Description: Ottawa center Jason Spezza could be back in the lineup Sunday for Game 3 against the Penguins. He's been out since January because of a back injury. SOURCE: Ottawa Sun
Insight: Obviously Spezza's return would be a huge lift for the Senators. The 29-year-old has scored 17 goals in 53 postseason appearances.
Description: Alex Ovechkin played the final two games of Washington's series against New York with a broken left foot. SOURCE: Stephen Whyno, Washington Times
Insight: Ovechkin had a tough series and the foot problem may have had something to do with that. We'd expect Ovechkin to be a top-five pick in all fantasy formats next season.
Description: Toronto defenseman Cody Franson notched two goals Monday in a Game 7 loss to Boston.
Insight: What a crushing defeat for the Maple Leafs, who were ahead 4-1 with just over 11 minutes to play. For what it's worth, Franson had an excellent series (three goals, three assists, 15 shots on goal).
Description: Patrice Bergeron became a Boston sports legend on Monday night. The Bruins center forced overtime by scoring with 51 seconds left in regulation and then finished the job with a game-winner six minutes into OT.
Insight: The Bruins became the first team to come back from three goals down in the third period of a Game 7. Bergeron led Boston with six shots on net in just under 21 minutes of ice time. The Bruins will take on the sixth-seeded Rangers in round two.
Description: Penguins blueliner Paul Martin forced overtime with a goal late in the third period.
Insight: He also assisted on Jarome Iginla's goal in the first. Martin led all Pittsburgh skaters with 30 minutes of ice time on Saturday. The Penguins will play the winner of the Boston/Toronto series in the next round.
Description: Wild goalie Josh Harding will start Game 5 against the Blackhawks Thursday night.
Insight: Harding suffered a lower-body injury on a collision with Jonathan Toews in Game 4 and had to leave the game. He's playing due to the lower-body injury suffered by Niklas Backstrom during pre-game warmups for Game 1, so the Wild had to turn to third-string netminder Darcy Kuemper Tuesday. Minnesota trailed the series 3-1.
Description: Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne underwent hip surgery recently and will need four months to recover. SOURCE: The Tennessean
Insight: He's expected to be 100 percent for training camp, however. Rinne, one of the NHL's top workhorses, had an inconsistent season in which he went 15-16-8 with a 2.43 GAA and a .910 SV%. He tied for the NHL lead with five shutouts.
Description: Caps left wing Martin Erat left Wednesday night's game against New York after hurting his arm in the first period. SOURCE: NHL.com
Insight: The Rangers have held Erat to just three shots on goal in the series. He'll have one day to heal up before Friday night's Game 5 in Washington.
Description: Kings center Jeff Carter found the net twice Wednesday in a win over St. Louis.
Insight: Carter has now scored in back-to-back games after being held scoreless in the first three games of the series. The defending champs hold a 3-2 edge in the series with Game 6 coming up Friday night in Los Angeles.
Description: Bruins center David Krejci knocked home the game-winning goal in overtime Wednesday against the Maple Leafs.
Insight: Krejci is having a monster series. With three goals Wednesday, he now has five in his last four games to go along with five assists and a spectacular +7 rating. He's been the MVP of the playoffs so far.
Description: Carl Hagelin led the Rangers to victory with a goal and two assists Wednesday against Washington.
Insight: Hagelin was quiet in Games 2 and 3 (zero points, one shot on goal, -1) but he made up for it by having a spectacular Game 4. The series is tied 2-2.
Description: Canadiens winger Brian Gionta will miss the rest of the playoffs with a torn left biceps that will require surgery, according to Canadiens.nhl.com.
Insight: Gionta actually played with the injury in Games 1 and 3. Montreal is down 3-1 to Ottawa going into Game 5 Thursday.
Description: The Penguins will start Tomas Vokoun in net on Thursday in Game 5 against the Islanders.
Insight: He can't do any worse than Marc-Andre Fleury has done over the last three games. After shutting out New York in Game 1, Fleury has allowed 14 goals over the last three, including six in Game 4 Tuesday night.
Description: Washington Capitals winger Brooks Laich is doubtful for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Wednesday against the NY Rangers.
Insight: Laich put up 41 points last season (16 G, 25 A), but injured only allowed him to play nine games and score four points. He hasn't been on the ice since April 4.
