2 hours agoThe Chicago Blackhawks and defenseman Alex Vlasic have agreed to a six-year contract extension that carries an average annual value of $4.6 million. The 22-year-old was a bright spot for a young and scuffling Blackhawks team despite not contributing much at the offense end of the ice. The 6-foot-6 blueliner notched two goals and 16 points in 76 games on the season but also blocked 148 shots and was only a minus-four on a Blackhawks team that gave up 111 more goals than they scored. A 2019 second-round pick, Vlasic played three seasons with Boston University before making his NHL debut in the 2021-22 season.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: Elliotte Friedman
2 hours agoFlorida Panthers forward Kyle Okposo will be back in the lineup for Thursday's Game 3 of the team's first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Ryan Lomberg (illness) made the trip to Tampa Bay after missing Game 2 but the team needs another day of feeling good before he's allowed to be around the team. Acquired ahead of the March 8 trade deadline, Okposo got into just six games with his new team, failing to hit the scoresheet with eight shots on goal in that time. The veteran notched 12 goals and 22 points in 61 games with the Buffalo Sabres prior to the trade. The Panthers lead the Lightning 2-0 entering Thursday's action.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: Colby Guy
2 hours agoToronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander (head) has yet to appear in the first three games of the team's first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins, and now we may know why. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman writes that multiple sources have told him Nylander is dealing with a migraine so severe that team doctors have tested to see if he had suffered a concussion, but an actual diagnosis has been hard to come by. Nylander has practiced with the team throughout the series and has stayed on for extra work but has not been able to suit up for a game to this point. The Swede skated in all 82 of the team's regular-season games, tallying 40 goals and 98 points in that time. The Leafs trail the Bruins 2-1 in the series with Game 4 coming on Saturday in Toronto.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: Elliotte Friedman
2 hours agoCarolina Hurricanes defenseman Tony DeAngelo will slide into the lineup in the stead of injured blue-liner Brett Pesce (lower body) for Thursday's Game 3 of the team's first-round playoff series against the New York Islanders. Pesce sustained a lower-body injury during the second period of Monday's Game 2 victory and is likely out for the remainder of the series. DeAngelo took Pesce's spot on the team's second pairing alongside Brady Skjei in practice. DeAngelo got into just 31 games with the Hurricanes this season, notching three goals and 11 points on 44 shots on goal in that time. A two-time 50-point man, he tallied 11 goals and 42 points as recently as last season while with the Philadelphia Flyers. The Hurricanes lead the Islanders 2-0 in the series entering Thursday's action.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
2 hours agoFlorida Panthers center Sam Bennett (hand) will miss at least a week after leaving Game 2 of the team's first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second period. Bennett was struck on the hand by a point shot from defenseman Brandon Montour and will not travel for the team's upcoming two games in Tampa Bay. However, the injury is seemingly not as bad as expected, according to Panthers head coach Paul Maurice. "We came to the rink fearing it could be something sinister, something more long-term," Maurice said on Wednesday. "We got great news. It's kind of like getting a phone call saying your car was in an accident. Then, you find out it's just a fender-bender." The Panthers lead the best-of-seven series 2-0 following Tuesday's 3-2 overtime win.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
4 hours agoVegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel picked up two points in Wednesday's 3-1 win over Dallas, becoming the fastest U.S.-born player in NHL history to reach 30 career postseason points. Eichel skated in his 23rd Stanley Cup Playoffs game and helped out offensively with an assist and an empty-net goal. He was also tied for most shots on goal in the contest with five. Dating back to last season, Eichel has now gone for multiple points in four of his last six playoff appearances.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 hours agoBoston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand tallied three points as the team defeated Toronto 4-2 in Game 3 of the first-round series on Wednesday. He did all of his work in the third period, setting up Jake DeBrusk for a power-play goal with 1:07 played and scoring twice. Marchand put the Bruins 3-2 up at the 11:53 mark before notching an empty-netter inside the final minute. The savvy veteran now boasts the third-most three-point efforts in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in franchise history (11). Marchand is flying in the series, having averaged two points per game across three contests. He's sitting on two goals and four assists ahead of Saturday's Game 4.