NHL News

Jesper Wallstedt • G • Wild

Jesper Wallstedt to Start in Goal for Minnesota on Saturday

Jesper Wallstedt gets the start in goal for the Minnesota Wild on Saturday evening against the Dallas Stars. Wallstedt has been the better of the two Wild goaltenders during the 2025-26 season. In 33 games started, the 23-year-old has a record of 18-9-6. He has four shutouts with a 2.61 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage. Wallstedt allowed two goals or fewer in eight of his final nine starts while posting a .930 save percentage since the trade deadline. The goaltender has a solid .830 high danger save percentage and Dallas scores more high danger goals than anyone in the league.

8 hours ago

Logan Stankoven • C • Hurricanes

Logan Stankoven Presumed Ready for Game 1

Carolina Hurricanes center Logan Stankoven (illness) practiced on Friday. He was situated between his usual linemates, Taylor Hall and Jackson Blake. Walt Ruff noted that nothing appeared out of the ordinary with Stankoven during practice. The 23-year-old was missing from Thursday's practice due to a minor illness. The center moved around the middle six a bit but found a home on the second line during the season. Stankoven is one of Carolina's hottest players going into Round 1 with 11 points in his previous eight contests. This means the second line and power play unit will be 100% for Saturday afternoon against the Ottawa Senators.

14 hours ago

Robert Thomas • C • Blues

Robert Thomas Wraps Up Season With a Hat Trick

St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas skated into the offseason after scoring a hat trick in Thursday's 5-3 road win over the Utah Mammoth. He had two goals in the second period to give St. Louis a 3-2 lead and then added an empty-net goal with less than a minute left in regulation. The 26-year-old celebrated his second career hat trick. Both of his three-goal games came this month. Unfortunately for Thomas, he can't carry this momentum into the playoffs, as the Blues couldn't overcome a horrible start to the season. But Thomas should be full of confidence entering next season, having secured his third consecutive campaign with a scoring pace of at least one point per game. Despite playing in only 64 games, Thomas finished as St. Louis' leader in all the main offensive categories, notching 64 points with 25 goals and 39 assists.

Yesterday

Macklin Celebrini • C • Sharks

Macklin Celebrini Establishes Sharks' New Scoring Record

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini closed out his sophomore year with a three-point performance in Thursday's 6-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets, setting a new franchise record for most points scored in a single season. Celebrini had one goal and two assists in the season finale, finishing the campaign with 115 points (45 goals, 70 assists) in 82 contests. The previous record was established by Joe Thornton in 2006-07, with 114 points. San Jose's young superstar finished the year as the league's fourth-highest scorer. Celebrini has all the tools to become a regular Art Ross Trophy contender, and his name even popped up in MVP talks this season. At just 19 years old, his fantasy stock can only go up.

Yesterday

Scott Wedgewood • G • Avalanche

Scott Wedgewood Keeps Kraken From Scoring Thursday

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood recorded a 22-save shutout in Thursday's regular-season finale against the Seattle Kraken, backstopping the team to a 2-0 victory. The Avalanche did just enough to close out the campaign with a win, while resting some of its key players, such as Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas. Colorado dominated the league during the regular season, finishing with the best record, the most goals scored, and the fewest goals allowed. The latter achievement brought Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood the 2025-26 William M. Jennings Trophy. Including six shootout deciders, the Avalanche netminders gave up only 203 goals during the season. Wedgewood finished the campaign with a 31-6-6 record, a 2.02 goals-against average, a .921 save percentage, and four shutouts.

Yesterday

Nathan MacKinnon • C • Avalanche

Nathan MacKinnon Wins Rocket Richard Trophy With 53 Goals

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (rest) has become the second player in franchise history to lead the NHL in goals. He produced 53 goals in 80 games, winning the Rocket Richard Trophy by a two-goal margin over Montreal's Cole Caufield. Milan Hejduk was previously Colorado's lone Rocket Richard Trophy winner, having netted 50 goals in 2002-03. MacKinnon sat out the Avalanche's regular-season finale on Thursday against Seattle, finishing the campaign with 127 points. He will now start a chase for his second Stanley Cup. While Colorado hasn't had much joy in the playoffs since its triumph in 2022, MacKinnon's performance levels have remained high. He has posted 14 goals and 32 points across 25 games in the last three postseasons.

Yesterday

Connor McDavid • C • Oilers

Connor McDavid Secures Sixth Art Ross Trophy With Four-Assist Performance

Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid sealed his sixth Art Ross Trophy win in style on Thursday night, tallying four assists in a 6-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks. He finished the regular season with 138 points (48 goals, 90 assists) in 82 games, four more than the second-highest scorer, Tampa Bay's Nikita Kucherov. McDavid also beat out Kucherov in the race to finish first in assists. The Oilers captain tied Gordie Howe and Mario Lemieux for the second most Art Ross Trophy wins in NHL history, behind Wayne Gretzky (10). It's been another special season for McDavid, but he definitely won't fully enjoy it if he can't get his hands on the Stanley Cup for the first time. McDavid will begin his eighth career postseason campaign against the Anaheim Ducks on Monday night.

