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Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to Start Game 4 Against Canadiens
Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will start Game 4 against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night. The Sabres started the postseason with Luukkonen as their No. 1, but Alex Lyon has been in the net in each of the last seven games. On Tuesday, Luukkonen will have a chance to re-establish himself as the starter after Lyon allowed nine goals in Games 2 and 3 against Montreal. The Finnish netminder has a 1-1 record this postseason, but he was limited to a .821 save percentage and a 4.19 goals-against average in Round 1 against Boston. Luukkonen has positive memories of facing Montreal in the regular season, finishing a 4-2 victory with 32 saves on Feb. 22.
Source: Sportsnet
Source: Sportsnet
Drew Helleson Unavailable for Game 5
Anaheim Ducks defenseman Drew Helleson (undisclosed) is not an option on Tuesday for Game 5 against the Vegas Golden Knights, Dan Rosen of NHL.com reports. Helleson entered the lineup at the start of the postseason after the Ducks lost Radko Gudas (lower body), registering one assist, five SOG, and nine hits in eight games. However, he has now joined Gudas in the infirmary due to an undisclosed injury and will miss a second straight game. With the two out, Olen Zellweger is expected to continue on the third defensive pairing with Ian Moore. Zellweger is coming off a good Stanley Cup Playoffs debut, posting an assist in a 4-3 Game 4 win on Sunday.
Source: Dan Rosen
Source: Dan Rosen
Radko Gudas Still Out Tuesday
Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas (lower body) will remain sidelined on Tuesday for Game 5 against the Vegas Golden Knights, Dan Rosen of NHL.com reports. Gudas appears to be progressing and was considered a game-time decision for Game 4, but it remains unclear when he will return. Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville has said he expects Gudas to feature in the second-round series. Anaheim's defense has also lost Drew Helleson (undisclosed), giving Olen Zellweger a chance to make his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut in Game 4. The 22-year-old made a positive impact, finishing with one assist, three blocks, and a plus-two rating in 11:52 of ice time.
Source: Dan Rosen
Source: Dan Rosen
Mark Stone Won't Play Tuesday
Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone (lower body) won't play in Game 5 against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday, Dan Rosen of NHL.com reports. Vegas will be without its captain for a second straight game. Losing Stone has been a bitter blow to the team. He has contributed three goals and four assists in nine postseason outings. While Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella used Brandon Saad as Stone's replacement in Game 4, Reilly Smith and Braedan Bowman are also options to fill the void. Saad went scoreless and didn't record a single SOG in 7:20 of action during a 4-3 loss on Sunday night.
Source: Dan Rosen
Source: Dan Rosen
Mark Jankowski Signs Two-Year Extension With Hurricanes
Carolina Hurricanes center Mark Jankowski has committed himself to the team for two more years, signing a $3.7 million contract extension. He will remain in Raleigh, despite having the option to explore the market as an unrestricted free agent. Jankowski moved to Carolina in March 2025, when the Hurricanes acquired him from the Nashville Predators. He has been a good fit on the fourth line, notching 29 points (19 goals, 10 assists) in 87 outings with the team. During the team's impressive postseason run this year, Jankowski has contributed one assist in eight contests. The 31-year-old isn't someone fantasy managers need to watch, yet Jankowski has established himself as a valuable piece for the Hurricanes.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Joel Kiviranta Cleared to Play Monday
Colorado Avalanche left wing Joel Kiviranta (upper body) has been officially cleared to return to action on Monday in Game 4 against the Minnesota Wild, Dan Rosen of NHL.com reports. The Finnish forward has been forced to skip five consecutive games due to an upper-body injury. In his only two playoff outings this year, Kiviranta failed to register a point, but he has totaled five hits. If added to the lineup, Kiviranta will be a bottom-six option and bolster the team's penalty kill, making him more valuable in real life than in fantasy.
Source: Dan Rosen
Source: Dan Rosen
Josh Manson Available for Game 4 Monday
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson (upper body) is available for Monday's Game 4 against the Minnesota Wild, Dan Rosen of NHL.com reports. He has missed four games due to an upper-body injury. Manson's return will be a boost for Colorado's backline. The 34-year-old has recorded two assists, five SOG, 10 hits, and a plus-two rating in three playoff outings this year. If Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar decides to insert Manson back into the lineup, it will likely come at the expense of Nick Blankenburg, who has made his only postseason appearances during Manson's absence.
