16 hours agoDetroit Red Wings goaltender Alex Lyon is getting the start on Monday for a crucial contest against the visiting Montreal Canadiens. After making six straight starts, Lyon gave way to James Reimer for Saturday's key 5-4 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs but he will get right back at it against the Canadiens on Monday. The 31-year-old has taken over the crease from Reimer this season but hasn't been as sharp of late. For the season, he owns a 3.03 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage across 43 outings (42 starts) while going 20-18-5 in that time. The Red Wings also play tomorrow as they sit tied for the second and final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference but have the fewest regulation wins (the tiebreaker) between them and the Capitals, Flyers, and Penguins with two games to go.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: Daniella Bruce
16 hours agoWashington Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren is making his fifth straight start on Monday for a crucial tilt with the Boston Bruins. Not only is it Lindgren's fifth consecutive start but also his 17th over the team's last 18 games as the team continues to go with the hot hand with Lindgren out-playing veteran Darcy Kuemper this season. The 30-year-old has posted a 2.77 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage across 48 outings (46 starts) on the season, going 23-16-7 in that time. For comparison, Kuemper has turned in a 3.31 GAA and an .890 save percentage across 33 appearances (30 starts), going 13-14-3 on the campaign. The Capitals currently occupy the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference but are tied with the Flyers and Red Wings with 87 points and are just one point ahead of the Penguins despite a minus-40 goal differential.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: Bailey Johnson
17 hours agoColumbus Blue Jackets center Boone Jenner practiced on Monday for the first time since he and his wife, Maggie, announced that their son, Dawson, was stillborn. Jenner has missed the past six games but is an option for Tuesday's regular-season finale against the Carolina Hurricanes. A 2024 All-Star, Jenner has had a solid season that includes 22 goals and 35 points to go along with 155 shots, 119 hits, 74 blocked shots, and 28 penalty minutes across 58 games. The Blue Jackets have an outside shot at landing the first-overall pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft as they sit fourth-last in the NHL with 64 points and will remain in that spot at the end of the 2023-24 regular season.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
17 hours agoColumbus Blue Jackets forward Adam Fantilli practiced with the team for the first time since suffering a calf laceration on Jan. 28 against the Seattle Kraken. However, the rookie will not play in the team's final regular season game on Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes. Fantilli was originally given an eight-week timeline after Kraken forward Jared McCann's skate accidentally made contact with Fantilli's calf but will end up missing the final 33 games of the regular season. "I was trying to get back for anything that I could, it just wasn't quite there yet," Fantilli said on Monday. The 2023 third-overall pick's rookie season concludes with 12 goals and 27 points on 115 shots on goal through 49 contests.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
17 hours agoWashington Capitals defenseman Rasmus Sandin (upper body) skated in a non-contact jersey on Monday for the first time since suffering an upper-body injury in an April 7 contest against the Ottawa Senators. The Swede was ruled out for the remainder of the regular season following his injury, and the Caps have just two games remaining. If the Capitals qualify for the postseason, Sandin is an option for Game 1, according to head coach Spencer Carbery. "For sure," Carbery said. "First day back on the ice for him, and even [Nick Jensen] being in the facility, I think, took a positive step. Didn't skate today, but back in here and working his way back." The Capitals currently occupy the second and final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with 87 points but are also tied in points with the Red Wings and Flyers, who currently own the final playoff spot due to the most regulation wins between those three clubs. The Penguins sit one point behind with two games to go.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
17 hours agoMontreal Canadiens defensive prospect Lane Hutson will make his NHL debut on Monday versus the Detroit Red Wings after signing an entry-level deal with the team on Friday. The Boston University product inked his three-year, entry-level deal after his season at Boston University concluded by way of a 2-1 overtime loss to future NCAA champions Denver University on Thursday. "I'm just really excited," Huston said on Monday. " The guys here have been great and yeah, just ready to get going." The 2022 second-rounder notched 15 goals and 49 points across 38 games as a Sophomore this season, finishing second in the country for points by a defenseman. He registered 30 goals and 97 points across 77 games in his two years with the Terriers.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
20 hours agoDetroit Red Wings forward Andrew Copp (cheek) is a game-time decision for Monday's crucial contest against the Montreal Canadiens. The veteran has missed the past two games after suffering a broken cheekbone on an undetected high stick in a 2-1 loss to the Washington Capitals last Tuesday. Wings bench boss Derek Lalonde said Copp would take part in warmups on Monday before determining his status for the contest. Copp has recorded 13 goals and 33 points across 77 games this season, his second with the Red Wings. Detroit enters Monday's action tied with the Capitals and Flyers for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with 87 points, but both clubs hold the tiebreaker over the Red Wings due to regulation wins.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
