NHL News
Anthony Cirelli Good To Go Thursday
Tampa Bay Lightning center Anthony Cirelli (undisclosed) will play in Game 2 against the Florida Panthers on Thursday night. Cirelli was hurt in Tuesday's series opener and was labeled a game-time call on Thursday morning. He will continue as the second-line center, working with Brandon Hagel and Jake Guentzel. Cirelli has notched 42 points (17 goals, 25 assists) in 104 career postseason games in the NHL.
1 hour ago
Andrei Vasilevskiy Looks To Bounce Back In Game 2
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy will aim to rebound from a rough start to the postseason in Thursday's Game 2 against the Florida Panthers. The 2019 Vezina Trophy winner was lit up for six goals in Game 1 on Tuesday night, finishing with only 11 saves and a .625 save percentage. Tampa Bay allowed three power-play goals in the contest, and a better performance on the penalty kill by the team would be a welcome sight for Vasilevskiy, who holds a 2-6-1 record against Florida since the beginning of last year's playoffs.
1 hour ago
Rasmus Ristolainen To Miss Training Camp
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen will be sidelined for six months after undergoing successful right triceps tendon surgery on March 26. He is expected to make a full recovery; however, Flyers general manager Daniel Briere announced on Thursday that Ristolainen will not be healthy for next season's training camp. Ristolainen has been significantly limited by the triceps injury in recent years, making only 94 appearances. He missed the final 16 games of this campaign. The 30-year-old finished the season with 19 points (four goals, 15 assists), 100 shots, 94 blocks, 97 hits, and a plus-three rating.
1 hour ago
Jonas Siegenthaler Returns To Practice
New Jersey Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler (lower body) practiced with the team on Thursday for the first time since sustaining a lower-body injury on Feb. 4. New Jersey lost Luke Hughes (upper body) in Game 1 against the Carolina Hurricanes and could use some reinforcement on defense; however, it remains uncertain whether Siegenthaler will join the lineup for Friday's Game 3. Siegenthaler posted nine points (two goals, seven assists), 92 blocks, and 75 hits in 55 regular-season games. He has made 28 career playoff appearances in the NHL, registering one goal and two assists.
1 hour ago
Aliaksei Protas Traveling With Capitals
Washington Capitals forward Aliaksei Protas (foot) has traveled with the team for Games 3 and 4 against the Montreal Canadiens. Protas is expected to return to the lineup in this series and could be an option on Friday night. The two teams will also clash in Montreal on Sunday. Washington lost Protas eight games ago due to a skate cut on his left foot. The team has coped well with his absence, building a 2-0 lead in the matchup, but he would be a valuable addition. Anthony Beauvillier has skated on the first line in Protas' absence during the first two games in the series, recording a goal and two assists with a team-high eight shots.
1 hour ago
Gabriel Vilardi Still Out On Thursday
Winnipeg Jets forward Gabriel Vilardi (upper body) will not play in Game 3 against the St. Louis Blues on Thursday. Vilardi traveled with the team to St. Louis but will be sidelined for a 14th consecutive game. The 25-year-old has been skating in a non-contact jersey this week, a sign that Vilardi is making progress. However, it remains unclear when he will be ready to jump back into the lineup. Winnipeg also remains without Nikolaj Ehlers (foot) on Thursday, increasing the fantasy value of Alex Iafallo and Nino Niederreiter.
2 hours ago
Max Pacioretty Set To Join Maple Leafs Lineup For Game 3
Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Max Pacioretty is expected to enter the lineup on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators. He has sat out the first two games of the series as a healthy scratch. Pacioretty missed the end of the regular season due to an undisclosed injury. The Maple Leafs last had the veteran forward in the lineup on Feb. 8, so Pacioretty will likely have quite a bit of rust on him Thursday night. Pacioretty made 37 regular-season appearances, scoring five goals and 13 points. He is set to take on a third-line role, skating with Max Domi and Bobby McMann.
2 hours ago
Linus Ullmark Attempts To Overcome Playoff Struggles Thursday
Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark allowed nine goals in two games against the Toronto Maple Leafs to open the 2025 postseason and will attempt to perform better as the series shifts to the Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday. He will enter the contest with a lowly .800 save percentage for this year's playoffs. Postseason struggles are not new for Ullmark, as he has allowed four or more goals in six of his 11 starts during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Overall, he has a 3-8-0 record in the playoffs, with a goals-against average of 3.73 and a save percentage of .875. Ullmark must significantly improve for the Senators to make this series competitive.
8 hours ago
Anthony Cirelli A Game-Time Call Thursday
Tampa Bay Lightning center Anthony Cirelli (undisclosed) is considered a game-time call for Thursday's matchup against the Florida Panthers. He suffered an undisclosed injury against the Panthers on Tuesday night and didn't take part in Thursday's morning skate. Nick Paul filled in for Cirelli on the second line, skating next to Jake Guentzel and Brandon Hagel. Mitchell Chaffee, who was a healthy scratch for the series opener, worked on the third line. Losing Cirelli would be a huge blow for the Lightning. He is a strong two-way player who recorded career highs in several categories during the regular season, including goals (27), assists (32), and points (59).
9 hours ago
Logan Thompson Comes Up Big In Game 2
Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson played a crucial role in Wednesday's 3-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery hailed Thompson as the "difference" in the game after he stopped 25 of 26 shots. Thompson's work included several outstanding saves, especially in the third period when the Capitals held a slender 2-1 lead. Thompson joined a select group of netminders on Wednesday night, becoming the fourth goaltender to win his first two playoff games with the Capitals. He has allowed 1.47 goals in the series, boasting a superb .951 save percentage. With Thompson in such good form, the Capitals have a great chance of making a deep postseason run.
