Fantasy Hockey player news, injuries and analysis

Welcome, Guest Login | Register | Contact / Help | My Roto

Player News

Date: Team: Pos:

Antti Niemi - G - Sharks

San Jose goaltender Antti Niemi played well Thursday night but his teammates couldn't get a puck past Los Angeles goaltender Jonathan Quick and the Kings ended up with a 3-0 shutout over the Sharks.

It was the Kings' 13th consecutive home victory and it also gave them a 3-2 lead over San Jose in their best-of-seven playoff series. Niemi stopped 26 of the Kings' 28 shots Thursday and held them goalless until 18:08 of the second period. An early third-period goal and an empty-netter sealed the deal for the defending-champion Kings and leaves the Sharks needing two wins -- the next one in San Jose and then a Game 7 in Los Angeles -- to advance.

May 24 - 1:43 AM

Anze Kopitar - C - Kings

Anze Kopitar, who had only one goal in his previous 26 games, broke a goalless game late in the second period for the Los Angeles Kings Thursday night, and it turned out to be the winner in a 3-0 playoff triumph over the San Jose Sharks.

Kopitar's second playoff goal came at 18:08 of the second period. Kopitar, generally recognized as the Kings' most talented offensive player, had complained earlier during this series that his team needed to take more shots at San Jose goalie Antti Niemi; the Kings wound up with 28 in the Thursday win. Slava Voynov pitched in with his fourth playoff goal on a power play early in the third period and Jeff Carter notched his fifth playoff goal in the Sharks' empty net late in the third. It was the Kings' 13th consecutive home victory.

May 24 - 1:36 AM

Jonathan Quick - G - Kings

Jonathan Quick of the Los Angeles Kings turned aside every shot the San Jose Sharks directed at him Thursday night en route to a 3-0 shutout.

The victory gave the defending-champion Kings a 3-2 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against San Jose. The Sharks took 24 shots on goal but Quick was sharp and the Kings never were in danger of losing this game on their home ice, where they now have won 13 consecutive games, dating back to March.

May 24 - 1:26 AM

Jonathan Toews - C - Blackhawks

Jonathan Toews was held off the scoresheet for the third straight game Thursday as the Blackhawks were shut out by Detroit by a score of 2-0.

Toews did register three shots on goal and six penalty minutes in the game, but he has totaled only three points, all assists, in nine postseason games this spring. If the Blackhawks are going to come back from their current 3-1 hole in the series their captain will have to be a major contributor.

May 23 - 11:16 PM

Corey Crawford - G - Blackhawks

Corey Crawford turned away 25 of 26 shots Thursday, but was saddled with a loss in a 2-0 defeat at the hands of the Red Wings.

This result was far from being Crawford's fault, but given the three-game slide the Blackhawks are currently suffering through there's a chance we could see Ray Emery between the pipes for Game Five Saturday.

May 23 - 11:07 PM

Jakub Kindl - D - Red Wings

Jakub Kindl scored his first goal of the postseason Thursday as Detroit upended the Blackhawks by a score of 2-0 to take a 3-1 lead in their second round playoff series.

Kindl's goal midway through the second period was assisted by Carlo Colaiacovo and Johan Franzen and held up as the only tally of the contest until Dan Cleary's empty-net marker in the game's final minute iced the victory for Detroit.

May 23 - 11:03 PM

Jimmy Howard - G - Red Wings

Jimmy Howard stopped all 28 shots he faced in the Red Wings' 2-0 win over Chicago Thursday night.

Howard was excellent in this game and thanks to his strong play, the Wings now hold a 3-1 advantage in their second round playoff series. The series shifts back to Chicago for Game Five Saturday.

May 23 - 10:56 PM

Tuukka Rask - G - Bruins

Tuukka Rask allowed four goals on 32 shots in a 4-3 overtime loss to the New York Rangers Thursday night.

Rask has enjoyed a strong second round series so he can be forgiven for one subpar outing. He actually wasn't terrible in this contest outside of the Rangers first goal, on which Rask lost his balance and allowed Carl Hagelin to slide the puck into a near-empty net. He'll get his chance to bounce back in Game Five in Boston on Saturday evening.

May 23 - 10:37 PM

Tyler Seguin - W - Bruins

Tyler Seguin scored his first goal of the playoffs and added an assist Thursday, however the Bruins dropped a 4-3 overtime decision at Madison Square Garden.

The goal was the first in 11 postseason contests for Seguin and his first in 16 games dating back to the regular season. Nathan Horton also registered a goal and an assist in the loss while Torey Krug posted his third tally of the playoffs.

May 23 - 10:16 PM

Henrik Lundqvist - G - Rangers

Henrik Lundqvist was sharp Thursday as he turned away 37 of 40 shots in a 4-3 overtime win over Boston.

The game went back and forth a few times, especially in the third period, however King Henrik made the important saves he needed to when it counted. The Rangers are still in a tough situation as they have three more games to win in order to complete the series comeback.

May 23 - 10:12 PM

Chris Kreider - W - Rangers

Chris Kreider scored the overtime winner for the Rangers Thursday in a 4-3 overtime win over Boston.

The win keeps the Blueshirts alive despite now trailing 3-1 in their second round playoff series. Derek Stepan picked up a goal and an assist in the victory while Brian Boyle and Carl Hagelin also found the back of the net. Derick Brassard contributed to the cause with a pair of assists in the win.

May 23 - 10:08 PM

Oliver Ekman-Larsson - D - Coyotes

Coyotes general manager Don Maloney is close to finishing a new contract extension, according to Sarah McLellan of the Arizona Republic/Phoenix Gazette.

Maloney's current deal expires this offseason but he and the NHL, which owns the team, are nearly done with a new one. Maloney has been the Coyotes' general manager since 2007, helping guide the team to three playoff berths in the last four years without an owner. McLellan says there's no word on when exactly the two sides want to get this done by. Coach Dave Tippett also has a contract that expires this summer.

Source: Arizona Republic/Phoenix Gazette

May 23 - 8:41 PM

Chris Kreider - W - Rangers

Chris Kreider is starting Game 4 of the second-round series on the Rangers' second line.

The key word here is "starting" because coach John Tortorella is a notorious line-juggler. For now, though, he has a chance to play with Derick Brassard and Rick Nash on the line he played on before leaving Game 3 after getting hit in the forehead with a stick.

Source: Jim Cerny on Twitter

May 23 - 7:11 PM

Micheal Haley - W - Rangers

Micheal Haley and Kris Newbury took line rushes on the Rangers' fourth unit during Thursday's pregame warmup.

They are projected to play alongside Derek Dorsett in Game 4 Thursday night.

Source: Andrew Gross on Twitter

May 23 - 6:44 PM

Arron Asham - W - Rangers

Arron Asham and Ryane Clowe weren't on the ice for New York's pregame warmup.

It wasn't clear if Asham and Clowe would be in the lineup Thursday for Game 4 following a question-filled morning skate, but now it looks like they won't suit up. Marc Staal and Anton Stralman shouldn't be expected to play either after they didn't come out for the warmup as well.

Source: Andrew Gross on Twitter

May 23 - 6:42 PM