RADIO
Roope Hintz Bumped Up To Top Line, Move Pays Dividends
3 weeks agoDallas Stars left wing Roope Hintz was inserted onto the top scoring line alongside forwards Jamie Benn and Alexander Radulov in Wednesday's Game 3 win in the Western Conference Semifinals against the St. Louis Blues, replacing Tyler Seguin. Hintz scored a goal in the second period with assists from his new linemates as the Stars were able to tie the series 2-2. Hintz managed just nine goals and 22 points in 58 regular season games, but he has five goals and eight points with a plus-two rating through 10 postseason games, emerging as a potential fantasy star heading into the 2019-20 season.Source: ESPN
Jordan Martinook, Andrei Svechnikov Scoreless In Returns
3 weeks agoCarolina Hurricanes left wing Jordan Martinook (lower body) and right wing Andrei Svechnikov (concussion) were each able to return to the lineup for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the New York Islanders. Martinook was scoreless with three shots on goal, a blocked shot and three hits in 12:02 of ice time across 19 shifts, while the rookie Svechnikov was back for the first time since his Game 3 fight against Washington's Alex Ovechkin. Svechnikov was also scoreless with two shots in 12:13 of ice time across 17 shifts. They'll look to get back onto the score sheet in Game 4 on Friday.Source: ESPN
Sebastian Aho, Teuvo Teravainen Help Canes 'Finnish' Game 3
3 weeks agoCarolina Hurricanes left wing Sebastian Aho scored a goal while adding an assist with a plus-one rating in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the New York Islanders on Wednesday, while left wing Teuvo Teravainen notched a pair of goals with a plus-three rating, four shots on net and a blocked shot, as the pair of Finnish skaters helped the Hurricanes to a commanding 3-0 series lead. Teravainen opened the scoring 6:41 into the game and the two Finns each added empty-net goals in the final minute. They'll look to keep it cooking in Game 4 on Friday night in the potential series-clincher.Source: ESPN
Curtis McElhinney Earns Victory In Game 3 Start
3 weeks agoCarolina Hurricanes goaltender Curtis McElhinney allowed two goals on 30 shots in Wednesday's Game 3 home victory against the New York Islanders in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, making the start for the injured Petr Mrazek (lower body). McElhinney was strong in this one, as he yielded just a power-play goal to Devon Toews and a wire job from Josh Bailey after a Carolina turnover at the blue line left him in a tough spot. Mrazek hasn't been ruled out for Game 4, but with the Hurricanes holding a commanding 3-0 series lead, he won't be rushed back. McElhinney is more than capable of doing the job, and he has two straight victories in this series.Source: ESPN
Robin Lehner Comes Up Short In Game 3 Road Loss
3 weeks agoNew York Islanders goaltender Robin Lehner allowed three goals on 36 shots in Wednesday's 5-2 road loss in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Carolina Hurricanes. The game wasn't as lopsided as the score indicates, as it was 2-2 entering the final period, and Lehner didn't allow the go-ahead goal until 10:15 of the third period. The final two tallies were of the empty-net variety. Lehner and the Islanders have been pushed to the brink of elimination and need to rattle off four straight wins, starting with Friday's Game 4 back in Raleigh.Source: ESPN
Philipp Grubauer Makes 27 Saves In Home Loss
3 weeks agoColorado Avalanche goaltender Philipp Grubauer allowed three goals on 30 shots in a home loss in Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals on Tuesday night against the San Jose Sharks. As such, the Avalanche coughed up home-ice advantage back to the Sharks after splitting the first two games in the Bay Area. After dominating in the first round against the Calgary Flames, Grubauer has struggled with a 1-2-0 record, 3.39 goals-against average and .889 save percentage in three games so far in this series. He'll look to help the Avs square the series in Game 4 on Thursday in Denver.Source: ESPN
Martin Jones Coughs Up Two Goals In Game 3 Road Win
3 weeks agoSan Jose Sharks goaltender Martin Jones turned aside 25 of the 27 shots he faced in Tuesday's 4-2 road victory against the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Semifinals as the backstop helped the Sharks to a 2-1 series lead. After starting out the postseason with a 1-3-0 record, he has rattled off five victories over his past six outings with a 2.06 goals-against average and .935 save percentage during the six-game span. He'll look to stay hot in Game 4 in the Mile High City on Thursday night.Source: ESPN
Logan Couture Records Hat Trick In Game 3 Victory
3 weeks agoSan Jose Sharks center Logan Couture registered a hat trick with a plus-three rating, four shots on net, a minor penalty and a hit across 17:20 of ice time over 28 shifts in Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday. It was Couture's first career playoff hatty. The three-goal outing included a score over the shoulder of Avalanche goaltender Philipp Grubauer, and it stood up as the game-winning tally. Couture has been on fire in the postseason, posting nine goals with 12 points and a plus-three rating with three power-play goals and an assist on the man advantage in 10 playoff games. Next up is Game 4 in Denver on Thursday.Source: ESPN
