Evander Kane Close To Being Cleared For Action
Source: Sportsnet
Edmonton Oilers left wing Evander Kane (knee) is on the cusp of returning to the lineup. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said that Kane is close to being cleared to return from a knee surgery that sidelined him for the regular season. The Oilers are set to begin their postseason campaign on Monday against the Los Angeles Kings. Kane's return would improve the team in several areas. He was tied for the most goals in the Stanley Cup Playoffs a couple of years back and has recorded 43 points (26 goals, 17 assists) in 76 career postseason appearances.Kyle Connor Caps Off Three-Point Effort With Game-Winner
Source: ESPN
Winnipeg Jets left wing Kyle Connor picked up three points in the team's 5-3 comeback victory in Game 1 against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday night. Connor recorded a power-play assist in the first period and added two more points to his tally in the third, assisting Alex Iafallo and scoring the game-winning goal at the 18:24 mark. It's the latest go-ahead goal in a playoff contest in franchise history. Additionally, Connor tied a franchise record with his fourth career game-winning goal in the postseason. The 28-year-old had a big regular season, scoring a career-high 97 points (41 goals, 56 assists) in 82 games, and Connor seems ready to replicate his form in the playoffs.Nathan MacKinnon Leads Avalanche To Game 1 Victory
Source: ESPN
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon kicked off the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a standout performance, recording three points in a 5-1 road victory against the Dallas Stars. The 2024 MVP scored twice on six shots and delivered one assist. MacKinnon became the ninth-fastest player in Stanley Cup Playoffs history to score 50 career goals. Playing in his 89th career postseason game, he netted a power-play goal late in the second period and scored an empty-netter in the final minutes. There should be plenty more to come in the series from MacKinnon, who averages the sixth-most points per game in NHL postseason history.Max Pacioretty Available For Playoffs
Source: Sportsnet
Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Max Pacioretty (undisclosed) is available for the start of the postseason. The veteran forward has missed 27 games after sustaining an undisclosed injury. Pacioretty finished the regular season with 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in 37 contests. He has notched 50 points (25 goals, 25 assists) over 75 career postseason games. Although Pacioretty is available for selection, the Maple Leafs are not expected to use him in Game 1 against the Ottawa Senators on Sunday. David Kampf and Ryan Reaves are also set to be healthy scratches for the postseason opener.Jake McCabe Available For Sunday's Game 1
Source: Sportsnet
Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe (upper body) is poised to re-enter the lineup for Game 1 against the Ottawa Senators on Sunday. Due to an upper-body injury, McCabe could not play in the final seven regular-season games. McCabe has enjoyed a highly effective campaign in 2024-25, recording 23 points (two goals, 21 assists) in 66 appearances, along with 135 blocks, 118 hits, and a plus-23 rating. In Saturday's practice, McCabe partnered with Chris Tanev on the second defensive pairing. The Maple Leafs defense may also see Oliver Ekman-Larsson (upper body) return on Sunday. The Swedish blue-liner was present in Saturday's practice after sitting out four games at the end of the regular season.Oliver Bjorkstrand Will Not Play In Round 1
Source: ESPN
Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Oliver Bjorkstrand (lower body) has been ruled out for the team's first-round playoff series against the Florida Panthers. Bjorkstrand sustained a lower-body injury on April 11 and is considered week-to-week. While splitting the season between Tampa Bay and the Seattle Kraken, Bjorkstrand posted 46 points (21 goals, 25 assists) in 79 appearances. Conor Geekie has enjoyed a productive spell as Bjorkstrand's replacement in the lineup, scoring twice in three games. He looks set to remain on the third line for Tuesday's postseason opener against the Panthers.Matthew Tkachuk Logs Full Practice Saturday
Source: NHL.com
Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk (groin) fully participated in Saturday's practice. This marked Tkachuk's first practice with the Panthers since he suffered a groin injury during the 4 Nations Face-Off. The Panthers star seems to be on track to return to the lineup for Game 1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. During the regular season, Tkachuk played in only 52 contests, yet he finished as Florida's third-highest scorer with 57 points (22 goals, 35 assists). On Saturday, Tkachuk practiced on the second line alongside Sam Bennett and Mackie Samoskevich, while Brad Marchand dropped to the third line.Jonathan Drouin Available For Game 1
Source: Aarif Deen
