NHL Player News

Blackwood stopped 28 of 29 shots in Thursday's 3-1 win over the Flames.

Blackwood ended a three-game winless stretch. He nearly had a shutout but was denied that feat when Tyson Gross scored his first NHL goal at 17:08 of the third period. Blackwood still improved to 22-10-1 with a 2.54 GAA and a .901 save percentage over 36 appearances this season. His effort helped the Avalanche secure the Presidents' Trophy, guaranteeing them home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs. With the league's top spot secured, expect Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood to evenly split the Avalanche's last four games of the regular season.

Raddysh scored a goal in Thursday's 2-1 loss to the Canadiens.

Raddysh is tied for third overall in goals (22) from the blue line, and his 70 points are the sixth-best total for that position this season. Raddysh has had a breakout season, but we don't know how he can keep this up in future seasons. Be ready to make an offseason trade in dynasty or keeper formats, especially if he caps this dream season off with a long and successful playoff run. Raddysh's value will never be higher.

Vasilevskiy made 19 saves in a 2-1 loss to Montreal on Thursday.

It was a playoff-style game, and it could be a preview of a Round One match-up come the postseason. Vasilevskiy is no longer in sole possession of the win title for NHL goalies -- Karel Vejmelka of Utah sits in a tie with Vasy with 37 wins. He may get a rest before season's end so he's ready for the playoffs, but the win title probably isn't his biggest worry. Vasilevskiy's overall stats sit no worse than third overall in any big category.

Dobes made 17 saves in a 2-1 win over Tampa Bay on Thursday.

Dobes was super sharp Thursday in a game that both coaches characterized as a playoff-style contest. He has won his last seven games, and he has allowed just 12 goals in that span. Dobes has the Habs in second spot in the Atlantic, two points ahead of the Bolts, and they're two points behind the Sabres.

Slafkovsky scored a goal Thursday in a 2-1 win over the Lightning.

It was his 30th goal of the season, and it stood as the winner. Slafkovsky is the first Slovakian player to score 30 goals in a season since Marian Hossa scored 30 in 2013-14. The power winger has back-to-back two-point games (one goal, three assists) and eight shots in that span.

Caufield scored his 50th goal of the season in a 2-1 win over the Lightning on Thursday.

What a milestone, and the goal was a beauty. Caufield drove down the right side on a rush, took a pass from Nick Suzuki and fired a wrist shot that beat Andrei Vasilevskiy glove side to put the Habs up 1-0 in the second period. He scored at home, with his dad in the stands, and he was given a lengthy standing ovation. Caufield is the seventh player in franchise history to score 50 goals in a season. He's the first since Stephane Richer put up 51 in 1989-90. And he's the first American-born player to score 50 for the Habs.

Rielly scored a goal Thursday in a 5-3 loss to the Islanders.

Rielly has had a tough season, so he'll take this gimme goal -- he fired a pass to the crease that deflected off Matt Barzal's stick and through Ilya Sorokin's legs late in the the third. Rielly started the season reasonably well with 23 points (five goals, 18 assists) in his first 29 games, but he has just six goals and seven assists in 46 games since Dec. 13. Rielly's contract runs through 2029-30, but there's plenty of speculation in Toronto that the last three games of the season will be his last in blue and white. A change of scenery might improve his fantasy value, but it's hard to imagine he'll skate with a player much better than Auston Matthews.

Heiskanen (lower body) is unlikely to play Saturday versus the Rangers, Lia Assimakopoulos of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Heiskanen was unable to finish Thursday's game versus the Wild, and the Stars have no need to rush him back before the playoffs. With Heiskanen out, Thomas Harley is poised for more power-play usage. The Stars have a number of options on the blue line to bring into the lineup.

Cowan scored a power-play goal in Thursday's 5-3 loss to the Islanders.

Cowan has points in four of his last five games (two goals, three assists); both goals and one assist came on the power play. He also has seven shots and five hits. Cowan is auditioning for a top-six role for next season, although he may be best suited for middle-six duty. The Leafs have three games left this season, and Cowan is a solid shot to deliver late season numbers for those who have him rostered.

Sorokin made 13 saves Thursday in a 5-3 win over Toronto.

The win -- his first under new coach Pete DeBoer -- snapped a four-game losing streak. Sorokin is one win from his third 30-win season. He is 29-22-2 with seven shutouts, 2.66 GAA and .908 save percentage. Sorokin is tied with Jet Greaves for 12th overall in save percentage and with Scott Wedgewood and John Gibson in wins. He will need to be near perfect going forward as the Isles attempt a playoff miracle -- with the win, the Isles moved within one point of the Flyers for third place in the Metropolitan Division. There are three games remaining for each team.