Description: New York right wing Ryane Clowe is doubtful for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Wednesday against Washington.
Insight: He's been battling a head injury for the last week and a half. During the regular season he posted 19 points in 40 games and added 93 penalty minutes.
Description: Ducks blueliner Toni Lydman is doubtful for Game 5 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals Wednesday against Detroit with migraine and neck soreness.
Insight: Lydman was the victim of a brutal hit by Detroit winger Justin Abdelkader. He doesn't provide much for fantasy owners so this shouldn't change any lineups.
Description: Wild goalie Josh Harding had to leave Game 3 Tuesday against the Blackhawks after colliding with Jonathan Toews.
Insight: Harding has an undisclosed injury. He already was playing in place of Niklas Backstrom, who suffered a lower-body injury during pre-game warmups for Game 1. The Wild had to turn to Darcy Kuemper, a rookie who just celebrated his 23rd birthday two days ago.
Description: Canadiens goalie Carey Price did not come out for overtime in Game 4 against the Senators Tuesday night due to an undisclosed injury.
Insight: Price made 30, but he allowed a game-tying goal to Cory Conacher at 19:37 in the third period, and Peter Budaj let in the game-winner at 2:32 in overtime as the Sens stole one to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the series.
Description: Penguins left wing James Neal (lower body) took part in pre-game warmups for Game 4 against the New York Islanders.
Insight: Neal left Game 1 with a lower-body injury. He has played just one full game since suffering a concussion on April 5, but it looks like he's going to play Tuesday.
Description: Penguins left wing James Neal (lower body) took part in pre-game warmups for Game 4 against the New York Islanders, according to Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun.
Insight: Neal left Game 1 with a lower-body injury. He has played just one full game since suffering a concussion on April 5, but it looks like he's going to play Tuesday.
Description: The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is reporting that rookie right wing Vladimir Tarasenko will participate in Monday night's Game 4 in Los Angeles.
Insight: Tarasenko got off to a hot start in 2013 but struggled after suffering a concussion halfway through the season. He was a healthy scratch in Games 1-3.
Description: Rangers right wing Ryane Clowe is questionable for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Monday against Washington with a head injury.
Insight: He skated in Friday practice, but wore a no-contact jersey which indicates he's not likely ready to play in a game. He scored 19 points and added 93 penalty minutes to become a useful fantasy option.
Description: Bruins defenseman Andrew Ference missed Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Saturday against Toronto due to a suspension, but should return for Monday night's game.
Insight: Ference had four goals and nine assists in 48 regular season games and isn't proving to have much fantasy value.
Description: Ducks blueliner Toni Lydman is doubtful for Monday's game with migraine and neck soreness.
Insight: Lydman was the victim of a brutal hit by Detroit winger Justin Abdelkader and had to come out of the game in the second period. He doesn't provide much for fantasy owners so this shouldn't change any lineups.
Description: Red Wings left wing Justin Abdelkader has been handed a two-game suspension for his hit on Anaheim forward Toni Lydman Saturday night in Game 3. SOURCE: Ansar Khan, MLive.com
Insight: The Ducks have a chance to eliminate Detroit in Game 5 so it's possible that Abdelkader has played his final game of the season. Danny Cleary is expected to replace Abdelkader on the first line Monday in Game 4.
Description: Ducks blueliner Toni Lydman may have suffered a concussion Saturday night against the Red Wings. SOURCE: Orange County Register
Insight: Lydman was the victim of a brutal hit by Detroit winger Justin Abdelkader and had to come out of the game in the second period. It's uncerain if he'll be able to compete in Monday night's Game 4.
Description: Canucks goalie Cory Schneider (undisclosed injury) will return to the crease to start Game 3 against the Sharks Sunday. SOURCE: Farhan Lalji, TSN
Insight: Schneider didn't start the final two games of the regular season or the first two playoff games, but he said prior to the series that he was healthy. Vancouver is down 2-0 to San Jose.
Description: Chris Kunitz's power play goal 11 minutes into overtime gave the Penguins a 5-4 win over the Islanders Sunday in Game 3.
Insight: Kunitz was the best player on the ice, finishing the game with two goals and one assist. Pittsburgh leads the series two games to one. Game 4 is on Tuesday.
