May 21, 2025
Florida Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues set up two goals in Tuesday's 5-2 win against the Carolina Hurricanes. He assisted Aaron Ekblad in the first period and Sam Bennett in the third, with the latter scoring on the power play. Rodrigues has been quiet for most of the postseason run and hasn't scored a single goal with 17 shots on the net, but five of his six assists have come over the past four games. The Panthers already have eight players with double-digit points this postseason, and Rodrigues might soon join them if he maintains his current form.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 21, 2025
Florida Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe notched a goal and an assist in Tuesday's impressive 5-2 win on the road in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 29-year-old struck on the power play to open the scoring 8:30 into the first period and picked up a helper with the man advantage when Sam Bennett lit the lamp at the 6:08 mark in the third. Sitting on 10 points (five goals, five assists) through 13 appearances, Verhaeghe is among Florida's leading scorers in the playoffs, but he entered Tuesday's action having finished without a point in three consecutive contests. He will now aim to land on the score sheet in back-to-back games for only the third time this postseason when the series continues on Thursday.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 20, 2025
Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Matthew Knies is set to become a restricted free agent but has expressed his desire to remain with the team. "I want to be here, I want to play here, that's all that really matters to me," Knies said Tuesday. Knies took a significant leap in 2024-25, flirting with a 60-point campaign after recording 35 points during his first full season last year. He had 29 goals and 29 assists in 78 games, while dishing out 182 hits. The Phoenix-born power forward will turn 23 early next season and still has plenty of room to grow, meaning the Maple Leafs likely won't get his services cheaply.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
May 20, 2025
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews expects to be fully healthy for the start of next season after playing the 2024-25 campaign while dealing with an injury. "Definitely a tough year physically," Matthews said Tuesday, "but I'm confident with some time off and just going through my own process and treatment and everything, I'm really confident I'll be back 100 percent next season and it's nothing for me to worry about." While managing a lingering injury, Matthews' numbers dropped in all categories this season, as the Maple Leafs captain was limited to 33 goals and 78 points in 67 games. In the playoffs, he scored only three goals on 47 shots, settling for 11 points in 13 games. Matthews' efforts in 2024-25 disappointed many fantasy managers, but the three-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner looks to be planning a big bounce-back year.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
May 20, 2025
Ottawa Senators defenseman Nick Jensen has undergone surgery for a lower-body injury, Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch reports. Sources told Garrioch that there is no timeline for Jensen's recovery, but the procedure "went as planned." During his exit interview earlier this month, Jensen said that he was "hopeful" he would be available for the start of training camp. Jensen plays a steady yet unspectacular game that does not translate well to fantasy hockey. He finished the 2024-25 campaign with 21 points (three goals, 18 assists), 77 shots, 95 blocks, and 55 hits, while recording a team-high plus-18 rating.
--Taavi PailkSource: Bruce Garrioch
May 20, 2025
Carolina Hurricanes center Mark Jankowski (undisclosed) will sit out a fifth consecutive contest on Tuesday against the Florida Panthers. He suffered an undisclosed injury in Game 1 against the Washington Capitals in the second round of the playoffs. Jack Roslovic joined the lineup in Jankowski's place and made a strong impression in the last series. Roslovic has averaged a point per game over the past three contests, tallying four points (one goal, three assists) in seven games overall for the postseason. He will continue to work as the second-line center on Tuesday, flanked by Taylor Hall and Logan Stankoven.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
May 20, 2025
Carolina Hurricanes left wing Jordan Martinook (undisclosed) will be in the lineup for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday. He has missed some practice time lately due to an undisclosed ailment, but the 32-year-old was on the ice for Tuesday's morning skate and has confirmed that he will play in the series opener. Martinook has averaged 3.6 hits per game over 10 postseason outings and occasionally pops up with a big play on the offensive end. He has registered one goal and five assists in the playoffs. Carolina will continue to use him on the third line alongside Eric Staal and William Carrier.
