Arber Xhekaj will draw into Montreal's lineup for Game One against the Buffalo Sabres, sending Struble to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 24-year-old Struble is averaging 10:46 time-on-ice, recording a +3 plus/minus and 21 hits through seven games this postseason.
Jayden Struble will be a healthy scratch in Game One against the Buffalo Sabres, allowing Xhekaj to re-enter the lineup. The 21-year-old Xhekaj was the odd man out of the lineup to accommodate the return of Noah Dobson (upper body) in Game Seven against the Tampa Bay Lightning, but had been serviceable prior in the series, recording one assist and 31 hits in six games.
Joe Veleno will draw into Montreal's lineup for Game One against the Buffalo Sabres, sending Gallagher to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 34-year-old Gallagher made his 2025-26 postseason debut in Game Four against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He is averaging 6:25 time-on-ice and has one goal through three games in the playoffs.
Brendan Gallagher will be a healthy scratch in Game One against the Buffalo Sabres, allowing Veleno to enter the lineup. The 26-year-old Veleno has not played in nearly three weeks. He had five points (2G / 3A) in 61 games this season.
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 appears to be targeting a sooner return after recent progress.
Luchanko was drafted 13th overall by the Flyers in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 19-year-old forward played four games with the Flyers this season, but spent most of the 2025-26 campaign in the OHL, where he scored 26 points (5G / 21A) in 27 games this season.
Logan Stanley (illness) will return to Buffalo's lineup for Game One against the Montreal Canadiens, sending Kesselring to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 26-year-old Kesselring played his postseason debut in Buffalo's previous game and was limited to 4:25 time-on-ice.
Stanley did not play in Game Six against the Boston Bruins due to an illness, but will re-enter the lineup for Game One against the Montreal Canadiens. The 27-year-old defenseman has six blocks and six hits through five games this postseason. Michael Kesselring will be a healthy scratch to accommodate Stanley's return.
Lyon struggled towards the end of the regular season, but has been tremendous since taking over for Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen late in Game Two against the Boston Bruins. The 33-year-old Lyon has been near perfect this postseason, posting a stellar 1.14 GAA and .955 SV% in five appearances (3-1). Lyon hopes to continue his recent success, as the Sabres enter Game One against the Montreal Canadiens as -126 home favourites.
Wedgewood will no doubt be hoping for a more conventional victory over the Wild in Game 2, but the Avalanche will take them anyway they can get them. Wedgewood was tagged for six goals on 36 shots in Game 1 but still managed to come away with the win thanks to his teammates lighting the lamp nine times against the Wild. The Avalanche enter action on Tuesday at -190 on the money line as they aim to take a commanding 2-0 series lead.
Gudas was limited to only 9:40 time-on-ice in Game One against the Utah Mammoth due to an undisclosed injury and subsequently missed the rest of the series. He was originally listed as a game-time decision for Game One against the Vegas Golden Knights, but did not play and is likely ruled out for Game Two as well. The 35-year-old defenseman also missed significant time in the final weeks of the regular season, and it is unclear if he will be an option for Game Three.
Cates played 20:53 time-on-ice, sixth amongst all Flyers' forwards, in their crushing Game Two 3-2 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, but is battling a lower-body injury and could be at risk of missing Game Three. The 27-year-old Cates, in his first NHL playoff experience, has four points (1G/3A) through eight games.
Giles is an undrafted 26-year-old forward that has spent most of his career in the AHL. He recorded one assist in three games with the Sharks this season, but scored 24 points (10G / 14A) in 67 games with the Barracuda (AHL).
Jesper Wallstedt was a major part of Minnesota's 4-2 series win over the Dallas Stars, playing all six games while posting an impressive 2.05 GAA and .924 SV%. That said, he had a forgetful outing in Game One against the Colorado Avalanche, allowing eight goals on 42 shots (.810 SV%) in a rollercoaster 9-6 loss. As such, Minnesota will try to even the series in Game Two, turning to Gustavsson to tend the twine for the first time this postseason. The 27-year-old Gustavsson struggled to end the regular season, posting a 4.05 GAA and .837 SV% in his last four games (2-2-0). Minnesota enters Game Two as a +170 road underdog.
Nikishin has not played since receiving a thunderous hit from Tyler Kleven of the Ottawa Senators nearly two weeks ago. That said, a break between play, Nikishin has only missed two games, and could return to the lineup for Game Three against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Manson was limited to only 4:57 time-on-ice in Colorado's 4-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings in Game Three nearly two weeks ago, exiting due to an upper-body injury. Avs' Head Coach Jared Bednar has not provided much insight into Manson's injury, but he has not played since and is at risk of missing a third consecutive game. The 34-year-old defenseman has two assists and 10 hits through three games this postseason.
Halliday was a fourth-round pick, 104th overall, of the Ottawa Senators in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old forward impressed at the AHL level this season, scoring 29 points (2G / 27A) in 29 games with Belleville. He also saw some success while making his NHL debut this season, scoring 11 points (4G / 7A) in 30 games.
Gudas was limited to only 9:40 time-on-ice in Game One against the Utah Mammoth due to an undisclosed injury and subsequently missed the rest of the series. The 35-year-old defenseman also missed significant time in the final weeks of the regular season, but is nearing a return and could be an option in Game Two against the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Ducks will of course roll with Dostal between the pipes when they open up their second round series against the Golden Knights on Monday. Dostal struggled at times during Anaheim's first-round matchup with the Oilers, but turned in his best performance of the post-season when he allowed just two goals on 27 shots in a series-clinching 5-2 victory in Game 6. Dostal and the Ducks open up round two as slight underdogs, entering action for Game 1 at +135 on the money line.
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.
