VEG @ FLA
Final Score: 4 – 7
DAL @ NAS
Final Score: 6 – 4
NYI @ CAR
Final Score: 9 – 7
DET @ NJ
Final Score: 4 – 6
PIT @ OTT
Final Score: 7 – 9
TB @ WAS
Final Score: 4 – 2
TOR @ CBJ
Final Score: 7 – 2
BOS @ MIN
Final Score: 4 – 6
BUF @ NYR
Final Score: 6 – 7
CHI @ STL
Final Score: 9 – 13
SEA @ ANA
Final Score: 6 – 4
ARI @ COL
Final Score: 2 – 7
CGY @ LA
Final Score: 6 – 9
SJ @ VAN
Final Score: 7 – 13
Thatcher Demko Out For Game 1 Against Oilers
Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko (knee) has been ruled out for Game 1 of the second-round series against Edmonton. He was sidelined for the final five games against Nashville in the opening round and won't be ready for the start of the new series either. Game 1 is scheduled for Wednesday. Arturs Silovs is on track to make his fourth consecutive start between the sticks. The 23-year-old has filled in admirably for Demko, going 2-1-o against the Predators with one shutout and only five total goals allowed. But he faces a much tougher challenge in the second round against Connor McDavid & Co.
Auston Matthews Uncertain For Game 7
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews' status for Game 7 of the team's first-round series against the Boston Bruins remains uncertain as he deals with an illness. The star pivot has missed the past two games but the Leafs have managed to reel off back-to-back victories to force a series-deciding Game 7 on Saturday in Boston. "Yeah, there's been progress, he skated again here today but no determination on his availability," Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said. Matthews paced the league with 69 goals during the regular season while adding 38 assists for 107 points and 369 shots on goal across 81 games.
Auston Matthews Out For Game 6
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (illness) will not be in the lineup for Game 6 of the team's first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins on Thursday. The star pivot missed Game 5 due to an illness, and it appears the issue will keep the 26-year-old out again on Thursday. Matthews notched a goal and two assists in a Game 2 win but has otherwise been held off the scoresheet in his other three games played in the series. The Maple Leafs need another win in Game 6 to avoid elimination, as the Bruins lead 3-2 in the series. If Toronto manages to win, Game 7 would be on Saturday in Boston.
Seth Jarvis Puts Up Three Points In Series-Winning Game
Carolina Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis scored a goal and added two assists in a 6-3 win over the New York Islanders in Game 5 of their first-round series, helping clinch a second-round appearance against the New York Rangers. Jarvis was electric in the series, posting seven points (three goals, four assists) in five games. The 22-year-old had a breakout season and is an integral part of the Cane's offensive game as part of their second line and first powerplay unit. He will be an important part of their success, both in these playoffs and for years to come.
Auston Matthews A Game-Time Decision Tuesday
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (illness) is a game-time decision for Tuesday's Game 5 contest against the Boston Bruins. The superstar has been dealing with an illness that forced him out of the third period of Saturday's 3-1 Game 4 loss. "Obviously he was on the ice today, so he's working through things to try to make himself available to play," Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said. "No determination at this time." The head coach declined to answer when asked if there is something else other than the illness bothering Matthews. Matthews led the league with 69 regular-season goals but has just a single tally through the first four games of this series.
Stuart Skinner Blanks Kings On Sunday
Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner posted a shutout on Sunday as the Oilers took a 3-1 stranglehold on the Los Angeles Kings. Evan Bouchard's second-period power-play goal was all the offense in the contest as the Oilers go back home with a 3-1 lead and will look to put the Kings away on Wednesday. Skinner turned aside all 33 shots he faced and the Oilers won despite being outshot 33-13 in the contest. After allowing nine goals through the first two games of the series, the 25-year-old has yielded just a single tally over the last two contests, putting up a .987 save percentage in that time. He posted a 2.62 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage across 57 starts and 59 appearances during the regular season.
Casey DeSmith Out For Game 4
Vancouver Canucks goaltender Casey DeSmith is not dressing for Game 4 of the team's first-round series against the Nashville Predators. The netminder's specific ailment hasn't been revealed but he was perhaps injured when Predators forward Michael McCarron hit him behind the net while he was playing the puck in the second period of Game 3. McCarron received a two-minute minor for interference on the play and was also fined 2K by the league. The 32-year-old turned aside 29 of 30 shots to earn the Game 3 win but it will be 23-year-old Arturs Silovs getting the nod in Game 4 on Sunday. The Canucks lead the best-of-seven series 2-1.