Source: Dan Rosen
Source: Dan Rosen
Mackenzie Blackwood Expected to Start Monday
Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood is poised to make his first start of the 2026 postseason in Game 4 against the Minnesota Wild on Monday, Peter Baugh of The Athletic reports. He worked in the starter's crease during the morning skate and was the first goalie to leave the ice. Colorado has so far trusted Scott Wedgewood in the postseason, but he struggled in Game 3 against Minnesota, opening the door for Blackwood to claim the starting job. In a relief effort on Saturday, Blackwood looked sharp, stopping 12 of 13 pucks. He faced the Wild twice during the regular season, posting a 1-1-0 record, a 2.05 goals-against average, and a .937 save percentage.
Source: Peter Baugh
Source: Peter Baugh
Jonas Brodin Won't Play Monday
Minnesota Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin (lower body) will miss a fifth straight game on Monday against the Colorado Avalanche, Dan Rosen of NHL.com reports. He has struggled to overcome a lower-body injury, leaving the Wild without a blue-liner who has a lot of playoff pedigree. Brodin's absence has allowed Daemon Hunt to play in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in his career. He has registered one assist, two SOG, three blocks, four hits, and a plus-two rating in three appearances. However, Hunt lacks fantasy value due to his limited playing time. So far, he has averaged only 13:57 of ice time per game.
Source: Dan Rosen
Source: Dan Rosen
Joel Eriksson Ek Remains Out Monday
Minnesota Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek (lower body) won't play in Game 4 against the Colorado Avalanche on Monday, Dylan Loucks of The Hockey News reports. He hasn't seen any action in the series so far due to a lower-body injury. In Round 1 against the Dallas Stars, Eriksson Ek amassed three goals and two assists, averaging 23:44 of ice time. His absence has left a huge hole on Minnesota's frontline, but the team managed to win Game 3 without him and will try to do so again on Monday night. Danila Yurov looks set to remain on the second line and has been productive in the series, notching two assists.
Source: Dylan Loucks
Source: Dylan Loucks
Rasmus Dahlin Records Two Points in Game 3 Loss
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin amassed two points in Sunday's 6-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, scoring a power-play goal and posting an even-strength assist. Buffalo finally got some offense from the star blue-liner, who had been held off the score sheet in the first two games of the series. Throughout the playoffs, Dahlin has struggled to match his regular-season offensive output, notching six points (two goals, four assists) in nine games. He has finished five contests without a point. Buffalo's prospects in Round 2 would improve significantly if Dahlin could regain his top form.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Tage Thompson Comes Alive in Game 3 Against Canadiens
Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson finished Sunday's 6-2 Game 3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens with a goal and an assist. Thompson, who had been held scoreless in the first two games of the series, gave his team a perfect start by opening the scoring just 53 seconds into the contest. However, Buffalo couldn't build on it and fell 2-1 behind in the series. Thompson completed his third multi-point game of this postseason with a power-play assist in the second period. Through nine games, Thompson leads the Sabres with six assists and nine points in the playoffs.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Cole Caufield Ends Dry Spell Sunday
Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield posted a goal and an assist as the team cruised past the Buffalo Sabres 6-2 in Game 3 on Sunday. Both of his points came with the man advantage. Incredibly, 10 games into the postseason, Caufield has yet to register a point at even strength. He has two goals and four assists. Before Sunday night, Caufield had been held scoreless in five consecutive games. His production has dropped like a rock since becoming the seventh player in Canadiens history to reach 50 goals in a regular season. While Caufield's form must be concerning for Montreal, the team is still up 2-1 in the second-round series and has scored 11 goals in the last two games.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Alex Newhook Nets Two More Goals in Sunday's Victory
Montreal Canadiens forward Alex Newhook had his second consecutive multi-goal game on Sunday, finding the back of the net twice in a 6-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres in Game 3. He is the first Canadiens player in 29 years to have two straight multi-goal playoff games. Overall, Newhook has potted five goals in the last four games, becoming Montreal's leading goal-scorer this postseason. In 10 appearances, he has also contributed one assist. With star forwards Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky struggling, getting secondary scoring from players like Newhook has been crucial for the Canadiens.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Mitchell Marner Notches Three Assists in Losing Effort
Vegas Golden Knights forward Mitchell Marner registered three assists in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks. After bagging a hat trick in Game 3 of the series, Marner stood out as a playmaker. His first assist of the night came on the power play. On Sunday night, Marner took over the scoring lead in the playoffs. He has tallied 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in 10 games -- the most by a Vegas player in their first 10 postseason outings with the team. In the last five games, Marner has picked up multiple points four times and should continue to be a thorn in Anaheim's side for the rest of the series.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
