April 30, 2025
St. Louis Blues defenseman Tyler Tucker (lower body) will miss Wednesday's Game 5 against the Winnipeg Jets. The 25-year-old sustained a lower-body injury on Sunday in Game 4 of the series. Tucker has made his first three career playoff appearances this year, registering one goal, four shots, and 12 hits. Ryan Suter is set to fill Tucker's spot in the lineup on Wednesday. The 40-year-old veteran has been a healthy scratch for two games. He picked up three blocks with a minus-one rating across the first two games of the matchup. These days, Suter offers very little going forward, but Blues head coach Jim Montgomery has called him the team's "No. 1 penalty-killing defenseman."
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
April 30, 2025
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (lower body) will miss a second consecutive game on Wednesday against the Washington Capitals. Montreal's top option between the sticks suffered a lower-body injury in Game 3. Jakub Dobes will make his second consecutive start, with Cayden Primeau continuing in a backup role. While Dobes has had a strong rookie campaign with the Canadiens, he was overpowered by Washington in Game 4, allowing three goals on 24 shots in a 5-2 loss. Dobes has recorded a 2.77 goals-against average and a .875 save percentage over one start and one relief appearance in the playoffs.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Dan Rosen
April 30, 2025
Washington Capitals forward Aliaksei Protas (foot) is expected to return to action on Wednesday night against the Montreal Canadiens. After recovering from a skate cut on his foot, Protas fully participated in Tuesday's practice. He will add offensive firepower and penalty-killing ability to the lineup. Protas produced 30 goals and 66 points in 76 regular-season games. Washington has utilized Protas on the top line, but he may need to wait a bit to regain his role, as the team has received outstanding production from Anthony Beauvillier during the playoffs.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
April 30, 2025
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexandre Carrier (undisclosed) is a game-time decision for Wednesday's matchup with the Washington Capitals. Montreal faces elimination in Game 5 and may have to do without Carrier after he was injured in Sunday's Game 4. Carrier has recorded two points (one goal, one assist), six shots, 11 blocks, and seven hits in the series, averaging 20:07 of ice time across four games. If Carrier isn't ready to play on Wednesday, Jayden Struble will likely step into the lineup for his third postseason appearance. Struble has been very quiet in the playoffs, registering zero points with one shot and a minus-two rating.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Priyanta Emrith
April 30, 2025
Montreal Canadiens winger Patrik Laine (upper body) will not play in Game 5 against the Washington Capitals on Wednesday. An upper-body injury will keep him sidelined for a third straight game. Montreal needs to win Wednesday's game for Laine to have a chance to return to action this season. It has been a tough year for Laine, as he has only one assist in two playoff games after totaling 33 points (20 goals, 13 assists) in 52 games during the regular season. With Laine out, Ivan Demidov is set to remain on the top power-play unit on Wednesday.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Renaud Lavoie
April 30, 2025
Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel dished out two assists in Tuesday's 3-2 overtime win against the Minnesota Wild. He had both of his helpers in the opening period, setting up William Karlsson during a short-handed situation and assisting Mark Stone on his first postseason goal of the year. Eichel led the team in ice time with 23:30 and had five shots on goal with two blocks and one hit. Vegas is now one win away from advancing to the second round, although its big guns have had a slow start in the postseason. This prompted head coach Bruce Cassidy to split up his top line for Game 5. Eichel was paired with Karlsson and Pavel Dorofeyev. Things clicked for Eichel after he had posted only one point -- a power-play assist -- over the first four games of the series.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 30, 2025
Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho was at the forefront as the team wrapped up its first-round series against the New Jersey Devils with a 5-4 double-overtime win on Tuesday night. Aho's power-play goal knotted the game at four in regulation, and he finished the series with another power-play tally at the 4:17 mark in the second overtime. The Finnish star also recorded an even-strength assist during the contest. Carolina dominated the matchup right from the start, and Aho had an impressive series with eight points (three goals, five assists) over five games. He will carry a three-game multi-point streak into Round 2, where the Hurricanes will face either Washington or Montreal.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 30, 2025
Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark delivered his best performance of the 2025 playoffs in Tuesday's Game 5 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, backstopping his team to a 4-0 victory with a 29-save shutout. He joined Craig Anderson as the second netminder in Senators history to register a shutout in an elimination game. Ullmark produced his first career postseason shutout after coughing up at least three goals in each of the first four games in the series. The Senators need to see the best version of him again to extend the series Thursday night in Game 6. Ullmark will head into the action with a 2.80 goals-against average and a .883 save percentage.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 30, 2025
Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk had a big night in Tuesday's Game 5 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, racking up three points in a 4-0 victory. The Senators fought off elimination, with their captain leading the way by scoring one goal and providing two assists. Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle (one goal, two assists) became the first players in franchise history to post as many as three points in a game when the team faced elimination. The series has been tough for Ottawa, but Tkachuk has enjoyed the occasion. He will head into Thursday's Game 6 with a four-game point streak. Overall, Tkachuk has registered six points (three goals, three assists) in his first five career postseason games, firing off 20 shots and delivering 22 hits.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 30, 2025
Vegas Golden Knights winger Pavel Dorofeyev (undisclosed) was unavailable for the end of Game 5 against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night. He did not see the ice during the final four minutes of regulation and sat out the overtime period, which ended after 4:05 with Brett Howden's third postseason goal of the year. There were no updates on Dorofeyev after the game. The Russian forward led Vegas during the regular season with 35 goals. In the playoffs, Dorofeyev has been limited to one goal and one assist in five games, but he has continued to play a crucial role for the Golden Knights. Prior to his exit on Tuesday, Dorofeyev logged over five minutes of power-play time and tied for the game high with five shots on goal. Victor Olofsson, who has gone scoreless with three shots in three playoff appearances this season, is the most likely candidate to step in for Dorofeyev if needed on Thursday in Game 6.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Jesse Granger
April 30, 2025
Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson (illness) played only two periods in Tuesday's Game 5 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. The Swedish shot-stopper performed well, kicking away 23 of 25 pucks sent toward his net, but he wasn't feeling well and gave up the crease to Marc-Andre Fleury for the third period and overtime. Fleury saved six shots before Brett Howden sent the game-winner past him with 4:05 gone in the extra frame. Minnesota is set to start with Fleury on Thursday night in Game 6 if Gustavsson doesn't recover in time. The Wild No. 1 has been solid in the postseason, allowing 2.63 goals with a .919 save percentage while going 2-2. However, Fleury has made 170 career playoff appearances -- the third most all-time among goalies -- and is not a bad option between the pipes.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 30, 2025
Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad will miss the next two games due to a suspension. The NHL Department of Player Safety issued him a two-game suspension for elbowing Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel in Monday's Game 4 of the first-round series. The suspension will take effect with Game 5 on Wednesday. If the Panthers lose the contest, Ekblad will also be sidelined for Game 6. He will not be available for Game 1 in the second round if the defending champions close out the series on Wednesday night. Ekblad missed the start of the postseason due to a suspension for violating the NHL's performance-enhancing substance policy. He has made two appearances in the playoffs, recording one goal, three shots, four blocks, and six hits. Uvis Balinskis, who played in the first two games of the series, is expected to return to the lineup on Wednesday.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 29, 2025
Montreal Canadiens winger Patrik Laine (upper body) was back on the ice Tuesday morning but remains day-to-day ahead of Wednesday's Game 5 against the Washington Capitals. Laine has watched his team fall into a 3-1 hole, having missed the last two games, and it's unclear if he can return to the lineup on Wednesday night. Before suffering an upper-body injury, Laine recorded one power-play assist and six shots in two appearances during the series. Ivan Demidov has seen increased usage during Laine's absence, notching his first career postseason points with power-play assists in Game 4.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Priyanta Emrith
April 29, 2025
Winnipeg Jets forward Gabriel Vilardi (upper body) is set to make his 2025 postseason debut in Wednesday's Game 5 against the St. Louis Blues. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Jets head coach Scott Arniel said that Vilardi is a "full go" for Wednesday's contest. The 25-year-old has been sidelined for 15 games due to an upper-body injury. His return will provide a significant boost for the Jets, who suffered two ugly road defeats in Game 3 and 4. Vilardi recorded a career-high 61 points (27 goals, 34 assists) in 71 regular-season appearances. Alex Iafallo will likely be moved down in the lineup because of Vilardi's return.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Connor Hrabchak
April 29, 2025
Tampa Bay Lightning winger Brandon Hagel (upper body) has been ruled out for Wednesday's Game 5 against the Florida Panthers. He was injured during Monday's Game 4 in the Battle of Florida, exiting the action after receiving a high hit from Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad. Ekblad was not penalized for the incident in the game but will have a hearing Tuesday with the NHL Department of Player Safety. Hagel has gone scoreless in three playoff appearances this year but was a major asset for the Lightning during the regular season, scoring 35 goals and 90 points in 82 games. Tampa Bay will likely use Cam Atkinson or Conor Geekie as Hagel's replacement in Wednesday's game.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Gabby Shirley
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