Smith was a recurring healthy scratch in the final weeks of the regular season, but ended up playing all six games in the first round against the Utah Mammoth, averaging 13:00 time-on-ice and tallying two assists. That said, the 34-year-old Smith will return to the sidelines as a healthy scratch in Game One against the Anaheim Ducks to accommodate the return of William Karlsson (lower body).
Heading into Game Two, Hart had won seven straight while posting a tremendous 1.72 GAA and .932 SV%. He battled some adversity between Games Two through Five, going 2-2 while posting a semi-concerning 3.24 GAA and .864 SV%. That said, the 27-year-old Hat rebounded with a tremendous effort when it mattered most, saving 22 of 23 shots (.957 SV%), in a series-clinching 5-1 Game Six win over the Utah Mammoth. Hart returns to the crease in Game One against the Anaheim Ducks, with his Golden Knights entering the action as -165 home favourites.
Lauzon was limited to only 13:42 time-on-ice in the Golden Knights' 5-1 Game Six series-clinching victory against the Utah Mammoth due to an upper-body issue. The 29-year-old hard-hitting defenseman will miss at least the opening game of the second-round series against the Anaheim Ducks. Through six games this postseason, Lauzon recorded eight blocks and 14 hits.
Karlsson has not played since November 8th, but will make his return to the lineup for Game One against the Anaheim Ducks. The 33-year-old forward is a proven playoff performer, with 74 points (33G / 41A) in 111 games, and will add an offensive boost to the Vegas lineup.
Carrick suffered an upper-body injury in a fight with Anders Lee of the New York Islanders on March 31st and has not played since. The 34-year-old has 16 points (9G / 7A) and 65 penalty minutes in 73 games this season. He was originally expected to be be out for the entire second round of the playoffs, but could be targeting a sooner return after recent progress.
Even with Alexander Nikishin (concussion) unavailable, Legault sat as a healthy scratch in Game 1 vs. the Flyers. So he'll report to Chicago, who are in the middle of the Calder Cup Playoffs. This is also a sign that Nikishin is ready-to-go, but the Hurricanes will stick with what worked in Game 1.
Seguin tore his ACL on December 2nd and missed the final 55 games of the 2025-26 season. He finished the season with 17 points (7G / 10A) in 27 games, giving him 38 points (16G / 22A) in just 47 games over the last two injury-filled seasons.
Just like he did in Game 1, Nikishin was on the ice for Monday's morning skate but will not play in Game 2. This is likely a combination of taking caution with a concussion and not wanting to change a lineup that won 3-0 in Game 1. Nikishin should be ready to go in Game 3 should the Hurricanes require his services.
Andersen stopped all 19 shots that he faced in the Hurricanes' 3-0 shutout win over the Flyers in Game 1. It was another dominant performance from the Hurricanes and another great effort from the veteran netminder, who carries a 5-0-0 record, 0.90 GAA, .961 SV% and two shutouts into Game 2. The Hurricanes are monstrous -255 favourites on home-ice.
Despite rotating goalies nearly all season, Jesper Wallstedt, to some surprise, was between the pipes to start Game One against the Dallas Stars, and never looked back en route to a 4-2 series win. Wallstedt returns to the crease in Game One of round two against the Colorado Avalanche, looking to build on his impressive 2.05 GAA and .924 SV% through four games (4-2). Minnesota enters Game One as +170 road underdogs.
Despite rotating goalies nearly all season, Jesper Wallstedt, to some surprise, was between the pipes to start Game One against the Dallas Stars, and never looked back en route to a 4-2 series win. Wallstedt returns to the crease in Game One of round two against the Colorado Avalanche, looking to build on his impressive 2.05 GAA and .924 SV% through four games (4-2). Minnesota enters Game One as +170 road underdogs.
Dobson has not played in three weeks, suffering an upper-body injury in the final week of the regular season, but he is expected to return to the lineup in Game Seven on Sunday. The 26-year-old Dobson scored 47 points (12G / 35A) in 80 games this season.
The Canadiens will unsurprisingly stick with Dobes between the pipes as the Canadiens enter a must-win Game Seven against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 24-year-old Czech goalie was outstanding in Game Six, saving 32 of 33 shots (.970 SV%), but ultimately allowed the game’s only goal midway through the first overtime period. He has a 2.19 GAA and .916 SV% through six games this postseason (3-3). Montreal enters Game Seven as a +145 road underdog.
Last week, Vasilevskiy was named one of the three finalists for the Vezina trophy, but had yet to display his Vezina-calibre form this postseason. That said, his talent was on full display in a must-win Game Six, saving all 30 shots he faced in a 1-0 overtime win over the Montreal Canadiens. He has a 2.20 GAA and .905 SV% in six games this postseason (3-3). Tampa Bay enters Game Seven as a -161 home favourite.
Several weeks ago, Colorado was non-committal about who their starting goalie would be in the postseason, but after a dominant four-game sweep over the Los Angeles Kings, there is no doubt they will roll with Wedgewood to start round two against the Minnesota Wild. Piggybacking off a career-best regular season, Wedgewood was tremendous in four postseason games (4-0), posting an impressive 1.21 GAA and .950 SV%. The well-rested Avalanche enter Game One as -177 home favourites.
With Joel Eriksson Ek (lower body) expected to miss at least the first two games of Minnesota's second-round matchup against the Colorado Avalanche, Yurov will enter the lineup for Game One. Yurov, a 22-year-old rookie, battled some adversity during his postseason debut in round one against the Dallas Stars, recording zero points, four penalty minutes, and a -1 plus/minus through four games.
Eriksson Ek had an awkward non-contact fall midway through the third period of Game Six against the Dallas Stars. He exited the game for a few minutes but returned to help the team hold on and advance to the second round. That said, he did not travel with the team to Colorado and is expected to miss the first two games of the series, creating a sizeable void at centre-ice.
