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Luke Glendening C | NYR
Lightning's Luke Glendening: Could play Tuesday
Glendening (upper body) is available for Game 1 against the Panthers on Tuesday, Amalie Benjamin of NHL.com reports.
Glendening sat out the last four games of the regular season after getting hurt against Toronto on April 9. The Lightning ruled him out indefinitely as of April 11, so the 35-year-old seemingly made great strides in recovering from his injury. He'll be an option to center the fourth line Tuesday. Glendening has accounted for five goals, eight points and a minus-10 rating over 45 career postseason outings.
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Gabriel Vilardi C | WPG
Jets' Gabriel Vilardi: Remains day-to-day
Vilardi (upper body) is still day-to-day ahead of Thursday's Game 3 matchup versus the Blues, according to Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press on Tuesday.
Vilardi has missed the last 13 games, including the first two contests of Winnipeg's first-round series against St. Louis. However, he could be ready to return for Game 3 if he progresses in Wednesday's practice. Vilardi has been wearing a non-contact jersey in recent team sessions, and his ability to take some physicality will determine his availability. The 25-year-old forward amassed 27 goals, 61 points and 130 shots on net in 71 appearances during the 2024-25 regular season. Once healthy, Vilardi will probably occupy a top-six role and see time on the first power-play combination.
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Trent Frederic C | EDM
Oilers' Trent Frederic: Registers helper in Game 1 loss
Frederic logged an assist, two shots on goal and two hits in Monday's 6-5 loss to the Kings in Game 1.
The Oilers got just one regular-season appearance out of Frederic after acquiring him from the Bruins. That won't matter much if he's able to be impactful in the playoffs, and he's off to a positive start after setting up a Mattias Janmark tally in the third period. Frederic is likely to stay in a bottom-six role throughout the postseason, and that's going to make offense hard to come by on a team as top-heavy as Edmonton.
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Mattias Janmark C | EDM
Oilers' Mattias Janmark: Pots goal in Game 1 loss
Janmark scored a goal and added two hits in Monday's 6-5 loss to the Kings in Game 1.
Janmark ended a 30-game goal drought with his tally early in the third period. The 32-year-old forward saw a larger role as the Oilers were banged up late in the regular season, but he was back on the fourth line Monday with the team at nearly full health at forward. Janmark put up 18 points, 51 shots on net and a minus-6 rating over 80 regular-season games, and given his place in the lineup, he likely won't be much of a factor on offense in the postseason.
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Zach Hyman LW | EDM
Oilers' Zach Hyman: Scores in comeback effort
Hyman scored a goal, added six hits and logged two PIM in Monday's 6-5 loss to the Kings in Game 1.
Hyman brought the Oilers within a goal with 2:04 left in the third period, and Connor McDavid tied it at 5-5 just 36 seconds later. The Oilers' comeback push ended up being for naught, as the Kings won on a Phillip Danault goal with 42 seconds left in regulation. In any case, it was good to see Hyman healthy enough to play after he missed the last three games of the regular season. The 32-year-old winger should feature in a top-six role and see power-play time after racking up 27 goals and 44 points over 73 regular-season contests.
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Jack Drury C | NSH
Avalanche's Jack Drury: Scores in Game 2 loss
Drury scored a goal on two shots in Monday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Stars in Game 2.
Drury's tally tied the game at 2-2 just over a minute after Thomas Harley gave the Stars their first lead of the contest. The playoffs have been good to Drury so far -- he has two points and a plus-2 rating over two appearances this postseason despite playing in a fourth-line role. The Avalanche's strong center depth is likely to prevent him from moving up the lineup, but his steady defensive play could allow him to snag some extra shifts in key moments.
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Oskar Back C | DAL
Stars' Oskar Back: Records assist in Game 2
Back notched an assist and two hits in Monday's 4-3 overtime win over the Avalanche in Game 2.
Back was scratched three times over the last 10 games of the regular season, though he earned two assists over seven appearances in that span. The 25-year-old rookie is filling a fourth-line role while the Stars are without Jason Robertson (knee) to begin the playoffs. Back had 16 points in 73 regular-season outings, but it's his defensive play that will help him stay in the lineup during the postseason.
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Sam Steel C | DAL
Stars' Sam Steel: Supplies two assists
Steel notched two assists and three hits in Monday's 4-3 overtime win over the Avalanche in Game 2.
The Stars leaned on their depth to even the series at one game apiece, and Steel was a big part of it. He set up goals by Thomas Harley and Colin Blackwell, with the latter's tally coming at 17:46 of overtime. This was Steel's first multi-point effort since he had a goal and an assist versus the Kings on Feb. 28. The center racked up 25 points, 89 shots on net, 60 hits and a minus-6 rating over 79 regular-season outings while playing primarily on the fourth line.
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Zack Ostapchuk C | SJ
Sharks' Zack Ostapchuk: Assigned to AHL
Ostapchuk (lower body) was loaned to AHL San Jose on Tuesday.
Ostapchuk sat out the Sharks' final two games of the regular season due to an injury. However, his demotion indicates that he should be an option for the Barracuda in the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs. Ostapchuk earned one goal, three assists, 26 shots on net and 110 hits across 56 NHL appearances between San Jose and Ottawa in the 2024-25 regular season.
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Nick Suzuki C | MON
Canadiens' Nick Suzuki: Forces overtime in Game 1
Suzuki scored a goal on seven shots in Monday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Capitals in Game 1.
Suzuki tied the game at 2-2 with 4:15 left in the third period, capitalizing with a patient shot after Logan Thompson got out of position. While the Canadiens were able to dig out of a 2-0 hole from earlier in the game, Alex Ovechkin sealed the Capitals' win just 2:26 into overtime. Suzuki racked up an eye-popping 15 goals and 37 points over the last 26 games of the regular season, and his momentum has carried over into the playoffs, though Montreal faces an uphill battle.