NHL Player News

Brodin (lower body) is not traveling with the Wild for Game 5 in Colorado on Wednesday, according to Michael Russo of The Athletic.

Brodin has been unavailable for the entirety of this second-round series, and considering the Wild are now on the brink of elimination, his lower-body injury is seemingly a very serious one. If the Wild can earn a road win Wednesday, Brodin's next opportunity to attempt to get back in the lineup would be in Game 6 on Friday.

Eriksson Ek (lower body) will not join the team for Game 5 in Colorado on Wednesday, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.

Eriksson Ek will be sidelined for his fifth straight game due to his lingering lower-body injury. The fact that the 29-year-old center isn't even traveling with the team doesn't bode well for his availability for Game 6 back in Minnesota either. If the Swede does return, it figures to be in a top-six role.

Hart will tend the home twine Tuesday versus Anaheim in Game 5, per Jesse Granger of The Athletic.

Hart has alternated wins and losses through the first four games against the Ducks, with his last start being his worst in this second-round series. The 27-year-old netminder allowed four goals on 23 shots in Sunday's 4-3 loss in Game 3. The Golden Knights will be without their captain again in Game 5, as Mark Stone (lower body) is set to miss his second consecutive game. Vegas is 3-2 on home ice during the 2026 postseason, while Anaheim is 2-3 on the road.

Lehkonen (upper body) is dealing with a day-to-day injury, according to Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette on Tuesday.

Lehkonen sat out Monday's 5-2 win over Minnesota after sustaining the injury in Game 3's 5-1 loss to the Wild on Saturday. The Avalanche will determine his availability for Game 5 on Wednesday after the team's morning skate. Lehkonen has three goals, six points, 12 shots on net, seven blocked shots and 17 hits across seven appearances this postseason.

Malinski (upper body) was deemed day-to-day ahead of Game 5 against the Wild on Wednesday, Jesse Granger of The Athletic reports.

Malinski has already missed one game due to his upper-body problem but is now in danger of missing another. In seven postseason contests this year, the 27-year-old defenseman has generated one goal, two assists and 14 shots while averaging 19:59 of ice time.

Gudas (lower body) will remain sidelined for Game 5 in Vegas on Tuesday, Derek Lee of The Hockey News reports.

According to Zach Cavanagh of The Sporting Tribune, Gudas was on the ice for Tuesday's morning skate, but it remains to be seen if his return to the lineup is on the horizon. The right-shot blueliner missed his ninth straight playoff contest Sunday in Game 4 after being deemed a game-time decision. Since he has been ruled out well in advance of puck drop Tuesday, that may not bode well for Gudas' availability for Game 6 in Anaheim on Thursday.

Grubauer (lower body) will take part in the 2026 IIHF World Championship with Germany, the team announced Tuesday.

Grubauer missed the last six games of the regular season due to his lower-body injury, but he appears healthy enough to travel to Worlds. In 32 regular-season outings, the 34-year-old backstop went 13-12-4 with a 2.65 GAA and .909 save percentage. He'll enter the final year of his contract in the 2026-27 campaign.

Stone (lower body) won't play against Anaheim on Tuesday in Game 5, Jesse Granger of The Athletic reports.

Stone will miss his second straight game, and it remains unclear when he will be available to return to the lineup. He has contributed three goals, seven points, 18 shots on net and 12 hits in nine appearances this postseason. The Golden Knights recalled Braeden Bowman from AHL Henderson on Tuesday as a potential replacement for Game 5, but Vegas also has Brandon Saad and Reilly Smith as spare forward options.

Bowman was promoted from AHL Henderson on Tuesday.

Bowman is unlikely to get into the lineup against the Ducks for Game 5 on Tuesday, instead serving as a depth option with Mark Stone (lower body) still unavailable. Still, the 22-year-old Bowman saw action in regular-season games for the Knights this year, generating eight goals and 18 assists, including four power-play points.

Luukkonen will defend the road net against Montreal on Tuesday in Game 4, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.

Luukkonen allowed seven goals on 40 shots en route to a 1-1 record in Buffalo's first-round series against Boston. He made 32 saves in a 4-2 win over Montreal on Jan. 22 during the 2025-26 regular season. The door is open for Luukkonen to reclaim the No. 1 spot between the pipes after Alex Lyon surrendered nine goals on 63 shots over the Sabres' last two losses.