Description: Montreal left wing Max Pacioretty (upper body) and Brian Gionta (upper body) will be game-time decisions for Game 3 Sunday against Ottawa.
Insight: Montreal beat Ottawa 3-1 in Game 2 to knot the series at one game apiece despite not having Pacioretty or Gionta.
Description: Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick rescued Los Angeles with a shutout of St. Louis in Game 3 Saturday.
Insight: Quick lost 2-1 in each of the first two games of the series, but he was able to seal the deal Sunday and avoid going down 3-0. He has a 1.25 GAA and a .959 SV% in the series.
Description: Boston center Tyler Seguin doesn't have a point in the first two playoff games against Toronto, but he has attempted 15 SOG and racked up six hits.
Insight: Seguin had 16 goals and 32 points with 161 SOG in 48 games during the regular season, and it's only a matter of time before he gets on the scoresheet in this series.
Description: After not playing in the Bruins' final five games of the regular season, winger Nathan Horton has a goal in each of Boston's first two playoff games against Toronto, including the game-winner in Game 1.
Insight: Horton had an upper-body injury at the end of the season, but the layoff evidently was good for him. He had 13 goals and 114 SOG in 43 games in the regular season.
Description: Toronto goalie James Reimer has been under fire often in the Maple Leafs' first-round series against Boston. He has made 75 saves on 81 shots in two games.
Insight: Reimer, who went 19-8-5 with a 2.46 GAA, a .924 SV% and four shutouts in the regular season, helped Toronto tie the series with a 4-2 win Saturday night.
Description: Anaheim center Ryan Getzlaf has two goals and four points over three games in the Ducks' first-round playoff series against Detroit.
Insight: Getzlaf finished the season with an impressive 49 points in 44 games, and he has continued that type of production in the postseason to help Anaheim take a 2-1 lead.
Description: Ducks netminder Jonas Hiller quieted the calls for Viktor Fasth with a shutout of Detroit in Game 3 Saturday night.
Insight: Hiller allowed five goals on 32 SOG in Game 2, but he has a 1.99 GAA and a .922 SV% overall in the Ducks' first-round series. Anaheim leads 2-1.
Description: Capitals defenseman Mike Green scored the game-winning goal Saturday in Game 2 against the Rangers with 12 minutes remaining in the first overtime.
Insight: Green actually led all blueliners with 12 goals this season and had 26 points in 35 games. His tally Saturday was the only goal of the game for either team.
Description: Rangers netminder Henrik Lundqvist has been outdueled by Braden Holtby in New York's first-round series against the Capitals.
Insight: Lundqvist dropped Game 2 in overtime despite making 37 saves on 38 shots. The series will shift back to New York, but unless the Rangers find their offense it won't matter where the games are played.
Description: Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby is 2-0 with a 0.47 GAA in 128 minutes in two games against the Rangers this series.
Insight: Holtby shut out New York in 68 minutes Saturday afternoon to put the Capitals up 2-0 in the first-round series. He won 23 games with a 2.58 GAA and a .920 SV% during the regular season and was tremendous during the playoffs last season as well.
Description: Ducks defenseman Sheldon Souray will be a healthy scratch in Game 3 against the Red Wings, according to beat writer Eric Stephens.
Insight: Souray said that he is healthy and said that the change in "unexpected." "I'm a little surprised," he said. "But at this time of the year, it’s all about winning. Whatever we have to do to win, we’re on board with." Souray took two minor penalties that led to power-play goals for Detroit at the start of the third period and overtime in Game 2.
Description: Penguins left wing Jussi Jokinen was moved to the fourth line due to the return of Sidney Crosby in Game 2.
Insight: Jokinen filled in admirably for Crosby, producing seven goals and 11 points in 10 games after coming over to Pittsburgh from Carolina. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the switch does not reflect any unhappiness on the part of Dan Bylsma with Jokinen's performance, but rather is a testimony to Jokinen's versatility. "When and if you play a reduced amount of minutes, you're not as in the game as much, you're not on the ice as much," Bylsma said. "You have to be mentally prepared for those situations, and I think Jussi's actually done already that for us."
Description: Toronto backup goaltender Ben Scrivens is questionable for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Saturday against Boston while attending his grandfather's funeral.
