June 6, 2025
The Dallas Stars fired head coach Pete DeBoer on Friday. His departure follows Dallas' 4-1 loss in the Western Conference Finals against the Edmonton Oilers. DeBoer joined the Stars in 2022, guiding the team to the Western Finals in each season. He posted a 149-68-29 regular-season record with the team and had the highest points percentage in the NHL (.665). So far, nine teams have changed coaches after the regular season ended. DeBoer, who had one year left on his contract, should have no trouble securing another head coaching gig soon if he wants. With a career record of 662-447-152, DeBoer ranks fourth in wins among active coaches and has led his teams to at least the Conference Finals eight times over the last 14 seasons.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
June 6, 2025
Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner will hope to extend a five-game winning streak in Friday's Finals matchup against the Florida Panthers. He started the Finals with a 29-save effort in Game 1, helping the team to a 4-3 overtime victory. This was only the third time in his past eight appearances that Skinner allowed more than two goals. After a horrible start to the postseason, he has completely turned things around, going 7-4 in 11 starts. Skinner owns a 2.50 goals-against average with a .904 save percentage and has posted three shutouts. Another victory on Friday night would tie Skinner for the fifth-longest postseason winning streak in Oilers history.
--Taavi PailkSource: Tony Brar
June 6, 2025
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky will make his 19th start of the postseason in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Edmonton Oilers on Friday night. The former Vezina Trophy winner kicked off the Final with a solid performance, stopping 42 shots, though he suffered a 4-3 overtime defeat in Game 1. Bobrovsky has lost two of his last three starts, which has dropped his playoff record to 12-6. He has posted a 2.17 goals-against average with a .912 save percentage. The Panthers have only lost back-to-back games once this postseason, so Bobrovsky appears well-positioned to return to winning ways on Friday.
--Taavi PailkSource: Jameson Olive
June 6, 2025
Florida Panthers left wing A.J. Greer (lower body) has been ruled out for Friday's Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Edmonton Oilers. The fourth-line grinder was injured late in the Eastern Conference Finals and must wait for his chance to play against the Oilers due to a lower-body injury. Jesper Boqvist is expected to continue filling in for Greer. The Swedish forward experienced some success in a top-line role earlier in the postseason but was quiet on the fourth line in Game 1 against Edmonton. He logged 7:58 of ice time, finishing with one hit.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
June 5, 2025
Florida Panthers defenseman Nate Schmidt helped out on the offensive end with two assists in Wednesday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers. The 33-year-old ended a seven-game point drought by assisting Brad Marchand on a power-play goal and Sam Bennett during an even-strength situation. Schmidt's recent efforts on the attacking end have not been good, but he is on the verge of becoming the 11th Panther this postseason with double-digit points. Through 18 appearances, Schmidt has registered nine points (three goals, six assists), along with 19 shots, 15 blocks, and 28 hits.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
June 5, 2025
Florida Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe recorded two assists in Wednesday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Florida's second line spearheaded the team's offense on the night, with Verhaeghe picking up both of his assists on goals by Sam Bennett. The 29-year-old logged his fifth multi-point game of the postseason. Although Verhaeghe has been inconsistent in his offensive production, his haul of 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in 18 games makes him Florida's fourth-highest scorer. In last year's Finals against the Oilers, Verhaeghe tallied only four points and must be eager to improve his output this time around.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
June 5, 2025
Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett lit the lamp twice on five shots in Wednesday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Finals opener. His two strikes put the Panthers up 3-1 before the Oilers made a comeback and seized the victory, marking a disappointing end to a special night for Bennett. The 28-year-old set a new franchise record with 12 goals in a single postseason. Remarkably, Bennett has tallied 11 of his goals in road games, which is a league record that he now shares with Mark Scheifele of the Winnipeg Jets. He has a chance to make it his own in Friday's Game 2. Bennett has also added six assists to his goals in the playoffs, putting him on a point-per-game pace through 18 appearances.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
June 5, 2025
Edmonton Oilers right wing Kasperi Kapanen contributed two assists in Wednesday's 4-3 overtime win in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Florida Panthers. He picked up the helpers on goals from Leon Draisaitl and Mattias Ekholm, giving Kapanen a three-game point streak. The 28-year-old started the postseason as a healthy scratch but has emerged as an important player for the Oilers, boasting five points (three goals, two assists) in eight playoff appearances. The Finnish winger has settled into a second-line role next to Draisaitl, placing him in an excellent position to make an offensive impact.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
