Fantasy Hockey

Malkin fired a team-high four shots on net during Friday's 2-0 loss to the Canadiens in Game 4 of their Stanley Cup Qualifier.

Carey Price was the story of the series, eliminating Pittsburgh with a shutout in the final game, but it's hard to overlook that Malkin made very little impact, managing only one assist in four contests. The 34-year-old was coming off a huge regular season in which he racked up 25 goals and 74 points in only 55 games, however, and injury concerns aside, Malkin should be headed for another very productive campaign in 2020-21.

Richardson scored the overtime, and series, winner during Friday's 4-3 victory over the Predators in Game 4 of their Stanley Cup Qualifier.

The 35-year-old grinder scored only six goals and 11 points in 59 games during the regular season and came into Friday with zero points in three games during the series, but Richardson found himself in the right place at the right time a little over five minutes into the extra period, banging home his own rebound to send Arizona into the next round. If Coyotes fans are looking for a good omen, here it is -- the last time Richardson scored a postseason goal came in the first round of the 2012 playoffs for the Kings, and they went on to hoist the Stanley Cup.

Nelson scored a power-play goal and added an even-strength assist during Friday's 5-1 win over the Panthers in Game 4 of their Stanley Cup Qualifier.

After helping to set up Anthony Beauvillier for the game's first goal midway through the first period, Nelson ripped home his own tally in the second. After being held off the scoresheet through the first two games of the series, the 28-year-old heads into the round having racked up two goals and three points in his last two contests.

Barzal scored a goal and an assist during Friday's 5-1 win over the Panthers in Game 4 of the Islanders' Stanley Cup Qualifier.

He set up Anthony Beauvillier in the first period for what proved to be the series-winning goal, then added his first tally of the playoffs in the third as the Isles pulled away. Barzal heads into the next round with three points through four games.

Backstrom was not in attendance for Friday's practice session, JJ Regan of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Backstrom's potential absence would be a significant blow for the Caps considering they are already without Lars Eller (personal). Still, Washington doesn't have to worry about being knocked out of the postseason during its upcoming round-robin clash with Boston on Sunday.

Evans (undisclosed) isn't expected to play in Friday's Game 4 against Pittsburgh, Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports reports.

Evans was deemed doubtful for Friday's contest Thursday, so this news doesn't come as a surprise. The 24-year-old made his NHL postseason debut in Wednesday's Game 3, firing one shot on net in 5:40 of ice time before exiting with an undisclosed injury.

Lehkonen scored the game-winning goal during Friday's 2-0 win over the Penguins in Game 4 of their Stanley Cup Qualifier.

With Carey Price dominating in net for Montreal, the team's offense didn't need to do much to complete the upset win in the series, and Lehkonen came through late in the third period -- he went wide around Tristan Jarry on the rush and drew the young goalie out of position, then banked home the puck off the skate of a Pittsburgh defender from behind the net. Lehkonen will take a three-game point streak (one goal, two assists) into the next round.

Forsberg scored a goal and an assist during Friday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Coyotes in Game 4 of their Stanley Cup Qualifier.

With Nashville down 2-1 in the second period and facing elimination, Forsberg helped set up Viktor Arvidsson for the tying goal, then took matters into his own hands in the final minute of the third, wiring a one-timer past Darcy Kuemper with 32 seconds left on the clock to sent the game to OT. Unfortunately for the Preds, their luck ran out in the extra period. Forsberg scored at least 20 goals for the sixth straight campaign in 2019-20, and the 25-year-old should remain a key part of the team's offense next season.

Hoffman scored a power-play goal during Friday's 5-1 loss to the Islanders in Game 4 of their Stanley Cup Qualifier.

The 30-year-old lit the lamp for the third straight game, giving the Panthers a little bit of life late in the first period before the game was out of reach, but it was all the offense the team could muster even in an elimination game. Hoffman racked up three goals and five points in four playoff contests, and after just missing his second straight 30-goal campaign during the abbreviated regular season, he should remain an integral part of the Florida attack next year.

Bailey notched two assists, one on the power play, during Friday's 5-1 win over the Panthers in Game 4 of their Stanley Cup Qualifier.

The veteran winger got the primary helper on Anthony Beauvillier's goal midway through the first period to open the scoring, then set up Brock Nelson for a wicked one-timer with the man advantage in the second. Bailey heads into the next round having recorded four assists in four games against Florida -- three of them on the power play.

Beauvillier scored two goals, including the game-winner, during Friday's 5-1 win over the Panthers in Game 4 of his team's Stanley Cup Qualifier.

The 23-year-old winger spotted the Isles a 2-0 lead before the first period was through, and Semyon Varlamov and a suffocating defense took care of the rest to finish off Florida in four games. Beauvillier found the scoresheet in every game of the series, scoring three goals and five points in total, so he'll take some impressive momentum into the next round.

The Maple Leafs have loaned Korshkov to Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the KHL.

Korshkov spent most of the 2019-20 regular season in the minors, picking up 16 goals and 25 points in 44 games, but he also made his NHL debut on Feb. 16 against the Sabres, potting his first top-level goal while logging 10:08 of ice time. The 24-year-old Russian will almost certainly be recalled ahead of next season's training camp.

Ekman-Larsson picked up two assists during Friday's 4-3 overtime win over the Predators in Game 4 of their Stanley Cup Qualifier.

