NHL News

Evgeni Malkin • C • Penguins

Evgeni Malkin Inks New One-Year Deal With Penguins

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin will remain with the team for one more year. The veteran star was headed for unrestricted free agency before agreeing to a one-year, $5.5 million deal with Pittsburgh. According to TSN's Chris Johnston, Malkin's new contract includes several bonuses, including $1 million if the Penguins make the playoffs. The deal has a maximum value of $9 million. Malkin is coming off a contract with a $6.1 million cap hit. In 2025-26, Malkin averaged at least a point per game for the first time in three seasons. He finished with 19 goals and 42 assists in 56 games. Unfortunately, health issues meant Malkin struggled to stay in the lineup, but he proved he's still a difference-maker on offense near age 40.

May 26

Mackenzie Blackwood • G • Avalanche

Mackenzie Blackwood in Net for Game 4 Against Golden Knights

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood will start Game 4 against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night, ESPN's Emily Kaplan reports. Scott Wedgewood has struggled against Vegas, recording a .877 save percentage, prompting Colorado to make a change in goal with elimination looming. Blackwood has seen action in three playoff games, posting a 1-0 record, a 3.20 goals-against average, and a .872 save percentage. He lost his lone start 3-2 in overtime against Vegas during the regular season, finishing with a .897 save percentage after facing 29 SOG.

May 26

Valeri Nichushkin • RW • Avalanche

Valeri Nichushkin a Game-Time Call Tuesday

Colorado Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin (lower body) is a game-time decision against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday, ESPN's Emily Kaplan reports. The Russian forward sustained a lower-body injury in Game 3 and did not participate in Tuesday's optional morning skate. Nathan MacKinnon (lower body) also sat out the morning skate but is expected to play. Having Nichushkin available would be a further boost for the Avalanche, who face elimination on Tuesday night. He has one goal in three games in the series, though Nichushkin has been quiet for much of the postseason. In 12 outings, he has recorded four points (two goals, two assists). Joel Kiviranta will likely enter the lineup if Nichushkin is ultimately ruled out.

May 26

Nathan MacKinnon • C • Avalanche

Nathan MacKinnon Will Suit Up Tuesday

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (lower body) will play in Game 4 against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday, ESPN's Emily Kaplan reports. After suffering a lower-body injury, MacKinnon was used sparingly in the third period of Game 3, and it was initially unclear whether he would be available for Game 4. According to Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar, the star forward felt much better on Tuesday morning and is expected to play in all situations. MacKinnon leads the Avalanche with seven goals and 15 points in 12 postseason games. He has gone scoreless only once in his last nine appearances.

May 26

Ivan Demidov • RW • Canadiens

Ivan Demidov Contributes an Assist in Losing Effort

Montreal Canadiens right wing Ivan Demidov finished Monday's 3-2 overtime loss in Game 3 against the Carolina Hurricanes with an assist. He helped Mike Matheson score Montreal's first goal of the game. Demidov registered his second point of the series after being among the goal-scorers in Montreal's big 6-2 Game 1 victory. Throughout the playoffs, Demidov has primarily made an impact on the power play, but each of his last two points has come at even strength. He has nine points (three goals, six assists) in 17 games. One more point would tie the young Russian for the fifth-most playoff points by a rookie in franchise history. Demidov will have at least two games to reach that mark, starting with Game 4 on Wednesday.

May 26

Lane Hutson • D • Canadiens

Lane Hutson Records Power-Play Goal in Game 3 Loss

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson returned to the score sheet in Game 3 against the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday, scoring a power-play goal in a 3-2 overtime defeat. Hutson's goal sent the game into overtime, where Montreal suffered a second consecutive loss. It was a painful ending for the team, but the Canadiens will take some joy in knowing Hutson collected his first point of the series. He's played a key role throughout the postseason, recording 15 points (three goals, 12 assists) in 17 games. However, two-thirds of Hutson's points (10) have come on the power play, and Montreal is facing a team with a 93.5% penalty-kill rate in the Eastern Conference Finals, making it tougher for him to generate offense.

May 26

Frederik Andersen • G • Hurricanes

Frederik Andersen Enjoys Another Easy Night at the Office in Game 3

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen faced only 13 shots on goal as the team defeated the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 in overtime on Monday. After being lit up in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Andersen has come back strongly with back-to-back 3-2 overtime wins. He's been getting a lot of help from the team, as Carolina has limited Montreal to 25 shots on goal over the last two games. On Monday night, the Canadiens didn't record a single SOG over the final 24 minutes of action. The Hurricanes' suffocating defense is making Andersen's job a piece of cake. He's now 10-1 in the playoffs, with a 1.56 goals-against average, a .923 save percentage, and two shutouts.