Insight: Scrivens posted a 7-9-0 record with a solid 2.69 GAA and a .915 SV% this season as backup to James Reimer.
Description: Maple Leafs defenseman Mike Kostka will miss Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Saturday against Boston with a broken right index finger.
Insight: Kostka doesn't give fantasy owners much offense (eight points in 35 games) and a negative rating makes him a bench player at best.
Description: Rangers right wing Ryane Clowe is doubtful for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Saturday against Washington with a head injury.
Insight: He skated in Friday's practice, but wore a no-contact jersey which indicates he's not likely ready to play in a game. He scored 19 points and added 93 penalty minutes to become a useful fantasy option.
Description: Bruins defenseman Andrew Ference will miss Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Saturday against Toronto due to a suspension for hitting Toronto's Mikhail Grabovski.
Insight: Ference had four goals and nine assists in 48 regular season games and isn't proving to have much fantasy value.
Luca Sbisa, D
5/4/2013 9:36:00 AM
Description: Anaheim defenseman Luca Sbisa is questionable for Game 3 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals Saturday against Detroit with an lower-body injury.
Insight: Sbisa has totaled just one goal and seven assists in 41 games this season and has very little fantasy value. he missed the final six games of the regular season and still doesn't appear to be healthy enough to get on the ice.
Description: Wearing a special protective mask over his face, Penguins center Sidney Crosby scored two goals in his return to action Friday against New York.
Insight: Both goals came in the first period. The Islanders won 4-3 to even the series at one a piece. Game 3 will be held Sunday in New York.
Description: Wild goalie Josh Harding will start in net again in Game 2 against the Blackhawks.
Insight: Harding was forced into duty when starter Niklas Backstrom suffered a lower-body injury reaching for a rebound during pre-game warmups, and he took top-seeded Chicago to overtime in a 2-1 loss.
Description: Montreal left wing Max Pacioretty will miss Game 2 against the Senators Friday due to an upper-body injury.
Insight: The Canadiens will be missing two top-six forwards in Pacioretty and Brian Gionta (upper body), as well as Lars Eller. They'll need Michael Ryder, Tomas Plekanec, Rene Bourque and Alex Galchenyuk to step up after dropping Game 1 at home.
Description: Penguins center Sidney Crosby (jaw) will make his return to action Friday in Game 2 of the team's first-round playoff series against the Islanders, according to Penguins.nhl.com.
Insight: Crosby hasn't played since breaking his jaw after being hit with a puck on March 30 against these same Islanders. Crosby still finished third in the NHL in scoring with 56 points, but the injury most definitely cost him the title. His return adds more firepower to a team that just blew out the Isles 5-0 in Game 1.
Description: Blues goaltender Brian Elliott has outdueled Jonathan Quick to help St. Louis take a 2-0 series lead against the Kings.
Insight: Elliott has allowed two goals and saved 96.6 percent of his shots in 133 minutes over two games. This comes after he went 11-2 with a 1.28 GAA and a .948 SV% and three shutouts in April.
Description: Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick has a 1.81 GAA and a .940 SV% in two games against the Blues this postseason, but Los Angeles is down 2-0.
Insight: Quick allowed Alex Steen to steal the puck from him behind the net and score the game-winner in overtime in Game 1 and blew a 1-0 lead in Game 2 Thursday by allowing two goals in the third period. Quick only lost four games in all of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs en route to winning the Conn Smythe Trophy and a Stanley Cup.
Description: Montreal center Lars Eller was taken off the ice on a stretcher after taking a big hit from Senators D Eric Gryba in Game 1 of their playoff series Thursday night.
Insight: Eller lost consciousness before hitting the ice and went down facefirst, leading to facial and dental fractures and a very bloody scene. Eller also is dealing with a concussion and was hospitalized overnight. The NHL is reviewing the play and will hold a hearing Friday.
Description: Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby made 35 saves on 36 shots to win Game 1 against the Rangers Thursday night.
Insight: Holtby had an up-and-down season but he finished strong with a 2.29 GAA in March and a 2.16 GAA in February to lead Washington to a division title and a No. 3 seed. He went 7-7 with a 1.95 GAA and a .935 SV% in the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Description: Senators goaltender Craig Anderson put the team on his back again in its Game 1 win over the Montreal Canadiens, saving 48 of 50 shots in a 4-2 victory.
