April 22, 2025
Washington Capitals defenseman Martin Fehervary (knee) will miss the 2024-25 postseason. The team announced on Tuesday that Fehervary underwent surgery on Monday for a torn meniscus in his right knee. He sustained the injury in Washington's penultimate game of the regular season against the New York Islanders and has missed two contests. The 25-year-old recorded 25 points (five goals, 20 assists), 76 shots, 150 blocks, and 139 hits in 81 games this season. Fehervary's replacement in the lineup, Alexander Alexeyev, was injured in Monday's postseason opener against the Montreal Canadiens, requiring "significant dental work" after taking a stick to the face late in the third period, but he is expected to be available for Wednesday's Game 2.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 22, 2025
Tampa Bay Lightning center Luke Glendening (upper body) is ready to return from a four-game absence and could make his comeback in Tuesday's Game 1 against the Florida Panthers. The veteran forward missed Tampa Bay's last four regular-season contests due to an upper-body injury. From a fantasy perspective, Glendening is not an impactful player, but his ability to win faceoffs at a good rate could become an important asset during the postseason. Glendening won 57.0 percent of his draws during the regular season, finishing with seven points (four goals, three assists) and 105 hits in 77 outings.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
April 22, 2025
Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Mitchell Chaffee (upper body) is available for selection for Tuesday's Game 1 against the Florida Panthers. He missed the regular-season finale against the New York Rangers due to an upper-body injury. Chaffee closed out the campaign with 18 points (12 goals, six assists) and 133 hits in 66 appearances. While he is healthy enough to play again, it's unclear whether Tampa Bay will use Chaffee in Game 1. He is a possible replacement for Oliver Bjorkstrand (lower body), who has been ruled out for the opening round.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
April 22, 2025
New Jersey Devils forward Cody Glass (lower body) has been cleared for Tuesday's Game 2 against the Carolina Hurricanes. He exited early due to a lower-body injury in Sunday's series opener. Glass will continue as New Jersey's third-line center, flanked by Paul Cotter and Stefan Noesen, who will drop down from the first line. Following his trade from the Pittsburgh Penguins, Glass averaged 0.5 points with the Devils in 14 regular-season contests, but he has finished scoreless in seven of his last eight appearances.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: New Jersey Devils
April 22, 2025
New Jersey Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon (lower body) has been ruled out for Game 2 against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday. The veteran blue-liner exited Sunday's Game 1 with a lower-body injury, logging only 8:53 of action. With Luke Hughes (upper body) also unavailable for Tuesday, the Devils are forced into two chances in defense. Simon Nemec and Dennis Cholowski will be inserted into the lineup for the first postseason action of their careers. The two will form the third defensive pairing, while Dougie Hamilton will move up in the lineup to fill in for Hughes on the first pairing.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 22, 2025
New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes (upper body) will not play in Tuesday's Game 2 against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 21-year-old sustained an upper-body injury during Sunday's Game 1 loss. After a brief exit, Hughes was able to finish the contest, but he isn't game-ready for Tuesday. Hughes led all Devils defensemen in scoring during the regular season, posting 44 points (seven goals, 37 assists) in 71 games. Brenden Dillon (lower body) was also injured on Sunday, giving Dennis Cholowski and Simon Nemec an opportunity to enter the lineup for Game 2. Dougie Hamilton will take over Hughes' responsibilities on the first power-play unit.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 22, 2025
Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk (groin) was activated from long-term Injured Reserve on Tuesday, paving the way for him to join the lineup for Game 1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. After suffering a groin injury during the 4 Nations Face-Off, Tkachuk has missed 25 games. The Panthers will use Tkachuk on the second line next to Sam Bennett and Mackie Samoskevich, while he is also set to skate with the top power-play unit. Tkachuk was tied for the most points on the team with 22 during Florida's triumphant Stanley Cup run last year. He made 52 regular-season appearances this term, scoring 22 goals and 57 points.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Florida Panthers
April 22, 2025
Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard had three assists in Monday's high-scoring 6-5 loss to the Los Angeles Kings. Last year, Bouchard set an NHL record for the most assists by a defenseman in one postseason with 26 and once again played a massive role in Edmonton's offense, setting up Leon Draisaitl, Corey Perry, and Connor McDavid. The regular-season series against the Kings finished scoreless for Bouchard this term, but he had a very productive time in the same first-round matchup a year ago, contributing one goal and eight assists in five games.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 22, 2025
Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid opened the 2025 postseason with a big four-point effort, but it was not enough to secure a victory against the Los Angeles Kings in Game 1 on Monday night. The Oilers captain registered one goal and three assists in a 6-5 defeat. Edmonton fell behind 4-0 before making the game competitive in the third period. McDavid recorded his sixth postseason four-point game, tying him for seventh on the all-time list. He averaged more than two points per game against the Kings in last year's first-round series, and it seems McDavid might be even more productive this time.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 22, 2025
Los Angeles Kings center Phillip Danault scored twice in Monday's 6-5 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. Danault's first marker put the Kings 4-0 up in the second period, but the Oilers mounted an impressive comeback, with Connor McDavid knotting things up at five with only 1:28 left in regulation. Yet, there was still enough time for Danault to win the game for the Kings. He produced the latest go-ahead goal in a playoff game in franchise history by lighting the lamp for the second time with 42 seconds remaining. His effort on Monday means that Danault has already tallied more postseason points this season than he managed in a five-game series against Edmonton last year.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 22, 2025
Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele recorded a goal and an assist as the team defeated the St. Louis Blues 2-1 on Monday night, taking a 2-0 series lead. Scheifele, who kicked off the postseason with a three-point effort in Saturday's 5-3 victory, opened the scoring on Monday night late in the first period and helped to set up Kyle Connor for the game-winning tally early in the third. The Jets have seen great play from Scheifele and Connor early in the playoffs, and they will have a chance to match a franchise record in Thursday's Game 3 by scoring in a third consecutive contest at the start of a postseason campaign.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 22, 2025
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson finished Monday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals with two assists. Hutson's good eye for a pass enabled Montreal to rally from a two-goal deficit in the third period and push the game into overtime, with Cole Caufield scoring on the power play and Nick Suzuki finding the net during even-strength play. Hutson, who tied the NHL record for most assists by a rookie defenseman with 60 this season, became the third Canadiens defenseman to record multiple points in his playoff debut. The Canadiens suffered a painful loss on Monday, but with Hutson in top form, they might still make this series competitive.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 22, 2025
Washington Capitals center Dylan Strome helped to set up all three goals as the team defeated the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 in overtime on Monday night. Alex Ovechkin benefited twice from Strome's playmaking, and Anthony Beauvillier also lit the lamp. Washington's top line crushed it in the game, combining for eight points. Strome had his first 50-assist and 80-point campaign this year and should see plenty more success in the playoffs with the red-hot Ovechkin skating next to him. Dating back to the regular season, Strome has recorded five multi-point efforts over 11 games, scoring six goals and delivering 11 assists.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 22, 2025
Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin recorded three points, including his first career playoff overtime goal, in Monday's 3-2 overtime victory against the Montreal Canadiens. The NHL's all-time top goal-scorer opened his 2025 postseason campaign with a power-play goal in the first period, collected an assist in the second, and secured the victory for his team in the extra frame after Montreal erased a two-goal deficit inside the final 10 minutes of regulation. Ovechkin scored twice on four shots and registered a game-high seven hits while logging 16:45 of ice time. The Capitals captain enjoyed a prolific regular-season campaign and appears to have carried his form into the playoffs. Over his last 10 appearances, Ovechkin has tallied 10 goals and six assists.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 22, 2025
New York Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider (shoulder) has undergone surgery to repair a torn labrum. The 23-year-old missed the last two regular-season games. Schneider told reporters that he has been dealing with the issue for two seasons. Despite playing through the injury, Schneider had a career year in 2024-25, posting 21 points (six goals, 15 assists) in 80 contests. Additionally, he registered a career-high 145 blocks with 146 hits. Schneider, who has completed the first season of a two-year, $4.4 million contract, expects to be fully ready for the start of next season.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Peter Baugh
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