20 hours agoThe Anaheim Ducks have signed top prospect Cutter Gauthier to a three-year, entry-level deal after his season at Boston College came to a conclusion in a 2-0 loss to the University of Denver in the national championship game on Saturday. "We are excited to sign Cutter and have him begin his NHL career with the Ducks immediately," Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said. "He was the top goal-scorer in college hockey and has the dynamic ability to produce in all situations. We look forward to having him join our group of top young players already in the NHL." The 20-year-old paced the nation with 38 goals as a Sophomore this season, the most by an NCAA player since the 1999-2000 season. Drafted fifth overall in 2022 by the Flyers, Gauthier told the team he would not sign in Philadelphia and was traded to the Ducks for young defenseman Jamie Drysdale in January.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
20 hours agoToronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll will be between the pipes for Tuesday's road game against the Florida Panthers. Ilya Samsonov has started each of the last two games and four of the last five but it will be Woll going Tuesday with Wednesday's starter to be determined against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Woll took over the starter's role early in the season over the then-struggling Samsonov but suffered a high-ankle sprain in a Dec. 7 win over the Ottawa Senators and didn't return until Feb. 29. He hasn't been as sharp since getting back but still owns a solid 2.88 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage across 24 games (22 starts) on the season. Samsonov is likely to start Game 1 of the postseason while Woll will serve as the backup.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: Jonas Siegel
20 hours agoToronto Maple Leafs forward Calle Jarnkrok (hand) is "not ready to play" and is questionable for Game 1 of the postseason, according to head coach Sheldon Keefe. The veteran has been out since injuring his hand for the second time this season during a 6-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on March 14. The versatile Swede has recorded 10 goals and 21 points across 52 games on the season after notching a career-high 20 goals and 39 points last season, his first with the Maple Leafs. The Leafs are also dealing with injuries to Bobby McMann and Max Domi up front, both of whom will also miss the final two games of the regular season.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: Jonas Siegel
20 hours agoToronto Maple Leafs forward Max Domi (undisclosed) will not be in the lineup for Tuesday's contest against the Florida Panthers and is unlikely to play in the regular-season finale on Wednesday versus the Tampa Bay Lightning. The forward didn't skate on Saturday morning prior to the team's game against the Detroit Red Wings but did dress for the contest despite dealing with an undisclosed injury. The 29-year-old was off to a sluggish start this season but has become a key member of the offense while skating alongside Auston Matthews of late. Domi has tallied two goals and 17 points over his last 21 games since the start of March while averaging a season-high 15:36 of ice time in the month of April.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: Jonas Siegel
20 hours agoToronto Maple Leafs forward Bobby McMann will not play in the club's final two regular-season games due to a lower-body injury suffered during Saturday's 5-4 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings. McMann fell awkwardly while clearing the puck short-handed and was slow to get up and get to the bench. He then went to the dressing room and did not return. His status for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs is unclear. The 27-year-old has become a key piece for the team this season, notching 15 goals and 24 points across 56 games in 11:34 of average ice time per game. However, he also has 13 goals and 17 points across 33 games since the start of February and has recently been skating on the team's second line.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: Jonas Siegel
4 days agoWinnipeg Jets goaltender Laurent Brossoit recorded an impressive 24-save shutout against the Western Conference-leading Dallas Stars on Thursday, backstopping his squad to a 3-0 road win. Brossoit picked up his 21st start of the season as Winnipeg gave Connor Hellebuyck a well-deserved rest. The 31-year-old has filled in for Winnipeg's No. 1 admirably all season, posting a 14-5-2 record with a 2.00 goals-against average and a .928 save percentage. Brossoit has had three shutouts in total for the campaign, which have all come in his last five starts.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
4 days agoDetroit Red Wings winger Lucas Raymond outscored everybody in Thursday's highly entertaining matchup against Pittsburgh, netting a hat trick and adding an assist in a 6-5 overtime loss. Raymond averaged a point per game through the first few outings of the month and found a way to take his performance to an even higher level on Thursday in a crucial clash between two teams that are desperately trying to secure a postseason berth. It's been a good bounce-back campaign for the 22-year-old, who has gone from a 45-point guy to a player who has a chance to finish the campaign with 70 points. In 79 appearances, Raymond has tallied 29 goals and 39 assists.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
4 days agoPittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby made his way into the top 10 on the NHL's all-time scoring list on Thursday with a three-point performance in a vital 6-5 overtime win against Detroit. He finished the contest with a goal and two assists as the Penguins kept their playoff hopes alive. Crosby reached 1,591 points (591 goals, 1,000 assists), pushing Phil Esposito out of the top 10. He will have his eyes next on Joe Sakic, who collected 1,641 points in his career. The Penguins captain continues to make scoring look easy even as a 36-year-old and is on the cusp of recording his eighth campaign with at least 90 points, having notched 41 goals and 48 assists in 79 outings.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
RADIO
