NHL Player News

  • Wild's Mats Zuccarello: Contending with upper-body injury

    Zuccarello is unavailable for Game 2 in Dallas on Monday due to an upper-body injury.

    Zuccarello is a big loss for the Wild's top six, as the Norwegian winger generated three helpers, including two on the power play, in Saturday's 6-1 win in Game 1. Vladimir Tarasenko will slot in on the top line alongside Kirill Kaprizov and Ryan Hartman, while Bobby Brink will suit up in Game 2 as a result of Zuccarello's absence. Zuccarello can be considered day-to-day ahead of Game 3 in Minnesota on Wednesday.

  • Artem Zub D | OTT

    Senators' Artem Zub: Not an option Monday

    Zub (undisclosed) is not in the lineup for Game 2 against the Hurricanes on Monday, Graeme Nichols of The Hockey News reports.

    Zub will be replaced in the lineup by Lassi Thomson, who will skate alongside Dennis Gilbert in a third-pairing role, while Nikolas Matinpalo will work on the No. 1 pairing with Jake Sanderson. Zub will have a few days to attempt to be ready for Thursday's Game 3, which will be played in Ottawa.

  • Senators' Linus Ullmark: Set to start in Game 2

    Ullmark will patrol the road blue paint Monday versus the Hurricanes, per Ryan Henkel of The Hockey News.

    Ullmark turned in a pretty solid effort in Saturday's Game 1 loss, stopping 27 of 29 shots, but the Senators weren't able to find the back of the net in a shutout loss. Game 2 won't be any easier for the Swedish netminder -- Ottawa will be without arguably its top shutdown defenseman in Artem Zub (undisclosed).

  • Emil Andrae D | PHI

    Flyers' Emil Andrae: Out Monday due to UBI

    Andrae will not suit up in Game 2 against the Penguins on Monday because of an upper-body injury and is day-to-day.

    Andrae didn't practice Sunday and managed only 9:39 of ice time in Game 1 on Saturday, but it's unclear if that was a result of the injury or performance-related reasons. Noah Juulsen will draw into the lineup Monday and skate next to Nick Seeler on the third pairing. Game 3 is scheduled for Wednesday in Philadelphia.

  • Ben Jones C | MIN

    Wild's Ben Jones: Among Black Aces

    Jones was summoned from AHL Iowa on Monday.

    Jones had one goal, three points, 26 shots on net and 58 hits in 28 NHL appearances during the 2025-26 regular season. Minnesota also called up Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Hunter Haight, Carson Lambos, David Spacek, Riley Mercer and Chase Wutzke. They will serve as Black Aces during the NHL playoffs.

  • Dan Vladar G | PHI

    Flyers' Dan Vladar: Tending twine for Game 2

    Vladar will start Game 2 on the road against Pittsburgh on Monday, Jordan Hall of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

    Vladar had a hot streak to close out the regular season, and he maintained his momentum in Game 1 of the Flyers' first-round series, turning aside 15 of 17 shots (.882 save percentage) in Saturday's road win over Pittsburgh. Across his last seven outings, he's gone 6-1-0 with a 1.84 GAA and .917 save percentage.

  • Ross Johnston LW | ANA

    Ducks' Ross Johnston: Ruled out for Game 1

    Johnston (lower body) has been ruled out for Monday's Game 1 against Edmonton, Derek Lee of The Hockey News reports.

    Johnston fully participated in Monday's morning skate, but he'll remain sidelined to begin the playoffs as he continues to deal with a lower-body issue. However, head coach Joel Quenneville said Monday that he expects Johnston to play at some point during the Ducks' first-round series, so the 32-year-old should be considered day-to-day for now.

  • Oilers' Leon Draisaitl: Removed from LTIR

    Draisaitl (lower body) was activated from long-term injured reserve Monday, per the NHL media site.

    Draisaitl appears poised to return to action against Anaheim in Game 1 on Monday. He sat out the final 14 games of the 2025-26 regular season, finishing with 35 goals, 97 points and 186 shots on net in 65 appearances. Draisaitl should occupy a second-line role and see time on the top power-play unit in Monday's lineup versus the Ducks.

  • Wild's Jesper Wallstedt: Drawing Game 2 start

    Wallstedt will start Monday's Game 2 on the road against Dallas, Joe Smith of The Athletic reports.

    Wallstedt was sharp during Saturday's Game 1 victory, making 27 saves in a 6-1 victory. He'll have another opportunity to patrol the crease Monday as the Wild attempt to secure a 2-0 lead in the series. Wallstedt has picked up wins in five of his last six starts dating back to late March, going 5-1-0 with a 1.68 GAA and .940 save percentage during that time.

  • Kings' Brandt Clarke: Adds power-play helper

    Clarke logged a power-play assist in Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Avalanche in Game 1.

    Clarke hasn't scored a goal since March 2, and he was limited to just two assists over his last 14 games of the regular season. The 23-year-old defenseman will be tasked with key top-four minutes this postseason after seeing limited action with two goals over six games while averaging 12:47 of ice time versus the Oilers in the first round last year. Clarke had a career-high 40 points, including 13 on the power play, over 82 regular-season outings in 2025-26.

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