May 26

Shayne Gostisbehere • D • Hurricanes

Shayne Gostisbehere Scores First Postseason Goal

Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere celebrated his first goal of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Monday, giving his team a 1-0 lead en route to a 3-2 overtime victory against the Montreal Canadiens. While Gostisbehere was nearly a point-per-game player during the regular season, his offensive production has been lacking in the playoffs. He's managed only three points (one goal, two assists) in 11 outings. Gostisbehere has been held pointless nine times. A few other key performers have also struggled to make an impact in the postseason, yet the Hurricanes still find themselves only two wins away from the Stanley Cup Finals.

May 26

Taylor Hall • LW • Hurricanes

Taylor Hall Ends Four-Game Goal Drought

Carolina Hurricanes left wing Taylor Hall picked up his first point in the Eastern Conference Finals on Monday, scoring the team's second goal in a 3-2 overtime victory against the Montreal Canadiens. Hall has been Carolina's leading scorer in the playoffs, but the Canadiens had done a good job defensively against him prior to Game 3. Before ending a four-game goal drought and registering seven SOG, Hall had managed only two attempts on the net in the series. The former MVP is enjoying the best postseason of his career, having tallied 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in 11 contests.

May 26

Andrei Svechnikov • RW • Hurricanes

Andrei Svechnikov Scores Game 3 Winner in Overtime

Carolina Hurricanes winger Andrei Svechnikov scored the winning goal in Monday's 3-2 overtime victory in Game 3 against the Montreal Canadiens. Carolina blew two leads in the contest but eventually secured a win, giving the team a 2-1 series lead. This was only the second goal of the postseason for Svechnikov, who produced a career-high 31 goals and 70 points in 79 regular-season games. In 11 playoff outings, he has been limited to five points. Svechnikov has a lot more scoring potential, and it could be only a matter of time before he finds the same level of consistency on the offensive end that he showed during the regular season.

May 26

Valeri Nichushkin • RW • Avalanche

Nathan MacKinnon, Valeri Nichushkin Uncertain for Game 4

Colorado Avalanche forwards Nathan MacKinnon (lower body) and Valeri Nichushkin (lower body) are uncertain for Tuesday's Game 4 against the Vegas Golden Knights, Derek Van Diest of NHL.com reports. Both players suffered lower-body injuries in Game 3. "I don't have any updates," Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said on Monday. "Those guys are getting treatments, they're getting evaluated. It could be tomorrow morning before we know, it could be game time before we know, so we'll just plan for all scenarios." Losing MacKinnon from the lineup would be particularly bad for Colorado. He leads the team with seven goals and 15 points in 12 postseason games. MacKinnon ranks sixth all-time in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a scoring average of 1.31 points per game.

May 25

Oliver Kapanen • C • Canadiens

Oliver Kapanen Sitting as Healthy Scratch Monday

Montreal Canadiens forward Oliver Kapanen will be a healthy scratch for Game 3 against the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday night. During the regular season, Kapanen finished third among rookies with 22 goals and had 37 points in 82 contests. But the 22-year-old has failed to replicate that form in the playoffs, going scoreless in all seven appearances. Kapanen will be replaced in the lineup by Joe Veleno, who has been a healthy scratch in each of the last three games. Veleno has one assist in six postseason outings. He will add more muscle to the lineup and provide a strong option at the faceoff dot -- Veleno has won 63.6% of his draws in the playoffs.

May 25

Max Domi • C • Maple Leafs

Max Domi Out Indefinitely Due to Offseason Surgery Complications

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Max Domi (undisclosed) is out indefinitely due to complications from offseason surgery, ESPN's Kristen Shilton reports. Domi played through an undisclosed ailment this season, missing only two games, but the surgery complications leave his status for the start of 2026-27 uncertain. The team will re-evaluate him ahead of training camp in the fall. This season, Domi had a mediocre campaign, recording 12 goals and 36 points. He finished with a career-worst minus-29 rating. Domi is halfway through a four-year, $15 million contract.

