5 hours agoDallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger will look to post a second consecutive win in Saturday's Game 3 against Colorado. After giving up four goals on 26 shots in the series opener, Oettinger stopped 28 pucks in a 5-3 victory on Thursday, helping the Stars tie the series at one. Dallas' No. 1 has previously won back-to-back starts only once this postseason -- he put together a three-game winning streak in the first round against Vegas. Overall, Oettinger has gone 5-4-0 in the playoffs, allowing 2.24 goals with a .914 save percentage.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
6 hours agoNew York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin has a chance to set a new franchise record with an eighth consecutive postseason win on Saturday against Carolina. He matched Mike Richter with a seventh straight win on Thursday when Shesterkin produced 45 saves in a 3-2 overtime victory. Another win would also help the Rangers tie a league record for the longest postseason-opening winning streak. Shesterkin has played his part in the success with a 2.01 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
6 hours agoDallas Stars defenseman Jani Hakanpaa (lower body) will remain out for Game 3 against Colorado on Saturday. He's yet to feature in the 2024 postseason after also missing the final 13 regular-season games. Miro Heiskanen, who's tied for most postseason points on the team with eight points (three assists, five assists) in nine games, will continue to lead Dallas' blue line. Thomas Harley, Esa Lindell, and Chris Tanev also log heavy minutes at the back for the Stars.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Ryan Boulding
6 hours agoBoston Bruins left wing Danton Heinen (undisclosed) joined the team for a full practice on Saturday and could be ready to return to action on Sunday versus Florida. He has been out for five games with an undisclosed injury. Heinen, who boasts one assist in five games this postseason, worked on a line with Charlie Coyle and Trent Frederic on Saturday and took up a spot on the second power-play unit. Heinen could be Brad Marchand's (upper body) replacement in the lineup. The Bruins captain is iffy for Sunday's contest after getting injured in Friday's Game 3.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Gayle Troiani
6 hours agoBoston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (upper body) is considered day-to-day after getting hurt in Game 3 against Florida on Friday. The Bruins captain was injured by a controversial hit from Panthers forward Sam Bennett, exiting the contest after logging 10:51 of ice time. Marchand, who has totaled 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in as many games this postseason, couldn't practice on Saturday. Game 4 of the series is scheduled for Sunday.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Belle Fraser
6 hours agoNew York Rangers center Filip Chytil (illness) is considered a game-time decision on Saturday against Carolina. Chytil was back from a six-month absence in Game 3 of the series but might have to come out of the lineup again after waking up not feeling well on Saturday. Matt Rempe was scratched to accommodate Chytil on Thursday and will get a chance to jump back into action if Chytil isn't available for Game 4.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Vince Z. Mercogliano
1 day agoBoston Bruins left wing Danton Heinen (undisclosed) remains day-to-day and won't play in Game 3 against the Panthers on Friday. He will miss a fifth consecutive game after suffering an unspecified injury in the first round of the playoffs against Toronto. Heinen collected one assist in five games before getting knocked out of the lineup. Justin Brazeau has taken his spot on the third line, putting in a few impressive performances. He recorded points in back-to-back games before Boston suffered a heavy 6-1 defeat against Florida in Game 2 on Wednesday.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Conor Ryan
1 day agoBoston Bruins defenseman Andrew Peeke (finger) has been declared available for Friday's Game 3 against Florida and is expected to replace Parker Wotherspoon on the third defensive pairing. Peeke returns from a finger injury he suffered in the opening-round battle against the Maple Leafs. The 26-year-old recorded three blocks and four hits with a minus-one rating in the first couple of postseason games before getting hurt. Peeke has yet to score for the Bruins since joining the team from Columbus in March but did post two assists in 15 games during the regular season.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Belle Fraser
1 day agoBoston Bruins forward Jakub Lauko will be re-inserted into the lineup for Friday's Game 3 against Florida. He's back in Jim Montgomery's plans for the first time since Game 2 against Toronto in the first round. Lauko averaged 10:43 of ice time and went scoreless with five shots on goal and an even rating in the first two playoff games before getting scratched. He managed 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in 60 regular-season appearances. The Czech forward is expected to replace Jesper Boqvist on the fourth line on Friday.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Fluto Shinzawa
1 day agoEdmonton Oilers forward Adam Henrique (lower body) could jump back into action on Friday against Vancouver. He's officially considered a game-time decision for the contest. After averaging close to 16 minutes per game on the top line in Round 1, Henrique was unavailable when Edmonton kicked off the second-round series against the Canucks on Wednesday. Mattias Janmark took over his position next to Connor McDavid, while Connor Brown made his postseason debut on the fourth line. Brown could be the odd man out again on Friday if Henrique returns, although a question mark hangs over Leon Draisaitl (undisclosed), and his absence would result in a significant line shake-up.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Brendan Bachelor
1 day agoEdmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (undisclosed) is a game-time call for Friday's Game 2 against Vancouver. He was bothered by cramps in the series opener on Wednesday, missing some time in the second period before returning in the third. Draisaitl didn't skate on Thursday, but it would be a major surprise if he isn't in the lineup Friday night. The German star is enjoying another excellent postseason campaign with 12 points (five goals, seven assists) collected across six appearances. He's had multiple points in five games, notching three goals and five assists on the power play.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Brendan Bachelor
1 day agoFlorida Panthers center Sam Bennett (upper body) is considered a game-time decision for Friday's matchup against Boston. He's on the cusp of returning to the lineup after missing five games. Bennett recorded two points (one goal, one assist) in as many games before suffering an upper-body injury early into the postseason. If he's ready to return in Game 3 on Friday, Bennett is expected to replace either Steve Lorentz or Kyle Okposo in the Panthers lineup. He should resume his duties as the second-line center, with Anton Lundell moving down in the lineup.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Colby Guy
2 days agoColorado Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin remained red-hot in front of goal Thursday night in Game 2 against the Stars, scoring his ninth postseason goal in a 5-3 defeat. He joined Pat LaFontaine as just the second player in league history to score in each of his team's first seven games of a postseason campaign. The Russian forward leads the goal-scoring charts with Edmonton's Zach Hyman, who has scored nine times in six games. Nichushkin's work in these playoffs includes one assist, as he sits among six Avalanche players who have averaged at least a point per game in seven contests. More success appears to be guaranteed for Nichushkin & Co., with Colorado averaging a whopping 5.00 goals per game in the playoffs.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 days agoDallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen had a productive outing with two power-play goals in Thursday's Game 2 victory over Colorado. He had the Stars' first and third goals in a 5-3 win, joining Brian Glynn as the second blue-liner in franchise history with multiple power-play goals in a playoff game. Heiskanen boasts three goals in total and eight points in nine games this postseason. The Finnish rearguard has been a terrific performer in the playoffs throughout his career, as he has collected 53 points (13 goals, 40 assists) in 75 postseason games -- only Cale Makar (77) and Victor Hedman (69) have scored more points among defensemen since Heiskanen made his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut in 2019.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 days agoDallas Stars center Roope Hintz produced his second career four-point postseason game as the team tied the Western Conference semifinals series against Colorado in Game 2 with a 5-3 victory. Hintz finally got things clicking in the offensive zone after posting only one point through his first eight appearances this postseason. He scored Dallas' second goal and had three assists, including two on the power play. Hintz will head into Saturday's Game 3 boasting the third-most three-point efforts in the playoffs among Finnish players. He moved past Sebastian Aho on Thursday with his seventh such game and now trails only Esa Tikkanen (10) and Jari Kurri (28).
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
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