RADIO
Mats Zuccarello Remains Out Saturday
Minnesota Wild right wing Mats Zuccarello (upper body) won't be an option for Saturday's Game 4 against the Dallas Stars, Dan Rosen of NHL.com reports. He will be out for a third straight contest after being initially labeled a game-time decision. Zuccarello's absence has allowed Bobby Brink to jump on the first line. The 24-year-old has struggled to find chemistry with his new teammates since joining from Philadelphia, but he did contribute a power-play assist in Wednesday's Game 3 loss. On Saturday, Brink will attempt to record points in back-to-back games for only the second time as a Wild player.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Nikolaj Ehlers Dealing With Lower-Body Injury
Carolina Hurricanes winger Nikolaj Ehlers (lower body) was a late scratch for Saturday's Game 4 against the Ottawa Senators. Ehlers averaged over 20 minutes of ice time in the first three games of the series and didn't appear to be limited in any way, but a lower-body injury knocked him out of the lineup. The Danish forward has tallied one assist in the lower-scoring matchup. With Ehlers unavailable, Nicolas Deslauriers jumped into action. Carolina has a chance to end the series on Saturday, which would give Ehlers a lot of recovery time before the next game.
Source: Carolina Hurricanes PR
Source: Carolina Hurricanes PR
Kirby Dach Battles and Scores Two Points in Friday Triumph
Montreal Canadiens center Kirby Dach has not had the easiest NHL career. Dach has battled through frequent injuries and worse. However, on Friday night, he was clutch on the ice, even with limited ice time. Despite playing less than 12 minutes, the center scored a goal and added an assist in Montreal's 3-2 overtime win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Dach managed two shots on goal and was on the ice for all of the Canadiens goals. Alexandre Texier also had a goal and assist, but noted that Dach was able to screen Andrei Vasilevskiy, which led to the Lane Hutson overtime tally. A little self confidence goes a long way, and Dach could see more ice time going forward in this series.
Source: Stu Cowan
Source: Stu Cowan
Connor McDavid Delivers Mixed-Bag Performance Friday
Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid lit the lamp on Friday night and added an assist. The power-play goal in the third period cut the deficit to one at the time. However, Jackson LaCombe continued to frustrate the center of the Oilers early and often. McDavid appeared almost a step slow at times. He did have three shots on goal but missed three shots. The captain of Edmonton was also minus-four with two giveaways. McDavid did deliver three hits in the 7-4 Game 3 defeat. He also lost eight of 11 face-offs at the dot. Something appears off, whether it be injury or frustration, but the Oilers may have to consider playing Leon Draisaitl with McDavid more often.
Source: Eric Friesen
Source: Eric Friesen
Karel Vejmelka Saves Utah With Huge Effort Friday
Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka was peppered on Friday night with a lot of shots from the Vegas Golden Knights, but the Mammoth goaltender turned aside 30 shots in the 4-2 victory. Vejmelka held Vegas to two goals on the road in Game 2. However, his performance in Game 3 may have been the highlight of Friday night. Vejmelka made quite a few sensational saves and kept Vegas from making a comeback. Utah only managed 12 shots on goal as the ice tilted toward the Czech goalie. There is a reason why the workhorse, who started 64 games (38 wins), continues to be relied on so heavily. He makes the extra save, including a critical one on Tomas Hertl late to preserve the two-goal lead.
Source: Jesse Granger
Source: Jesse Granger
Lane Hutson Scores Crucial Overtime Goal in Montreal Win
Defenseman Lane Hutson called his own shot early in overtime on Friday night for the Montreal Canadiens. The defenseman launched a blast past Andrei Vasilevskiy to give Montreal a critical 3-2 win in Game 3 of their best-of-seven series. Not only did the Canadiens go up 2-1 in the series, but now they have home-ice advantage back. Hutson also blocked four shots, produced two shots on goal, and delivered three hits. Hutson scored 12 goals during the regular season but has two already in three postseason games, as the young defenseman continues to produce at the right time for Montreal.
Source: Michael Traikos
Source: Michael Traikos
Lawson Crouse Cashes in With Two Goals for Utah
Utah Mammoth forward Lawson Crouse is a big-bodied left winger who can throw his body around. Crouse can also score playoff goals that most pundits talk about. The forward delivered on Friday night with two goals, including the game-winner in a 4-2 Mammoth win. Crouse tallied twice in the middle frame to push the Utah lead to 4-0. He may have had only two shots on goal, but both changed the trajectory of the game. Crouse also delivered four hits in the win as Utah went up two games to one on the Vegas Golden Knights. The left winger has had his chances in all three games of the series, but Game 3 proved to be the charm.
Source: Utah Mammoth PR
Source: Utah Mammoth PR
Mikael Granlund Serves Up Trio of Assists in Anaheim Big Win
Anaheim Ducks center Mikael Granlund continued to impress as he dished out three assists and added a power-play goal in Anaheim's 7-4 win on Friday night. Granlund turned several plays into goals solely from second effort alone. He had a second goal wiped off the board due to a high stick in the second period, but that did not slow Granlund down. The Anaheim center also delivered four hits as the 34-year-old, along with the Ducks' offense, wore down the Edmonton defense. Granlund and the Ducks are playing fun hockey and wearing down the Oilers, especially later in contests.
