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Matvei Michkov Expected to Rejoin Flyers Lineup Wednesday
Philadelphia Flyers winger Matvei Michkov will re-enter the lineup on Wednesday in Game 6 against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Jordan Hall of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports. The young Russian star was a healthy scratch in Game 5. This surprised many, but Michkov hasn't been impactful in the playoffs. After a 51-point regular season, he hasn't scored any points in four postseason outings, recording only four SOG. So far, he has averaged just 10:05 of ice time in the first-round series. Michkov has the ability to be a difference-maker, and it will be interesting to see how he responds to being scratched in the previous game.
Source: Jordan Hall
Source: Jordan Hall
Noah Ostlund Set to Miss "a Period of Time"
Buffalo Sabres center Noah Ostlund (lower body) appears to be done for the first-round series against the Boston Bruins. Jourdon LaBarber of the Sabres' official site reports that head coach Lindy Ruff expects Ostlund to miss "a period of time" after he suffered a lower-body injury in Tuesday's Game 5 loss. "The news wasn't good," Ruff said Wednesday. "Don't know exactly how much we know, but he's gonna miss some time." It's an unfortunate blow for Ostlund, who also sat out the start of the series due to injury. Josh Norris (undisclosed) is expected to enter the lineup as Ostlund's replacement in Game 6 on Friday.
Source: Jourdon LaBarber
Source: Jourdon LaBarber
Viktor Arvidsson Doubtful for Game 6 Against Sabres
Boston Bruins winger Viktor Arvidsson (upper body) could miss a second consecutive game on Friday against the Buffalo Sabres, Amalie Benjamin of NHL.com reports. "It's going to be hard," Bruins head coach Marco Sturm said about Arvidsson's availability on Wednesday. "It's definitely day to day, but it will be hard." The Swedish forward sustained an upper-body injury in Game 4 of the series and didn't travel to Buffalo for Game 5 on Tuesday. In the matchup, Arvidsson has produced two goals, both coming in Game 2. With him out, Michael Eyssimont got a chance to play on Tuesday night and is expected to remain on the third line in Game 6 if Arvidsson isn't healthy enough to play.
Source: Amalie Benjamin
Source: Amalie Benjamin
Barrett Hayton Close to Returning
Utah Mammoth center Barrett Hayton (upper body) is nearing his return to action, Nicholas J. Cotsonika of NHL.com reports. He has been nursing an upper-body injury since late March. On Wednesday morning, Mammoth head Andre Tourigny said Hayton will probably warm up before Game 5 against the Vegas Golden Knights, but he isn't expected to play. It's a sign that Hayton is close to 100 percent and could be an option later in the series. In 67 regular-season outings, Hayton managed 10 goals and 15 assists, while ranking third on his team with a 52.6 faceoff percentage.
Source: Nicholas J. Cotsonika
Source: Nicholas J. Cotsonika
Charle-Edouard D'Astous a Game-Time Call Wednesday
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Charle-Edouard D'Astous (undisclosed) could return to action in Game 5 against the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday, as he is considered a game-time decision. The 28-year-old has missed the last three games after suffering an undisclosed injury in the series opener. D'Astous had a decent debut campaign in 2025-26, totaling 29 points (six goals, 23 assists), 80 SOG, 74 blocks, and 96 hits in 70 contests. Maxwell Crozier and Declan Carlisle have filled in for D'Astous on the Lightning defense. Tampa Bay used Crozier in Game 4, and he will likely come out of the lineup on Wednesday night if D'Astous is ready to return.
Source: Sportsnet
Source: Sportsnet
Connor McDavid Extends Multi-Point Streak Tuesday
Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (ankle) sent out two assists as the team beat the Anaheim Ducks 4-1 in an elimination game on Tuesday night. The Oilers stayed alive in the series thanks to a quick start. They were already 3-0 up midway through the first period, with McDavid helping to set up the third goal. He added a power-play assist in the second period, extending his multi-point streak in the playoffs to three games. McDavid hurt his ankle early in the series and was a game-time decision for Tuesday night. Strangely, McDavid's productivity has actually improved since sustaining the injury. After going scoreless in the first two games against the Ducks, McDavid has notched one goal and five assists.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Hurricanes Hope to Have Nikolaj Ehlers Back for Second Round
Carolina Hurricanes winger Nikolaj Ehlers (lower body) didn't practice on Tuesday, but head coach Rod Brind'Amour hopes to have him available for the start of the second round in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Carolina was without the services of Ehlers last weekend as it closed out the first-round series against Ottawa. The Danish forward missed Game 4 due to a lower-body injury after contributing one assist in the first three games of the series. In Ehlers' absence, William Carrier moved up the lineup, and Nicolas Deslauriers made his 2026 postseason debut. If Ehlers remains unavailable for the Round 2 opener, the two could benefit again.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Alexander Nikishin Could Be Available in Round 2
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin (concussion) is making good progress, and the team hopes to have him available for Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Russian blue-liner suffered a concussion in Carolina's series-clinching win over Ottawa on Saturday. On Tuesday, Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour said "everything's trending in the right direction" on Nikishin, who had a solid rookie campaign with 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists) in 81 games. However, he couldn't replicate his regular-season form in the matchup with the Senators, finishing scoreless in four games. Mike Reilly and Charles-Alexis Legault will compete for Nikishin's spot in the lineup if he doesn't clear concussion protocol before the start of the second round.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Victor Hedman Logs Full Practice
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (personal) was a full participant in Tuesday's practice, Mike Zeisberger of NHL.com reports. Due to illness and personal reasons, the Lightning captain hasn't seen any action for more than a month, but he appears to be nearing his return. Last week, Lightning head coach Jon Cooper mentioned Hedman was on "the doubtful side" for the first-round series against Montreal. Cooper continues to hold his cards close to his heart. "That's hard to say right now," Cooper said after Tuesday's practice when quizzed about a potential timeline for Hedman's return. "But he's progressing. Like, he's taking steps. So, that's a positive side for us." With Hedman unavailable, Darren Raddysh has led the Lightning's blue line in the playoffs. He has registered two points (one goal, one assist), 14 SOG, and 10 hits in four games.
