Kane revealed on Sunday that he's been dealing with a sports hernia this season and they decided it was best to rest him for the final three games of the regular season. Kane skated on the fourth line in Sunday's practice, so expect him to play a minimal role to begin the series vs. Los Angeles.
The Oilers will roll with Skinner in the crease in their first game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Monday night against the Los Angeles Kings. Skinner lost two of his last three starts (1-2-0), including allowing four goals on 13 shots (.692 SV%) in a 5-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in their final game of the season when the Oilers opted to rest their top five offensive contributors on the team. That said, Skinner had a serviceable 2023-24 campaign, posting a 2.62 GAA and .905 SV% in 59 contests (36-16-5). The Oilers enter game one as -165 home favourites.
Mantha missed the final two games of the regular season but will play in Game 1 in Dallas. Mantha, who tallied 10 points (3G / 7A) in 18 games after being traded to Vegas, is expected to skate on the third line with Willam Karlsson.
Pageau exited the Islanders' final game of the season after playing only 2:36 time-on-ice due to a lower-body injury and missed Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The 31-year-old Pageau had 33 points (11G / 22A), 189 hits, and 82 blocks in 82 games this season.
Despite rotating starts between Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov since the former returned from injury in early March, the Hurricanes will turn back to Andersen for a second consecutive game on Monday. Andersen has been on a tear since returning from the aforementioned injury, posting a 9-1-0 record and a .951 SV% over his final ten regular season appearances, and that form carried over into Game 1 on Saturday. Andersen allowed just a single goal on 34 shots as the Hurricanes sealed a 3-1 victory. They enter action tonight as -225 favourites over the Islanders in Game 2.
Despite a disappointing 5-1 loss to the Boston Bruins in Game 1 on Saturday, the Maple Leafs will roll with Samsonov in the crease for a second consecutive game. Samsonov allowed four goals on 23 shots (.826 SV%) in a contest where the Maple Leafs were outclassed in most areas of the game. The Maple Leafs enter game two as +123 road underdogs against the Bruins.
Nylander played a full 82 games in each of the last two seasons but did not play in Toronto's 5-1 Game 1 loss to the Boston Bruins and is unavailable again for Game 2. There hasn't been much information on what is ailing Nylander but he is considered day-to-day and could be an option in game three on Wednesday.
Despite a sparkling 35-save performance from Jeremy Swayman in Game 1, the Bruins will stay committed to their usual rotation in net as Ullmark gets the nod between the pipes in Game 2. Ullmark's last start came last Tuesday against the Senators, where he allowed two goals on just 19 shots in a 3-1 defeat. The reigning Vezina Trophy winner finished his 2023-24 campaign with a 22-10-7 record and a .915 SV% across 40 appearances. He and the Bruins enter action tonight as -140 favourites in Game 2.
The Kings will turn to Talbot between the pipes in their game one matchup on Monday night against the Edmonton Oilers. The veteran Talbot struggled in his last two games (1-1-0), allowing seven goals on 41 combined shots (.829 SV%) but overall was serviceable this season for the Kings, posting a 2.50 GAA and .913 SV% in 54 games (27-20-6). The Kings enter game one as +149 road underdogs.
Grundstrom has been out since February 13th but it looks like he'll dress on the Kings' fourth line in game 1 vs. Edmonton. The 26-year-old winger did play two games with Ontario (AHL) during an LTIR conditioning loan and tallied one goal and one assist.
Carrier has not played since March 25th, missing the final 11 regular season games, but will draw back into the lineup for game one of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Carrier had eight points (6G / 2A) in 39 games this season and will likely skate on a line with Nicolas Roy and Keegan Kolesar.
Pietrangelo missed the final seven games of the regular season after undergoing an appendectomy. His return will provide a huge boost to the Golden Knights' blueline and will push Alec Martinez back out of the lineup. Pietrangelo finished the 2024 regular season with. 33 points (4G / 29A) in 64 games.
The Golden Knights will turn to Thompson between the pipes on Monday night in their opening game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Thompson started two of the last four regular-season games for the Golden Knights, winning both while allowing two or fewer goals in each, and was noticeably more effective than Adin Hill over the stretch run. The Golden Knights enter game one against the Dallas Stars as +127 road underdogs.
Stone has been out since February 20th but is ready for game 1 of the playoffs. Stone will skate on the second line with Tomas Hertl, who was acquired at the trade deadline with the cap space that Vegas saved while Stone was on LTIR. Prior to getting injured, Stone had 53 points (16G / 37A) in 54 games.
The Oilers will likely roll with Skinner in the crease in their first game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Monday night against the Los Angeles Kings. Skinner lost two of his last three starts (1-2-0), including allowing four goals on 13 shots (.692 SV%) in a 5-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in their final game of the season when the Oilers opted to rest their top five offensive contributors on the team. That said, Skinner had a serviceable 2023-24 campaign, posting a 2.62 GAA and .905 SV% in 59 contests (36-16-5). The Oilers enter game one as -165 home favourites.
The Golden Knights will likely turn to Thompson between the pipes on Monday night in their opening game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Thompson started two of the last four regular-season games for the Golden Knights, winning both while allowing two or fewer goals in each, and was noticeably more effective than Adin Hill over the stretch run. The Golden Knights enter game one against the Dallas Stars as +127 road underdogs.
Iorio made his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut on Sunday but was limited to only 1:50 time-on-ice before exiting the game with an undisclosed injury. The 21-year-old defenseman played six games with the Capitals this season.
After dropping game one of their series against the Carolina Hurricanes, the Islanders will roll with Varlamov between the pipes for a second straight game. Despite losing 3-1, Varlamov played well in game one, saving 23 of 25 shots (.920 SV%). That said, the Islanders enter action as sizeable +202 road underdogs on Monday night against the Hurricanes.
Nylander played a full 82 games in each of the last two seasons but did not play in Toronto's 5-1 game one loss to the Boston Bruins. There hasn't been much information on what is ailing Nylander but he is considered day-to-day and could be an option in game two on Monday night.
Fanti is an undrafted 24-year-old netminder who has yet to play in the NHL and only has nine games of AHL experience. In 17 games (9-6-2) with the Fort Wayne Komets (ECHL) this season, Fanti registered a 2.75 GAA and .915 SV%.