9 hours ago
Connor McMichael Strikes Twice In Wednesday's Win
Washington Capitals forward Connor McMichael popped up with two goals as the team snuck past the Montreal Canadiens 3-1 on Wednesday night. McMichael tied the game at one early in the second period and completed his multi-goal effort with an empty-netter in the dying seconds of the third. The 24-year-old scored a career-high 26 goals and 57 points in 82 games during the regular season and is also poised to contribute in the playoffs for the Capitals, who secured a 2-0 series lead on Wednesday night. McMichael's goals represent his first postseason points this year, but he ranks second on the team with seven shots on the net.
9 hours ago
Anze Kopitar Tallies Four Points In Game 2 Victory
Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar scored a power-play goal and sent out three assists in Wednesday's dominant 6-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. He joined Adrian Kempe on four points, with the two becoming the first set of Kings teammates to each record four points in the same postseason game since Wayne Gretzky and Paul Coffey in 1992. This was Kopitar's second career four-point effort in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Only Gretzky (6) has managed more with the Kings. The Kings captain is leading a highly prolific first line, as the team's top trio has combined for an extraordinary 17 points in the first two games against Edmonton. Kopitar has contributed one goal and four assists.
9 hours ago
Adrian Kempe Notches Two Goals, Two Assists In Wednesday's Win
Los Angeles Kings forward Adrian Kempe produced a four-point performance in Wednesday's 6-2 victory against the Edmonton Oilers. He scored two even-strength goals and had a pair of power-play assists. L.A.'s first line went on a rampage, as Anze Kopitar also finished with four points (one goal, three assists). Kempe and Kopitar became the first set of Kings teammates to record four points in the same playoff game since Wayne Gretzky and Paul Coffey in 1992. Dating back to the regular season, Kempe has posted four consecutive multi-point games. There are three goals and four assists on his account through the first two postseason contests.
9 hours ago
Tyler Seguin Gives Stars Series Lead With Overtime Winner
Dallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin was the hero of the night on Wednesday against the Colorado Avalanche, potting the game-winning goal in a 2-1 overtime victory. Dallas was behind for most of the contest, but Jamie Benn knotted things up in the third period, and Seguin recorded his sixth game-winning goal in the playoffs with the Stars. He found the back of the net with his only shot on goal, finishing with an even rating across 14:01 of action. Seguin was also among the goal-scorers in Game 2, so the veteran forward has started to make a big impact in the first-round series.
9 hours ago
Gabriel Landeskog Delivers Six Hits In First Game Since 2022
Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog recorded a game-high six hits during his long-awaited return to action in Wednesday's 2-1 overtime defeat to the Dallas Stars. Playing in his first NHL game in 1,032 days, Landeskog logged 13:16 of ice time. He added one block to his six hits but did not register any offensive stats. "It's a very special night, and from my perspective, regardless of the outcome of the game, I mean, that was a memory of a lifetime for me," Landeskog said postgame. "It was very special." The Avalanche are now 2-1 down in the series and will need everybody, including their captain, to step up their game.
9 hours ago
Pavel Zacha Recovering From Small Procedure
Boston Bruins forward Pavel Zacha (undisclosed) will miss the World Championships after undergoing a non-surgical procedure. Steve Conroy of The Boston Herald reports that Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said it was a "small procedure," so it's safe to assume he will recover in time for next season. Zacha will look to produce a bounce-back campaign in 2025-26 after having a disappointing 47 points (14 goals, 33 assists) in 82 outings this term. The 28-year-old Czechia native has two more seasons remaining on a four-year, $19 million contract.
Yesterday
Nikolaj Ehlers To Miss At Least Two More Games
Winnipeg Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers (foot) will not travel with the team to face the St. Louis Blues in back-to-back road games. The two teams will meet in St. Louis on Thursday and Sunday, with the Jets holding a 2-0 lead in the first-round series. The team has coped well with the loss of Ehlers, but the Jets would definitely be stronger with him in the lineup. Due to Ehlers' absence, Nino Niederreiter has landed a second-line role for the start of the postseason. However, the Swiss veteran has been quiet so far, recording two shots on goal with one hit and zero points in two games.
Yesterday
Miro Heiskanen Still Out On Wednesday
Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen (knee) will miss Wednesday's matchup against the Colorado Avalanche. The star blue-liner is trending in the right direction and was on the ice for the morning skate, but he isn't quite ready to play. "He's getting closer," Stars head coach Pete DeBoer said Wednesday. With Heiskanen still sidelined, the Stars will hope to get another big shift from Thomas Harley. He has recorded two points (one goal, one assist) and six blocks in the first two games of the series, averaging 31:44 of ice time. Heiskanen's next opportunity to return will be on Saturday night in Game 4.
Yesterday
John Klingberg Enters Oilers Lineup For Game 2
Edmonton Oilers defenseman John Klingberg (lower body) will be welcomed back into the lineup on Wednesday in Game 2 against the Los Angeles Kings. The 32-year-old has been on the shelf since March 27 due to a lower-body injury. After signing a one-year deal with the Oilers on Jan. 17, Klingberg made 11 appearances during the regular season, registering four points (one goal, three assists), 19 shots, and 13 blocks. On Wednesday, he will be paired with Jake Walman in defense, while Josh Brown will sit out the action as a healthy scratch.
Yesterday
Evander Kane To Make Season Debut Wednesday Night
Edmonton Oilers left wing Evander Kane (knee) is slated to make his season debut in Wednesday's Game 2 against the Los Angeles Kings. He has been sidelined since Game 2 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals, having undergone several surgeries. Kane is expected to land on the second line next to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman. He will also have a role to play on the power play. In three previous postseason meetings with the Kings, Kane has posted 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) in 18 games.
Yesterday
Anthony Cirelli
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Lightning
