1 week agoFlorida Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling finished off the Boston Bruins with a late third-period goal in Game 6 of their second-round series. Forsling's tie-breaking goal put a dagger into the Bruins playoff hopes as it came with just 93 seconds left. The 27-year-old blueliner has shown up big this postseason, picking up seven points (two goals, five assists) in 11 games while providing stellar defensive play for the Panthers. Knowing what Forsling has accomplished in his time in Florida, it's crazy to think that the Panthers originally acquired him by claiming him off waivers in 2021.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
1 week agoDallas Stars forward Jamie Benn scored a clutch game-tying goal in the third period of Game 6 against the Colorado Avalanche, giving the team the opportunity they needed to win it in overtime. Benn scored early in the third on a beautiful passing play, tucking the puck neatly into an open cage. The 34-year-old veteran now has three goals and five assists for eight points in 13 playoff games, including five points in six second-round games. Benn has been a big part of Dallas' outstanding depth all season and has continued to shine in that role in the playoffs.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
1 week agoDallas Stars forward Matt Duchene scored off a net-front scramble in double overtime of Game 6 to secure Dallas' spot in the Western Conference Final. Duchene's goal gave the Stars a 2-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche, sending the former packing. In a "puck don't lie" moment, Duchene scored the game-winner after being involved in a controversial goaltender interference call earlier in overtime that many thought should have ended the game in the Stars' favor. It ended up not mattering, though, as Duchene scored his second goal of the postseason at the most opportune time. He's added four assists to total six points in 13 playoff games in a depth role for the Stars.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
1 week agoDallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger was spectacular in a series-clinching 2-1 double-overtime win over the Colorado Avalanche in Game 6 of their second-round series. Oettinger stopped 29 of 30 shots with many being of high quality. He notably robbed Artturi Lehkonen twice in overtime to keep the game alive. Oettinger has been outstanding all postseason for Dallas, posting a .918 SV% and a 2.27 GAA through two rounds. They'll need him to keep up his high level of play, as either the Vancouver Canucks or Edmonton Oilers are up next, and both teams can score at will.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
1 week agoFlorida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky slammed the door on the Boston Bruins in a series-clinching Game 6 win, allowing just one goal on 23 shots. Bobrovsky was solid in the second-round series, posting a .907 SV%. Although he hasn't been the same Bob that got Florida into the Stanley Cup Finals last year, he has been good enough to see them through to the Conference Finals for the second season in a row. With how good the Panthers look right now, average goaltending could be all they need.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
1 week agoFlorida Panthers center Anton Lundell notched a goal and an assist in Game 6 of their second-round series against the Boston Bruins, helping to close out the series in a 2-1 win. Lundell scored midway through the second to tie the game and then assisted on Gustav Forsling's game-winning goal with just 93 seconds left in the game. The 22-year-old has done well in a third-line role for the Panthers, notching nine points (two goals, seven assists) in 11 playoff games. He could end up playing a larger role next year with Florida and would then be a sleeper in fantasy.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
1 week agoThe Toronto Maple Leafs have hired Craig Berube as the new head coach. He replaces Sheldon Keefe, who was fired last week following the team's first-round exit from the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Berube, 58, takes on his third job as a head coach in the NHL. He steered the Philadelphia Flyers for two seasons from 2013 to 2015 and was at the helm of the St. Louis Blues from November 2018 until December 2023. During his debut season, Berube won the Stanley Cup with the Blues, but he couldn't get the team to the playoffs last term and lost his job following a 13-14-1 start to the 2023-24 campaign. Through 543 regular-season games, Berube has posted a 281-190-72 career record, making the playoffs five times.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 week agoFlorida Panthers forward Nick Cousins will be inserted back into the lineup for Game 6 against Boston on Friday. After featuring in each of the first seven playoff contests this year, Cousins came out of the lineup to accommodate Sam Bennett, who returned from injury in Game 3. He will jump on the fourth line with Ryan Lomberg on Friday, replacing Kyle Okposo and Steven Lorentz. Cousins has been praised for his energy and hard work, but it hasn't led to much offensive success. The 30-year-old is without a goal this postseason and boasts only one assist with five shots on goal.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: George Richards
