NHL Hockey Player News

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.

Calgary drafted Zarubin in the 3rd round of the 2024 NHL Draft (84th overall) and has signed the 20-year-old goaltender to a three-year, entry-level contract on Friday. Zarubin spent 2025-26 with AKM Tula (MHL), posting an eye-popping .930 SV%, 2.17 GAA and 26-13-3 in 48 appearances last season.

Blankenburg will make his first appearance since Game 3 of Colorado's second round matchup against the Wild. He's appeared in four games this post-season, tallying one goal and zero assists. Jack Ahcan will sit in his place.

Ahcan will take a seat on Friday after dressing in each of Colorado's last three games. The 29-year-old blue-liner is a -3 rating with zero points across three games this post-season. Nick Blankenburg will draw back into the lineup in his place.

Hart was spectacular in Vegas' 4-2 victory over the Avalanche in Game 1, allowing just two goals on 38 shots. The 27-year-old netminder is having an outstanding post-season for the Golden Knights, posting a 9-4-0 record and a .917 SV% across 13 starts. Despite their Game 1 victory, Hart and the Golden Knights still enter Game 2 as the underdogs at +140 on the money line.

Korczak was a healthy scratch for Vegas' Game 1 victory vs. Colorado but will draw back into the lineup for Ben Hutton ahead of Game 2. Korczak is averaging just 12:18 TOI across nine playoff games as Vegas' sixth defensemen and has an assist and a -2 plus/minus.

Despite Vegas winning Game 1 vs. Colorado, they will be switching up their defensive pairings after it was announced Kaeden Korczak would replace Ben Hutton for Game 2. Hutton has been solid across seven appearances this post season, with an assist and a +1 plus/minus while averaging 13:16 TOI/GP but will head to the press box on Friday.

Despite being a full participant in Friday's morning skate, Mark Stone will not return to Vegas' lineup for Game 2 vs. Colorado. Stone has not played since Game 3 of Vegas' previous series vs. Anaheim but seems on the cusp of returning in the upcoming games. The 34-year-old veteran has three goals, seven points and 18 SOG in nine games played so far this postseason.

Makar was a full participant in Colorado's morning skate ahead of Game 2 but will remain out with an upper-body injury on Friday as the Avalanche host the Golden Knights. The 27-year-old superstar's absence creates a massive hole in Colorado's defence after he put up four goals and five points in their first nine playoff games while averaging 24:59 TOI.

Despite allowing three goals on 27 shots against (.889 SV%) in Game 1, Colorado will stick with Scott Wedgewood as they host Vegas for Game 2 of the Western Conference Final on Friday. The 33-year-old has yet to lose back-to-back games in the playoffs and will hope to bounce back to the sensational form we had seen in his previous eight playoff appearances. He holds a 7-2-0 record with a 2.32 GAA and .911 SV% in nine appearances this offseason. He will look to even the series and slow down Vegas' current three game winning streak.