William Nylander Appears Set To Make Playoff Debut Saturday
Toronto Maple Leafs winger William Nylander (undisclosed) is expected to play in Game 4 of their first-round series against the Boston Bruins on Saturday. Nylander missed the first three games of the series with an undisclosed injury that has been widely speculated on, but the team hasn't confirmed what the injury was. Willy will slot back into the third line and first powerplay unit and the team will hope that he can provide an offensive spark. Connor Dewar will be healthy scratched if Nylander does end up playing.
Frederik Andersen Stops 29 Pucks In Another Win
Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen continued his perfect start to the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 29-save effort in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Islanders. He became only the second goaltender in franchise history to open a postseason campaign with three consecutive victories. Andersen has saved 71 of 77 shots in total in the series, frustrating the Islanders with a .922 save percentage and a 2.01 goals-against average. Combined with the regular season, Andersen is now 16-2-0 in 2023-24. He will look to lead the team to a sweep in Game 4 on Saturday.
Radek Faksa Injured In Game 2
Dallas Stars center Radek Faksa couldn't complete Wednesday's Game 2 against Vegas due to an undisclosed injury. He was hurt in the third period, exiting after soaking in 8:41 of action on the fourth line. Faksa didn't contribute offensively in the contest and finished with a minus-one rating, but he won four of five faceoffs and delivered six hits. Stars head coach Pete DeBoer didn't have an update on Faksa postgame. Craig Smith should join the lineup in Saturday's Game 3 if Faksa can't play.
Sam Bennett Sustains An Upper-Body Injury In Game 2
Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett suffered an upper-body injury in Tuesday's 3-2 Game 2 win against Tampa Bay. He left the contest early in the second period. Before exiting, Bennett scored the first goal of the game and had a power-play assist on a Vladimir Tarasenko strike. Bennett missed 13 games during the regular season, and it looks like he might be forced to sit out some postseason action as well. Florida will re-evaluate him on Wednesday to determine Bennett's status for Thursday's Game 3. Anton Lundell or Eetu Luostarinen could take over as the second-line center if Bennett can't play.
Auston Matthews Puts Away Game-Winner In Game 2
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews scored the game-winning goal and added a pair of assists in a 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins in Game 2 of their first-round series. Matthews dominated this one, adding eight shots and six hits to round out his stat line. He was sprung on a breakaway by Max Domi late in the third and put a sweet move on Boston goalie Linus Ullmark before tucking away the tie-breaking goal. If the Leafs are going to go far in the playoffs for once, they'll need Matthews to continue to be the game-breaker that he was in this game.
Jonathan Drouin To Miss First Round
Colorado Avalanche forward Jonathan Drouin will miss the first round of the team's playoff series against the Winnipeg Jets due to a lower-body injury. The veteran left the team's final regular-season game on Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers in the second period and did not return. "Super unfortunate. I feel really bad for him," Avalanche center and often linemate Nathan MacKinnon said. Obviously it [stinks] for the team, but for him as a person it's just so sad. Hopefully we get him back sooner than later, but just more motivation, if we can find a way to win this series, that we get some help coming." Drouin enjoyed a bounce-back season with the Avs this year, noticing 19 goals and 56 points across 79 games.
Max Domi Ready To Go For Game 1
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Max Domi (undisclosed) said he is ready to go for Game 1 of the postseason on Saturday against the Boston Bruins. The veteran sat out the team's final two regular-season games with an undisclosed injury but will be back in the lineup for another clash with the rival Bruins. Domi got off to a sluggish offensive start but has clicked recently while skating on a line with superstar Auston Matthews, tallying two goals and 17 points across his final 21 regular-season games since the beginning of March. He skated with Matthews and Tyler Bertuzzi on Friday morning.
