NHL News
Ivan Demidov Has Historic Outing In Game 4
Montreal Canadiens right wing Ivan Demidov recorded two power-play assists in Sunday's 5-2 defeat to the Washington Capitals. Juraj Slafkovsky and Cole Caufield benefited from Demidov's playmaking talents, while Lane Hutson also logged assists on both plays. The 19-year-old Russian became the first teenager in franchise history to register multiple points in a playoff contest, getting on the score sheet for the first time in the postseason. Montreal now faces elimination in the next game, where Demidov may play a significant role again. He has stepped in for Patrik Laine (upper body) on the top power-play unit, and it's unclear whether Laine will be available after sitting out two contests.
1 hour ago
Timo Meier Records Two Points Sunday
New Jersey Devils winger Timo Meier was involved in both of the team's goals in Sunday's 5-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. The Swiss forward registered a goal and an assist in the second period. Meier's efforts helped New Jersey cut a three-goal deficit to one, but the team once again struggled to match Carolina's offense. The Devils have scored only seven goals in the series, while the Hurricanes have lit the lamp 14 times. Meier has contributed to three of those goals. After opening the postseason with a pair of scoreless performances, he has tallied one goal and two assists. New Jersey will need more from him on Tuesday night in Game 5, as the team faces elimination.
1 hour ago
Andrei Svechnikov Nets Hat Trick In Game 4 Win
Carolina Hurricanes winger Andrei Svechnikov recorded his second career postseason hat trick in Sunday's 5-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils. He became the fourth player in franchise history to score in the opening minute of a playoff game and also found the net in the second and third periods. This was a breakout game for Svechnikov, as he had been limited to one goal and two points through the first three games of the series. On Sunday, Svechnikov became one of the most productive postseason performers in franchise history, reaching 41 points (19 goals, 22 assists) in his 55th appearance. Only Eric Staal (45) and Sebastian Aho (75) have tallied more points in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with the Hurricanes/Whalers.
1 hour ago
Leon Draisaitl Caps Off Four-Point Effort With First Postseason Overtime Goal
Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl factored in all four goals when the team beat the Los Angeles Kings 4-3 in overtime on Sunday night. He scored his first career postseason goal on the power play in overtime and finished with three assists. Two of the helpers came in the third period when Edmonton erased a 3-1 deficit. Draisaitl posted his eighth career four-point playoff game, tying Mario Lemieux for the fifth most in NHL history. The Kings have once again struggled to contain Draisaitl, who boasts three goals and nine points through the first four games of the series.
1 hour ago
Connor Hellebuyck Gets Pulled Again
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was pulled for a second consecutive game as the team struggled to keep pace with the St. Louis Blues in Sunday's Game 4. He lasted 42 minutes in the contest, allowing five goals on 18 shots. Eric Comrie closed out the 5-1 loss by saving all six shots he faced. Following a dominant regular season, Hellebuyck began the playoffs with back-to-back wins, but he has registered a poor 0.744 save percentage over the last two games. Winnipeg will hope to see Hellebuyck turn around his form in Game 5 on home ice, where he has been nearly unbeatable this campaign, boasting a 29-3-3 record, including the playoffs.
1 hour ago
Alexandre Carrier Fails To Finish Game 4
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexandre Carrier (undisclosed) was injured during Sunday's 5-2 loss to the Washington Capitals. He did not see any action in the final 13 minutes of play after absorbing a massive hit from Capitals forward Tom Wilson. Carrier also made a brief exit in the opening period. He logged 13:39 of ice time in the game, registering one shot on goal and one hit. Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis provided no update on Carrier after the game. His absence for the remainder of the series would be a significant blow for Montreal, as Carrier is known for his shot-blocking abilities and has also contributed offensively. In four games, he has recorded two points (one goal, one assist), 11 blocks, and seven hits.
