Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz: Laine, Ovechkin have similar traits

Welcome to the Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz, a daily look at the races for the 2018 NHL postseason. The 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs begin Wednesday with three Game 1s, including the first playoff game in the history of the Vegas Golden Knights.
Here is the entire schedule for the first round of the playoffs.

Need to know

Here is the latest news involving teams in the Stanley Cup Playoffs

Laine has similarities to Ovechkin, says Wild's Boudreau

Minnesota Wild coach Bruce Boudreau initially joked when asked about the similarities between Winnipeg Jets forward Patrik Laine and Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin after the Wild's final practice before Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round at Xcel Energy Center on Tuesday.
The Wild play Game 1 of their series against the Jets on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET; CNBC, SN, TVAS2, FS-N).
"They (both) got a good shot," Boudreau said. "They both can shoot the puck; they're both European. Laine is not as psychical as (Ovechkin) is (but) he's taller."
Laine is 6-foot-5, 206 pounds; Ovechkin is 6-3, 235.
Boudreau coached the Capitals for five seasons (2007-12), a span in which Ovechkin had 50 goals and 100 points three times.
Ovechkin, in his 13th NHL season, led the League with 49 goals. Laine, 19 and in his second season, was second with 44.
"I think in all seriousness the comparison is because of their great shot," Boudreau said. "They stand there on the power play on that one side, and if you give them an opportunity they're going to put it in the net."
-- Jessi Pierce, NHL.com correspondent

Thornton remains sidelined for Sharks in opener against Ducks

Injured center Joe Thornton won't be in the lineup when the San Jose Sharks face the Anaheim Ducks in Game 1 of their Western Conference First Round at Honda Center on Thursday (10:30 p.m. ET; USA, SN360, TVAS2, PRIME, NBCSCA).
"That's as far as we'll go," coach Peter DeBoer said.
Thornton, who hasn't played since having surgery on his right knee, which he injured against the Winnipeg Jets on Jan. 23, skated with the Sharks extra forwards Tuesday during San Jose's first practice since the end of the regular season.
The Sharks' first three lines remained the same. Joe Pavelski centered Evander Kane and Joonas Donskoi on the top line. Logan Couture skated between Tomas Hertl and Mikkel Boedker, and Chris Tierney centered Timo Meier and Kevin Labanc.
Eric Fehr, who missed the final seven regular-season games with a lower body injury, centered the fourth line, which included Marcus Sorensen and Melker Karlsson, who missed the final three games with an undisclosed injury.
Joel Ward played the final six regular-season games after missing 22 straight with a shoulder injury but appears likely to be a healthy scratch for Game 1. Ward skated with the extra forwards, as did Jannik Hansen and Barclay Goodrow, who is cleared to play after missing four games with a broken finger.
"We've got depth there," DeBoer said. "We have tough decisions to make. There's going to be some good players that can probably help us sitting out. All those guys in those roles, whoever starts Game 1 has to make sure that they're having a positive impact so that someone else doesn't come in and grab that spot."
-- Eric Gilmore, NHL.com Correspondent

Spurgeon remains game-time decision for Wild

Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon has not been cleared medically to play against the Jets on Wednesday.
Spurgeon has been out since March 13 because of a hamstring injury.
"He's getting better," Boudreau said. "Still a game-time decision tomorrow."
Spurgeon practiced for Tuesday for the second straight day and said he felt good but stressed he's taking it day by day.
-- Jessi Pierce, NHL.com correspondent

Oshie feeling good, ready to go for Capitals

Washington Capitals forward T.J. Oshie practiced Tuesday after sitting out two of the final three regular-season games last week with a lower-body injury.
Oshie had 11 points (six goals, five assists) in his final 11 games.
"I feel right now I'm playing my best hockey," Oshie said. "Obviously I've rested a couple of games but I feel like I've had the most energy and the most clarity out there then I did for a while."
Oshie had an NHL-career best 33 goals last season and signed an eight-year, $46 million contract June 23. This season though he 18 goals, and his 47 points, his fewest in a full season since he had 34 points in 2010-11.
A concussion sustained against the San Jose Sharks on Dec. 4 kept Oshie out for six games. Coincidence or not, when he returned his production dried up.
Oshie had 23 points (10 goals, 13 assists) through the Capitals' first 28 games. He returned Dec. 19, but had 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) in 35 games, including a 19-game goal drought Feb. 2-March 12. It took a two-goal game against the New York Islanders on March 15 for Oshie to finally see some positive results.
"It just drains the energy out of you," Capitals coach Barry Trotz said. "What it should be is, you know you're a good player, enjoy the game. And when you're not going very well it takes a little of the joy out of the game. It's a double whammy for a player."
-- Brian McNally, NHL.com correspondent

