NHL Player News

Juulsen pocketed two assists Wednesday during the Flyers' 5-2 win over the Penguins in Game 3 of their first-round series.

Both helpers came in the second period on tallies by Rasmus Ristolainen and Nick Seeler, as the Flyers took the lead for good. Juulsen didn't produce a multi-point performance during the entire regular season, piecing together a career-high 10 points (one goal, nine assists) in 52 contests, and he's unlikely to suddenly become an offensive threat in the playoffs.

Drysdale collected two power-play assists Wednesday during the Flyers' 5-2 win over the Penguins in Game 3 of their first-round series.

The 24-year-old blueliner had a hand in tallies by Trevor Zegras in the second period and Noah Cates in the third. Drysdale has a goal and three points in three games to begin the postseason, more points than he managed in his final nine regular-season contests combined, but his spot at the point on the Flyers' top power-play unit could lead to a surprisingly productive playoff run.

Couturier notched two assists Wednesday during the Flyers' 5-2 win over the Penguins in Game 3 of their first-round series.

The helpers came on second-period tallies by Rasmus Ristolainen and Nick Seeler that put the Flyers in the lead for good. Couturier has three assists through three games to begin the postseason, but the veteran center no longer has a consistent spot on the power play and is coming off a regular season in which he managed just 36 points (12 goals, 24 assists) over 78 games -- his worst total for a campaign in which he played 70-plus games since he was a rookie in 2011-12.

Zegras produced a goal and an assist Wednesday, both on the power play, during the Flyers' 5-2 win over the Penguins in Game 3 of their first-round series.

The 25-year-old center got Philadelphia on the board early in the first period, wiring a one-timer from the faceoff dot past Stuart Skinner, before helping to set up Noah Cates for a third-period tally. Zegras has a goal and three points in three games to begin the playoffs, continuing a surge that saw him deliver four goals and 14 points over his last 14 regular-season contests.

Cates scored a power-play goal and added an even-strength assist Wednesday during the Flyers' 5-2 win over the Penguins in Game 3 of their first-round series.

Both points came in the third period as Philadelphia pulled away. The points were the first of the playoffs for Cates, after the 27-year-old collected a career-high 18 goals and 47 points in 82 games during the regular season. He'll look to keep rolling in Game 4 on Saturday.

Vladar made 28 saves Wednesday during the Flyers' 5-2 win over the Penguins in Game 3 of their first-round series.

Both Pittsburgh goals came on power plays in the first and third periods, as Vladar was a wall at even strength to help propel Philadelphia to the verge of a series sweep. The 28-year-old netminder has a dazzling 1.33 GAA and .947 save percentage to begin his postseason run, and he'll look to finish the job on home ice Saturday in Game 4 and punch the Flyers' tickets to the second round.

Skinner stopped 24 of 28 shots Wednesday during the Penguins' 5-2 loss to the Flyers in Game 3 of their first-round series. Philadelphia's final goal was scored into an empty net.

Pittsburgh took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission, but Skinner let it slip away in a shaky second period that saw him give up three goals on 15 shots. With the Penguins facing elimination in Game 4 on Saturday and Skinner carrying a 3.08 GAA and .873 save percentage while losing the first three games of the series, coach Dan Muse may have to consider switching to Arturs Silovs between the pipes to try and spark a comeback.

Brink notched a power-play assist, three hits and two PIM in Wednesday's 4-3 double-overtime loss to the Stars in Game 3.

Brink was out of the lineup for the series opener, but he's since played in two straight games. He doesn't appear to have the full trust of head coach John Hynes, and that could lead to Brink getting scratched once Mats Zuccarello (upper body) and Yakov Trenin (upper body) are healthy again. Brink produced 30 points, 104 shots on net, 80 hits and a minus-7 rating over 68 regular-season outings between Minnesota and Philadelphia.

McCarron scored a goal and added three hits in Wednesday's 4-3 double-overtime loss to the Stars in Game 3.

McCarron's goal put the Wild ahead 3-2 late in the second period, but they couldn't maintain the lead. This was McCarron's first career playoff goal -- prior to this postseason, he had never recorded a point in nine playoff outings over three different campaigns. The 31-year-old was able to produce 17 points over 79 regular-season contests between the Wild and the Predators, and the Wild traded for him to stabilize their fourth line, so he should see plenty of playing time in that role.

Eriksson Ek scored a goal on four shots, added two PIM and logged two hits in Wednesday's 4-3 double-overtime loss to the Stars in Game 3.

Eriksson Ek has played well to start the postseason, earning three goals, two assists, 13 shots on net and nine hits over three games. The 29-year-old center was limited to 51 points over 70 regular-season outings this year. This is the eighth year he's been in the playoffs -- over the previous seven, he earned 13 points in 32 games.