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Joel Eriksson Ek Misses Second Round Due to Heel Injury
Minnesota Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek couldn't play in Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against Colorado due to a heel injury. He broke the heel bone in his right foot during Minnesota's series-clinching Game 6 victory over Dallas in the first round. Although Eriksson Ek took part in the morning skate ahead of Game 3, his return doesn't appear to have been on the cards against Colorado. "You want to play," Eriksson Ek said. "I just couldn't do it. Too painful to skate." The Swedish forward also missed 12 regular-season games this year, finishing with 51 points (19 goals, 32 assists). Eriksson Ek is a strong fantasy contributor when healthy and will remain a core piece of the Wild offense in 2026-27.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jonas Brodin Sits Out Round 2 Due to Toe Injury
Minnesota Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin revealed he suffered a toe injury during the team's postseason run. The Swedish veteran fractured his right big toe in Game 5 against Dallas in the first round. He missed the first-round clincher and all five games of Round 2 against Colorado. Late in his career, Brodin has been prone to injuries. He hasn't played more than 62 games in any of the past four seasons. In 2025-26, he had one of the worst offensive campaigns of his 14-year NHL career, finishing with 18 points (five goals, 13 assists) in 62 appearances. Brodin, who will turn 33 in July, has two seasons remaining on a contract with a $6 million cap hit.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Sam Malinski Practices Fully Sunday
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Sam Malinski (upper body) practiced fully on Sunday, Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette reports. The 27-year-old missed the last two games of Colorado's second-round series against Minnesota. Now that he's back on the ice, there's a strong chance Malinski will be ready to return to the lineup when the Western Conference Finals start on Wednesday. Throughout the season, Malinski has surprised many with his effective play. He shattered his career high with 40 points and has remained productive in the playoffs, totaling three points (one goal, two assists), 14 SOG, 14 blocks, and seven hits in seven outings. Jack Ahcan will drop out of the lineup once Malinski is cleared to play.
Source: Evan Rawal
Source: Evan Rawal
Josh Manson Rejoins Practice
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson (undisclosed) was a full participant at Sunday's practice, Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette reports. He wasn't on the ice on Saturday and was labeled day-to-day. However, it appears Manson will be available to play in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against Vegas on Wednesday. Across the first two playoff series, Manson has appeared in five games. He's chipped in with two assists offensively and has recorded 13 hits. With Sam Malinski (upper body) also on track to play, the Avalanche defense looks set to be at full strength.
Source: Evan Rawal
Source: Evan Rawal
Jeremy Lauzon Misses Saturday's Practice
Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Jeremy Lauzon (undisclosed) sat out Saturday's practice, Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. Lauzon missed the second-round series matchup with the Anaheim Ducks due to an undisclosed injury, and it's unclear whether he will be cleared to return for the Western Conference Finals against Colorado. In Round 1 against Utah, Lauzon didn't contribute offensively but had eight blocks and 14 hits in six games. With Lauzon out, Ben Hutton has seen regular action on the blue line. However, Hutton has been limited to 13:48 of ice time per game in a third-pairing role, making him a non-factor in fantasy.
Source: Danny Webster
Source: Danny Webster
Mark Stone Doesn't Practice Saturday
Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone (lower body) didn't practice on Saturday, Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. Stone missed the last three games of the second-round series against Anaheim due to a lower-body injury. It's not a good sign that Stone didn't practice on Saturday, but he still has some time to get healthy for the start of the next round -- the Western Conference Finals against Colorado begin on Wednesday. Stone has tallied three goals and four assists in nine playoff outings. Brandon Saad has been filling in for him, but with only 8:39 of ice time per game, his fantasy value is limited.
Source: Danny Webster
Source: Danny Webster
Josh Manson Misses Practice, Considered Day-to-Day
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson (undisclosed) didn't practice on Saturday and is considered day-to-day, Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette reports. The 34-year-old returned from an upper-body injury in Game 4 of the second-round series against Minnesota, but he still appears to be dealing with health issues. It's unclear whether Manson is still bothered by his previous upper-body injury or if this is a new problem. Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar expects Manson to resume skating before Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday. Manson has appeared in five playoff games, recording two assists, eight SOG, 13 hits, and a plus-one rating.
Source: Evan Rawal
Source: Evan Rawal
Brent Burns Day-to-Day Ahead of Conference Finals
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns (undisclosed) is day-to-day after missing Saturday's practice, Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette reports. The 41-year-old veteran appears banged up, but Colorado won't start the Western Conference Finals until Wednesday night, so Burns still has plenty of time to rest and recover. In nine playoff appearances, Burns has recorded three assists, 14 SOG, six blocks, 13 hits, and a plus-seven rating. He made the biggest impact in Wednesday's series-clinching victory over Minnesota, dishing out two assists.
