May 8, 2025
Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele (upper body) enjoyed a scoring return in Wednesday's Game 1 against the Dallas Stars, netting the team's second goal in a 3-2 defeat. After missing two games due to an upper-body injury, Scheifele was sharp throughout the night, firing off seven shots on goal. He finally got one past Jake Oettinger in the Dallas crease at the 17:35 mark in the second period. Scheifele, who also recorded one block and one hit, proved his health by logging a postseason-high 22:36 time on ice. With his goal on Wednesday, Scheifele continued the trend of scoring points exclusively in home games during these playoffs. He has recorded three goals and four assists in four appearances at the Canada Life Centre.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 8, 2025
Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger opened second-round action against the Winnipeg Jets with a 29-save effort in a 3-2 road win on Wednesday night. Oettinger and the Stars handed Winnipeg its first home loss of the postseason. Following a shaky start to the playoffs, Oettinger has heated up, allowing two or fewer goals in three of the past four games. He has improved his goals-against average to 2.75 and has posted a .914 save percentage, while going 5-3 across eight starts. Dallas is in good hands, and Wednesday's win on the road puts the team in control of the series.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 8, 2025
Dallas Stars winger Mikko Rantanen scored a second straight hat trick in Wednesday's Game 1 against the Winnipeg Jets, pushing his team to a 3-2 victory. There had previously been only two occasions in Stanley Cup Playoffs history where a player had scored back-to-back hat tricks. Rantanen's efforts in front of the net gave Dallas a 3-1 lead from a 1-0 deficit, making him the first player in franchise history with a natural hat trick in the playoffs. We have seen incredible work from Rantanen over the past few games, as he has posted three-plus points in four consecutive outings. The Finnish superstar is now the postseason leader in goals (8) and points (15).
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 7, 2025
Carolina Hurricanes center Mark Jankowski (undisclosed) will be a game-time decision for Thursday's showdown against the Washington Capitals. The Hurricanes hope to have him available for Game 2 after losing him early to an undisclosed injury in Tuesday's series opener. Jankowski has made three postseason appearances this year, averaging 11:21 of ice time as a member of the fourth line. He has tallied one assist with four shots, three blocks, and two hits. Jack Roslovic, who has also posted one assist in three playoff appearances, or Tyson Jost, who has yet to feature in the postseason, will take Jankowski's spot in the lineup if he isn't in game shape on Thursday.
--Taavi PailkSource: Walt Ruff
May 7, 2025
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck begins the second-round series against the Dallas Stars on Wednesday with a perfect home record in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. In Winnipeg's series versus the St. Louis Blues, the home side won each game, although Hellebuyck had trouble keeping the puck out of the net. He gave up at least three goals in three of four home games, registering a lowly .885 save percentage. Hellebuyck was pulled in all three road contests against the Blues, so it has been a bumpy ride for the MVP candidate in the playoffs. The series against Dallas promises to be another challenging matchup for Hellebuyck, but he can draw confidence from his regular-season performance. Hellebuyck was 3-1-0 against the Stars this year, allowing only four goals.
--Taavi PailkSource: Ken Wiebe
May 7, 2025
Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen (knee) will not play in Game 1 against the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday night. Following Saturday's epic Game 7 win over the Colorado Avalanche, Stars head coach Pete DeBoer said that he expects Heiskanen to return to action during the second round, but his absence will stretch at least one game longer. He will sit out a 40th straight game while working his way back from knee surgery. Thomas Harley is set to maintain a huge role in the Stars defense. He has been impactful at both ends, registering five points (two goals, three assists), 21 blocks, and 11 hits in seven postseason outings this year.
--Taavi PailkSource: Mike Heika
May 7, 2025
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz (upper body) has been ruled out for Wednesday's Game 2 against the Florida Panthers. He was injured in the series opener on Monday, and while Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube initially did not rule Stolarz out for Wednesday's game, Joseph Woll has now been confirmed as the starter. Matt Murray will back him up. On Wednesday, Berube said he "didn't have an answer" as to whether Stolarz would be available again in the second round. The 31-year-old netminder is sporting a 4-2 record this postseason, having allowed 2.19 goals with a .901 save percentage.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 7, 2025
Florida Panthers right wing Mackie Samoskevich is expected to return to the lineup for Game 2 against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday. The rookie forward has been a healthy scratch for the past three games. Samoskevich had a solid debut campaign, notching 31 points (15 goals, 16 assists) in 72 contests, but he has been quiet in the playoffs. In three appearances against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Round 1, Samoskevich was held goalless and had only one assist. While the 22-year-old gets another look in the lineup, Samoskevich won't be in a good spot to break his slump, as he will roll with the fourth line, replacing A.J. Greer.
