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Nathan MacKinnon, Valeri Nichushkin Uncertain for Game 4
Colorado Avalanche forwards Nathan MacKinnon (lower body) and Valeri Nichushkin (lower body) are uncertain for Tuesday's Game 4 against the Vegas Golden Knights, Derek Van Diest of NHL.com reports. Both players suffered lower-body injuries in Game 3. "I don't have any updates," Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said on Monday. "Those guys are getting treatments, they're getting evaluated. It could be tomorrow morning before we know, it could be game time before we know, so we'll just plan for all scenarios." Losing MacKinnon from the lineup would be particularly bad for Colorado. He leads the team with seven goals and 15 points in 12 postseason games. MacKinnon ranks sixth all-time in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a scoring average of 1.31 points per game.
Source: Derek Van Diest
Source: Derek Van Diest
Oliver Kapanen Sitting as Healthy Scratch Monday
Montreal Canadiens forward Oliver Kapanen will be a healthy scratch for Game 3 against the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday night. During the regular season, Kapanen finished third among rookies with 22 goals and had 37 points in 82 contests. But the 22-year-old has failed to replicate that form in the playoffs, going scoreless in all seven appearances. Kapanen will be replaced in the lineup by Joe Veleno, who has been a healthy scratch in each of the last three games. Veleno has one assist in six postseason outings. He will add more muscle to the lineup and provide a strong option at the faceoff dot -- Veleno has won 63.6% of his draws in the playoffs.
Source: TSN
Source: TSN
Max Domi Out Indefinitely Due to Offseason Surgery Complications
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Max Domi (undisclosed) is out indefinitely due to complications from offseason surgery, ESPN's Kristen Shilton reports. Domi played through an undisclosed ailment this season, missing only two games, but the surgery complications leave his status for the start of 2026-27 uncertain. The team will re-evaluate him ahead of training camp in the fall. This season, Domi had a mediocre campaign, recording 12 goals and 36 points. He finished with a career-worst minus-29 rating. Domi is halfway through a four-year, $15 million contract.
Source: Kristen Shilton
Source: Kristen Shilton
Devon Toews Logs Two Assists In Game 3 Defeat
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews was the team's only skater to finish Sunday's 5-3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights with multiple points. He recorded two assists, including a short-handed helper, as the Avalanche jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first period. Shockingly, they couldn't hold the lead and now face elimination in Game 4 on Tuesday. With Cale Makar back in action, Toews' workload on the blue line decreased, but he still logged over 23 minutes of ice time. With 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in 12 games, Toews has been among the league's most productive defensemen in the 2026 playoffs. He has also racked up 15 blocks while generating 15 SOG.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Brett Howden Nets 10th Postseason Goal
Vegas Golden Knights forward Brett Howden wrapped up Sunday's 5-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche with an empty-net goal, giving him 10 goals for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Howden joined teammate Pavel Dorofeyev at the top of the postseason goal-scoring charts. He has lit the lamp in three of the last four contests and hasn't gone without a goal in two consecutive outings since failing to score in the first three postseason games. Howden's productive playoff run has included two assists in 15 games. The 28-year-old has looked very sharp and, even with Mark Stone back, continued to hold a top-six role in Sunday's game, which is positive for his fantasy outlook.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Mitchell Marner Delivers Two Assists in Comeback Victory
Vegas Golden Knights forward Mitchell Marner recorded two assists as the team turned a 3-0 deficit into a 5-3 win in Game 3 against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday night. Vegas fell into a three-goal hole in the first period, but Marner's playmaking helped the team make it a one-goal game after only four minutes in the second frame. They added three more goals to grab a 3-0 series lead. The Golden Knights are on the cusp of returning to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 2023, and Marner has had a huge role in their postseason success. He boasts 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists) in 15 games, making him only the sixth active player to reach 20 career playoff points with one franchise in 15 or fewer games.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Mark Stone Returns With Multi-Point Effort
Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone made a big impact in his return to the lineup on Sunday, contributing a goal and an assist in a 5-3 comeback victory over the Colorado Avalanche. The Golden Knights gave up three first-period goals, but Stone's power-play marker sparked their comeback 19 seconds into the second frame. He then had an assist midway through the third period, setting up Tomas Hertl's game-winning goal. Stone, who now has nine points (four goals, five assists) in 10 postseason games, continued his trend of recording goals on the power play and assists at even strength. With him back in the lineup, Vegas is looking very strong up front, with world-class scoring talent on three lines.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Valeri Nichushkin Exits Early Sunday
Colorado Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin (undisclosed) didn't finish Sunday's 5-3 Game 3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette reports. The Russian forward didn't play in the final 22 minutes of the contest. It was a tough night all around for the Avalanche, as they blew a 3-0 lead and also saw Nathan MacKinnon (lower body) get hurt. Nichushkin has been quiet in the postseason, recording four points (two goals, two assists) in 12 games. With both Nichushkin and MacKinnon ailing, Colorado's offense could see a major shake-up for Game 4 on Tuesday night.