1 hour ago
Tyler Tucker Makes Early Exit Sunday
St. Louis Blues defenseman Tyler Tucker (lower body) exited early on Sunday against the Winnipeg Jets and may face an extended absence. Tucker, who logged the game-winning goal in Sunday's 5-1 victory, appeared to have hurt his right leg late in the third period. He needed help to get off the ice. While there were no updates on him after the game, Tucker is likely to miss the remainder of the series, according to Lou Korac of The Hockey News. Tucker entered the lineup for Game 2 and has recorded four shots on goal and 12 hits while averaging 14:23 of ice time in the postseason. Veteran Ryan Suter, who has been a healthy scratch for two games, may have the opportunity to rejoin the action in his absence.
1 hour ago
Frederik Andersen Exits Game 4 With Injury
Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen exited Sunday's Game 4 against the New Jersey Devils with an apparent injury. Pyotr Kochetkov replaced Andersen in the crease during the second period after he was involved in a collision with Devils forward Timo Meier. Andersen saved six of seven shots before exiting. The Hurricanes No. 1 has been in superb form during the postseason, as he entered Sunday's contest with a 1.48 goals-against average and a .943 save percentage. Losing him for an extended stretch would be a blow for the Hurricanes, although Kochetkov has proven himself as a capable performer, posting a 27-16-3 record during the regular season.
15 hours ago
Jake Neighbours Shines On Sunday With Three Points
St. Louis Blues winger Jake Neighbours notched a game-high three points in Sunday's 5-1 win against the Winnipeg Jets. Neighbours tied the game at one near the end of the first period and collected two assists in the contest. The 23-year-old also had three hits in the game, logging 15:43 of action. The Blues offense has finally clicked in the series, and Neighbours has been one of the main men in attack. With four games played, he has tallied one goal and four assists in the matchup. With scoring machine Jordan Kyrou on the same line as him, Neighbours is perfectly set up for further success against the Jets.
15 hours ago
Jordan Binnington Makes 30 Saves In Game 4 Victory
St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington saved 30 of 31 shots in Sunday's 5-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets. The Blues managed to tie the first-round series at two despite falling behind in Sunday's game. Kyle Connor beat Binnington in the first period, but he rebounded well from the setback, finishing with 19 consecutive saves. Binnington allowed six goals in the first two games of the series, but he stifled the Jets offense on home ice, giving up three goals in two contests. The Blues No. 1 now holds a 2.29 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage for the playoffs. With the series shifting back to Winnipeg for Game 5, Binnington must prove that he can also do the business for St. Louis on the road.
15 hours ago
Patrik Laine Not Expected To Play In Game 4
Montreal Canadiens winger Patrik Laine (upper body) is likely to miss a second consecutive game on Sunday against the Washington Capitals. The Finnish forward did not participate in the morning skate as he continues to recover from an upper-body injury. Laine has recorded one assist, six shots, and a minus-two rating over two games in the series. In his absence, Ivan Demidov joined the first power-play unit in Friday's Game 3. Montreal secured a big 6-3 victory on Friday night, but the Russian youngster was quiet and is still seeking his first postseason points. He has recorded one shot on goal and a minus-two rating against Washington, averaging 13:28 of ice time.
15 hours ago
Sam Montembeault Labeled Day-To-Day
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (lower body) is considered day-to-day. After suffering a lower-body injury in Friday's 6-3 victory over the Washington Capitals, he is likely to miss Sunday's Game 4. Montembeault has registered a 2.76 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage in the first-round series. Jakub Dobes is set to take over the crease on Sunday, with Cayden Primeau serving as his backup. Montembeault's injury is a setback for the Canadiens, but Dobes held his own during the regular season with a 7-4-3 record, demonstrating that the team can rely on him. Coming in for Montembeault on Friday, he saved seven of eight shots.
16 hours ago
Aliaksei Protas Considered A Game-Time Decision Sunday
Washington Capitals forward Aliaksei Protas (foot) is considered a game-time decision for Sunday's matchup against the Montreal Canadiens. Protas fully participated in Saturday's practice and could return to action after a nine-game absence. The Capitals have averaged 3.00 goals per game in the playoffs, but Protas could provide an additional boost to the offense. He had a breakout campaign with 30 goals and 66 points in 76 games. Protas is a candidate to join the top six, although the Capitals may reintroduce the 24-year-old into the lineup in a reduced role, especially with Anthony Beauvillier performing well on the first line.
