NHL Player News
-
Lukas Dostal G | ANA
Ducks' Lukas Dostal: Tending twine Monday
Dostal will be between the road pipes in Game 1 against the Golden Knights on Monday, Derek Lee of The Hockey News reports.
Dostal's ratios during the first round against the Oilers weren't great; he posted a 3.87 GAA and .874 save percentage, but he still managed to get the necessary four victories in six games. In the playoffs, the Ducks have averaged 4.33 goals per game, which is second-most in the league, so the netminder doesn't need to be perfect thanks to the quality offense around him.
-
Carter Hart G | LV
Golden Knights' Carter Hart: Exits ice first
Hart was the first goalie to leave the ice ahead of Game 1 versus the Ducks at home Monday, Jesse Granger of The Athletic reports.
Hart played in all six games against the Mammoth, going 4-2 with a 2.72 GAA and .892 save percentage. At this point, the 27-year-old netminder figures to be a lock to keep the crease for the Golden Knights, especially considering Adin Hill hasn't played since April 9 versus the Kraken.
-
Frederik Andersen G | CAR
Hurricanes' Frederik Andersen: Slated starter for Game 2
Andersen is expected to protect the home net in Game 2 against Philadelphia on Monday, per Walt Ruff and Peter Dewar of the Hurricanes' official site.
Andersen opened Round 2 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs with 19 saves in a 3-0 shutout win over the Flyers on Saturday. He has surrendered only five goals on 129 shots en route to a 5-0 record this postseason.
-
Andrei Vasilevskiy G | TB
Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: Season ends with brutal loss
Vasilevskiy stopped just seven of nine shots in Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Canadiens in Game 7.
Tampa Bay dominated play and out-shot Montreal 29-9 in the game, but Vasilevskiy got beat twice on shots he had almost no chance at -- one a Nick Suzuki redirection in the first period, and the second in the final frame when Alex Newhook batted the puck out of midair on his backhand from an almost impossible angle and had it deflect home off the netminder's leg. Vasilevskiy will head home and await the results of the Vezina voting after posting a 2.18 GAA and .897 save percentage over seven playoff games, following a regular season in which he had a 39-15-4 record with a 2.31 GAA and .911 save percentage over 58 outings.
-
Jakub Dobes G | MON
Canadiens' Jakub Dobes: Carries Habs into second round
Dobes made 28 saves on 29 shots in Sunday's 2-1 win over the Lightning in Game 7.
It was another stellar performance from the 24-year-old, who became the third rookie goalie in Montreal's storied history to win a Game 7 on the road, after Hall of Famers Jacques Plante in 1955 and Ken Dryden in 1971. Dobes will roll into a second-round matchup against the Sabres sporting a 2.03 GAA and .923 save percentage over seven playoff games. Game 1 against the Sabres is scheduled for Wednesday in Buffalo.
-
Jesper Wallstedt G | MIN
Wild's Jesper Wallstedt: Left out to dry in Game 1 loss
Wallstedt stopped 34 of 42 shots in Sunday's 9-6 loss to the Avalanche in Game 1. The ninth goal was an empty-netter.
Defense was optional in this contest, and that didn't do Wallstedt any favors. He allowed three goals in a span of 2:01 in the middle of the first period, but it was two more tallies over 2:22 in the third that did him in. Wallstedt was entrusted with the crease to begin the first round against the Stars, but he likely can't afford to have another performance like this one, especially with a veteran in Filip Gustavsson waiting in the wings. Wallstedt is 4-3 with a 2.81 GAA and a .903 save percentage over seven playoff outings even after this awful performance. Game 2 is Tuesday in Colorado, and the Wild have yet to reveal their plans for goaltending in that contest.
-
Scott Wedgewood G | COL
Avalanche's Scott Wedgewood: Wins despite allowing six goals
Wedgewood allowed six goals on 36 shots in Sunday's 9-6 win over the Wild in Game 1.
Wedgewood allowed more goals in this game against the Wild than he did in the entire first-round sweep of the Kings (five goals on 101 shots). While the step up in competition is obvious, Wedgewood has had few true duds all season. The 33-year-old has won all five of his postseason outings, and unless he continues to struggle against the Wild, he will have the edge over Mackenzie Blackwood for starts. Game 2 is set for Tuesday in Colorado.
-
Jesper Wallstedt G | MIN
Wild's Jesper Wallstedt: Tending twine in Game 1
Wallstedt will guard the road crease in Sunday's Game 1 against the Avalanche, Tracey Myers of NHL.com reports.
Wallstedt is coming off a strong finish to the first round against the Stars, as he won the last three games while posting a 1.81 GAA and a .933 save percentage during that stretch. The 23-year-old rising star has a 4-2-0 record, a 2.05 GAA and a .924 save percentage overall this postseason. He'll be matched up against a Colorado team that scored 13 goals in a four-game sweep of Los Angeles in the first round. Wallstedt put together a mixed bag of results against the Avalanche during the regular season, with a 1-1-1 record across four appearances.
-
Michal Postava G | DET
Red Wings' Michal Postava: Logs shutout for Griffins
Postava recorded a 30-save shutout in AHL Grand Rapids' 2-0 win over Manitoba in Game 2 on Sunday.
Postava and the Griffins were on the wrong end of a shutout in Game 1 on Saturday. He's stopped 52 of 53 shots across two playoff outings so far, and it's notable Postava is getting these starts instead of top prospect Sebastian Cossa. Postava impressed with a 17-6-0 record, four shutouts, a 1.71 GAA and a .937 save percentage over 25 regular-season outings.
-
Jakub Dobes G | MON
Canadiens' Jakub Dobes: Gets starting nod for Game 7
Dobes will patrol the road crease in Sunday's Game 7 against the Lightning, per Eric Engels of Sportsnet.
Dobes allowed just one goal on 33 shots during Friday's overtime loss in Game 6. He has fared well in this first-round series, with a 3-3-0 record, a 2.19 GAA and a .916 save percentage. Dobes has alternated wins and losses all series, proving his ability to bounce back hasn't been shaken. The 24-year-old goalie will look to win his first career Game 7 in hopes of helping Montreal reach the second round.