NHL Player News

Andersen made 21 saves in a 2-1 win over Ottawa in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference First Round on Thursday.

Andersen was tested, but Ottawa wasn't particularly effective in crucial situations. The Senators went 0-for-5 on the power play, putting up just four shots, which included a 5-on-3 opportunity for 1:28 in the second period. Andersen is 3-0 with a sparkling 0.84 GAA and .964 save percentage in three starts this postseason. The Hurricanes can move to the next round with a victory in Game 4 on Saturday.

Blake scored a goal in Thursday's 2-1 win over the Senators in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference First Round.

The goal stood as the game-winner. Blake took a cross-ice feed from K'Andre Miller and sent a wrister past a sprawling Linus Ullmark late in the second period. Blake has at least a point in each of the Hurricanes' three playoff games and four points (one goal, three assists) overall. Blake and linemates Logan Stankoven and Taylor Hall have led the team every game, and Carolina can advance to the next round with a Game 4 win Saturday.

Manson is being evaluated for an upper-body injury he sustained in Game 3 versus the Kings on Thursday, Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette reports.

Manson was initially injured in the first period, though he returned briefly in the second before retreating to the locker room for a second time. The 34-year-old hasn't been ruled out for the rest of Game 3, but it doesn't seem likely he'll be pushed back into action. If he's still not feeling 100 percent ahead of Sunday's Game 4, Nick Blankenburg will probably take Manson's place in the lineup.

Stankoven scored a goal in a 2-1 win over Ottawa in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference First Round on Thursday.

Stankoven became the first player in franchise history to open the scoring in three straight Stanley Cup Playoff games. He went bar down over the blocker of Linus Ullmark early in the first to stake the Hurricanes to a 1-0 lead. Stankoven (three goals, one assist) and linemates Taylor Hall (one goal, four assists) and Jackson Blake (one goal, three assists) have accounted for almost all of the team's offense. The Hurricanes lead the series 3-0 and can move to the next round with a victory Saturday.

Sanderson won't return to Game 3 versus the Hurricanes.

Sanderson was injured in the second period, though a couple of incidents could have led to his departure. The team didn't provide an update when declaring him out for the game, but Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia reports Sanderson's injury stems from a hit to the head. If Sanderson misses any time, the Senators will likely have a tall task in getting through the first round. His status for Saturday's Game 4 has yet to be determined.

Wedgewood is expected to start on the road against Los Angeles in Game 3 on Thursday, per Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site.

Wedgewood has led the Avalanche to a 2-0 series lead by stopping 48 of 50 shots (.960 save percentage) against the Kings in the first round. He also won his final four regular-season appearances, turning aside 87 of 89 shots (.978 save percentage) over that stretch. The series has shifted to Los Angeles, but that might not help the Kings much. Los Angeles was 15-17-9 while averaging just 2.59 goals per game at home during the regular season.

Forsberg will guard the home goal in Game 3 versus the Avalanche on Thursday, Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site reports.

Forsberg has held the Avalanche to four goals on 68 shots (.941 save percentage) over the first two games of this postseason, but he doesn't have a win to show for his efforts. He'll try to maintain his strong play as the series shifts to Los Angeles for this game and the next one. As long as Forsberg maintains his strong play, he should continue to get the starts in goal.

Zub (undisclosed) is slated to miss Game 3 against Carolina on Thursday, per Graeme Nichols of The Hockey News.

Zub also missed Game 2 against the Hurricanes on Monday. He had five goals and 30 points in 81 appearances with Ottawa during the 2025-26 regular season. Cameron Crotty is set to draw into the lineup, while Lassi Thomson is projected to be a healthy scratch after participating in Game 2. If Zub was available, then Thomson likely wouldn't have played Monday, and Crotty would probably be scratched Thursday.

Ullmark will guard the home goal versus the Hurricanes on Thursday in Game 3, Graeme Nichols of The Hockey News reports.

Ullmark has allowed five goals on 78 shots (.936 save percentage) over the first two games of the series. The Senators will stick with him in a critical Game 3, with the hopes that home ice will help Ottawa turn things around.

Henrique (lower body) won't travel with the Oilers to Anaheim, per Ryan Rishaug of TSN, which rules him out for Game 3 on Friday and Game 4 on Sunday.

Henrique logged just 2:56 of ice time in Game 1 of Edmonton's first-round series against the Ducks because of the injury, and he didn't participate in Game 2. He had three goals and 15 points in 65 regular-season outings in 2025-26.