Yesterday

Connor Dewar • C • Penguins

Connor Dewar Ready for Game 1

Pittsburgh Penguins center Connor Dewar (lower body) will rejoin the lineup for Game 1 against the Philadelphia Flyers, Seth Rorabaugh of Tribune-Review Sports reports. After practicing on Thursday, Lizotte announced he's "ready to go" for the playoffs. The 28-year-old sat out the last four regular-season games due to a lower-body injury. Despite being limited to a fourth-line role, Deward managed a career-high 30 points (14 goals, 16 assists) in 78 games this season. He was also among the team leaders with 144 hits. Dewar's physicality could be a big asset for the Penguins in a playoff series against their state rivals. Blake Lizotte (upper body) has also declared himself available for the postseason, meaning Pittsburgh will have its highly effective fourth line back together for the most important part of the campaign.

Yesterday

Nikita Grebenkin • RW • Flyers

Nikita Grebenkin Unavailable at Start of Playoffs

Philadelphia Flyers right wing Nikita Grebenkin (upper body) is not expected to be game-ready at the start of the playoffs, Bill Meltzer of the Flyers' official site reports. The Russian forward sustained an upper-body injury in late March and wasn't in the lineup for the final 13 regular-season contests. He finished his rookie campaign with 14 points (four goals, 10 assists), 32 SOG, and 86 hits in 55 outings. Grebekin's absence has coincided with the emergence of Porter Martone. The sixth pick of last year's draft heads into the postseason with a six-game point streak and is sure to be a popular selection in DFS competitions.

Yesterday

Aleksander Barkov • C • Panthers

Aleksander Barkov Cleared for World Championship

Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (knee) will play for Team Finland in the World Championship, ESPN's Emily Kaplan reports. The Panthers captain missed the entire 2025-26 NHL campaign due to a knee injury, but he was medically cleared to play by team doctors on Wednesday. The World Championship will be played from May 15 to May 31 in Switzerland. Anton Lundell (ribs), who missed Florida's final 14 games, will also suit up for Finland. Lundell's usage will suffer next season with Barkov back in the lineup. Before his knee injury, Barkov was a point-per-game player for five consecutive campaigns. The missed year might affect his productivity in 2026-27.

2 days ago

Pierre-Luc Dubois • C • Capitals

Pierre-Luc Dubois Dealing With Fractured Hand

Washington Capitals forward Pierre-Luc Dubois fractured his hand in Sunday's win over Pittsburgh, Tarik El-Bashir of Monumental Sports reports. He didn't play on Tuesday against Columbus and is expected to need 1-2 months to heal up. The playoff door was shut for Washington, so Dubois will have the entire summer to rehab from the injury. Dubois battled health issues all season and made only 29 appearances. He tallied five goals and 19 points. His production dropped significantly compared with his first season with the Capitals, when Dubois recorded a career-high 66 points (20 goals, 46 assists) in 82 games.

2 days ago

Zach Whitecloud • D • Flames

Zach Whitecloud Ready to Rock Thursday

Calgary Flames defenseman Zach Whitecloud (face) will be in the lineup on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings. He took a puck to the face in Tuesday's loss to Colorado, leaving Whitecloud questionable for the season finale. However, he is ready to play with a full shield against the Kings. Since his midseason move from Vegas, Whitecloud has made 30 appearances with the Flames. He has yet to score for the team but does have eight assists. The 29-year-old has been a great addition to the defense, registering 78 blocks and 48 hits. Whitecloud's ice time has jumped to 22:44 per game in Calgary, and it will be interesting to see what he can do next year during his first full season as a Flame.

2 days ago

Matt Coronato • RW • Flames

Matt Coronato Available Against Kings

Calgary Flames right wing Matt Coronato (undisclosed) will play in Thursday's season finale against the Los Angeles Kings. He was out on Tuesday against Colorado due to an undisclosed injury, but is available for his 80th appearance of the season on Thursday night. Thanks to a late scoring surge, Coronato has posted his second straight 40-point season. He has tallied 44 points (19 goals, 26 assists) in 79 outings. The 23-year-old has finished only three of his last 14 appearances without scoring any points. Facing a Kings team that is tied for the seventh-best defensive record in the league, Coronato and the Flames are in for a difficult night.

