April 25, 2025
Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad has completed his 20-game suspension and is eligible to return to the lineup for Game 3 against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. Ekblad was suspended on March 10 for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program. He missed the final 18 regular-season games and the first two playoff contests against the Lightning. The 29-year-old recorded 33 points (three goals, 30 assists), 106 shots, 64 blocks, and 90 hits over 56 regular-season appearances, averaging 23:31 of ice time. Uvis Balinskis is expected to come out of the lineup to make room for Ekblad, who will take a top-four role and join one of the power-play units.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
April 25, 2025
Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (undisclosed) is questionable for Saturday's matchup against the Florida Panthers. He was injured on Thursday night in a 2-0 victory over Tampa Bay and missed Friday's optional practice. "He hasn't been ruled out yet [for Game 3], and he hasn't been cleared," Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said of Barkov on Friday. If Barkov can't play on Saturday, Maurice will likely use Sam Bennett as his first-line center, with Anton Lundell moving up to the second line. Tomas Nosek looks like the most likely candidate to fill the open spot in the lineup.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
April 25, 2025
Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog is expected to assume a larger role in Saturday's Game 4 against the Dallas Stars. Making his first NHL appearance since the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals, Landeskog skated on the third line in Wednesday's Game 3 loss, logging 13:16 of ice time. He finished the contest scoreless but had a game-high six hits. Now, the Avalanche plan to promote Landeskog to the second line for Saturday's game, and he is also expected to see time on the first power-play unit. Jonathan Drouin dropped down to the third line during Friday's practice.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
April 25, 2025
Edmonton Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard will replace Stuart Skinner between the pipes for Game 3 against the Los Angeles Kings on Friday night. Skinner struggled significantly in the first two games of the series, allowing 11 goals while registering a .810 save percentage. Pickard already saw some action in Game 2, replacing Skinner midway through the third period. He saved two of three shots. During the regular season, Pickard boasted a .900 save percentage, going 22-10-1. He recorded a 2.71 goals-against average. Two of his appearances were against the Kings, and Pickard lost both, allowing a total of seven goals.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
April 25, 2025
New Jersey Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler (lower body) is on track to rejoin the lineup on Friday night against the Carolina Hurricanes. He has not played since Feb. 4 due to a lower-body injury. Initially, the 27-year-old was not expected to play at all in the first-round series. However, Siegenthaler has recovered well, and the Devils need to bolster their defense after losing Luke Hughes (upper body) and Braden Dillon (lower body). Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe told reporters on Friday morning that Siegenthaler will have a "reduced role" in Friday's game. He is set to replace Dennis Cholowski on the third defensive pairing. Siegenthaler finished the regular season with nine points (two goals, seven assists), 52 shots, 92 blocks, and 75 hits in 55 games.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Peter Baugh
April 25, 2025
New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes (upper body) has been ruled out for Friday's Game 3 against the Carolina Hurricanes. He will miss a second consecutive game in the series due to an upper-body injury suffered in Game 1. Brenden Dillon (lower body) isn't ready to return, either. However, the Devils defense is expected to get Jonas Siegenthaler (lower body) back on Friday night. He is projected to slot into the third defensive pairing, pushing Dennis Cholowski out of the lineup. Hughes and Dillon will have their next chance to return on Sunday in Game 4.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: TSN
April 25, 2025
Montreal Canadiens' Patrik Laine (undisclosed) will be a game-time decision for Friday's matchup against the Washington Capitals. Laine missed Friday's morning skate after being benched in the third period of Game 2 on Wednesday night. "I know he wasn't on the ice today, we have some guys battling a couple things so I think you'll see more players in warm-up tonight," Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis said. "We'll make our decisions before the game." Laine started the series with a power-play assist in Game 1 but was ineffective in Game 2, producing one shot on goal in 10:10 of ice time. He has struggled in even-strength situations all season, picking up 19 of his 33 points on the power play and going minus-14 across 52 regular-season appearances.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Sportsnet
April 25, 2025
