NHL Player News

Chatfield (undisclosed) is day-to-day ahead of Game 1 against Toronto or Florida, Walt Ruff of the Hurricanes' official site reports Saturday.

Coach Rod Brind'Amour is hopeful that Chatfield will be available at the start of the next round of the playoffs. The 29-year-old Chatfield sat out Thursday's series-clinching 3-1 win over Washington in Game 5. He has one goal, eight shots on goal, nine hits and 11 blocked shots in nine appearances this postseason. If Chatfield is ready to return, he will probably replace Alexander Nikishin in the lineup.

Bear was reassigned to AHL Hershey on Friday.

Bear will link up with the rest of the Bears to face AHL Charlotte on Friday, as the minor-league club competes in the Calder Cup Playoffs. The 27-year-old blueliner appeared in just 24 games for the Capitals this season, registering one goal on 24 shots, three assists and 16 hits while averaging just 14:54 of ice time. Given his minimal usage at the NHL level, it wouldn't be surprising if Washington lets him walk in the offseason as an unrestricted free agent.

Per Ryan Rishaug of TSN, Ekholm (undisclosed) will not be in the lineup for Games 1 and 2 of the Western Conference Finals, according to head coach Kris Knoblauch.

Knoblauch is optimistic that Ekholm will return at some point in Round 3, as the left-shot defenseman has missed 21 of the Oilers' last 22 games, seeing only 1:52 of ice time April 11 in his only outing since March 26 versus Dallas. Ekholm had nine goals, 24 assists, 143 shots and 95 blocked shots across 65 regular-season games in 2024-25.

Pionk logged two assists (one on the power play), six hits and two blocked shots in Thursday's 4-0 win over the Stars in Game 5.

Pionk got on the scoresheet for the first time in the second round in this contest. He helped out on Mark Scheifele's opening tally in the second period and Vladislav Namestnikov's power-play goal in the third. Pionk is up to seven points, 23 shots on net, 42 hits, 16 blocked shots, 14 PIM and a plus-1 rating over 12 playoff contests. He continues to see top-four minutes and will play a big role defensively if the Jets are able to pull off a comeback against the Stars, who lead the series 3-2 after Game 5.

Nikishin made his NHL debut in a 3-1 win over Washington in Game 5 on Thursday.

Nikishin had two shots on goal in 10:33 of ice time. He replaced and injured Jalen Chatfield (undisclosed) on the Canes third pair with Shayne Gostisbehere. Nikishin had been practicing with the Canes since agreeing to a two-year contract April 11. It will take some time for him to get comfortable on NHL ice, but so far, so good. Nikishin had 46 points (17 goals, 29 assists) in 61 KHL games with SKA St. Petersburg this season. He finished his KHL career as SKA's all-time leader in scoring by a defender with 177 points, including 54 goals, in 288 games. Nikishin was also named KHL Defenseman of the Month seven times in three seasons with SKA.

Chatfield (undisclosed) won't play in Game 5 versus the Capitals on Thursday, Walt Ruff of the Hurricanes' official site reports.

Chatfield suffered an undisclosed injury in Game 4 and didn't practice Wednesday. He was initially expected to play, but instead, he'll be out of action, with Alexander Nikishin expected to draw in for his NHL debut instead. Chatfield would get a little extra time to recover if the Hurricanes are able to punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals with a win Thursday.

Ekblad produced an even-strength goal and a power-play assist Wednesday in the Panthers' 6-1 win over the Maple Leafs in Game 5 of their second-round series.

The 29-year-old blueliner opened the scoring late in the first period, snapping a shot top shelf through traffic on Joseph Woll. Ekblad extended his playoff point streak to five games in the process, and he has two goals and six points in his six appearances for Florida this postseason while adding 22 PIM, 18 hits, 15 shots on net, six blocked shots and a plus-1 rating.

Nurse posted an assist, three shots on goal, four hits and two blocked shots in a 1-0 win over the Golden Knights in Wednesday's Game 5.

Nurse continues to make more of an impact with physical play rather than on the scoresheet. He had two points over five contests in the second round, matching his output from the first round against the Kings. Overall, the blueliner is at two goals, two helpers, 27 shots on net, 27 hits, 28 blocked shots, six PIM and an even plus-minus rating over 11 playoff outings. He's firmly in a top-four role on the Oilers' blue line.

Head coach Rod Brind'Amour said Wednesday that Chatfield (undisclosed) will play in Thursday's Game 5 in Washington, Cory Lavalette of the North State Journal reports.

Chatfield tweaked something during Monday's Game 4 and missed practice Wednesday, but Brind'Amour clarified the absence as a maintenance day. Chatfield will be available as the Hurricanes attempt to advance to the conference finals. Over his first nine playoff appearances this year, he's recorded a goal, 11 blocked shots, nine hits, six PIM and a plus-6 rating while averaging 20:24 of ice time.

Chatfield (undisclosed) missed Wednesday's practice after tweaking something toward the end of Carolina's 5-2 victory over Washington on Monday, Walt Ruff of the Hurricanes' official site reports.

Head coach Rod Brind'Amour suggested Tuesday that Chatfield should be fine for Game 5 on Thursday, so his absence from the morning skate might just be to give him a chance to rest whatever is ailing him ahead of him dressing for the upcoming tilt. Chatfield has a goal, plus-6 rating, six PIM, eight shots, nine hits and 11 blocks across nine playoff outings this year while averaging 20:24 of ice time. If he doesn't play, then Alexander Nikishin might draw into the lineup.