--Taavi PailkSource: Chip Alexander
May 20, 2025
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chatfield (undisclosed) is a game-time decision for Tuesday's Eastern Conference Finals opener against the Florida Panthers. The 29-year-old missed the series-clincher against the Washington Capitals last week due to an undisclosed injury. He was on the ice Tuesday morning, but Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour did not confirm that Chatfield would return to the lineup, though he noted that he "definitely wants to play." If Chatfield is still sidelined on Tuesday, Scott Morrow is expected to make his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut. The 22-year-old could add a lot to the team after having a solid 14-game spell with Carolina during the regular season. Morrow recorded six points (one goal, five assists), 23 shots, and 16 blocks with a plus-four rating.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
May 19, 2025
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Max Domi scored a goal with only his effort on net and recorded three hits as the team's season fizzled out with a 6-1 home defeat against the Florida Panthers in Sunday's Game 7. Toronto's big guns were quiet again on the big occasion, as the team struggled to create scoring chances, but Domi managed to beat Sergei Bobrovsky a couple of minutes into the third period. The Maple Leafs matched an NHL record for the largest margin of defeat by a home team in a Game 7 and now have the second-longest losing streak in history in winner-take-all games with eight losses. Domi's campaign ended with a three-game point streak, but he was not a regular scorer during the year, finishing the regular season with 33 points (eight goals, 25 points) in 74 games. Toronto may see many changes next season, but Domi's future seems secure, having just completed his first season of a four-year, $15 million extension.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 19, 2025
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky improved to 8-4 for these playoffs with Sunday's 6-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Bobrovsky, who had allowed only three goals over the previous three games, was a wall in the Panthers crease again, stopping 19 of 20 shots. An effort from Max Domi snuck past him early in the third period when Florida already held a 3-0 lead. The Panthers No. 1 became the 10th goaltender in NHL history to win each of his first three career Game 7s. Bobrovsky, who has managed a 2.31 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage this postseason, will carry good momentum into the Eastern Conference Finals against the Carolina Hurricanes, having won four of his last five starts.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 19, 2025
Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov had two assists in Sunday's big 6-1 win in Game 7 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Panthers captain was one of the set-up guys when Seth Jones opened the scoring early in the second period and assisted Sam Reinhart on Florida's fifth goal midway through the third frame. With the effort, Barkov ended a mini-slump, as he had finished back-to-back games scoreless. Florida has had a number of offensive contributors during their playoff run this year, leaving Barkov fourth on the team with 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 12 games. Next, the Panthers face the Carolina Hurricanes, against whom Barkov averaged a point per game over three regular-season meetings.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 19, 2025
Florida Panthers defenseman Seth Jones registered a goal and an assist as the team demolished the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-1 in Sunday's Game 7. The 30-year-old had gone four games without any points before finding his offensive touch again, netting the game's first goal and assisting Jonah Gadjovich on Florida's third marker. It was a typically busy night for Jones, who led all skaters in ice time with 23:42 and had four shots, two blocks, and one hit, while finishing with a plus-two rating. Jones has amassed six points (three goals, three assists) in 12 playoff outings this year, as well as 15 blocked shots and 28 hits.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 19, 2025
Florida Panthers forward Eetu Luostarinen finished Sunday's 6-1 victory in Game 7 against the Toronto Maple Leafs with a goal and two assists. Florida's third line had another productive outing, as each member scored a goal and the trio combined for seven points. Luostarinen finished last year's playoff run with only eight points, but he is averaging a point per game this year through 12 outings, having tallied three goals and nine assists. No other Panther has more points than Luostarinen, who has impressively done all of his scoring during even-strength play.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 19, 2025
Florida Panthers left wing Brad Marchand continued to terrorize the Toronto Maple Leafs in Sunday's Game 7, notching three points in a 6-1 victory. He scored the game's final goal during an empty-net situation and finished with two assists, becoming the NHL's leader among active players with 10 career Game 7 points. Marchand has been a thorn in the Maple Leafs' side for years and had another successful series against them. Only Gordie Howe (53) has registered more points than Marchand (36) in the playoffs against Toronto. The former Bruins star has been a great addition for the Panthers and is tied for the team lead with 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in 12 games this postseason.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 18, 2025
Vegas Golden Knights right wing Reilly Smith hopes to remain with the team for next season after rejoining the squad in March. Smith was part of Vegas' roster during its inaugural season in 2017-18 and spent six years with the franchise before he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2023. He started the 2024-25 campaign with the New York Rangers, who traded Smith back to the Golden Knights for defenseman Brendan Brisson and a third-round draft pick. "If there's an opportunity to stay here and play for this team that would be great," Smith told The Athletic's Jason Granger following the Golden Knights' exit from the playoffs. Smith has played his best hockey in Vegas, and it makes sense why he wants to continue his career there. The 34-year-old has averaged 0.71 points per game as a Golden Knight, compared to 0.51 points when he has played elsewhere. However, the team may not have the financial capabilities needed to keep Smith around, with Jack Eichel's extension being a priority this offseason.
--Taavi PailkSource: Jesse Granger
RADIO
