NHL News

Lane Hutson • D • Canadiens

Lane Hutson Contributes Two Assists in Game 5 Victory

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson finished Thursday's 6-3 Game 5 win over the Buffalo Sabres with two assists. In the second period, he provided an even-strength assist on a goal by Josh Anderson and also helped Nick Suzuki score on the power play. Hutson became only the seventh Canadiens blue-liner to record 10 assists in a single postseason. He's the first defenseman in 39 years from the team to record an assist in four straight playoff games. While Hutson does most of his scoring as a playmaker, he has also tallied two goals this postseason. With 12 points in 12 games, he is tied with Nick Suzuki for Montreal's scoring lead.

14 hours ago

Nick Suzuki • C • Canadiens

Nick Suzuki Amasses Three Points in Crucial Victory Thursday

Montreal Canadiens center Nick Suzuki collected three points as the team grabbed a 3-2 series lead with a 6-3 road victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night. Suzuki picked up an early assist on Cole Caufield's first even-strength goal of the postseason, but the Canadiens found themselves 3-2 behind at the first intermission. After the break, they were a completely different team, scoring four unanswered goals. Suzuki made an impact on the power play, netting Montreal's fifth goal of the night and assisting Ivan Demidov on the sixth. With 12 games played, Suzuki shares Montreal's scoring lead in the postseason with Lane Hutson. He has produced four goals and eight assists. Strangely, all of his goals have come on the road.

14 hours ago

Juraj Slafkovsky • LW • Canadiens

Juraj Slafkovsky Dishes Out Three Assists in Game 5 Win

Montreal Canadiens winger Juraj Slafkovsky demonstrated elite playmaking in Game 5 against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, finishing a 6-3 road victory with three assists. He recorded two power-play assists and helped Cole Caufield to finally get his first even-strength goal of the postseason. Having netted a hat trick in Game 1 against Tampa Bay, Slafkovsky became the first Montreal player in 16 years to register two three-point games during a single playoff run. The playoff opener against the Lightning ended up being Slafkovsky's only game with points in Round 1, but he's been much sharper in the second-round matchup with Buffalo, contributing one goal and five assists in five games. Yet Slafkovsky has managed only a single even-strength point throughout the entire postseason.

15 hours ago

Carter Hart • G • Golden Knights

Carter Hart Stops 31 Pucks in Series-Clinching Win

Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart did his part in Thursday's 5-1 series-clinching win over the Anaheim Ducks with 31 saves. He had a great night at the office, but Mikael Granlund beat Hart with a power-play goal in the second period. While Hart has had some dodgy outings this postseason, his overall work has been good. Ahead of the Western Conference Finals against the Colorado Avalanche, Hart holds an 8-4 record, 2.37 goals-against average, and a .917 save percentage. Hart has to be at the top of his game against the Avalanche, who have scored a league-high 4.11 goals per game in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

15 hours ago

Pavel Dorofeyev • LW • Golden Knights

Pavel Dorofeyev Enjoys Second Consecutive Multi-Goal Game

Vegas Golden Knights winger Pavel Dorofeyev maintained his hot goal-scoring form on Thursday night in Game 6 against the Anaheim Ducks, potting two goals in a 5-1 road victory. The Russian forward became the second player in franchise history to record back-to-back multi-goal playoff games and will carry a three-game goal streak into the Western Conference Finals. During the postseason, Dorofeyev has scored a league-high nine goals, notching three of them with the man advantage. Having added two assists in 12 games, he is among four Vegas players with double-digit points in the playoffs.

15 hours ago

Shea Theodore • D • Golden Knights

Shea Theodore Records Two Points in Game 6 Win

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore registered a goal and an assist in Thursday's series-clinching 5-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. With only 1:02 played, Theodore assisted Mitchell Marner on the game's opening goal and later netted a power-play goal late in the first period. On Thursday night, Theodore tied Kris Letang for the most points in potential series-clinching contests among active defensemen. He has totaled 20 points (five goals, 15 assists) in 25 such games. Theodore has been one of the most productive blue-liners in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, amassing nine points (four goals, five assists) in 12 games -- only four defensemen have more.

