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Brett Howden Records Three Points in Vital Win
Vegas Golden Knights forward Brett Howden played a key role in Monday's 5-4 overtime comeback victory against the Utah Mammoth, scoring two goals and adding one assist. The Golden Knights were facing a 3-1 series deficit when Howden popped up with a game-tying goal midway through the third period. His first goal, scored in a shorthanded situation, gave Vegas a 2-0 lead in the first frame. Howden completed his three-point night with an assist on Shea Theodore's game-winning goal with less than a minute remaining in the first overtime period. Dating back to the regular season, Howden had gone six consecutive appearances without a point before sparking into life on Monday night. In Game 5 against Utah, he will aim to record points in back-to-back postseason games for the first time since the 2023 Stanley Cup Finals.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Rasmus Ristolainen Registers Two Assists in Game 5 Loss
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen had his second multi-assist game of the 2026 playoffs on Monday, setting up a pair of goals in a 3-2 defeat to the Pittsburgh Penguins. In the second period, Ristolainen helped Alex Bump score in his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut and added a second assist on Travis Sanheim's goal. Ristolainen isn't known for his offensive prowess, yet he has emerged as Philadelphia's scoring leader in this series. After five games, Ristolainen has tallied five points (one goal, four assists), matching Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby. The Finnish rearguard is also averaging 1.8 hits per game in the series.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Arturs Silovs Helps Penguins Survive for Second Time
Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs had another strong performance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs first-round series against the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday, stopping 18 pucks in a 3-2 win. The Latvian native became the third goaltender in Penguins history to record each of his first two playoff wins with the team in elimination games. Pittsburgh's decision to replace Stuart Skinner with Silovs has shifted the momentum in the matchup, leaving Dan Muse's team now only one win away from tying the series. Silovs has posted a .920 save percentage against Philadelphia, a significant improvement over Skinner's .873.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Sidney Crosby Delivers Two Assists in Elimination-Game Win
Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby recorded two assists as the team staved off elimination for the second time against the Philadelphia Flyers with a 3-2 win on Monday. The Penguins captain was also inches away from scoring a goal, missing an empty net twice late in the game. Crosby has stepped up in the last couple of games, posting back-to-back multi-point outings after his team fell into a 3-0 hole in the first-round matchup. Pittsburgh hasn't won a playoff series since 2018, and Crosby has entered desperation mode to avoid another early postseason exit. Overall, he has produced one goal and four assists in the series.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Predators Pick Up KHL Standout Vitali Pinchuk
The Nashville Predators have signed forward Vitali Pinchuk to a one-year, entry-level contract. The 24-year-old will join the Predators next season after spending the past six campaigns with Minsk Dynamo of the KHL. In 2025-26, he recorded a career-high 66 points (31 goals, 35 assists) in 65 games, ranking third in goals in the league. Pinchuk, a Belarusian native, was an undrafted free agent. According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, Pinchuk had narrowed his NHL options to Nashville and the Los Angeles Kings. The Predators were one of 13 teams to average fewer than 3.00 goals per game this season, and adding Pinchuk could give the offense a welcome boost if he adapts well to his new surroundings.
Source: Sportsnet
Source: Sportsnet
Jason Zucker Probable for Game 5 Against Bruins
Buffalo Sabres left wing Jason Zucker (undisclosed) is considered probable for Tuesday's Game 5 tilt against the Boston Bruins, Heather Engel of NHL.com reports. The veteran forward left Sunday's Game 4 win midway through the third period. However, Zucker doesn't appear to be dealing with a serious injury and is likely to play as Buffalo attempts to finish off Boston on Tuesday. After four games in the series, Zucker is still searching for his first points. He has cooled off following a four-game point streak to end the regular season. Tyson Kozak (undisclosed), who also didn't finish Sunday's contest, is probable for Tuesday as well.
Source: Heather Engel
Source: Heather Engel
Josh Norris Could Return to Action Tuesday
Buffalo Sabres center Josh Norris (undisclosed) might be available on Tuesday night against the Boston Bruins, Heather Engel of NHL.com reports. On Sunday, Norris was unavailable for a second consecutive game after sustaining an undisclosed injury early in the first-round series. He was hot at the end of the regular season, totaling eight points (three goals, five assists) in the last seven games. However, the Bruins have kept him off the score sheet in the playoffs, limiting Norris to two SOG. If he's cleared to play, Norris will compete for a middle-six role and be an option for the power-play units.
Source: Heather Engel
Source: Heather Engel
Nikita Zadorov Questionable for Game 5
Boston Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov (undisclosed) is questionable for Game 5 against the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday, Steve Conroy of The Boston Herald reports. The Russian rearguard wasn't on the ice for Monday's practice and could be unavailable for only the second time this season. Zadorov has contributed one assist in four postseason contests, while averaging four hits per game. Boston will miss his physicality and penalty-killing ability if he isn't available for Game 5. Mason Lohrei, who was a healthy scratch in Sunday's Game 4, could get an opportunity to rejoin the lineup.
