Demko has not played since Game 1 vs. Nashville of Vancouver's opening-round series but has "improved immensely" and is expected back shortly. The 28-year-old's return will be a warm welcome after he led Vancouver all season with his 35-14-2 record, 2.45 GAA and .918 SV%.
Colorado is expected to announce the plan with Yakov Trenin ahead of Game 6 on Friday after their fourth-line forward left Game 5 due to an undisclosed injury after just 2:16 TOI. The 27-year-old was acquired at the trade deadline and has locked down his fourth line centre roll well with a goal, eight SOG and four PIMs in 10 games played in the playoffs.
Tsyplakov just finished his seventh season with Spartak Moskva (KHL) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the New York Islanders with an AAV of $950,000. The 25-year-old undrafted free agent was a hot ticket on the free agent market this off-season after scoring 31 goals and 47 points in 65 games played with Spartak in 2023-24.
Chaffee was expected to be an unrestricted free agent come summer but has been re-signed by Tampa Bay for a two-year, $1.6 million ($800,000 AAV) contract extension on Thursday. The 26-year-old made his NHL debut in 2021-22 but played 30 of his 32 career games this season with Tampa Bay, picking up seven points (4G/3A) in 30 games played in 2023-24.
Pickard excelled in his first career playoff start in Game 4 as he stopped 19 of 21 shots against (.905 SV%) and will start Game 5 in Vancouver after locking down the starter's net at morning skate. The 32-year-old appeared in his most games played (23) since 2016-17 in the regular season and had a solid 12-7-1 record, 2.45 GAA and .909 SV% while backing up Stuart Skinner all year. He will look to take a series lead on Thursday as Edmonton heads to Vancouver for Game 5.
Pickard excelled in his first career playoff start in Game 4 as he stopped 19 of 21 shots against (.905 SV%) and is expected to start Game 5 in Vancouver after locking down the starter's net at morning skate. The 32-year-old appeared in his most games played (23) since 2016-17 in the regular season and had a solid 12-7-1 record, 2.45 GAA and .909 SV% while backing up Stuart Skinner all year. He will look to take a series lead on Thursday as Edmonton heads to Vancouver for Game 5.
Podkolzin appeared in 19 games during the regular season and had just two assists but is expected to make his playoff debut in Game 5 as he replaces Sam Lafferty. The 22-year-old right-winger has 35 points (18G/17A) in 137 career games played before making his playoff debut in Game 5.
Lafferty has been held scoreless through the first 10 games of the playoffs and is expected to be replaced by Vasily Podkolzin in Vancouver's lineup for Game 5 vs. Edmonton. The 29-year-old Lafferty was a mainstay in Vancouver's lineup during the regular season, with 13 goals and 24 points in 79 games played.
Silovs allowed three goals on 30 shots (.900 SV%) as Vancouver dropped Game 4 late in Edmonton last time out but is expected to start Game 5 after being the first goalie off the ice. The 23-year-old rookie netminder opened the playoffs as Vancouver's third goalie but has done well locking down the crease for seven games so far with his 4-3-0 record, 2.71 GAA and .907 SV%. He will host the Edmonton Oilers for Game 5 on Thursday, who will be looking to keep the momentum going and break the series tie after winning Game 4 in the final moments.
Hoglander has been a healthy scratch for Vancouver's previous two games but is expected to draw back into the lineup for Ilya Mikheyev on Thursday for Game 5. The 23-year-old has vastly underperformed in the playoffs after scoring 24 goals in the regular season, with one assist, four SOG, two PIMs and a -2 plus/minus in eight games played.
Mikheyev has been held pointless through 10 playoff games and is out on Thursday for Game 5 due to an undisclosed injury as he is replaced by Nils Hoglander. The 29-year-old had 11 goals and 31 points in 78 regular season games but has been snake-bitten with 11 SOG through 10 playoff games.
Juulsen appears to be a healthy scratch for Game 5 as Carson Soucy returns from a one-game suspension. The 27-year-old has appeared in two playoff games prior to his scratch on Thursday, with zero points, four PIMs and one SOG while averaging only 12:54 TOI/GP.
Soucy was suspended one game for a late cross-check on Edmonton's Connor McDavid and will return to Vancouver's lineup for Game 5 vs. Edmonton after serving his suspension. The 29-year-old will replace Noah Juulsen in the Canucks' second defensive pairing. He has four assists, six PIMs and a +3 in nine playoff games so far this year.
Di Giuseppe has been a healthy scratch for Vancouver's previous two games but is expected to draw back into the lineup for Game 5 as he replaces Linus Karlsson. The 30-year-old has struggled through his eight games played so far in the playoffs, with one assist, two SOG, and two PIMs while averaging 10:11 TOI/GP.
Karlsson dressed in the Canucks' previous two playoff games but is expected to be a healthy scratch for Game 5 on Thursday vs. Edmonton as he is replaced by Phil Di Giuseppe. The 24-year-old averaged only 9:54 TOI in his two playoff games played and failed to pick up a point with two PIMs.
Pesce was a full participant in Wednesday's practice and Thursday's morning skate but skated as an "extra," and is not yet ready for game action as he will sit out Game 6 on Thursday. The 29-year-old has only been able to compete in two playoff games so far this year and has an assist, one SOG, two PIMs and a +1 plus/minus.
Marchand has missed Boston's previous two games due to an upper-body injury and has a high chance to suit up for Game 6 on Friday after being a full participant in practice on Thursday. The 36-year-old Bruins' captain has led by example in this year's playoffs, with three goals, 10 points, 19 SOG and 16 PIMs in 10 games played before his injury.
Shesterkin allowed three goals on 27 shots against (.889 SV%) as he dropped his second straight game in Game 5 but is expected to take the crease again as New York looks to close out Carolina in Game 6 on Thursday. The 28-year-old 2022 Vezina Trophy winner has been sensational in the postseason so far, with his 7-2-0 record, 2.33 GAA and .924 SV% through nine starts. He will head to Raleigh to attempt to finish off the Carolina Hurricanes, who have gotten seven goals passed him in the last two games.
Rittich excelled in his first season in Los Angeles, finishing with his most wins (13) since 2019-20 and career highs in both SV% (.921 SV%) and GAA (2.15) and has signed a one-year, $1 million contract extension with Los Angeles. The 31-year-old is entering his ninth NHL season and has a career record of 92-57-24, 2.78 GAA and .906 SV% with five separate franchises.
Andersen stopped 21 of 22 shots (.952 SV%) as he held Carolina off from elimination for a second-straight victory in Game 5 and is unsurprisingly expected to start Game 6 on Thursday. The 34-year-old has had an up-and-down playoff after being nearly unbeatable in his 16 regular season appearances with his 6-3-0 record, 2.46 GAA and .902 SV% in 9 starts so far. He will attempt to fend off New York for a third-straight elimination game as Carolin hosts the Rangers for Game 6 in Raleigh on Thursday.