15 hours ago

Mitchell Marner • RW • Golden Knights

Mitchell Marner Scores Special Goal in Series-Clincher

Vegas Golden Knights forward Mitchell Marner tallied two points as the team moved into the Western Conference Finals with a 5-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday. Just a minute into the game, Marner found himself on a solo breakaway and opened the scoring with a highlight-reel move. He also picked up a short-handed assist during the first period, recording his third multi-point performance in four games. It has been the best postseason campaign in Marner's career, and he has taken over the scoring lead ahead of the Conference Finals. In 12 outings, Marner has totaled 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists).

15 hours ago

Ryan Johnson • D • Sabres

Ryan Johnson Takes Over as Canucks GM, Sedins Promoted to Co-Presidents

The Vancouver Canucks have named Ryan Johnson as their new general manager, ESPN's Ryan S. Clark reports. Additionally, the team named Daniel and Henrik Sedin as co-presidents of hockey operations. Johnson, who has served as an assistant general manager for two years, will replace Patrik Allvin. The Canucks fired Allvin in April after the team had one of the worst seasons in franchise history, finishing with the worst record in the league. During Allvin's four years in charge, Vancouver made the playoffs only once, reaching the second round in 2024. In total, the team has made the postseason just twice since the Sedins retired from playing in 2018. The legendary forwards joined the hockey operations department in 2021. They will replace Jim Rutherford, who is stepping down from his role as president after the draft in June.

Yesterday

Drew Helleson • D • Ducks

Drew Helleson Won't Play Thursday

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Drew Helleson (undisclosed) won't be in the lineup in Game 6 against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday, Derek Lee of The Hockey News reports. He will miss a third straight game due to an undisclosed injury. With Radko Gudas (lower body) also not expected to play, Olen Zellweger and Ian Moore will continue to operate as the third-pairing defensemen. The two have seen offensive success recently. In Game 4, Moore scored a goal with Zellweger picking up an assist, and Zellweger then lit the lamp himself in Game 5. That said, the Ducks face elimination on Thursday and will likely lean more on their top-four group on defense.

Yesterday

Radko Gudas • D • Ducks

Radko Gudas Unlikely to Play Thursday

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas (lower body) is set to remain on the shelf Thursday night in Game 6 against the Vegas Golden Knights, Derek Lee of The Hockey News reports. Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville said Gudas is "not likely" to play. Thursday's contest will mark Gudas' 10th consecutive absence. The team is missing his leadership and physical presence, but at least Olen Zellweger has brought a creative spark as Gudas' replacement on the third defensive pairing. He has notched a goal and an assist in the last two games.

Yesterday

Jeremy Lauzon • D • Golden Knights

Jeremy Lauzon Remains Out Thursday

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Jeremy Lauzon (undisclosed) will remain out on Thursday in Game 6 against the Anaheim Ducks, Jesse Granger of The Athletic reports. Lauzon took a puck to the head in the final game of Vegas' first-round matchup against Utah and hasn't featured in Round 2. Due to his absence, Ben Hutton has played regularly. Unfortunately, he has been a non-factor in fantasy, registering zero points, six SOG, six blocks, and one hit in 14:04 of ice time per game across five appearances.

Yesterday

Mark Stone • RW • Golden Knights

Mark Stone Misses Third Consecutive Game

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone (lower body) won't play in Game 6 against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday, Jesse Granger of The Athletic reports. The Golden Knights captain continues to deal with a lower-body injury, which he sustained in Game 3 of the series. No changes are planned to Vegas' forward lines, meaning Brandon Saad will continue to fill in for Stone. He has notched one assist in two games since entering the lineup. However, Saad has been limited to 9:29 of ice time per game, making him a tough player to trust in DFS.

Yesterday

Quinn Hughes • D • Wild

Quinn Hughes Finishes Postseason With 15 Points

Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes recorded one assist in Wednesday's season-ending 4-3 overtime loss to the Colorado Avalanche. His work helped Marcus Johanson open the scoring just 34 seconds into the game, and Minnesota entered the first intermission with a 3-0 lead. Yet the Avalanche clawed back from the big hole, winning the series in five games. Hughes became the second-fastest American defenseman in history to reach 15 points in a postseason. He finished the playoffs with four goals and 11 assists in 11 games. During the regular season, Hughes tallied 76 points (seven goals, 69 assists) in 74 games, averaging at least a point per game for a third consecutive campaign. He posted 53 points (five goals, 48 assists) in 48 outings after joining the Wild from the Vancouver Canucks in a midseason trade. Hughes proved to be a great fit in Minnesota and could be even more productive next season now that he has fully acclimated to his new surroundings.