Auston Matthews Fails To Score Goal No. 70 Wednesday
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews was unable to reach the 70-goal plateau in the club's series finale on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The superstar entered the game with 69 goals and 357 shots on goal, and even hit a crossbar, but he was unable to be the first 70-goal scorer in 31 years. The 26-year-old ends his regular season with 69 goals and 107 points across 81 games while adding 89 hits, 91 blocks, and a plus-32 rating to his ledger. The Maple Leafs are locked into a first-round matchup with the No. 2 seed Boston Bruins in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, which starts Saturday at the TD Garden in Boston.
Bruins, Maple Leafs To Meet In First Round
The Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs will meet in the first round of the postseason. The Bruins lost to the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday, while the Maple Leafs lost to the Florida Panthers, giving the Panthers the Atlantic Division title and a first-round matchup with the rival Tampa Bay Lightning. The Maple Leafs and Lightning clash for their regular-season finales on Wednesday in Tampa Bay. The two clubs have had a pair of close encounters in their recent playoff history, with Boston winning a trio of seven-game series' in 2013, 2018, and 2019. Game 1 between the two clubs is expected to take place on Saturday at TD Garden in Boston.
Charlie Lindgren Blanks Bruins Monday
Washington Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren turned in a crucial outing on Monday, turning aside all 16 shots he faced en route to a 2-0 shutout win over the Boston Bruins. With the victory, the Capitals held onto the second and final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. They can clinch a postseason berth with a win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday. Monday's start was Lindgren's fifth in a row and his 17th over the team's last 18 games. With the outing, he improved to a 2.71 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage along with an NHL-best six shutouts across 49 appearances (47 starts). The Flyers, Red Wings, and Penguins all have an opportunity to grab the final playoff spot in the east, as well.
Bobby McMann To Miss Final Two Regular Season Games
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Bobby McMann will not play in the club's final two regular-season games due to a lower-body injury suffered during Saturday's 5-4 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings. McMann fell awkwardly while clearing the puck short-handed and was slow to get up and get to the bench. He then went to the dressing room and did not return. His status for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs is unclear. The 27-year-old has become a key piece for the team this season, notching 15 goals and 24 points across 56 games in 11:34 of average ice time per game. However, he also has 13 goals and 17 points across 33 games since the start of February and has recently been skating on the team's second line.
Noah Dobson Sustains An Upper-Body Injury
New York Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson is under evaluation for an upper-body injury. He was hurt early into Thursday's encounter with Montreal, exiting the action after logging only 1:28 of ice time. Losing Dobson for an extended period would be an awful blow for the playoff-chasing Islanders. He's had a huge career year with 70 points (10 goals, 60 assists) in 79 appearances, sitting just outside the top six in defensemen scoring. Dobson is also the team leader with 180 blocks and has recorded 84 hits. Ryan Pulock and Sebastian Aho will get heavier workloads over the final three regular-season games if Dobson is out of the lineup.
Dylan Guenther Celebrates Birthday With Four Points
Arizona Coyotes left wing Dylan Guenther produced a special performance in Wednesday's 4-3 overtime win against Vancouver with four points on his 21st birthday. The talented winger registered a goal and three assists. There had previously been only two players in NHL history to pick up as many as four points on their birthday aged 21 or younger. Guenther has been on a heater lately, scoring three goals and picking up four assists in five April appearances. He's notched 15 goals and 16 assists in 42 appearances across the season.
Jack Hughes To Undergo Season-Ending Shoulder Surgery
New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery on Wednesday, the team has announced. The news came after Hughes dropped out of the lineup for Tuesday's matchup against Toronto. Hughes ends the 2023-24 campaign with 74 points (27 goals, 47 assists) in 62 appearances. Despite missing nearly 20 games this season, Hughes is still the team's top goal-scorer, and only Jesper Bratt (79) has more points than him. Shane Bowers landed in the top six with Hughes out on Tuesday.
Arber Xhekaj To Undergo Shoulder Surgery
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj will undergo surgery to repair his left shoulder and will miss the remainder of the 2023-24 season. It's a similar circumstance for the rugged blueliner who underwent surgery on his right shoulder late last season that limited him to 51 games as a rookie. The 23-year-old recorded three goals and 10 points across 44 games but also recorded a hefty 125 hits and 81 penalty minutes in that limited time. Interestingly, he was also a plus-six on a Canadiens team sporting a minus-55 overall goal differential. The Canadiens will miss the postseason for the third straight season in 2023-24.