Pionk has missed significant time due to injuries this season and will return to the sidelines on Monday due to an undisclosed ailment. The 30-year-old defenseman is averaging 22:43 time-on-ice and has 12 points (3G / 9A) in 51 games this season. Colin Miller is returning from a knee injury and will draw into the lineup as Pionk's replacement.
Leddy has been a staple in San Jose's lineup for the last month but will take a seat on Monday in Nashville as he is replaced by Luca Cagnoni. Leddy has endured a forgettable first season in San Jose after being waived earlier in the year, he has one goal, seven points and a -9 plus/minus in 32 games played.
Nick Leddy will be a healthy scratch on Monday, allowing Cagnoni to draw into the lineup. The 21-year-old Cagnoni has yet to play a game with the Sharks this season. He made his NHL debut in 2024-25, scoring two assists in six games.
The Sharks have zero margin for error and need heaps of help across the league if they intend on making the postseason, but it begins with Nedeljkovic tending the twine in a must-win game on Monday against the Nashville Predators. The 30-year-old Nedeljkovic struggled in his previous game, allowing five goals on 26 shots (.808 SV%) in a 5-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. That said, he has been the more reliable Sharks goalie lately, helping his team record a point in four of his last five outings (3-1-1). The Sharks enter Monday's contest as +129 road underdogs against an equally desperate Predators team vying to stay in playoff contention.
Turcotte has not played in nearly two weeks and will miss another game on Monday, but could return in one of the Kings' final two regular season games. The 25-year-old forward is averaging 10:50 time-on-ice and has 14 points (3G / 11A) in 62 games this season.
Malott did not play in Los Angeles' previous game due to an undisclosed injury and will miss the final three games of the regular season. The 29-year-old forward is averaging 8:49 time-on-ice and has nine points (3G / 6A) in 58 games this season.
Forsberg has emerged as the Kings' No.1 netminder at a crucial time of year, and comes into Monday's game having won four in a row and stopping 103 of 107 (.963 SV%) shots (.956 SV%) that he's faced. He was sensational in the Kings' previous game, saving all 27 shots he faced for a 1-0 shutout victory over the Edmonton Oilers. The Kings hope to inch closer to a playoff berth on Monday, entering the action as -159 road favourites against a Seattle Kraken team that has followed up a six-game losing streak by winning two straight.
Since John Tortorella took over as the Head Coach of the Golden Knights, he has relied heavily on Carter Hart, with whom he has a strong rapport from their time together with the Philadelphia Flyers. The 27-year-old Hart has repaid Tortorella's trust in him with terrific goaltending, posting a stellar 1.80 GAA and .928 SV% in four games (4-0-0). The Golden Knights enter Monday's contest as -166 home favourites against a Winnipeg Jets team coming off an embarrassing 7-1 loss to the Flyers.
With the Presidents' Trophy already secured by the Colorado Avalanche, Manson will have the night off to rest on Monday against the Edmonton Oilers. The 34-year-old Manson has played all 79 games for Colorado this season, tallying 31 points (5G / 26A).
Makar has been out since March 30th with an upper-body injury but returned to Colorado's practice in a regular jersey on Friday. The two time Norris winning defensemen return is a welcome sign for the league-leading Avalanche, but he will miss at least one more game. Makar is expected to be fully healthy for the playoffs and currently sits at 20-goals and 75 points in 73 games played this season.
Bussi gave up five goals on 21 shots in the Hurricanes’ 6-5 overtime win vs. Boston on Tuesday. Bussi continues to rack up wins despite his poor play. He’s won five straight starts even though he’s posted an ugly 2.99 GAA and .860 SV%. With Carolina resting a bunch of regulars on Monday, Bussi becomes a far less reliable starter against a desperate Philadelphia Flyers team looking to clinch a playoff berth.
Melanson did not play in Seattle's previous game, but he will re-enter the lineup on Monday. The 22-year-old rookie has five pints (2G / 3A) this season in 35 games.
Mangiapane struggled after signing with Edmonton in the offseason and was moved mid-season to Chicago, where the struggles have continued. In 10 games with Chicago, the 29-year-old Mangiapane has two points (1G / 1A).
Knight had a forgetful performance in his most recent outing, allowing a season-high seven goals on 22 shots (.682 SV%) in a 7-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. The 24-year-old goalie is amid his worst stretch of the season, losing seven straight (0-5-2) while posting an ugly 3.92 GAA and .875 SV%. The Blackhawks enter Monday's contest as +174 home underdogs against the Atlantic Division-leading Buffalo Sabres.
One of Winnipeg's top prospects is expected to make his NHL debut in Vegas on Monday as Brayden Yager is expected to draw in Winnipeg's lineup for his first career appearance. The 21-year-old was Pittsburgh's 2023 1st round pick (14th overall) but was acquired in a trade with Pittsburgh for Rutger McGroarty in August on 2024. Yager enjoyed a solid first season with Manitoba (AHL) in 2025-26, with 10 goals, and 30 points in 68 games played.
Hameenaho's first season in New Jersey looks to be over after the 21-year-old winger was assigned to Utica (AHL) on Monday. New Jersey's 2023 2nd round pick (58th overall) has enjoyed a solid first season with New Jersey despite occupying a bottom-six role, with two goals, eight points and 14 PIMs in 33 games played in 2025-26.
The Blues have received stellar goaltending down the stretch from Joel Hofer, but it was unfortunately too late as their playoff hopes came to an end last week. The 25-year-old Hofer saved 31 of 34 shots (.912 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 5-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Since returning from the Olympic break, Hofer has been one of the top goalies in the NHL, posting a stellar 1.90 GAA and .936 SV% in 14 games (10-2-2). The Blues enter Monday's contest as -130 home favourites against a Minnesota Wild team that has lost two straight (0-2-0) and could be inclined to rest some key players with their postseason placement already decided.
Hellebuyck struggled in his previous outing, allowing five goals on 20 shots (.750 SV%) in a 7-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, severely crippling Winnipeg's slim playoff hopes. That said, they will need a win on Monday, along with some luck elsewhere in the league, to stay in the race. The 32-year-old Hellebuyck, the back-to-back reigning Vezina trophy winner, has had a largely disappointing 2025-26 season and hasn't been able to elevate his game at opportune times, including posting an ugly 2.81 GAA and .874 SV% in five games this month (3-2-0). The Jets enter Monday's contest as +150 road underdogs against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Gustavsson Nyberg was signed to an NHL contract last week and will be a game-time decision to make his NHL debut vs. St. Louis due to visa issues. The 22-year-old undrafted Swedish shutdown defensemen was signed after completing his third NCAA campaign with the University of Connecticut (NCAA), picking up 11 points and 26 PIMs in 38 games played.
Kiersted last appeared for the Wild on January 5th but will draw back into the lineup vs. St. Louis on Monday as majority of the regular roster rests. Kiersted is in his fifth NHL season but first with the Minnesota wild and has an assist, four SOG and a -1 plus/minus in four games played.
