Adrian Kempe Resting Against Flames
Source: Mayor's Manor
Los Angeles Kings forward Adrian Kempe (rest) will not be in the lineup on Thursday against the Calgary Flames. L.A.'s top scorer will be rested for the regular-season finale. Kempe has had a big year, with 35 goals and 73 points in 81 appearances, and he will also bring a lot of momentum into the postseason. The Swedish forward has posted six goals and 15 points over the past nine games. Phillip Danault and Trevor Moore are also expected to be rested for Thursday's contest, giving more fantasy value to players like Trevor Lewis and Alex Turcotte.Anze Kopitar Expected To Return Thursday
Source: Mayor's Manor
Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar (rest) is expected to rejoin the lineup for Thursday's regular-season finale against the Calgary Flames. The Kings rested Kopitar on Tuesday against the Seattle Kraken. Several other players are scheduled to rest on Thursday, including Adrian Kempe, so Kopitar will have at least one new linemate for Thursday's contest. The Slovenian star leads the Kings with 46 assists and has tallied 67 points in 80 appearances. He has been on a scoring tear recently, notching two goals and three assists over his last three appearances.Jesse Puljujarvi Suspended For Two Games
Source: ESPN
Florida Panthers right wing Jesse Puljujarvi has received a two-game suspension for an illegal check to the head of Tampa Bay Lightning forward Mitchell Chaffee. The incident occurred in the third period during Tuesday's 5-1 loss to the Lightning. Florida has since assigned Puljujarvi to the AHL, meaning he will not begin serving the suspension until he rejoins the Panthers. If Florida recalls Puljujarvi before the start of the team's first-round playoff series against Tampa Bay, he would be eligible to return to the lineup for Game 3. Puljujarvi split the 2024-25 regular season between the Panthers and Pittsburgh Penguins, recording 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 31 games.Connor McDavid Hits 100-Point Mark For Fifth Straight Season
Source: NHL.com
Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid tallied a helper during Wednesday's regular season finale to reach the 100-point mark for the fifth-straight campaign. He would tally the primary assist on Ty Emberson's eventual game-winning goal. Even though McDavid only appeared in 67 games this season, the superstar was able to hit the century mark. This is the eighth time in his career that McDavid has tallied at least 100 points in a single season. He recently missed time due to a lower-body injury but has tallied 10 helpers over his last four games, which suggests he is fully healthy entering the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Through 67 games this season, McDavid has scored 26 goals and added 74 assists. He will look to lead the Oilers to another opening-round victory over the Los Angeles Kings.Jack Eichel Scores In Return
Source: NHL.com
Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (upper body) found the back of the net in his return on Wednesday evening during their victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Eichel missed the previous four games due to an upper-body injury but was able to see some action prior to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He would find the back of the net in the final frame on a tip-in. Before his injury, Eichel was also riding a four-game scoreless streak. However, before the slump, the 28-year-old scored six goals and added seven helpers over his last six contests. During this stretch, Eichel logged 13 shots on goal and held a +9 rating. Through 77 total games this season, Eichel has scored 28 goals and added an impressive 66 helpers. He will be viewed as a top play in DFS during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.Dylan Larkin Tallies Two Points In Victory
Source: NHL.com
Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin tallied a goal and an assist during their victory over the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday evening. Larkin did all of his damage in the third period. He would first find the back of the net in a snapshot. Later in the period, he would add the primary assist on Alex DeBrincat's 38th goal of the campaign. This was his second-straight contest, tallying two points. Over his last seven games, Larkin has found the back of the net twice and added six helpers. Before this recent surge, Larkin carried a five-game scoreless streak during the final week of March. Through 81 games this season, the 28-year-old has scored 30 goals and added 40 helpers. This was his fourth-straight season hitting the 30-goal mark and the second time in four years tallying at least 70 points.Kaiden Guhle Leads Montreal To Playoff-Clinching Victory
Source: NHL.com
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle scored two goals in their playoff-clinching victory on Wednesday evening over the Carolina Hurricanes. Guhle opened the scoring in the first period when he found the back of the net on a snapshot. Later in the second period, Guhle would score his second goal of the contest, on another snapshot. He also logged three shots on goal, seven hits, and an impressive three blocked shots. Before Wednesday's contest, the 23-year-old was riding a five-game scoreless streak. He was still effective in other parts of the game during this stretch as he logged 14 hits and 12 blocked shots. This victory earned them the No. 2 wild card in the Eastern Conference, which set them up for a matchup against the Washington Capitals. Guhle remains a value play in DFS during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.Connor Hellebuyck Stops 30 Shots On Wednesday
