Carter Hart in Vegas Crease for Playoff Opener

Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart will be between the pipes in Sunday's Game 1 against the Utah Mammoth, Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. Hart had a very strong finish to the regular season and is also getting the trust for the playoff opener. In April, Hart has won all six starts, […]

Jeremy Swayman Begins Fifth Postseason Campaign

Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman will start Sunday's Game 1 against the Buffalo Sabres, Scott McLaughlin of WEEI reports. The 2026 Olympic champion will begin his fifth postseason campaign in the NHL. Swayman has a 9-10 record in the playoffs with the Bruins, allowing 2.38 goals with a .922 save percentage. He was also very […]

Alex Lyon Available for Game 1

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Alex Lyon (lower body) will dress for Sunday's Game 1 against the Boston Bruins, Amalie Benjamin of NHL.com reports. It was initially believed that Lyon might not be available at the start of the postseason due to a lower-body injury. However, the 33-year-old will be ready to jump into action if needed. […]

Dominic James Activated From Injured Reserve

Tampa Bay Lightning center Dominic James (lower body) has been activated from Injured Reserve, Diandra Loux of The Hockey News reports. The 23-year-old is set to return to action in Sunday's Game 1 against the Montreal Canadiens. James last played on Feb. 28, when he suffered a lower-body injury in a loss to Buffalo. He […]

Stuart Skinner Starting Game 1 Against Flyers

Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Stuart Skinner will guard the crease in Saturday's Game 1 against the Philadelphia Flyers, Michelle Crechiolo of the Penguins' official site reports. Skinner had a 2-1-0 record against the Flyers during the regular season and is looking to make a positive start to his fourth postseason campaign. The 27-year-old has 50 NHL […]

Alexandre Carrier Back at Practice

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexandre Carrier (upper body) practiced on Saturday, Sean Farrell of NHL.com reports. He missed the last nine regular-season games due to an upper-body injury. Montreal ruled Carrier out for 2-4 weeks, and he now appears on the cusp of returning to the action. After being paired with Lane Hutson during Friday's practice […]

Jared McCann Undergoes Lower-Body Procedure

Seattle Kraken forward Jared McCann (lower body) underwent a procedure on Friday to address a nagging injury. He missed the last three regular-season games and battled a lower-body issue throughout the campaign. Despite his ongoing health issues, McCann managed a respectable 40 points (20 goals, 20 assists) in 52 outings. He has been among Seattle's […]

Andrei Kuzmenko Activated From Injured Reserve

Los Angeles Kings winger Andrei Kuzmenko (knee) was activated from Injured Reserve on Saturday,  Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site reports. The Russian forward underwent meniscus surgery in late February, missing 25 games. However, he will be an option to return to the lineup for Sunday's postseason opener against the Colorado Avalanche. Kuzmenko finished […]

William Karlsson Unavailable for Start of First-Round Series

Vegas Golden Knights center William Karlsson (lower body) won't be available for the start of the team's first-round playoff series against the Utah Mammoth, Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. It's also unclear whether Karlsson will play at all against Utah after Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon said the team must have […]

Quinn Hughes Available Saturday

Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes (illness) will be in action on Saturday against the Dallas Stars, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports. Zach Bogosian (lower body) has also been cleared to play, giving Minnesota's defense a boost. Hughes has been dealing with an illness lately and didn't suit up for the Wild's last two regular-season contests. The […]

Miro Heiskanen Cleared for Game 1

Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen (lower body) will play in Game 1 against the Minnesota Wild on Saturday, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports. The Finnish defensive star was unavailable for the last three regular-season games due to a lower-body injury. Heiskanen finished the campaign as the NHL's ninth-highest scoring defenseman, posting 63 points (nine goals, 54 […]

Aaron Gordon Available for Game 1 Against Timberwolves

Denver Nuggets forward/center Aaron Gordon (hamstring) will be available for Game 1 against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday. He is set to return from a two-game absence after the team removed him from the injury report. Denver and Minnesota met four times during the regular season, but Gordon was in the lineup for only two […]

Julius Randle Cleared for Playoffs

Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Julius Randle (hand) isn't listed on the injury report before Saturday's Game 1 against the Denver Nuggets. A hand injury kept Randle sidelined for the last three regular-season games. During the regular season, Randle faced Denver four times and exceeded his averages. Despite being limited to 26.3 percent efficiency from behind […]

Jaxson Hayes Available Saturday Night

Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (foot) will return to action on Saturday against the Houston Rockets. The former Texas Longhorn didn't play in the last four regular-season games due to a foot injury, but the Lakers haven't included him on the injury report ahead of their playoff opener. Hayes finished the regular season strong, […]

