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.
Joe Veleno will draw into Montreal's lineup for Game One against the Buffalo Sabres, sending Gallagher to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 34-year-old Gallagher made his 2025-26 postseason debut in Game Four against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He is averaging 6:25 time-on-ice and has one goal through three games in the playoffs.
Oliver Kapanen will be a healthy scratch in Game Five, allowing Gallagher to draw into the lineup for his postseason debut. The 33-year-old Gallagher averaged 12:21 time-on-ice and scored 23 points (7G / 16A) in 77 games this season. He has 33 points (13G / 20A) in 76 career playoff games.
Merilainen has played well in the AHL as of late and figures to serve as Ottawa's third goalie throughout the postseason. Merilainen has gone 8-8-1 with a 2.77 GAA and .909 SV% in 19 AHL games, bu struggled with Ottawa, posting an 8-10-1 record, 3.51 GAA and .860 SV% in 20 games.
The Canucks will finish the 2025-26 season in last place, but will try to end on a high note, turning to Lankinen to tend the twine against the Edmonton Oilers. The 30-year-old Finnish goalie was solid in his previous outing, saving 31 of 34 shots (.912 SV%) in a 4-3 overtime win over the Los Angeles Kings. He has three wins in his last four games (3-1-0), but has an ugly 3.75 GAA and .884 SV% to go with it. The Canucks enter Thursday's contest as sizeable +270 road underdogs against an Oilers team trying to secure home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
With two games remaining in the regular season and last-place locked up, the Canucks will play for pride on Tuesday, turning to Lankinen to tend the twine against the Los Angeles Kings. The 30-year-old Finnish goalie was solid in his previous outing, saving 28 of 31 shots (.903 SV%) in a 4-3 shootout win over the San Jose Sharks. It has been a frustrating season for Lankinen, but he has recorded consecutive wins for the second time this season, despite posting an ugly 4.32 GAA and .852 SV%. The Canucks enter Tuesday's contest as +134 home underdogs against a Kings team that is 6-0-1 in their last seven games.
With two games remaining in the regular season and last-place locked up, the Canucks will play for pride on Tuesday, turning to Lankinen to tend the twine against the Los Angeles Kings. The 30-year-old Finnish goalie was solid in his previous outing, saving 28 of 31 shots (.903 SV%) in a 4-3 shootout win over the San Jose Sharks. It has been a frustrating season for Lankinen, but he has recorded consecutive wins for the second time this season, despite posting an ugly 4.32 GAA and .852 SV%. The Canucks enter Tuesday's contest as +134 home underdogs against a Kings team that is 6-0-1 in their last seven games.
After not being a healthy scratch for 14 seasons, Brandan Gallagher was held out of Montreal's lineup for the previous four games but will draw back in for Game 82 in Philadelphia on Tuesday. The 33-year-old gritty winger is having a down season offensively, with just six goals, 22 points and 39 PIMs in 76 games played while averaging 12:22 TOI.
Buffalo is two points from securing the Atlantic Division and will turn to Michael Kesselring on Monday over Luke Schenn in the Sabres' lineup. Schenn has been sparsely used since being acquired at the trade deadline from Winnipeg, appearing in only three games and failing to pick up a point while getting nine PIMs in the process.
Lankinen has missed the last four games with an upper-body injury but will start Saturday in San Jose. Lankinen has giving up three-plus goals in five straight games, going 1-3-0 with an ugly .869 SV%. One of those games was against the Sharks, who he'll face again tonight. He played just 5:55 and gave up three goals on six shots in that game.
Kudryavtsev has two goals and 16 assists (18 points) in 42 games with Abbotsford this season. If he plays for the Canucks on Saturday, it will be his season debut and third career NHL game.
With Kevin Lankinen (upper body) sidelined, the Canucks' crease likely belongs to Tolopilo until he returns. Tolopilo was excellent in Vancouver's previous game, saving 27 of 29 shots (.931 SV%), but did not receive enough goal support in a 2-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. The 26-year-old goalie has lost five straight games (0-5-0). The Canucks enter Thursday's contest as sizeable +235 road underdogs against a Los Angeles Kings team that desperately needs a win to stay in contention of a Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.
With Kevin Lankinen (upper body) sidelined, the Canucks' crease likely belongs to Tolopilo until he returns. Tolopilo was excellent in Vancouver's previous game, saving 27 of 29 shots (.931 SV%), but did not receive enough goal support in a 2-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. The 26-year-old goalie has lost five straight games (0-5-0). The Canucks enter Thursday's contest as sizeable +235 road underdogs against a Los Angeles Kings team that desperately needs a win to stay in contention of a Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.
Michael Kesselring will re-enter Buffalo's lineup on Wednesday, sending Schenn to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 36-year-old Schenn has been used sparingly since being acquired by Buffalo at the trade deadline. The 36-year-old defenseman has zero points and seven hits in three games with Buffalo.
Gallagher was a surprise scratch along with Joe Veleno on Tuesday night, with the Habs not announcing their absence prior to warmups. Kirby Dach and Alexandre Texier will draw into the lineup in their place.
With Kevin Lankinen (upper body) sidelined, the Canucks' crease likely belongs to Tolopilo until he returns. The 26-year-old Tolopilo had a poor showing in his most recent outing, allowing six goals on 23 shots (.739 SV%) in a 7-4 loss to the Utah Mammoth. He has lost four straight games (0-4-0), posting a dreadful 5.69 GAA and .819 SV%. The Canucks enter Tuesday's contest as +221 home underdogs against a Vegas Golden Knights team that has outscored its opponents 15-6 in its last three games (3-0-0).
