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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
Beckett Sennecke Extends Goal Streak to Three Games
Anaheim Ducks right wing Beckett Sennecke tallied a goal and an assist in a 4-3 victory over the Golden Knights in Game 4 on Sunday. He opened the scoring on the power play with 8:43 played in the first period, joining Bobby Ryan as the only Ducks rookies with three-game goal streaks in the postseason. Sennecke's second point of the night also came on the power play, when Alex Killorn put Anaheim 3-2 ahead late in the second period. Before his goal streak, Sennecke had offensively contributed only one assist in seven playoff games. He looks like a different player in the second-round series, giving Anaheim an additional scoring option.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Cutter Gauthier Records Hat Trick of Assists in Game 4 Win
Anaheim Ducks forward Cutter Gauthier produced three assists in Sunday's 4-3 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. The 22-year-old delivered two helpers on the power play, recording his first points of the second-round series. Gauthier became the youngest player in Ducks history to register a three-assist game in the playoffs. He is also the first player in franchise history to record multiple three-point games in the postseason before turning 23. After a successful regular season, Gauthier has maintained his scoring form in the most important part of the campaign. With 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 10 games, he is tied for the top spot on Anaheim's scoring charts.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Auston Matthews Uncertain About Future With Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews is uncertain about his future with the team, ESPN's Greg Wyshynski reports. Toronto won the 2026 draft lottery this week, giving the team a boost after a disappointing season, but Matthews' future may lie elsewhere. He has two years remaining on his contract, with a $13.25 million cap hit and a full no-movement clause. Matthews missed the playoffs for the first time with Toronto this season and has never advanced past the second round since entering the league in 2016. He has enjoyed significant individual success, earning the Hart Trophy in 2022 and three Rocket Richard Trophies. At 28, Matthews is still in his prime, but no career lasts forever, and he may want a change of scenery to improve his chances of winning the Stanley Cup.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Frederik Andersen Enjoying Special Postseason
Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen remained undefeated in Game 4 against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday, improving to 8-0 this postseason. Carolina has made a great start to the playoffs, sweeping two opponents, and Andersen has been a major factor in that success. He has yet to allow more than two goals this postseason, registering a 1.12 goals-against average and a .950 save percentage. Previously, only three netminders in NHL history had started a postseason with eight consecutive wins. With Andersen looking nearly unbeatable, Carolina appears well-positioned to return to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in 20 years.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Josh Manson "Close" to Returning
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson (upper body) is on the cusp of rejoining the lineup, Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette reports. After Sunday's practice, Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said Manson was "close" to returning. He has missed four games due to an upper-body injury. Nick Blankenburg
will likely come out of the lineup if Manson is cleared to play in Game 4 against the Minnesota Wild on Monday night. With 31 points (five goals, 26 assists) in 79 regular-season games, Manson had his second-best scoring campaign. He also made a solid offensive impact early in the postseason, recording two assists in three games.
Source: Evan Rawal
Source: Evan Rawal
Joel Kiviranta Could Return to Action Monday
Colorado Avalanche left wing Joel Kiviranta (undisclosed) could be available for Game 4 against the Minnesota Wild on Monday, Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette reports. He has been out of action for five games. Kivitanta played in Colorado's first two games of the postseason, logging three SOG, five hits, and a plus-two rating. If he's cleared to play, Kiviranta will be a bottom-six option for the Avalanche and help the penalty kill, which struggled in Saturday's 5-1 loss to Minnesota, allowing two power-play goals.
Source: Evan Rawal
Source: Evan Rawal
