NHL Player News

Stone (lower body) won't play in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals versus the Avalanche on Wednesday, Jesse Granger of The Athletic reports.

Stone skated with the scratches ahead of Wednesday's matchup. However, the 34-year-old winger will miss his fourth straight contest, leaving the door open for Brett Howden to continue playing in the top six. Stone's availability for Game 2 on Friday might be unclear until pregame warmups again.

Hart will start on the road in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals versus the Avalanche on Wednesday, Jesse Granger of The Athletic reports.

Hart is 8-4 with a 2.37 GAA and a .915 save percentage over 12 playoff games so far. Coming through the Pacific Division part of the bracket has kept Vegas away from the hardest matchups so far. This series will be Hart's biggest test, as the Avalanche have scored 37 goals while going 8-1 through their first two series.

Danforth (kneecap) was nearly healthy at the end of the Sabres' playoff run, Heather Engel of NHL.com reports Wednesday.

Danforth underwent surgery to repair a broken kneecap sustained in October. A second procedure was required to clean up loose cartilage, which explains why he didn't return after the Olympic break as initially expected. Danforth should be good to go for training camp. He's still under contract through the 2026-27 campaign, so he'll be in the mix for a bottom-six role with the Sabres.

Liljegren agreed to terms on a two-year, $6.5 million contract with Washington on Wednesday.

Liljegren appeared in just four regular-season games for the Caps last year after he was acquired at the trade deadline from the Sharks. If the 27-year-old blueliner can get back to being the 20-point producer he was with the Maple Leafs, he'll be worth his new contract, though it's been two years since he put up those numbers.

Makar (undisclosed) is day-to-day and won't play in Game 1 against Vegas on Wednesday, per Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette.

Makar's absence is a shocking development and one that's terrible for the Avalanche. Although it's been suspected that the defenseman hasn't been fully healthy, especially given his lack of practice time during the playoffs, Makar still appeared in Colorado's first nine postseason outings this year while averaging 24:59 of ice time, including 25:50 in Colorado's 4-3 series-clinching overtime victory over Minnesota in Game 5 on May 13. Makar's exit from the lineup coincides with Sam Malinski's projected return after missing two games due to an upper-body injury. Jack Ahcan might have been a healthy scratch if Makar was available, but it now looks like Ahcan will remain in the lineup.

Wedgewood is expected to start at home against Vegas in Game 1 on Wednesday, per Jesse Montano of Guerilla Sports.

After entering last Wednesday's Game 5 matchup against Minnesota in relief of Mackenzie Blackwood, Wedgewood stopped all seven shots he faced en route to a 4-3 series-winning overtime victory. The 33-year-old Wedgewood is 7-1 with a 2.21 GAA and a .914 save percentage in eight outings this playoffs. Vegas has averaged an impressive 3.67 goals per game in the 2026 postseason.

Lehkonen (upper body) is slated to suit up in Game 1 versus Vegas on Wednesday, Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette reports.

Lehkonen looks set to step back into a second-line role after missing two games. In addition to his five-on-five spot, the winger should link up with the No. 2 power-play unit. Prior to his absence, Lehkonen generated three goals and three helpers in his previous seven outings.

Malinksi (upper body) is expected back in the lineup for Game 1 against Vegas on Wednesday, Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette reports.

Malinski sat out the final two contests of Colorado's second-round series against the Wild. In seven appearances this postseason, the 27-year-old has one goal, two assists, 14 shots, 14 blocks and seven hits. With Malinski back in the lineup and Cale Makar (undisclosed) unavailable, Jack Ahcan will remain in the lineup.

General manager Kelly McCrimmon had no update on Lauzon's (upper body) status ahead of Wednesday's Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals versus the Avalanche, Hannah Kirkell of The Hockey News reports.

Lauzon missed the entire second round, and he can continue to be considered out indefinitely for now. Vegas has turned to Ben Hutton and Dylan Coghlan to fill out the third pairing in Lauzon's absence.

General manager Kelly McCrimmon didn't have an update on Stone's (lower body) status ahead of Wednesday's Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals versus the Avalanche, Hannah Kirkell of The Hockey News reports.

While this doesn't officially rule Stone out for any length of time, don't expect him to be ready for the start of the series. The Golden Knights are unlikely to be forthcoming with further injury updates during the playoffs. Stone's status for the series a whole is uncertain.