Source: Mike Zeisberger
Source: Mike Zeisberger
Noah Ostlund Likely to Miss Time Due to Lower-Body Injury
Buffalo Sabres center Noah Ostlund (lower body) is doubtful for Game 6 against the Boston Bruins on Friday. In Tuesday's Game 5, he sustained a lower-body injury in a collision with Bruins forward Casey Mittelstadt. Speaking after the game about Ostlund's injury, Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said, "It doesn't look good." Ostlund also missed a couple of games at the start of the series due to injury. He has recorded two points (one goal, one assist), four SOG, and a plus-three rating in three games against Boston. Ostlund's injury will hurt the Sabres, but they have a high-level replacement in Josh Norris (undisclosed), who was deemed available for Tuesday's action but didn't play.
Source: Sportsnet
Source: Sportsnet
Arttu Hyry Unlikely to Play Thursday
Dallas Stars right wing Arttu Hyry (lower body) likely won't be available on Thursday for Game 6 against the Minnesota Wild, R.J. Coyle of The Dallas Morning News reports. The Finnish forward was limited to 3:34 of ice time due to a lower-body injury in Tuesday's Game 5. "He's gonna get looked at tomorrow, but obviously he didn't get through the game," Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan told reporters. "I would say it's highly unlikely he'll be a player for us Thursday." On Tuesday night, Hyry made his fourth career Stanley Cup Playoffs appearance. He hasn't yet made an offensive impact but has seven hits in this series. Hyry's absence might give Michael Bunting a chance to make his 2026 postseason debut.
Source: R.J. Coyle
Source: R.J. Coyle
Jonas Brodin Spotted Using Crutches After Game 5
Minnesota Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin (lower body) could be out for some time after being spotted using crutches after Tuesday's Game 5 win over the Dallas Stars. The Swedish rearguard exited Tuesday's game with a lower-body injury after blocking a shot from Stars forward Mikko Rantanen in the second period. So far in the series, Brodin has averaged nearly three blocks per game, contributing one assist offensively. Daemon Hunt and Jeff Petry are the candidates to step in for Brodin if needed in Game 6 on Thursday.
Source: Sportsnet
Source: Sportsnet
Roope Hintz Likely to Miss Entire First-Round Series
Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz (lower body) is not expected to return to action during the first-round series against the Minnesota Wild. Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan has ruled Hintz out for Tuesday's Game 5 and Thursday's Game 6. He is also considered unlikely to play in a potential Game 7. A lower-body injury knocked Hintz out of the lineup on March 6. With Hintz absent, Justin Hryckowian has skated on the first line in the playoffs. He has been a physical force, recording 15 hits, but his offensive production has been limited. In four games, Hryckowian has contributed one assist and managed only one SOG.
Source: Sportsnet
Source: Sportsnet
Jason Zucker Good to Go for Game 5
Buffalo Sabres left wing Jason Zucker (undisclosed) will play in Game 5 against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday, Amalie Benjamin of NHL.com reports. He has been cleared for action after Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff labeled Zucker probable for the game on Monday. The veteran forward left Sunday's Game 4 early with an unspecified ailment. Zucker is expected to skate in his usual spot on the second line and will work with the first power-play unit. He has eight SOG but no points in four games in the series.
Source: Amalie Benjamin
Source: Amalie Benjamin
Josh Norris Won't Play Tuesday
Buffalo Sabres center Josh Norris (undisclosed) won't be in action on Tuesday against the Boston Bruins, Amalie Benjamin of NHL.com reports. On Tuesday morning, Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff told reporters that Norris is available for selection, but he didn't take part in line rushes during the morning skate. He will sit out a third consecutive game. Tyler Kozak (undisclosed) has been Norris' replacement in the lineup and is good to go on Tuesday after making an early exit in Sunday's Game 4. In the playoffs, Kozak has recorded one assist in two outings, averaging two hits and 9:47 of ice time per game.
Source: Amalie Benjamin
Source: Amalie Benjamin
