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Matt Duchene Records Second Consecutive Multi-Point Game
Dallas Stars forward Matt Duchane tallied three points in Wednesday's 4-3 double-overtime victory in Game 3 against the Minnesota Wild. After picking up two points in Game 2, Duchene showed he has not cooled off, collecting two assists in the first period and scoring a 3-3 game-tying goal in the third. Two of his points, including the vital goal midway through the third frame, came on the power play. Duchene's postseason production has been a huge bonus for the Stars. Despite the team's recent deep playoff runs, Duchene hasn't managed more than six points. He could now finish the first round this year with more points than he's had in either of his previous postseason campaigns with the Stars.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Sean Couturier Contributes Two Assists in Game 3 Win
Philadelphia Flyers center Sean Couturier registered two assists as the team grabbed a commanding 3-0 first-round series lead against the Pittsburgh Penguins with a 5-2 win on Wednesday. Philadelphia became the first team in nine years to have four first-time postseason goal-scorers in the same game, but Couturier made sure that the veteran group also made an impact. His assists came in the second period, when the Flyers turned a 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 lead. The Flyers captain has posted three assists in the first three postseason games, providing offensive creativity while also filling defensive duties against Sidney Crosby. The Penguins superstar has only one assist in the series and no even-strength points.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jackson LaCombe Ties Ducks Record With Three Points in Game 2
Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe logged three assists, including one on the power play, in Wednesday's 6-4 Game 2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. He tied the franchise record for most points by a defenseman in a single playoff game. LaCombe is the fourth Ducks blue-liner with as many as three points in a postseason contest, the first since Sami Vatanen in 2015. The 25-year-old has hit the ground running in his first postseason campaign, recording four assists in two games. Dating back to the regular season, he has finished on the score sheet in five consecutive outings. With Edmonton killing just 40 percent of penalties in the playoffs, LaCombe may keep thriving as the series progresses.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Alex Killorn Racks Up Three Points on Special Teams
Anaheim Ducks winger Alex Killorn was a major factor on special teams in Wednesday's 6-4 Game 2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. He notched a goal and an assist on the power play and completed his three-point game with a short-handed assist. The veteran was one of the top offensive performers after starting the series with a scoreless effort in Game 1. Killorn now boasts 80 points (38 goals, 42 assists) in 142 career postseason outings, adding a lot of playoff experience to this young Ducks squad.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Connor McDavid Finishes Pointless for Second Straight Game
Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid finished pointless for a second consecutive contest in Wednesday's Game 2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks. A scoring surge late in the season helped the Oilers captain secure his sixth Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's highest scorer, but Anaheim has brilliantly held him in check so far. McDavid has no goals with seven SOG in the series and finished Wednesday's 6-4 loss with a minus-two rating. The superstar forward also had an injury scare in Game 2 when he hurt his ankle, but this isn't expected to bother McDavid in the upcoming games. In Game 3, McDavid will try to avoid his first three-game point drought of the season.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Rasmus Sandin Undergoes ACL Surgery
Washington Capitals defenseman Rasmus Sandin (knee) has undergone ACL surgery and will be out for 6-9 months, the team announced. The Swedish blue-liner tore his right ACL in a game against Pittsburgh on April 11. Earlier this week, Capitals general manager Chris Patrick said Sandin's injury will affect the team's offseason plans. After John Carlson was traded to the Anaheim Ducks, Sandin had a larger role late in the season, finishing the campaign with 29 points (five goals, 24 assists), 90 SOG, 127 blocks, and 88 hits in 73 games. Unfortunately, he won't be able to build on it at the start of next season.
Source: Sportsnet
Source: Sportsnet
Noah Ostlund Could Return Thursday
Buffalo Sabres center Noah Ostlund (upper body) could return from a 12-game absence on Thursday against the Boston Bruins, Jourdon LaBarber of the Sabres' official site reports. "He's real close," Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said on Wednesday before the team departed for Boston. "I would consider him a possibility for tomorrow. He's feeling pretty good." Ostlund had a solid rookie campaign in 2025-26, posting 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists) in 60 appearances, while drawing praise for his defensive play. Jordan Greenway might drop out of the lineup if Ostlund is ready to return in Game 3.
Source: Jourdon LaBarber
Source: Jourdon LaBarber
Pontus Holmberg Will Miss Round 1
Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Pontus Holmberg (upper body) won't be an option during the first-round series against the Montreal Canadiens, Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site reports. On Wednesday, Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said Holmberg was still "a few weeks" away from returning. The Swedish forward suffered an upper-body injury in early April, finishing the regular-season campaign with 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists), 90 SOG, and 66 hits in 70 contests. Once he returns to full health, Holmberg will be in contention for a bottom-six role.