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 hours agoEdmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl couldn't score with eight attempts on goal but had two assists in Wednesday's dramatic 5-4 overtime loss to the Kings. Draisaitl's contributions helped the Oilers work back from a 2-0 deficit, with his second assist coming in a power-play situation. The German superstar now boasts four points (one goal, three assists) through two games in the playoffs, although the series is still tied at one despite his sensational form. The battle between the two teams continues on Friday in Los Angeles, where Draisaitl posted only one point in two games during the regular season.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 hours agoLos Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar had a big performance in Game 2 against the Oilers on Wednesday, scoring the game-winning goal and bagging two assists in a 5-4 overtime victory. Playing in his 94th Stanley Cup Playoffs game, which ties a franchise record, Kopitar set up a pair of Adrian Kempe goals in the first period and popped up with the game-winner 2:07 into overtime. At 36 years and 244 days, Kopitar became the oldest player in Kings history with an overtime goal in the playoffs. Wednesday's prolific outing came after Edmonton had nullified Kopitar in Game 1.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 hours agoDallas Stars center winger Mason Marchment left Wednesday's Game 2 against the Golden Knights early due to an undisclosed injury. The 28-year-old, who bagged a career-high 53 points (22 goals, 31 assists) during the regular season, recorded a game-high eight hits before being forced off after logging 10:22 of ice time. There were no updates on Marchment postgame, leaving him in doubt for Saturday's Game 3. Stars head coach Pete DeBoer will need to change up his second line if Marchment isn't healthy enough to play.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Lia Assimakopoulos
5 hours agoDallas Stars center Radek Faksa couldn't complete Wednesday's Game 2 against Vegas due to an undisclosed injury. He was hurt in the third period, exiting after soaking in 8:41 of action on the fourth line. Faksa didn't contribute offensively in the contest and finished with a minus-one rating, but he won four of five faceoffs and delivered six hits. Stars head coach Pete DeBoer didn't have an update on Faksa postgame. Craig Smith should join the lineup in Saturday's Game 3 if Faksa can't play.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Lia Assimakopoulos
22 hours agoFlorida Panthers winger Ryan Lomberg (illness) could be available again for Thursday's Game 3 against Tampa Bay. He missed Game 2 on Tuesday with an illness, but Panthers head coach Paul Maurice believes that Lomberg might be an option on Thursday. Steve Lorentz skated in Lomberg's place on the fourth line on Tuesday, logging 6:06 of action and registering two shots on goal with four hits. Lomberg produced similar numbers in Game 1 and shouldn't be expected to contribute offensively when he returns.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Jameson Olive
22 hours agoLos Angeles Kings goaltender Cam Talbot is the team's confirmed starter for Wednesday's Game 2 against Edmonton. Talbot remains between the sticks against his former team despite struggling in Game 1. The veteran netminder gave up six goals in Monday's 7-4 loss to the Oilers. He finished the contest with 38 saves. Talbot has lost two consecutive starts only twice since the start of March, which should be an encouraging sign for the Kings as they try to even the first-round series on Wednesday.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Dennis Bernstein
22 hours agoVegas Golden Knights goaltender Logan Thompson will look to post a fourth consecutive win in Wednesday's Game 2 against the Dallas Stars. After closing out the regular season with back-to-back victories, Thompson saved 26 of 29 shots in Game 1 against the Stars, helping Vegas to a sweet 4-3 road win. This was Thompson's first career postseason appearance in the NHL after he missed the Golden Knights' cup run in 2022-23 with a lower-body injury. Dallas lost back-to-back home games only three times during the regular season, meaning another winning effort on Wednesday would be a remarkable feat by Thompson.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Jesse Granger
22 hours agoDallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger will aim to bounce back in Wednesday's Game 2 against the Vegas Golden Knights. He had a very rough start to the series, allowing three first-period goals in Game 1. The team eventually lost 4-3 on home ice, with Oettinger producing only 11 saves. The result dropped Oettinger's career postseason record to 13-14. Dallas will need a much better performance from him on Wednesday to keep pace with the defending champions. Oettinger has lost back-to-back starts just twice in 2024.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Bruce LeVine
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