2 years agoNew York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox continued his outstanding postseason with two assists in Friday's 3-2 win over the Lightning. He helped Kaapo Kakko and Mika Zibanejad on the board. Fox has certainly enjoyed the home atmosphere in the playoffs, registering 13 points in nine appearances at the Madison Square Garden. He's exploded for 22 points in 16 games in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs and will enter Sunday's Game 3 with a four-game multi-point streak. The reigning Norris Trophy winner has been scoreless just twice this postseason, so it's pretty likely that he maintains his scoring form.--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoNew York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad scored in a sixth consecutive home game on Friday, helping his side grab a 2-0 series lead with a 3-2 win over Tampa Bay. He ended up logging the game-winning goal after lighting the lamp early in the third period. Zibanejad's streak is the third-longest in league history during one playoff campaign. The 29-year-old is also riding a seven-game points streak that includes six goals and five assists. He's had a superb postseason with 22 points in 16 games and will look to continue it on Sunday as the Eastern Conference Finals shift to Tampa.--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoColorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri was responsible for three assists in a 4-0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. Kadri is providing a phenomenal amount of offensive output for Colorado in this year's playoff, run-producing six goals and eight helpers in 12 contests. The London, Ontario native is relied heavily upon in Colorado as he is logging 18:40 of ice time per playoff game. All of Kadri's helpers Thursday came during even-strength play.--Andrew Lennox - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoColorado Avalanche goalie Pavel Francouz stepped in perfectly for injured Darcy Kuemper, recording a 4-0 shutout in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. His team played brilliantly in front of him, and he wasn't too shabby, fending off 24 Oilers shots. He has two career playoff shutouts and four wins in this year's playoffs. Pavel Francouz will get the nod in Game 3 should Kuemper not be available again for the Avalanche.--Andrew Lennox - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoEdmonton Oilers goalie Mike Smith will be the probable starter in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. Smith was lit up in Game 1, giving up six goals on 25 shots before being yanked midway through the contest in favor of 33-year-old Mikko Koskinen. The Kingston, Ontario, native has produced an 8-2-1 record with a 3.12 goals-against-average and a .917 save percentage. He's particularly struggled in Game 1's and has been able to bounce back as the last two series progressed. Colorado also has their goalie questions as starting goalie Darcy Kuemper went down with an upper-body injury, and backup Pavel Francouz will be between the pipes.--Andrew Lennox - RotoBallerSource: Darren Dreger

2 years agoColorado Avalanche netminder Pavel Francouz will mind the crease Thursday in place of Darcy Kuemper, who suffered an injury in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. Kuemper had to leave the contest in the second period with an upper-body injury. In relief, Francouz made 18 saves on 21 shots on goal. In his playoff career, the 31-year-old netminder is 3-0 with a .889 save percentage and a 3.59 goals-against-average. He will need to be on top of his game, facing the high-flying Oilers, who scored six goals in Game 1.--Andrew Lennox - RotoBallerSource: Darren Dreger

2 years agoTampa Bay Lightning forward Brayden Point could potentially be in the lineup for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Per Emily Kaplan of ESPN, Point was seen skating in Tampa Bay's optional morning skate. Point has yet to skate since Game 7 of the Lightning first-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Calgary, Alberta native logged four points in seven playoff games before his injury. He could provide a big boost for Tampa Bay in the first contest of the Eastern Conference Finals.--Andrew Lennox - RotoBallerSource: Emily Kaplan

2 years agoColorado Avalanche goalie Darcy Kuemper suffered an injury in an 8-6 victory over the Edmonton Oilers Tuesday. Kuemper went down with an upper-body injury in the second period after surrendering three goals on 16 shots. Pavel Francouz stepped in for Kuemper, giving up three goals on 21 shots. The former Minnesota Wild netminder hasn't been stellar in this year's playoff run, but he has been good enough to get Colorado to the Western Conference Finals. However, Kuemper's status remains uncertain going into Game 2 on Thursday.--Andrew Lennox - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoEdmonton Oilers goalie Mike Smith was pulled in the second period in an 8-6 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. He was yanked early in the second period after giving up six goals on 25 Colorado shots on goal. Mikko Koskinen came in to replace the veteran netminder. Smith being pulled early in a series is becoming a common occurrence. In the second round against Calgary, Smith gave up three goals in six minutes in Game 1 of the series.--Andrew Lennox - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoEdmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid was held to a goal and two assists in a thrilling 8-6 victory for Colorado in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. Having a bit of an off night, McDavid still managed to register three points and two shots on goal. In addition, he played the most of any forward in the game, compiling 24:15 of total ice time. In a game that saw 14 goals scored, Edmonton will need even more offensive production from their star forward to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.--Andrew Lennox - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoEdmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid has been held scoreless just once in this year's playoffs ahead of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. He started the postseason with a three-game multi-point streak and has racked up a total of 26 points in 12 games. Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux are the only players in NHL history to register more points across the first 12 games of a playoff campaign. McDavid has averaged a point per game in 16 previous career appearances against Colorado, and the Oilers will definitely hope for more of the same during the next couple of weeks.--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoEdmonton Oilers goaltender Mike Smith has had a few rough outings during the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs, but he's taking a four-game winning streak into the Western Conference Finals. The 40-year-old boasts an 8-3 record overall for the postseason with a 2.70 goals-against average, a .927 save percentage and two shutouts. Edmonton lost the regular-season series against Colorado 2-1, but Smith went a solid 1-0-1 in the matchup. It's a clash against a team that has scored 4.30 goals per game during the playoffs and the Oilers will need Smith to stand tall throughout the series.--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoColorado Avalanche goaltender Darcy Kuemper will face one of his favorite opponents in the Western Conference Finals. He has gone 10-2-4 against the Oilers in his career, having won more games only against Vancouver (11). Kuemper has registered a 2.20 goals-against average against Edmonton with an outstanding .926 save percentage and one shutout. Colorado's No. 1 also had a winning record in the matchup during the regular season this campaign, going 2-1-0 with a 2.62 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage. The 32-year-old has lost just twice this postseason and plays behind a team that has allowed a league-low 27 shots per game in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs, so Kuemper looks well placed to further improve his impressive numbers against the Oilers.--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 years agoCarolina Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis sustained an upper-body injury on a hit by Jacob Trouba in Monday's Game 7 loss to the Rangers, playing just a handful of minutes. The Hurricanes lost an important piece of their top six and couldn't hang with the visitors, losing 6-2. Jarvis had netted points in back-to-back outings before Game 7 and he led all rookies in scoring in the playoffs with eight points. The 20-year-old looks set for a bright future in Raleigh after managing to post 40 points during the regular season and striking up a good partnership with Teuvo Teravainen and Sebastian Aho.--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Carolina Hurricanes

2 years agoCarolina Hurricanes goaltender Antti Raanta left Monday's Game 7 loss to the Rangers with a lower-body injury. He appeared to have hurt his groin muscle early in the second period when he stretched to save an effort on goal from Mika Zibanejad. Raanta gave up a pair of power-play goals on 18 shots before leaving. Pyotr Kochetkov took over in goal and didn't have a good night as the Hurricanes' season ended when the 22-year-old allowed three goals on 12 shots. Raanta had a solid postseason as Frederik Andersen's (lower body) replacement, posting a 6-5 record with a 2.26 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage. He was even unbeaten at home before Monday's action. The 33-year-old has proven himself as a very good goalie, but he's been very injury-prone throughout his career and will now head into the offseason also nursing an ailment.--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Carolina Hurricanes PR