--Taavi PailkSource: Jameson Olive
May 7, 2025
Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad (suspension) will rejoin the lineup for Game 2 against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday night. He has served his two-game suspension for a high hit on Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel during the first-round series. The Panthers will reunite Ekblad with Gustav Forsling on the top defensive pairing, while Seth Jones will move down to the second pairing. Uvis Balinskis will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday, despite scoring Florida's third goal in Monday's 5-4 loss. Ekblad was also unavailable at the beginning of the postseason because of another suspension, limiting him to just two appearances in these playoffs. He has tallied one goal, three shots, four blocks, and six hits.
--Taavi PailkSource: TSN
May 7, 2025
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin potted the game-winning goal in Tuesday's 2-1 overtime triumph against the Washington Capitals. He lit the lamp with 3:06 played in the extra frame, extending his point streak to three games. Slavin is not known for his scoring prowess, so his contributions on the offensive end are always a bonus for the Hurricanes. Following a 27-point regular-season campaign, Slavin has upped his productivity in the playoffs, notching four points (two goals, two assists) in six games. He has added nine blocks to his tally while taking 19 shots on goal.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 7, 2025
Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone scored two goals in Tuesday's 4-2 loss in Game 1 against the Edmonton Oilers. Stone's two tallies gave Vegas a 2-0 lead on home ice, but Bruce Cassidy's team ultimately lost the game due to a couple of late strikes in the third period. The loss is a setback for the Golden Knights, but they will be pleased with Stone's performance, especially following his quiet start to the postseason. After going scoreless in three contests, Stone has recorded a four-game point streak, netting four goals and delivering two assists.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 7, 2025
Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid finished with two assists as the team rallied from a 2-0 deficit to secure a 4-2 victory in Game 1 against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday. The Oilers became the first team in NHL history to achieve five comeback victories during a single postseason. McDavid's assists came on Edmonton's first two goals, scored by Corey Perry and Leon Draisaitl. Kris Knoblauch's team often finds itself in trouble, but with McDavid in top form, the Oilers always have a chance to turn a hockey game on its head. Following Tuesday night, the three-time MVP has taken the scoring lead in the 2025 playoffs with 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) in seven games.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 7, 2025
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz (upper body) has not been ruled out for Wednesday's Game 2 against the Florida Panthers. Stolarz took an elbow to the head in the series opener and was taken to a hospital on Monday night after he vomited on the bench. However, he was at Toronto's practice facility on Tuesday, with Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube noting that Stolarz is "doing well." The Maple Leafs have seen Stolarz deliver top-notch performances in these playoffs, as he has posted a 4-2 record with a 2.19 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage. If he isn't available for Game 2, the spotlight will be on Joseph Woll, who allowed three goals on 20 shots in relief during Monday's 5-4 victory.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 7, 2025
Carolina Hurricanes center Mark Jankowski (undisclosed) was forced to exit early in Game 1 against the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night. He suffered an undisclosed injury in the second period, leaving the contest after logging only 6:17 of ice time. The 30-year-old made his third appearance of the 2025 postseason. Working as a fourth-line grinder, Jankowski does not play a big role in the team's offensive play and has been limited to one assist and four shots. Jack Roslovic and Tyson Jost are the most likely candidates to step in for Jankowski if he is not healthy enough to play in Game 2 on Thursday night.
--Taavi PailkSource: Carolina Hurricanes PR
May 7, 2025
Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo was unavailable for Tuesday's Game 1 against the Edmonton Oilers due to an illness. He was a late scratch for the contest, with Kaedan Korczak entering the lineup to make his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut. The 24-year-old had a relatively uneventful night, recording one shot, one block, and one hit over 13:04 of ice time. Pietrangelo also missed time at the end of the regular season, making only 71 appearances. He posted 33 points (four goals, 29 assists) while ranking second on the team with 139 blocks. The veteran defenseman has registered three points (one goal, two assists) and 15 blocks in six playoff games. Pietrangelo's first opportunity to return will be on Thursday in Game 2 of the series.
--Taavi PailkSource: Vegas Golden Knights
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