NHL Hockey Player News

The Lightning will of course stick with their franchise netminder between the pipes for the fourth game of their opening round series against the Panthers. Vasilevskiy was phenomenal in Tampa Bay's 5-1 victory in Game 3, allowing just a single goal on 34 shots. The former Vezina Trophy winner has rebounded nicely after a rocky performance in Game 1, posting a .964 SV% across the last two games. The Lightning enter action on Monday at +140 on the money line.

Vilardi has not played since late March but will likely make his 2024-25 postseason debut on Wednesday in Game 5 against the St. Louis Blues. The Jets have lost two straight, evening their series at 2-2, and will rely on Vilardi to provide some much-needed offense. The 25-year-old Vilardi was having a tremendous season for the Jets before his injury, scoring 61 points (27G / 34A) in 71 games.

Blackwood was lightly tested in Saturday's 4-0 Game 4 victory, evening Colorado's series with the Dallas Stars 2-2, saving all 23 shots he faced for his first career playoff shutout. The 28-year-old netminder has a stellar 1.60 GAA and .939 SV% through four games (2-2) this postseason. Colorado enters a pivotal Game 5 as -139 road favorites against a Dallas team that, despite winning two games, has amazingly only had the lead in this series for 62 seconds.

After a 19-save shutout in Game 2, giving the Panthers a 2-0 series lead, Bobrovsky allowed four goals on 21 shots (.810 SV%) in Saturday's 5-1 game loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, narrowing their series lead to 2-1. The 36-year-old Bobrovsky had a solid 2024-25 campaign, posting a 2.44 GAA and .905 SV% in 54 games (33-19-2). He will return to the crease for Game 4 on Monday. Florida enters the contest as -142 home favorites against Tampa Bay.

Carrier was limited to only 13:39 time-on-ice in Sunday's 5-2 Game 4 loss to the Washington Capitals, exiting the contest due to an undisclosed injury. The 28-year-old defenseman had two points (1G / 1A) and was averaging 22:00 time-on-ice in the three games before his injury.

Protas has not played since suffering a foot injury on April 4th but could make his 2024-25 postseason debut in Game 5 after being a game-time decision the past three contests. The 24-year-old Protas had 66 points (30G / 36A) in 76 games this season.

Buium was Minnesota's 12th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and made his NHL debut in this postseason, often quarterbacking the top powerplay unit, scoring one point (0G / 1A) in 4 games. He will head to the sidelines as a healthy scratch, being replaced by Jon Merrill.

Zeev Buium will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday for Game 5, allowing Merrill to draw into the lineup for his first game in the 2024-25 postseason. The 33-year-old Merrill averaged 14:06 time-on-ice and had six points (2G / 4A) in 70 games this season.

Heiskanen has ramped up intensity at practice, seeing some contact, but will remain out of the lineup for Game 5 on Monday. The Stars struggled defensively in Game 4, losing 4-0, and would greatly benefit from Heiskanen playing. Given the desperation Dallas faces in Game 5, it poses concerns about when Heiskanen may be ready to return.

To some surprise, Oettinger exited Game 4 in the second intermission with his team down 3-0 despite a solid effort, saving 31 of 34 shots (.912 SV%). Head coach Pete DeBoer confirmed he did not suffer an injury and was resting Oettinger to prepare for Game 5 on Monday. The 26-year-old Oettinger has been solid in the 2024-25 postseason, posting a 2.72 GAA and .911 SV% in four outings (2-2). Dallas enters Game 5 on Monday as +125 home underdogs against a Colorado Avalanche team that dominated Game 4 with a 4-0 victory.

Oskar Back (undisclosed) will draw back into the Stars' lineup for Game 5, sending Bourque back to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 23-year-old Bourque had 25 points (11G / 14A) playing 73 games in his rookie season this year but will be a healthy scratch for the third time in five games with start the postseason.

Back has battled an undisclosed ailment the past few games, exiting Game 2 and 3 for short periods of time, and not playing in Game 4. However, he will return to the lineup in Game 5, replacing Mavrik Bourque. The 25-year-old Back is making his postseason debut this year and has one point (0G / 1A) in three games.

Woll has not played yet in the postseason and was absent from practice on Monday due to an illness. Stolarz has been solid in the postseason, posting a 2.29 GAA and .902 SV% through four games (3-1) and appears to be in control of the Maple Leafs' crease.

Johansson suffered an injury late in Game 3 and did not play in Game 4, but was back at practice on Monday, indicating he could return to the lineup for Game 5. The 34-year-old Johansson has one point (0G / 1A) through three playoff games.

Hagel did not play in Game 3, serving a suspension for an illegal hit on Florida's Aleksander Barkov, but will return to the lineup for Game 4. The 26-year-old Hagel had a career-best season, scoring 90 points (35G / 55A) in 82 games, but has a -4 plus/minus and zero points through two postseason games.

Tavares was absent from overtime in Game 4 but appears to be fine and ready to return for Game 5. After an excellent 2024-25 season, scoring 74 points (38G / 36A) in 75 games, the 34-year-old Tavares is off to a hot start in the playoffs, with five points (3G / 2A) in four games.

Mackie Samoskevich will be a healthy scratch for Game 4 on Monday, allowing Greer to enter Florida's lineup for his first career playoff game. The 28-year-old Greer recorded 17 points (6G / 11A), 130 penalty minutes, and 222 hits in 81 games this season.

A.J. Greer will draw into Florida's lineup for Game 4 on Monday, sending Samoskevich to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. Samoskevich was excellent towards the enter of the season for Florida, scoring 15 points (8G / 7A) in his final 25 games. He has one point (0G / 1A) in three playoff games this postseason.

A first-round playoff return for Jason Robertson seems unlikely as his team prepares for Game 5 on Monday night and he has only just returned to skating. Robertson was injured in the final game of the season, and remains out of the lineup, week-to-week. The 25-year-old forward had 80 points (35G / 45A) in 82 games this season.