NHL Player News
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Viktor Arvidsson LW | BOS
Bruins' Viktor Arvidsson: Absent from practice
Arvidsson (upper body) is questionable for Game 5 against Buffalo on Tuesday, Conor Ryan of The Boston Globe reports.
Arvidsson didn't participate in Monday's practice after being injured in Sunday's 6-1 loss to the Sabres in Game 4. There was no update on his availability following Monday's session. He has two goals, 11 shots on net, three blocked shots and one hit in four outings this postseason. Michael Eyssimont could replace Arvidsson in Tuesday's lineup, but James Hagens and Alex Steeves are also available as replacement options.
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Jason Zucker LW | BUF
Sabres' Jason Zucker: Deemed probable versus Bruins
Zucker (undisclosed) is considered probable ahead of Game 5 versus the Bruins on Tuesday, according to head coach Lindy Ruff.
While Ruff wouldn't fully commit to having Zucker available for Game 5, the veteran winger seems to be trending in the right direction. Despite his team having a 3-1 series lead, Zucker has yet to register a point through four postseason contests while chipping in 12 hits and eight shots.
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Anton Forsberg G | LA
Kings' Anton Forsberg: Ends playoff run winless
Forsberg stopped 27 of 31 shots in Sunday's 5-1 loss to the Avalanche in Game 4 of the Western Conference first round. The fifth goal was an empty-netter.
Forsberg didn't win a single game in the playoffs as Colorado swept the Kings, and even though the outcome of the series wasn't Forsberg's fault, it's worth noting he posted a save percentage under .880 in his last two starts. Forsberg ends the playoff run having allowed 11 goals on 121 shots (.909 save percentage) over four games in another first-round exit for the Kings.
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Nikita Zadorov D | BOS
Bruins' Nikita Zadorov: Questionable for Game 5
Zadorov (undisclosed) missed Monday's practice session, raising doubts about his availability for Game 5 versus the Sabres on Tuesday, Conor Ryan of The Boston Globe reports.
Zadorov has seemingly been playing through an injury, but that hasn't stopped him from averaging 18:06 of ice time in the playoffs -- though that is significantly below his regular-season average of 20:53. If Zadorov is forced to sit out Game 5, it would likely be Mason Lohrei who steps into the lineup Tuesday.
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Joel Edmundson D | LA
Kings' Joel Edmundson: Scores in playoff exit
Edmundson scored a goal in Sunday's 5-1 loss to the Avalanche in Game 4 of the Western Conference first round.
Edmundson found the back of the net in the second period with a wrister, but that would be all the offense the Kings would muster throughout the game. It was also Edmundson's lone point of a playoff run that ended with Sunday's loss. He had a career-high 23 points (two goals, 21 assists) in 82 regular-season contests, but he was far from a reliable fantasy performer, although he had more upside in leagues that reward physicality with his 97 hits and 111 blocked shots.
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Artem Zub D | OTT
Senators' Artem Zub: Recovery ongoing
Zub (lower body) remains about a month away from being fully fit, Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia reports Monday.
Based on Zub's announced timeline, the Senators would have needed a very deep run for him to return during the postseason. In 81 regular-season appearances, the 30-year-old blueliner notched five goals and 25 assists, reaching the 30-point threshold for the first time in his six-year NHL career. Hopefully, the team will provide an update in the future, but fantasy managers should anticipate he'll be ready for the start of training camp in the fall.
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Scott Wedgewood G | COL
Avalanche's Scott Wedgewood: Shines in series-clinching win
Wedgewood stopped 24 of 25 shots in Sunday's 5-1 win over the Kings in Game 4 of the Western Conference first round.
Wedgewood was one of the reasons why the Avalanche managed to sweep the Kings, as he allowed one goal or fewer in three of the four games while posting a save percentage of at least .923 each time. Wedgewood will carry a 1.21 GAA and .950 save percentage into the second round of the playoffs, where the Avalanche will play either the Stars or the Wild.
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Nicolas Roy C | COL
Avalanche's Nicolas Roy: Extends point streak
Roy scored a goal in Sunday's 5-1 win over the Kings in Game 4 of the Western Conference first round.
Roy has cracked the scoresheet in each of the last three games, earning three points (two goals, one assist), three shots on goal, five hits and three blocked shots. Don't expect Roy to have a big role on offense in the rest of the playoffs, though, as he figures to remain in a bottom-six role until further notice.
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Nathan MacKinnon C | COL
Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon: Three points in win Sunday
MacKinnon had two goals, including one on the power play, and an assist in Sunday's 5-1 win over the Kings in Game 4 of the Western Conference first round.
MacKinnon had accrued just one assist and seven shots on goal in the first three games of the series combined, but he woke up in Game 4. His five shots on goal were a personal best in the current playoff run, and he got involved in three of the team's five goals in Sunday's win. MacKinnon should be critical for the Avalanche's success throughout the rest of the playoffs as the opponents get tougher.
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Cale Makar D | COL
Avalanche's Cale Makar: Scores in Game 4 win
Makar scored a goal in Sunday's 5-1 win over the Kings in Game 4 of the Western Conference first round.
After going pointless in the first two games of the series, Makar has scored in back-to-back contests. The star blueliner, who was one of the most productive defensemen in the regular season with 20 goals and 79 points in 75 contests, should continue playing a big role for the Avalanche on offense in the second round.