NHL Hockey Player News

Since reconnecting with his former bench boss, John Tortorella, from his days with the Philadelphia Flyers, Hart has been outstanding. Dating back to the end of the regular season, the 27-year-old goalie had won seven straight while posting an absurd 1.72 GAA and .932 SV%. That said, he is coming off his first loss in the John Tortorella era, allowing three goals on 29 shots (.897 SV%) in a 3-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth in Game Two and will need to show his resiliency when he returns to the crease in Game Three. With the series tied 1-1, Vegas enters Game Three as a slight -108 road favourite.

Sanderson exited Ottawa's 2-1 Game Three loss on Thursday in the second period shortly after receiving a high hit from Carolina's Taylor Hall, potentially leading to his concussion. The 23-year-old defenseman has two assists through three games in the series. In a must-win Game Four, the Senators will need to rely more heavily on Thomas Chabot in Sanderson's absence.

Trenin was on the receiving end of a massive open-ice hit from Colin Blackwell of the Dallas Stars early in Game Two on Monday, exiting the game immediately after, playing only 3:02 time-on-ice. He was subsequently held out of the lineup in Game Three and will miss at least one more game. The 29-year-old Trenin led the NHL with 413 hits in the regular season, and his physical presence will be sorely missed by Minnesota during his absence.

Zuccarello was a surprise scratch ahead of Game Two, likely suffering the injury in Game One after being on the receiving end of a high hit from Stars' defenseman Tyler Myers. The 38-year-old winger played just under 17 minutes in the Wild's 6-1 rout of the Stars in Game 1, chipping in with three assists. He was also sidelined four Game Three and his availability for Game Four remains up in the air.

Vladar needed to regroup after multiple collisions in the third period of Wednesday's 5-2 Game Three win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, but seemed no worse for wear in an impressive 28-save performance (.933 SV%). The Flyers will have a chance to sweep the Penguins and move on to the second round with a victory in Game Four, but if Vladar is unable to go, it would likely be Samuel Ersson tending the twine.

Sanderson exited Ottawa's 2-1 Game Three loss on Thursday in the second period shortly after blocking a shot with his hand and an awkward collision, but it's unclear which event is related to his injury. The 23-year-old defenseman has two assists through three games in the series, and his status for Game Four on Saturday is uncertain.

Manson was limited to only 4:57 time-on-ice in Colorado's 4-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings in Game Three on Thursday, exiting due to an upper-body injury. Avs' Head Coach Jared Bednar did not have an update following the game and said Manson will continue to be reevaluated. The 34-year-old defenseman has two assists and 10 hits through three games this postseason.

After dressing in the first two games of Colorado's first round series against the Kings, Kiviranta will take a seat on Thursday in favour of Ross Colton. Kiviranta averaged less than ten minutes of ice times in Games 1 and 2 and did not register a point.

Colton was surprisingly a healthy scratch in each of the first two games of Colorado's round one series against the Kings, but will draw into the lineup on Thursday in place of Joel Kiviranta. Colton appeared n 73 regular season games for the Avs, tallying nine goals and 15 assists.

Kuzmenko was activated off injured reserve on April 19th but is yet to play in a post-season game, with his last appearance coming back on February 25th. Kuzmenko appeared in 52 games for the Kings this season, tallying 13 goals and 12 assists.

Wedgewood stopped a Quinton Byfield shootout attempt in the second period, one of 24 saves in Colorado's 2-1 overtime win over the Los Angeles Kings in Game Two. The 33-year-old Wedgewood has been tremendous in his first two career playoff starts, saving a combined 48 of 50 shots (.960 SV%). Several weeks ago, it seemed unclear who would be Colorado's starting goalie in the postseason, but Wedgewood's strong play has made it his crease to lose. Colorado enters Game Three as a -162 road favourite.

Ullmark has never won a playoff series as the goalie of record, and the odds are against him with the Senators trailing the Carolina Hurricanes 2-0. That said, the 32-year-old Swedish goalie has been exceptional, saving 73 of 78 shots (.936 SV%) through two games (0-2-0). The Senators will need Ullmark at his best again on Thursday in Game Three, entering the action as -118 home favourites in an attempt to narrow their series deficit to 2-1.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen allowed a concerning goal from center ice in Buffalo's 4-2 Game Two loss to the Boston Bruins and was ultimately replaced by Alex Lyon early in the third period. The 33-year-old Lyon recently returned from an injury, and his brief stint in the crease in Game Two was his first appearance in nearly three weeks. Lyon was struggling before his injury, but the team hopes his extended rest can help him reset and return to early-season form when he tends the twine in Game Three. Buffalo enters the action with even -105 odds on the road.

Forsberg and the Kings were minutes away from tying the series at 1-1, but he allowed a late goal to send the game to overtime in an eventual 2-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. The Kings find themselves in a 0-2 series deficit, but can't fault the 33-year-old Forsberg, who has been outstanding tending the twine in his postseason debut, saving 64 of 68 combined shots (.941 SV%). The Kings enter Game Three as +145 home underdogs.

Wedgewood stopped a Quinton Byfield shootout attempt in the second period, one of 24 saves in Colorado's 2-1 overtime win over the Los Angeles Kings in Game Two. The 33-year-old Wedgewood has been tremendous in his first two career playoff starts, saving a combined 48 of 50 shots (.960 SV%). Several weeks ago, it seemed unclear who would be Colorado's starting goalie in the postseason, but Wedgewood's strong play has made it his crease to lose. Colorado enters Game Three as a -162 road favourite.

Forsberg and the Kings were minutes away from tying the series at 1-1, but he allowed a late goal to send the game to overtime in an eventual 2-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. The Kings find themselves in a 0-2 series deficit, but can't fault the 33-year-old Forsberg, who has been outstanding tending the twine in his postseason debut, saving 64 of 68 combined shots (.941 SV%). The Kings enter Game Three as +145 home underdogs.

Dickson scored a highlight-reel goal in Game One, one of two tallies in the games, but is battling an undisclosed injury and did not play in Game Two on Wednesday. The 30-year-old forward averaged 15:03 time-on-ice and scored four points (1G / 3A) in 17 games with the Oilers this season. His status for Game Three on Friday is up in the air.

Henrique exited Game One on Monday after only 2:56 time-on-ice due to a lower-body injury and subsequently did not play in Game Two. The 36-year-old forward will miss at least two more games before being reevaluated.