round 2. It has been a great goaltending duel and expect that to continue tonight in Boston.
Crawford allowed three goals on 17 shots in a 4-0 loss in Minnesota on Tuesday. The loss snapped a six-game playoff winning streak for Crawford and the Blackhawks. Tonight, the Hawks will try and get the Wild on the brink of elimination with a win that will give them a 3-1 series lead heading back to Chicago. Crawford has posted a 2.00 GAA and .912 SV% in the first three games of the series.
Shaw has yet to resume skating after suffering a right leg injury in game 1. Not being on the ice suggests that he is not close to returning and we shouldn't expect to see him in game 5.
