NHL Player News

Dobes will protect the road goal versus the Sabres in Game 2 on Friday, Heather Engel of NHL.com reports.

Dobes allowed four goals on 16 shots in a Game 1 loss Wednesday. While Dobes has maintained a steady role as the Canadiens' No. 1 netminder, he has yet to win consecutive games this postseason. On the flip side, he also hasn't lost two games in a row. He is 4-4 with a 2.28 GAA and a .910 save percentage over eight playoff outings.

Lyon will protect the home goal versus the Canadiens in Game 2 on Friday, Heather Engel of NHL.com reports.

Lyon continued his strong play by stopping 26 of 28 shots to win the series opener. He hasn't allowed more than two goals in any of his five starts this postseason, a trend he'll look to keep going as the Sabres try to claim a 2-0 series lead.

Vladar stopped 26 of 30 shots in Thursday's 4-1 loss to the Hurricanes in Game 3.

Vladar has lost all three games in the second round, giving up 10 goals on 95 shots in those defeats. The netminder is still 4-5 for the postseason, but this was the first time he's allowed more than three goals in a playoff game this year, so he's not trending in the right direction. It's looking likely that the Flyers are simply not on the same level as the Hurricanes. Vladar is likely to get the chance to save the season in Saturday's Game 4.

Andersen stopped 18 of 19 shots in Thursday's 4-1 win over the Flyers in Game 3.

Andersen's stunning postseason run continues, as he's now won all seven playoff games and nine in a row dating back to the regular season. The 36-year-old has had more games allowing one goal or less (four) than two or more (three) in the playoffs. His success has the Hurricanes on the brink of a second-round sweep. Andersen will almost certainly be between the pipes for Saturday's Game 4 with the chance to close out the series, which would earn some significant rest between rounds as well.

Romanov posted a 37-save shutout in AHL Springfield's 1-0 overtime win over Providence in Game 4 on Thursday.

Romanov allowed just six goals over four games as Springfield upset the top-seeded Providence squad. Throughout the postseason, Romanov has yet to allow more than two goals in any games, going 5-1 with a 1.42 GAA and a .954 save percentage. Next up is the Atlantic Division Finals, where Springfield will face Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Andersen is set to tend the twine on the road for Thursday's Game 3 clash with the Flyers, Walt Ruff of the Hurricanes' official site reports.

Andersen is undefeated in the postseason, going 6-0 with a ridiculous 1.02 GAA, .958 save percentage and two shutouts. In fact, going back to the regular season, the veteran backstop has won eight in a row, cementing himself as the No. 1 option for the Hurricanes. In the playoffs, the Flyers are generating the fourth-fewest shots on net per game at 26.3, so fantasy managers shouldn't be expecting a high-volume night for Andersen.

Vladar is expected to patrol the crease at home for Game 3 versus the Hurricanes on Thursday, Jackie Spiegel of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Vladar has given up three goals in four of his last five outings, all losses, while recording a 42-save shutout in the fifth. While the 28-year-old backstop did enough to get the Flyers past in-state rival Pittsburgh in the first round, head coach Rick Tocchet may have to consider giving Samuel Ersson a look if Vladar comes out flat again in Game 3.

Lyon stopped 26 shots Wednesday in the Sabres' 4-2 win over the Canadiens in Game 1 of their second-round series.

Buffalo never trailed in the contest, as Lyon allowed goals late in the first and second periods after his team had already struck twice in each frame. The veteran netminder has won four of five starts since taking over in the crease for Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, posting an eye-popping 1.36 GAA and .947 save percentage over that stretch heading into Game 2 on Friday.

Dobes made 12 saves Wednesday in the Canadiens' 4-2 loss to the Sabres in Game 1 of their second-round series.

While his final numbers look shaky, two of Buffalo's goals came on power plays, while a third came after Lane Hutson blew a tire at center ice to create an odd-man rush. It's the first time this postseason that Dobes has allowed more than three goals in a start, and he'll likely take a 2.28 GAA and .910 save percentage into Game 2 on Friday.

Hart stopped 25 of 27 shots in Wednesday's 3-1 loss to the Ducks in Game 2. The third goal was an empty-netter.

Hart put in a strong performance but couldn't get any help from his teammates. It still took the Ducks a while to wear down the Golden Knights' defense, so this is shaping up to be a fairly close and competitive series. Hart's winning streak ended at four games, but he's still 5-3 this postseason with a 2.44 GAA and a .912 save percentage over eight games. Expect the 27-year-old to get the nod again in Game 3 on Friday in Anaheim.