NHL Player News

Kuemper will guard the cage on the road for Game 6 versus Edmonton, LA Kings' Insider Zach Dooley reports.

Kuemper has lost three straight games after giving Los Angeles a 2-0 lead to open the series. In those losses, the 34-year-old netminder has sported a 3.41 GAA and .914 save percentage. Kuemper will need to find another level in Game 6, or the Kings will begin their offseason earlier than they were hoping.

Oettinger will guard the visiting crease in Colorado in Game 6 on Thursday, Aarif Deen of Colorado Hockey Now reports.

Oettinger has won three of his last four starts against the Avs after allowing four goals on only 24 shots in a 5-1 Game 1 loss. He has 2.58 GAA and a .914 save percentage in five postseason games versus Colorado in 2024-25. The Avalanche are generating 3.00 goals per game in the playoffs, tied for eighth in NHL scoring.

Blackwood will guard the cage at home against the Stars in Game 6 on Thursday, Aarif Deen of Colorado Hockey Now reports.

Blackwood will be back in the crease after getting the hook in Game 5. In that shortened outing, the 28-year-old backstop gave up five goals on 18 shots (.722 save percentage). In his last eight outings, the Thunder Bay native is sporting a 2-6-0 record to go with a 3.02 GAA -- so it's a little surprising that the Avs aren't a least giving Scott Wedgewood a look.

Stevenson was loaned to AHL Hershey on Thursday.

Stevenson had been with the NHL club since mid-April, and he started in the Capitals' regular-season finale in Pittsburgh, allowing five goals on 33 shots (.868 save percentage) en route to the loss. He didn't appear in the Capitals' first-round series in the playoffs and should have a chance to contribute for the Bears during the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Pickard will patrol the home crease versus Los Angeles on Thursday, per Tony Brar of Oilers TV.

Pickard took over from Stuart Skinner midway through the third period in Game 2 and has led the Oilers to three straight wins after they lost the opening two games. Pickard has allowed eight goals on 91 shots in his three playoff starts versus the Kings. Los Angeles is second in NHL scoring during the playoffs, generating 4.00 goals per game.

Hill will be between the visiting pipes for Game 6 in Minnesota on Thursday, per Jesse Granger of The Athletic.

Hill was stellar in Game 5 on Tuesday, turning aside 20 shots in a 3-2 overtime win versus the Wild. He is 3-2 in the playoffs thus far, allowing 15 goals on only 111 shots (.865 save percentage). He had a career-best regular season in 2024-25, posting a 32-13-5 record with four shutouts, a 2.47 GAA and a .906 save percentage across 50 appearances.

Andersen (undisclosed) is expected to practice with his teammates Friday, Walt Ruff of the Hurricanes' official site reports.

Andersen is sporting a 3-1 record, 1.59 GAA and .936 save percentage in four postseason contests. If the 35-year-old veteran is given the all-clear before the second-round series against Washington, he figures to reclaim the starting job from Pyotr Kochetkov, who posted an underwhelming .886 save percentage in his Game 5 appearance.

Stolarz will get the starting nod on the road for Game 6 against Ottawa on Thursday, Mark Masters of TSN reports.

Stolarz has been solid in the postseason, going 3-2 with a 2.25 GAA and .899 save percentage in his five clashes with the Senators. Even in the defeats, the 31-year-old Stolarz has been solid, something he'll need to continue to be if the Leafs are going to close out the series Thursday.

Vasilevskiy gave up five goals on 30 shots in a Game 5 loss to Florida on Wednesday.

Vasilevskiy was subpar by his standards in the postseason, registering a 1-4 record, 3.27 GAA and .872 save percentage in five games versus the Panthers. Nominated for the Vezina Trophy, the 30-year-old netminder was fantastic again in the regular season, going 38-20-5 with six shutouts and a 2.18 GAA in his 63 outings. Vasilevskiy will look to continue his run of eight straight 30-win seasons as he heads into the 2025-26 campaign.

Bobrovsky stopped 26 of 29 shots in Wednesday's 6-3 Game 5 victory over the Lightning.

Bobrovsky went 4-1 with a 2.21 GAA and one shutout in the first-round series with Tampa Bay. The 36-year-old backstop will now turn his attention to either the Maple Leafs or Senators in the second round. Backed by an offensive that is generating 3.80 goals per game in the playoffs, Bobrovsky won't need to be perfect to continue racking up victories.