Malinski was a surprise scratch alongside Artturi Lehkonen ahead of Game 4 in Minnesota. Josh Manson returned from an upper-body injury in Game 4 to replace Malinski, whose status remains uncertain for Game 5.
Gudas was limited to only 9:40 time-on-ice in Game One against the Utah Mammoth due to an undisclosed injury and has not played since. He was originally listed as a game-time decision for Game One against the Vegas Golden Knights, but has yet to make his series debut, missing his 10th consecutive game. The 35-year-old defenseman also missed significant time in the final weeks of the regular season, and it is unclear if he will be an option for Game Six.
Bowman made his NHL debut this season and had stints of productivity, scoring 26 points (8G / 18A) in 54 games this season. The undrafted 22-year-old forward has yet to play an NHL playoff game. He scored four points (2G / 2A) in six games with the Henderson Silver Knights in the AHL playoffs.
Lauzon was limited to only 13:42 time-on-ice in the Golden Knights' 5-1 Game Six series-clinching victory against the Utah Mammoth due to an upper-body issue. The 29-year-old hard-hitting defenseman has missed the opening four game of the second round against the Anaheim Ducks, and will miss at least one more. Through six games this postseason, Lauzon recorded eight blocks and 14 hits.
Stone did not play in Game Four due to a lower-body injury, and will remain sidelined for Game Five. The Golden Knights lost Game Four and hope they can fare better in Game Five without Stone, who is averaging 19:27 time-on-ice and has seven points (3G / 4A) in nine games this postseason.
With the Sabres entering a pivotal Game Four, down 2-1 to the Montreal Canadiens, they will make some roster adjustments, with Luke Schenn drawing in for Logan Stanley. The 27-year-old Stanley has been a pivotal part of Buffalo's blueline since being acquired at the trade deadline, but he will head to the sidelines for the second time this postseason. He has averaged 13:04 time-on-ice, recording 10 blocks, 10 hits, and 19 penalty minutes in eight games this postseason.
With the Sabres entering a pivotal Game Four, down 2-1 to the Montreal Canadiens, they will make some roster adjustments, with Konsta Helenius drawing in for Sam Carrick. The 34-year-old Carrick made his 2025-26 postseason debut in Buffalo's previous game, returning from a six-week absence due to a left-arm injury.
With the Sabres entering a pivotal Game Four, down 2-1 to the Montreal Canadiens, they will make some roster adjustments, with Luke Schenn drawing in for Logan Stanley. The 36-year-old Schenn has yet to play this postseason and was used sparingly down the stretch in the regular season. In just four games with the Sabres this season, Schenn averaged 12:47 time-on-ice, recording three blocks and 10 hits.
With the Sabres entering a pivotal Game Four, down 2-1 to the Montreal Canadiens, they will make some roster adjustments, with Konsta Helenius drawing in for Sam Carrick. The 20-year-old Helenius, the 14th-overall pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, made his NHL debut this season, scoring four points (1G / 3A) in nine games.
Luukkonen's most recent appearance was in Game Two against the Boston Bruins, when he allowed a weak goal from center ice and was eventually relieved by Alex Lyon, who went on to start the subsequent seven games for the Sabres. That said, with the Sabres in dire straits, down 2-1 to the Montreal Canadiens in a pivotal Game Four, they will return to Luukkonen between the pipes. The Sabres hope to tie the series at 2-2, entering Game Four as +121 road underdogs.
Luukkonen's most recent appearance was in Game Two against the Boston Bruins, when he allowed a weak goal from center ice and was eventually relieved by Alex Lyon, who went on to start the subsequent seven games for the Sabres. That said, with the Sabres in dire straits, down 2-1 to the Montreal Canadiens in a pivotal Game Four, they will likely return to Luukkonen between the pipes. The Sabres hope to tie the series at 2-2, entering Game Four as +121 road underdogs.
Cerrato was a second-round pick, 49th overall, of the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. The 21-year-old forward recently completed his second season with Pennsylvania State University, where he scored 27 points (7G / 20A) in 23 games. Most recently, he was on a professional tryout with the Chicago Wolves (AHL), helping him earn his entry-level contract.
Coyle is coming off an impressive first season in Columbus and has been rewarded with a six-year contract extension. The 33-year-old forward scored 58 points (20G / 38A) in 82 games this season, just two points short of the career-high 60-point campaign he had two years ago.
Blankenburg is presumably a healthy scratch despite Sam Malinski being unavailable due to injury. Josh Manson and Jack Ahcan will both draw into the lineup.
Sam Malinski is unavailable due to an upper-body injury and Nick Blankenburg is a healthy scratch, giving Ahcan the opportunity to draw in. He’ll skate with Josh Manson on the Avs’ third pair.
Manson has not played since suffering an upper-body injury in Game Three of the first round against the Los Aneles Kings, but will return for Game Four against the Minnesota Wild. The 34-year-old defenseman has two assists and 10 hits through three games this postseason.
Kiviranta played the first two games of the postseason for Colorado against the Los Angeles Kings, but has been sidelined since. The 30-year-old Finnish forward averaged 10:22 time-on-ice and scored nine points (3G / 6A) in 51 games during the regular season.
Malinski was a surprise scratch alongside Artturi Lehkonen ahead of Game 4 in Minnesota. Josh Manson will return from an upper-body injury and fill the void in the Avs lineup left by Malinski.
Lehkonen was a surprise scratch alongside Sam Malinski ahead of Game 4 in Minnesota. Joel Kiviranta will return from an undisclosed injury and fill the void in the Avs lineup left by Lehkonen.
