NHL Player News

Oettinger stopped 24 of 27 shots in Wednesday's 6-3 win over the Oilers in Game 1.

Oettinger collected his second series-opening win in as many rounds. He was a little shaky in the middle frame, but the Stars' offense picked him up with a big third period to secure the win. Oettinger is now 9-5 with a 2.51 GAA and a .917 save percentage over 14 playoff contests. He'll look to keep things rolling in Game 2 on Friday.

Oettinger will start in goal in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals versus the Oilers on Wednesday, Sam Nestler of DLLS Stars reports.

To no surprise, Oettinger will get the nod as the Stars look to avenge their loss to the Oilers in the Western Conference Finals last year. The 26-year-old has a 2.47 GAA and a .919 save percentage over 13 games this postseason and was strong in the second round versus the Jets, who the Stars eliminated in six games.

Skinner is expected to start on the road against Dallas on Wednesday for Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, per Tony Brar of Oilers TV.

The Oilers' decision isn't particularly surprising. While Skinner has been mediocre overall in the 2025 playoffs with a 2-3 record, 3.05 GAA and .884 save percentage across five appearances, he's coming off back-to-back shutouts, so it makes perfect sense to give him this assignment. However, Skinner struggled against Dallas during the 2024-25 regular season, posting a 3.99 GAA and an .841 save percentage in three outings.

Andersen stopped 15 shots Tuesday in the Hurricanes' 5-2 loss to the Panthers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Two of the pucks that beat him came on Florida power plays and two others found their way through heavy traffic in front of Andersen, but the veteran netminder also didn't look quite as sharp as he had earlier in the playoffs. The five goals were the most he's allowed this postseason, but he still sports a 1.74 GAA and .919 save percentage through 10 starts. Andersen will look to bounce back in Game 2 on Thursday.

Bobrovsky made 31 saves Tuesday in the Panthers' 5-2 win over the Hurricanes in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

The veteran netminder won for the fifth time in Florida's last six games, as he gets hot at the right time for the team's chances of a Stanley Cup repeat. Bobrovsky has allowed two goals or fewer in five straight starts, posting a 1.21 GAA and .952 save percentage over that stretch, and he'll take significant momentum into Game 2 on Thursday.

Bobrovsky is expected to defend the road net in Game 1 against Carolina on Tuesday, according to Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site.

Bobrovsky has surrendered only four goals on 92 shots in his last four outings en route to posting a 3-1 record. He has gone 8-4 with two shutouts, a 2.31 GAA and a .901 save percentage through 12 appearances this postseason. Carolina has registered the second-most shots per game (33.2) and the sixth-best goals per game (3.40) in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Andersen will get the starting nod at home for Game 1 against the Panthers on Tuesday.

Considering Andersen went 4-1 with a ridiculous 1.19 GAA and .937 save percentage in five games against the Capitals, there was little doubt he'd be back in goal for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The veteran netminder has faced more than 30 shots just once this postseason, so look for his team to continue trying to limit opportunities for the Cats to put shots on net.

Woll stopped 28 of 33 shots in Sunday's 6-1 loss to the Panthers in Game 7. The sixth goal was an empty-netter.

Woll was under siege for a large portion of the first period, but he was able to get the game to the first intermission with no goals on the board. The Panthers regrouped well and put three goals away in the second, and the Maple Leafs couldn't provide much of a response. Woll ends the postseason 3-4 with a 3.56 GAA and an .886 save percentage over seven games, all in the second round after Anthony Stolarz was knocked out of the series opener versus Florida due to an upper-body injury. Heading into 2025-26, it's likely the Maple Leafs will run it back with Woll and Stolarz as a tandem in goal, as the duo gave Toronto stability from the net out in the regular season.

Bobrovsky stopped 19 of 20 shots in Sunday's 6-1 win over the Maple Leafs in Game 7.

The Panthers started off the game strong but had nothing to show for it in the first period. Bobrovsky was able to hold the fort until his teammates' offense started clicking in the middle frame, as he improved to 3-0 in Game 7s in his career. He's up to 8-4 in the playoffs with a 2.31 GAA and a .901 save percentage over 12 appearances. Bobrovsky won't get any extra time to rest -- the Panthers are off to Carolina to open the Eastern Conference Finals on Tuesday.

Contrary to a prior report, Stolarz (upper body) will suit up as the backup for Sunday's Game 7 matchup against the Panthers, according to Terry Koshan of The Toronto Sun.

In a surprising turn of events, Stolarz will be an option in goal in the scenario that Joseph Woll falters or gets injured. The 31-year-old Stolarz was hurt in a 5-4 win in Game 1 but has been making strides in his recovery since then. The New Jersey native has a 4-2 record, 2.19 GAA and .901 save percentage over seven appearances in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.