April 21, 2025
Edmonton Oilers forward Trent Frederic (ankle) is considered a game-time decision for Monday's matchup against the Los Angeles Kings. He might be back in action after battling an ankle injury during the final stretch of the regular season. The 27-year-old split the season between the Oilers and Boston Bruins, making 58 appearances. He recorded 15 points (eight goals, seven assists) along with 155 hits. If cleared for action, Frederic is expected to join Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jeff Skinner on the third line on Monday night.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
April 21, 2025
Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (undisclosed) is good to go for the start of the playoffs on Monday night against the Los Angeles Kings. The 2024/25 Rocket Richard Trophy winner sat out the last seven regular-season games due to an undisclosed injury and appeared in only three of the final 14 contests. He is projected to skate on the second line alongside Vasily Podkolzin and Viktor Arvidsson in Game 1 against the Kings. Draisaitl has averaged the fifth-most postseason points in NHL history and erupted for 10 points (five goals, five assists) during a five-game series against the Kings last year.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
April 21, 2025
Edmonton Oilers defenseman Jake Walman (undisclosed) will be in the lineup for Monday's postseason opener against the Los Angeles Kings. He missed the last five regular-season games due to an undisclosed injury. Walman has enjoyed a productive campaign, recording 40 points (seven goals, 33 assists) across 65 games with the Oilers and San Jose Sharks. The 29-year-old will be Brett Kulak's partner on the second defensive pairing and is expected to occupy a spot on the second power-play unit. During the regular season, Walman averaged a point per game against the Kings, notching one goal and three assists across four contests.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
April 21, 2025
Edmonton Oilers defenseman Brett Kulak (personal) will be in the lineup on Monday against the Los Angeles Kings. On Sunday, Kulak traveled back home to Canmore to be with his wife for the birth of their second daughter, leaving his status initially in doubt for Monday's Game 1. However, Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch has confirmed that Kulak will play in Game 1 against the Kings. Due to Mattias Ekholm's (undisclosed) absence, Kulak may be asked to do a bit more than usual. He posted a career-high 25 points (seven goals, 18 assists) in 82 games during the regular season, adding 118 blocks on the defensive end while averaging 20:32 of ice time.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Jack Michaels
April 21, 2025
Washington Capitals forward Aliaksei Protas (foot) is unlikely to play in Monday's Game 1 against the Montreal Canadiens, but he is poised to make his comeback soon. Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery told reporters that Protas is expected to return during the first-round series. "I think, absolutely, I would expect him to play, and we'll see when that is," Carbery said. "It might be tonight. It might be Game 2 (on Wednesday). We'll see." The Belarusian forward missed the final six regular-season games after injuring his foot. It has been a massive career year for Protas, who scored 30 goals and 66 points in 76 games during the regular season. Protas' injury has given Anthony Beauvillier a chance to skate on the first line, but he has been a non-factor offensively, entering Monday's contest with a nine-game point drought.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
April 21, 2025
Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen (knee) will remain out for Monday's Game 2 against the Colorado Avalanche. Heiskanen participated in the morning skate for the second consecutive game, but he is still considered day-to-day and isn't ready to play. With Heiskanen unavailable, Thomas Harley carried the blue line in Saturday's Game 1, leading all skaters in ice time with 27:34. He recorded a power-play assist on the team's lone goal in a 5-1 loss. Harley spent over five minutes of action with the man advantage and logged 2:12 on the penalty kill. The 23-year-old is likely in for another busy night on Monday.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
April 21, 2025
Colorado Avalanche forward Ross Colton (lower body) is questionable for Monday's Game 2 against the Dallas Stars. He logged only 7:04 of ice time in Saturday's Game 1, missing most of the third period due to a lower-body injury. Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar told reporters Monday morning that Colton is feeling "not great." He didn't rule him out for the contest, but also wouldn't confirm whether Colton would be ready to play. Colton's spot in the lineup could be filled by Gabriel Landeskog (knee), who was activated from Long-Term Injured Reserve on Monday. Miles Wood and Jimmy Vesey are also options to replace Colton.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Evan Rawal
April 21, 2025
Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog (knee) was activated from Long-Term Injured Reserve on Monday, making him eligible to join the lineup for Game 2 against the Dallas Stars. The Avalanche captain is poised to make his first NHL appearance since Game 6 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals. He could serve as a replacement for Ross Colton (lower body), who was injured in Saturday's series opener. Landeskog will likely have some rust, but he was a point-per-game player before running into health issues, and his inclusion in the lineup will, at the very least, provide a morale boost for Colorado.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
