April 14, 2025
Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli scored twice during their 4-1 victory over the Washington Capitals on Sunday evening. The Blue Jackets needed to win this game to remain in contention for a Wild Card. Fantilli would score his first goal in the second frame on a snap shot. Later in the third, Fantilli would strike for the second time, this time on a wrist shot. This was Fantilli's second-straight game finding the back of the net twice. Before this recent offensive surge, the former third overall pick tallied just one point (a goal) over his last five contests. The 20-year-old remains a strong play in all formats during the final week of the regular season. Fantilli has enjoyed a career season, logging 80 games and scoring 29 goals, and adding 23 helpers. He will look to stay hot on Tuesday against the Flyers.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
April 14, 2025
Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov tallied three points during their 7-4 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday evening. Kucherov found the back of the net in the second period during 5-on-5 play. Later in the third, Kucherov would score his second goal of the contest and add the primary helper on Jake Guentzel's power-play goal. These three points put Kucherov in the driver's seat to win the Art Ross Trophy as Nathan MacKinnon, who holds the No. 2 spot, has been ruled out for the remainder of the regular season. Kucherov has enjoyed an impressive conclusion to the season, tallying 21 points (six goals) over his last 10 contests. Kucherov remains a must-start option in all formats in their final two games of the campaign.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
April 14, 2025
Boston Bruins left wing Morgan Geekie found the back of the net in the fifth-straight contest during their victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday afternoon. Geekie found the back of the net in the second frame on a slap shot. During this impressive five-game stretch, Geekie has scored five goals and added six helpers. The 26-year-old has logged 13 shots on goal during and held a +8 rating during this impressive stretch. Over his last 13 contests, Geekie has been rather productive on the score sheet, scoring 10 goals and adding 11 helpers. Through 76 contests this season, Geekie has enjoyed a career season despite Boston's struggles scoring 17 goals and adding 22 helpers. He remains a solid play in their final game of the season against the Devils on Tuesday evening.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
April 14, 2025
New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin stopped all 25 shots he saw en route to defeating the New Jersey Devils on Sunday afternoon. Bo Horvat was able to break the scoreless tie in the second frame. The Devils held the slight advantage in the shot total, but Sorokin was able to lead the way. Sorokin has been sidelined since April 8 due to a lower-body injury but looked quite sharp in his return. Before his injury, Sorokin carried a 2-3 record with a 3.20 GAA and a .883 save percentage. The Islanders have been eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the team may opt to rest Sorokin for their final two games. If he were to sit, Marcus Hogberg would likely see the starter's crease during their final two games. Through 56 games, Sorokin has posted a 25-19-12 with a 3.01 GAA.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
April 13, 2025
Edmonton Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm (undisclosed) won't play in Sunday's contest against the Winnipeg Jets and could be done for the rest of the season, including the playoffs. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman has reported that the Oilers are preparing for the possibility that Ekholm will not return this year. Speaking to reporters on Sunday morning, Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said that Ekholm is seeking to get a second opinion on his injury. "Right now, it doesn't look like Mattias will be joining us immediately," Knoblauch said. Ekholm has had several stints on the sidelines during the second half of the season. He has finished the regular-season campaign with 33 points (nine goals, 24 assists), 143 shots, and 95 blocks in 65 games. Cam Dineen, who was recalled from the AHL on Saturday, is likely to take over Ekholm's spot in the lineup on Sunday.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Sportsnet
April 13, 2025
Edmonton Oilers winger Zach Hyman (undisclosed) will not play on Sunday against the Winnipeg Jets. The 32-year-old was injured in Friday's win over the San Jose Sharks and will miss at least one game. Hyman joins Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (illness) and Leon Draisaitl (undisclosed) on the sidelines, which opens up another top-six spot in the Oilers attack. Adam Henrique is set to continue as the second-line center, while veteran Corey Perry, who scored a power-play goal in Friday's contest, may experience additional usage.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Daniel Nugent-Bowman
April 13, 2025
Washington Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun (illness) will return to action on Sunday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He has missed two games due to illness and was initially regarded as a game-time decision. Chychrun may see increased usage on Sunday with John Carlson (rest) out of the lineup. The 27-year-old has enjoyed an impressive first year in Washington, registering a career-high 47 points (20 goals, 27 assists) in 72 games with a plus-19 rating. Alexander Alexeyev will make way for Chychrun in the lineup.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Sammi Silber
