NHL News
Jake Walman Notches an Assist in Game 2 Win
Edmonton Oilers defenseman Jake Walman recorded an even-strength assist in Friday's 3-0 win against the Dallas Stars in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. He had the secondary assist when Connor Brown completed the scoring 16:36 into the second period. This marked only the second assist and the third postseason point for Walman. He enjoyed a career year during the regular season with 40 points (seven goals, 33 assists) in 65 appearances. This included eight points (one goal, seven assists) in 15 games with the Oilers since his move from the San Jose Sharks. However, Walman's productivity on the offensive end has nosedived during the postseason, as he has been limited to a third-pairing role at the back.
5 hours ago
Connor McDavid Logs 20th Postseason Point Friday
Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid collected an assist on a Brett Kulak goal in Friday's 3-0 win over the Dallas Stars, making him the fourth player in NHL history to record 20-plus points in four consecutive postseasons. The Oilers captain joined Sergei Fedorov, Mike Bossy, and Bryan Trottier on the special list. Almost all of his points this postseason have come through assists, as McDavid has been limited to just three goals with 51 attempts on the net. It has been a frustrating time for him in front of the goal, although McDavid has still been highly impactful for the Oilers, sharing the scoring lead in the playoffs with teammate Leon Draisaitl and Dallas forward Mikko Rantanen.
5 hours ago
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Records Second Consecutive Multi-Point Outing
Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins finished Friday's 3-0 win over the Dallas Stars with two points, scoring the game-winning goal on the power play and setting up Connor Brown for his fifth goal of the postseason. After going scoreless in each of the last two games against the Vegas Golden Knights in Round 2, Nugent-Hopkins has bounced back in a big way. He has opened the Conference Finals with back-to-back multi-point efforts, scoring a power-play goal in each contest. His improved scoring rate has made Nugent-Hopkins a point-per-game player for the playoffs, as he now boasts five goals and eight assists through 13 outings.
5 hours ago
Evan Bouchard Registers Two Assists in Friday's Win
Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard had his sixth multi-point performance of the postseason Friday night, delivering a pair of assists in a 3-0 win over the Dallas Stars. He set up Ryan Nugent-Hopkins for a power-play goal, which turned out to be the game-winning tally, and assisted Brett Kulak on his first postseason marker. Additionally, Bouchard recorded three blocks while logging 23:33 of ice time. It has been another prolific playoff campaign for Bouchard, but he has yet to register points in more than two consecutive games. He will try to change that in Sunday's Game 3 against the Stars. Across 13 postseason outings, Bouchard has produced five goals and 15 points while blocking 18 shots.
6 hours ago
Stuart Skinner Records Third Shutout in Four Games
Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner stopped 25 shots to record his third shutout in four starts during Friday's 3-0 victory over the Dallas Stars. The 26-year-old became the ninth goaltender in NHL history to secure a shutout in each of his first three wins in a single postseason. Overall, Skinner now has four playoff shutouts with the Oilers, ranking him second on the franchise's all-time list behind Curtis Joseph (5). It has been a strange postseason campaign for Skinner, who has been very impressive in his three wins but has struggled badly in his four other starts. This has resulted in a 3-4 record for him, while Skinner has logged a 2.90 goals-against average and a .890 save percentage.
6 hours ago
Roope Hintz Injured in Game 2 Against Oilers
Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz (lower body) could not finish Friday's 3-0 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. He was injured in the third period when Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse slashed Hintz during a battle in front of the Edmonton net. The Finnish star, who has tallied 11 points (five goals, six assists) in 15 postseason appearances, left the ice without putting any weight on his left leg. Nurse received a minor penalty for slashing after officials reviewed the incident for a possible major penalty. Wyatt Johnston is likely to move up in the lineup if Hintz can't play in Sunday's Game 3, with Oscar Back set to rejoin the lineup to fill the open spot.
6 hours ago
Sean Walker Questionable for Saturday
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker (undisclosed) may not be available for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Florida Panthers on Saturday. He was injured in Thursday's Game 2, logging under 10 minutes of action. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour described Walker as "a little iffy" for Saturday's game. The 30-year-old has logged 16 blocks and 16 hits in 12 playoff outings this year, contributing one goal and two assists on the offensive end. Jalen Chatfield (undisclosed) is close to a return and might be Walker's replacement in the lineup for Game 3. At the same time, Alexander Nikishin is another option for Brind'Amour, who needs to tighten up the defense after watching his team allow five goals in each of the first two games in the series.