April 21, 2025
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews opened the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a two-assist effort in Sunday's 6-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators. The Maple Leafs captain helped both of his linemates, Mitchell Marner and Matthew Knies, on the scoreboard, setting up the latter during a power play. Matthews finished without a goal despite having six shots on the net, and he was among the team leaders with four hits over 18:42 of action. While Matthews didn't find joy in front of the goal, he celebrated his 13th career multi-point effort in a playoff game, tying him for 10th on Toronto's all-time list. He now boasts 50 points (23 goals, 27 assists) in 56 games for his postseason career.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 21, 2025
Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitchell Marner amassed three points in Sunday's 6-2 win over the Ottawa Senators. He scored Toronto's second goal of the game with his only shot on target and delivered a pair of power-play assists. Marner posted his fifth career three-point postseason game, taking sole possession of the third spot on the franchise's all-time list. Only Doug Gilmour (10) and Darryl Sittler (7) have more. Since the international break, Marner has been kept off the score sheet just six times, and he should be full of confidence in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs after recording his first career 100-point campaign. Marner led his team with 102 points (27 goals, 75 assists) in 81 games during the regular season.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 21, 2025
Minnesota Wild winger Matt Boldy finished Sunday's 4-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights with two goals. The 24-year-old became the fifth-youngest player in franchise history with a multi-goal performance in a playoff contest, finding the back of the net with his only efforts on goal. Kirill Kaprizov registered assists on both plays. Boldy was busy throughout the night and delivered a game-high five hits in 22:32 of action. Minnesota started the playoffs with a disappointing result, but the play of the top line will be encouraging for the team. Boldy & Co. will attempt to tie the series on Tuesday night.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 21, 2025
Vegas Golden Knights forward Brett Howden tallied two goals as the team kicked off its Stanley Cup Playoffs campaign with a 4-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Sunday night. Howden potted the game-winning goal 2:28 into the third period and had an empty-net goal in the final second of play. The 27-year-old also made his presence felt physically in the game, recording three hits across 14:12 of action. During the regular season, Howden turned up his game a notch, posting a career-high 40 points (23 goals, 17 assists) in 80 appearances. He was tied for the fourth-most goals on the team, and Howden maintained his good goal-scoring form in the postseason opener.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 21, 2025
Carolina Hurricanes forward Logan Stankoven led the offense with two goals in Sunday's 4-1 win against the New Jersey Devils. The 22-year-old was on target twice in the second period, completing his multi-goal game with a power-play marker. Stankoven, who registered four shots on goal, logged 14:53 of ice time as a member of the third line and now has 10 points (five goals, five assists) through the first 20 postseason appearances of his young career. Last year, Stankoven made a deep postseason run with the Dallas Stars and will hope to do the same with the Hurricanes. Combined with the regular season, he has scored seven goals and 11 points in 20 games since moving to Raleigh.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 21, 2025
New Jersey Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon (undisclosed) made an early exit in Sunday's 4-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. The 34-year-old logged only 8:53 of action, finishing with four hits. Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe told reporters postgame that Dillon was "eager to get back out there" but was held back by team doctors. This suggests that he may have avoided serious injury and could be an option for Tuesday's Game 2 in the series. New Jersey's blue line was also dealt a blow by Luke Hughes' injury, but he returned to finish the contest. If Dillon can't play on Tuesday, the Devils might use rookie Seamus Casey as his replacement in the lineup, while Dennis Cholowski and Simon Nemec are also options.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Amanda Stein
April 21, 2025
New Jersey Devils forward Cody Glass (undisclosed) was unable to complete Sunday's Game 1 against the Carolina Hurricanes. He was the victim of friendly fire in the third period, exiting the action after Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom inadvertently hit Glass with his stick. Glass logged 9:04 of ice time in the contest and posted one shot, one block, and two hits with a minus-one rating. Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe did not have an update on Glass postgame. Working as a middle-six forward, Glass totaled seven points (two goals, five assists) in 14 regular-season games with the Devils after arriving from Pittsburgh in March. Tomas Tatar and Curtis Lazar are the candidates to replace him in the lineup for Game 2 on Tuesday if Glass is a no-go.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
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