May 25

Devon Toews • D • Avalanche

Devon Toews Logs Two Assists In Game 3 Defeat

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews was the team's only skater to finish Sunday's 5-3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights with multiple points. He recorded two assists, including a short-handed helper, as the Avalanche jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first period. Shockingly, they couldn't hold the lead and now face elimination in Game 4 on Tuesday. With Cale Makar back in action, Toews' workload on the blue line decreased, but he still logged over 23 minutes of ice time. With 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in 12 games, Toews has been among the league's most productive defensemen in the 2026 playoffs. He has also racked up 15 blocks while generating 15 SOG.

May 25

Brett Howden • C • Golden Knights

Brett Howden Nets 10th Postseason Goal

Vegas Golden Knights forward Brett Howden wrapped up Sunday's 5-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche with an empty-net goal, giving him 10 goals for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Howden joined teammate Pavel Dorofeyev at the top of the postseason goal-scoring charts. He has lit the lamp in three of the last four contests and hasn't gone without a goal in two consecutive outings since failing to score in the first three postseason games. Howden's productive playoff run has included two assists in 15 games. The 28-year-old has looked very sharp and, even with Mark Stone back, continued to hold a top-six role in Sunday's game, which is positive for his fantasy outlook.

May 25

Mitch Marner • RW • Golden Knights

Mitchell Marner Delivers Two Assists in Comeback Victory

Vegas Golden Knights forward Mitchell Marner recorded two assists as the team turned a 3-0 deficit into a 5-3 win in Game 3 against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday night. Vegas fell into a three-goal hole in the first period, but Marner's playmaking helped the team make it a one-goal game after only four minutes in the second frame. They added three more goals to grab a 3-0 series lead. The Golden Knights are on the cusp of returning to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 2023, and Marner has had a huge role in their postseason success. He boasts 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists) in 15 games, making him only the sixth active player to reach 20 career playoff points with one franchise in 15 or fewer games.

May 25

Mark Stone • RW • Golden Knights

Mark Stone Returns With Multi-Point Effort

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone made a big impact in his return to the lineup on Sunday, contributing a goal and an assist in a 5-3 comeback victory over the Colorado Avalanche. The Golden Knights gave up three first-period goals, but Stone's power-play marker sparked their comeback 19 seconds into the second frame. He then had an assist midway through the third period, setting up Tomas Hertl's game-winning goal. Stone, who now has nine points (four goals, five assists) in 10 postseason games, continued his trend of recording goals on the power play and assists at even strength. With him back in the lineup, Vegas is looking very strong up front, with world-class scoring talent on three lines.

May 25

Valeri Nichushkin • RW • Avalanche

Valeri Nichushkin Exits Early Sunday

Colorado Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin (undisclosed) didn't finish Sunday's 5-3 Game 3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette reports. The Russian forward didn't play in the final 22 minutes of the contest. It was a tough night all around for the Avalanche, as they blew a 3-0 lead and also saw Nathan MacKinnon (lower body) get hurt. Nichushkin has been quiet in the postseason, recording four points (two goals, two assists) in 12 games. With both Nichushkin and MacKinnon ailing, Colorado's offense could see a major shake-up for Game 4 on Tuesday night.

May 25

Nathan MacKinnon • C • Avalanche

Nathan MacKinnon Hurt in Game 3 Loss

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (lower body) was injured in Sunday's Game 3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, ESPN's Greg Wyshynski reports. He took only four shifts in the third period after the puck hit his left leg with 7:54 remaining in the second frame. Initially, MacKinnon didn't come out for the third period, and there was no intensity in his skating when he was on the ice. Colorado's frontline also lost Valeri Nichushkin (undisclosed) on Sunday night, putting the team in a very difficult position. Brock Nelson and Nazem Kadri will have larger roles if MacKinnon isn't available for Game 4 on Tuesday.

May 25

Taylor Hall • LW • Hurricanes

Taylor Hall Enjoying Life in Carolina

Carolina Hurricanes left wing Taylor Hall has been a driving force for the team in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, having formed a strong partnership with Jackson Blake and Logan Stankoven. "I feel at home here," Hall said. "Over the course of the season, I felt like my game grew. Just getting on a line with 'Stank' and 'Blakey' and getting the opportunity was a lot of fun. We play well together. Usually, we have the puck a lot; we're creating turnovers and we're skating up and down the ice using pressure to create offense and that suits my game, along with just the group of guys here and Rod (Brind'Amour) as a coach." Hall has scored a team-high 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in 10 postseason games. However, the Montreal Canadiens have found a way to slow him down, with Hall still searching for his first point in the Eastern Conference Finals.

May 24

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