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Hurricanes Hope to Have Nikolaj Ehlers Back for Second Round
Carolina Hurricanes winger Nikolaj Ehlers (lower body) didn't practice on Tuesday, but head coach Rod Brind'Amour hopes to have him available for the start of the second round in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Carolina was without the services of Ehlers last weekend as it closed out the first-round series against Ottawa. The Danish forward missed Game 4 due to a lower-body injury after contributing one assist in the first three games of the series. In Ehlers' absence, William Carrier moved up the lineup, and Nicolas Deslauriers made his 2026 postseason debut. If Ehlers remains unavailable for the Round 2 opener, the two could benefit again.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Alexander Nikishin Could Be Available in Round 2
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin (concussion) is making good progress, and the team hopes to have him available for Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Russian blue-liner suffered a concussion in Carolina's series-clinching win over Ottawa on Saturday. On Tuesday, Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour said "everything's trending in the right direction" on Nikishin, who had a solid rookie campaign with 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists) in 81 games. However, he couldn't replicate his regular-season form in the matchup with the Senators, finishing scoreless in four games. Mike Reilly and Charles-Alexis Legault will compete for Nikishin's spot in the lineup if he doesn't clear concussion protocol before the start of the second round.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Victor Hedman Logs Full Practice
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (personal) was a full participant in Tuesday's practice, Mike Zeisberger of NHL.com reports. Due to illness and personal reasons, the Lightning captain hasn't seen any action for more than a month, but he appears to be nearing his return. Last week, Lightning head coach Jon Cooper mentioned Hedman was on "the doubtful side" for the first-round series against Montreal. Cooper continues to hold his cards close to his heart. "That's hard to say right now," Cooper said after Tuesday's practice when quizzed about a potential timeline for Hedman's return. "But he's progressing. Like, he's taking steps. So, that's a positive side for us." With Hedman unavailable, Darren Raddysh has led the Lightning's blue line in the playoffs. He has registered two points (one goal, one assist), 14 SOG, and 10 hits in four games.
Source: Mike Zeisberger
Source: Mike Zeisberger
Noah Ostlund Likely to Miss Time Due to Lower-Body Injury
Buffalo Sabres center Noah Ostlund (lower body) is doubtful for Game 6 against the Boston Bruins on Friday. In Tuesday's Game 5, he sustained a lower-body injury in a collision with Bruins forward Casey Mittelstadt. Speaking after the game about Ostlund's injury, Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said, "It doesn't look good." Ostlund also missed a couple of games at the start of the series due to injury. He has recorded two points (one goal, one assist), four SOG, and a plus-three rating in three games against Boston. Ostlund's injury will hurt the Sabres, but they have a high-level replacement in Josh Norris (undisclosed), who was deemed available for Tuesday's action but didn't play.
Source: Sportsnet
Source: Sportsnet
Arttu Hyry Unlikely to Play Thursday
Dallas Stars right wing Arttu Hyry (lower body) likely won't be available on Thursday for Game 6 against the Minnesota Wild, R.J. Coyle of The Dallas Morning News reports. The Finnish forward was limited to 3:34 of ice time due to a lower-body injury in Tuesday's Game 5. "He's gonna get looked at tomorrow, but obviously he didn't get through the game," Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan told reporters. "I would say it's highly unlikely he'll be a player for us Thursday." On Tuesday night, Hyry made his fourth career Stanley Cup Playoffs appearance. He hasn't yet made an offensive impact but has seven hits in this series. Hyry's absence might give Michael Bunting a chance to make his 2026 postseason debut.
Source: R.J. Coyle
Source: R.J. Coyle
Jonas Brodin Spotted Using Crutches After Game 5
Minnesota Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin (lower body) could be out for some time after being spotted using crutches after Tuesday's Game 5 win over the Dallas Stars. The Swedish rearguard exited Tuesday's game with a lower-body injury after blocking a shot from Stars forward Mikko Rantanen in the second period. So far in the series, Brodin has averaged nearly three blocks per game, contributing one assist offensively. Daemon Hunt and Jeff Petry are the candidates to step in for Brodin if needed in Game 6 on Thursday.
Source: Sportsnet
Source: Sportsnet
Roope Hintz Likely to Miss Entire First-Round Series
Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz (lower body) is not expected to return to action during the first-round series against the Minnesota Wild. Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan has ruled Hintz out for Tuesday's Game 5 and Thursday's Game 6. He is also considered unlikely to play in a potential Game 7. A lower-body injury knocked Hintz out of the lineup on March 6. With Hintz absent, Justin Hryckowian has skated on the first line in the playoffs. He has been a physical force, recording 15 hits, but his offensive production has been limited. In four games, Hryckowian has contributed one assist and managed only one SOG.
