NHL Player News

Newhook scored the game-winning goal in Sunday's 2-1 victory over the Lightning in Game 7.

The 25-year-old forward potted the series winner with an incredible play midway through the final frame. After Lane Hutson's shot was knocked high and wide by Andrei Vasilevskiy and caromed off the end boards, Newhook raced around the back of the net and batted the puck home out of midair on the backhand from an almost impossible angle. It was Newhook's first goal of the playoffs and his second point in seven postseason outings, after a regular season that saw him compile 13 goals and 25 points in 42 contests.

Colton notched an assist, two hits and a minus-2 rating in Sunday's 9-6 win over the Wild in Game 1.

Colton entered the postseason on a 12-game point drought and then got scratched for the first two contests of the first round versus the Kings. He failed to get on the scoresheet in two outings after replacing Joel Kiviranta (undisclosed) in the lineup, but Colton was able to end the slump Sunday with a helper. The 29-year-old forward managed just 24 points across 73 regular-season appearances, though he added 159 hits and a plus-9 rating from a bottom-six role. In five previous playoff runs, he accumulated 11 goals and 23 points over 64 contests.

Necas notched three assists, three shots on goal, two hits and a plus-3 rating in Sunday's 9-6 win over the Wild in Game 1.

Necas was held to just two helpers over four games in the Avalanche's first-round sweep of the Kings. He's already off to a better start in the second round, and he should continue to be productive in a top-line role. The winger picked up 38 goals, 100 points, 206 shots on net, 85 hits and a plus-47 rating over 78 regular-season outings. Necas has played in six previous postseasons, accumulating 12 goals and 35 points over 66 games in those playoff runs.

Drury scored a goal in Sunday's 9-6 win over the Wild in Game 1.

Even the Avalanche's fourth line got in on the fun in this one. Drury hadn't scored a goal since his three-point game March 30 versus the Flames, earning just two assists and 16 shots on net over 13 outings in April. He has two points, six shots on net, six hits, two blocked shots and an even plus-minus rating over five playoff appearances. Drury is in the playoffs for the fourth time in his career -- over his previous three postseason runs, he earned 10 points in 31 appearances.

Kadri scored a goal on eight shots, added two hits and went minus-3 in Sunday's 9-6 win over the Wild in Game 1.

This was Kadri's first goal of the postseason, and it stood as the game-winner after giving the Avalanche a 7-5 lead in the third period. The 35-year-old still had a bit of a shaky game from the third line, as he was the only forward trio to finish in the red for plus-minus in a game that was largely contested at even strength. Kadri now has a goal, two assists, 12 shots on net, three hits and a plus-1 rating over five playoff outings this year.

MacKinnon scored an empty-net goal on four shots, added two assists (one on the power play) and went plus-3 in Sunday's 9-6 win over the Wild in Game 1.

MacKinnon started the playoffs quiet but has earned back-to-back three-point games. He's at three goals, four helpers, two power-play points, 16 shots on net and a plus-7 rating over five playoff contests. The 30-year-old superstar will be at the forefront of the Avalanche's offense and should be capable of impressive scoring totals even as the competition gets tougher.

Cootes scored a goal and added two assists in WHL Prince Albert's 7-6 win over Medicine Hat in Game 6 on Sunday.

Cootes' effort in the high-scoring game helped the Raiders close out the WHL's Eastern Conference Finals with a 4-2 series win. He was limited to a goal and six helpers in the series, earning all of that offense in three contests while going scoreless in the other three. He's at six goals, 12 assists and a plus-3 rating across 15 playoff contests. Cootes will look to keep the offense rolling against Everett in the WHL Finals, with a trip to the Memorial Cup on the line.

Hughes scored a goal and added two assists in AHL Texas' 5-4 overtime win over Chicago in Game 4 on Sunday.

Hughes helped Texas keep its playoff run alive with this performance. He's earned six points over four playoff contests this season after producing a career-best 68 points in 65 regular-season outings. Hughes also saw action in three NHL games, picking up his first point, a goal, in an April 9 game against the Wild.

Eriksson Ek (lower body) will miss the first two games of Minnesota's second-round series against Colorado, according to Michael Russo of The Athletic on Sunday.

The Wild play in Game 1 against the Avalanche on Sunday, but Eriksson Ek didn't accompany his teammates on the road trip. However, the team is hopeful that Eriksson Ek can return for Game 3 on Saturday. He had three goals, five points, 24 shots on net and 15 hits in six games during Minnesota's first-round series win over Dallas.

Ostlund (lower body) isn't expected to be available to play in the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, according to Rachel Lenzi of The Buffalo News on Sunday.

Ostlund sustained the injury in the first period of Game 5 against Boston on Tuesday. He had one goal, one assist, four shots on net and one blocked shot in three appearances during Buffalo's first-round series win over the Bruins. It remains unclear when he will be available to return to the lineup.