NHL Player News

Vladar is expected to start at home against the Penguins on Wednesday in Game 3 of their first-round series, per Jordan Hall of NBC Sports Philadelphia.

Vladar earned a 27-save shutout over the Penguins in Game 2 after turning aside 16 of 18 shots in the series opener. His efforts have enabled Philadelphia to take a 2-0 series lead. He finished the 2025-26 regular season with a 29-14-7 record, 2.42 GAA and .906 save percentage in 52 appearances. While Vladar has done well in the 2026 playoffs, Pittsburgh still figures to be a challenging adversary going forward. The Penguins finished third in goals per game during the regular season with an average of 3.54.

Lyon turned aside all seven shots he faced after replacing Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen early in the third period Tuesday during the Sabres' 4-2 loss to the Bruins in Game 2 of their first-round series.

Luukkonen has looked shaky through the first two games of the series, coughing up seven goals on only 40 shots, so Lyon's strong play late Tuesday -- even if it did come after the game was all but out of reach -- will give coach Lindy Ruff something to think about heading into Game 3 on Thursday. The 33-year-old Lyon hasn't started a game since April 4 and hasn't won one since March 19, however. He finished the regular season with a 2.77 GAA and .906 save percentage over 36 outings.

Luukkonen gave up four goals on 20 shots before being replaced by Alex Lyon early in the third period Tuesday during the Sabres' 4-2 loss to the Bruins in Game 2 of their first-round series.

After a scoreless first period, things fell apart for Buffalo in the second, and Luukkonen didn't help matters when he let a bouncing puck get past him for Boston's second goal on a backhand flip from center ice by Morgan Geekie. Lyon was perfect in relief in the final frame, creating a potential goaltending controversy for the Sabres heading into Game 3 on Thursday since Luukkonen has given up seven goals on only 40 shots through the first two games in the series.

Salomonsson (concussion) was reassigned to AHL Manitoba on Wednesday.

Salomonsson was in the concussion protocol, but this move suggests that he's been cleared medically. The 21-year-old had a goal and five points across 32 outings with Winnipeg in 2025-26.

Aspirot pocketed two assists Tuesday during the Bruins' 4-2 win over the Sabres in Game 2 of their first-round series.

The rookie defenseman helped set up Viktor Arvidsson tallies in the second and third periods. Aspirot hadn't produced any points at all in eight April games leading into Tuesday, including a Game 1 loss, but he's been finding other ways to contribute with seven blocked shots and four hits through two games to begin the series.

Pastrnak notched two assists Tuesday, one on the power play, during the Bruins' 4-2 win over the Sabres in Game 2 of their first-round series.

Both helpers came in the second period as Boston took control of the game, as Pastrnak had a hand in tallies by Morgan Geekie and Pavel Zacha. Pastrnak has come flying out of the gates this postseason with a goal and five points in two games, on the heels of his fourth straight regular season with at least 100 points, and the 29-year-old superstar will look to stay locked in as the series shifts to Boston for Game 3 on Thursday.

Mittelstadt picked up two assists Tuesday during the Bruins' 4-2 win over the Sabres in Game 2 of their first-round series.

The 27-year-old had a hand in both of Viktor Arvidsson's tallies on the night early in the second and third periods, as Mittelstadt got some revenge against the team he made his NHL debut with back in 2017-18. Mittelstadt had a sluggish finish to the regular season, managing one goal and two points over his last eight games, but he's still skating in a top-six role for Boston and could provide a spark in the playoffs after recording 15 goals and 42 points in 71 regular-season contests.

Arvidsson scored two goals Tuesday during the Bruins' 4-2 win over the Sabres in Game 2 of their first-round series.

The veteran winger potted the Bruins' first and last goals of the night as the visitors roared out to a 4-0 lead. Arvidsson has carried his late-season momentum into the playoffs, and over his last 12 games he's delivered eight goals and 15 points. He'll look to stay locked in for Game 3 back in Boston on Thursday.

Swayman made 33 saves Tuesday during the Bruins' 4-2 win over the Sabres in Game 2 of their first-round series.

The 27-year-old netminder took a shutout into the third period before Buffalo finally managed a late gasp of offense in the last seven minutes. Swayman has looked good to begin the series, allowing five goals on 72 shots, and over 14 outings since March 14 he's given up more than three goals only once, posting a 2.43 GAA and .919 save percentage over that stretch. Swayman will look to put the Bruins ahead 2-1 when the series shifts to Boston for Game 3 on Thursday.

McDonald was recalled from AHL Lehigh Valley on Wednesday.

McDonald made his NHL debut this year during Philadelphia's regular-season finale, but he was sent back down after the game. However, he'll rejoin the NHL club as one of the Black Aces for the playoffs. He recorded six assists and 92 PIM across 65 appearances with Lehigh Valley this year.