May 18, 2025
Washington Capitals center Lars Eller turned 36 this month but has no plans to hang up his skates. "I'll definitely keep playing," Eller told Sammi Silber of the DC Backcheck. "My body feels good." Eller had a disappointing season and ended it as a healthy scratch for Washington during the playoffs. He posted 10 goals and 22 points in 80 games with the Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins, a significant drop from the 31 points Eller had the year before. Considering how his return to Washington turned out, it appears unlikely that we will see Eller suit up for the Capitals in 2024-25. However, the Danish veteran seems highly motivated to continue playing, with the Olympics on the horizon.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sammi Silber
May 18, 2025
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz (upper body) will serve as Joseph Woll's backup in Sunday's Game 7 against the Florida Panthers. He was initially expected to miss a sixth consecutive game in the series, but the Maple Leafs can call upon Stolarz if needed. The 31-year-old has had a strong postseason, posting a record of 4-2 while allowing an average of 2.19 goals with a .901 save percentage. There is a good chance Stolarz will return to the crease in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Carolina Hurricanes if the Maple Leafs can extend their season on Sunday night.
--Taavi PailkSource: Elliotte Friedman
May 18, 2025
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky will play in his third career Game 7 on Sunday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, hoping to improve a 2-0 record. The former Vezina Trophy winner helped the Panthers defeat the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 with 23 saves in Game 7 of last year's Stanley Cup Finals. Florida also sneaked past the Boston Bruins in Game 7 of their first-round matchup in 2023, with Bobrovsky making 33 saves in a 4-3 overtime victory. The Maple Leafs own a 12-15 Game 7 record but have suffered six straight losses in these winner-takes-all matchups, putting Bobrovsky in a good position to celebrate another victory on Sunday night.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 18, 2025
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz (upper body) won't play in Game 7 against the Florida Panthers on Sunday. He will be out for a sixth consecutive contest, and it's unclear when Stolarz will be available to return. The Maple Leafs went 4-2 at the beginning of the postseason with Stolarz as a starter. Since then, Joseph Woll has taken over the crease, delivering inconsistent performances. Woll was fantastic with a 22-save shutout in Friday's Game 6 victory against the Panthers, but he has recorded a lowly .893 save percentage for the playoffs, allowing an average of 3.29 goals.
--Taavi PailkSource: Jonas Siegel
May 18, 2025
Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Matthew Knies (undisclosed) will play against the Florida Panthers in Game 7 on Sunday. The 22-year-old was banged up in Friday's Game 6, leaving him questionable for Sunday's action. However, Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube has confirmed that Knies will be in the lineup. Only William Nylander has scored more goals for Toronto this postseason than Knies, who boasts five goals with 29 shots on goal. In 12 outings, he has also collected a couple of assists while dishing out 31 hits. Knies is set to remain on the top line on Sunday and will skate with the first power-play unit.
--Taavi PailkSource: David Alter
May 18, 2025
Florida Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues (undisclosed) will hop back into the lineup for Sunday's pivotal Game 7 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He has been sidelined for a pair of games due to an undisclosed injury, giving Jesper Boqvist a chance to skate on the first line. Boqvist is expected to be a healthy scratch on Sunday. Rodrigues posted two assists in Game 3 against the Maple Leafs, but it has been a rough ride for him offensively this postseason. The 31-year-old has failed to score with 16 shots on goal and sits on just three assists through nine appearances.
