NHL Hockey Player News

The Vegas Golden Knights have been outshot 104-73 by the Colorado Avalanche through three games, but find themselves with a commanding 3-0 series lead, due in part to exquisite goaltending from Carter Hart. The 27-year-old Hart has been riding a hot streak lately, winning five straight games this postseason, while boasting a tremendous 1.78 GAA and .948 SV%. Hart and the Golden Knights hope to sweep the Avalanche and advance to the Stanley Cup Finals, entering Game Four on Tuesday as slight -101 home underdogs.

Andersen was hardly tested in Game 2 on Saturday, seeing just 12 shots across 63 minutes of game-time, but the Hurricanes still needed overtime to secure the 3-2 victory. The 36-year-old netminder hasn't looked his sharpest through the opening two games of the Eastern Conference Finals, but he still leads the NHL Playoffs with a .927 SV%. Andersen and the Hurricanes enter action in Game 3 as road favourites at -140 on the money line.

Dobes allowed three goals on 26 shots in Game 2 on Saturday night, as the Hurricanes escaped with a 3-2 overtime victory and evened up the series. The 24-year-old netminder has started all 16 of Montreal's playoff games, posting a 9-7 record and a .909 SV%. Dobes and the Habs are yet to lose consecutive games this post-season, but they do enter the action tonight as slight home underdogs at +120 on the money line.

Raty was a fifth-round pick of the Arizona Coyotes in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. The 24-year-old Finnish forward played one NHL game with Arizona in the 2023-24 season, but has not played in the league since. He spent the 2025-26 season with Karpat (SM-liiga), where he scored 57 points (20G / 37A) in 51 games.

MacKinnon left Game Three on Sunday late in the second period after suffering a lower-body injury. He returned early in the third period, but was used sparingly, spending most of the final frame on the bench. The Avalanche had battled injuries in their third-round matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights and now, down 3-0, can ill-afford to be without their offensive superstar, MacKinnon.

Joe Veleno will likely draw back into Montreal's lineup on Monday for Game Three, resulting in Kapanen being a healthy scratch. Kapanen has suited up in three consecutive games for Montreal, but has been used sparingly. He had a -2 plus/minus and two penalty minutes in the team's 3-2 overtime loss in Game Two.

Oliver Kapanen is expected to be a healthy scratch on Monday in Game Three, allowing Veleno to re-enter the lineup. The 26-year-old Veleno is averaging 9:40 time-on-ice, recording 15 hits and one assist in six games this postseason.

Domi underwent surgery to address an issue he was dealing with throughout the 2025-26 season, but complications have arisen, making his availability for training camp uncertain. The 31-year-old forward scored 36 points (12G / 24A) and recorded a career-worst -29 plus/minus through 80 games last season.

Nichushkin exited Sunday's 5-3 Game Three loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in the second period after only playing 8:34 time-on-ice. The 31-year-old Nichushkin is the latest injury concern for an Avalanche team that has trouble staying healthy as they trail their third-round series 3-0. Nichushkin has four points (2G / 2A) in 12 games this postseason.

Saad will unfortunately be the odd man out of Vegas' lineup for Game 3 vs. Colorado with team captain Mark Stone returning to the lineup from injury. Saad has appeared in five games this post season, picking up two assists and five SOG while averaging 8:41 TOI.

With Cale Makar returning from a two game absence, Nick Blankenburg finds himself the odd man out of Colorado's lineup as they head to Vegas for Game 3 on Sunday. Blankenburg has played solid when called upon this postseason, with a goal, and a -2 plus/minus in five games played.

Makar has missed the first two games of the Western Conference Final with an upper-body injury but is warming up and expected to return for Game 3 on Sunday. The 27-year-old superstar defensemen will make a welcome return as Colorado attempts to win its first game of the series. Makar has four goals, five points and +5 plus/minus in nine playoff games played thus far.

Hart and the Vegas Golden Knights will look to take a commanding 3-0 series lead as they host Colorado in the Western Conference Final on Sunday. The 27-year-old has been undoubtedly the best goaltender in this years playoffs, proven by his 10-4-0 record, .924 SV% and 2.24 GAA through 14 starts. He will look to continue his dominance of the Avalanche after allowing only 3 goals on 69 shots against to start the series.

Despite posting a .902 SV% through the first two games of the series, Scott Wedgewood and the Avalanche find themself in a hole and down 2-0 as they head to Vegas for Game 3 on Sunday. Wedgewood has been solid all postseason despite Colorado's recent struggles, posting a 7-3-0 record, 2.30 GAA and a .912 SV% in 10 games played. He will look to get Colorado back in the win column after two close loses to the Golden Knights to start the series.

Andersen will be looking to bounce back in Game 2 after his eight game playoff winning streak was snapped in Game 1 after allowing five goals on 21 shots (.762 SV%) in the opener. The 36-year-old veteran net-minder has been nearly unbeatable in the playoffs thus far, with his eye-opening 8-1-0 record, 1.51 GAA and .932 SV%. He hosts the surging Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, who have won the last five contests between the two teams.

Dobes was fantastic in Montreal's Game 1 victory over Carolina after he stopped 28 of 30 shots against (.929 SV%) on route to a 6-2 Canadiens victory. The 24-year-old has yet to lose back-to-back games in the playoffs despite starting all 15 games for Montreal. He currently has an impressive 9-6-0 record, 2.48 GAA and .911 SV% in the playoffs and will look to give Montreal a 2-0 series lead as they head to Raleigh on Saturday.

Andersen will be looking to bounce back in Game 2 after his eight game playoff winning streak was snapped in Game 1 after allowing five goals on 21 shots (.762 SV%) in the opener. The 36-year-old veteran net-minder has been nearly unbeatable in the playoffs thus far, with his eye-opening 8-1-0 record, 1.51 GAA and .932 SV%. He hosts the surging Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, who have won the last five contests between the two teams.