NHL Hockey Player News

Brown did not take part in Friday's morning skate but he'll remain in the lineup for Game 2 in Dallas. Brown played 13:48 TOI after being a game-time decision in Game 1.

Reinhart was forced to leave Game 2 vs. Carolina after just eight shifts and 5:37 TOI due to a lower-body injury and was not able to return. If the 29-year-old is forced to miss some time, it will be a massive loss for Florida, as the top-line forward had four goals and 11 points in 14 games played so far in the playoffs before the injury.

Jankowski will make his first appearance since Game 1 of Carolina's second round matchup with the Capitals. Jesperi Kotkaniemi will sit in his place.

Kotkaniemi will take a seat on Thursday as Mark Jankowski returns from an undisclosed injury. Scott Morrow will also draw out in favour of Jalen Chatfield (lower-body).

For the first time this postseason, the Hurricanes are trailing a series, down 1-0 to the Florida Panthers, and will hope to rebound on Thursday in Game 2. Before Game 1, Andersen had a stellar 1.36 GAA and .937 SV% in nine games (7-2). He allowed five goals on 20 shots (.750 SV%) in Tuesday's 5-2 Game 1 loss. Still, the Hurricanes enter a crucial contest on Thursday as -136 home favorites against the Panthers.

Bobrovsky was stellar in Game 1 for the Panthers, saving 31 of 33 shots (.939 SV%) in a 5-2 win over the Hurricanes. The 36-year-old netminder has allowed two or fewer goals in five straight outings (4-1), posting an excellent .952 SV%. He has a 2.29 GAA and .905 SV% in 13 games this postseason (9-4). The Panthers enter Game 2 on Thursday as +123 road underdogs against the Hurricanes.

Ekholm last played on April 11th due to an undisclosed injury, but has been a full participant at practice the previous several days as he nears a return. The 34-year-old has been a massive loss for Edmonton's blueline after he posted nine goals, 33 points and a +11 plus/minus in 65 games during the regular season.

Skinner stopped all 24 shots that he faced in the Oilers' shutout overtime win over the Golden Knights in Game 5. That is now back-to-back shutouts for Skinner, who owns a 1.28 GAA, .944 SV% and 2-1 record since returning to the Oilers' crease in Game 3 vs. Vegas. Against the Stars in the 2024 playoffs, Skinner was 4-2 with a 1.91 GAA and .922 SV%.

The Stars will of course turn to their franchise netminder between the pipes for the opening game of their third round series against the Oilers. Oettinger was fantastic in a series clinching victory over the Jets on Saturday, stopping 22 of the 23 shots he faced in the 2-1 overtime win. The 26-year-old netminder owns an 8-5-0 record and a .919 SV% this post-season. Oettinger and the Stars enter action on Wednesday at -130 on the money line.

Chatfield has missed the last two games with a lower-body injury, but skated on Wednesday and head coach Rod Brind'Amour said that "he was better. I'd put him at day-to-day now, so that's a good sign." Expect Chatfield to replace Scott Morrow in the lineup if he's able to play in Game 2.

Skinner stopped all 24 shots that he faced in the Oilers' shutout overtime win over the Golden Knights in Game 5. That is now back-to-back shutouts for Skinner, who owns a 1.28 GAA, .944 SV% and 2-1 record since returning to the Oilers' crease in Game 3 vs. Vegas. Against the Stars in the 2024 playoffs, Skinner was 4-2 with a 1.91 GAA and .922 SV%.

Nikishin made his NHL debut in Game 5 against the Capitals, filling in for Jalen Chatfield (lower-body). Chatfield is still unavailable for the first game of round three, but the Hurricanes are opting to dress Scott Morrow over Nikishin.

Morrow will make his playoff debut on Tuesday in place of Jalen Chatfield (lower-body). Morrow appeared in 14 games this season, registering one goal and five assists.

Chatfield has been dealing with a lower-body injury since Game 4 vs. the Capitals and was questionable to play in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Scott Morrow will dress in his place.

The Hurricanes are well-rested heading into Game 1 on Tuesday, having played the fewest games of all teams remaining in the playoffs after eliminating the Washington Capitals on Thursday in five games. Andersen has been terrific this postseason, posting a stellar 1.36 GAA, .937 SV%, and one shutout in nine games (7-2), and will return to the crease for Game 1. The Hurricanes enter the action on Tuesday as -121 home favorites against the Panthers.

The Panthers commandingly defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-1 in Game 7 on Sunday, but have a quick turnaround, starting Game 1 of Round 3 on Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes. Bobrovsky saved 19 of 20 shots (.950 SV%) in Sunday's victory and will return to the crease on Tuesday. The 36-year-old veteran netminder has a 2.31 GAA, .901 SV%, and two shutouts through 12 games (8-4) this postseason. The Panthers enter Tuesday's contest as +109 road underdogs against the Hurricanes.

Chatfield has been dealing with a lower-body injury since Game 4 vs. the Capitals and is questionable to play in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. He was not on the ice for Monday's practice, and Scott Morrow skated in his spot, so look for Morrow to dress if Chatfield is unavailable.

Afanasyev was acquired from Nashville mid-season in 2024-25 in exchange for Ozzy Wiesblatt and has signed a one-year contract extension to remain with San Jose, worth $800,000. The 24-year-old Russian winger was once a 2019 2nd-round pick (45th overall) but spent 2024-25 with CSKA Moskva (KHL) where he picked up seven assists and 21 points in 53 games played.

Ekholm last played on April 11th due to an undisclosed injury, but was a full participant for the first time since his injury at practice on Monday. The 34-year-old has been a massive loss for Edmonton's blueline after he posted nine goals, 33 points and a +11 plus/minus in 65 games during the regular season.

Zajicek is an undrafted 23-year-old netminder who has spent the last six seasons with HC Litvinov (Czechia) and will join Boston on a one-year, entry-level contract worth $872,500. The 6'2" goalie opened eyes recently at the World Hockey Championships, where he was the definition of perfect, stopping all 40 shots he faced and posting two shutouts for Czechia in his only two starts. In 29 games with HC Litvinov as well in 2024-25, he posted an eye-popping .930 SV% and 15-13-0 record.