NHL Hockey Player News

Despite stopping 12 of 13 shots against (.923 SV%) in a tough 1-0 loss in Game 4, Los Angeles will turn back to David Rittich on Wednesday for Game 5 vs. Edmonton. The 31-year-old appeared in his most regular season games played since 2019-20 as he had 22 starts and a 13-6-3 record, 2.15 GAA and .921 SV%. He will look to keep Los Angeles' season alive in Edmonton on Wednesday, who led the NHL in shots on goal per game (33.8) during the regular season

Edmonton only ran an optional morning skate ahead of Game 5 on Wednesday but Skinner is expected to start as the Oilers look to close out the series. The 25-year-old netminder has played well in the Oilers opening series, with his 3-1-0 record, 2.48 GAA, .919 SV% and one shutout. He will look to propel Edmonton to the next round as he hosts the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday, who finished the regular season with the 2nd best penalty kill (84.6%) in the NHL.

Marchment appeared in the first two games of the Stars' opening series but will miss his third straight contest on Wednesday due to an undisclosed injury. The 28-year-old had a goal and three SOG in his short two-game showing to start the playoffs and is considered day-to-day as he hopes to return for Game 6 in Vegas.

Faksa has been out since Game 2 due to an undisclosed injury and will remain out for Game 5 on Wednesday vs. Vegas as he did not participate in warm-cups. The 30-year-old centre had seven goals and 19 points in 74 regular season games but has yet to pick up a point while averaging 9:00 TOI/GP his first two games played of the playoffs.

Oettinger picked up his second straight 32-save victory (.941 SV%) in Game 4 as he evened out the Stars' opening series last time out and will start Game 5 on Wednesday as expected. The 25-year-old had a down season as far as counting stats but has pulled it together in the playoffs and has a decent 2-2-0 record, 2.38 GAA and .907 SV% in four games played. He'll look to pick up the series first home victory and take a lead over Vegas as they host the Golden Knights for Game 5 on Wednesday.

Buteyets was Anaheim's 2022 sixth-round pick (178th overall) and signed a two-year, entry-level contract on Wednesday. The 21-year-old netminder just finished his third season with Chelmet Chelyabinsk (VHL), and had an impressive .913 SV% and 2.57 GAA.

Stenberg was St. Louis' 2023 first-round pick (25th overall) and signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Wednesday. The 18-year-old left-winger just finished his second full season with Frolunda HC (SHL) and had three goals and six points in 31 games played during the 2023-24 season.

Edmonton only ran an optional morning skate ahead of Game 5 on Wednesday but is expected to start as the Oilers look to close out the series. The 25-year-old netminder has played well in the Oilers opening series, with his 3-1-0 record, 2.48 GAA, .919 SV% and one shutout. He will look to propel Edmonton to the next round as he hosts the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday, who finished the regular season with the 2nd best penalty kill (84.6%) in the NHL.

Despite stopping 12 of 13 shots against (.923 SV%) in a tough 1-0 loss in Game 4, Los Angeles will turn back to David Rittich on Wednesday for Game 5 vs. Edmonton. The 31-year-old participated in his most regular season games since 2019-20 as he had 22 starts and a 13-6-3 record, 2.15 GAA and .921 SV% during those games. He will look to keep Los Angeles season alive in Edmonton on Wednesday, who led the NHL in shots on goal per game (33.8) during the regular season.

Brett Pesce (lower-body injury) is out of a walking boot. If everything goes as expected, he should play games in Round 2. He may not be ready for Game 1, but the team is hoping to have him available at some point during the series. In his two playoff games before his injury, he had an assist, one SOG and two PIMs while averaging 14:18 TOI/GP.

DeAngelo left Game 5 in the third period after just 14:51 TOI due to an undisclosed injury but is fine and will be good to go if needed for Round 2. The 28-year-old defenseman appeared in three games after replacing the injured Brett Pesce earlier in the round, but failed to pick up a point to go along with his eight SOG and two PIMs.

It was a good sign on Wednesday as Sam Bennett skated for the fist time since his upper-body injury held him out of the lineup and is a high possibility to return for Game 1 of Florida's second series. Bennett appeared in two games in Florida's opening series, and had a goal, an assist, four SOG and two PIMs.

Bichsel spent half the season with Rogle BK (SHL) after leaving Texas (AHL) earlier in the season but has returned and been reassigned to the Stars on Wednesday. The 19-year-old defensemen is Dallas' 2022 first round pick (18th overall).

In a surprise move, Adin Hill was the first goaltender off the ice at Vegas' morning skate and will get his first start of the playoffs in Game 5 as he replaces Logan Thompson. Hill led the Golden Knights to a Stanley Cup victory in 2022-23, and had a solid 19-12-2 record, 2.71 GAA and .909 SV% in his second year with Vegas. During last year's historical playoff run, he was 11-4-0 with a 2.17 GAA and .932 SV%.

Khazheyev was Carolina's 2023 fifth-round pick (158th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract starting in 2024-25. The 19-year-old Russian netminder enjoyed a strong season with Belye Medvedi Chelyabinsk (MHL), with his .927 SV% and 2.19 GAA in 28 games played.

In a surprise move, Adin Hill was the first goaltender off the ice at Vegas' morning skate and will get his first start of the playoffs in Game 5 as he replaces Logan Thompson. Hill led the Golden Knights to a Stanley Cup victory in 2022-23, and had a solid 19-12-2 record, 2.71 GAA and .909 SV% in his second year with Vegas. During last year's historical playoff run, he was 11-4-0 with a 2.17 GAA and .932 SV%.

Robertsson was St. Louis' 2021 third-round pick (71st overall) and signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Wednesday starting in 2024-25. The 21-year-old just finished a split season between Skelleftea AIK (SHL) and Brynas IF (HA) where he played in 39 games played.

Whitecloud will be a healthy scratch for the first time in the playoffs for Game 5 on Wednesday as he is replaced by Ben Hutton in Vegas' lineup. The 27-year-old has averaged 15:51 TOI/GP in the playoffs thus far, but has yet to pick up a point alongside his two shots on goal.

Kolesar will head to the press box as a healthy scratch for Game 5 on Wednesday as he is replaced by Pavel Dorofeyev. The 27-year-old had failed to pick up a point in his four appearances this post season, with his four SOG, and a -1 plus/minus while averaging just 11:03 TOI/GP.

Hutton will draw into the Golden Knights lineup for the first time in this year's playoffs as he replaces Zach Whitecloud in Vegas' lineup for Game 5 on Wednesday. The 31-year-old appeared in two games during last year's Stanley Cup playoff run. He had two goals, eight assists, 67 SOG, 17 PIMs and a +12 plus/minus through 41 games during the regular season.