Source: Steve Conroy
Source: Steve Conroy
Viktor Arvidsson Considered Questionable for Tuesday
Boston Bruins winger Viktor Arvidsson (upper body) didn't practice on Monday and is questionable for Tuesday's Game 5 against the Buffalo Sabres, Steve Conroy of The Boston Herald reports. Arvidsson sustained an upper-body injury in Sunday's Game 4 loss. In the playoffs, the Swedish veteran has tallied two goals in four games, sending 11 pucks on the net. He is carrying a minus-four rating, having finished scoreless three times. Arvidsson has been part of the second line and the second power-play unit in Boston, making him a significant loss for the team if he can't play on Tuesday night.
Source: Steve Conroy
Source: Steve Conroy
Nils Lundkvist Won't Play Tuesday
Dallas Stars defenseman Nils Lundkvist (face) won't be available for Game 5 against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday, Dan Rosen of NHL.com reports. He sustained a deep facial laceration in Saturday's Game 4 loss and missed Monday's practice. "We should see him before this series is over, but you won't see him tomorrow," Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan said after the practice session. In four postseason games, Lundkvist has recorded two assists, two SOG, six blocks, two hits, and a plus-one rating. Dallas will replace Lundkvist on Tuesday with Ilya Lyubushkin, Alexander Petrovic, or Kyle Capobianco.
Source: Dan Rosen
Source: Dan Rosen
Yakov Trenin Could Be an Option Tuesday
Minnesota Wild forward Yakov Trenin (upper body) could return to action on Tuesday in Game 5 against the Dallas Stars, Dan Rosen of NHL.com reports. He has missed two games due to an upper-body injury, but Trenin practiced fully on Monday, suggesting he might be ready to return. Wild head coach John Hynes officially labeled Trenin as questionable, along with fellow forward Mats Zuccarello (upper body). Nico Sturm and Danila Yurov are expected to sit out Tuesday's game if Trenin and Zuccarello return. Trenin would primarily add physicality to the Wild lineup, having led the NHL with 413 hits in 82 games during the regular season.
Source: Dan Rosen
Source: Dan Rosen
Mats Zuccarello Questionable for Game 5
Minnesota Wild right wing Mats Zuccarello (upper body) is questionable for Tuesday's Game 5 against the Dallas Stars, Dan Rosen of NHL.com reports. The Norwegian veteran practiced fully on Monday, but Wild head coach John Hynes labeled him as questionable for Tuesday night. After recording a hat trick of assists in Game 1, Zuccarello has missed the last three contests due to an upper-body injury. If Zuccarello returns on Tuesday, Bobby Brink would be bumped from the first line. The Wild's first power-play unit would also have a different look. Late in the season, Zuccarello has been spectacular when in the lineup, recording multiple points in six of his last seven appearances.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Brandon Hagel Pops Up With Two Goals in Sunday's Win
Tampa Bay Lightning winger Brandon Hagel continued to terrorize the Montreal Canadiens defense on Sunday, scoring two third-period goals in a 3-2 comeback victory. He tied the game early in the period with a power-play marker and knotted the series at two with an even-strength goal five minutes from the end. Hagel has scored in all four games against Montreal, becoming the first player in Lightning history with as many as six goals through the first four games of a postseason campaign. He's the third Tampa player with a four-game goal streak in the playoffs, joining Steven Stamkos and Vincent Lecavalier. Remarkably, Hagel has lit the lamp six times with only nine attempts on net. He has also picked up one assist in the series, bringing his total to seven points this postseason -- tied with four other players, including teammate Jake Guentzel, for the second-most in the league.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Nathan MacKinnon Records Three Points in Series-Clincher
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon scored two goals and dished out one assist as the team completed a first-round sweep of the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday, winning 5-1 on the road. MacKinnon opened the scoring on the power play in the first period and added a couple more points in the third. His second goal of the game came on an empty net. Colorado dominated the series despite MacKinnon finishing scoreless in two of the four games. Regardless, MacKinnon is averaging a point per game through his first four postseason outings in 2026 and still has room to improve.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Bowen Byram Extends Goal Streak to Three Games
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram continued to make a big impact in the first-round series against the Boston Bruins on Sunday, contributing a goal and an assist in a huge 6-1 road win. He has recorded back-to-back multi-point games and is only the third defenseman in franchise history to score in three consecutive postseason outings. Meanwhile, Owen Power has become the third rearguard in NHL history to record an assist in each of his first four career playoff games. Boston has limited Rasmus Dahlin to one assist and no goals, but the Sabres' blue line has still played a major role on offense. World-class performances from the likes of Byram have given the team a chance to finish the series in five games on Tuesday.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
