The Senators will opt for experience in Game 2 on Tuesday, with Nick Cousins replacing Matthew Highmore. The 29-year-old Highmore played 9:10 time-on-ice ice, recording a -1 plus/minus and four penalty minutes in Ottawa's Game 1 loss.
Cousin did not play Game 1 will draw into the lineup for Game 2, replacing Matthew Highmore. The 31-year-old Cousin has ample playoff experience, scoring 15 points (4G / 11A) in 63 career games, including winning a Stanley Cup last season with the Florida Panthers.
Greig played 17:51 time-on-ice and scored a goal in his playoff debut on Sunday but is nursing an undisclosed ailment that kept him from skating on Tuesday morning. Still, he is expected to be an option for Game 2 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 22-year-old Greig had 34 points (13G / 21A) in 78 games this season.
Alexeyev exited Game 1 on Monday due to an upper-body injury after playing only 14:02 time-on-ice. The 25-year-old defenseman only played eight gams this season, scoring zero points. He is expected to be ready to return to the lineup for Game 2 on Wednesday.
With Luke Hughes battling an undisclosed injury, Nemec will draw into the lineup for him playoff debut in Game 2 against the Carolina Hurricanes. After making an impact in 60 games last season, Nemec was limited to only 27 this season, scoring four points (2G / 2A).
The battle of Florida is the only playoff series yet to commence, but it will get underway on Tuesday, likely with Vasilevskiy tending the twine for Tampa Bay. Vasilevskiy had a tremendous season, rebounding after an uncharacteristically averaging 2023-24 campaign, posting an impressive 2.18 GAA and .921 SV% in 63 games (38-20-5). The 30-year-old netminder has a 2.41 GAA and .920 SV% in 115 career playoff games (66-46). Tampa Bay enters Game 1 on Tuesday as slight -115 home favorites against the Florida Panthers.
Hughes suffered an undisclosed injury late in Game 1 against the Carolina Hurricanes and will not play in Game 2. The 21-year-old Hughes scored 44 points (7G / 37A) in 71 games this season. He had a -1 plus/minus and played 22:20 time-on-ice in Sunday's 4-1 loss in Game 1. Simon Nemec will draw into the lineup as Hughe's replacement.
Dillion was limited to only 8:53 time-on-ice in New Jersey's 4-1 Game 1 loss due to an undisclosed injury. The 34-year-old defenseman had 16 points (2G / 14A) and averaging 18:35 time-on-ice in 82 games this season.
Tomas Tatar will draw into New Jersey's lineup for Game 2 against the Carolina Hurricanes, sending Sprong to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 28-year-old Sprong recorded a -1 plus/minus and 11:07 time-on-ice in Sunday's 4-1 loss in Game 1.
Daniel Sprong will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Tatar to enter the lineup for Game 2 against the Carolina Hurricanes. Tatar had a career-low 17 points (7G / 10A) in 74 games this season. The 34-year-old had 13 points (7G / 6A) in 52 career playoff games.
Andersen was solid in Game 1, saving 23 of 24 shots (.958 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the New Jersey Devils, and will return to the crease for Game 2. Despite an excellent 2.44 GAA and .915 SV% in 73 career playoff appearances (39-30), success in the postseason has alluded Andersen, advancing past the second round only once in the past eight seasons. Still, the Hurricanes remain overwhelming favorites, entering Game 2 with -253 odd at home against the Devils.
The Maple Leafs are leading their series 1-0 over the Ottawa Senators and will likely roll with Stolarz between the pipes. The 31-year-old Stolarz was excellent in his Game 1 victory, saving 31 of 33 shots (.939 SV%) in a 6-2 win, the first playoff victory of his career. Dating back to the end of the regular season, Stolarz has been outstanding, winning seven straight while allowing only eight combined goals and posting an absurd .961 SV%. The Maple Leafs enter Game 2 on Tuesday as -163 home favorites against the Senators.
Frederic has battled an ankle injury for nearly two months, returning to the lineup for a one-game stint in early April, but was sidelined after reaggravating the ailment. He will return to the ice for Game 1 against the Los Angeles Kings, providing a physical boost to the Oilers roster. The 27-year-old Frederic had 15 points (8G / 7A) and 157 hits in 58 games this season.
After much speculation that Gabriel Landeskog (knee) could draw in for Ross Colton (lower-body), it will in fact be Miles Wood that enters Colorado's lineup. Wood finished the regular season with four goals and four assists in 37 games.
Landeskog has not played in an NHL game since the 2021-22 season, but appeared in two AHL games during a conditioning loan this month. The Avalanche did not confirm that he would play, but stated he was an option to replace Ross Colton if Colton is unable to go. Ultimately, it will be Miles Wood that replaces Colton on Monday.
Colton left Game 1 with lower-body injury and did not return. Gabriel Landeskog is an option to replace Colton in the lineup if he's unable to play
Despite his struggles in the opening game of the series, the Stars will unsurprisingly stick with their franchise netminder between the pipes for Game 2. Oettinger was thoroughly outplayed by Mackenzie Blackwood in that first game, allowing four goals on just 23 shots. It was the continuation of a season-ending slump for Oettinger, who has now posted an 0-4-1 record and an .841 SV% in his last five starts. The Stars enter action on Monday as slight underdogs at +125 on the money line.
Blackwood was outstanding in Saturday's Game 1 victory over the Dallas Stars and will return to the crease on Monday for Game 2. The 28-year-old Blackwood faced several high-danger chances, saving 23 of 24 shots (.958 SV%), including several early before the game became out of reach in an eventual 5-1 victory. Colorado enters game two as -148 road favorites against Dallas.
Joseph will be the odd-man out for Game 2 as the Blues are opting to dress an extra defenceman. Tyler Tucker will draw into the lineup in his place.