Curtis McElhinney To Make Start In Game 3
3 weeks agoCarolina Hurricanes goaltender Curtis McElhinney will draw the start in between the pipes for Game 3 against the New York Islanders on Wednesday in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. It will be his first Stanley Cup playoff start, and at 35 years, 343 days, he will become the oldest goaltender to make his first postseason start in NHL history. He is needed with Petr Mrazek (lower body) exiting Game 2 early due to a lower-body injury. With Mrazek out, it will be Alex Nedeljkovic coming up from Charlotte of the AHL to serve as McElhinney's understudy.Source: NHL.com - Kurt Dusterberg
Petr Mrazek Unavailable For Game 3
3 weeks agoCarolina Hurricanes goaltender Petr Mrazek (lower body) will not be available for Game 3 against the New York Islanders on Wednesday night in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. It will be Curtis McElhinney who is tasked with protecting the crease in the home game. McElhinney was thrust into action in Game 2 with his team down a goal, and he stopped all 17 shots he faced in the 2-1 win, picking up his first career NHL postseason victory. Head coach Rod Brind'Amour did not rule out Mrazek for Friday's Game 4, also in Raleigh.Source: NHL.com - Tom Gulitti
William Nylander To Play For Sweden In Worlds
3 weeks agoToronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander will play for Team Sweden at the IIHF World Championship from May 10-26. He should be well-rested after missing training camp, the preseason and 28 regular season games into December due to a contract impasse. He was finally paid and he made his season debut Dec. 6, but he amassed just seven goals and 27 points in 54 regular season games. Nylander also totaled a goal and three points in the team's seven-game series loss in the opening round of the playoffs. "He wasn't a good player...he needs to get outta here, he needs to get home, he needs to get recharged, he needs to get training and get back on track and get his swagger back," head coach Mike Babcock said.Source: TSN.ca
Andre Burakovsky Will Not Participate In Worlds
3 weeks agoWashington Capitals left wing Andre Burakovsky will not take part in the IIHF World Championship for Team Sweden. He will be a restricted free agent this summer and he likely will skip the tournament as a precaution, as any potential injury would keep him from earning a big payday. Burakovsky managed 12 goals and 25 points with a plus-two rating across 76 regular season games and he added one goal and two points with five shots in the team's seven-game series loss against the Carolina Hurricanes. Unless he moves to another organization and can secure a top-six forward spot, Burakovsky remains useful only in deeper fantasy pools until further notice.Source: The Washington Post - Isabelle Khurshudyan
Nicklas Backstrom Will Not Play In IIHF Championship
3 weeks agoWashington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom (hip) will not participate for Team Sweden at the IIHF World Championship, declining the invitation and citing a need to rest his ailing hip. Backstrom registered 22 goals and 52 assists with a plus-two rating, and he added seven power-play goals and 25 points on the man advantage across 80 regular season games. He is still just 31 years old and he has registered 70 or more points in six consecutive seasons. Backstrom is as steady as they come and he'll be a tremendous early-round option in most fantasy pools again in 2019-20.Source: The Washington Post - Isabelle Khurshudyan
Auston Matthews Will Not Play In World Championships
3 weeks agoToronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews will not be taking part in the IIHF World Championships. Fantasy owners in long-term dynasty pools aren't terribly upset that he won't participate and will rest instead. He registered 37 goals and 73 points across 68 games during the regular season, missing some time due to a wonky shoulder. He added five goals and six points in the seven-game playoff series loss against the Boston Bruins, showing much better in the postseason than his previous appearances. He'll be a high-round fantasy selection in redraft leagues yet again in 2019-20.Source: Sportsnet.ca - John Shannon
Matt Duchene Continues To Pay Big Dividends
3 weeks agoColumbus Blue Jackets center Matt Duchene registered a power-play goal in Game 3 against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, and the goal stood up as the game-winning tally. The former Senator got off to a slow start in his initial days in C-Bus, but he is making up for lost time during the postseason when the lights shine their brightest. He has registered five goals with nine points and a plus-five rating through seven postseason games, including three scores on the power play and game-winning tallies in back-to-back contests in this series. Game 4 is set for Thursday in Columbus.Source: ESPN
