NHL Player News

Benson scored a shorthanded goal and added an even-strength assist in Wednesday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Stars.

It was the first career shortie for Benson, who wraps up the regular season with a career-high 13 goals and 43 points in just 65 games, along with a stunning plus-27 rating after he managed a total of minus-5 over his first two NHL campaigns. The 20-year-old winger will fill a middle-six role for the Sabres in the playoffs.

Bjarnason was summoned from AHL Lehigh Valley on Thursday.

Bjarnason was selected in the second round, 51st overall, in 2023, and spent the 2025-26 campaign at Lehigh Valley. He posted a 14-11-4 record with a 3.43 GAA and an .877 save percentage across 32 regular-season games. Bjarnason will likely remain with the Flyers throughout their playoff run as a practice goaltender, as the Phantoms' AHL campaign is over.

Ellis turned aside 25 shots in regulation and overtime but only one of four shootout attempts in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to Dallas.

The Stars had Ellis' number in the shootout, with Jason Robertson and Wyatt Johnson both beating the netminder to his glove side. Ellis wraps up the regular season with an 8-4-2 record over 16 outings with a 2.90 GAA and .903 save percentage, and he'll back up Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to begin the playoffs until Alex Lyon (lower body) is healthy.

Dewar (lower body) practiced in a regular jersey Thursday, Michelle Crechiolo of the Penguins' official site reports.

Dewar was previously deemed week-to-week but seems to be trending in the right direction ahead of the postseason. The 26-year-old center has missed the Penguins' prior four contests due to his lower-body issue. The Manitoba native is currently mired in a 15-game goal drought during which he's notched five assists, 21 hits and 11 shots. If given the all-clear, Dewar should reclaim a spot on the fourth line.

Lizotte (upper body) took the ice for Thursday's practice in a regular sweater, Michelle Crechiolo of the Penguins' official site reports.

Lizotte has been sidelined since March 14 against the Mammoth due to his upper-body issue, a stretch of 16 games on the shelf. When healthy, the 28-year-old Minnesota native logged seven goals and 12 assists in 55 regular-season contests. If given the all-clear for Game 1 of the postseason, Lizotte could step into the lineup in favor of Elmer Soderblom.

Bourque scored a goal in Wednesday's 4-3 shootout win over Buffalo.

That's four goals in the last two games and seven in the last 12 for Bourque, with the late surge securing his first career 20-goal campaign. The 24-year-old heads into the postseason handling a top-six role for the Stars at even strength, but a lack of consistent power-play time still limits his appeal for playoff pools.

Lindell scored a power-play goal and added an even-strength assist in Wednesday's 4-3 shootout win over the Sabres.

The veteran blueliner scored his first power-play goal of the season in the final game, giving Lindell a bit of momentum heading into the playoffs. He's gotten onto the scoresheet in just three of the last 15 contests, but Wednesday's effort did bring him up to 32 points (six goals, 26 helpers) through 82 games on the campaign, tying his career high.

Stolarz suffered a groin strain when he was hurt April 8 versus Washington, Luke Fox of Sportsnet reports.

Stolarz missed the final four games of the season with the injury. He said Thursday that he will hit the rehab process hard once he is able to work out and that no surgery is necessary. Stolarz struggled all season, posting a 10-10-3 record with a 3.28 GAA and an .893 save percentage across 26 regular-season appearances in 2025-26, a far cry from 2024-25, when he led the NHL with a .926 save percentage and was third in GAA at 2.14. Stolarz should be in fine form at the start of training camp in September, barring any major setbacks.

Hryckowian produced an even-strength goal and added a power-play assist in Wednesday's 4-3 shootout win over Buffalo.

It's the first multi-point performance since March 6 for Hryckowian. The 25-year-old rookie wraps up the regular season with 14 goals and 30 points in 81 games, adding 119 hits and 43 PIM, and he'll head into the playoffs filling a physical bottom-six role for the Stars.

Oettinger stopped 21 shots in regulation and overtime and two of four shootout attempts in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Sabres.

The 27-year-old netminder heads into the playoffs with plenty of momentum, having reeled off five straight wins to close out the regular season, including two shutouts, with a 1.94 GAA and .916 save percentage. Oettinger's surge carried him to 35 wins on the campaign, the fourth straight season he's reached that mark,