April 24, 2025
Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog recorded a game-high six hits during his long-awaited return to action in Wednesday's 2-1 overtime defeat to the Dallas Stars. Playing in his first NHL game in 1,032 days, Landeskog logged 13:16 of ice time. He added one block to his six hits but did not register any offensive stats. "It's a very special night, and from my perspective, regardless of the outcome of the game, I mean, that was a memory of a lifetime for me," Landeskog said postgame. "It was very special." The Avalanche are now 2-1 down in the series and will need everybody, including their captain, to step up their game.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 23, 2025
Veteran forward Cal Clutterbuck announced his retirement from the NHL on Wednesday. He spent 16 years in the league, including 11 with the New York Islanders, before sitting out the 2024-25 campaign. Clutterbuck also represented the Minnesota Wild, making his NHL debut with the team in 2007. He is the NHL's all-time hits leader with 4,029 and recorded 293 points (143 goals, 150 assists) with 698 penalty minutes in 1,064 regular-season contests. He made 81 further appearances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, scoring 20 points (12 goals, eight assists).
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
April 23, 2025
Boston Bruins forward Pavel Zacha (undisclosed) will miss the World Championships after undergoing a non-surgical procedure. Steve Conroy of The Boston Herald reports that Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said it was a "small procedure," so it's safe to assume he will recover in time for next season. Zacha will look to produce a bounce-back campaign in 2025-26 after having a disappointing 47 points (14 goals, 33 assists) in 82 outings this term. The 28-year-old Czechia native has two more seasons remaining on a four-year, $19 million contract.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Steve Conroy
April 23, 2025
Winnipeg Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers (foot) will not travel with the team to face the St. Louis Blues in back-to-back road games. The two teams will meet in St. Louis on Thursday and Sunday, with the Jets holding a 2-0 lead in the first-round series. The team has coped well with the loss of Ehlers, but the Jets would definitely be stronger with him in the lineup. Due to Ehlers' absence, Nino Niederreiter has landed a second-line role for the start of the postseason. However, the Swiss veteran has been quiet so far, recording two shots on goal with one hit and zero points in two games.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Connor Hrabchak
April 23, 2025
Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen (knee) will miss Wednesday's matchup against the Colorado Avalanche. The star blue-liner is trending in the right direction and was on the ice for the morning skate, but he isn't quite ready to play. "He's getting closer," Stars head coach Pete DeBoer said Wednesday. With Heiskanen still sidelined, the Stars will hope to get another big shift from Thomas Harley. He has recorded two points (one goal, one assist) and six blocks in the first two games of the series, averaging 31:44 of ice time. Heiskanen's next opportunity to return will be on Saturday night in Game 4.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
April 23, 2025
Edmonton Oilers defenseman John Klingberg (lower body) will be welcomed back into the lineup on Wednesday in Game 2 against the Los Angeles Kings. The 32-year-old has been on the shelf since March 27 due to a lower-body injury. After signing a one-year deal with the Oilers on Jan. 17, Klingberg made 11 appearances during the regular season, registering four points (one goal, three assists), 19 shots, and 13 blocks. On Wednesday, he will be paired with Jake Walman in defense, while Josh Brown will sit out the action as a healthy scratch.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
April 23, 2025
Edmonton Oilers left wing Evander Kane (knee) is slated to make his season debut in Wednesday's Game 2 against the Los Angeles Kings. He has been sidelined since Game 2 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals, having undergone several surgeries. Kane is expected to land on the second line next to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman. He will also have a role to play on the power play. In three previous postseason meetings with the Kings, Kane has posted 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) in 18 games.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
April 23, 2025
Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog (knee) appears ready to make his comeback in Game 3 against the Dallas Stars on Wednesday night. Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said on Wednesday morning that there is a "good chance" Landeskog will play in the contest. The Avalanche captain, who has been out of action since the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals, was activated from Long-Term Injured Reserve ahead of Monday's Game 2. He skated in pregame warmups but did not play. Landeskog is projected to skate on the third line, replacing Miles Wood in the lineup.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Sportsnet
