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NHL Hockey Player News
Balinskis is expected to be a healthy scratch for Game 5 in Carolina on Wednesday.

Balinskis appeared in his first game in 21 days for Florida's Game 4 victory, but is expected to be a healthy scratch for Game 5 as Niko Mikkola returns from injury to the lineup. The 28-year-old has only appeared in five playoff games during Florida's current run, but has a goal and a +4 plus/minus.

Uvis Balinskis
Utah has signed Daniil But to a three-year, entry-level contract.

But was Utah's 2023 1st-round pick (12th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Mammoth on Wednesday. The 20-year-old left-winger is expected to head over to North America for the 2025-26 season after putting up nine goals and 28 points with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL) in 2024-25.

Daniil But
Greer (undisclosed) will return to Florida's lineup for Game 5 on Wednesday in Carolina.

Greer missed Florida's Game 4 loss due to an undisclosed injury but will return to the lineup for Game 5 on Wednesday. The 28-year-old is expected to replace Nico Sturm on Florida's 4th line and has two goals and three points in 11 games played throughout the playoffs.

A.J. Greer
Mikkola (upper-bod) will return to Florida's lineup for Game 5 in Carolina on Wednesday.

Mikkola was absent from Florida's Game 4 loss vs. Carolina but is expected to return to the Panthers' lineup for Game 5 on Wednesday. The 29-year-old was having a fantastic postseason before his injury with three goals, five points and a +6 plus/minus through 15 games played.

Niko Mikkola
Reinhart (lower-body) will return to Florida's lineup for Game 5 in Carolina on Wednesday.

Reinhart missed Florida's previous two playoff games due to a lower-body injury but will return for Game 5 in Carolina on Wednesday and is expected to replace Jesper Boqvist on the Panthers' top line. The 29-year-old star forward has struggled to find the net at his usual torrid pace this postseason, but still has seven assists and 11 points in 16 games.

Sam Reinhart
Utah has signed Dmitri Simashev to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Simashev was Utah's 2023 1st-round pick (6th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Mammoth on Wednesday. The 20-year-old Russian defenseman is expected to head to North America for the 2025-26 season after putting up a goal, six points and a +9 plus/minus in 56 games played with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL) in 2024-25.

Dmitri Simashev
Brown (undisclosed) will remain out for Game 5 vs. Dallas on Thursday.

Brown missed Edmonton's Game 4 victory due to an undisclosed injury and is expected to remain out for Game 5 on Thursday in Dallas. The 31-year-old right-winger has taken a much-needed step forward in the 2024-25 playoffs with five goals, eight points and 21 SOG in 14 games played.

Connor Brown
Hyman is having upper-body surgery and is likely out for the remainder of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Hyman left Game 4 after just 5 shifts and 3:11 TOI due to an upper-body injury and has already been ruled out for Game 5, but will now undergo surgery, which will likely keep him out for the remainder of the playoffs. The 32-year-old forward was leading all players in Hits this postseason and had added five goals and 11 points in 16 games while playing an effective top-six role.

Zach Hyman
Andersen will start Game 5 vs. Florida on Wednesday.

Andersen snapped Carolina's 15-game Eastern Conference Final losing streak with a 20-save shutout in Game 4 to keep Carolina alive and the series at 3-1 Florida. The 35-year-old Danish netminder will take the crease yet again on Wednesday for Game 5 and will hope to remain hard to beat this postseason, as shown by his 1.84 GAA, .914 SV% and 8-4-0 record. He will host the Florida Panthers, who are looking to close out the series and reach the Stanley Cup Finals for a third consecutive campaign.

Frederik Andersen
Hyman left Game 4 with an injury and will not return.

Hyman was hurt on a hit from Mason Marchment in the first period and will not return to Game 4. Hyman is coming off of his biggest game of the postseason, scoring two goals with one assist in Game 3. Overall, he had tallied 11 points (5G / 6A) in 14 games coming into tonight.

Zach Hyman
Pickard (lower body) will return as Edmonton's backup on Tuesday for Game 4.

Pickard has not played since Game 3 of Edmonton's round-two series against the Vegas Golden Knights, but will return as the backup netminder on Tuesday for Game 4. Stuart Skinner has been great since replacing Pickard in net, going 4-1 with a 1.64 GAA, .936 SV% and three shutouts, so it would likely take an injury for Pickard to get the crease back.

Calvin Pickard
Ekholm (undisclosed) will remain out of the lineup on Tuesday for Game 4.

Ekholm has yet to play in the postseason and is nearing a return but will miss at least one more game, remaining sidelined on Tuesday for game 4. The 34-year-old Ekholm had 33 points (9G / 24A) in 65 games this season and would be a massive boost on the Oilers blueline.

Mattias Ekholm
Arvidsson will draw into Edmonton's lineup on Tuesday for Game 4.

Connor Brown's injury (undisclosed) has opened up a roster spot for Arvidsson to re-enter the lineup for his first game since May 10th. The 32-year-old Arvidsson has four points (1G / 3A) in nine games this postseason. He is expected to play on a line with Mattias Janmark and Vasily Podkolzin.

Viktor Arvidsson