May 26, 2025
Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz (lower body) participated in an optional practice on Monday and could be ready to rejoin the lineup on Tuesday in Game 4 against the Edmonton Oilers. "The biggest thing right now for me is to just worry about what I can do that I can be able to play tomorrow," Hintz said after the session. "You want to play every game, especially in the playoffs. Every game's so important. Sometimes sports are what they are. I'm now trying everything that I can so tomorrow I am able to play." After suffering a lower-body injury in the second game of the series 2, Hintz also attempted to play in Game 3 but didn't feel right during warmups. The Finnish forward has gone scoreless in four of his last five appearances, yet he is tied for the second-most points on the team this postseason, recording five goals and 11 points in 15 contests.
--Taavi PailkSource: Lia Assimakopoulos
May 26, 2025
Edmonton Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm (undisclosed) appears to be on the cusp of returning to the lineup. "I'm feeling great, a lot better than I thought I would at this point," Ekholm said Monday. "I feel really good, that's pretty much what I can say at this point. I think it's imminent, I think it's going to be soon at least and whether it's tomorrow or the next game or whatever it is. I'm happy with my body and happy with how I feel and really excited where the team is at and how they're playing." The veteran rearguard last played on April 11, marking his only appearance over the past two months. Ekholm may join the lineup as Connor Brown's (undisclosed) replacement, skating as a seventh defenseman to lighten his workload after the lengthy injury layoff.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
May 26, 2025
Edmonton Oilers right wing Connor Brown (undisclosed) has been ruled out for Tuesday's Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals against the Dallas Stars. He was injured on Sunday in Game 3 against Dallas, logging only 8:46 of ice time. While operating on the third line, Brown has produced five goals and three assists in 14 postseason appearances. Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner are the main candidates to take over his spot in the lineup for Tuesday night. Both players have endured challenging years and won't be expected to make a significant impact if Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch calls on either of them.
--Taavi PailkSource: Tony Brar
May 26, 2025
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker (undisclosed) will miss a second consecutive contest on Monday against the Florida Panthers. After losing Jalen Chatfield (undisclosed) in the Washington series, the Hurricanes defense took another hit with Walker's injury in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. It's unclear when either player will be ready to return to the lineup. Walker's absence has given Alexander Nikishin a new opportunity to make an impression with the Hurricanes. However, the former KHL standout had a poor outing in Saturday's Game 3 against the Panthers, going minus-four in a 6-2 loss.
--Taavi PailkSource: Walt Ruff
May 26, 2025
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chatfield (undisclosed) will be absent for a fifth consecutive game on Monday against the Florida Panthers. He continues to deal with an undisclosed injury that Chatfield picked up in the previous round against the Washington Capitals. Scott Morrow has been his replacement in the lineup, and the 22-year-old rookie has had a difficult time in the Eastern Conference Finals. He has finished scoreless through his first three career postseason appearances, while registering a minus-five rating. Morrow is expected to remain on the third-defensive pairing and the second power-play unit on Monday.
--Taavi PailkSource: Walt Ruff
May 26, 2025
Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen will be back between the sticks for Monday's Game 4 against the Florida Panthers. After seeing Andersen struggle in the first two games of the Eastern Conference Finals, Carolina decided to go with Pyotr Kochetkov in the crease on Saturday. However, Kochetkov could not make a difference in the matchup, and Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour will return to Andersen, who was very strong in the first two series. The 35-year-old holds a 7-4 record for the postseason and has allowed 2.01 goals with a .907 save percentage and one shutout. Andersen must regain his form on Monday night; otherwise, the Hurricanes' season will likely come to an end.
--Taavi PailkSource: Walt Ruff
May 26, 2025
Florida Panthers left wing A.J. Greer (undisclosed) will miss Monday's Game 4 against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 28-year-old was injured late in Saturday's Game 3 victory. Greer was initially expected to be fine for Monday's matchup, but he will skip at least one game due to an undisclosed injury. As a fourth-line grinder, Greer has recorded three points (two goals, one assist) and 44 hits in 11 postseason outings. In his absence, Nico Sturm will make his eighth appearance in these playoffs. Compared to Greer, Sturm has been much less impactful, going scoreless and averaging under two hits per game.