Grayson Allen Will Play Against Warriors

Phoenix Suns guard/forward Grayson Allen (hamstring) will be in action on Friday against the Golden State Warriors. The team has listed Allen as available after initially tagging him as questionable. Allen has been dealing with a hamstring injury and sat out two of the last three regular-season games. The 30-year-old will add some offensive oomph […]

Kristaps Porzingis Cleared for Friday's Game

Golden State Warriors forward/center Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) will play on Friday night against the Phoenix Suns. He came away from Wednesday's win over the Clippers with an ankle injury and was initially listed as questionable for Friday's tilt. But the team has upgraded Porzingis' status to available ahead of tip-off. Porzingis had a strong all-around […]

Kevin Durant Iffy for Saturday's Game 1

Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (knee) is considered questionable for Saturday's tilt against the Los Angeles Lakers. The veteran star is bothered by a right knee contusion ahead of his 14th postseason campaign. This doesn't seem like a very serious issue, but if Durant misses the game, guys like Tari Eason and Josh Okogie are […]

Mark Williams Won't Play Friday Night

Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams (foot) has been ruled out for Friday's decisive Play-In Tournament matchup against the Golden State Warriors. After missing two of the last three regular-season games, Williams logged 22 minutes in Tuesday's play-in loss to Portland, but his foot flared up during the contest. Phoenix initially listed Williams as questionable for […]

Anthony Edwards Questionable for Saturday's Action

Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Anthony Edwards (knee) is questionable for Saturday's Game 1 against the Denver Nuggets. Due to a knee issue, Edwards played in only three of the last 14 regular-season games, and it looks like he still hasn't fully recovered. Minnesota would be in serious trouble against the Nuggets if Edwards can't play. Mike […]

Jonathan Isaac Remains Out Friday

Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac (knee) will miss Friday's Play-In Tournament Game against the Charlotte Hornets. The team has downgraded his status from questionable to out. Isaac is struggling to overcome a left knee sprain, having last played on March 12. That said, the Magic can cope just fine with his absence. During the regular […]

Jarrett Allen Removed From Injury Report Ahead of Playoffs

Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (knee) will suit up for Game 1 against the Toronto Raptors on Saturday. Allen returned from a right knee injury late in the regular season, but the team elected to keep him out of the final two games. Evan Mobley (calf), who was rested for the regular-season finale, will also […]

Donovan Mitchell Good to Go for Playoff Opener

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (ankle) has been removed from the injury report ahead of Saturday's Game 1 against the Toronto Raptors. The seven-time All-Star sat out Cleveland's last two regular-season games to manage an ankle injury. Mitchell has built a reputation as an outstanding postseason performer, averaging 28.3 points through 63 career playoff games. […]

Mitchell Robinson Ready for Game 1 Against Hawks

New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (ankle) will be in the lineup on Saturday against the Atlanta Hawks. He didn't play in New York's final two regular-season games to manage an ankle injury. Robinson has done a good job as a backup big man all season, and Atlanta knows firsthand how effective he can be. […]

OG Anunoby Cleared to Play Saturday

New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (ankle) will play in Game 1 against the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday. He hurt his left ankle during the final week of the regular season and sat out Sunday's loss to Charlotte. Fortunately, Anunoby won't have to miss the postseason opener, as the team hasn't included his name on […]

Jalen Brunson Available for Game 1 Saturday

New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson (ankle) will be active on Saturday in Game 1 against the Atlanta Hawks. The star guard has managed an ankle injury late in the season and didn't play in Sunday's loss to the Charlotte Hornets, but the team has removed him from the injury report ahead of the […]

Thomas Bryant Won't Play Saturday

Cleveland Cavaliers center Thomas Bryant (calf) will remain out on Saturday against the Toronto Raptors. He suffered a left calf strain late during the regular season and won't be in the lineup for a fifth consecutive game. Bryant has practiced in a limited capacity this week, so it's possible he can return later in the […]

Immanuel Quickley Questionable for Game 1

Toronto Raptors point guard Immanuel Quickley (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Saturday's playoff opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He exited Toronto's regular-season finale early due to a tight right hamstring. The team considers him day-to-day. If Quickley isn't available on Saturday, Jamal Shead and Ja'Kobe Walter will compete for a starting role. Between the […]

Kristaps Porzingis Expected to Play Friday

Golden State Warriors forward/center Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) is expected to play on Friday against the Phoenix Suns, ESPN's Anthony Slater reports. The Latvian veteran remains questionable on the injury report, but he appears ready to play through right ankle soreness. After struggling late during the regular season, Porzingis opened the Play-In Tournament with a strong […]

Joel Embiid Officially Out for Game 1 Against Celtics

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (abdomen) has been officially ruled out for Sunday's Game 1 against the Boston Celtics, The Athletic's Tony Jones reports. "I'm just worried about Sunday, and I know he's not playing in that one. So I'm just trying to put together a great game plan for Sunday," 76ers head coach Nick […]

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 […]