Colorado Avalanche winger Jonathan Drouin (lower body) will be available for Saturday's Game 1 against the Dallas Stars. The Avalanche finished the regular season without Drouin, as he missed six games due to a lower-body injury. Drouin has struggled to stay in the lineup throughout the season, making only 43 appearances. He registered 11 goals and 37 points during the regular season. Drouin is set to join Brock Nelson and Valeri Nichushkin on the second line for Saturday's game and is likely to be utilized on the first power-play unit.Miro Heiskanen Upgraded To Day-To-Day
Source: ESPN
Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen (knee) has been upgraded to day-to-day as the team gets ready to open its playoff campaign against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday. Heiskanen skated on Saturday morning but wore a non-contact jersey and has been ruled out for Game 1 of the series. However, he is making progress and appears to be on track to return to the lineup soon. Next, Stars head coach Pete DeBoer wants to see the Finnish blue-liner participate in a full-contact practice session. Heiskanen underwent knee surgery in February, finishing the regular season with 25 points (five goals, 20 assists) and 85 blocks in 50 games.Gabriel Vilardi Out On Saturday
Source: Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg Jets forward Gabriel Vilardi (upper body) will not be available for Saturday's Game 1 against the St. Louis Blues. The 25-year-old sat out the final 11 regular-season games with an upper-body injury and still needs more time to recover. Vilardi was Winnipeg's third-highest goal-scorer during the regular season, finding the back of the net 27 times in 71 games and adding 34 assists. The Jets are also without Nikolaj Ehlers (foot) for the start of the playoffs, which adds fantasy value to Alex Iafallo and Nino Niederreiter.Ryan Lindgren Set To Return Saturday
Source: Meghan Angley
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Ryan Lindgren (upper body) is expected to be in the lineup for Saturday's postseason opener against the Dallas Stars. He was unavailable for the final three games of the regular season due to an upper-body injury. Manson registered three points (two goals, one assist), 26 blocks, and 21 hits in 18 appearances with the Avalanche. Combined with his time with the New York Rangers, he had 19 points (two goals, 17 assists) with 102 blocks and 59 hits in 54 outings. Lindgren is set to operate on the third defensive pairing alongside Erik Johnson.Josh Manson Available For Game 1
Source: Meghan Angley
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson (upper body) was activated from Injured Reserve on Friday and is expected to re-enter the lineup for Saturday's Game 1 against the Dallas Stars. Manson sat out the final 15 regular-season games due to an upper-body injury. He has been dealing with health issues all year, skating in only 48 games. The 33-year-old logged 15 points (one goal, 14 assists), 59 blocks, and 105 hits during the regular season. Manson's offensive arsenal is lacking; however, he has proven himself to be an effective postseason performer, helping the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 2022.Ondrej Palat To Return For Start Of Playoffs
Source: Amanda Stein
New Jersey Devils left wing Ondrej Palat (undisclosed) will rejoin the lineup for Sunday's Game 1 against the Carolina Hurricanes. The two-time Stanley Cup winner suffered an undisclosed injury during the final week of the regular season and did not play on Wednesday against the Detroit Red Wings. However, he has been cleared to return for the postseason and practiced on the fourth line on Friday. Palat completed the 2024-25 regular season with 28 points (15 goals, 13 assists) in 77 games. He is tied for 12th place in postseason points among active players with 101. David Savard Will Retire After Playoffs
Source: NHL.com
Montreal Canadiens defenseman David Savard announced on Friday that he will end his NHL career following the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Savard helped Montreal reach the postseason for the first time since 2021 and will wrap up his career after skating in 870 regular-season contests. He registered 242 points (54 goals, 188 assists), 1,624 blocks, and 1,474 hits during his time in the league. The 34-year-old has made 57 postseason appearances, including five in the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals against the Canadiens with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Savard is in the final season of a four-year, $14 million contract.Robert Thomas Good To Go Saturday
Source: Elliotte Friedman
St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas (lower body) practiced on Friday and will be in the lineup for Saturday's playoff opener against the Winnipeg Jets. Thomas' status for the game was initially uncertain after he sustained a lower-body injury in Tuesday's regular-season finale against the Utah Hockey Club. Thomas will head into the playoffs in red-hot form, having capped off the regular season with a 12-game point streak. He tied his career high with 60 assists and registered 81 points in 70 games during the campaign. The 25-year-old will continue to play a major role in the Blues offense in the playoffs as a member of the first line and the top power-play unit.