NHL Player News

Montembeault (lower body) is still being evaluated ahead of Game 4 against Washington on Sunday, Dan Rosen of NHL.com reports.

After leaving Friday's 6-3 win over the Capitals in the second period, Montembeault's availability for Sunday's home matchup in Game 4 is unclear. Jakub Dobes won Game 3 in relief, stopping seven of eight shots, and could get his first NHL playoff start if Montembeault is unavailable for Sunday's game. Montreal could recall Cayden Primeau from AHL Laval before Game 4 as insurance.

Hill will guard the road goal in Game 4 against Minnesota on Saturday, according to Michael Russo of The Athletic.

After stopping 18 of 20 shots in a 4-2 win over the Wild in Game 1, Hill has allowed eight goals on 37 shots en route to two losses in his last two starts. Despite sitting 11th with 22.7 shots per game, Minnesota is tied for third with 4.00 goals per game this postseason.

Thompson (lower body) did not participate in Saturday's optional skate, Bailey Johnson of The Washington Post reports.

Coach Spencer Carbary did not provide an update on Thompson's injury or availability for Sunday's Game 4 matchup in Montreal. Thompson was saddled with the loss Friday, allowing five goals on 35 shots in a 6-3 Montreal victory. He has given up eight goals on 96 shots (.917 save percentage) in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. If Thompson is out for Sunday's matchup, Clay Stevenson will probably be Charlie Lindgren's backup.

Blackwood is expected to start Saturday's home matchup against Dallas in Game 4, Pierre LeBrun of TSN reports.

Blackwood has lost his last two outings in overtime but stopped 61 of 67 shots. He has a 1-2 record with a 2.07 GAA and a .923 save percentage through three games this postseason. Dallas ranks third in the playoffs with 30.3 shots per game.

Lindgren stopped four of five shots in relief of Logan Thompson (lower body) in Friday's 6-3 loss to the Canadiens in Game 3.

Thompson's injury didn't look good, and it could be Lindgren's crease for a while in the postseason. Lindgren went 20-14-3 with a 2.73 GAA and an .894 save percentage over 39 regular-season appearances in 2024-25. The 31-year-old has limited experience as a starter but may find some motivation by playing against his former team if he has to play regularly in Thompon's absence.

Dobes stopped seven of eight shots in Friday's 6-3 win over the Capitals in Game 3.

Dobes made a relief appearance after Sam Montembeault (lower body) left the contest. Dobes entered when the score was 2-2, and the Canadiens took care of business in the third period to get the win. Montembeault's injury creates significant concern despite Dobes' performance in Game 3, as the Canadiens were already facing an uphill battle that only gets steeper if they have to lean on their backup goalie. Game 4 is Sunday in Montreal, and it's unclear if Montembeault will be able to suit up for it.

Vasilevskiy will patrol the road crease versus Florida on Saturday in Game 3, Gabby Shirley of FanDuel Sports Network Florida & Sun reports.

Vasilevskiy struggled in Game 1, allowing six goals on only 17 shots, but he rebounded nicely in Game 2 despite the loss, giving up one goal on 21 shots. Vasilevskiy was outstanding in the regular season, going 38-20-5 with six shutouts, a 2.18 GAA and a .921 save percentage. The Panthers hold a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series and return home for Game 3, where the team finished 17th in the NHL with 126 goals.

Bobrovsky will patrol the home crease against Tampa Bay on Saturday in Game 3, Colby Guy of The Palm Beach Post reports.

Bobrovsky is coming off a 19-save performance in Thursday's 2-0 shutout victory. He has gone 2-0 with a 1.00 GAA and a .951 save percentage through two starts this postseason. Tampa Bay ranks 15th in the playoffs with 20.5 shots per game.

Stolarz will guard the road net Saturday in Game 4 against the Senators, Mark Masters of TSN reports.

Stolarz will be back between the pipes Saturday as the Maple Leafs look to close out a sweep in Ottawa. The 31-year-old Stolarz has been excellent so far in the series, posting a .926 save percentage and 1.95 GAA through the first three games.

Kuemper stopped 29 of 34 shots in Friday's 7-4 loss to the Oilers in Game 3.

The Kings held even for the majority of the game, but a bad sequence in the third period cost them a chance at going up 3-0 in the series. Evander Kane scored a goal that the Kings challenged and lost, allowing Evan Bouchard to score on the ensuing power play. Kuemper has won two of his three playoff outings so far, but he's given up 12 goals on 85 shots in the series, which isn't nearly good enough against such a dangerous offense. That said, he has earned the benefit of the doubt, so expect to see the 34-year-old between the pipes for Game 4 on Sunday.