NHL News

Dan Vladar • G • Flyers

Dan Vladar Looks to Return to Winning Ways Thursday

Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar is expected to start Game 3 against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night, Jackie Spiegel of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Vladar wasn't on the ice for an optional morning skate, but he should keep his spot in the crease. After an outstanding first-round series against the Penguins, Vladar has lost back-to-back games in Round 2. However, he has remained sharp, logging a .908 save percentage. Overall, Vladar has recorded a .929 save percentage in the playoffs, allowing 1.89 goals with two shutouts. He's been a rock at the back for the Flyers and will be desperate for more goal support on Thursday.

4 hours ago

Connor Dewar • C • Penguins

Penguins Re-Sign Connor Dewar for Two Years

Pittsburgh Penguins center Connor Dewar signed a two-year, $4.5 million contract extension on Thursday. He was set to become an unrestricted free agent before agreeing to the new deal. Deward had a career year in 2025-26, notching 30 points (14 goals, 16 assists) in 78 games. He led all forwards on the team with 144 hits and a plus-16 rating. In the playoffs, Dewar added two goals in six outings. The 26-year-old also played a key role in Pittsburgh finishing with the sixth-best penalty kill in the league, logging a team-high 209:23 of shorthanded ice time. From a fantasy perspective, Dewar offers little, but he's been a great fit for the Penguins.

4 hours ago

Mikko Rantanen • RW • Stars

Mikko Rantanen Played Through Torn MCL Late in the Season

Dallas Stars winger Mikko Rantanen (knee) played through a torn MCL late in the season, general manager Jim Nill revealed on Thursday. The Finnish superstar suffered the injury during the Olympics in February. After he was hurt, Rantanen missed 15 games for the Stars. He returned for the final 10 regular-season contests and skated in six playoff games. Nill said Rantanen didn't need surgery and won't require it to return to full health for the next campaign. While Rantanen will turn 30 early next season, he should remain a highly productive player for the foreseeable future. In 2025-26, he averaged 1.20 points per game, finishing with 22 goals and 55 assists in 64 outings.

5 hours ago

Rasmus Dahlin • D • Sabres

Rasmus Dahlin Ready to Go Friday

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (undisclosed) looks good to go for Game 2 against the Montreal Canadiens on Friday night, Paul Hamilton of WGR Sports Radio 550 reports. Dahlin was hurt late in Game 1 while blocking a shot, but he said he's not injured. Dahlin's availability is crucial for the Sabres. The 26-year-old has had a great campaign and was named a Norris Trophy finalist on Thursday. During his first career playoff run, Dahlin has registered four points (one goal, three assists), 25 SOG, nine blocks, 10 hits, and a plus-four rating in seven games. He finished the regular season as the NHL's sixth-highest scoring defenseman, posting a career-high 74 points (19 goals, 55 assists) in 77 games.

5 hours ago

Alexander Nikishin • D • Hurricanes

Alexander Nikishin Set to Return Thursday

Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin (concussion) is expected to draw into the lineup for Game 3 against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, Walt Ruff of the Hurricanes' official site reports. Earlier this week, the Russian blue-liner was cleared to return to action after recovering from a concussion. Nikishin worked with Shayne Gostisbehere on the third defensive pairing Thursday morning. His return will end Mike Reilly's run with the team. Reilly posted two assists in two games during Nikishin's absence. Nikishin has been held scoreless this postseason, but he has recorded two SOG, five blocks, and six hits in four games.

5 hours ago

Christian Dvorak • C • Flyers

Christian Dvorak Available Thursday

Philadelphia Flyers center Christian Dvorak (undisclosed) will play in Game 3 against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night, Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports. He's dealing with an undisclosed health issue and didn't practice on Wednesday. But Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet confirmed Thursday morning that Dvorak will remain in the lineup. "He's going to play. He's a warrior," Tocchet said. Dvorak, who has notched three assists in eight postseason appearances, is expected to center the first line, flanked by Tyson Foerster and Travis Konecny. He will also be part of the second power-play unit.

5 hours ago

Owen Tippett • RW • Flyers

Owen Tippett Remains Out Thursday

Philadelphia Flyers winger Owen Tippett (undisclosed) won't play on Thursday in Game 3 against the Carolina Hurricanes, Jordan Hall of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports. Tippett practiced on Wednesday and was on the ice Thursday morning, but he still isn't ready to play due to an undisclosed injury. With Tippett out of the lineup, the Flyers are without their regular-season top goal-scorer. Tippett had 28 goals in 81 games, adding 51 points. While playing hurt, he finished the first-round series against Pittsburgh with one goal and one assist in six games. Philadelphia's frontline has also lost Noah Cates (lower body), putting Alex Bump and Denver Barkey in a position to play more important roles.

