NHL Player News

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.

Thompson made 28 saves Wednesday in the Capitals' 4-1 win over the Canadiens in Game 5 of their first-round series.

He took a shutout into the third period, but early in the final frame, Emil Heineman somehow got his stick on a puck that flashed across the front of the net in mid-air, tipping it past Thompson. The 28-year-old netminder will head into a second-round clash with the Hurricanes carrying plenty of momentum, having posted a 2.23 GAA and .923 save percentage in five games against the Habs.

Dobes stopped 24 of 27 shots Wednesday in the Canadiens' 4-1 loss to the Capitals in Game 5 of their first-round series, with Washington's final goal getting scored into an empty net.

Two of the pucks that beat Dobes came on Washington power plays, and the Habs' offense didn't even get on the board until the third period. Sam Montembeault (lower body) has solidified his spot at the top of the depth chart for Montreal, but Dobes held his own in his first taste of the NHL, going 7-4-3 during 16 regular-season outings with a 2.74 GAA and .909 save percentage. The 23-year-old Dobes should head into 2025-26 as the Canadiens' No. 2 netminder.

Binnington stopped 21 of 25 shots in Wednesday's 5-3 loss to the Jets in Game 5. The fifth goal was an empty-netter.

The scoring went back and forth early on, but the Jets took over late in the second period. This left Binnington with his third straight loss in Winnipeg, though he won both of the Blues' home games. He's given up 13 goals on 122 shots (.893 save percentage) through five playoff outings. Binnington is a virtual lock to start a must-win game on home ice when the series shifts back to St. Louis for Friday's Game 6.

Hellebuyck allowed three goals on 19 shots in Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Blues in Game 5.

It was far from a dominant performance for the 31-year-old, but the Jets' offense took care of business on home ice. Hellebuyck has allowed at least three goals in four of his five playoff outings this year, despite facing no more than 25 shots in any appearance, though he was pulled from the previous two games. The Jets lead this series 3-2 after Wednesday's win, and if Hellebuyck can overcome his road woes, he can send his team to the second round with a win in Friday's Game 6.

Bobrovsky will start in goal on the road versus the Lightning in Game 5, Alex Baumgartner of Five Reasons Sports reports.

Bobrovsky is 3-1 in the series, adding a 2.01 GAA and a .902 save percentage. The 36-year-old won both previous starts in Tampa to begin the series, including a shutout win in Game 2. A win by the Panthers on Wednesday would afford Bobrovsky a bit of a breather prior to the second round.

Vasilevskiy will protect the home goal versus the Panthers in Game 5 on Wednesday, Gabby Shirley of FanDuel Sports Network Florida & Sun reports.

Vasilevskiy allowed three goals on 22 shots in Game 4 on Monday, squandering a lead late in the third period. That loss makes Wednesday's game a must-win for the Lightning to keep their season alive. Vasilevskiy is 1-3 with a 2.79 GAA and an .884 save percentage over the first four games of the series and has had his hands full with the defending champions at times.

Gustavsson (illness) is likely to play at home versus the Golden Knights in Game 6 on Thursday after exiting Tuesday's Game 5 after two periods, Sarah McLellan of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports Wednesday.

Gustavsson has a 2-2 record, 2.63 GAA and .919 save percentage across five appearances in Minnesota's first-round series against Vegas. The Wild were down 2-1 when he exited Tuesday's game, and although Minnesota was able to tie things up, his replacement, Marc-Andre Fleury, conceded the deciding goal in overtime. That puts the Wild down 3-2 in the series, so they need a victory Thursday to force a Game 7 on Saturday.

Binnington is slated to start on the road against Winnipeg in Game 5 on Wednesday.

Binnington allowed four goals on 25 shots en route to a 5-3 loss in the Blues' playoff opener April 19. However, he's been solid since, going 2-1 with a 1.69 GAA and a .931 save percentage across his past three starts, which has allowed St. Louis to even its first-round series. Winnipeg might need to challenge Binnington more -- the Jets rank 11th in shots per game (24.5) in the postseason.

Dobes will get the starting nod on the road against Washington in Game 5 on Wednesday, Eric Engels of Sportsnet reports.

Dobes gave up three goals on 24 shots (.875 save percentage) in Game 4, and he will likely need to improve those numbers if the Habs are going to avoid elimination Wednesday. The 23-year-old backstop has limited experience, having played in just 16 regular-season NHL games this year in which he went 7-4-3 with a 2.74 GAA and one shutout.