NHL Player News

Ristolainen scored a goal in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Penguins in Game 3.

Ristolainen has earned three points, five shots on net, seven hits, three blocked shots and 14 PIM over his first three career playoff games. He was limited to 14 points, 58 shots on net, 48 hits, 63 blocks and a plus-10 rating in 44 regular-season appearances. Ristolainen is filling a shutdown role in the Flyers' top four.

Tippett scored an empty-net goal and doled out 11 hits in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Penguins in Game 3.

Tippett has two points, five shots, 20 hits and a plus-3 rating over three games to open the playoffs. The 27-year-old winger is filling a middle-six role, and he's showing more physicality even after a career-high 166 hits in the regular season. He also produced 28 goals, 51 points, 220 shots on net and 50 blocked shots over 81 regular-season outings. This is his second time in the postseason -- he logged four points over six games with the Panthers in 2021 in his only other playoff run.

Swayman will patrol the home crease versus Buffalo in Game 3 on Thursday.

Swayman played quite well in Buffalo, allowing five goals on 72 shots (.931 save percentage) as Boston split the first two games of the series. Swayman was 31-18-4 with a 2.71 GAA and a .907 save percentage across 55 regular-season appearances in 2025-26. The Sabres were fifth in NHL scoring during the regular season, generating 3.44 goals per game.

Hintz (lower body), who has been ruled out for Saturday's Game 4 against the Wild, resumed skating Wednesday, Mark Lazerus of The Athletic reports.

Head coach Glen Gulutzan said Thursday that Hintz is also highly doubtful for Tuesday's Game 5, but it at least appears as though the 29-year-old is trending in the right direction. The Stars want him to be able to skate with the whole team before he's in the mix to return, and it's not yet clear when that could occur.

Ostlund (upper body) will return to action for Thursday's Game 3 against Boston, Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News reports.

Ostlund missed the Sabres' final 10 regular-season games and first two postseason matchups, but he was trending in the right direction recently and will officially get the green light to return to action Thursday. Josh Norris (undisclosed) will be unavailable Thursday, so Ostlund centered the third line during morning skate and was part of the second power-play unit. Across 60 regular-season appearances this year, Ostlund recorded 11 goals, 16 assists, 30 blocked shots and 14 PIM while averaging 13:58 of ice time.

Norris (undisclosed) will not play in Boston for Game 3 on Thursday, Conor Ryan of The Boston Globe reports.

Head coach Lindy Ruff would not divulge the reason for Norris' absence, but ruled out an illness. Norris had a six-game point streak to end the regular season, but he was held off the scoresheet in the opening two games of the series. Noah Ostlund (upper body) will replace Norris in the lineup Thursday. Norris could return to action as early as Sunday for Game 4 in Boston.

Andersen is expected to defend the road cage in Ottawa on Thursday, Walt Ruff of the Hurricanes' official site reports.

Andersen has been sharp in the first two games of the playoffs, allowing two goals on 61 shots (.967 save percentage) in a pair of wins over Ottawa. The netminder is on a four-game winning streak dating back to the regular season and has taken over the No. 1 job in Carolina from rookie Brandon Bussi. The Senators were eighth in NHL scoring during the regular season, generating 3.35 goals per game, a far cry from the 1.00 goals per game they've generated to begin the playoffs.

Kleven (upper body) is healthy enough to return to action in Game 3 versus Carolina on Thursday, Joshua Clipperton of the Canadian Press reports.

Kleven practiced on the fourth unit, alongside Cameron Crotty, so Kleven could be a healthy scratch. The blueliner had three goals, 15 assists, 90 shots on goal, 126 hits and 94 blocked shots over 70 regular-season games in 2025-26.

Meneghin was recalled from AHL Syracuse on Thursday.

Meneghin saw action in 14 ECHL regular-season games in 2025-26, posting a 4-9-0 record with a 3.26 GAA and an .889 save percentage. The first-year rookie also played in one game with Syracuse, allowing two goals on four shots in the season finale Friday. The Lightning sent goaltender Brandon Halverson to Syracuse in a corresponding move.

Halverson was reassigned to AHL Syracuse on Thursday.

Halverson was called up by the Lightning on Sunday to provide additional depth for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He didn't appear in either of the team's first two postseason matchups, and he'll head back to the AHL ahead of the Calder Cup Playoffs. Harrison Meneghin was called up Thursday in a corresponding move to replace Halverson on Tampa Bay's roster.