Source: Benjamin Pierce
Source: Benjamin Pierce
Charle-Edouard D'Astous Could Be an Option Friday
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Charle-Edouard D'Astous (undisclosed) has traveled with the team to Montreal for Games 3 and 4 of the first-round series, Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site reports. The first-round matchup continues on Friday, and D'Astous could be an option to rejoin the lineup after sitting out Game 2 with an undisclosed injury. "He's getting better," Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said of D'Astous on Wednesday. "He's progressing, so hopefully he'll be skating here in Montreal and then we'll see from there." If D'Astous isn't ready to return, Declan Carlile figures to remain in the lineup. He logged 17:38 of ice time in his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut on Tuesday, recording one SOG, one hit, and a minus-one rating in a 3-2 overtime win.
Source: Benjamin Pierce
Source: Benjamin Pierce
Victor Hedman Traveling With Team
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (personal) is traveling with the team for Games 3 and 4 against the Montreal Canadiens, Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site reports. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said Hedman's return is on "the doubtful side for this series." His comeback during the series appears unlikely, but it's good to see Hedman joining the Lightning for the road games. The Swedish veteran has been out of the lineup for more than a month because of illness and personal reasons. Without Hedman, the blue line leans heavily on Darren Raddysh, J.J. Moser, and Ryan McDonagh.
Source: Benjamin Pierce
Source: Benjamin Pierce
Radko Gudas Unavailable for Game 2
Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas (undisclosed) won't play in Game 2 against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night. Over the past month, the Ducks captain has played only a handful of games due to a lower-body injury. Now, he's back on the shelf after logging just 9:40 of ice time in Monday's Game 1. Gudas finished the contest with one SOG, one block, two hits, and a minus-one rating. Drew Helleson will draw into the lineup for his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut. The 25-year-old appeared in 60 games during the regular season, recording 15 points (two goals, 13 assists), 39 SOG, 79 blocks, 63 hits, and a minus-four rating.
Source: Sportsnet
Source: Sportsnet
Yakov Trenin Considered a Game-Time Decision Wednesday
Minnesota Wild forward Yakov Trenin (upper body) is considered a game-time call for Wednesday's tilt against the Dallas Stars, Dan Rosen of NHL.com reports. The heavy-hitting Russian sustained an upper-body injury in Monday's Game 2 and might join Mats Zuccarello (upper body) on the sidelines. Zuccarello is also a game-time decision on Wednesday. If they can't play, Bobby Brink is set to stay in the lineup, and Nico Strum will make his series debut. Trenin has gone scoreless against Dallas but already has 16 hits after two games.
Source: Dan Rosen
Source: Dan Rosen
Mats Zuccarello a Game-Time Call Wednesday
Minnesota Wild right wing Mats Zuccarello (upper body) is a game-time decision on Wednesday against the Dallas Stars, Dan Rosen of NHL.com reports. The Norwegian veteran is in danger of missing a second consecutive contest due to an upper-body injury. The timing of the injury couldn't be worse for Zuccarello and the Wild. In Game 1, Zuccarello was superb with three assists, and he has been on an offensive tear since late March. Across his last seven appearances, Zuccarello has recorded six multi-point games. Bobby Brink will remain in the lineup if Zuccarello can't make his return on Wednesday night.
Source: Dan Rosen
Source: Dan Rosen
Jack Eichel Sets Up Two Goals Tuesday
Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel tallied two assists, including a power-play helper, in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth. These are his first points in the first-round series. Among American players with at least 15 appearances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Eichel leads the pack with a scoring average of 1.07 points per game. Since April began, he has notched 12 points (two goals, 10 assists) in nine contests. The Mammoth must find a way to tame Eichel, or they won't make it past the first round.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Artemi Panarin Records Another Power-Play Goal
Los Angeles Kings left wing Artemi Panarin produced a power-play goal in Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. The second game of the series mirrored Game 1, with Panarin again L.A.'s lone goal-scorer on the power play. He's the eighth player in Kings history to score in both of his first two postseason outings with the team. Panarin has a lot of playoff pedigree, but it will take more than his efforts to get past the Presidents' Trophy winners. The series will continue on Thursday at Crypto.com Arena, where Panarin has been on the score sheet in five of his last six appearances.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
