NHL Hockey Player News

Despite having a 2.85 GAA and .889 SV% through three games, Jake Oettinger has led the Dallas Stars to an early 2-1 series lead and will yet again take the crease for Game 4 on Saturday. The 27-year-old won 35 games for a fourth straight season in 2025-26, posting a 35-12-6 record with a 2.59 GAA and .899 SV%. He heads to Minnesota to take on the Wild for Game 4, who have only scored 5 goals in their last two games after sneaking six goals by Oettinger in Game 1.

Despite rotating goalies nearly all season, Jesper Wallstedt will start his fourth straight game of the playoffs as he attempts to even up Minnesota's opening round series vs. Dallas on Saturday. The 23-year-old has struggled a bit in Minnesota's previous two games, allowing seven goals after holding Dallas to only one in Game 1. He brings his 1-2-0 record, alongside his 2.27 GAA and .916 SV% into Game 4 as he looks to even the series on home ice.

With Jake Sanderson out for Game 4, Carter Yakemchuk will draw back into Ottawa's lineup for his playoff debut on Saturday. The 20-year-old defensemen will hopefully add a much-needed offensive boost to Ottawa's lineup after they scored only three goals in their first three playoff games. He appeared in only four total games prior to the playoffs, picking up a goal, two points and two PIMs.

After sitting as a healthy scratch in Game 3, Dennis Gilbert will draw back into Ottawa's lineup for Game4 on Sautrday. The 29-year-old only appeared in eight regular season games this season, picking up an assist and two SOG while averaging just 12:41 TOI. He will replace Cameron Crotty for Game 4.

Crotty made his playoff debut in Game 3 but will be a healthy scratch for Game 4 on Saturday as Dennis Gilbert draws back into the lineup. The 26-year-old Crotty only appeared for 8:59 TOI in Game 3, but was a -1 plus/minus.

Despite Ullmark playing outer-worldly through the first three games of Ottawa's opening series, the Senators find themselves down 3-0 and on the edge of elimination on Saturday for Game 4. Ullmark has been the Senators' best player, posting a .933 SV%, 2.02 GAA and 0-3-0 record. He will look to keep Ottawa's season alive at home Saturday, as they host the Carolina Hurricanes, who have outscored them 7-3 in the series.

Deslauriers will make his Hurricanes' playoff debut in Game 4 after it was announced late that Nikolaj Ehlers would be out with a lower-body injury. Deslauriers appeared in 31 games between Carolina and Philadelphia this season, picking up two assists and 38 PIMs.

Carolina will be without a key top-six contributor on Saturday for Game 4 as they take on Ottawa without Nikolaj Ehlers (lower-body). The 30-year-old was a late scratch and will be replaced by Nicolas Deslauriers. Ehlers had an assist and 7 SOG through Carolina's first three games.

With Carolina holding a commanding 3-0 lead over Ottawa, Frederik Andersen is expected to start Game 4 in the Nations Capital on Saturday. The 36-year-old veteran net-minder struggled throughout the regular season but has seen a resurgence in the playoffs, as shown by his 3-0-0 record, 0.84 GAA and .954 SV%. After outscoring the Senators 7-3 through the first three games, he will look to close out the series quickly on the road for Saturday's matinee.

With Carolina holding a commanding 3-0 lead over Ottawa, Frederik Andersen is expected to start Game 4 in the Nations Capital on Saturday. The 36-year-old veteran net-minder struggled throughout the regular season but has seen a resurgence in the playoffs, as shown by his 3-0-0 record, 0.84 GAA and .954 SV%. After outscoring the Senators 7-3 through the first three games, he will look to close out the series quickly on the road for Saturday's matinee.

Lohrei has struggled mightily in Boston's opening three games to start the playoffs and is expected to head to the press box for Game 4 vs. Buffalo as Jordan Harris enters the lineup. Lohrei appeared in 73 regular season games for the Bruins but has been battling throughout the playoffs with zero points, and a -4 plus/minus despite averaging 14:14 TOI per game.

Boston finds themselves down 2-1 in their opening series vs. Buffalo and will bring Jordan Harris into the lineup Sunday as a replacement for the struggling Mason Lohrei. Harris appeared in only eight games for the Bruins during the regular season, picking up a goal, three points and 12 SOG.

With Pittsburgh on the brink of elimination ahead of Game 4 on Saturday, they will switch up their starting goaltender and let Arturs Silovs start between the pipes after Stuart Skinner posted a .873 SV% through three opening round loses. Saturday will be Silovs 11th career playoff appearance despite being just 25-year-old, after he led Vancouver on a run in his rookie season in 2023-24. Silovs will hope to be the saving grace for Pittsburgh's season as they head to Philadelphia on Saturday to avoid a series sweep.

With Boston down 2-1 in their opening series to Buffalo, it appears they will shake up the lineup as Lukas Reichel is expected to take the spot of James Hagens for Game 3 on Sunday. The 23-year-old speedster appeared in 29 games this season between Chicago, Vancouver and Boston and pick up three goals and eight points.

Hagens playoff debut has started with three scoreless games and has led to Lukas Reichel expected to replace him in Boston's lineup for Game 4 vs. Buffalo. The 19-year-old Hagens joined the Bruins after a strong season at Boston College (NCAA) and has one assist in five appearances with the Bruins across regular season and the playoffs.

Despite missing Philadelphia's previous two practices, Dan Vladar was a participant in morning skate on Saturday and will start Game 4 vs. Pittsburgh. The 28-year-old is in his first season with the Flyers and has been sensational guiding Philadelphia to a 3-0 series lead, with his 1.33 GAA, .946 SV% and 3-0-0 record. He will try to sweep the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday and close out Philadelphia's first playoff series since 2019-20.

Dickinson was a game-time decision in Game Two and ultimately did not play, and is unavailable again for Game Three. The 30-year-old defensive forward scored a highlight-reel goal in Game One, one of two tallies in the game, but has not played since. He averaged 15:03 time-on-ice and scored four points (1G / 3A) in 17 games with the Oilers this season after being acquired before the trade deadline.

After securing his first career playoff victory on Wednesday, Dostal will be back between the pipes for the Ducks in Game 3. Dostal was busy in Anaheim's 6-4 win in Game 2, turning away 33 of the 37 shots he faced. He and the Ducks will aim to take a 2-1 series lead on Friday as they enter action as slight underdogs at +120 on the money line.

Despite the Game 2 loss, the Oilers will stick with the status quo in goal as Ingram makes his third start of the playoffs. Ingram was tagged for five goals on 27 shots in Game 2 as the Oilers suffered a 6-4 defeat. Even with the series shifting back to Anaheim for Game 3, the oddsmakers still have the Oilers pegged as the favourites as they enter action at -135 on the money line.