Source: Evan Rawal
Source: Evan Rawal
Cale Makar Considered Day-to-Day
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (undisclosed) is day-to-day, Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette reports. The star rearguard missed Saturday's practice. Luckily for the Avalanche, they still have plenty of time before their Western Conference matchup against Vegas starts -- Game 1 is scheduled for Wednesday. Makar appeared to sustain a lower-body injury in Game 1 against Minnesota, but it's unclear whether he's still dealing with this issue. The two-time Norris Trophy winner hasn't been his usual productive self this postseason, finishing six of nine games pointless. He has recorded four goals and one assist.
Source: Evan Rawal
Source: Evan Rawal
Alex Lyon Likely to Start Game 6 Against Canadiens
Buffalo Sabres goaltender Alex Lyon was the first goalie off the ice at Saturday's morning skate, Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports reports. This indicates Lyon is likely to start Game 6 against the Montreal Canadiens. Buffalo has flipped between goalies in the playoffs and appears set to return to Lyon, who also started the first three games of the second-round matchup. Despite losing his spot to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in the middle of the series, Lyon has performed well in the postseason. He has posted a 4-3 record, a 2.25 goals-against average, and a .917 save percentage.
Source: Renaud Lavoie
Source: Renaud Lavoie
Owen Power Available Saturday
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Owen Power (undisclosed) will be in the lineup on Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens, Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times Herald reports. Power briefly exited Game 5 on Thursday in the third period, but he's good to go for Saturday's must-win contest. On Thursday, Power registered his first point of the second-round series with an assist. He has five assists in 11 postseason games but no goals on seven SOG. Power has averaged nearly 21 minutes of ice time per game and is set for another busy night at the office on Saturday.
Source: Bill Hoppe
Source: Bill Hoppe
Lane Hutson Contributes Two Assists in Game 5 Victory
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson finished Thursday's 6-3 Game 5 win over the Buffalo Sabres with two assists. In the second period, he provided an even-strength assist on a goal by Josh Anderson and also helped Nick Suzuki score on the power play. Hutson became only the seventh Canadiens blue-liner to record 10 assists in a single postseason. He's the first defenseman in 39 years from the team to record an assist in four straight playoff games. While Hutson does most of his scoring as a playmaker, he has also tallied two goals this postseason. With 12 points in 12 games, he is tied with Nick Suzuki for Montreal's scoring lead.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Nick Suzuki Amasses Three Points in Crucial Victory Thursday
Montreal Canadiens center Nick Suzuki collected three points as the team grabbed a 3-2 series lead with a 6-3 road victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night. Suzuki picked up an early assist on Cole Caufield's first even-strength goal of the postseason, but the Canadiens found themselves 3-2 behind at the first intermission. After the break, they were a completely different team, scoring four unanswered goals. Suzuki made an impact on the power play, netting Montreal's fifth goal of the night and assisting Ivan Demidov on the sixth. With 12 games played, Suzuki shares Montreal's scoring lead in the postseason with Lane Hutson. He has produced four goals and eight assists. Strangely, all of his goals have come on the road.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Juraj Slafkovsky Dishes Out Three Assists in Game 5 Win
Montreal Canadiens winger Juraj Slafkovsky demonstrated elite playmaking in Game 5 against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, finishing a 6-3 road victory with three assists. He recorded two power-play assists and helped Cole Caufield to finally get his first even-strength goal of the postseason. Having netted a hat trick in Game 1 against Tampa Bay, Slafkovsky became the first Montreal player in 16 years to register two three-point games during a single playoff run. The playoff opener against the Lightning ended up being Slafkovsky's only game with points in Round 1, but he's been much sharper in the second-round matchup with Buffalo, contributing one goal and five assists in five games. Yet Slafkovsky has managed only a single even-strength point throughout the entire postseason.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Carter Hart Stops 31 Pucks in Series-Clinching Win
Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart did his part in Thursday's 5-1 series-clinching win over the Anaheim Ducks with 31 saves. He had a great night at the office, but Mikael Granlund beat Hart with a power-play goal in the second period. While Hart has had some dodgy outings this postseason, his overall work has been good. Ahead of the Western Conference Finals against the Colorado Avalanche, Hart holds an 8-4 record, 2.37 goals-against average, and a .917 save percentage. Hart has to be at the top of his game against the Avalanche, who have scored a league-high 4.11 goals per game in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
