NHL Hockey Player News

Lewis will slot into LA's lineup on Friday as they opt to dress 12 forwards. Defenceman Jacob Moverare will sit in his place.

The Kings will look to take a commanding 3-0 series lead over the Edmonton Oilers on Friday, turning to Kuemper between the pipes for a third consecutive outing. The 34-year-old Kuemper was excellent in Game 2 on Wednesday, saving 24 of 26 shots (.923 SV%) in a 6-2 victory. He has a 2.77 GAA and .905 SV% in 36 career playoff appearances (19-10). The Kings enter Game 3 on Friday as +126 road underdogs against an Oilers team desperate for their first win in the playoffs.

Montembeault appeared to suffer a lower-body injury about five minutes into the second period of Game 3. He attempted to continue playing but was removed from the game at the eight-minute mark and was unable to return. We should get an update on his status ahead of Game 4 on Sunday.

Siegenthaler has not played since February 4th due to a lower-body injury but appears ready to make his seasonal playoff debut and return on Friday for Game 3 vs. Carolina. The 27-year-old Swiss defender will make a welcome addition to New Jersey's already battered blue line after he had two goals, nine points and a +9 plus/minus in 55 games during the regular season.

Facing a 2-0 series deficit, Markstrom and the Devils will be hoping the third time's the charm when they host the Hurricanes for Game 3 on Friday. Markstrom is hardly the one to blame for the hole the Devils find themselves in, as evident by his .930 SV% and 2.52 GAA. New Jersey will thankfully be playing on home ice for the first time in the series, where Markstrom logged a 14-7-4 record across 26 regular season appearances. The Devils enter action on Friday at +135 on the money line.

Andersen will look to extend his streak of giving up one or fewer goals to three games as he also looks to extend Carolina's opening series lead to 3-0 in New Jersey on Friday. The 35-year-old Danish netminder has been sensational to start the playoffs for Carolina, pitching a 2-0-0 record, 1.00 GAA and .960 SV% in their first two games played. He heads to New Jersey to take on the injury-ridden Devils, who closed out the regular season with a mediocre 19-17-5 home record.

Struble will take a seat on Friday as the Habs are opting to shake up their lineup given the 2-0 series deficit. Arber Xhekaj will draw into the lineup in his place.

Xhekaj will slot in on Friday as the Habs look to add a more physical presence to their Game 3 lineup. Jayden Struble will sit in his place.

Kapanen will slot in for Patrik Laine, who was a surprise scratch due to an upper-body injury. Kapanen will skate with Joel Armia and Emil Heineman on the Habs' fourth line.

Despite facing a 2-0 series deficit, the Canadiens will unsurprisingly stick with Montembeault between the pipes for Game 3 on Friday. Though he's yet to come away with a victory, Montembeault has arguably been Montreal's star performer through the first two games of the series. The 28-year-old netminder has allowed just five goals on 63 shots, resulting in a .921 SV% and a 2.49 GAA. If he is able to maintain this level of play, then a little bit more goal support in Game 3 should be all Monteambeault needs to guide the Habs to their first win of the series.

Protas last appeared on April 4th due to a foot injury but has been travelling with Washington for their first-round series vs. Montreal and is a game-time decision to return for Game 3 on Friday. The 24-year-old took a massive step forward in his fourth NHL season in 2024-25, with 30 goals, 60 points and a +40 plus/minus in 76 games played.

Laine was a surprise scratch on Friday, with the Habs not announcing his absence prior to warmups. The team added he is considered day-to-day with the injury. Oliver Kapanen will take his spot in the lineup.

The Kings will look to take a commanding 3-0 series lead over the Edmonton Oilers on Friday, turning to Kuemper between the pipes for a third consecutive outing. The 34-year-old Kuemper was excellent in Game 2 on Wednesday, saving 24 of 26 shots (.923 SV%) in a 6-2 victory. He has a 2.77 GAA and .905 SV% in 36 career playoff appearances (19-10). The Kings enter Game 3 on Friday as +126 road underdogs against an Oilers team desperate for their first win in the playoffs.

Johansson only played 11:09 time-on-ice in Thursday's 5-2 win, giving Minnesota a 2-1 series lead, and is uncertain for Game 4. The 34-year-old Johansson has one point (0G / 1A) through three playoff games.

Mercer is an undrafted goalie out that has spent the previous five seasons playing for the Drummondville Voltigeurs in the QMJHL. The 21-year-old had an excellent 2024-25 season, posting a 2.53 GAA and .925 SV% in 46 games (27-15-4) with Drummondville.

Ekblad was suspended for 20 games in early March for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program. He will make his return to the lineup on Saturday in Game 3 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 29-year-old Ekblad had 33 points (3G / 30A) in 56 games this season.

Barkov exited Thursday's game in the third period after receiving an unsuspecting hit from Tampa Bay's Brandon Hagel. Hagel was issued a five-minute major penalty for interference and is scheduled to have a hearing with the NHL's Department of Player Safety. The 29-year-old Barkov has three points (0G / 3A) through two playoff games and his status for Game 3 is uncertain.

With Stuart Skinner posting a horrendous 6.11 GAA and .810 SV% through the first two games of Edmonton's opening series, Calvin Pickard will start Game 3 vs. Los Angeles on Friday. The 33-year-old was a consistent source of wins when called upon throughout the regular season, posting a 22-10-1 record, 2.71 GAA and .900 SV%. He will host the Los Angeles Kings for Game 3 on Friday, who are looking to take a commanding 3-0 series lead after scoring 12 combined goals in the first two games of the series.

With Stuart Skinner posting a horrendous 6.11 GAA and .810 SV% through the first two games of the series, Calvin Pickard has found himself in the starter's net ahead of Game 3 vs. Los Angeles on Friday. The 33-year-old was a consistent source of wins when called upon during the regular season, posting a 22-10-1 record, 2.71 GAA and .900 SV%. He will host the Los Angeles Kings for Game 3 on Friday, who are looking to take a commanding 3-0 series lead after scoring 12 goals combined in the first two games.

Andersen will look to extend his streak of giving up one or fewer goals to three games as he also looks to extend Carolina's opening series lead to 3-0 in New Jersey on Friday. The 35-year-old Danish netminder has been sensational to start the playoffs for Carolina, pitching a 2-0-0 record, 1.00 GAA and .960 SV% in their first two games played. He heads to New Jersey to take on the injury-ridden Devils, who closed out the regular season with a mediocre 19-17-5 home record.