Source: Zach Cavanagh
Source: Zach Cavanagh
Troy Terry Available for Game 3 Against Oilers
Anaheim Ducks right wing Troy Terry (undisclosed) will play in Game 3 against the Edmonton Oilers on Friday, Hayley Elwood of the Ducks' official site reports. Terry missed the morning skate, but Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville has confirmed he will remain in the lineup. The long season has taken a toll on Terry's body, and he has regularly skipped morning skates lately. While it appears Terry is banged up, he hasn't let it affect his performance. In the series between two high-octane offenses, Terry has been the top-scoring forward alongside Edmonton's Leon Draisaitl. He has contributed two goals and two assists through the first two games.
Source: Hayley Elwood
Source: Hayley Elwood
Radko Gudas Misses Second Straight Game Friday
Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas (lower body) isn't an option for Game 3 against the Edmonton Oilers on Friday, Hayley Elwood of the Ducks' official site reports. The Ducks lost their captain to a lower-body injury late in the regular season, and Gudas has appeared in only two games this month. Drew Helleson filled the void in the lineup in Game 2 and is set to keep his spot on Friday night. In his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut, Helleson recorded one SOG, three hits, and a minus-one rating in 7:52 of ice time. Anaheim is rolling with seven defensemen, which led to four rearguards logging 23-plus minutes in Game 2. The top-four group will remain busy on Friday against Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
Source: Hayley Elwood
Source: Hayley Elwood
Charle-Edouard D'Astous Unavailable Friday
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Charle-Edouard D'Astous (undisclosed) will miss Friday's Game 3 against the Montreal Canadiens, Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times reports. The 28-year-old was injured in the series opener last weekend and didn't play in Tuesday's Game 2. There was a chance D'Astous would return on Friday night after traveling with the team, but he will remain out. Victor Hedman (personal) also isn't ready to return, allowing Declan Carlile and Emil Lilleberg to stay in the lineup. Meanwhile, Darren Raddysh and J.J. Moser will continue to split power-play duties among the defensemen.
Source: Eduardo A. Encina
Source: Eduardo A. Encina
Dan Vladar Considered a Game-Time Call for Saturday
Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar (arm) will be a game-time call on Saturday against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Adam Kimelman of NHL.com reports. The Czech netminder has been one of the stars of the series, but he appeared to injure his right arm in Game 3. Vladar didn't practice on Thursday, while Philadelphia had an off day on Friday. "It's another maintenance day for him," Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet said Friday. "Two days off is going to help him. That's basically it for him. We'll see how he is tomorrow." In the first-round matchup, Vladar has backstopped the Flyers to a 3-0 lead, posting a 1.33 goals-against average, a .947 save percentage, and one shutout. If Vladar is unavailable on Saturday, Philadelphia must turn to Samuel Ersson, who coughed up 3.12 goals with a .870 save percentage during the regular season.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Jake Sanderson Ruled Out for Game 4 Due to Concussion
Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson (concussion) will miss Saturday's must-win game against the Carolina Hurricanes. In Thursday's Game 3 of the first-round series, Sanderson took a hit to the head from Hurricanes forward Taylor Hall and has been diagnosed with a concussion. Senators head coach Travis Green told reporters on Friday that Sanderson is "not doing well." Now that Sanderson is on the shelf, Ottawa must face Saturday's elimination game without its top defensive pairing. Artem Zub (undisclosed), who was injured in Game 1, also won't play. Thomas Chabot and Jordan Spence are set to eat up as many minutes as they can handle, making both attractive DFS targets.
Source: Reuters
Source: Reuters
Yakov Trenin Won't Play in Game 4 Against Stars
Minnesota Wild forward Yakov Trenin (upper body) won't be in the lineup on Saturday in Game 4 against the Dallas Stars, Dan Rosen of NHL.com reports. Trenin was hurt in Game 2 of the series when he absorbed a big hit from Stars forward Colin Blackwell. His absence has left the Wild without a huge physical presence, as Trenin averaged eight hits per game across the first two contests in the series. Nico Strum took Trenin's spot in the lineup in Wednesday's Game 3, recording three hits and a minus-one rating in 9:00 of ice time.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Mats Zuccarello a Game-Time Decision Saturday
Minnesota Wild right wing Mats Zuccarello (upper body) will be a game-time decision on Saturday against the Dallas Stars, Dan Rosen of NHL.com reports. He has missed a pair of games due to an upper-body injury but could be available for Game 4 of the first-round series. "He's questionable for tomorrow, making good strides," Wild head coach John Hynes said after Friday's practice. Bobby Brink has skated on the first line during Zuccarello's absence, posting one power-play assist in two games. Zuccarello started the series with a three-assist effort before being knocked out of the lineup. Overall, he has recorded six multi-point games in his last seven appearances, making Zuccarello a key part of Minnesota's offense.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