Insight: Anderson led the NHL in GAA and SV% this season but missed nearly two months with a sprained ankle. If he plays like he did in the regular season, he could take No. 7 Ottawa further than expected.
Description: Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo will start Game 2 of the team's first-round postseason series against the Sharks Friday with Cory Schneider still out.
Insight: Schneider didn't practice Thursday and is still day-to-day with an undisclosed injury. Luongo started zero games from March 19 to April 9, but he has started three straight with Schneider on the shelf, including the Canucks' 3-1 Game 1 loss.
Description: Rangers right wing Ryane Clowe's undisclosed injury, which is likely a concussion, will keep him out of Game 1 against Washington Thursday, according to the Bergen Record.
Insight: Rangers coach John Tortorella doesn't divulge injury information if he can help it, so we don't truly know what's wrong with Clowe. He didn't skate Thursday morning, but he traveled with the team on the trip to Washington and worked out off the ice.
Description: Chicago center Dave Bolland (groin) won't be ready for Game 2 of the Blackhawks' first-round playoff series against Minnesota, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Insight: Bolland also missed the final three regular season games and Game 1 of the series. "Bollie didn't skate but he's getting real close to getting on the ice," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said after practice.
Description: Penguins wing Pascal Dupuis notched two goals Wednesday in a Game 1 victory over New York.
Insight: Dupuis registered four multi-goal games in the regular season and now he has his first of the playoffs. He received a 10-minute game misconduct late in the third period.
Description: Penguins left wing James Neal exited in the second period of Wednesday night's Game 1 versus the Islanders.
Insight: There hasn't been an official diagnosis yet but it appears that Neal suffered a leg injury. We should know more about Neal's status after the game.
Description: Jets left wing Evander Kane is set to meet with a specialist about his wrist injury. SOURCE: Winnipeg Free Press
Insight: If Kane does end up needing surgery, he should have plenty of time to recover before the start of next season. Kane ended the 2013 campaign with 33 points (17 goals, 16 assists) in 48 contests.
Description: Penguins center Sidney Crosby wasn't able to partcipate in Wednesday's Game 1 against the Islanders. He's still recovering from a broken jaw.
Insight: Crosby has been practicing all week so he should be getting close to a return. Even without Crosby, the Penguins are heavy favorites to beat the eighth-seeded Islanders.
Description: According to the Columbus Dispatch, Blue Jackets right wing Marian Gaborik needs surgery on his injured abdomen.
Insight: The operation should take place within the next 24 hours. Gaborik will probably need about 3-to-4 weeks to recover. Obviously, he'll be fine by the time training camp rolls around in September.
Description: Wild netminder Niklas Backstrom suffered a lower-body injury Tuesday while reaching for a rebound in pre-game warmups prior to Game 1 of the team's playoff series against Chicago.
Insight: Backstrom tied for the NHL lead with 24 wins and had a 2.48 GAA this season, so this is obviously a big loss for the eighth-seeded Wild. Josh Harding will start for the first time since allowing two goals in seven minutes Jan. 30 against these same Chicago Blackhawks.
Description: Canucks goalie Cory Schneider (undisclosed injury) said he thinks he is ready to play and needs to convince coach Alain Vigneault, according to Jim Jamieson of the Vancouver Province.
Insight: Roberto Luongo started the final two games of the season after being relegated to the bench over the last six weeks. Vigneault said he will make the decision about the starting goaltender for Game 1 on Wednesday.
Description: Wild forward Jason Pominville (upper body) will miss Game 1 of Minnesota's first round playoff series against the Blackhawks on Tuesday, according to Tracey Myers of CSNChicago.com
Insight: Pominville practiced Monday and appeared ready to play, so this is surprising. Minnesota already is a steep undergo against top-seeded Chicago, and not having Pominville will make pulling off an upset even tougher.
Luca Sbisa, D
4/30/2013 10:36:00 AM
Description: Anaheim defenseman Luca Sbisa is doubtful for Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals Tuesday against Detroit with an lower-body injury.
Insight: Sbisa has totaled just one goal and seven assists in 41 games this season and has very little fantasy value. he missed the final six games of the regular season and still doesn't appear to be healthy enough to get on the ice.