Source: NHL.com
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck finished the season on a high note as he stopped 30 of the 31 shots he saw en route to defeating the Anaheim Ducks. This victory also secured him the William M. Jennings Trophy. In this contest, the Jets held the advantage in the shot total, but Hellebuyck was able to stand tall when called on. His lone blemish came in the third period when Troy Terry would score his 21st goal of the season. Hellebuyck will carry a four-game winning streak into the postseason. During this stretch, he has held a stellar 1.47 GAA with a .942 save percentage. During the season, the 31-year-old posted a 47-12-3 record. Fantasy managers should continue to view Hellebuyck as a top option in DFS during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.Jason Robertson Exits Early On Wednesday
Source: Emma Lingan
Dallas Stars left wing Jason Robertson (knee) exited Wednesday's contest early. In addition, after the contest, the star forward was seen wearing a brace on his right knee. Fantasy managers should keep a close eye on his status leading up to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, as he may need to miss time in the opening round if this is a serious injury. Before exiting Wednesday's game, Robertson logged just over six minutes of ice time and one blocked shot. Over his last 11 games, Robertson has found the back of the net six times and added six helpers. Through 82 total games this season, the 25-year-old has scored 35 goals and added 45 helpers. This was the third time in the past four years he scored at least 35 goals. If he were to miss time, Colin Blackwell would draw into the starting lineup.Stuart Skinner Starts Against Sharks Wednesday
Source: Tony Brar
Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner will be in the net for Wednesday's regular-season finale against the San Jose Sharks. The 26-year-old made a successful return from a head injury on Sunday, defeating the Winnipeg Jets 4-1 on the road. This result helped Skinner improve his record to 25-18-4. He has posted a 2.87 goals-against average, a .894 save percentage, and one shutout. The Oilers have received solid goaltending from Skinner, but he hasn't won back-to-back starts in over a month. Wednesday's matchup provides the perfect opportunity to end the poor spell, as the Sharks own the second-worst scoring record in the league.Ondrej Palat Out On Wednesday
Source: Amanda Stein
New Jersey Devils left wing Ondrej Palat (undisclosed) will not play on Wednesday against the Detroit Red Wings. He suffered an undisclosed injury while blocking a shot in Tuesday's win over the Boston Bruins. According to Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe, Palat is still experiencing some soreness. However, the team expects it to be "something he can push through pretty quickly," so it looks like Palat could be available for the start of the postseason. The Czech veteran has made 150 appearances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, scoring 51 goals and 100 points.Timo Meier Exits Devils Lineup Wednesday
Source: Amanda Stein
New Jersey Devils winger Timo Meier (rest) will sit out Wednesday's matchup against the Detroit Red Wings. New Jersey wraps up a back-to-back set and has nothing left to play for in the regular-season finale, so several big names will be kept out of the lineup. It has been an up-and-down year for Meier, but he enjoyed a big finish to his campaign by racking up three points (one goal, two assists) in Tuesday's 5-4 overtime victory against the Boston Bruins. He recorded 53 points (26 goals, 27 assists) and 141 hits in 80 games during the regular season.Nico Hischier Resting Wednesday Night
Source: Amanda Stein
New Jersey Devils center Nico Hischier (rest) will not play in Wednesday's regular-season finale against the Detroit Red Wings. The Devils captain will take the night off to rest a bit before the playoffs start. Hischier wraps up the 2024-25 campaign with a career-high 35 goals and 69 points in 75 appearances. He managed to get to the 30-goal plateau for the second time in his career. However, Hischier has scored in only one of his five April appearances, so he needs to find his shooting stick again if the team is going to be successful in the postseason. Dawson Mercer and Cody Glass should receive a bump in usage on Wednesday with Hischier out.Jesper Bratt Sits Out Regular-Season Finale
Source: Amanda Stein
New Jersey Devils winger Jesper Bratt (rest) will not be in the lineup on Wednesday against the Detroit Red Wings. New Jersey's top scorer will get the night off to rest. This will end up being Bratt's only absence during the regular season. He has enjoyed a wonderful campaign with a career-high 88 points (21 goals, 67 assists) in 81 appearances. With him only on six points (one goal, five assists) through 13 career postseason outings, Bratt will have plenty to prove in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.Luke Hughes Won't Play Against Red Wings
Source: Amanda Stein
New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes (rest) will exit the lineup for Wednesday's encounter with the Detroit Red Wings. He has carried a big workload during Dougie Hamilton's (lower body) absence and will get some well-deserved time off ahead of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Hughes is set to finish the regular season as New Jersey's highest-scoring defenseman, boasting 44 points (seven goals, 37 assists) in 71 appearances. Hamilton is on 40 points (nine goals, 31 assists) ahead of his return to action on Wednesday night. With Hamilton back in the fold, Hughes' usage is likely to take a hit during the postseason.