NHL Hockey Player News

After a tremendous first-round matchup against the Los Angeles Kings, posting a dazzling 1.21 GAA and .950 SV% in a four-game sweep, Wedgewood battled some adversity in the second round against the Minnesota Wild. The 33-year-old Wedgewood allowed three goals on 12 shots (.750 SV%) in Game Three, a 5-1 loss to Minnesota, and was relieved by Mackenzie Blackwood, who started the subsequent two games. Wedgewood posted a concerning 3.51 GAA and .872 SV% in four second-round appearances (3-1), but saved all seven shots he faced in relief of Blackwood in Colorado's series-clinching Game Five victory. The Avalanche enter Game One as -172 home favourites.

The Hurricanes selected Fransen in the third round (No.69 overall) in 2024. The 20-year-old defenseman split the 2026 season between the SHL and HockeyAllsvenskan. He had one goal and one assist in 13 SHL games and added 14 points (6G / 8A) in 38 HockeyAllsvenskan games. GM Eric Tulsky said the Hurricanes are looking forward to seeing him in North America next season,” so expect him to report to the Chicago Wolves (AHL) next fall.

Malinski missed Games 4 and 5 vs. the Wild but participated in Tuesday's practice and head coach Jared Bednar "hopes" to have Malinski and Artturi Lehkonen back in the lineup for Game 1 vs. Vegas on Wednesday. Malinski, who has three points (1G / 2A) in seven games, should be back on a pairing with Brent Burns and PP2.

Lehkonen missed Games 4 and 5 vs. the Wild but participated in Tuesday's practice and head coach Jared Bednar "hopes" to have Lehkonen and Sam Malinski back in the lineup for Game 1 vs. Vegas on Wednesday. Lehkonen, who skated with Brock Nelson and Nicolas Roy yesterday, has three goals and three assists (six points) in seven playoff games.

Kulich suffered a blood clot in early November and was sidelined for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. That said, the Sabres received encouraging news that Kulich is trending in the right direction and is expected to return. The 22-year-old Czech forward, the 28th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, has 29 points (18G / 11A) in 75 career games.

Abruzzese was a fourth-round pick, 124th overall, of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, and has not yet been able to make the leap to the NHL level. The 26-year-old forward has played exclusively in the AHL since the 2022-23 season. He scored 51 points (15G / 36A) in 2025-26 in 56 games with the Syracuse Crunch (AHL).

Groshev was drafted in the third round, 85th overall, by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 24-year-old forward has spent most of the previous three seasons in the AHL, but made his NHL debut this season, recording one assist in two games with Tampa Bay.

It's unclear if Veleno is out with an undisclosed injury or is simply a healthy scratch. Veleno has zero goals and one assist in six games this post-season. Oliver Kapanen will draw into the lineup in his place.

Kapanen played in the opening four games of the playoffs but has not appeared since, serving as a healthy scratch in each of the last nine games. The 22-year-old Kapanen played in all 82 regular season games, tallying 22 goals and 15 assists. Joe Veleno will sit in his place.

Despite a shaky performance in Game 6, the Canadiens will unsurprisingly roll with Dobes between the pipes for Monday's series-deciding game against the Sabres. Dobes will be looking for a repeat performance of his masterclass in Game 7 of the first round, when he stopped 28 of the 29 shots he faced and carried the Habs to a 2-1 victory over the Lightning. The Canadiens are the slightest of underdogs heading into Game 7, entering action at -105 on the money line.

After being pulled in favour of Alex Lyon in Game 5, UPL was thrust back into action in Game 6 when the Sabres suffered an early 3-1 deficit. Luukkonen performed spectacularly with Buffalo's season on the line, stopping all 18 shots he faced in relief as the Sabres fought back and ultimately forced Game 7 with an 8-3 victory. The odds on the money line for Game 7 are nearly dead even, but the Sabres do enter action as the slight favourites at -115.

Gustavsson was Minnesota's goalie-of-record during the 2025-26 regular season, starting 49 games, but dressed primarily as Jesper Wallstedt's backup during the team's postseason run. With Gustavsson undergoing offseason hip surgery, Jesper Wallstedt could be poised to make another push to be Minnesota's starting goalie to start the 2026-27 season. The 27-year-old Gustavsson will be entering the first year of a five-year contract extension worth $38 million ($6.8 million AAV).

Dobes allowed three goals on 36 shots in the Canadiens' 6-3 win in Buffalo in Game 5. The win moved Dobes to 3-2-0 with a 2.65 GAA and .901 SV% in the series and 7-5-0 with a 2.28 GAA and .914 SV% in the postseason. Montreal have a chance to punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday, a game in which they are -170 home favourites.

Lyon allowed one goal on three shots after replacing Ukko-Pekke Lukkonen in the crease in Game 5. Lyon was excellent vs. the Bruins in Round 1, but hasn't found the same success vs. Montreal. Through four games, he is 1-2-0 with a 3.79 GAA and .872 SV%. Lyon and the Sabres enter the must-win game as +150 road underdogs.

Lyon allowed one goal on three shots after replacing Ukko-Pekke Lukkonen in the crease in Game 5. Lyon was excellent vs. the Bruins in Round 1, but hasn't found the same success vs. Montreal. Through four games, he is 1-2-0 with a 3.79 GAA and .872 SV%. Lyon and the Sabres enter the must-win game as +150 road underdogs.

Power was nicked up in Game 5 and head coach Lindy Ruff said that he was receiving treatment on Friday for the undisclosed injury. On Saturday he said that Power is a "possibility" to play in the must-win Game 6 in Montreal. Power has picked up five assists in 11 playoff games so far.