NHL Player News

Kokko posted a 23-save shutout in AHL Coachella Valley's 3-0 win over Ontario in Game 1 on Wednesday.

Kokko went 19-10-2 with a 3.13 GAA and a .901 save percentage over 35 regular-season games. He's allowed 12 goals over four playoff outings, but he's come away with three wins after shutting out the Reign in the first round of the Pacific Division semifinals. Kokko will likely see steady usage for the rest of the Firebirds' postseason run.

Gourde posted an assist in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Canadiens in Game 5.

Gourde hadn't found the scoresheet since he picked up an assist in a regular-season matchup against Pittsburgh on April 2. He contributed his first point of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs by getting the secondary helper on Dominic James' tally in the second period. The 34-year-old Gourde has maintained his place as a defensive forward in the middle six, but the lack of depth scoring has hurt a Lightning team that is on the brink of elimination. Gourde had 28 points over 82 regular-season contests, and prior to this playoff run, he earned 43 points across 88 postseason outings.

Vasilevskiy made 21 saves Wednesday in a 3-2 loss to Montreal in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference First Round.

Vasilevskiy had another shaky postseason performance, this time on the day he was named a Vezina Trophy finalist. He's a six-time nominee for the award and one-time winner (2018-19). However, Vasilevskiy has struggled in the postseason since 2023. He's now 6-15 with a 3.20 GAA and .881 save percentage in his last 21 playoff starts. Still, he will likely return to the crease in a must-win Game 6 matchup in Montreal on Friday.

Guentzel scored a goal in a 3-2 loss to Montreal on Wednesday in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference First Round.

Guentzel has done his part this postseason. He's on a five-game, eight-point scoring streak that includes two goals and six assists. He also has 14 shots on net during that span. Guentzel leads Tampa Bay in playoff point production, but the team is one loss from elimination.

James scored a goal Wednesday in a 3-2 loss to the Canadiens in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference First Round.

It was James' first career NHL playoff goal. He tied the game 1-1 early in the second period on a 2-on-1 rush. He wired a snap shot under Jakub Dobes' glove from the right circle. James is skating in a third-line role in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, adding five shots on net, seven hits and three blocked shots through five outings. He delivered seven goals, eight assists, 56 shots, 58 hits and 139 faceoff wins (50.4 percent) in 43 regular-season games.

Dach scored a goal in Wednesday's 3-2 win against Tampa Bay in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference First Round.

He also had three hits and two blocks. He has two goals on four shots and one assist in his last three outings. Injuries during the 2025-26 regular season limited him to 37 appearances, in which he contributed eight goals and 15 points. However, he is making an impact during Montreal's first-round playoff series against the Lightning.

Texier scored the game-winning goal in Wednesday's 3-2 victory against Tampa Bay in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference First Round.

Texier, who is on a surprising three-game, four-point scoring streak, took a stretch pass, skated to the left circle and ripped a wrist shot that deflected off Andrei Vasilevskiy's glove and into the net. It came just 1:06 into the third frame. Texier had a combined 21 points (eight goals, 13 assists) in 51 regular-season games between St. Louis and Montreal this year. He has two goals, two assists, three shots and a plus-6 rating on his current streak.

Dobes made 38 saves in a 3-2 win against Tampa Bay on Wednesday in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference First Round.

Once again, Dobes came up large when needed, and he has the Habs one win away from clinching the series. He's 3-2 with a 2.49 GAA and .903 save percentage this postseason. Dobes has been remarkable against the high-powered Bolts, considering his last postseason work came in the USHL playoffs in 2021 when he was with the Omaha Lancers.

Gallagher scored a goal in a 3-2 win against the Lightning on Wednesday in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference First Round.

After being a healthy scratch for the first four games of the series, Gallagher made an immediate impact. He opened the scoring at the 3:00 mark of the first period. He logged just 6:48 of ice time and delivered three hits. Gallagher played once in the team's final five outings of the regular season. Still, he might have earned himself another look, even if his role remains reduced.

Hayton (upper body) is in the lineup for Wednesday's Game 5 versus the Golden Knights, per the NHL media site.

After initially being ruled out for the contest, Hayton was a surprising late addition to the lineup. The 25-year-old is slated to be on the third line for the Mammoth, while Liam O'Brien will be scratched. This will be Hayton's first game since March 24 versus the Oilers, when he logged just one 17-second shift.