June 5, 2025
Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid registered two assists as the team opened the Stanley Cup Finals against the Florida Panthers with a 4-3 overtime win. The Oilers captain made big plays in key moments. First, he helped Mattias Ekholm tie the game in the third period, and McDavid then picked up another assist on Leon Draisaitl's game-winning power-play goal in overtime. It was McDavid's 32nd career multi-assist game in the playoffs, tying him for the third most all-time. With both McDavid and Draisaitl in hot form, the Oilers will fancy their chances in the series. McDavid has logged multiple points in four consecutive games and has been held off the score sheet only once in his last 15 appearances. He leads the league this postseason with 28 points (six goals, 22 assists) in 17 appearances.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
June 5, 2025
Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl kicked off the 2025 Stanley Cup Finals with a two-goal performance in a 4-3 overtime win against the Florida Panthers on Wednesday night. The German superstar started and finished the scoring in the contest, netting the game-winning goal on the power play with 19:29 played in overtime. Draisaitl's third overtime goal this postseason ties him for the all-time record in a single playoff campaign. The Oilers had a difficult time in front of their fans, going 3-1 behind, but their high-octane offense, led by Draisaitl and Connor McDavid, once again saved the day for the team. Draisaitl is now riding a seven-game point streak, which includes three consecutive multi-point efforts. In total, he has tallied 27 points (nine goals, 18 assists) in 17 playoff appearances this year.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
June 4, 2025
Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov has won the Ted Lindsay Award for the second time in his career. It's an award handed out annually to the NHL's most outstanding player in the regular season as judged by the members of the NHL Players' Association. Kucherov was the league's top scorer for a second consecutive year in 2024-25, recording 121 points (37 goals, 84 assists) in 78 appearances. This marks Kucherov's third consecutive season with at least 100 points, as the 31-year-old continues to make scoring seem effortless. Next season, Kucherov will strive to join a select group of 15 players in NHL history who have recorded at least four consecutive seasons with 100 or more points.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
June 4, 2025
Vancouver Canucks defenseman Derek Forbort (orbital) has signed a one-year, $2 million extension with the team. The 33-year-old, who missed the last couple of games of the season due to an orbital bone fracture, has received a slight raise from a one-year, $1.5 million contract he signed with the Canucks as a free agent last offseason. Forbort was limited to 54 appearances during his first year in Vancouver, recording 11 points (two goals, nine assists), 39 shots, 77 blocks, 65 hits, and a minus-seven rating. Throughout his 10-year NHL career, Forbort hasn't exceeded 18 points in a season and should remain a free agent in fantasy leagues.
--Taavi PailkSource: TSN
June 4, 2025
Philadelphia Flyers forward Noah Cates has inked a four-year, $16 million extension with the team. The Flyers locked up the 26-year-old four weeks before Cates was eligible to become a restricted free agent. As a two-way talent, Cates received votes for the Selke Trophy a couple of years back, and he had a solid bounce-back campaign in 2024-25. After finishing the previous season with only 18 points (six goals, 12 assists), Cates amassed 37 points (18 goals, 21 assists) in 78 appearances. In total, the former fifth-round pick has posted 40 goals and 102 points in 235 games with the team. Fantasy managers have not seen a lot of production from Cates, but the Flyers clearly view him as an important part of their future.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
June 4, 2025
Colorado Avalanche center Brock Nelson signed a three-year, $22.5 million extension on Wednesday. The 33-year-old, who arrived from the New York Islanders in a mid-season trade, was a pending unrestricted free agent. Nelson made 19 appearances with the Avalanche during the regular season, posting 13 points (six goals, seven assists). He went quiet in the playoffs, finishing goalless with four assists in seven games, but the Avalanche have locked up a proven scorer. Nelson just missed his fourth consecutive 30-goal campaign this season, netting 26 times with 193 shots on goal, and he has bagged at least 50 points in six of the past seven years.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
June 4, 2025
Florida Panthers left wing A.J. Greer (lower body) won't be in the lineup for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday. He suffered a lower-body injury in the last game of the Eastern Conference Finals on May 28. The team was hopeful of having Greer available for the Finals opener, but the game comes too soon for him. Jesper Boqvist is set to enter the lineup in Greer's place. The Swedish forward has had a couple of brilliant performances this postseason, including a three-point effort in Game 3 of the East Final. Overall, he has posted five points (two goals, three assists) in 11 outings in the playoffs, while averaging 3.4 hits per game.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL on TNT
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