May 15, 2025
Florida Panthers forward Sam Reinhart helped set up a pair of goals in Wednesday's dominant 6-1 victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Reinhart assisted Aaron Ekblad and Jesper Boqvist as Florida took a 3-0 lead in the game midway through the second period. In 10 outings this postseason, Reinhart has averaged a point per game, but it has been a tricky series for him. The Maple Leafs have kept him off the score sheet three times in five games, while Reinhart has scored only once with 23 shots on goal in the matchup. Luckily for the Panthers, they have still grabbed a 3-2 lead in the series and will look to finish off Toronto on Friday night at home.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 15, 2025
Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad recorded two points in Wednesday's 6-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. He opened the scoring in Game 5 of the second-round series and picked up a power-play assist on a Sam Bennett strike. It was a busy night for all around for Ekblad, who recorded 12 penalty minutes and four hits while tying for the team high with six shots on goal. A couple of suspensions have disrupted Ekblad's postseason, but he has quietly had a productive run, averaging a point per game. The 29-year-old has registered two goals, four assists, 15 shots, and 18 hits in six appearances.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 15, 2025
Edmonton Oilers right wing Kasperi Kapanen netted the only goal of the game as the team closed out the second-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights with a 1-0 overtime victory on Wednesday night. He ended the game at the 7:19 mark in overtime, with Leon Draisaitl and Darnell Nurse collecting the assists. This was a great moment for Kapanen after he had started the postseason as a healthy scratch. It wasn't until Game 4 against Vegas that he was brought into the lineup. The 28-year-old has been eager to impress, recording seven shots and eight hits over two appearances. Kapanen has been skating on the second line next to Draisaitl, making him a value option for DFS managers.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 15, 2025
Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner posted a 24-save shutout in Wednesday's series-clinching 1-0 overtime victory against the Vegas Golden Knights. Taking over the crease for Calvin Pickard (undisclosed), Skinner stepped up big time in the matchup, becoming the third Oilers netminder to record back-to-back shutouts in the postseason. He is the fifth goaltender in franchise history to keep the opposition from scoring in a series-clinching game. Skinner's remarkable improvement will make things interesting in the net for Edmonton once Pickard is healthy again. Pickard has not dropped a single game in these playoffs, while Skinner has built up great momentum. He is now 2-3 for the postseason with a 3.05 goals-against average and a .884 save percentage.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 14, 2025
Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard has saved some of his best playoff performances for series-clinching games and will hope to end another team's Stanley Cup dream on Wednesday night in Game 5 against the Vegas Golden Knights. Among defensemen who have played in at least five potential series-clinchers, Bouchard ranks fifth all-time with a scoring average of 1.25 points per game. Barry Beck holds the top mark with 1.38 points per game. The Oilers offense has once again received a big boost from Bouchard this postseason, as the 25-year-old has contributed four goals and eight assists in 10 games. Five of his 12 points have come in the series against the Golden Knights.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL Public Relations
May 14, 2025
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chatfield (undisclosed) will be in the lineup on Thursday for Game 5 against the Washington Capitals. The 28-year-old was hurt in Game 4 on Monday and did not participate in Wednesday's practice. However, Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour told reporters that Chatfield will be fine for Thursday's contest. In nine playoff outings, Chatfield has produced one goal with eight shots. Additionally, he has recorded 11 blocks and nine hits. Due to his offensive limitations, Chatfield is not a productive fantasy performer, but he plays an effective game for the Hurricanes, sitting tied for the team lead with a plus-six rating.
--Taavi PailkSource: Walt Ruff
May 14, 2025
Vegas Golden Knights left wing Brandon Saad (lower body) is not expected to return in the second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers, per SinBin.vegas. The veteran forward is set to miss a third consecutive game on Wednesday due to a lower-body injury. Saad has largely been anonymous in these playoffs, failing to score despite 13 shots on goal and registering two assists in eight games. Victor Olofsson has played regularly during Saad's absence. He exploded for three points (two goals, one assist) in Game 2 against the Oilers but has been held scoreless in the other three contests in the matchup.
--Taavi PailkSource: SinBin.vegas
May 14, 2025
Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone (undisclosed) may have to sit out Wednesday's Game 5 clash against the Edmonton Oilers. Sources have told SinBin.vegas that the Golden Knights do not expect to have Stone available for the contest. After suffering an upper-body injury in Game 3, Stone was also iffy for Monday's Game 4 but managed to play. However, it appears that the Golden Knights captain is not fully healthy, and the team will have to face Wednesday's elimination game without him. Due to Stone's absence, Cole Schwindt could make his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut.