He got the primary helper on Arizona's first and last goals during regulation. Ekman-Larsson had a solid series overall, scoring a goal and four points in four games, and he'll need to keep producing if the Coyotes are going to pull another upset in the next round.

Ellis picked up two assists during Friday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Coyotes in Game 4 of their Stanley Cup Qualifier.

He was a big factor in the game even getting to OT, as Ellis recorded the primary assist on the Nashville goals that tied things up at 2-2 and 3-3, but he couldn't find a third helper before the team was bounced from the playoffs. The 29-year-old blueliner only played 49 regular-season games this season but still managed 38 points (eight goals, 30 assists), potentially setting him up for a big 2020-21 campaign if he can stay healthy.

Larsson (undisclosed) will miss Game 4 against the Blackhawks on Friday, Ryan Rishaug of TSN.ca reports.

Caleb Jones will remain in the Oilers' lineup with Larsson still out. The 27-year-old blueliner hasn't been much of a fantasy asset of late, registering just a single point in his last 15 appearances.

The Kings have loaned Bjornfot to Djurgardens IF of the SHL.

Bjornfot spent the majority of the 2019-20 campaign with AHL Ontario, picking up 19 points while posting a plus-13 rating in 44 games, but he also appeared in three contests with the big club, going scoreless while registering a minus-4 rating. The 2019 first-round pick's loan to the SHL will almost certainly be of the temporary variety, as he's fully expected to be recalled ahead of next season's training camp.

Klingberg (undisclosed) was on the ice for Friday's practice session, Matthew DeFranks of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Klingberg was back in his spot on the top pairing and appears to be trending in the right direction for a return to action versus the Blues on Sunday. The defenseman is currently bogged down in a four-game pointless streak dating back prior to the league going on hiatus. With Klingberg good to go, Thomas Harley should return to the press box.

Rutta didn't take part in Friday's practice session, Bryan Burns of the Lightning's official site reports.

Rutta logged 16:58 of ice time against Boston on Wednesday, his first game back in the lineup since Feb. 4 versus Vegas. If the Czech blueliner does miss the upcoming clash with the Flyers on Saturday, Zach Bogosian figures to jump back into the lineup alongside Victor Hedman.

Price turned aside all 22 shots he faced during Friday's 2-0 win over the Penguins in Game 4 of their Stanley Cup Qualifier.

The veteran netminder delivered his most brilliant performance yet this postseason, shutting down Sidney Crosby and company for 60 minutes to complete a stunning upset. Price allowed only seven total goals in the four-game series with a .947 save percentage, and he'll be a formidable foe for whichever team the Habs face in the next round.

Jarry made 20 saves during Friday's 2-0 loss to the Canadiens in Game 4 of their Stanley Cup Qualifier.

Montreal's final goal was scored into an empty net. With the Penguins trying to stay alive in the playoffs, the Jarry came up big in his first career postseason start, matching Carey Price stop for stop until the third period, when Artturi Lehkonen went wide and drew the 25-year-old out of position before banking the puck in off a Pittsburgh defender from behind the net. Jarry outplayed Matt Murray during the regular season, and he'll head into 2020-21 with a chance to take over the No. 1 job for the Penguins on a more permanent basis.

Kuemper made 49 saves during Friday's 4-3 overtime win over the Predators in Game 4 of their Stanley Cup Qualifier.

Arizona's defense once again didn't make it easy -- it was the third time in the series he had to face at least 40 shots -- but Kuemper turned in another huge performance to send the club into the next round of the playoffs. The 30-year-old netminder posted a career-best 2.22 GAA and .928 save percentage during the regular season and remains locked into the No. 1 spot for the Coyotes as they wait for the outcome of the round-robin seeding games to find out who they'll face.

Saros stopped 30 shots during Friday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Coyotes in Game 4 of their Stanley Cup Qualifier.

With Nashville facing elimination, Saros came out a little flat -- his awkward puck-handling led directly to Phil Kessel's goal early in the second period that made it 2-0 -- but got stronger as the game went on and gave the Preds a chance to get back in it. Unfortunately, the puck didn't bounce their way in OT. Saros moved past franchise legend Pekka Rinne on the depth chart this year, and despite an up-and-down showing in the playoffs, the 25-year-old will likely head into next season as Nashville's No. 1 netminder.

Andersen will be in goal for Game 4 against Columbus on Friday, Kristen Shilton of TSN.ca reports.

Andersen and his teammates saw a three-goal lead slip away from them in Game 3, putting the Maple Leafs one loss away from elimination. The Danish netminder made 39 saves in the losing effort. Friday's contest will make only the second time this season Andersen has played both halves of a back-to-back.

Bobrovsky made 33 saves during Friday's 5-1 loss to the Islanders in Game 4 of their Stanley Cup Qualifier.

New York's final goal was scored into an empty net. With the Panthers' playoff lives on the line, the team's $70 million goaltender dug an early hole by allowing a soft, bad-angle shot from Anthony Beauvillier to bang off his pad and go between his legs into the net to open the scoring. Bobrovsky did shake it off and come up with some big stops in the second period and early in the third before the Isles pulled away, but the damage had already been done. The 31-year-old's first campaign in Florida was largely a disappointment, but the two-time Vezina Trophy winner had his ups and down in Columbus as well and shouldn't be written off as a free-agent bust just yet.