NHL Player News

Nikishin (concussion) appears poised to be a game-time decision against Philadelphia on Saturday in Game 1, Walt Ruff of the Hurricanes' official site reports.

Nikishin still has one more test to take before clearing concussion protocol, and the Hurricanes will determine his playing status closer to pregame warmups. He hasn't earned a point in four playoff appearances, collecting two shots on goal, five blocked shots and six hits. The 24-year-old rookie registered 11 goals and 22 assists in 81 games during the 2025-26 regular season.

Ehlers (lower body) is expected to be in the lineup for Game 1 against Philadelphia on Saturday, Ryan Henkel of The Hockey News reports.

Ehlers sat out last Saturday's series-clinching 4-2 win over Ottawa, but he will be available for the start of the second round of the postseason. He has supplied one assist, seven shots on goal, four blocked shots and four hits over three appearances during the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Ehlers will probably skate on the third line and work on the top power-play unit in Saturday's Game 1 matchup. During the 2025-26 regular season, he earned two goals and three points in four outings against the Flyers.

Pastrnak scored a goal in Friday's 4-1 loss to the Sabres in Game 6 of the first-round series.

The Bruins couldn't extend the series to a decisive Game 7, but Pastrnak was active on the scoresheet. He scored two of the team's three goals in the final two games of the series and finished the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs as the Bruins' leader in goals (three), assists (four), points (seven) and shots on goal (22). Pastrnak also notched 100 points (29 goals, 71 helpers) in 77 regular-season contests.

Samuelsson scored a goal in Friday's 4-1 win over the Bruins in Game 6 of the first-round series.

Samuelsson isn't known for being a scoring-first defenseman, but he found the back of the net twice in Buffalo's first-round series against Boston. He also added 19 hits and eight blocked shots. He hasn't been as productive offensively as he was in the 2025-26 regular season, but he could take on more of a defensive-minded role in the second round of the playoffs against Tampa Bay or Montreal.

Tuch had a goal, two shots on net, two hits and two blocked shots in Friday's 4-1 win over the Bruins in Game 6 of the first-round series.

Tuch has been the Sabres' most consistent producer in the playoffs so far, recording at least one point in five of the six games against Boston. He notched seven points (four goals, three assists), a plus-8 rating, 20 shots on net, 21 hits and nine blocked shots in Buffalo's first-round series victory. He remains an excellent option for fantasy managers due to his scoring upside and category coverage.

Benson scored a goal and added an assist in Friday's 4-1 win over the Bruins in Game 6 of the first-round series.

Benson didn't have a point in three contests to begin the 2026 postseason, but he has turned things around with two goals and one assist in his last three appearances. The 20-year-old had a career year offensively in the 2025-26 regular season, collecting 13 goals and 43 points in 65 outings. Benson has proven to be a capable depth scorer for the Sabres, and that should continue during the team's playoff run.

Swayman stopped 22 of 25 shots in Friday's 4-1 loss to the Bruins in Game 6 of their first-round series. The fourth goal was an empty-netter at the 16:40 mark of the third period.

Swayman kept the Bruins' season alive with an OT win in Game 5 on Tuesday. However, the Sabres got to him early in Friday's loss, scoring twice in the first period. Boston also didn't provide him with nearly enough support. Swayman ends the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 2-4 record, a 2.48 GAA and a .916 save percentage.

Dobes stopped 32 shots Friday during the Canadiens' 1-0 overtime loss to the Lightning in Game 6 of their first-round series.

The 24-year-old was locked in a spectacular goaltending duel with Vezina Trophy finalist Andrei Vasilevskiy in regulation. However, Dobes couldn't get in front of Gage Goncalves' second-chance opportunity midway through the first extra frame. Dobes has yet to allow more than three goals in a playoff start, posting a sparkling 2.19 GAA and .916 save percentage heading into a winner-take-all Game 7 on Sunday.

Lyon stopped 25 of 26 shots in Friday's 4-1 win over the Bruins in Game 6 of their first-round series.

David Pastrnak beat Lyon in the early stages of the second period, but that would be all the offense the Bruins would muster. Lyon posted excellent numbers in Buffalo's first-round series win over Boston, going 3-1-0 with a 1.21 GAA and an excellent .952 save percentage. He will probably remain the Sabres' No. 1 option for the start of the second round.

Goncalves scored the overtime winner Friday in the Lightning's 1-0 victory over the Canadiens in Game 6 of their first-round series.

The 25-year-old winger scored the greasiest of goals midway through the first extra period, camping out in front of Jakub Dobes and banging home his own rebound after Dominic James shoveled the puck into the crease. It was Goncalves' first goal and second point of the postseason, and the bottom-six grinder's heroics kept the Lightning's campaign alive and forced a Game 7 on Sunday.