April 17, 2025
Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson (rest) will miss Thursday's finale against the Kings, ending his 100 percent appearance record in 2024-25. The year was a mixed bag for Andersson, as he matched his career high with 11 goals but finished with 31 points, his lowest total in four seasons. He is also set to finish with one of the league's worst plus/minus ratings, having gone minus-38 over 81 games. The Flames defense will also miss Jake Bean (rest) and Joel Hanley (rest) on Thursday, allowing Zayne Parekh and Hunter Brzustewicz to get their first taste of NHL action.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Pat Steinberg
April 17, 2025
Calgary Flames forward Jonathan Huberdeau (rest) is expected to miss Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Kings. The Flames have nothing left to play for, and some players, including Huberdeau, will be held out of the lineup for rest purposes. Following a couple of disappointing 50-point campaigns, Huberdeau improved in 2024-25, finishing the year with 62 points (28 goals, 34 assists) in 81 games. However, he still needs to do much more to justify his eight-year, $84 million contract, the largest in franchise history. With Huberdeau out on Thursday, Aydar Suniev is set to make his NHL debut on the first line.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Pat Steinberg
April 17, 2025
New York Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock (undisclosed) will not play in the team's regular-season finale against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday. This means Pulock ends his 2024-25 campaign with 23 points (five goals, 18 assists), 97 shots, 155 blocks, and 100 hits in 74 games. The season has been tough for the team, and Pulock was mediocre all year. Adam Pelech (undisclosed) also won't play against the Blue Jackets, and Alexander Romanov (illness) may remain out, meaning we will see more of Scott Perunovich and Scott Mayfield. Mike Reilly and Adam Boqvist are filling the gaps in the lineup.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Andrew Gross
April 17, 2025
Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson (rest) will re-enter the lineup on Thursday as the team wraps up its regular season schedule with a home game against the Carolina Hurricanes. Sanderson missed his second game of the season on Tuesday against the Chicago Blackhawks when he was rested. 2024-25 has been a breakout campaign for Sanderson, who has tallied 55 points (11 goals, 44 assists) in 79 outings. With Thomas Chabot (rest) and Artem Zub (rest) leaving the lineup on Thursday, Sanderson should have plenty to do against Carolina alongside Nick Jensen (rest), who is returning from a two-game absence.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Bruce Garrioch
April 17, 2025
Ottawa Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot (rest) will not play on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 28-year-old will get some time off to rest ahead of the postseason. Chabot will step out of the lineup while riding high on an impressive six-game point streak, during which he has collected three goals and seven assists. For the season, Chabot has notched 45 points (nine goals, 36 assists) in 80 contests. Artem Zub (rest) will also sit out Thursday's game, while Jake Sanderson (rest) and Nick Jensen (rest) will return to the fold.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Julian McKenzie
April 17, 2025
Ottawa Senators forward Claude Giroux (rest) will rejoin the lineup for Thursday's regular-season finale against the Carolina Hurricanes. Ottawa rested Giroux for Tuesday's matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks. This marked his first absence of the year. Giroux has had a decent 50-point campaign, recording 15 goals and 35 assists in 80 outings. He will return to the top line on Thursday, joining Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle, and is projected to work on the second power-play unit. 18 of Giroux's points this season have come with the man advantage.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Bruce Garrioch
April 17, 2025
Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk (upper body) will end an eight-game absence on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Senators captain aims to get some rhythm before the postseason starts, promising to "play 100 percent." Tkachuk leads Ottawa with 29 goals and 227 hits, while being tied for third with 55 points in 71 games. The Senators plan to have all their big guns out for the regular-season finale, meaning Tkachuk will skate alongside Tim Stutzle and Claude Giroux on the first line and will be the net-front presence on the first power-play unit.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
April 17, 2025
Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty (ankle) is not expected to play in the team's regular-season finale against the Calgary Flames on Thursday night. The veteran rearguard is managing an ankle injury and has skated in only one of the last five games. On Tuesday against the Seattle Kraken, Mikey Anderson (rest) joined Doughty on the sidelines. This gave Caleb Jones and Kyle Burroughs a chance to hop into the lineup. Jones was returned to the minors on Thursday, as Joel Edmundson (upper body) is expected to return from a five-game absence against the Flames.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Mayor's Manor
April 17, 2025
Los Angeles Kings forward Quinton Byfield (upper body) is considered a game-time decision for Thursday's clash against the Calgary Flames. The 22-year-old was injured on Monday against the Edmonton Oilers and was unavailable for Tuesday's matchup with the Seattle Kraken. On Monday, Byfield scored in his fourth consecutive game. He has a career-high 23 goals in 80 appearances this season, adding 31 assists. If he returns, Byfield may see increased usage in Thursday's game due to the absences of Adrian Kempe (rest) and Phillip Danault (rest).