20 hours ago
Seth Jarvis "Fine" for Saturday's Game 3
Carolina Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis (undisclosed) looks to have avoided serious injury and is expected to be in the lineup on Saturday against the Florida Panthers. Jarvis was hurt in Thursday's Game 2 of the series, but Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour told reporters on Friday that he will be "fine" for Saturday's action. This is great news for Carolina, as Jarvis has been the team's top scorer this postseason with 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in as many games. The 23-year-old was riding a five-game point streak before the entire Hurricanes offense was shut down in Thursday's 5-0 defeat.
20 hours ago
Jake Oettinger Looks to Stay Hot Friday
Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger has started back-to-back series with winning efforts and will hope to maintain his recent hot form in Friday's Game 2 against the Edmonton Oilers. In Wednesday's series opener, a 6-3 win for the Stars, Oettinger stopped 24 of 27 pucks to earn his fourth victory in five starts. He wasn't quite at his best but got the job done. In the process, Oettinger extended his home winning streak in the playoffs to seven games. It was only the second time during the streak that he allowed more than two goals. With Oettinger on a roll at the American Airlines Center, Connor McDavid and his gang have to come up with something special on Friday night to tie the series. Oettinger boasts a 9-5 overall record for the postseason and has allowed 2.51 goals with a .917 save percentage.
20 hours ago
Stuart Skinner Starts Game 2 Friday
Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner will make a fifth consecutive start in Friday's Game 2 against the Dallas Stars. The 26-year-old had a rough start in the series, allowing five goals on 27 shots in a 6-3 defeat on Wednesday. Skinner's performances have been inconsistent throughout the postseason, and his play took a downturn after he finished the previous series against the Vegas Golden Knights with two consecutive shutouts. He will take a 2-4 record into Friday's game, while sporting a 3.39 goals-against average and a .872 save percentage. Olivier Rodrigue will continue to serve as the backup goalie, with Calvin Pickard (undisclosed) still on the mend.
21 hours ago
Connor Brown Good to Go Friday
Edmonton Oilers right wing Connor Brown (undisclosed) is expected to be in the lineup Friday night against the Dallas Stars. The veteran forward appears to be a bit banged up at the moment, missing practices and Friday's morning skate. Nevertheless, he will continue to skate on the third line in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. In Game 1, Brown logged 13:48 of ice time, including 2:48 of short-handed action. He blocked two shots in the contest but did not register any other stats. The 31-year-old has gone scoreless in four of the last five games, amassing seven points (four goals, three assists) in 12 playoff appearances overall.
21 hours ago
Sergei Bobrovsky Posts Historic Shutout Thursday
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky shut out the Carolina Hurricanes with 17 saves in Thursday's 5-0 win. He earned his third shutout of the postseason, setting a franchise record for the most in a single playoff campaign. Bobrovsky coughed up 13 goals in the first three games against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Round 2, but he has suddenly appeared like a different player since then. Thursday's contest marked Bobrovsky's sixth consecutive start with two or fewer goals allowed. He has given up only one goal per game during that stretch. With Bobrovsky in top form, the Panthers look unbeatable and are now only two wins away from their third consecutive Stanley Cup Finals. Bobrovsky has a 10-4 record for the postseason with a 2.13 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage.
Yesterday
Aaron Ekblad Logs Two Assists in Game 2 Win
Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad finished Thursday's 5-0 thumping of the Carolina Hurricanes with two assists, three blocks, one hit, and a plus-two rating. His efforts led to an even-strength goal for Sam Bennett late in the second period, and Ekblad collected a power-play assist when Aleksander Barkov wrapped up the scoring in the third. The blue line has made a major contribution on the attacking end for Florida this postseason, with Ekblad being the team's leading scorer among defensemen. He has averaged nearly a point per game through 10 outings, registering three goals and six assists. This marks his best-ever offensive output in the postseason, and Ekblad hasn't forgotten about his defensive responsibilities, blocking 11 shots and delivering 25 hits.
Yesterday
Matthew Tkachuk Ends 10-Game Goal Drought in Thursday's Win
Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk scored the team's second goal in Thursday's 5-0 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes, ending a 10-game goal drought. The star forward began the postseason by netting three goals in three games but hadn't scored since then. Despite his rotten luck in front of the goal, Tkachuk has remained among Florida's top scorers, sitting on 12 points (four goals, eight assists) through 14 games. Seven of his points have come on the power play, and Tkachuk looks set up for further success in the Eastern Conference Finals, as Carolina's penalty kill has suddenly faltered, allowing four power-play goals over the first two games of the series.
