NHL Player News

Vasilevskiy made 21 saves Wednesday in a 3-2 loss to Montreal in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference First Round.

Vasilevskiy had another shaky postseason performance, this time on the day he was named a Vezina Trophy finalist. He's a six-time nominee for the award and one-time winner (2018-19). However, Vasilevskiy has struggled in the postseason since 2023. He's now 6-15 with a 3.20 GAA and .881 save percentage in his last 21 playoff starts. Still, he will likely return to the crease in a must-win Game 6 matchup in Montreal on Friday.

Guentzel scored a goal in a 3-2 loss to Montreal on Wednesday in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference First Round.

Guentzel has done his part this postseason. He's on a five-game, eight-point scoring streak that includes two goals and six assists. He also has 14 shots on net during that span. Guentzel leads Tampa Bay in playoff point production, but the team is one loss from elimination.

James scored a goal Wednesday in a 3-2 loss to the Canadiens in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference First Round.

It was James' first career NHL playoff goal. He tied the game 1-1 early in the second period on a 2-on-1 rush. He wired a snap shot under Jakub Dobes' glove from the right circle. James is skating in a third-line role in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, adding five shots on net, seven hits and three blocked shots through five outings. He delivered seven goals, eight assists, 56 shots, 58 hits and 139 faceoff wins (50.4 percent) in 43 regular-season games.

Dach scored a goal in Wednesday's 3-2 win against Tampa Bay in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference First Round.

He also had three hits and two blocks. He has two goals on four shots and one assist in his last three outings. Injuries during the 2025-26 regular season limited him to 37 appearances, in which he contributed eight goals and 15 points. However, he is making an impact during Montreal's first-round playoff series against the Lightning.

Texier scored the game-winning goal in Wednesday's 3-2 victory against Tampa Bay in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference First Round.

Texier, who is on a surprising three-game, four-point scoring streak, took a stretch pass, skated to the left circle and ripped a wrist shot that deflected off Andrei Vasilevskiy's glove and into the net. It came just 1:06 into the third frame. Texier had a combined 21 points (eight goals, 13 assists) in 51 regular-season games between St. Louis and Montreal this year. He has two goals, two assists, three shots and a plus-6 rating on his current streak.

Dobes made 38 saves in a 3-2 win against Tampa Bay on Wednesday in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference First Round.

Once again, Dobes came up large when needed, and he has the Habs one win away from clinching the series. He's 3-2 with a 2.49 GAA and .903 save percentage this postseason. Dobes has been remarkable against the high-powered Bolts, considering his last postseason work came in the USHL playoffs in 2021 when he was with the Omaha Lancers.

Gallagher scored a goal in a 3-2 win against the Lightning on Wednesday in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference First Round.

After being a healthy scratch for the first four games of the series, Gallagher made an immediate impact. He opened the scoring at the 3:00 mark of the first period. He logged just 6:48 of ice time and delivered three hits. Gallagher played once in the team's final five outings of the regular season. Still, he might have earned himself another look, even if his role remains reduced.

Hayton (upper body) is in the lineup for Wednesday's Game 5 versus the Golden Knights, per the NHL media site.

After initially being ruled out for the contest, Hayton was a surprising late addition to the lineup. The 25-year-old is slated to be on the third line for the Mammoth, while Liam O'Brien will be scratched. This will be Hayton's first game since March 24 versus the Oilers, when he logged just one 17-second shift.

Levi was called up from AHL Rochester on Wednesday, along with forwards Konsta Helenius, Riley Fiddler-Schultz and Anton Wahlberg and defensemen Ryan Johnson, Vsevolod Komarov and Radim Mrtka, Heather Engel of NHL.com reports.

Rochester was eliminated in the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs by AHL Toronto on Sunday. Levi will slot in as the Sabres' fourth goalie after posting a 23-20-9 record, a 2.83 GAA and a .904 save percentage over 52 regular-season outings for the Americans. All of the players called up will have the opportunity to practice with the big club, though it's unlikely any of them will see meaningful playing time during the Sabres' postseason run.

Milano signed a one-year contract with SC Bern of the Swiss National League on Wednesday, Sammi Silber of The Hockey News reports.

Milano was held to eight points over 31 appearances for the Capitals this season, and he ended the year in the AHL. Given the winger's declining usage in recent years, this may be the last we've seen of him in the NHL, though that's far from a given since he's just entering his age-30 season in 2026-27.