NHL Player News

Ostlund (upper body) will return to action for Thursday's Game 3 against Boston, Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News reports.

Ostlund missed the Sabres' final 10 regular-season games and first two postseason matchups, but he was trending in the right direction recently and will officially get the green light to return to action Thursday. Josh Norris (undisclosed) will be unavailable Thursday, so Ostlund centered the third line during morning skate and was part of the second power-play unit. Across 60 regular-season appearances this year, Ostlund recorded 11 goals, 16 assists, 30 blocked shots and 14 PIM while averaging 13:58 of ice time.

Norris (undisclosed) will not play in Boston for Game 3 on Thursday, Conor Ryan of The Boston Globe reports.

Head coach Lindy Ruff would not divulge the reason for Norris' absence, but ruled out an illness. Norris had a six-game point streak to end the regular season, but he was held off the scoresheet in the opening two games of the series. Noah Ostlund (upper body) will replace Norris in the lineup Thursday. Norris could return to action as early as Sunday for Game 4 in Boston.

Andersen is expected to defend the road cage in Ottawa on Thursday, Walt Ruff of the Hurricanes' official site reports.

Andersen has been sharp in the first two games of the playoffs, allowing two goals on 61 shots (.967 save percentage) in a pair of wins over Ottawa. The netminder is on a four-game winning streak dating back to the regular season and has taken over the No. 1 job in Carolina from rookie Brandon Bussi. The Senators were eighth in NHL scoring during the regular season, generating 3.35 goals per game, a far cry from the 1.00 goals per game they've generated to begin the playoffs.

Kleven (upper body) is healthy enough to return to action in Game 3 versus Carolina on Thursday, Joshua Clipperton of the Canadian Press reports.

Kleven practiced on the fourth unit, alongside Cameron Crotty, so Kleven could be a healthy scratch. The blueliner had three goals, 15 assists, 90 shots on goal, 126 hits and 94 blocked shots over 70 regular-season games in 2025-26.

Meneghin was recalled from AHL Syracuse on Thursday.

Meneghin saw action in 14 ECHL regular-season games in 2025-26, posting a 4-9-0 record with a 3.26 GAA and an .889 save percentage. The first-year rookie also played in one game with Syracuse, allowing two goals on four shots in the season finale Friday. The Lightning sent goaltender Brandon Halverson to Syracuse in a corresponding move.

Halverson was reassigned to AHL Syracuse on Thursday.

Halverson was called up by the Lightning on Sunday to provide additional depth for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He didn't appear in either of the team's first two postseason matchups, and he'll head back to the AHL ahead of the Calder Cup Playoffs. Harrison Meneghin was called up Thursday in a corresponding move to replace Halverson on Tampa Bay's roster.

Juulsen pocketed two assists Wednesday during the Flyers' 5-2 win over the Penguins in Game 3 of their first-round series.

Both helpers came in the second period on tallies by Rasmus Ristolainen and Nick Seeler, as the Flyers took the lead for good. Juulsen didn't produce a multi-point performance during the entire regular season, piecing together a career-high 10 points (one goal, nine assists) in 52 contests, and he's unlikely to suddenly become an offensive threat in the playoffs.

Drysdale collected two power-play assists Wednesday during the Flyers' 5-2 win over the Penguins in Game 3 of their first-round series.

The 24-year-old blueliner had a hand in tallies by Trevor Zegras in the second period and Noah Cates in the third. Drysdale has a goal and three points in three games to begin the postseason, more points than he managed in his final nine regular-season contests combined, but his spot at the point on the Flyers' top power-play unit could lead to a surprisingly productive playoff run.

Couturier notched two assists Wednesday during the Flyers' 5-2 win over the Penguins in Game 3 of their first-round series.

The helpers came on second-period tallies by Rasmus Ristolainen and Nick Seeler that put the Flyers in the lead for good. Couturier has three assists through three games to begin the postseason, but the veteran center no longer has a consistent spot on the power play and is coming off a regular season in which he managed just 36 points (12 goals, 24 assists) over 78 games -- his worst total for a campaign in which he played 70-plus games since he was a rookie in 2011-12.

Zegras produced a goal and an assist Wednesday, both on the power play, during the Flyers' 5-2 win over the Penguins in Game 3 of their first-round series.

The 25-year-old center got Philadelphia on the board early in the first period, wiring a one-timer from the faceoff dot past Stuart Skinner, before helping to set up Noah Cates for a third-period tally. Zegras has a goal and three points in three games to begin the playoffs, continuing a surge that saw him deliver four goals and 14 points over his last 14 regular-season contests.