Yesterday

Matt Boldy • LW • Wild

Matt Boldy Posts Two Assists in Season-Ending Loss

Minnesota Wild winger Matt Boldy produced two assists in Wednesday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Colorado Avalanche. With Boldy providing the creative spark, Minnesota won the first period 3-0, but the team couldn't survive the elimination game, allowing two goals in the final few minutes of regulation. It was a disappointing end to a big year for Boldy, who set new career highs with 42 goals and 85 points in 76 regular-season games. He added 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in 11 postseason outings. In February, Boldy became the first player in Wild history to record back-to-back four-point games. As a versatile scorer who turned just 25 in April, Boldy is set to be a top fantasy contributor for years to come.

Yesterday

Scott Wedgewood • G • Avalanche

Scott Wedgewood Perfect in Relief Effort

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood finished with a perfect 1.000 save percentage on seven shots on goal in a relief appearance in Game 5 against the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday. The Avalanche started Mackenzie Blackwood for a second consecutive game, but he was pulled after the first period. Minnesota grabbed a 3-0 lead early, but Colorado rallied to clinch the series with a 4-3 overtime victory. Wedgewood also had a couple of poor outings in the second-round matchup, but he is likely to return to the crease for Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. In general, Wedgewood has been sharp in the playoffs, posting a 7-1 record, a 2.21 goals-against average, and a .914 save percentage.

Yesterday

Martin Necas • C • Avalanche

Martin Necas Records Another Multi-Point Game

Colorado Avalanche right wing Martin Necas contributed two assists during the team's 4-3 comeback victory in Game 5 against the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday. He helped Nathan MacKinnon to tie the game at three with only 1:23 left in regulation and set up Brett Kulak for the series-clinching goal 3:52 into overtime. This was Necas' second consecutive two-assist game and his fourth multi-point outing in five games. Colorado's top line was sleepwalking at the start of the playoffs but made a major impact in the second-round series. Necas leads his team with 10 assists this postseason and has added one goal in nine games.

Yesterday

Brett Kulak • D • Avalanche

Brett Kulak Sends Avalanche Into Conference Finals

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Brett Kulak scored the series-clinching goal in overtime during Wednesday's 4-3 victory against the Minnesota Wild. The visitors shocked Colorado with a sharp start, winning the opening period 3-0, but Kulak led the team's comeback effort. He also registered an assist in the contest. Kulak, a midseason pickup from the Pittsburgh Penguins, has been in impressive form during the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. In nine appearances, he has recorded five points (one goal, four assists), eight SOG, 20 blocks, and a plus-three rating. The 32-year-old is set to play in the Conference Finals for a third consecutive year, having previously been part of Edmonton's deep playoff runs.

Yesterday

Brayden McNabb • D • Golden Knights

Brayden McNabb Suspended for One Game

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb has been suspended for one game and will miss Game 6 against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night. McNabb received the suspension for interference against Ducks forward Ryan Poehling (upper body) in Game 5 on Tuesday. Poehling suffered an upper-body injury on the hit and won't play in Game 6. This marks McNabb's first suspension during his 14-year NHL career. Kaedan Korczak is set to draw into the lineup in McNabb's absence. He has been a healthy scratch for the last few games but appeared in all of Vegas' first eight postseason games, logging one assist, three SOG, five blocks, and 18 hits.

Yesterday

Nathan MacKinnon • C • Avalanche

Nathan MacKinnon Chasing History Wednesday

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon has been in dominant form during another postseason campaign and can match a franchise record in Game 5 against the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday. He is two points away from recording his fifth playoff series with 10-plus points. Joe Sakic is currently the only player in Avalanche/Nordiques history to achieve that feat. MacKinnon has scored once in all four games against Minnesota, adding four assists. Overall, he is tied for fifth in scoring this postseason, with 12 points (six goals, six assists) in nine games. 11 of his points have come in the past five games.

2 days ago

Ryan Poehling • C • Ducks

Ryan Poehling Won't Be an Option for Game 6

Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Poehling (upper body) won't play in Game 6 against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday, Zach Cavanagh of The Sporting Tribune reports. The 27-year-old was injured in Game 5 on a big hit by Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb. With four goals, Poehling is tied for second on his team this postseason and has added one assist in 11 outings. Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville is considering using an extra defenseman in Thursday's game, which suggests Radko Gudas (lower body) might finally be ready for his series debut. Among forwards, Jansen Harkins and Frank Vatrano are options to fill in for Poehling.

2 days ago

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