April 23, 2025
Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares led the team with two points as the squad battled out a 3-2 overtime victory against the Ottawa Senators in Tuesday's Game 2. Tavares played a key role as Toronto jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first period, recording a power-play goal and an even-strength assist. However, Ottawa managed to tie the game, forcing it into overtime. Max Domi ended the contest with 3:09 played in the extra frame. Over the first two games of the series, Tavares has been highly effective, posting two goals and two assists. On Tuesday, he became the third Maple Leafs player in the past 35 years to begin a postseason with consecutive multi-point games.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 23, 2025
Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen stopped 25 of 26 shots in Tuesday's 3-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils in Game 2 of the first-round series. Andersen was beaten early on by Jesper Bratt, but he went on to make 21 consecutive saves to help Carolina take a 2-0 lead in the matchup. This was a special win for Andersen, as he became the fifth active goaltender to reach 40 career postseason victories. Carolina's No. 1 had a rough end to the regular season and finished the campaign with a sub-.900 save percentage, but he has been a rock at the back for the team during the playoffs. Andersen has given up only two goals to the Devils with a .960 save percentage.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 23, 2025
Minnesota Wild left wing Kirill Kaprizov notched three points as the team tied its first-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights with a 5-2 road win on Tuesday night. The Russian star finished the contest with two goals and an assist, making him the first player in franchise history with three career multi-goal playoff games. Additionally, he is now the first-ever Wild player with multiple three-point games in the postseason. When healthy, Kaprizov is among the most productive players in the National Hockey League, having already amassed five points (two goals, three assists) in two postseason appearances this year, tying Winnipeg's Mark Scheifele for the scoring lead.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 23, 2025
Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk enjoyed an impressive comeback in Tuesday's Game 1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning, finishing with three points in a 6-2 win. Playing for the Panthers for the first time since Feb. 8, Tkachuk bagged a couple of power-play goals and had an assist with the man advantage. He wrote his name in the history books alongside Nate Schmidt when the two scored within 14 seconds in the second period, marking the fastest two goals in a playoff game in franchise history. Tkachuk now boasts a whopping 49 points (19 goals, 30 assists) in 45 games over the past two postseasons, the fourth-highest total in the league.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 23, 2025
Tampa Bay Lightning center Anthony Cirelli (undisclosed) didn't finish Tuesday's Game 1 against the Florida Panthers. Due to an undisclosed ailment, he left the bench a couple of times during the second period and did not return for the third. He finished with a minus-two rating over 6:21 of ice time. Cirelli was ineffective in the series opener, but he would be a significant loss for Tampa Bay if he had to sit out additional time. Mitchell Chaffee is likely to enter the lineup as Cirelli's replacement, with Nick Paul potentially moving up to the second line.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Gabby Shirley
April 23, 2025
Winnipeg Jets forward Gabriel Vilardi (upper body) might be ready to make his 2025 postseason debut in Thursday's Game 3 against the St. Louis Blues. "Maybe. Maybe see what that color the jersey is tomorrow. Full practice tomorrow," Jets head coach Scott Arniel said after Tuesday's optional practice, regarding whether the forward could be an option for Game 3. Vilardi has been skating in a yellow non-contact jersey and is considered day-to-day. The Jets have taken a 2-0 lead in the first-round series but would receive a significant boost with Vilardi's addition, as he was one of the team's top scorers during the regular season, tallying 61 points (27 goals, 34 assists) in 71 games.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
April 23, 2025
Edmonton Oilers defenseman John Klingberg (lower body) might be back in the lineup for Wednesday's Game 2 against the Los Angeles Kings. "Yes, he definitely can be a player for us coming in Game 2," Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said on Tuesday. "Whether we make that decision tomorrow, but I would say we will see him at some point in the series." Klingberg has sat out 11 games due to a lower-body injury. He was limited to four points (one goal, three assists) in 11 games with the Oilers during the regular season. However, Klingberg has previously found considerable success in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, recording 39 points (eight goals, 31 assists) in 63 career games.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
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