--Taavi PailkSource: SinBin.vegas
May 14, 2025
Florida Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues (undisclosed) has been ruled out for Game 5 against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday. Rodrigues practiced on Tuesday despite being injured in Game 4, but he is not healthy enough to help his team on Wednesday night. The Panthers will use Jesper Boqvist on the top line as Rodrigues's replacement to start off Wednesday's game. Boqvist has been a healthy scratch for the past two games in the series. It has been a quiet postseason for the Swedish forward, as Boqvist has yet to score any points in seven appearances, recording only two shots on goal while averaging 7:14 of ice time.
--Taavi PailkSource: Jameson Olive
May 14, 2025
Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (illness) is expected to play in Wednesday's Game 5 against the Florida Panthers. He missed Tuesday's practice due to illness but returned to the ice for Wednesday's optional morning skate. Ekman-Larsson has contributed four points (two goals, two assists), 11 blocks, and 15 hits in the postseason, averaging 19:14 of ice time over 10 games. On Wednesday, he will continue working with Simon Benoit on the third defensive pairing and skate on the second power-play unit.
--Taavi PailkSource: David Alter
May 14, 2025
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz (upper body) was on the ice before Tuesday's practice but will not be an option for Wednesday's Game 5 against the Florida Panthers. "He's progressing," Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said of Stolarz. "He was on the ice a little bit, so he's doing much better." Berube did not confirm a timeline when asked if there was a chance Stolarz could return to action during the second round. The 31-year-old was outstanding at the start of the postseason, going 4-2 with a 2.19 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage. Stolarz's understudy, Joseph Woll, has finished 2-2 over four appearances, allowing 3.51 goals with a .893 save percentage. He has suffered back-to-back defeats in the series against Florida.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
May 14, 2025
Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey logged an assist in a third consecutive game on Tuesday night against the Dallas Stars, setting up Nikolaj Ehlers for a goal in a 3-1 defeat. He finished plus-one for the contest while recording two shots on goal and three blocks in 24:56 of action. Morrissey missed the series opener against Dallas due to injury, but he has not needed any time to find his offensive touch since returning to the lineup. In total, the 30-year-old has assisted on six goals this postseason in 10 games, logging three of his helpers on the power play. Morrissey has yet to score himself, despite taking 16 shots on goal. Without the puck, Morrissey has recorded 17 blocks and 18 hits.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 14, 2025
Winnipeg Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers scored the team's only goal in Tuesday's 3-1 loss to the Dallas Stars. The Danish forward led all skaters with five shots on goal and managed to get one puck past Jake Oettinger early in the second period, just 62 seconds in. After his postseason debut was delayed by injury, Ehlers has steadily begun to build momentum, averaging a point per game in the series against the Stars. However, he has had two scoreless outings in the matchup. Overall, Ehlers has notched three goals and five points in six postseason games, firing away 25 shots on goal. He remains a vital part of the Jets' offense, working on the second line and the first power-play unit.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 14, 2025
Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley finished Tuesday's 3-1 victory against the Winnipeg Jets with one assist, two hits, and a plus-one rating across 26:09 of ice time. He helped set up Mikael Granlund for a power-play goal in the first frame. The power-play assist extended Harley's postseason-opening home point streak to six games. Over the last 20 years, only Adam Fox of the New York Rangers has enjoyed a longer such run among defensemen. Harley has played a huge role for the Stars in the 2025 playoffs, registering nine points (three goals, six assists), 20 shots, 27 blocks, and 16 hits in 11 games. He appears set to continue as the leader on the Stars blue line for now, given that Miro Heiskanen logged only 14:52 of ice time in his return from injury Tuesday night.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 14, 2025
Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson opened his postseason scoring account with an assist in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets. His helper came in the first period when Mikael Granlund started the scoring with a power-play goal. Robertson missed the start of the playoffs due to a knee injury and played in only his fourth contest. The star winger has averaged less than 15 minutes of ice time per game as the team has tried to ease Robertson back into action. Despite his return to the fold, Granlund has remained on the first line and appears determined to hold onto his spot, having posted five points over the past two games. Still, Robertson is a great addition to the lineup, and his presence increases Dallas' chances of making a victorious cup run.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
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