NHL Player News

Nugent-Hopkins scored a power-play goal on three shots, added an assist and doled out two hits in Thursday's 5-4 overtime win over the Panthers in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Nugent-Hopkins snapped a six-game goal drought as well as his four-game skid overall. His power-play tally got the Oilers on the board in the second period, and he also assisted on a Jake Walman goal in the third. Nugent-Hopkins appears to be playing through an undisclosed injury, which has left him a game-time decision lately, and it also explains his recent lack of offense. He's now at six goals, 20 points, 45 shots on net, 26 hits, 20 blocked shots and a plus-6 rating over 20 playoff contests.

Draisaitl scored a goal on four shots, dished two assists, added two PIM and logged two hits in Thursday's 5-4 overtime win over the Panthers in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Draisaitl's goal came at 11:18 of overtime, which was his record-setting fourth overtime game-winner this postseason. No player had ever scored more than three OT goals in a single playoff run prior to this year. Draisaitl's eight-game point streak ended in Game 3, but he bounced back in a big way and is now at 11 tallies, 21 assists, 54 shots on net, 28 hits and a plus-10 rating over 20 playoff outings.

Nugent-Hopkins (undisclosed) is expected to play Thursday in Game 4 versus the Panthers.

Nugent-Hopkins was designated a game-time decision again after going through the same process ahead of Game 3. It's clear he's dealing with something, but it's not enough to keep him out of the lineup yet.

Ponomarev signed a three-year contract with the KHL's Avangard Omsk on Wednesday, per Seth Rorabaugh of Tribune-Review Sports.

Ponomarev had 15 goals, 41 points and 44 PIM across 55 regular-season appearances with AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton as well as no points, two PIM and five hits in seven outings with Pittsburgh in 2024-25. He was set to become a restricted free agent this summer, so the Penguins can retain the 23-year-old's NHL rights by presenting him with a qualifying offer.

Nugent-Hopkins (undisclosed) is expected to be a game-time decision for Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals against Florida on Thursday, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports Wednesday.

Nugent-Hopkins was also a game-time decision for Game 3 on Monday. He ended up playing, though he logged just 15:34 of ice time, which was his lightest workload since April 25. Nugent-Hopkins finished Monday's 6-1 loss to the Panthers with one shot, two hits and one block. If he can't play Thursday, then Jeff Skinner might draw back into the lineup after being a healthy scratch for the last three games.

Rodrigues scored a goal and an assist Monday, both on the power play, in the Panthers' 6-1 win over the Oilers in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

After setting up Carter Verhaeghe for what proved to be the game-winning tally late in the first period, Rodrigues wrapped up the scoring late in the third with a one-timer past Calvin Pickard. The 31-year-old has a four-game playoff point streak going, and since returning from an undisclosed injury for the final game of the second round, Rodrigues has erupted for two goals and 12 points in nine contests, including seven points (one goal, six helpers) with the man advantage.

Verhaeghe scored the game-winning goal on the power play and added an even-strength assist Monday in the Panthers' 6-1 win over the Oilers in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

The 29-year-old wired the puck past Stuart Skinner from the faceoff dot late in the first period, giving Florida a 2-0 lead that the team would never relinquish. It was Verhaeghe's first goal of the series and his seventh of the playoffs, four of which have come with the man advantage. Through 21 postseason contests, he's piled up 20 points, 54 hits and 47 shots on net.

Nugent-Hopkins (undisclosed) is slated to be available for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Panthers on Monday, per Dan Rosen of NHL.com.

Nugent-Hopkins was deemed a game-time call after missing practice Sunday, but he'll slot in on the top line after going through pregame line rushes. Jeff Skinner, who was expected to play if Nugent-Hopkins was unavailable, will remain a healthy scratch for Game 3. The 32-year-old Nugent-Hopkins has amassed five goals and 18 points while managing 3:27 of power-play ice time per game through 18 postseason appearances in 2025.

Finley signed a three-year, $2.325 million contract with Tampa Bay on Sunday.

Finley had 14 goals and 28 points in 40 regular-season appearances with AHL Syracuse in 2024-25. He made his NHL debut in a 6-2 loss to Boston on Jan. 14, posting one shot on goal and one hit in 8:25 of ice time. The 22-year-old forward will probably spend most, if not all, of the 2025-26 campaign in the minors.

Nugent-Hopkins (undisclosed) will be a game-time decision for Monday's Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Panthers, Kristen Shilton of ESPN reports.

The 32-year-old Nugent-Hopkins didn't practice Sunday and his status is up in the air for Monday's game, with Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch seemingly leaning toward Nugent-Hopkins playing. Jeff Skinner took Nugent-Hopkins' place on the top line alongside Connor McDavid and Corey Perry in practice, so Skinner would likely be the one to draw in if RNH can't go. Nugent-Hopkins has eight goals and 10 assists in 18 games this postseason.