Source: Sportsnet
Source: Sportsnet
Jason Zucker Good to Go for Game 5
Buffalo Sabres left wing Jason Zucker (undisclosed) will play in Game 5 against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday, Amalie Benjamin of NHL.com reports. He has been cleared for action after Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff labeled Zucker probable for the game on Monday. The veteran forward left Sunday's Game 4 early with an unspecified ailment. Zucker is expected to skate in his usual spot on the second line and will work with the first power-play unit. He has eight SOG but no points in four games in the series.
Source: Amalie Benjamin
Source: Amalie Benjamin
Josh Norris Won't Play Tuesday
Buffalo Sabres center Josh Norris (undisclosed) won't be in action on Tuesday against the Boston Bruins, Amalie Benjamin of NHL.com reports. On Tuesday morning, Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff told reporters that Norris is available for selection, but he didn't take part in line rushes during the morning skate. He will sit out a third consecutive game. Tyler Kozak (undisclosed) has been Norris' replacement in the lineup and is good to go on Tuesday after making an early exit in Sunday's Game 4. In the playoffs, Kozak has recorded one assist in two outings, averaging two hits and 9:47 of ice time per game.
Source: Amalie Benjamin
Source: Amalie Benjamin
Colton Dach Available Tuesday
Edmonton Oilers forward Colton Dach (illness) appears to be available for Tuesday's Game 5 against the Anaheim Ducks. According to Tony Brar of Oilers TV, Dach participated in the morning skate after missing Game 4 of the series due to illness. The 23-year-old has seen fourth-line minutes against the Ducks, recording three SOG and 15 hits across three appearances. On Tuesday, Dach could play a bigger role, depending on the availability of Connor McDavid (ankle) and Jason Dickinson (lower body). Should both be cleared, Dach is projected to replace Josh Samanski in the lineup.
Source: Tony Brar
Source: Tony Brar
Connor Ingram Returns to Oilers Net for Game 5
Edmonton Oilers goaltender Connor Ingram will be back in the crease for Tuesday's elimination game against the Anaheim Ducks, Jamie Umbach of the Oilers' official site reports. After seeing Ingram struggle in back-to-back contests, Edmonton decided to go with Tristan Jarry in Game 4. Jarry did a decent job with 34 saves in a 4-3 overtime loss, but Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch has decided to go back to Ingram. "Nothing against Jarry," Knoblach said Tuesday morning. "I thought he had a solid game the other night, but this last few weeks or months, Ingram's been our starter and he's been our guy. Now that our season's on the line, we felt that we would go with our guy." Ingram allowed 11 goals in Games 2 and 3. He has a 4.70 goals-against average and a .849 save percentage this postseason. The Oilers' hopes of staying alive on Tuesday hinge on Ingram improving his performance.
Source: Jamie Umbach
Source: Jamie Umbach
Jason Dickinson Considered a Game-Time Decision for Tuesday's Action
Edmonton Oilers center Jason Dickinson (lower body) will once again be a game-time decision on Tuesday night against the Anaheim Ducks. The 30-year-old is banged up and has been labeled a game-time decision for most of the games in the first round. He returned to the lineup from a two-game absence in Game 4, contributing one assist in a 4-3 overtime loss. Edmonton has struggled in the series, but Dickinson has been productive this postseason, with three points (two goals, one assist) in two appearances. With Connor McDavid (ankle) potentially sidelined on Tuesday night, Dickinson could be called upon for extra ice time and a larger role if he's available.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Connor McDavid a Game-Time Call Tuesday
Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (ankle) is a game-time decision on Tuesday against the Anaheim Ducks. The Oilers captain didn't take part in Tuesday's morning skate because of an ankle injury sustained in Game 2 of the series. Despite the injury, McDavid has recorded back-to-back multi-point games after starting the playoffs with two scoreless efforts. He has tallied one goal and three assists. With Edmonton facing elimination on Tuesday night, it's hard to imagine McDavid missing the contest. However, if he can't play, the Oilers must lean more on Leon Draisaitl's line.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Mikhail Sergachev Has Three Assists in Overtime Loss
Utah Mammoth defenseman Mikhail Sergachev opened his scoring account in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs with three assists in Monday's 5-4 overtime loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. Thanks to Sergachev's puck-moving ability, the Mammoth turned a 3-0 deficit into a 4-3 lead, but they couldn't close out the game. While Sergachev has over 100 postseason appearances under his belt, he has found his way onto the score sheet in back-to-back games just three times. Getting him going offensively would significantly improve Utah's chances against the Pacific Division champions in the first-round series.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
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