5 hours ago

Mark Stone • RW • Golden Knights

Mark Stone Nets Late Power-Play Goal in Losing Effort

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone scored a power-play goal in Game 2 against the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night. His third marker of the playoffs ended up being a late consolation goal in a 3-1 defeat. The Golden Knights captain has also had three assists in eight games this postseason. After starting the 2026 playoffs with a three-game point streak, Stone's offensive production has been inconsistent. Compared with the regular season, his scoring average has fallen from 1.22 points per game to 0.75. The Vegas offense is full of quality, but it still relies on Stone to make a significant impact. If his form doesn't improve, the team could be in trouble against the high-scoring Ducks.

14 hours ago

Leo Carlsson • C • Ducks

Leo Carlsson Pots Game-Winner Wednesday Night

Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson scored the game-winning goal as his team tied the second-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2 with a 3-1 road victory. Carlsson's goal made it 2-0 6:36 into the third period. The Swedish talent became the third Ducks player aged 21 or younger to record multiple game-winning goals in a single playoff campaign. He's averaging more than a point per game in the postseason, with four goals and five assists in eight outings. Yet Carlsson has been on the score sheet in back-to-back games just once this postseason. Greater consistency from him would benefit the team.

15 hours ago

Juraj Slafkovsky • LW • Canadiens

Juraj Slafkovsky Ends Point Drought in Game 1 Loss

Montreal Canadiens winger Juraj Slafkovsky notched an assist in Wednesday's series-opening 4-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. He combined with Ivan Demidov to set up Nick Suzuki for a power-play goal late in the first period. Slafkovsky ended a six-game point drought. In Round 1, he also got things started with a productive outing, scoring a hat trick. But those were Slafkovsky's only points in the series. Eight games into the postseason, Slafkovsky and Cole Caufield still haven't registered any even-strength points, which must be concerning for the Canadiens. Their next opportunity to break the duck will come on Friday.

15 hours ago

Bowen Byram • D • Sabres

Bowen Byram Ties Franchise Record With Fourth Postseason Goal

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram potted a power-play goal in Wednesday's 4-2 Game 1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens, tying the franchise record for most goals scored in a postseason by a defenseman. Byram has found the back of the net four times on 17 SOG, adding two assists in seven outings. He is tied for the fifth-most points among defensemen this postseason. While Rasmus Dahlin has typically been the star man on the Sabres' blue line, it's been the Byram show so far in the playoffs. Bizarrely, he hadn't scored a single goal in his first 28 Stanley Cup Playoffs appearances before erupting for four goals in six games.

15 hours ago

Zach Benson • LW • Sabres

Zach Benson Posts Second Consecutive Multi-Point Game

Buffalo Sabres left wing Zach Benson contributed two assists in Wednesday's 4-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens, registering his second consecutive multi-point game. He became only the fourth player in Sabres history to record consecutive multi-point playoff games at age 20 or younger. Benson assisted Josh Doan at even strength with only a few minutes played in the first period and later helped set up a power-play goal for Ryan McLeod in the same frame. Through seven postseason games, Benson leads his team with 28 penalty minutes and has recorded five points (two goals, three assists).

15 hours ago

Rasmus Dahlin • D • Sabres

Rasmus Dahlin "Seems Fine" After Early Exit on Wednesday

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (undisclosed) looks to have avoided a serious injury in Game 1 against the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday. He didn't play in the final few minutes after blocking a shot. Speaking to reporters after the game, Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said Dahlin "seems fine" but added that he had not yet spoken to the medical staff. Dahlin had a monster year with a career-high 74 points (19 goals, 55 assists) during the regular season and has continued to chip in offensively in the playoffs. He has tallied one goal and three assists in seven games.

15 hours ago

Nils Hoglander • LW • Canucks

Nils Hoglander Will Miss World Championship Due to Injury

Vancouver Canucks left wing Nils Hoglander (undisclosed) won't play for Sweden at the 2026 World Championship, Adam Kierszenblat of The Hockey News reports. He was injured in a pre-competition game last weekend. Detroit's Lucas Raymond has been called up as Hoglander's replacement. The 25-year-old also began the 2025-26 campaign nursing an injury and was limited to 38 appearances, registering two goals and three assists. It was a hugely disappointing season for Hoglander in the first year of a three-year, $9 million contract. Having flirted with a 40-point campaign a couple of years ago, Hoglander could be poised for a strong bounce-back season in 2026-27.

