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Bobby Brink to Sit Out Thursday's Game 6
Minnesota Wild right wing Bobby Brink will be a healthy scratch in Game 6 against the Dallas Stars on Thursday, Dan Rosen of NHL.com reports. Combined with the regular season, Brink has picked up only five points (two goals, three assists) in 17 outings since moving to Minnesota. He must significantly improve his production to see regular playing time this postseason. The Wild will insert Nico Strum into the lineup for Game 6. The German veteran has one assist and four hits in two playoff appearances this year. He is unlikely to produce fantasy value as the fourth-line center on Thursday night.
Source: Dan Rosen
Source: Dan Rosen
Jonas Brodin Will Miss Game 6 Against Stars
Minnesota Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin (lower body) will sit out Game 6 against the Dallas Stars on Thursday, Dan Rosen of NHL.com reports. He is considered day-to-day with a lower-body injury from Game 5 earlier this week. Brodin initially appeared to face an extended absence after being seen on crutches, but there's a possibility Minnesota could have him back in the next game. Jeff Petry will enter the lineup and skate on the third defensive pairing, while Jake Middleton will move up to Brodin's spot on the second pairing. Petry doesn't have much fantasy value these days, but Middleton could make a greater impact in a larger role.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Clayton Keller Sets Up Two Goals Wednesday Night
Utah Mammoth winger Clayton Keller registered two assists in Wednesday's 5-4 double-overtime loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. The 27-year-old was involved in both of Utah's first two goals, scored by John Marino and Lawson Crouse. This marked Keller's second multi-point game in the series, giving him five points (one goal, four assists) through five games. Keller shares the scoring lead on his squad with Crouse and Dylan Guenther. The Mammoth captain, who is riding a three-game point streak, will have the spotlight on him on Friday night as he must help his team stave off elimination in Game 6.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Pavel Dorofeyev Nets Special Hat Trick in Game 5 Win
Vegas Golden Knights winger Pavel Dorofeyev scored a hat trick in Wednesday's double-overtime 5-4 Game 5 victory over the Utah Mammoth. He became the fourth player in NHL history to score three game-tying goals in a single playoff contest, with Dorofeyev's final goal coming 53 seconds from the end of regulation. The Russian forward joined Mark Stone, Jonathan Marchessault, and Mattias Janmark as the only players with a playoff hat trick in Golden Knights history. After a quiet start in the first-round series, Dorofeyev has found his scoring stick, netting four goals in two games -- only two players have more goals this postseason.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Dan Vladar Backstops Flyers to Series-Clinching Win
Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar recorded a 42-save shutout as the team finished off the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the playoffs with a 1-0 overtime win on Wednesday. Vladar kept the Flyers in the game until Cam York delivered the series-winning goal with 2:28 remaining in the first overtime. This was a historic night for Vladar, who set a new record for saves by a Flyers goaltender in a series-deciding victory. There have been three shutouts in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and Vladar has been responsible for two of them. He was outstanding in the first round, posting a 1.61 goals-against average and a .937 save percentage. The Czech netminder must maintain his form in Round 2 if Philadelphia is to have any chance against a very strong Carolina team.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Oilers to Use Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on Same Line Thursday
Edmonton Oilers forwards Connor McDavid (ankle) and Leon Draisaitl will start Thursday's Game 6 against the Anaheim Ducks on the same line, Gerry Moddejonge of NHL.com reports. Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch has decided to pair his two superstar forwards to ease the load on McDavid, who is dealing with an ankle injury. Additionally, the team is in desperation mode, facing a second consecutive elimination game. It was the duo of McDavid and Draisaitl who made the biggest impact as Edmonton survived Game 5 on Tuesday with a 4-1 win. Draisaitl scored half of Edmonton's goals, with McDavid assisting him on both. In an ideal scenario for the Oilers, this will happen again on Thursday night. Kasperi Kapanen will have the privilege of accompanying McDavid and Draisaitl, giving him additional fantasy value.
Source: Gerry Moddejonge
Source: Gerry Moddejonge
Brady Tkachuk Remains Committed to Senators
Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk is upset by the speculation about his future and remains committed to the team, ESPN's Greg Wyshynski reports. "I feel like I've answered this hundreds of times. Quite honestly, it's just getting frustrating. It's becoming a distraction. I have been fully committed to this team, to this city. It's just becoming frustrating to deal with," Tkachuk said in his postseason news conference. Earlier this week, Senators general manager Steve Staios dismissed Tkachuk not returning next season as "nonsense." Tkachuk has two seasons remaining on a seven-year, $57.5 million contract that includes a full no-movement clause. In 2025-26, the Senators captain had a strong season on an individual level, averaging almost a point per game. He posted 22 goals and 37 assists in 60 contests. If he's happy in Ottawa, there's no reason Tkachuk can't maintain his level of performance next campaign.
