NHL Player News

Lehkonen (upper body) isn't expected to be available for Game 5 against the Wild on Wednesday, per Corey Masisak of The Denver Post.

Lehkonen also missed Monday's 5-2 win over Minnesota due to the injury. He has three goals and six points in seven playoff outings this year. Joel Kiviranta is slated to play in his second straight game due to Lehkonen's absence.

Malinski (upper body) will not be an option for Game 5 versus Minnesota on Wednesday, Corey Masisak of The Denver Post reports.

Malinski continues to be classified as day-to-day ahead of his second straight absence due to his upper-body problem. With the blueliner on the shelf, Jack Ahcan figures to continue filling a bottom-pairing role alongside Josh Manson. Once cleared to play, Malinski should reclaim his spot in the lineup.

Blackwood is slated to start at home against Minnesota in Game 5 on Wednesday, per Jesse Montano of Guerilla Sports.

Scott Wedgewood started in Colorado's first eight playoff games this year, but he was yanked from Saturday's 5-1 loss to Minnesota in Game 3 after allowing three goals on 12 shots. Blackwood stopped 12 of 13 shots in relief in that game, and then got the nod Monday, turning aside 19 of 21 shots en route to a 5-2 victory. Minnesota has averaged an impressive 3.80 goals per game in the 2026 postseason, but the Wild are down 3-1 in their series against Colorado.

McNabb will have a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety on Wednesday for interference against Anaheim's Ryan Poehling (upper body) on Tuesday.

McNabb received a five-minute major and a game misconduct in Game 5 on Tuesday, resulting in him playing just 3:17 of ice time. Poehling will likely miss some time, and his injury will probably be a factor in the decision-making process. At this point, fantasy managers shouldn't expect McNabb to be available for Game 6 on Thursday. Kaedan Korczak figures to step into the lineup in McNabb's stead.

Newhook scored a goal in a 3-2 loss to the Sabres on Tuesday in Game 4 of the second round of the playoffs.

The 25-year-old is emerging as one of the surprise heroes of the postseason. Newhook has found the back of the net five times in the last three games after scoring just 13 goals in 42 regular-season contests. Over his last seven outings, he's collected six goals and seven points. Newhook will attempt to carry that momentum into Game 5 in Buffalo on Thursday.

Dobes stopped 19 shots in a 3-2 loss to the Sabres on Tuesday in Game 4 of the second round of the playoffs.

The Canadiens held a 2-1 lead after the first period, but the team cooled off offensively afterward. The final two goals against Dobes came on Buffalo power plays. The tying tally came on a Tage Thompson dump-in attempt that took a strange carom off the corner boards before bouncing in off the Montreal netminder's leg. Dobes has allowed more than three goals in a game only once in 11 playoff starts while posting a 2.22 GAA and .914 save percentage.

Doan notched two assists, one on the power play, in a 3-2 win over the Canadiens on Tuesday in Game 4 of the second round of the playoffs.

The 24-year-old winger had a hand in tallies by Mattias Samuelsson in the first period and Zach Benson in the third frame. Doan extended his point streak to five games in the process. Through 10 postseason contests, he's collected two goals and nine points. Doan will try to stay hot as the series shifts back to Buffalo for Game 5 on Thursday.

Thompson notched one goal and one assist, both on the power play, in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Canadiens in Game 4 of the second round of the playoffs.

With Buffalo down 2-1 in the second period, Thompson tied the game up on a fluky goal. His dump-in attempt took a strange bounce off the corner boards and went in off a startled Jakub Dobes. The 28-year-old Thompson also helped set up Zach Benson for the winner early in the third period. Thompson has delivered back-to-back multi-point performances. Through 10 games this postseason, he's racked up four goals and 11 points. He'll look to stay locked in as the series shifts back to Buffalo for Game 5 on Thursday.

Benson scored the game-winning goal in Tuesday's 3-2 victory over the Canadiens in Game 4.

The young winger celebrated his 21st birthday in style. Benson got the puck in front of Jakub Dobes during a third-period power play and slipped a backhander past the Montreal netminder to break a 2-2 tie. Benson has gotten onto the scoresheet in four of the Sabres' last five games. Through 10 playoff contests this year, he has collected four goals and seven points. He'll look to stay hot as the series shifts back to Buffalo for Game 5 on Thursday.

Luukkonen made 28 saves in a 3-2 win over the Canadiens in Game 4 on Tuesday.

In his first appearance since Game 2 of Buffalo's opening-round series against Boston, Luukkonen surrendered two first-period tallies, one on a Montreal power play, before locking things down. He was superb while giving his team a chance to mount a comeback and tie the series at 2-2. The performance will likely keep Luukkonen between the pipes for Game 5 back in Buffalo on Thursday. Through three postseason games, the 27-year-old netminder has a 3.37 GAA and .871 save percentage.