NHL Player News

Kerfoot scored an empty-net goal on three shots, added two hits and went plus-2 in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Jets.

Kerfoot put a bow on this win with the empty-netter, his fifth goal in the last 10 games. The 31-year-old is getting a chance to play a larger role in the absence of Barrett Hayton (upper body) and Jack McBain (lower body), both of whom are not expected back in time for the start of the playoffs. On the season, Kerfoot has seven goals, 13 points, 28 shots on net, 29 hits, 25 blocked shots and 23 PIM across 33 appearances.

Peterka scored a goal on four shots in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Jets.

Peterka has three goals over seven games in April. His tally Tuesday got him to the 25-goal mark on the season, a level he's reached in three straight campaigns. He's at 46 points, 156 shots on net and a plus-7 rating over 81 appearances, with his drop from last year's point total (68) being due to less success in setting up teammates and a notably smaller power-play role in his first year with the Mammoth.

Cooley scored a goal on three shots and added a power-play assist in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Jets.

Cooley has gotten on the scoresheet in seven of the last nine games, and he's earned five multi-point efforts in that span. The 21-year-old opened the scoring at 8:05 of the first period and set up a Nick Schmaltz tally in the third. Cooley has earned 24 goals, 43 points, 102 shots on net, 54 hits, 26 blocked shots and a plus-5 rating over 53 appearances. He's a goal away from matching his career-high 25 from 75 outings last year.

Schmaltz scored two power-play goals on eight shots and added two blocked shots in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Jets.

Schmaltz had gone two games without a point after the end of his six-game point streak. The 30-year-old has done well this season to keep any droughts short. He's up to 33 goals, 74 points (20 on the power play), 204 shots on net, 51 blocked shots and a plus-19 rating over 81 appearances in a career-best year.

Vejmelka stopped 21 of 24 shots in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Jets.

Vejmelka was rested versus the Flames on Sunday after appearing in nine straight games to help the Mammoth get into the playoffs. The 29-year-old's win Tuesday locked the team into the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference, guaranteeing they'll face the Pacific Division winner in the first round. Vejmelka has won six of his last seven outings and is up to 38-20-3 with a 2.73 GAA and an .897 save percentage over a league-high 63 games this season. With nothing left to play for, it would be surprising if Vejmelka started Thursday versus the Blues.

Evans scored a goal Tuesday in a 4-2 loss to the Flyers.

Evans scored on a rebound with 11 seconds left in the second to make the score 3-2, but the Habs were unable to carry that momentum forward and into the third period. The goal was Evans' first in 12 games (two assists). Montreal will travel to Tampa Bay to start their first-round matchup Saturday. Evans is a bottom-six forward who may see time in the press box given the strength of the lineup.

Gallagher scored a goal Tuesday in a 4-2 loss to the Flyers.

Gallagher was back in the lineup after being scratched for the previous four games. The goal was his first since Feb. 4 and his seventh in 77 games this season (23 points). There's no guarantee that the aging winger will dress to start the playoffs. However, Gallagher is one of the playoff veterans on a young team. He has played 76 career postseason games, scoring 13 goals and adding 20 assists.

Dobes made 21 saves in a 4-2 loss to Philadelphia on Tuesday.

Dobes heads into the postseason with two straight losses, with nine goals allowed in that span. Still, he's been excellent this year with a 29-10-4 record overall, 2.78 GAA and .901 save percentage. The playoffs start Saturday, and Dobes and the Canadiens will start the first round on the road in Tampa Bay.

Ersson made 27 saves in a 4-2 win over Montreal on Tuesday.

Ersson finished the season on a 6-1-0 run in seven starts (nine appearances). Overall, he ended with a 14-11-5 record, 3.12 GAA and .870 save percentage. Dan Vladar will assume the stance in the blue paint with the playoffs starting, so Ersson will take a spot on the bench.

Martone had a goal and an assist in Tuesday's 4-2 win over the Canadiens.

Martone, who is 19 years old, closed the regular season on a six-game, nine-point streak that included four goals. That tied Sean Couturier (2011-12), Mike Ricci (1990-91) and Peter Zezel (1984-85) for the second-longest point streak by a Flyers teenager. Eric Lindros holds the record (seven games; 1992-93).