April 27, 2025
St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington saved 30 of 31 shots in Sunday's 5-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets. The Blues managed to tie the first-round series at two despite falling behind in Sunday's game. Kyle Connor beat Binnington in the first period, but he rebounded well from the setback, finishing with 19 consecutive saves. Binnington allowed six goals in the first two games of the series, but he stifled the Jets offense on home ice, giving up three goals in two contests. The Blues No. 1 now holds a 2.29 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage for the playoffs. With the series shifting back to Winnipeg for Game 5, Binnington must prove that he can also do the business for St. Louis on the road.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 27, 2025
Montreal Canadiens winger Patrik Laine (upper body) is likely to miss a second consecutive game on Sunday against the Washington Capitals. The Finnish forward did not participate in the morning skate as he continues to recover from an upper-body injury. Laine has recorded one assist, six shots, and a minus-two rating over two games in the series. In his absence, Ivan Demidov joined the first power-play unit in Friday's Game 3. Montreal secured a big 6-3 victory on Friday night, but the Russian youngster was quiet and is still seeking his first postseason points. He has recorded one shot on goal and a minus-two rating against Washington, averaging 13:28 of ice time.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Dan Rosen
April 27, 2025
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (lower body) is considered day-to-day. After suffering a lower-body injury in Friday's 6-3 victory over the Washington Capitals, he is likely to miss Sunday's Game 4. Montembeault has registered a 2.76 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage in the first-round series. Jakub Dobes is set to take over the crease on Sunday, with Cayden Primeau serving as his backup. Montembeault's injury is a setback for the Canadiens, but Dobes held his own during the regular season with a 7-4-3 record, demonstrating that the team can rely on him. Coming in for Montembeault on Friday, he saved seven of eight shots.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Renaud Lavoie
April 27, 2025
Washington Capitals forward Aliaksei Protas (foot) is considered a game-time decision for Sunday's matchup against the Montreal Canadiens. Protas fully participated in Saturday's practice and could return to action after a nine-game absence. The Capitals have averaged 3.00 goals per game in the playoffs, but Protas could provide an additional boost to the offense. He had a breakout campaign with 30 goals and 66 points in 76 games. Protas is a candidate to join the top six, although the Capitals may reintroduce the 24-year-old into the lineup in a reduced role, especially with Anthony Beauvillier performing well on the first line.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
April 27, 2025
Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson (lower body) is a game-time decision for Sunday's contest against the Montreal Canadiens. The in-form netminder suffered a lower-body injury in Game 3 on Friday but might be available to play on Sunday after participating in the morning skate. Thompson has played a big role in Washington's success in the first-round series, posting a 2.73 goals-against average with a .917 save percentage. If he isn't available on Sunday, the Capitals will turn to Charlie Lindgren, who stopped four of five shots during a relief effort on Friday night.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
April 27, 2025
Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander finished with two assists as the team suffered a 4-3 overtime loss on Saturday against the Ottawa Senators. Nylander's efforts helped John Tavares and Oliver Ekman-Larsson score, with the latter extending the game with a goal 5:29 before the end of regulation. Ottawa has had a tough time against Nylander throughout the series, as the Swedish star has posted at least one point in all four games, tallying one goal and five assists with 12 shots. He has bagged three of his six points on the power play. Nylander and the Maple Leafs will get their next chance to eliminate the Senators on Tuesday night on home ice.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 27, 2025
Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson potted a huge goal in Game 4 against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, scoring a 4-3 winner in overtime to extend the series. The Senators were in danger of being swept in the first round and gave up a late game-tying goal in the third period. However, Sanderson was able to keep his team alive with a strike at the 17:42 mark in overtime. The 22-year-old also notched a power-play assist in the contest, leading all skaters on the team in ice time with 30:05. He finished with three shots, three blocks, one hit, and two penalty minutes. For the series, Sanderson has logged three points (one goal, two assists), nine shots, eight blocks, and four hits in four games.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 27, 2025
Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 23 shots en route to his first career postseason shutout in Saturday's 4-0 victory over the Dallas Stars. Blackwood had suffered a pair of overtime defeats in the series before putting together a perfect display. Colorado last recorded a shutout in the playoffs in Game 2 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals. Blackwood impressed with the Avalanche during the regular season, going 22-12-3, and has maintained the momentum in the playoffs. After four games in the series, Blackwood boasts a 1.60 goals-against average and a .939 save percentage.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 27, 2025
Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog was among the goal-scorers in Saturday's 4-0 victory over the Dallas Stars, lighting the lamp for the first time since Game 3 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals. He netted a one-timer off an assist from Brock Nelson in the second period to put Colorado ahead 3-0 for the night. Landeskog went on to collect an assist in the third period when Samuel Girard scored the final goal of the game. He registered three shots and two hits to complement his two points over 14:37 of action. Landeskog's return from a nearly three-year absence is an incredible story, and he has quickly proven that he can still be an impactful two-way player with two points and eight hits across two games.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 27, 2025
Vegas Golden Knights forward Ivan Barbashev registered two points, including the game-winning goal, in Saturday's 4-3 overtime victory against the Minnesota Wild. Minnesota was looking to grab a 3-1 playoff series lead for the first time in franchise history, but Barbashev had other plans. He picked up an early power-play assist and scored his first career overtime goal in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with 17:26 played in the extra frame. These are Barbashev's first points of the postseason. He has been held in check by the Wild after Barbashev had his second 50-point campaign, notching 23 goals and 28 assists in 70 regular-season games.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 27, 2025
Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov recorded three assists in Saturday's 5-1 victory against the Florida Panthers. The Lightning desperately needed a road win to avoid falling into a 3-0 hole in the series, and one of their leaders stepped up big time in the contest. Kucherov had managed only one point -- a power-play assist -- in the first two games of the matchup. He now holds 11 career postseason games with three or more helpers, ranking third all-time behind Wayne Gretzky (28) and Mark Messier (12). When Kucherov is in form, the Lightning perform well, and the team will hope he can sustain his productivity for the rest of the way.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 27, 2025
Edmonton Oilers defenseman Troy Stecher (undisclosed) will be an option for Game 4 against the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday. The 31-year-old has missed five consecutive games due to an undisclosed injury. Stecher recorded seven points (three goals, four assists), 55 shots, 66 blocks, and 35 hits in 66 games during the regular season. Although he has not made a significant impact with the Oilers, the team may decide to shake up its defense after allowing 16 goals over the first three games of the series. Ty Emberson, who has registered three shots, seven hits, and three blocks in the series, could be the one heading to the press box.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Daniel Nugent-Bowman
April 26, 2025
New Jersey Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon (lower body) is not ready to return to the lineup for Game 4 against the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday. He will miss a third consecutive contest after suffering a lower-body injury in the series opener. Dillon's absence has given Simon Nemec a chance to play in back-to-back games. Following a largely anonymous effort from him in Game 2, Nemec made headlines with the winning goal in Friday's 3-2 double-overtime victory. He found the back of the net with his fifth shot on goal and logged two blocks and one hit in 22:39 of ice time.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Amanda Stein
April 26, 2025
New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes (upper body) will miss a third consecutive game on Sunday against the Carolina Hurricanes. Hughes suffered an upper-body injury in Game 1 of the series. Following a trip to the locker room, he was able to finish the contest, but the Devils have since removed Hughes from the lineup. This has allowed Dougie Hamilton to reclaim a spot on the top power-play unit. However, Hamilton has had a quiet series, posting one assist in three games. He went scoreless in 31:16 of ice time in Game 3, including 6:21 with the man advantage.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Amanda Stein
April 26, 2025
Washington Capitals forward Aliaksei Protas (foot) is on track to rejoin the lineup for Sunday's Game 4 against the Montreal Canadiens. He was a full participant in Saturday's practice and could make his first appearance since April 4, when Protas sustained a skate cut on the top of his left foot during a matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks. Protas was highly effective for the Capitals during the regular season, putting up a career-high 30 goals and 66 points in 76 games, while ranking third in the league with a plus-40 rating. Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery will have some big decisions to make, as Protas' replacement on the first line, Anthony Beauvillier, has had a great start to the postseason with four points (one goal, three assists) in three games.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Dan Rosen
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