Source: Greg Wyshynski
Source: Greg Wyshynski
Arttu Hyry Could Be Available Thursday
Dallas Stars right wing Arttu Hyry (lower body) has traveled with the team for Game 6 on the road against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night, Dan Rosen of NHL.com reports. This suggests Hyry could be an option for the contest. He suffered a lower-body injury in Game 5, and Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan initially said it was "highly unlikely" Hyry would be available for Game 6. In the playoffs, Hyry has been doing the dirty work for Dallas, recording seven hits and two blocks in four outings. He has no points with three SOG. The Stars will look to Michael Bunting or Adam Erne if Hyry is ultimately ruled out for Thursday's action.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Nils Lundkvist to Remain Out Thursday
Dallas Stars defenseman Nils Lundkvist (face) will miss a second consecutive game on Thursday against the Minnesota Wild, Dan Rosen of NHL.com reports. The Swedish rearguard sustained a deep facial laceration in Game 4 of the first-round series and didn't travel with the team to Minnesota. Ilya Lyubushkin jumped into the lineup as Lundkvist's replacement in Game 5 on Tuesday and is set to retain his spot for Thursday's contest. In a 4-2 loss, Lyubushkin had a quiet outing, finishing with one block and one hit in 12:30 of ice time. He may have an even smaller role in Game 6, as Dallas is likely to lean heavily on its top-four group in an elimination game.
Source: Dan Rosen
Source: Dan Rosen
Jonas Brodin Uncertain for Game 6
Minnesota Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin (lower body) is questionable for Thursday's Game 6 against the Dallas Stars, Mike Morreale of NHL.com reports. Brodin suffered a lower-body injury in Game 5 on Tuesday and was seen using crutches after the game. Wild head coach John Hynes told reporters on Wednesday that he doesn't know if Brodin will be available Thursday night. Brodin has amassed one assist, six SOG, 14 blocks, two hits, and four penalty minutes in five games against Dallas. The team will look to either Daemon Hunt or Jeff Petry to fill in for Brodin if needed.
Source: Mike Morreale
Source: Mike Morreale
Matvei Michkov Expected to Rejoin Flyers Lineup Wednesday
Philadelphia Flyers winger Matvei Michkov will re-enter the lineup on Wednesday in Game 6 against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Jordan Hall of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports. The young Russian star was a healthy scratch in Game 5. This surprised many, but Michkov hasn't been impactful in the playoffs. After a 51-point regular season, he hasn't scored any points in four postseason outings, recording only four SOG. So far, he has averaged just 10:05 of ice time in the first-round series. Michkov has the ability to be a difference-maker, and it will be interesting to see how he responds to being scratched in the previous game.
Source: Jordan Hall
Source: Jordan Hall
Noah Ostlund Set to Miss "a Period of Time"
Buffalo Sabres center Noah Ostlund (lower body) appears to be done for the first-round series against the Boston Bruins. Jourdon LaBarber of the Sabres' official site reports that head coach Lindy Ruff expects Ostlund to miss "a period of time" after he suffered a lower-body injury in Tuesday's Game 5 loss. "The news wasn't good," Ruff said Wednesday. "Don't know exactly how much we know, but he's gonna miss some time." It's an unfortunate blow for Ostlund, who also sat out the start of the series due to injury. Josh Norris (undisclosed) is expected to enter the lineup as Ostlund's replacement in Game 6 on Friday.
Source: Jourdon LaBarber
Source: Jourdon LaBarber
Viktor Arvidsson Doubtful for Game 6 Against Sabres
Boston Bruins winger Viktor Arvidsson (upper body) could miss a second consecutive game on Friday against the Buffalo Sabres, Amalie Benjamin of NHL.com reports. "It's going to be hard," Bruins head coach Marco Sturm said about Arvidsson's availability on Wednesday. "It's definitely day to day, but it will be hard." The Swedish forward sustained an upper-body injury in Game 4 of the series and didn't travel to Buffalo for Game 5 on Tuesday. In the matchup, Arvidsson has produced two goals, both coming in Game 2. With him out, Michael Eyssimont got a chance to play on Tuesday night and is expected to remain on the third line in Game 6 if Arvidsson isn't healthy enough to play.
Source: Amalie Benjamin
Source: Amalie Benjamin
Barrett Hayton Close to Returning
Utah Mammoth center Barrett Hayton (upper body) is nearing his return to action, Nicholas J. Cotsonika of NHL.com reports. He has been nursing an upper-body injury since late March. On Wednesday morning, Mammoth head Andre Tourigny said Hayton will probably warm up before Game 5 against the Vegas Golden Knights, but he isn't expected to play. It's a sign that Hayton is close to 100 percent and could be an option later in the series. In 67 regular-season outings, Hayton managed 10 goals and 15 assists, while ranking third on his team with a 52.6 faceoff percentage.
Source: Nicholas J. Cotsonika
Source: Nicholas J. Cotsonika
Charle-Edouard D'Astous a Game-Time Call Wednesday
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Charle-Edouard D'Astous (undisclosed) could return to action in Game 5 against the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday, as he is considered a game-time decision. The 28-year-old has missed the last three games after suffering an undisclosed injury in the series opener. D'Astous had a decent debut campaign in 2025-26, totaling 29 points (six goals, 23 assists), 80 SOG, 74 blocks, and 96 hits in 70 contests. Maxwell Crozier and Declan Carlisle have filled in for D'Astous on the Lightning defense. Tampa Bay used Crozier in Game 4, and he will likely come out of the lineup on Wednesday night if D'Astous is ready to return.
Source: Sportsnet
Source: Sportsnet
