4 days agoNew York Rangers forward Filip Chytil (illness) was a full participant in Monday's practice and is likely to return for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Florida Panthers on Wednesday. Chytil missed the final three games of New York's second-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes with an illness, which was terrible timing given he had just come back from a concussion and was only able to play in one game before being hit by the illness. The 24-year-old skated on the third line alongside Alexander Wennberg and Kaapo Kakko during practice and was also a part of the second powerplay unit. His return would be a major boost for the Rangers' depth, which will be needed against a hard-checking Florida team.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: Mollie Walker
4 days agoDallas Stars defenseman Jani Hakanpaa (undisclosed) did not practice on Monday and is considered day-to-day ahead of Game 1 of the Western Conference Final on Thursday. Hakanpaa has been out of the Stars' lineup since Game 1 of their first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings where he suffered an undisclosed injury. It would be a surprise to see the burly d-man back in the Stars lineup early in the series given his inability to practice. If he does return, he will likely replace Alex Petrovic on the third pairing alongside Ryan Suter.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: Lia Assimakopoulos
4 days agoDallas Stars center Roope Hintz (undisclosed) practiced on Monday and is considered day-to-day ahead of Game 1 of the Western Conference Final on Thursday. Hintz missed Games 5 and 6 of the Stars' second-round series against the Colorado Avalanche with an undisclosed injury, but appears to be getting healthier and could return early in their next series. Hintz would be a big addition up the middle for Dallas, who would be able to slide their lineup around to give them an even bigger depth advantage than they already have. If he returns, Hintz would likely play on a line with Jason Robertson as he has most of the season, but nothing is set in stone.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: Lia Assimakopoulos
4 days agoVancouver Canucks forwards Sam Lafferty and Ilya Mikheyev (undisclosed) will draw back into the lineup for Game 7 against the Edmonton Oilers on Monday. Lafferty will replace Vasily Podkolzin, who will be a healthy scratch, and will play on Vancouver's fourth line. Mikheyev will do his best to replace Brock Boeser (blood clotting) on the Canucks top line alongside J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson, who have been reunited for this winner-take-all game. It wouldn't be a surprise to see Mikheyev get shifted around during the game, especially if the line gets off to a slow start. Still, he makes for a solid DFS play tonight.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: Farhan Lalji
4 days agoVancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko (knee) will not be available for Game 7 against the Edmonton Oilers on Monday. Demko has missed all but the first game of the Canucks playoff run with a knee injury, and although head coach Rick Tocchet has expressed optimism that their star netminder will return soon, it won't happen Monday. Arturs Silovs will be Vancouver's starter, and although he's had his ups and downs this postseason, he's provided much more than the Canucks could've ever hoped for from a third-string goalie.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: Sportsnet
4 days agoVancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser (blood clotting) won't play in Game 7 on Monday due to a blood clotting issue. Thankfully, the injury is not career or life-threatening for Boeser, but the star winger won't be able to play in Monday's winner-take-all game against the Edmonton Oilers and is unlikely to return at all these playoffs, even if the Canucks manage to advance. It is an extremely tough break for Boeser and the Canucks, who will miss the 27-year-old and his 12 points (seven goals, five assists) in 12 games. Vancouver will shift Conor Garland onto the powerplay while their entire forward lineup gets a shake-up in Boeser's absence.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: Irfaan Gaffar
6 days agoFlorida Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling finished off the Boston Bruins with a late third-period goal in Game 6 of their second-round series. Forsling's tie-breaking goal put a dagger into the Bruins playoff hopes as it came with just 93 seconds left. The 27-year-old blueliner has shown up big this postseason, picking up seven points (two goals, five assists) in 11 games while providing stellar defensive play for the Panthers. Knowing what Forsling has accomplished in his time in Florida, it's crazy to think that the Panthers originally acquired him by claiming him off waivers in 2021.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
