NHL Player News

  • Ivan Demidov RW | MON

    Canadiens' Ivan Demidov: Records helper in loss

    Demidov notched an assist and two shots on goal in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Sabres in Game 4.

    Demidov is picking up the pace with three assists over his last four games. The winger was limited to just one helper over seven first-round contests against the Lightning. Demidov remains on the hunt for his first NHL playoff goal, coming up empty on 19 shots while adding 12 hits, six blocked shots, six PIM and a plus-1 rating over 11 outings this postseason.

  • Cole Caufield RW | MON

    Canadiens' Cole Caufield: Strikes on power play in loss

    Caufield scored a power-play goal on five shots in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Sabres in Game 4.

    Caufield has three points, all on the power play, over the last two games. He's starting to get more involved on offense after enduring a five-game slump from Game 5 of the first round to Game 2 of the second round. The 25-year-old winger has earned all of his offense (three goals, four assists) with the man advantage this postseason while adding 24 shots on net, 19 hits and a minus-6 rating over 11 appearances.

  • Sabres' Mattias Samuelsson: Opens scoring Tuesday

    Samuelsson scored a goal on two shots and added six hits and six blocked shots in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Canadiens in Game 4.

    Samuelsson hasn't matched his scoring levels from early in the regular season, but he's picked up a steady three goals and one assist over 10 playoff outings. The defenseman has added ample physicality with 42 hits and 19 blocked shots. He's firmly in a top-four role, so there will be opportunities for him to offer well-rounded production as long as the Sabres remain in the playoffs.

  • Avalanche's Artturi Lehkonen: Slated to miss Wednesday's game

    Lehkonen (upper body) isn't expected to be available for Game 5 against the Wild on Wednesday, per Corey Masisak of The Denver Post.

    Lehkonen also missed Monday's 5-2 win over Minnesota due to the injury. He has three goals and six points in seven playoff outings this year. Joel Kiviranta is slated to play in his second straight game due to Lehkonen's absence.

  • Sam Malinski D | COL

    Avalanche's Sam Malinski: Not ready to play

    Malinski (upper body) will not be an option for Game 5 versus Minnesota on Wednesday, Corey Masisak of The Denver Post reports.

    Malinski continues to be classified as day-to-day ahead of his second straight absence due to his upper-body problem. With the blueliner on the shelf, Jack Ahcan figures to continue filling a bottom-pairing role alongside Josh Manson. Once cleared to play, Malinski should reclaim his spot in the lineup.

  • Avalanche's Mackenzie Blackwood: Expected to start in Game 5

    Blackwood is slated to start at home against Minnesota in Game 5 on Wednesday, per Jesse Montano of Guerilla Sports.

    Scott Wedgewood started in Colorado's first eight playoff games this year, but he was yanked from Saturday's 5-1 loss to Minnesota in Game 3 after allowing three goals on 12 shots. Blackwood stopped 12 of 13 shots in relief in that game, and then got the nod Monday, turning aside 19 of 21 shots en route to a 5-2 victory. Minnesota has averaged an impressive 3.80 goals per game in the 2026 postseason, but the Wild are down 3-1 in their series against Colorado.

  • Golden Knights' Brayden McNabb: Set for hearing with league

    McNabb will have a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety on Wednesday for interference against Anaheim's Ryan Poehling (upper body) on Tuesday.

    McNabb received a five-minute major and a game misconduct in Game 5 on Tuesday, resulting in him playing just 3:17 of ice time. Poehling will likely miss some time, and his injury will probably be a factor in the decision-making process. At this point, fantasy managers shouldn't expect McNabb to be available for Game 6 on Thursday. Kaedan Korczak figures to step into the lineup in McNabb's stead.

  • Alex Newhook C | MON

    Canadiens' Alex Newhook: Lights lamp again in Game 4

    Newhook scored a goal in a 3-2 loss to the Sabres on Tuesday in Game 4 of the second round of the playoffs.

    The 25-year-old is emerging as one of the surprise heroes of the postseason. Newhook has found the back of the net five times in the last three games after scoring just 13 goals in 42 regular-season contests. Over his last seven outings, he's collected six goals and seven points. Newhook will attempt to carry that momentum into Game 5 in Buffalo on Thursday.

  • Jakub Dobes G | MON

    Canadiens' Jakub Dobes: Stuck with tough loss in Game 4

    Dobes stopped 19 shots in a 3-2 loss to the Sabres on Tuesday in Game 4 of the second round of the playoffs.

    The Canadiens held a 2-1 lead after the first period, but the team cooled off offensively afterward. The final two goals against Dobes came on Buffalo power plays. The tying tally came on a Tage Thompson dump-in attempt that took a strange carom off the corner boards before bouncing in off the Montreal netminder's leg. Dobes has allowed more than three goals in a game only once in 11 playoff starts while posting a 2.22 GAA and .914 save percentage.

  • Josh Doan RW | BUF

    Sabres' Josh Doan: Two helpers in Game 4 win

    Doan notched two assists, one on the power play, in a 3-2 win over the Canadiens on Tuesday in Game 4 of the second round of the playoffs.

    The 24-year-old winger had a hand in tallies by Mattias Samuelsson in the first period and Zach Benson in the third frame. Doan extended his point streak to five games in the process. Through 10 postseason contests, he's collected two goals and nine points. Doan will try to stay hot as the series shifts back to Buffalo for Game 5 on Thursday.

Around the Web Promoted by Taboola