NHL Hockey Player News

Pieniniemi was a third-round pick of the Penguins in 2023, and he spent the 2025-26 season splitting time between the AHL and ECHL. He spent most of the year with the Wheeling Nailers (ECHL), where he had 11 points (6G / 5A) in 26 games.

Okuliar was an undrafted free agent who has played one season in North America (2024-25) since signing with the Florida Panthers in April 2024. He spent the 2025-26 season in the Swedish Hockey League with Skellefteå AIK, recording 29 points (15 goals, 14 assists) in 46 regular-season games. He also finished second on the team in playoff scoring with 13 points (6 goals, 7 assists), helping Skellefteå AIK capture its fifth Le Mat Trophy as SHL champions in club history.

Frederik Andersen was near-perfect in the opening three rounds of the postseason, but has struggled in the Stanley Cup Finals, leading to Brandon Bussi relieving him in Game Three for his first postseason appearance in an eventual 5-4 overtime loss. The 27-year-old went on to make his first postseason start in Game Four, helping his team even the series at 2-2 with a 5-3 victory. Bussi has saved 36 of 40 shots (.900 SV%) in his two appearances and will likely return to the crease in a pivotal Game Five. The Hurricanes enter Thursday's contest as -151 home favourites against the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Golden Knights will unsurprisingly stick with Hart between the pipes for a pivotal Game 5 matchup in Carolina on Thursday. Hart turned in a fourth-straight performance with a sub .900 SV% in Game 4, allowing four goals on 27 shots in the 5-3 defeat. Hart and the Golden Knights head into Game 5 as slight underdogs, entering action at +125 on the money line.

Frederik Andersen was near-perfect in the opening three rounds of the postseason, but has struggled in the Stanley Cup Finals, leading to Brandon Bussi relieving him in Game Three for his first postseason appearance in an eventual 5-4 overtime loss. The 27-year-old went on to make his first postseason start in Game Four, helping his team even the series at 2-2 with a 5-3 victory. Bussi has saved 36 of 40 shots (.900 SV%) in his two appearances and will likely return to the crease in a pivotal Game Five. The Hurricanes enter Thursday's contest as -151 home favourites against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Kochetkov will dress for the first time in these Stanley Cup Playoffs as Frederik Andersen is listed as a scratch. Kochetkov himself missed most of the regular season due to injury, appearing in just nine games.

Andersen was relieved in Game 3 at the start of the third period in favour of Brandon Bussi. It appeared to be due to the 4-0 deficit the Canes faced at the time, though it now appears it could have been related to an undisclosed injury. Bussi will start Game 4 and Pyotr Kochetkov will serve as his backup.

Hart hasn't performed at an elite level through the opening three games of the Stanley Cup Finals, but he's done enough to backstop Vegas to a 2-1 series lead. He and the Golden Knights remarkably still managed to secure a 5-4 overtime victory in Game 3 despite blowing a four-goal lead in the third period. Vegas enters action in Game 4 at -110 on the money line.

Bussi will make his first start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Monday after relieving Frederik Andersen at the start of the third period in Game 3. Bussi stopped the first 18 shots he faced in that game before a bad-bounce in the second period of overtime resulted in a game-winning goal for Shea Theodore and the Golden Knights. The Hurricanes enter action in Game 4 at -110 on the money line.

McNabb missed most of Game 2 after taking a slap shot off the face, but logged a massive 35:47 TOI in Game 3. McNabb missed Monday's practice but head coach John Tortorella said he expects the bruising defenseman to remain in the lineup for Game 4 on Tuesday. McNabb has been great for Vegas throughout the postseason, and comes into Game 4 with 33 blocked shots (7th most in the playoffs) and 34 hits (35th) to go along with nine points (1G / 8A) in 18 games.

Hanifin left Game 3 in the second period after a hit from Jordan Martinook but eventually returned early in the third period. He missed practice on Monday but head coach John Tortorella said he expects Hanifin to play in Game 4 on Tuesday. Through 19 playoff games, Hanifin has picked up seven assists, 23 SOG, 19 hits and 40 blocked shots.

McCarron was acquired by Minnesota from the Nashville Predators ahead of the 2025-26 trade deadline and immediately made an impact with his new team. The 31-year-old forward recorded 40 hits and five points (3G / 2A) in 20 regular-season games with Minnesota, but his presence in the postseason, playing tough defensive minutes and scoring four points (2G / 2A) in 11 games, likely contributed most to his six-year contract extension worth $3.3 million AAV.

Mcnabb could not finish Game 2 due to a scary upper-body injury but is warming up and expected to play Game 3 vs. Carolina. The 35-year-old is expected to wear a cage and return to his spot on Vegas' top defensive unit. In 17 playoff games this offseason, he has a goal, seven points and is a +10 plus/minus.

Despite splitting starts all regular season with Brandon Bussi, Frederik Andersen will make his 16th straight postseason appearance in Carolina's crease for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final Saturday. The 36-year-old Danish goalie has been sensational all offseason despite struggling in the first two games of this series vs/ Vegas, posting a 13-2-0 record, 1.72 GAA and .917 SV%. He will hope to propel Carolina to a 2-1 series lead on the road Saturday as the Hurricanes heads to Vegas for a primetime matchup.