NHL Player News
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Gabriel Vilardi C | WPG
Jets' Gabriel Vilardi: Won't play in Game 4
Vilardi (upper body) won't play against the Blues on Sunday in Game 4, Mitchell Clinton of the Jets' official site reports.
Vilardi will miss his 15th straight game despite participating in the pregame warmups. Still, he appears close to a return to action and could be ready for Wednesday's Game 5 matchup versus St. Louis. Vilardi compiled 27 goals, 61 points and 130 shots on net across 71 appearances during the regular season. Once healthy, he could join the top six and see time on the top power-play combination.
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Jack Eichel C | LV
Golden Knights' Jack Eichel: Records power-play helper
Eichel notched a power-play assist, six shots on goal, four hits and a minus-2 rating in Saturday's 4-3 overtime win over the Wild in Game 4.
Prior to Saturday, Eichel had fallen flat this postseason. The helper was his first point in four playoff games, and he's added 11 shots on net, 11 hits and a minus-7 rating while centering the top line as usual. With the Wild's top line and first power-play unit grabbing headlines, Eichel and the Golden Knights are fortunate to head back home with the series tied at 2-2. The 28-year-old will likely need to improve in the remainder of this series to avoid an early exit from the playoffs.
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Nicolas Roy C | COL
Golden Knights' Nicolas Roy: Two points in Game 4
Roy scored a power-play goal on two shots, dished an assist, added two PIM and doled out four hits in Saturday's 4-3 overtime win over the Wild in Game 4.
Roy's first goal of the postseason tied the game at 2-2 early in the third period. He also set up Ivan Barbashev on the game-winning tally 17:26 into overtime. Roy has excelled in his usual versatile role, earning three points, five shots on net, five hits and a plus-1 rating over four playoff contests so far.
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Alexei Protas C | WAS
Capitals' Aliaksei Protas: Game-time call
Aliaksei Protas (foot) will be a game-time decision for Game 4 against Montreal on Sunday, Bailey Johnson of The Washington Post reports.
Protas could return from a nine-game absence after being cleared for contact during Saturday's practice. He didn't skate with Washington's extras Sunday, according to Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports, which is another encouraging sign. The 24-year-old Protas amassed 30 goals, 66 points and 142 shots on net across 76 regular-season appearances in 2024-25.
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Tomas Hertl C | LV
Golden Knights' Tomas Hertl: Lights lamp again in Game 4
Hertl scored an even-strength goal and added a power-play assist Saturday in the Golden Knights' 4-3 overtime win over the Wild in Game 4 of their first-round series.
Both points came in the third period as Vegas erased a 2-1 deficit. Hertl has been locked in to begin the playoffs. Through four games, he's delivered three goals and five points, including two power-play assists. The 31-year-old will look to keep rolling when the series shifts back to Vegas for Game 5 on Tuesday.
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Evan Rodrigues C | FLA
Panthers' Evan Rodrigues: Gathers helper in loss
Rodrigues posted an assist, two shots on goal and two PIM in Saturday's 5-1 loss to the Lightning in Game 3.
Rodrigues helped the Panthers get a positive start, assisting on a Matthew Tkachuk goal just 2:43 into the game. That was all for their offense in this contest. Rodrigues snapped a three-game point drought with the helper. He has added five shots on net, seven hits and an even plus-minus rating across three playoff outings while filling a middle-six role.
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John Tavares C | TOR
Maple Leafs' John Tavares: Third goal of postseason
Tavares scored a goal in Saturday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Senators in Game 4.
It was his third goal (five points) in four games this postseason. Tavares is building on his 34-goal, 74-point regular season, and he will reap the benefits this offseason as a free agent. But before then, the Leafs will reap the benefits as they strive toward hoisting the Cup in June.
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Brock Nelson C | COL
Avalanche's Brock Nelson: Supplies two helpers in win
Nelson logged two assists, three shots on goal and a plus-2 rating in Saturday's 4-0 win over the Stars in Game 4.
Nelson set up goals by Gabriel Landeskog and Samuel Girard. This ended a four-game slump for Nelson, who had been fairly quiet in a second-line role this postseason, though the addition of Landeskog on his wing could be beneficial for both players. Nelson has picked up nine shots on net, six hits, nine blocked shots and a plus-4 rating over four playoff contests.
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Nathan MacKinnon C | COL
Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon: Pots power-play goal in win
MacKinnon scored a power-play goal on four shots and added three hits in Saturday's 4-0 win over the Stars in Game 4.
MacKinnon doubled the Avalanche's lead to 2-0 late in the first period, and they carried the momentum the rest of the way. The 29-year-old has four goals, one assist, 24 shots on net, eight hits and a plus-2 rating over four playoff contests. Three of his tallies have come with the man advantage as he continues to be the focal point of Colorado's attack.
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Shane Pinto C | OTT
Senators' Shane Pinto: Nets shorthanded goal
Pinto scored a goal Saturday in a 4-3 overtime win over Toronto in Game 4.
Pinto broke in alone on Anthony Stolarz while shorthanded and went five-hole to put the Senators up 2-0 in the first period. It was Pinto's first NHL playoff goal. He has one goal and one assist in four games this postseason while pounding out 11 hits from a third-line role.