Yesterday
Carter Verhaeghe Records Hat Trick of Assists Thursday
Florida Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe recorded three assists in Thursday's 5-0 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Sam Bennett scored two goals from his assists, while Verhaeghe also helped Matthew Tkachuk break a 10-game goal drought. He tied Tkachuk for the most postseason three-point games in franchise history, achieving his fourth such performance. At the same time, Verhaeghe became Florida's all-time leader with three three-assist games in the playoffs. It has been an incredible start to the Conference Finals for Verhaeghe, who already has five points against the Hurricanes. Overall, he has tallied 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in 14 playoff games this year, sharing the team lead in scoring with Eetu Luostarinen and Sam Bennett.
Yesterday
Sam Bennett Leads Panthers to Big Win Thursday
Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett registered two goals and an assist in Thursday's dominant 5-0 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. With just 1:17 played, Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk set up Gustav Forsling for the game's opening goal, and he added two more tallies himself to give Florida a 4-0 lead. Bennett's first goal came on the power play. The three-point outburst made Bennett the fourth player in Panthers history to reach 50 postseason points with the team. He has managed 13 points (nine goals, four assists) in 14 games this year, including four already in the series against Carolina.
Yesterday
Sam Reinhart Injured in Game 2 Against Hurricanes
Florida Panthers forward Sam Reinhart (lower body) made an early exit in Thursday's 5-0 win over the Carolina Hurricanes, logging only 5:37 of ice time. He sustained a lower-body injury from a hip check by Hurricanes forward Sebastian Aho. Panthers head coach Paul Maurice did not have an immediate update on Reinhart after the game. "We'll get him looked at tomorrow," Maurice said. "Saturday, we'll have something for you." Reinhart wasn't missed on Thursday night as Florida grabbed a 2-0 series lead with an easy road win, but his absence will be felt in the long run if he is forced to miss additional time. The 29-year-old led the Panthers with 39 goals and 81 points during the regular season. In the playoffs, he has contributed four goals and seven assists in 14 appearances.
Yesterday
Sabres Gauging Market for Bowen Byram
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram may need to pack his bags for another move this offseason. After acquiring him from the Colorado Avalanche for forward Casey Mittelstadt in March 2024, the Sabres are reportedly seeking takers for the pending restricted free agent. "There's no doubt his name is out there," Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said on the 32 Thoughts podcast. "There's no doubt they're gauging market value on him, and we'll see where this takes us. There is definitely noise around the Byram name and the Buffalo Sabres." Byram, the fourth pick in the 2019 draft, is coming off a two-year, $7.7 million contract. He had a career year in 2024-25 with 38 points (seven goals, 31 assists), 94 shots, 116 blocks, and 75 hits in 82 games. At 23 years old, Byram already has 246 regular-season games under his belt, and his fantasy stock is likely to keep rising, whether he stays in Buffalo or moves on.
Yesterday
Jets Want to Lock Up Nikolaj Ehlers Long-Term
Winnipeg Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers is considered an integral part of the team, and general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff wants to sign him to a new long-term extension. "When we get a chance to talk to him, we'll put our best foot forward with him to try to make our case to be a unique Jet-for-life-type player and we'll see where it all goes there," Cheveldayoff said. Ehlers needs a new deal after completing a seven-year, $42 million contract. He has spent his entire career in Winnipeg, scoring 225 goals and 520 points in 674 regular-season outings. This season, Ehlers tied a career high with 39 assists and amassed 63 points across 69 contests. The 29-year-old is a proven scorer in the league, but he often battles health issues that negatively impact his fantasy value. Ehlers has missed at least nine games in four of the last five seasons.
Yesterday
Frederik Andersen Tries to Bounce Back in Game 2 Against Panthers
Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen is set to make his 11th start of the postseason in Thursday's Game 2 against the Florida Panthers, aiming to improve a 7-3 record. The Danish veteran has had an excellent playoff campaign with the Hurricanes, but faltered in the Eastern Conference Finals opener on Tuesday night. Carolina started the series with a 5-2 loss, as Andersen allowed five goals on 20 shots. Entering the contest, he had given up as many goals over his prior four starts. Despite having a bad day at the office on Tuesday, Andersen still boasts fantastic numbers, with a 1.74 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage. He has yet to lose back-to-back games this postseason and will try to get back on track with a strong effort Thursday.
Yesterday
Jake Walman
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