1 week agoColorado Avalanche forward Yakov Trenin (upper body) will not play in Game 6 against Dallas on Friday and is considered day-to-day. Trenin, who has been limited to one point in 10 playoff appearances this year, comes out of the lineup after sustaining an upper-body injury in Game 5. Chris Wagner is expected to take his spot in the lineup. Wagner has featured just once in these playoffs and likely won't see a lot of action on Friday, either. Colorado is set to rely heavily on its top lines in an attempt to stave off elimination for a second time.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Evan Rawal
1 week agoDallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin (lower body) will play in Game 6 against Colorado on Friday. He suffered an apparent lower-body injury late in Game 5, but it looks like it wasn't anything serious. Seguin saw a three-game point streak end in Game 5. He has amassed seven points (three goals, four assists) in 12 games this postseason. The veteran is definitely capable of being more productive. But following Matt Duchene's move to the first line to replace Roope Hintz (upper body), Seguin has less talent to work with on his line, with Mason Marchment and Evgenii Dadonov next to him.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Evan Rawal
1 week agoDallas Stars center Roope Hintz (upper body) will miss a second consecutive game against Colorado on Friday. He continues to nurse an upper-body injury he suffered in Game 4 of the second-round series. The Stars hope to have Hintz back in action in the team's next game. Hintz, who posted a career-high 75 points (37 goals, 38 assists) in 73 regular-season games, has totaled only six points (two goals, four assists) in 11 playoff outings. Five of the points came in Game 2 and Game 3 against the Avalanche. Matt Duchene is centering Dallas' first line in Hintz's absence.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 week agoBoston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (upper body) is considered a game-time decision for Friday's Game 6 against Florida. Marchand is on track to return to the lineup after getting hurt on a hit by Florida forward Sam Bennett in Game 3 of the series. Following a quiet spell during the latter half of the first-round matchup against Toronto, Marchand logged an assist in each of the first two meetings with the Panthers. He boasts 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 10 games for the entire postseason campaign.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 weeks agoVancouver Canucks forward J.T. Miller scored a huge game-winning goal in Thursday's 3-2 victory against Edmonton, finding the back of the net with only 33 seconds left in regulation. Vancouver fell behind twice on home ice in the game, but Miller's late heroics gave the team a 3-2 series lead. It was only fitting that it came from him, as 2023-24 has been a massive year for Miller. After posting his first 100-point campaign during the regular season with 37 goals and 66 assists, Miller is tied with Brock Boeser for most playoff points on the Canucks roster. The first-year All-Star has managed 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in 11 playoff postseason appearances.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 weeks agoEdmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl extended his postseason-opening point streak to 10 games with an assist in Thursday's Game 5 loss to the Canucks. Draisaitl and Vincent Desharnais linked up early in the game to help Evander Kane on the scoreboard. Mark Messier and Wayne Gretzky were previously the only players in Oilers history to open a postseason with a scoring streak of at least 10 games. Messier owns the franchise record with a 14-game run from 1988. Edmonton needs to stave off elimination in Game 6 on Saturday for Draisaitl to have a chance of matching the record. The German star has averaged over a point per game in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, recording eight goals and 13 assists across 10 outings.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 weeks agoVancouver Canucks winger Ilya Mikheyev missed Thursday's Game 5 against Edmonton with an undisclosed injury. Initially, he was believed to be a healthy scratch for the game, but Sportsnet's Dan Murphy has reported that the Russian winger is actually "banged up." Mikheyev has had a rough time in the 2024 postseason, going scoreless with 11 shots on goal in 10 games and carrying a minus-four rating. His lack of form has also negatively impacted Elias Pettersson, who has spent a lot of time skating with Mikheyev. Pettersson was paired with Elias Lindholm and Nils Hoglander on Thursday. He notched an assist as the Canucks moved one win away from the Conference Finals with a 3-2 victory.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Sportsnet
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