16 hours ago
Logan Thompson A Game-Time Call Sunday
Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson (lower body) is a game-time decision for Sunday's contest against the Montreal Canadiens. The in-form netminder suffered a lower-body injury in Game 3 on Friday but might be available to play on Sunday after participating in the morning skate. Thompson has played a big role in Washington's success in the first-round series, posting a 2.73 goals-against average with a .917 save percentage. If he isn't available on Sunday, the Capitals will turn to Charlie Lindgren, who stopped four of five shots during a relief effort on Friday night.
16 hours ago
William Nylander Posts Two Assists In Losing Effort
Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander finished with two assists as the team suffered a 4-3 overtime loss on Saturday against the Ottawa Senators. Nylander's efforts helped John Tavares and Oliver Ekman-Larsson score, with the latter extending the game with a goal 5:29 before the end of regulation. Ottawa has had a tough time against Nylander throughout the series, as the Swedish star has posted at least one point in all four games, tallying one goal and five assists with 12 shots. He has bagged three of his six points on the power play. Nylander and the Maple Leafs will get their next chance to eliminate the Senators on Tuesday night on home ice.
Yesterday
Jake Sanderson Keeps Senators Alive With Overtime Winner
Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson potted a huge goal in Game 4 against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, scoring a 4-3 winner in overtime to extend the series. The Senators were in danger of being swept in the first round and gave up a late game-tying goal in the third period. However, Sanderson was able to keep his team alive with a strike at the 17:42 mark in overtime. The 22-year-old also notched a power-play assist in the contest, leading all skaters on the team in ice time with 30:05. He finished with three shots, three blocks, one hit, and two penalty minutes. For the series, Sanderson has logged three points (one goal, two assists), nine shots, eight blocks, and four hits in four games.
Yesterday
Mackenzie Blackwood Records First Postseason Shutout
Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 23 shots en route to his first career postseason shutout in Saturday's 4-0 victory over the Dallas Stars. Blackwood had suffered a pair of overtime defeats in the series before putting together a perfect display. Colorado last recorded a shutout in the playoffs in Game 2 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals. Blackwood impressed with the Avalanche during the regular season, going 22-12-3, and has maintained the momentum in the playoffs. After four games in the series, Blackwood boasts a 1.60 goals-against average and a .939 save percentage.
Yesterday
Gabriel Landeskog Scores First Goal In Nearly Three Years
Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog was among the goal-scorers in Saturday's 4-0 victory over the Dallas Stars, lighting the lamp for the first time since Game 3 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals. He netted a one-timer off an assist from Brock Nelson in the second period to put Colorado ahead 3-0 for the night. Landeskog went on to collect an assist in the third period when Samuel Girard scored the final goal of the game. He registered three shots and two hits to complement his two points over 14:37 of action. Landeskog's return from a nearly three-year absence is an incredible story, and he has quickly proven that he can still be an impactful two-way player with two points and eight hits across two games.
Yesterday
Ivan Barbashev Gives Vegas Vital Win
Vegas Golden Knights forward Ivan Barbashev registered two points, including the game-winning goal, in Saturday's 4-3 overtime victory against the Minnesota Wild. Minnesota was looking to grab a 3-1 playoff series lead for the first time in franchise history, but Barbashev had other plans. He picked up an early power-play assist and scored his first career overtime goal in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with 17:26 played in the extra frame. These are Barbashev's first points of the postseason. He has been held in check by the Wild after Barbashev had his second 50-point campaign, notching 23 goals and 28 assists in 70 regular-season games.
Yesterday
Nikita Kucherov Records Three Assists In Game 3 Win
Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov recorded three assists in Saturday's 5-1 victory against the Florida Panthers. The Lightning desperately needed a road win to avoid falling into a 3-0 hole in the series, and one of their leaders stepped up big time in the contest. Kucherov had managed only one point -- a power-play assist -- in the first two games of the matchup. He now holds 11 career postseason games with three or more helpers, ranking third all-time behind Wayne Gretzky (28) and Mark Messier (12). When Kucherov is in form, the Lightning perform well, and the team will hope he can sustain his productivity for the rest of the way.
Yesterday
Ivan Demidov
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Canadiens
