NHL Player News

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.

Montembeault (lower body) won't be available for Wednesday's Game 5 on the road against Washington, Eric Engels of Sportsnet reports.

Montembeault sustained a lower-body injury in Game 3, and he'll be unavailable for a second consecutive matchup Wednesday. Jakub Dobes has been named Montreal's starter for Wednesday's game, while Montembeault isn't with the team in Washington, so Cayden Primeau will dress as the No. 2 netminder.

Hellebuyck is expected to start at home against St. Louis in Game 5 on Wednesday, per Ken Wiebe of The Winnipeg Free Press.

Hellebuyck was incredible during the regular season, posting a 47-12-3 record, 2.00 GAA and .925 save percentage across 63 appearances. However, he's allowed a staggering 11 goals on 43 shots (.744 save percentage) across his past two starts, which has allowed St. Louis to even the first-round series at 2-2. Hellebuyck surrendered five or more goals on just three occasions during the regular season, so for him to have back-to-back losses of that caliber in the playoffs is quite a departure. This is becoming a theme for Hellebuyck, though -- he has a 4.27 GAA and an .863 save percentage across 14 playoff starts over the last three years despite being one of the league's best regular-season goaltenders over the same span.

Thompson was the first goalie off at Wednesday's morning skate, Sammi Silber of The Hockey News reports, indicating that he'll draw the start in Game 5 at home against the Canadiens.

Thompson has started in each of the first four games of the Capitals' first-round series, going 3-1-0 with a 2.54 GAA and .912 save percentage. He'll attempt to remain effective at home in hopes of sending Washington to the second round.

Kochetkov stopped 31 shots Tuesday in the Hurricanes' 5-4 double-overtime win over the Devils in Game 5 of their first-round series.

Making his first start of the playoffs in place of Frederik Andersen (undisclosed), Kochetkov watched New Jersey grab a 3-0 lead before the halfway mark of the first period on two deflected goals and a third that came after a giveaway at the Carolina blue line. The 25-year-old netminder didn't lose his focus though, and he stood tall as the 'Canes dominated the game beginning in the third period. The win advances Carolina to the second round, but with Andersen's status uncertain, Kochetkov may return to the bench when the team resumes play against either Washington or Montreal.

Markstrom made 49 saves Tuesday in the Devils' 5-4 double-overtime loss to the Hurricanes in Game 5 of their first-round series.

With New Jersey on the brink of elimination, Markstrom did everything he could to keep his team alive -- the Devils were outshot 19-4 in extra time, but the 35-year-old netminder finally got beaten by Sebastian Aho on a Carolina power play 4:17 into the second OT. Markstrom had an up-and-down regular season but still posted respectable numbers with a 26-16-6 record, 2.50 GAA and .900 save percentage, and with one year left on his current contract he should be back as the Devils' No. 1 goalie in 2025-26.