NHL Hockey Player News

Blackwood started his first game of the playoffs in Game 4 and earned the crease back for Game 5 as Colorado looks to close out Minnesota on home ice on Wednesday. Blackwood played exceptional in his only start of the playoffs, stopping 21 shots (.905 SV%) on route to a 5-2 win over the Wild on Monday. If Colorado were to win on Wednesday, they would meet either Vegas or Anaheim in the Western Conference Final.

Head Coach John Tortorella has not wavered in his trust in Carter Hart, a rapport built during their days together with the Philadelphia Flyers, as the team has relied on him in each game this postseason. The 27-year-old goalie has battled some inconsistencies lately and allowed four goals on 19 shots (.826 SV%) in a 4-3 Game Four loss to the Ducks, who evened the series at 2-2. The Golden Knights enter a crucial Game Five as -158 home favourites.

Dostal rebounded after a shaky performance in Game 3 and guided the Ducks to a series-tying 4-3 victory over the Golden Knights on Sunday. It's been an up-and-down post-season for Dostal, but he remains locked in as Anaheim's number-one netminder despite posting an .874 SV% across the opening ten games of the playoffs. Dostal and the Ducks enter a pivotal Game 5 matchup as slight underdogs at +130 on the money line.

The Canadiens will be hoping Dobes can maintain his red-hot form as they look to take a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Sabres on Tuesday. The 24-year-old netminder was serenaded by the Habs' faithful after Game 3, and rightfully so. He allowed just two goals on 28 shots as Montreal cruised to a 6-2 victory. Dobes and the Canadiens enter Game 4 as slight favourites at -140 on the money line.

Head Coach John Tortorella has not wavered in his trust in Carter Hart, a rapport built during their days together with the Philadelphia Flyers, as the team has relied on him in each game this postseason. The 27-year-old goalie has battled some inconsistencies lately and allowed four goals on 19 shots (.826 SV%) in a 4-3 Game Four loss to the Ducks, who evened the series at 2-2. The Golden Knights enter a crucial Game Five as -158 home favourites.

Lehkonen was a surprise scratch alongside Sam Malinski ahead of Game 4 in Minnesota. Joel Kiviranta returned from an injury to replace Lehkonen, but it is unclear if Lehkonen will be able to return in Game 5.

Malinski was a surprise scratch alongside Artturi Lehkonen ahead of Game 4 in Minnesota. Josh Manson returned from an upper-body injury in Game 4 to replace Malinski, whose status remains uncertain for Game 5.

Gudas was limited to only 9:40 time-on-ice in Game One against the Utah Mammoth due to an undisclosed injury and has not played since. He was originally listed as a game-time decision for Game One against the Vegas Golden Knights, but has yet to make his series debut, missing his 10th consecutive game. 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 Six.

Bowman made his NHL debut this season and had stints of productivity, scoring 26 points (8G / 18A) in 54 games this season. The undrafted 22-year-old forward has yet to play an NHL playoff game. He scored four points (2G / 2A) in six games with the Henderson Silver Knights in the AHL playoffs.

Lauzon was limited to only 13:42 time-on-ice in the Golden Knights' 5-1 Game Six series-clinching victory against the Utah Mammoth due to an upper-body issue. The 29-year-old hard-hitting defenseman has missed the opening four game of the second round against the Anaheim Ducks, and will miss at least one more. Through six games this postseason, Lauzon recorded eight blocks and 14 hits.

Stone did not play in Game Four due to a lower-body injury, and will remain sidelined for Game Five. The Golden Knights lost Game Four and hope they can fare better in Game Five without Stone, who is averaging 19:27 time-on-ice and has seven points (3G / 4A) in nine games this postseason.

With the Sabres entering a pivotal Game Four, down 2-1 to the Montreal Canadiens, they will make some roster adjustments, with Luke Schenn drawing in for Logan Stanley. The 27-year-old Stanley has been a pivotal part of Buffalo's blueline since being acquired at the trade deadline, but he will head to the sidelines for the second time this postseason. He has averaged 13:04 time-on-ice, recording 10 blocks, 10 hits, and 19 penalty minutes in eight games this postseason.

With the Sabres entering a pivotal Game Four, down 2-1 to the Montreal Canadiens, they will make some roster adjustments, with Konsta Helenius drawing in for Sam Carrick. The 34-year-old Carrick made his 2025-26 postseason debut in Buffalo's previous game, returning from a six-week absence due to a left-arm injury.

With the Sabres entering a pivotal Game Four, down 2-1 to the Montreal Canadiens, they will make some roster adjustments, with Luke Schenn drawing in for Logan Stanley. The 36-year-old Schenn has yet to play this postseason and was used sparingly down the stretch in the regular season. In just four games with the Sabres this season, Schenn averaged 12:47 time-on-ice, recording three blocks and 10 hits.

With the Sabres entering a pivotal Game Four, down 2-1 to the Montreal Canadiens, they will make some roster adjustments, with Konsta Helenius drawing in for Sam Carrick. The 20-year-old Helenius, the 14th-overall pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, made his NHL debut this season, scoring four points (1G / 3A) in nine games.

Luukkonen's most recent appearance was in Game Two against the Boston Bruins, when he allowed a weak goal from center ice and was eventually relieved by Alex Lyon, who went on to start the subsequent seven games for the Sabres. That said, with the Sabres in dire straits, down 2-1 to the Montreal Canadiens in a pivotal Game Four, they will return to Luukkonen between the pipes. The Sabres hope to tie the series at 2-2, entering Game Four as +121 road underdogs.

Luukkonen's most recent appearance was in Game Two against the Boston Bruins, when he allowed a weak goal from center ice and was eventually relieved by Alex Lyon, who went on to start the subsequent seven games for the Sabres. That said, with the Sabres in dire straits, down 2-1 to the Montreal Canadiens in a pivotal Game Four, they will likely return to Luukkonen between the pipes. The Sabres hope to tie the series at 2-2, entering Game Four as +121 road underdogs.