Yesterday

Christian Dvorak • C • Flyers

Christian Dvorak Likely to Play in Game 3 Against Hurricanes

Philadelphia Flyers center Christian Dvorak (undisclosed) is likely to play in Thursday's Game 3 against the Carolina Hurricanes, Adam Kimelman of NHL.com reports. The Flyers practiced without Dvorak on Wednesday, but head coach Rick Tocchet said he will likely play Thursday night. On Wednesday, Tocchet ruled out fellow center Noah Cates (lower-body injury) for the rest of the second-round series, making Dvorak's availability crucial for Philadelphia. In his first season with the Flyers, Dvorak has enjoyed a career year, posting 51 points (18 goals, 33 assists) in 80 regular-season appearances. He has added three assists in eight postseason outings.

Yesterday

Owen Tippett • RW • Flyers

Owen Tippett a Game-Time Decision Thursday

Philadelphia Flyers winger Owen Tippett (undisclosed) will be a game-time call for Thursday's tilt against the Carolina Hurricanes, Adam Kimelman of NHL.com reports. The 27-year-old has yet to play in the series because of a lingering injury that also affected him in the first-round matchup with Pittsburgh. Getting Tippett back would be huge for the Flyers, especially after losing Noah Cates (lower body) for the rest of the series. In the playoffs, Tippett has been limited to two points (one goal, one assist) in six outings, but he was a consistent offensive threat during the regular season. Across 81 outings, Tippett produced a team-high 28 goals and 23 assists.

Yesterday

Noah Cates • C • Flyers

Noah Cates to Miss Rest of Round 2

Philadelphia Flyers center Noah Cates (lower body) will sit out the rest of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs second-round matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes, Adam Kimelman of NHL.com reports. Cates suffered a lower-body injury in Game 2 of the series and was initially deemed day-to-day. The 27-year-old finished the 2025-26 regular season with a career-high 47 points (18 goals, 29 assists) in 82 games and has also played well in the playoffs. In eight outings, Cates has contributed one goal and three assists. With him on the shelf, Philadelphia plans to bring Trevor Zegras back to the center position and also use Denver Barkey more in the middle.

Yesterday

Arber Xhekaj • D • Canadiens

Arber Xhekaj Rejoins Canadiens Lineup Wednesday

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj will re-enter the lineup on Wednesday in Game 1 against the Buffalo Sabres, Shawn P. Roarke of NHL.com reports. Montreal scratched the heavy-hitting blue-liner for Sunday's Game 7 against Tampa Bay, with Noah Dobson making his 2026 postseason debut. Xhekaj played in each of the first six games of the first-round matchup, recording one assist, five SOG, three blocks, 31 hits, and 12 penalty minutes. On Wednesday, he will rejoin Kaiden Guhle on the third defensive pairing, bumping Jayden Struble out of the lineup.

Yesterday

Brendan Gallagher • RW • Canadiens

Brendan Gallagher Scratched on Wednesday

Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher will be a healthy scratch in Game 1 against the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday, Shawn P. Roarke of NHL.com reports. The veteran will return to the press box after also sitting out the first four games of the first-round matchup with Tampa Bay. Gallagher scored in his 2026 postseason debut, but that has remained his only point. In three outings in Round 1, he averaged just 6:25 of ice time. On Wednesday, Gallagher will be replaced in the lineup by Joe Veleno, who will make his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut. Veleno will likely have a similar workload to Gallagher on the fourth line and isn't expected to make an offensive impact. Across 61 regular-season games, Veleno posted only five points (two goals, three assists).

Yesterday

Logan Stanley • D • Sabres

Logan Stanley Returns to Action Wednesday

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Logan Stanley (illness) will return from a one-game absence on Wednesday against the Montreal Canadiens, Shawn P. Roarke of NHL.com reports. Stanley is projected to rejoin Connor Timmins on the third defensive pairing. He didn't play in Game 6 against Boston on Friday. Michael Kesselring filled in for Stanley and will be scratched Wednesday night. In the first round, Stanley didn't score any points in five outings, but he had five SOG, six blocks, six hits, and five penalty minutes.

Yesterday

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