NHL Hockey Player News

Abruzzese was a fourth-round pick, 124th overall, of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, and has not yet been able to make the leap to the NHL level. The 26-year-old forward has played exclusively in the AHL since the 2022-23 season. He scored 51 points (15G / 36A) in 2025-26 in 56 games with the Syracuse Crunch (AHL).

Groshev was drafted in the third round, 85th overall, by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 24-year-old forward has spent most of the previous three seasons in the AHL, but made his NHL debut this season, recording one assist in two games with Tampa Bay.

It's unclear if Veleno is out with an undisclosed injury or is simply a healthy scratch. Veleno has zero goals and one assist in six games this post-season. Oliver Kapanen will draw into the lineup in his place.

Kapanen played in the opening four games of the playoffs but has not appeared since, serving as a healthy scratch in each of the last nine games. The 22-year-old Kapanen played in all 82 regular season games, tallying 22 goals and 15 assists. Joe Veleno will sit in his place.

Despite a shaky performance in Game 6, the Canadiens will unsurprisingly roll with Dobes between the pipes for Monday's series-deciding game against the Sabres. Dobes will be looking for a repeat performance of his masterclass in Game 7 of the first round, when he stopped 28 of the 29 shots he faced and carried the Habs to a 2-1 victory over the Lightning. The Canadiens are the slightest of underdogs heading into Game 7, entering action at -105 on the money line.

After being pulled in favour of Alex Lyon in Game 5, UPL was thrust back into action in Game 6 when the Sabres suffered an early 3-1 deficit. Luukkonen performed spectacularly with Buffalo's season on the line, stopping all 18 shots he faced in relief as the Sabres fought back and ultimately forced Game 7 with an 8-3 victory. The odds on the money line for Game 7 are nearly dead even, but the Sabres do enter action as the slight favourites at -115.

Gustavsson was Minnesota's goalie-of-record during the 2025-26 regular season, starting 49 games, but dressed primarily as Jesper Wallstedt's backup during the team's postseason run. With Gustavsson undergoing offseason hip surgery, Jesper Wallstedt could be poised to make another push to be Minnesota's starting goalie to start the 2026-27 season. The 27-year-old Gustavsson will be entering the first year of a five-year contract extension worth $38 million ($6.8 million AAV).

Dobes allowed three goals on 36 shots in the Canadiens' 6-3 win in Buffalo in Game 5. The win moved Dobes to 3-2-0 with a 2.65 GAA and .901 SV% in the series and 7-5-0 with a 2.28 GAA and .914 SV% in the postseason. Montreal have a chance to punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday, a game in which they are -170 home favourites.

Lyon allowed one goal on three shots after replacing Ukko-Pekke Lukkonen in the crease in Game 5. Lyon was excellent vs. the Bruins in Round 1, but hasn't found the same success vs. Montreal. Through four games, he is 1-2-0 with a 3.79 GAA and .872 SV%. Lyon and the Sabres enter the must-win game as +150 road underdogs.

Lyon allowed one goal on three shots after replacing Ukko-Pekke Lukkonen in the crease in Game 5. Lyon was excellent vs. the Bruins in Round 1, but hasn't found the same success vs. Montreal. Through four games, he is 1-2-0 with a 3.79 GAA and .872 SV%. Lyon and the Sabres enter the must-win game as +150 road underdogs.

Power was nicked up in Game 5 and head coach Lindy Ruff said that he was receiving treatment on Friday for the undisclosed injury. On Saturday he said that Power is a "possibility" to play in the must-win Game 6 in Montreal. Power has picked up five assists in 11 playoff games so far.

Hart has started every game of the post-season for the Golden Knights, and that will be the case again on Thursday when Vegas hopes to eliminate the Ducks in six games. Hart was excellent in Game 5, turning away 32 of the 34 shots he faced in the 3-2 overtime victory. The Golden Knights enter action in Game 6 at nearly even odds at -115 on the money line.

Luukkonen made his return to the crease in Game Four against the Montreal Canadiens after serving as Buffalo's backup for three weeks, and didn't miss a beat, saving 29 of 31 shots (.935 SV%) in a 3-2 win to help his team even the series at 2-2. Sabres' Head Coach Lindy Ruff has already set the trend of rolling with the hot goalie this postseason, and will continue that on Thursday, with Luukkonen set to tend the twine in Game Five. The Sabres enter the action as -117 home favourites.

The Canadiens will of course roll with Dobes between the pipes for a pivotal Game 5 matchup in their second-round series against the Sabres. Montreal fans' favourite netminder allowed three goals on 22 shots in Game 4, as the Habs suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat. Dobes and the Canadiens enter Game 5 as the slightest of favourites at -105 on the money line.

Dostal has been mostly reliable this postseason, but the Ducks will need him at his best as they face elimination for the first time in Game Six against the Vegas Golden Knights. The 25-year-old Czech goalie played well in Game Five, saving 29 of 32 shots (.906 SV%), but lost 3-2 in overtime. He has a 2.75 GAA and .885 SV% this round in five games (2-3) against the Golden Knights. The Ducks enter a must-win Game Six as slight +100 home underdogs.

Kantserov was a second-round pick of the Blackhawks in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, but he has yet to play a professional game in North America. The 21-year-old forward spent the past few seasons in the KHL, where he led the league in 2025-26 with 36 goals in 63 games.