NHL Player News

Hart stopped 36 of 38 shots in a 4-2 win over the Avalanche in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Wednesday.

Hart was tested often, but he was up to the task, keeping the Avalanche off the board until the third period. Valeri Nichushkin and Gabriel Landeskog had the goals against him, but Hart was able to preserve the lead late. Jesse Granger of The Athletic reports Hart dealt with some cramping late in the contest, though that isn't a concern moving forward. The 27-year-old netminder is now 9-4 in the postseason and has allowed two or fewer goals in eight of his 13 appearances. Expect him back between the pipes for Game 2 on Friday.

Hart will start on the road in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals versus the Avalanche on Wednesday, Jesse Granger of The Athletic reports.

Hart is 8-4 with a 2.37 GAA and a .915 save percentage over 12 playoff games so far. Coming through the Pacific Division part of the bracket has kept Vegas away from the hardest matchups so far. This series will be Hart's biggest test, as the Avalanche have scored 37 goals while going 8-1 through their first two series.

Wedgewood is expected to start at home against Vegas in Game 1 on Wednesday, per Jesse Montano of Guerilla Sports.

After entering last Wednesday's Game 5 matchup against Minnesota in relief of Mackenzie Blackwood, Wedgewood stopped all seven shots he faced en route to a 4-3 series-winning overtime victory. The 33-year-old Wedgewood is 7-1 with a 2.21 GAA and a .914 save percentage in eight outings this playoffs. Vegas has averaged an impressive 3.67 goals per game in the 2026 postseason.

Luukkonen stopped 22 shots Monday during the Sabres' 3-2 overtime loss to the Canadiens in Game 7 of their second-round series.

Montreal grabbed a 2-0 lead on a Zachary Bolduc power-play goal late in the first period, but Luukkonen locked things down for the rest of regulation as Buffalo rallied to tie it. The Sabres' luck ran out in OT, though, as Alex Newhook beat Luukkonen through traffic midway through the first extra frame. The 27-year-old netminder wound up appearing in six of Buffalo's 13 games during the playoffs, posting a 3.18 GAA and .876 save percentage -- a step back from the regular season, when he delivered a 22-9-3 record in 35 outings with a 2.51 GAA and .909 save percentage. With both Luukkonen and Alex Lyon under contract for 2026-27, the Sabres could continue to roll with a tandem in the crease next season.

Dobes made 37 saves Monday in the Canadiens' 3-2 overtime win over the Sabres in Game 7 of their second-round series.

Montreal was outshot 39-25 by the home side in the series clincher, but Dobes came up big time and again, and he had little chance on the two pucks that got past him -- one of which deflected home off Jordan Greenway's hip. The 24-year-old netminder has started all 14 playoff games for the Habs, posting a 2.52 GAA and .910 save percentage, and he's just the second rookie goalie in NHL history to win multiple Game 7s on the road in the same postseason, with Hall of Famer and Montreal legend Ken Dryden being the other. Dobes will get a brief breather before taking on Carolina in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Thursday.

Dobes will guard the road crease in Monday's Game 7 against the Sabres, per Heather Engel of NHL.com.

Dobes will be called upon for his second consecutive Game 7 and his 15th start in a row, dating back to the end of the regular season. He'll look to bounce back after being pulled midway through the third period in Game 6, allowing Jacob Fowler to experience his first taste of NHL playoff hockey. In Montreal's series against Buffalo, the 24-year-old Dobes has a 3-3-0 record, a 3.31 GAA and an .884 save percentage across six outings. Monday's win-or-go-home matchup will be a true test for the young netminder, who has yet to lose consecutive games in this postseason.

Luukkonen will be between the home pipes for Game 7 against the Canadiens on Monday, Heather Engel of NHL.com reports.

Luukkonen didn't get the start in Saturday's Game 6 win, but he replaced Alex Lyon in the first period and helped the Sabres force a Game 7 in Buffalo. The 27-year-old Luukkonen has stopped 65 of 72 shots during this second-round series, going 2-1 across three appearances. Overall in the 2026 postseason, the Finnish netminder is 3-2 with a 3.36 GAA and an .875 save percentage over five outings. The Canadiens are making a few changes to their bottom six for Game 7, including Oliver Kapanen drawing into the lineup for Joe Veleno.

Gustavsson will undergo hip surgery in the offseason, Joe Smith of The Athletic reports Monday.

According to general manager Bill Guerin, Gustavsson's availability for the start of the 2026-27 season won't be known until after his procedure. On top of that concern for fantasy managers, the fact that the 27-year-old backstop was effectively benched for the postseason in favor of Jesper Wallstedt will raise questions about who is the No. 1 option heading into next season.

Lindbom was recalled from AHL Henderson on Monday, SinBin.vegas reports.

Lindbom will join Vegas' Black Aces ahead of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against Colorado on Wednesday. According to the AHL transaction log, the Golden Knights summoned Tanner Laczynski, Raphael Lavoie, Jonas Rondbjerg, Kai Uchacz and Jeremy Davies from AHL Henderson on Thursday.

Fowler allowed a goal on two shots in relief of Jakub Dobes in Saturday's 8-3 loss to the Sabres in Game 6.

Fowler hadn't appeared in a game since he backstopped a 4-1 win over the Islanders on April 12. The 21-year-old rookie played the last half of the third period, aside from a stretch where the Canadiens opted for an extra attacker before Tage Thompson's empty-net goal. Fowler could have been with AHL Laval during its playoff run, but he has stayed in the NHL instead as Dobes' backup. It's been Dobes' crease this postseason, as Fowler still has some work to do to be an NHL regular. Fowler should earn some starts for Montreal in 2026-27 after going 9-6-2 with a 2.43 GAA and a .908 save percentage in 17 regular-season outings this year.