--Taavi PailkSource: Renaud Lavoie
May 18, 2025
Winnipeg Jets left wing Kyle Connor finished Saturday's 2-1 overtime loss in Game 6 against the Dallas Stars with one assist. In a closely contested affair, the Jets opened the scoring through Mark Scheifele 5:28 into the second period, but could not end their nine-game road losing streak in the playoffs and were defeated in the series 4-2. Connor had a superb postseason campaign, finishing with 17 points (five goals, 12 assists) in 13 games, the third-highest scoring total for a single playoff run in franchise history. However, he will be disappointed that he scored only five times on 45 shots after leading the Jets with 41 goals during the regular season. Connor fell just short of his first 100-point campaign in 2024-25, adding 56 assists to his tally in 82 appearances.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 18, 2025
Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele scored the team's only goal in Saturday's 2-1 overtime defeat against the Dallas Stars. Scheifele lost his father unexpectedly overnight before Saturday's Game 6, but decided to play in the contest and made a big impact. He put Winnipeg ahead early in the second period with his only shot on goal and recorded a career-high nine hits in 18:51 of ice time. However, Scheifele also committed a costly penalty near the end of regulation and was in the sin bin when Dallas ended the game and the series 1:33 into overtime. Scheifele averaged a point per game in the playoffs and enjoyed a career year during the regular season, notching 87 points (39 goals, 48 assists) in 92 outings.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 18, 2025
Dallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin ended a five-game point drought on Saturday with a power-play assist in a 2-1 overtime win against the Winnipeg Jets. He helped set up Thomas Harley's series-clinching goal just 1:33 into overtime. Seguin started the postseason strong but struggled to make an impact in the series against the Jets. He will hope that Game 6 marks a turning point for him. The veteran has recorded three goals and five points in 13 postseason appearances this year, sending 17 shots on the net.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 18, 2025
Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen finished Saturday's 2-1 overtime win in Game 6 against the Winnipeg Jets with one assist. His work on the offensive end helped Dallas tie the score at one 11:12 into the second period, with Sam Steel being the goal-scorer. Heiskanen finished the contest with a plus-one rating and took two shots on goal while recording one hit in 23:40 of ice time. This was Heiskanen's third appearance since returning from a knee injury, and he logged the most playing time by far since his comeback. The Finnish rearguard now boasts two assists for the playoffs and has registered six shots on goal and four hits. Dallas is set to meet the Edmonton Oilers and their star-studded offense in the Western Conference Finals, making Heiskanen's return to form very important.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 18, 2025
Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley had a hand in both goals in Saturday's 2-1 overtime win against the Winnipeg Jets that sent the team to the Conference Finals. The rising star assisted Sam Steel on the game-tying goal in the second period and potted the game-winner himself with only 1:33 played in the extra frame. Harley found the back of the net on the power play, scoring for the fourth time in these playoffs. In 13 outings, he has also recorded seven assists, while doing his fair share of the dirty work with 29 blocks and 18 hits. Even with Miro Heiskanen back in the lineup, Harley has continued to log major minutes in defense and looks set to be a key figure for Dallas for the rest of the postseason campaign.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 18, 2025
Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey sustained an apparent knee injury in Saturday's 2-1 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars. He was forced to exit the contest in the second period, logging only 14:55 of ice time in the elimination game. "It's not good," Jets head coach Scott Arniel said about Morrissey's injury after the game. "He's banged up pretty good." The 30-year-old also suffered an upper-body injury during the postseason, which caused him to miss one game. Morrissey will now have the entire offseason to get back into game shape. Winnipeg's No. 1 defenseman has become one of the top fantasy producers among blue-liners, recording three consecutive 60-point campaigns. He finished this season with 14 goals, 48 assists, 172 shots, and 113 blocks in 80 appearances.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
May 17, 2025
Ottawa Senators forward Claude Giroux appears poised to stay with the team for at least one more year. The veteran, who turned 37 in January, has completed a three-year, $19.5 million contract. Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch reports that informal discussions have occurred between the Senators and Giroux's agent, Pat Brisson, regarding a new deal. Giroux is anticipated to sign a one-year contract in the $3-4 million range. Although Giroux's production has steadily declined in recent years, he still posted a respectable 50 points (15 goals, 35 assists) in 81 appearances this season, adding five points (one goal, four assists) in six playoff games.
--Taavi PailkSource: Bruce Garrioch
May 17, 2025
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chatfield (undisclosed) is on track to be available for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Hurricanes are still awaiting an opponent for the matchup, and it's unclear when the series will start; however, head coach Rod Brind'Amour hopes to have Chatfield back in the lineup when play resumes for the team. Chatfield missed his first postseason action of the year when the Hurricanes closed out their second-round series against the Washington Capitals with a 3-1 victory on Thursday. Alexander Nikishin took his spot in the lineup, making his NHL debut. Chatfield has tallied one goal, eight shots on goal, 11 blocks, and nine hits in nine appearances this postseason.
--Taavi PailkSource: Walt Ruff
May 17, 2025
Winnipeg Jets left wing Kyle Connor has been the leading scorer for his team in these playoffs and will be counted on to perform at a high level again in Saturday's Game 6 against the Dallas Stars. He has been outstanding in previous elimination games in his career, recording 11 points (two goals, nine assists) across nine outings, including two assists in Thursday's 4-0 win against Dallas. This has given him a three-game point streak in the series. In total, Connor has put up 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) in 12 playoff appearances in 2025. Blake Wheeler (21) and Mark Scheifele (20) are the only players in franchise history to have been more productive during a single postseason campaign.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet Stats
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