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Zach Dooley
April 17, 2025
Los Angeles Kings forward Adrian Kempe (rest) will not be in the lineup on Thursday against the Calgary Flames. L.A.'s top scorer will be rested for the regular-season finale. Kempe has had a big year, with 35 goals and 73 points in 81 appearances, and he will also bring a lot of momentum into the postseason. The Swedish forward has posted six goals and 15 points over the past nine games. Phillip Danault and Trevor Moore are also expected to be rested for Thursday's contest, giving more fantasy value to players like Trevor Lewis and Alex Turcotte.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Mayor's Manor
April 17, 2025
Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar (rest) is expected to rejoin the lineup for Thursday's regular-season finale against the Calgary Flames. The Kings rested Kopitar on Tuesday against the Seattle Kraken. Several other players are scheduled to rest on Thursday, including Adrian Kempe, so Kopitar will have at least one new linemate for Thursday's contest. The Slovenian star leads the Kings with 46 assists and has tallied 67 points in 80 appearances. He has been on a scoring tear recently, notching two goals and three assists over his last three appearances.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Mayor's Manor
April 17, 2025
Florida Panthers right wing Jesse Puljujarvi has received a two-game suspension for an illegal check to the head of Tampa Bay Lightning forward Mitchell Chaffee. The incident occurred in the third period during Tuesday's 5-1 loss to the Lightning. Florida has since assigned Puljujarvi to the AHL, meaning he will not begin serving the suspension until he rejoins the Panthers. If Florida recalls Puljujarvi before the start of the team's first-round playoff series against Tampa Bay, he would be eligible to return to the lineup for Game 3. Puljujarvi split the 2024-25 regular season between the Panthers and Pittsburgh Penguins, recording 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 31 games.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 17, 2025
Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid tallied a helper during Wednesday's regular season finale to reach the 100-point mark for the fifth-straight campaign. He would tally the primary assist on Ty Emberson's eventual game-winning goal. Even though McDavid only appeared in 67 games this season, the superstar was able to hit the century mark. This is the eighth time in his career that McDavid has tallied at least 100 points in a single season. He recently missed time due to a lower-body injury but has tallied 10 helpers over his last four games, which suggests he is fully healthy entering the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Through 67 games this season, McDavid has scored 26 goals and added 74 assists. He will look to lead the Oilers to another opening-round victory over the Los Angeles Kings.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
April 17, 2025
Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (upper body) found the back of the net in his return on Wednesday evening during their victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Eichel missed the previous four games due to an upper-body injury but was able to see some action prior to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He would find the back of the net in the final frame on a tip-in. Before his injury, Eichel was also riding a four-game scoreless streak. However, before the slump, the 28-year-old scored six goals and added seven helpers over his last six contests. During this stretch, Eichel logged 13 shots on goal and held a +9 rating. Through 77 total games this season, Eichel has scored 28 goals and added an impressive 66 helpers. He will be viewed as a top play in DFS during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
April 17, 2025
Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin tallied a goal and an assist during their victory over the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday evening. Larkin did all of his damage in the third period. He would first find the back of the net in a snapshot. Later in the period, he would add the primary assist on Alex DeBrincat's 38th goal of the campaign. This was his second-straight contest, tallying two points. Over his last seven games, Larkin has found the back of the net twice and added six helpers. Before this recent surge, Larkin carried a five-game scoreless streak during the final week of March. Through 81 games this season, the 28-year-old has scored 30 goals and added 40 helpers. This was his fourth-straight season hitting the 30-goal mark and the second time in four years tallying at least 70 points.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
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