April 13, 2025
New York Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider (upper body) will exit the lineup for the final two games of the regular season. The 23-year-old has been dealing with an upper-body injury during the season and will now get proper time to heal, with the Rangers eliminated from postseason contention. During a difficult campaign, Schneider was one of only a few bright spots for the Rangers. He totaled a career-high 21 points (six goals, 15 assists) in 80 games, ranking first on the team with 145 blocks and third with 146 hits. Matthew Robertson has been summoned from the AHL and looks set to fill in for Schneider in the last couple of games.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Peter Baugh
April 13, 2025
New York Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech (upper body) made an early exit in Sunday's 1-0 win over the New Jersey Devils. He sustained an upper-body injury from a high hit by Devils forward Paul Cotter in the second period. This might be the last we see of Pelech in 2024-25, as the Islanders have been eliminated from playoff contention and have no incentive to rush him back into action. The 30-year-old has recorded 21 assists, 107 shots, 86 blocks, and 73 hits in 59 appearances this season. Mike Reilly, Adam Boqvist, and Scott Perunovich are the options to replace Pelech in the lineup. The Islanders have two more games to come in the regular season.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: New York Islanders
April 13, 2025
Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson (rest) will not be in action on Sunday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Washington has begun resting key personnel before the playoffs, and Carlson will have Sunday off after participating in all 79 games so far. Carlson has had a good campaign with 51 points (five goals, 46 assists) and 131 blocks. Dylan McIlrath will come into the lineup on Sunday, while the Capitals could also welcome back Jakob Chychrun (illness), who is considered a game-time call.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Tom Gulitti
April 13, 2025
Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin (rest) will return to the lineup on Sunday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He was rested on Saturday when Columbus dismantled the Capitals 7-0. Ovechkin has grown his points tally in each of his last seven appearances, reaching 42 goals and 28 assists for the campaign with 62 games played. Ethen Frank will exit the lineup to make room for Ovechkin, who is projected to skate with Dylan Strome and Taylor Raddysh.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Tom Gulitti
April 13, 2025
Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Oliver Bjorkstrand (lower body) has been labeled as week-to-week by head coach Jon Cooper. The veteran forward suffered a lower-body injury on Friday against the Detroit Red Wings and is set to miss the team's final three regular-season games as well as the start of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Bjorkstrand, a trade deadline acquisition from the Seattle Kraken, has notched nine points (five goals, four assists) in 18 games with the Lightning. Conor Geekie has been recalled from the minors and will replace Bjorkstrand in the lineup on Sunday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 20-year-old has posted 12 points (six goals, six assists) through his first 49 NHL career games in 2024-25.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 13, 2025
Dallas Stars winger Mikko Rantanen finished Saturday's 5-3 loss against the Utah Hockey Club with two assists. The Finnish star picked up an early power-play assist on a Wyatt Johnston goal and helped to set up Jason Robertson late in the second period. It was Rantanen's 18th appearance for Dallas. Following a slow start in Texas, he has rediscovered some of his best form and is averaging close to a point per game with the team, boasting five goals and 12 assists. Rantanen is among the most productive playoff performers of all time, averaging 1.25 points across 81 games, giving Stars fans plenty to look forward to as the regular season wraps up.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 13, 2025
Utah Hockey Club center Logan Cooley had a three-point outing on Saturday against the Dallas Stars, piling up a goal and two assists in a 5-3 road win. The 20-year-old registered three-plus points in a game for a third time this season. Both of his assists came on the power play. This has been a prolific season for Cooley, and he is finishing the campaign with a scoring streak. He has found a way to the score sheet in three consecutive games, surpassing the 60-point mark for the year. Over 73 outings, Cooley has totaled 24 goals and 38 assists.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 13, 2025
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz took his winning streak to seven games by defeating the Montreal Canadiens 1-0 in overtime on Saturday night. He picked up his third shutout of the season with 15 saves. Stolarz has received the majority of the starts in recent weeks and looks to be in fine form ahead of the postseason. Across 32 starts this term, Stolarz has put together a 20-8-3 record, allowing 2.21 goals with a .923 save percentage. Joseph Woll will take over the crease for the second leg of a back-to-back on Sunday against the Carolina Hurricanes, but Stolarz should get at least one more opportunity to improve his numbers next week.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
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