6 days agoDallas Stars forward Jamie Benn scored a clutch game-tying goal in the third period of Game 6 against the Colorado Avalanche, giving the team the opportunity they needed to win it in overtime. Benn scored early in the third on a beautiful passing play, tucking the puck neatly into an open cage. The 34-year-old veteran now has three goals and five assists for eight points in 13 playoff games, including five points in six second-round games. Benn has been a big part of Dallas' outstanding depth all season and has continued to shine in that role in the playoffs.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
6 days agoDallas Stars forward Matt Duchene scored off a net-front scramble in double overtime of Game 6 to secure Dallas' spot in the Western Conference Final. Duchene's goal gave the Stars a 2-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche, sending the former packing. In a "puck don't lie" moment, Duchene scored the game-winner after being involved in a controversial goaltender interference call earlier in overtime that many thought should have ended the game in the Stars' favor. It ended up not mattering, though, as Duchene scored his second goal of the postseason at the most opportune time. He's added four assists to total six points in 13 playoff games in a depth role for the Stars.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
6 days agoDallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger was spectacular in a series-clinching 2-1 double-overtime win over the Colorado Avalanche in Game 6 of their second-round series. Oettinger stopped 29 of 30 shots with many being of high quality. He notably robbed Artturi Lehkonen twice in overtime to keep the game alive. Oettinger has been outstanding all postseason for Dallas, posting a .918 SV% and a 2.27 GAA through two rounds. They'll need him to keep up his high level of play, as either the Vancouver Canucks or Edmonton Oilers are up next, and both teams can score at will.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
6 days agoFlorida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky slammed the door on the Boston Bruins in a series-clinching Game 6 win, allowing just one goal on 23 shots. Bobrovsky was solid in the second-round series, posting a .907 SV%. Although he hasn't been the same Bob that got Florida into the Stanley Cup Finals last year, he has been good enough to see them through to the Conference Finals for the second season in a row. With how good the Panthers look right now, average goaltending could be all they need.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
6 days agoFlorida Panthers center Anton Lundell notched a goal and an assist in Game 6 of their second-round series against the Boston Bruins, helping to close out the series in a 2-1 win. Lundell scored midway through the second to tie the game and then assisted on Gustav Forsling's game-winning goal with just 93 seconds left in the game. The 22-year-old has done well in a third-line role for the Panthers, notching nine points (two goals, seven assists) in 11 playoff games. He could end up playing a larger role next year with Florida and would then be a sleeper in fantasy.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
7 days agoThe Toronto Maple Leafs have hired Craig Berube as the new head coach. He replaces Sheldon Keefe, who was fired last week following the team's first-round exit from the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Berube, 58, takes on his third job as a head coach in the NHL. He steered the Philadelphia Flyers for two seasons from 2013 to 2015 and was at the helm of the St. Louis Blues from November 2018 until December 2023. During his debut season, Berube won the Stanley Cup with the Blues, but he couldn't get the team to the playoffs last term and lost his job following a 13-14-1 start to the 2023-24 campaign. Through 543 regular-season games, Berube has posted a 281-190-72 career record, making the playoffs five times.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
7 days agoFlorida Panthers forward Nick Cousins will be inserted back into the lineup for Game 6 against Boston on Friday. After featuring in each of the first seven playoff contests this year, Cousins came out of the lineup to accommodate Sam Bennett, who returned from injury in Game 3. He will jump on the fourth line with Ryan Lomberg on Friday, replacing Kyle Okposo and Steven Lorentz. Cousins has been praised for his energy and hard work, but it hasn't led to much offensive success. The 30-year-old is without a goal this postseason and boasts only one assist with five shots on goal.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: George Richards
7 days agoColorado Avalanche forward Yakov Trenin (upper body) will not play in Game 6 against Dallas on Friday and is considered day-to-day. Trenin, who has been limited to one point in 10 playoff appearances this year, comes out of the lineup after sustaining an upper-body injury in Game 5. Chris Wagner is expected to take his spot in the lineup. Wagner has featured just once in these playoffs and likely won't see a lot of action on Friday, either. Colorado is set to rely heavily on its top lines in an attempt to stave off elimination for a second time.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Evan Rawal
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