2 days agoDallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger was extremely sharp on Saturday, stopping 28 of 29 shots to secure a 4-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche in Game 3 of their second-round series. Oettinger made some big saves throughout the game, giving the Stars the performance they needed to take a 2-1 lead in the series. The 25-year-old is having a solid postseason, putting up a .919 SV% and 2.12 GAA in 10 games. Dallas will need Oettinger to keep playing like he is in order to get through the high-powered Avalanche offense and into the Conference Finals.Source: NHL.com
2 days agoCarolina Hurricanes defenseman Brady Skjei came to the rescue on Saturday, scoring a late powerplay goal to give the Canes a 4-3 win over the New York Rangers in Game 4 of their second-round series. Skjei took a slapshot from the point that beat Igor Shesterkin through a screen in front and it turned out to be the game-winner. Skjei has followed up a career year with an equally impressive playoff, notching eight points (one goal, seven assists) in nine games thus far.Source: NHL.com
2 days agoNew York Rangers winger Alexis Lafreniere potted another goal in a 4-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 4 of their second-round series. Lafreniere scored early in the third to tie the game up and give the Rangers a chance to sweep the series. The 22-year-old has truly broken out in these playoffs, posting 10 points (four goals, six assists) in eight games while playing on a dynamic second line with Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck. His elite play is a great sign for the Rangers and should perk up fantasy player's interests heading into next season.Source: NHL.com
2 days agoCarolina Hurricanes winger Teuvo Teravainen notched a pair of assists in a 4-3 victory in Game 4 of the team's second-round series against the New York Rangers. Teravainen had an assist in the first period, but more importantly had a powerplay assist on Brady Skjei's game-winning goal late in the third period to give the Canes their first win of the series. Teravainen now has six points (two goals, four assists) in nine games this postseason and has been an integral part of Carolina's second line with Jordan Staal and Seth Jarvis.Source: NHL.com
2 days agoDallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger will look to post a second consecutive win in Saturday's Game 3 against Colorado. After giving up four goals on 26 shots in the series opener, Oettinger stopped 28 pucks in a 5-3 victory on Thursday, helping the Stars tie the series at one. Dallas' No. 1 has previously won back-to-back starts only once this postseason -- he put together a three-game winning streak in the first round against Vegas. Overall, Oettinger has gone 5-4-0 in the playoffs, allowing 2.24 goals with a .914 save percentage.Source: ESPN
2 days agoNew York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin has a chance to set a new franchise record with an eighth consecutive postseason win on Saturday against Carolina. He matched Mike Richter with a seventh straight win on Thursday when Shesterkin produced 45 saves in a 3-2 overtime victory. Another win would also help the Rangers tie a league record for the longest postseason-opening winning streak. Shesterkin has played his part in the success with a 2.01 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage.Source: ESPN
2 days agoDallas Stars defenseman Jani Hakanpaa (lower body) will remain out for Game 3 against Colorado on Saturday. He's yet to feature in the 2024 postseason after also missing the final 13 regular-season games. Miro Heiskanen, who's tied for most postseason points on the team with eight points (three assists, five assists) in nine games, will continue to lead Dallas' blue line. Thomas Harley, Esa Lindell, and Chris Tanev also log heavy minutes at the back for the Stars.Source: Ryan Boulding
2 days agoBoston Bruins left wing Danton Heinen (undisclosed) joined the team for a full practice on Saturday and could be ready to return to action on Sunday versus Florida. He has been out for five games with an undisclosed injury. Heinen, who boasts one assist in five games this postseason, worked on a line with Charlie Coyle and Trent Frederic on Saturday and took up a spot on the second power-play unit. Heinen could be Brad Marchand's (upper body) replacement in the lineup. The Bruins captain is iffy for Sunday's contest after getting injured in Friday's Game 3.Source: Gayle Troiani
2 days agoBoston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (upper body) is considered day-to-day after getting hurt in Game 3 against Florida on Friday. The Bruins captain was injured by a controversial hit from Panthers forward Sam Bennett, exiting the contest after logging 10:51 of ice time. Marchand, who has totaled 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in as many games this postseason, couldn't practice on Saturday. Game 4 of the series is scheduled for Sunday.Source: Belle Fraser
2 days agoNew York Rangers center Filip Chytil (illness) is considered a game-time decision on Saturday against Carolina. Chytil was back from a six-month absence in Game 3 of the series but might have to come out of the lineup again after waking up not feeling well on Saturday. Matt Rempe was scratched to accommodate Chytil on Thursday and will get a chance to jump back into action if Chytil isn't available for Game 4.Source: Vince Z. Mercogliano
3 days agoBoston Bruins left wing Danton Heinen (undisclosed) remains day-to-day and won't play in Game 3 against the Panthers on Friday. He will miss a fifth consecutive game after suffering an unspecified injury in the first round of the playoffs against Toronto. Heinen collected one assist in five games before getting knocked out of the lineup. Justin Brazeau has taken his spot on the third line, putting in a few impressive performances. He recorded points in back-to-back games before Boston suffered a heavy 6-1 defeat against Florida in Game 2 on Wednesday.Source: Conor Ryan
3 days agoBoston Bruins defenseman Andrew Peeke (finger) has been declared available for Friday's Game 3 against Florida and is expected to replace Parker Wotherspoon on the third defensive pairing. Peeke returns from a finger injury he suffered in the opening-round battle against the Maple Leafs. The 26-year-old recorded three blocks and four hits with a minus-one rating in the first couple of postseason games before getting hurt. Peeke has yet to score for the Bruins since joining the team from Columbus in March but did post two assists in 15 games during the regular season.Source: Belle Fraser
3 days agoBoston Bruins forward Jakub Lauko will be re-inserted into the lineup for Friday's Game 3 against Florida. He's back in Jim Montgomery's plans for the first time since Game 2 against Toronto in the first round. Lauko averaged 10:43 of ice time and went scoreless with five shots on goal and an even rating in the first two playoff games before getting scratched. He managed 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in 60 regular-season appearances. The Czech forward is expected to replace Jesper Boqvist on the fourth line on Friday.Source: Fluto Shinzawa
3 days agoEdmonton Oilers forward Adam Henrique (lower body) could jump back into action on Friday against Vancouver. He's officially considered a game-time decision for the contest. After averaging close to 16 minutes per game on the top line in Round 1, Henrique was unavailable when Edmonton kicked off the second-round series against the Canucks on Wednesday. Mattias Janmark took over his position next to Connor McDavid, while Connor Brown made his postseason debut on the fourth line. Brown could be the odd man out again on Friday if Henrique returns, although a question mark hangs over Leon Draisaitl (undisclosed), and his absence would result in a significant line shake-up.Source: Brendan Bachelor
3 days agoEdmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (undisclosed) is a game-time call for Friday's Game 2 against Vancouver. He was bothered by cramps in the series opener on Wednesday, missing some time in the second period before returning in the third. Draisaitl didn't skate on Thursday, but it would be a major surprise if he isn't in the lineup Friday night. The German star is enjoying another excellent postseason campaign with 12 points (five goals, seven assists) collected across six appearances. He's had multiple points in five games, notching three goals and five assists on the power play.Source: Brendan Bachelor