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky recorded his fourth career postseason shutout on Thursday, securing a 2-0 victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning with 19 saves. Although Bobrovsky had limited work, he made several crucial saves, tying Semyon Varlamov for the seventh most postseason shutouts by an active netminder. Dating back to last year's playoffs, Bobrovsky now has a 7-2-0 record against the Lightning. In this year's series, he has impressively stopped 39 of 41 shots, giving him a 1.00 goals-against average and a .951 save percentage.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 25, 2025
St. Louis Blues defenseman Cam Fowler had a special performance in Thursday's Game 3 victory over the Winnipeg Jets, recording one goal and four assists in a 7-2 win. He set a new franchise record for the most points in a playoff game by a defenseman and became the ninth blue-liner in league history to put up five or more points in a postseason outing. Fowler, who collected three helpers on the power play, did his damage in 19:03 of ice time. His contributions included two blocks and two hits. The postseason has started extremely well for Fowler, as he is tied for the scoring lead with seven points (one goal, six assists) in three games.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 25, 2025
St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas finished Thursday's 7-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets with four assists. He picked up three even-strength helpers before capping things off with a power-play assist late in the game. Thomas' efforts had been underwhelming in the first couple of games in the series, as he notched only one point with a minus-four rating, but he more than made up for it on Thursday night. The 25-year-old now sits on five points (one goal, four assists) through three postseason games. Including the regular season, Thomas has recorded 47 points (14 goals, 33 assists) in 37 home outings this term. The Blues faithful will hope to see another big effort from him at the Enterprise Center on Sunday.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 25, 2025
St. Louis Blues forward Pavel Buchnevich netted a hat trick and recorded one assist as the team narrowed the deficit to 2-1 in its first-round series against the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night, clinching a 7-2 victory. Buchnevich scored twice within the first 3:11 of play and completed his first career playoff hat trick early in the third period. The 30-year-old also made his physical presence known, recording six hits in 18:58 of ice time. Although the Blues are down in the series, Buchnevich has performed well at the start of the postseason, compiling a three-game point streak with three goals and three assists. He has registered three of his six points on the power play.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 25, 2025
Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dylan DeMelo missed Thursday's Game 3 against the St. Louis Blues due to an illness. He was a late scratch for the contest. In his absence, Collin Miller made his 2025 postseason debut, recording a power-play assist. However, Winnipeg's defense clearly missed DeMelo, as the Blues put seven pucks past the visiting team. DeMelo was ranked third on the team in blocks (112) and hits (137) during the regular season, while he also posted 19 points (three goals, 16 assists) in 82 appearances. With Game 4 not coming until Sunday, DeMelo will have two full days to recover. If he can't make it back, Miller will likely keep his spot in the lineup.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Murat Ates
April 25, 2025
Minnesota Wild left wing Marcus Johansson (undisclosed) exited Thursday's Game 3 victory against the Vegas Golden Knights after logging only 11:09 of ice time. The Swedish veteran was minus-one in the contest with one block. While Johansson has been quiet in the series, recording one assist and one shot on goal, his veteran presence would be missed if he were to sit out additional time. Game 4 is scheduled for Saturday. Minnesota could turn to Liam Ohgren to fill the gap in the lineup. He has five points (two goals, three assists) in 24 regular-season outings, averaging one hit per game.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Michael Russo
April 25, 2025
Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (undisclosed) did not finish Thursday's 2-0 victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He exited the contest in the third period following a hit from Lightning forward Brandon Hagel, which earned him a five-minute major penalty for interference. Before leaving the action, Barkov helped to set up Nate Schmidt for the game's opening goal with 4:15 played in the first period. The Panthers captain also registered one block and one hit in 15:41 of ice time. Overall, Barkov has procured three assists in the series, including two on the power play. Tomas Nosek is likely to jump into the lineup if Barkov can't play in Saturday's Game 3.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 24, 2025
Tampa Bay Lightning center Anthony Cirelli (undisclosed) will play in Game 2 against the Florida Panthers on Thursday night. Cirelli was hurt in Tuesday's series opener and was labeled a game-time call on Thursday morning. He will continue as the second-line center, working with Brandon Hagel and Jake Guentzel. Cirelli has notched 42 points (17 goals, 25 assists) in 104 career postseason games in the NHL.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Eduardo A. Encina
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