Max Pacioretty (undisclosed) will return to the lineup for his first game since February 8th, sending Robertson to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 23-year-old Robertson recorded one point (0G / 1A), one shot, and six penalty minutes through the first two games of Toronto's round-one series against the Ottawa Senators.
Protas missed the final six games of the regular season and the first two games of the playoffs due to a laceration on his foot, but appears to be nearing a return to the lineup as he was a game-time decision on Wednesday. The 24-year-old Protas scored an impressive 66 points (30G / 36A) in 76 games this season.
The Blues will be desperate for a victory, returning home down 2-0 in their first-round matchup against the Winnipeg Jets. Binnington played well in Game 2, saving 20 of 22 shots (.909 SV%), but did not receive ample goal support in the 2-1 loss. The 31-year-old goalie has a 2.75 GAA and .908 SV% in 43 career playoff appearances (20-22). The Blues enter Game 3 as +104 home underdogs against the Jets.
Max Pacioretty (undisclosed) will return to the lineup for his first game since February 8th, sending Robertson to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 23-year-old Robertson recorded one point (0G / 1A), one shot, and six penalty minutes through the first two games of Toronto's round-one series against the Ottawa Senators.
As has been the case the past several season, Pacioretty has battled injuries, limited to only 37 games this season, last playing on Februrary 8th. However, the veteran 36-year-old was effective when in this lineup, recording 13 points (5G / 8A) and 105 hits. Nicholas Robertson will be a healthy scratch to accommodate Pacioretty's return.
Howe was Pittsburgh's 46th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 19-year-old forward played 47 WHL games this season, split between the Regina Pats and Calgary Hitmen, scoring 46 points (18G / 28A).
The Maple Leafs will look to take a commanding 3-0 series lead on Thursday, turning to Stolarz between the pipes. Stolarz has been excellent through the first two games (2-0), posting a stellar 1.95 GAA and .934 SV%. The 31-year-old netminder was tremendous to close out the 2024-25 campaign, posting a 0.99 GAA and .963 SV% in his final five games (5-0-0). The Maple Leafs enter Game 3 on Thursday as slight +115 road underdogs against a desperate Ottawa Senators team.
The Panthers commandingly took Game 1 from the Tampa Bay Lightning, defeating them 6-2, aided by a 20-save performance from Bobrovsky (.909 SV%). The 36-year-old Bobrovsky improves to 46-43 in his playoff career, posting a 2.84 GAA and .905 SV%. Still, the Panthers enter Game 2 as slightly +106 road underdogs against a Lightning team desperately trying to tie the series.
Vasilevskiy had a tremendous regular season, posting a 2.18 GAA and .921 SV% in 63 games (38-20-5). During the regular season, Vasilevskiy never allowed more than five goals in a game. However, in Game 1, he was beaten six times on 17 shots (.647 SV%) in a 6-2 loss. Still, he will return to the crease in Game 2, looking to help Tampa Bay tie the series at one. Tampa Bay enters Game 2 on Thursday as -117 home favorites against the Florida Panthers.
Ristolainen's final game of the season was March 11th, missing the final month due to an upper-body injury. He ended the 2024-25 regular season with four goals, 19 points and a +3 plus/minus in 63 games played. His recovery timeline likely sets his target return date for late October.
Cirelli exited Tuesday's 6-2 Game 1 loss to the Florida Panthers after playing only 6:21 time-on-ice due to an undisclosed injury, and his status is up in the air for Game 2. Nick Paul centered Tampa Bay's second line after Cirelli's injury. The 27-year-old Cirelli scored a career-high 59 points (27G / 32A) in 80 games this season.
Moverare will draw in after sitting out Game 1 as the Kings are opting to dress seven defencemen on Wednesday. Alex Turcotte will sit in his place.
Turcotte will take a seat for Game 2 as the Kings are opting to dress seven defencemen on Wednesday. Jacob Moverare will play in his place.
The Kings will unsurprisingly turn back to Kuemper between the pipes for Game 2 on Wednesday. Kuemper's play in Game 1 admittedly tailed off in the third period when he surrendered four goals, but he was ultimately able to guide his team to a 6-5 victory. Kuemper posted a fantastic 31-11-7 record and .921 SV% in the regular season, so it will certainly take a lot more than one shaky performance for the Kings to consider any sort of change in goal. Los Angeles enters action on Wednesday at -130 on the money line.
As expected, the Avalanche will turn back to Blackwood between the pipes for the third game of their opening round series against the Stars. After a fantastic performance in Game 1, Blackwood's play regressed in Game 2, as he allowed four goals on 39 shots in the 4-3 overtime defeat. Blackwood guided the team to a 22-12-3 record in his 36 starts during the regular season, so Jared Bednar's confidence in his starting netminder is understandably unshaken ahead of Game 3. The Avalanche enter action on Wednesday at -190 on the money line.
Landeskog participated in the pregame skate on Monday but was a late scratch, delaying his return to the lineup. He 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 captain will make his remarkable return to the lineup for the third game of the series, with the Stars and Avs tied at a game a piece.
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 games this season, scoring zero points. He will be able to return to the lineup for Game 2 on Wednesday.
The Capitals had a dramatic 3-2 overtime win over the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1 and will roll with Thompson between the pipes on Wednesday for Game 2. Thompson was excellent in Game 1, his first game in nearly three weeks, perfect through two periods and saving 33 of 35 shots (.943 SV%) in the victory. The 28-year-old Thompson made his playoff debut last season with the Vegas Golden Knights and improved his career totals to a 2.27 GAA and .926 SV% in five games (3-2-0). The Capitals enter Game 2 as -172 home favorites against the Canadiens.
Protas missed the final six games of the regular season and will now miss the first two games of the playoffs due to a laceration on his foot, but appears to be nearing a return to the lineup as he was a game-time decision on Wednesday. The 24-year-old Protas scored an impressive 66 points (30G / 36A) in 76 games this season.
After allowing four goals on 24 shots (.833 SV%) in Saturday's 5-1 Game 1 loss, Oettinger responded nicely, saving 34 of 37 shots (.919 SV%) in Monday's 4-3 overtime Game 2 victory. The win was Oettinger's first in four games (0-3-1) dating back to the end of the regular season. The Stars enter Game 3 on Wednesday as +161 road underdogs against a Colorado Avalanche team that could receive a morale boost from Gabriel Landeskog, who could return to the Avalanche lineup for his first NHL game in nearly three years.
