NHL Player News

Blackwood posted a 23-save shutout in Saturday's 4-0 win over the Stars in Game 4.

The Avalanche played a superb game, making Blackwood's job fairly easy. It took him just four playoff appearances to earn his first shutout in postseason play. The 28-year-old has given up seven goals on 114 shots over four games in the first round, so he's arguably unlucky to be 2-2 in those contests, though both losses have come past regulation time. Blackwood will undoubtedly get the nod again for a pivotal Game 5 in Dallas on Monday.

Stolarz made 17 saves in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Senators on Saturday in Game 4.

Stolarz was solid all night but fought to see through a sea of bodies on several shots, including the game-winner. Before Saturday's outing, Stolarz had allowed just six goals in three contests in his first postseason as a starter. The Leafs play Game 5 in Toronto on Tuesday with a chance to advance to Round 2 with a win, and he'll likely be in the blue paint.

DeSmith stopped 13 of 14 shots in relief of Jake Oettinger in Saturday's 4-0 loss to the Avalanche in Game 4.

Lia Assimakopoulos of The Dallas Morning News reports Oettinger was given the third frame off for rest after stopping 31 of 34 shots over the first two periods. DeSmith likely won't see a substantial boost in playing time over the remainder of the Stars' postseason run. The 33-year-old did well in the backup role during the regular season with a 14-8-2 record, a 2.59 GAA and a .915 save percentage over 27 outings.

Oettinger stopped 31 of 34 shots in Saturday's 4-0 loss to the Avalanche in Game 4.

The Stars' defense was leakier than usual, and Oettinger ended up with nearly a full game's worth of work in two periods. Casey DeSmith played in the final frame, and Lia Assimakopoulos of The Dallas Morning News reports Oettinger rested in the third frame and wasn't dealing with an injury. The series is even at 2-2, and Oettinger has allowed 11 goals on 123 shots over four games. He'll likely be back between the pipes on home ice Monday in Game 5.

Ullmark made 31 saves in a 4-3 overtime win over Toronto on Saturday in Game 4.

Ullmark put up a sparkling, Vezina-quality performance Saturday to quiet his critics for at least one night. He is 1-3 with a 3.44 GAA and an .848 save percentage this postseason. Through 14 playoff games in his career, he has a 4-10 record with a 3.54 GAA and an .878 save percentage. Ottawa will need another performance like Saturday's in Game 5 in Toronto on Tuesday to avoid elimination.

Bobrovsky made 17 saves on 21 shots in a 5-1 loss to the Lightning on Saturday in Game 3. The fifth goal was an empty-netter.

Bobrovsky probably wants at least one of the goals back, but the loss wasn't on him. The Bolts came out hungry and desperate, and the Panthers came up against a brick wall in Andrei Vasilevskiy. Game 4 goes Monday with the Panthers up 2-1 in the series, and Bobrovsky will likely be back in the blue paint.

Vasilevskiy made 33 saves in a 5-1 win over Florida on Saturday in Game 3.

Matthew Tkachuk was the lone member of the Panthers to beat Vasilevskiy, and the goal came at 2:43 of the first period after a turnover in the Bolts' zone. Vasilevskiy has gotten stronger and stronger over the three games of the series. He put the six-goal debacle in Game 1 behind him with two solid efforts. Vasilevskiy is 1-2-0 with a 2.70 GAA and an .890 save percentage this postseason.

Ullmark will guard the home goal in Game 4 versus the Maple Leafs on Saturday, per TSN 1200 Ottawa reports.

Ullmark has allowed 12 goals on 65 shots (.815 save percentage) over the first three games of the series, losing all three. He'll be back in between the pipes for a must-win Game 4 as the Senators look to avoid being the only team swept out of the first round. The Senators have yet to score more than two goals in any playoff game against Toronto during this series.

Oettinger will defend the road net against the Avalanche on Saturday in Game 4, according to Owen Newkirk of DLLS Sports.

Oettinger has won his last two outings, stopping 61 of 65 shots. He has a 2-1 record with a 2.37 GAA and a .910 save percentage through three starts this postseason. Colorado sits fifth in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs with 30.0 shots per game.

Gustavsson is expected to start at home against Vegas in Game 4 on Saturday, per Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Gustavsson will aim for his third consecutive victory over the Golden Knights after stopping 60 of 64 shots (.938 save percentage) across his previous two outings. During the 2024-25 campaign, he was 31-19-6 with a 2.56 GAA and a .914 save percentage in 58 regular-season outings. Vegas is down 2-1 in the first-round series and ranked fifth in goals per game during the regular season with 3.34.