--Taavi PailkSource: Jameson Olive
May 26, 2025
Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola (upper body) will sit out Monday's contest against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Finnish rearguard suffered an upper-body injury in Saturday's Game 3 against the Hurricanes. While it was initially believed that Mikkola would be available for Monday's game, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice has ruled him out. It's possible he would have played if Florida didn't have a comfortable 3-0 lead in the series. Maurice told reporters on Monday morning that Mikkola would be an option again later in the series. Even though Mikkola only fills a third-pairing role in the Panthers defense, he has made a mark in the Eastern Conference Finals with a three-game point streak. Uvis Balinskis will step in to take his place on Monday, making just his fifth postseason appearance of the year.
--Taavi PailkSource: Jameson Olive
May 26, 2025
Florida Panthers forward Sam Reinhart (lower body) will not be in the lineup for Monday's Game 4 against the Carolina Hurricanes. The skilled scorer will miss his second consecutive game in the Eastern Conference Finals due to a lower-body injury. Jesper Boqvist stepped in for Reinhart on the first line during Game 3 and delivered an extremely impressive performance. The Swedish forward recorded a goal and two assists in a 6-2 victory. Although Boqvist isn't regarded as a top offensive talent, the playmaking ability of Florida's first-line center, Aleksander Barkov, can enhance anyone's game.
--Taavi PailkSource: Jameson Olive
May 26, 2025
Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson scored one goal on five shots in Sunday's 6-1 defeat to the Edmonton Oilers in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals. This was his first goal in nine postseason appearances this year. Since returning from a knee injury, Robertson has added two assists with 15 shots on goal. The star forward has clearly not been at his best in the playoffs, although he has recently shown signs of improvement, with two of his three points coming in the series against Edmonton. However, Dallas needs even bigger contributions from him; otherwise, the team's season will soon be over.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 26, 2025
Edmonton Oilers winger Zach Hyman was a one-man wrecking crew in Sunday's Game 3 against the Dallas Stars, finishing a 6-1 win with two goals, one assist, four shots, one block, 10 hits, and a plus-five rating. Hyman has been off his game all year and headed into Sunday's action with only one point in five games. However, the 32-year-old reminded everyone what he can do when he's in form. His standout performance on Sunday brought Hyman's postseason total to 11 points (five goals, six assists) over 14 games played. He has also averaged an eye-popping 7.8 hits per game during Edmonton's quest to reach the Stanley Cup Finals for a second consecutive year.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 26, 2025
Edmonton Oilers center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins extended his multi-point streak to three games with a trio of assists in Sunday's 6-1 win over the Dallas Stars. He collected two helpers when Evan Bouchard and Connor McDavid scored 36 seconds apart in the first frame and set up Zach Hyman for a goal early in the third. During his multi-point streak, Nugent-Hopkins has notched two goals and five assists. After averaging 0.63 points per game during a down year in the regular season, he has become a point-per-game player in the playoffs. With 14 games played, Nugent-Hopkins sits on five goals and 11 assists.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 26, 2025
Edmonton Oilers left wing Evander Kane played a big part in Sunday's 6-1 win over the Dallas Stars with three assists. The power forward turned into a playmaker, setting up Zach Hyman twice in the third period and helping John Klingberg to gap off the scoring with the man advantage. These are Kane's first points in four games. Although he has been offensively inconsistent throughout the postseason, Kane can be happy with his overall contribution. The 33-year-old has scored four goals and 10 points in 13 games. In Tuesday's Game 4, Kane will hope to land on the score sheet in back-to-back games for only the second time this postseason.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 26, 2025
Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid found the back of the net twice as the team took charge in the Western Conference Finals against the Dallas Stars with a 6-1 win on Sunday. The Oilers captain has experienced some terrible luck in front of the net this postseason, but finally got the bounces on Sunday, lighting the lamp with both of his shots on goal. With the two-goal performance, McDavid claimed the postseason scoring lead. He has 22 points (five goals, 17 assists) through 14 games. His shooting percentage stands at an abysmal 9.4, suggesting that McDavid is likely to significantly increase his goal total moving forward.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 26, 2025
Edmonton Oilers right wing Connor Brown (undisclosed) saw his day at the office come to an early end in Sunday's Game 3 against the Dallas Stars. The 31-year-old left the contest in the second period after absorbing a hit from Stars defenseman Alexander Petrovic. Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch didn't have an update on Brown after the game. Brown has recently missed practices and was considered a game-time call for the Western Conference Finals opener on May 21. However, he hasn't sat out any games so far this season. Brown registered 30 points (13 goals, 17 assists) in 82 regular-season outings and has posted eight points (five goals, three assists) in 14 games during the playoffs. Viktor Arvidsson, who has been a healthy scratch for several games, may get an opportunity to re-enter the lineup if Brown has to skip Tuesday's Game 4.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
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