Source: Evan Rawal
Source: Evan Rawal
Nathan MacKinnon Hurt in Game 3 Loss
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (lower body) was injured in Sunday's Game 3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, ESPN's Greg Wyshynski reports. He took only four shifts in the third period after the puck hit his left leg with 7:54 remaining in the second frame. Initially, MacKinnon didn't come out for the third period, and there was no intensity in his skating when he was on the ice. Colorado's frontline also lost Valeri Nichushkin (undisclosed) on Sunday night, putting the team in a very difficult position. Brock Nelson and Nazem Kadri will have larger roles if MacKinnon isn't available for Game 4 on Tuesday.
Source: Greg Wyshynski
Source: Greg Wyshynski
Taylor Hall Enjoying Life in Carolina
Carolina Hurricanes left wing Taylor Hall has been a driving force for the team in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, having formed a strong partnership with Jackson Blake and Logan Stankoven. "I feel at home here," Hall said. "Over the course of the season, I felt like my game grew. Just getting on a line with 'Stank' and 'Blakey' and getting the opportunity was a lot of fun. We play well together. Usually, we have the puck a lot; we're creating turnovers and we're skating up and down the ice using pressure to create offense and that suits my game, along with just the group of guys here and Rod (Brind'Amour) as a coach." Hall has scored a team-high 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in 10 postseason games. However, the Montreal Canadiens have found a way to slow him down, with Hall still searching for his first point in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Source: Tracey Myers
Source: Tracey Myers
Mark Stone Returns to Action Sunday
Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone (lower body) has been cleared to rejoin the lineup for Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals against the Colorado Avalanche. The Golden Knights captain had to sit out five games after sustaining a lower-body injury in the second-round series against Anaheim. When available, Stone always plays a massive role on offense for Vegas, and Sunday's game shouldn't be any different. In nine postseason outings, Stone has tallied three goals and four assists. He has scored all his goals on the power play, while recording each of his assists at even strength. Brandon Saad will make room for Stone in the lineup.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Cale Makar Rejoins Avalanche Lineup Sunday
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (upper body) will make his 2026 Western Conference Finals debut in Sunday's Game 3 against the Vegas Golden Knights. He missed the start of the series due to an upper-body injury, but Makar will give it a go on Sunday night, as Colorado tries to avoid a 3-0 series deficit. Health issues might explain why Makar's postseason play hasn't been as productive as we're used to seeing. He has recorded five points (four goals, one assist) in nine games, finishing six of his outings scoreless.
Source: Sportsnet
Source: Sportsnet
Phillip Danault Extends Point Streak to Three Games
Montreal Canadiens center Phillip Danault assisted on both Josh Anderson goals in Saturday's 3-2 overtime loss in Game 2 against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Canadiens managed to tie the game twice, but never got a third chance, as Carolina secured the win in overtime. Danault has come alive late in the postseason. He has strung together a three-game point streak, and nine of his 10 points have come in the last eight games. The 33-year-old has mostly made an impact as a playmaker in the playoffs, tallying two goals and eight assists in 16 games. When the teams return to action on Monday night, Danault will target his second career postseason four-game point streak.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Josh Anderson Nets Two Goals in Painful Loss
Montreal Canadiens right wing Josh Anderson provided both goals in Saturday's 3-2 Game 2 loss against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 32-year-old became the fifth player in franchise history to record multiple game-tying goals in the same playoff contest, but Anderson and the Canadiens had their hearts broken early in overtime. After starting the playoffs with goals in back-to-back games, Anderson had lit the lamp just twice in 13 outings before Saturday night. Nevertheless, he can take pride in ranking second on his team with five even-strength goals in the playoffs. Additionally, he has recorded two assists over 16 postseason games.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jalen Chatfield Delivers Two Assists in Crucial Win
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chatfield came away with two assists as the team secured a 3-2 overtime win in Game 2 against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night, tying the Eastern Conference Finals. Chatfield linked up well with Nicolaj Ehlers, who scored twice in the contest, including the overtime goal. This marked Chatfield's first career multi-point outing in the postseason. The 30-year-old has recorded four points (one goal, three assists), 19 SOG, 11 blocks, and five hits in 10 playoff games this year. Given his role, it's unlikely Chatfield will have as big an offensive impact in Game 3. Across the entire season, he's been on the score sheet in back-to-back games only twice.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