2 days ago

Josh Manson • D • Avalanche

Josh Manson Expected to Return for Postseason

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson (upper body) is expected to rejoin the lineup at the start of the postseason, Aarif Deen of Colorado Hockey Now reports. Colorado will wrap up its regular-season schedule on Thursday night against Seattle, and Mason will remain out for a third consecutive game due to an upper-body injury. However, Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar believes the team will be at full strength for Game 1 of the playoffs. Manson had his second 30-point campaign in 2025-26, with five goals and 26 assists in 79 outings. He finishes among the team leaders with a plus-42 rating, 99 blocks, and 174 hits.

2 days ago

Nathan MacKinnon • C • Avalanche

Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas Sit Out Regular-Season Finale

Colorado Avalanche forwards Nathan MacKinnon (rest) and Martin Necas (rest) won't suit up on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken, Aarif Deen of Colorado Hockey Now reports. Colorado has decided to rest its two highest scorers for the regular season finale. Gabriel Landeskog might also join them on the sidelines, while Nazem Kadri (finger) has been ruled out for a fifth straight game. Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar expects everyone to be ready for the start of the playoffs. Artturi Lehkonen, Brock Nelson, and Valeri Nichushkin are expected to form the first line on Thursday night. Meanwhile, the likes of Parker Kelly and Nicolas Roy could also take on more responsibilities.

2 days ago

Connor Bedard • C • Blackhawks

Connor Bedard Has Two Assists in Season Finale

Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard wrapped up his third NHL campaign with a two-assist effort in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the San Jose Sharks. His playmaking ability fueled Chicago's four-goal third period, which turned a 2-1 deficit into a comfortable win for the home team. Bedard joined Denis Savard and Eddie Olczyk as the third Blackhawks player to record a 75-point campaign at age 20 or younger. A midseason shoulder injury kept Bedard sidelined for a significant portion of the campaign, but he still finished as Chicago's top scorer, with 75 points (30 goals, 45 assists) in 69 outings. The top pick of the 2023 draft averaged at least a point per game for the first time in his young career. It should be the first of many, as the 20-year-old has firmly established himself among the NHL's new generation of superstars.

2 days ago

Claude Giroux • RW • Senators

Claude Giroux Sends Out Two Assists in Battle of Ontario Win

Ottawa Senators forward Claude Giroux contributed two assists as the team won this season's final Battle of Ontario 3-1 against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday night. Giroux picked up a power-play assist when Drake Batherson scored in the first period and had his second helper on Dylan Cozens' empty-net goal late in the third. The veteran forward played a key role in this victory, but he will be frustrated not to have reached 50 points for the season. Giroux fell one point short of the plateau, finishing with 14 goals and 35 assists in 82 contests. A late-season six-game scoring drought proved costly for him. The good news for Giroux is that he found his offensive stride in the closing games of the regular season, giving him momentum heading into the playoffs.

2 days ago

Tye Kartye • LW • Rangers

Tye Kartye Registers First Career Three-Point Game

New York Rangers left wing Tye Kartye had his first career three-point game in Wednesday's matchup with the Tampa Bay Lightning, contributing two goals and one assist in a 4-2 road win. He scored the first two goals of the game, striking early in the first and second periods. The 24-year-old finished the campaign with a career-high 22 points (eight goals, 14 assists) in 64 games. 14 of his points, including five goals, came in 24 outings since the Rangers claimed him off waivers in late February. Kartye was a good fit for the Rangers and remains under contract for one more campaign after agreeing to a two-year, $2.5 million deal with the Seattle Kraken last offseason.

2 days ago

Owen Power • D • Sabres

Owen Power Records Two Assists Wednesday

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Owen Power recorded two assists in Wednesday's regular-season ending 4-3 shootout loss against the Dallas Stars. With Rasmus Dahlin (rest) and Mattias Samuelsson (rest) sitting out the game, Power had more responsibilities on the blue line and helped Buffalo score two even-strength goals. Unfortunately for Power, this wasn't enough for him to reach 30 points for a fourth consecutive season. The 2021 first-overall pick ended the campaign with 29 points (eight goals, 21 assists), 120 SOG, 95 blocks, and a plus-nine rating in 81 outings. Power hasn't met his usual standards in 2025-26, but he will enter the playoffs with some momentum, having posted assists in back-to-back games.

2 days ago

Esa Lindell • D • Stars

Esa Lindell Tallies Two Points in Regular-Season Finale

Dallas Stars defenseman Esa Lindell registered one goal and one assist as the team wrapped up the regular season with a 4-3 shootout victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday. Lindell assisted Mavrick Bourque during even-strength play in the first period and potted a power-play goal in the second. This was LIndell's second multi-point effort in four games. With Miro Heiskanen (lower body) absent from the blue line, Lindell has seen increased power-play time late in the season. Heiskanen is iffy for the start of the postseason, so Lindell could continue to have an expanded role for a few more games. He finished the regular season with a career-high-matching 32 points (six goals, 26 assists), 83 shots, 179 blocks, and a team-best plus-30 rating in 82 games.

2 days ago

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