Kings could be without Muzzin, Forbort in Game 1

The Los Angeles Kings could be without two defensemen for Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round against the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday (10 p.m. ET, NBCSN, CBC, TVAS, ATTSN-RM, FS-W).
Kings coach John Stevens said Tuesday that Derek Forbort (lower body) would not play and the status of Jake Muzzin (upper body) remains uncertain.
Forbort was injured against the Colorado Avalanche on April 2 and missed the final two games of the regular season. Stevens did not say if Forbort, who had 18 points (one goal, 17 assists) in 78 games, could be available later in the series.
"I don't know if anything is official, but he's not an option to start the series, that's for sure," Stevens said.
Muzzin, who missed the final five games of the regular season, practiced in a red no-contact jersey for the second straight day.
The injuries put 26-year-old rookie Oscar Fantenberg in line for significant playing time against the Golden Knights. Fantenberg worked with Drew Doughty on the Kings' top defense pair in practice after playing with him during the regular-season finale against the Dallas Stars on Saturday.
Fantenberg had a turnover that led to the Stars' third goal in the 4-2 loss, playing 18:16 in his first game since Jan. 4. Stevens liked how Fantenberg, who had been playing regularly with Ontario in the American Hockey League, settled in after the mistake.
"I just kept going, and that's what I have to do," Fantenberg said. "One mistake can't make the whole game bad. You have to keep moving on."
-- Dan Greenspan, NHL.com correspondent

Vasilevskiy already battle tested entering playoffs

Andrei Vasilevskiy is no stranger to starting big games for the Tampa Bay Lightning during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Although the 23-year-old will be the starting goaltender to open a playoff series for the first time in the NHL when the Lightning play the New Jersey Devils in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round at Amalie Arena on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN, TVAS, SUN, MSG+), he has plenty of postseason experience.
Vasilevskiy started Game 4 of the 2015 Stanley Cup Final against the Chicago Blackhawks for an injured Ben Bishop and made 17 saves in a 2-1 loss. He entered Game 1 of the 2016 Eastern Conference Final against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period after Bishop sustained a lower-body injury, made 25 saves in a 3-1 victory, and started the reminder of the series, which the Lightning lost in seven games.
Vasilevskiy is 4-5 with a 2.85 goals-against average and .920 save percentage in 12 playoff games, seven of them starts. His 44 wins this season tied Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck for most in the NHL.
"No experience in the playoffs, a little experience in the playoffs, I don't think it matters when you have that mentality that he has and the mental strength that he has," Lightning defenseman Anton Stralman said. "I'm sure he's going to carry this team as well as he's been doing the whole year if not even better. I'm real excited he's going to get this shot now and really showcase what kind of player he is."
Lightning coach Jon Cooper said one of the most impressive things about Vasilevskiy was how he won games even when he wasn't in top form.
"There's the big statistics, save percentage and goals-against, and Vasilevskiy was great in those," Cooper said. "The one thing for me is do you win a game? Because to me, you win the game 7-6 or you win the game 2-1, you still won the game. Naturally is it more satisfying to only give up one goal? No question. But ultimately it's all about winning and that kid rolled off 44 of them. That's a pretty high number."
-- Corey Long, NHL.com correspondent

Bieksa closing in on return to Ducks

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Kevin Bieksa is nearing a return from left hand surgery heading into Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round against the San Jose Sharks at Honda Center on Thursday (10:30 p.m. ET; USA, SN360, TVAS2, PRIME, NBCSCA).
Bieksa had surgery on March 16 to remove scar tissue and was expected to be out 2-5 weeks. He returned to practice Monday.
"It felt good today," he said after practicing again on Tuesday. "We'll see how it goes the next couple of days."
Bieksa, 36, has no goals and eight assists in 59 games this season, and his minus-13 rating is the lowest on the Ducks. He has appeared in 85 Stanley Cup Playoff games, sixth on Anaheim behind forwards Ryan Getzlaf (121), Corey Perry (114), Ryan Kesler (97), Antoine Vermette (95) and defenseman Francois Beauchemin (97).
Marcus Pettersson filled Bieksa's spot in the lineup; the rookie has four points (one goal, three assists) and a plus-5 rating in 22 games. Another rookie defenseman, Andy Welinski, played the past three games after Cam Fowler injured his left shoulder injury against the Colorado Avalanche on April 1. Fowler is expected to be out another 1-5 weeks.
Bieksa said he injured his hand early this season. At the time, defensemen Hampus Lindholm and Sami Vatanen each was still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery.
"If I look back, yeah, maybe I should have had it done right away, but I didn't," Bieksa said. " I kind of decided to stick with it."
-- Dan Arritt, NHL.com Correspondent

Fleury wants another Cup

Marc-Andre Fleury won the Stanley Cup three times as the goaltender for the Pittsburgh Penguins. This season he is playing for the Vegas Golden Knights, and tells Nick Cotsonika that he sees
no reason why he can't win another championship
.

Marleau hopes this is his year

No current player has been in more playoff games without winning the Stanley Cup than Toronto Maple Leafs forward Patrick Marleau.
He is hoping that changes this season.
Mike Zeisberger talked to Marleau
about his career title drought
.

Kane ready for the first time

While Marleau is a playoff veteran, San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane is getting
ready to play the first postseason game
of his nine-season NHL career, and he can't wait.

Who's got next?

We all know a team's captain will be the first to lift the Stanley Cup if they win it all. But
who should get it next
?
NHL.com looks at the options for all 16 teams in the playoffs.

See you Wednesday

The eight first-round matchups for the playoffs are all set, and NHL.com has them covered. Here are the matchups and links to the pages for each series.
EASTERN CONFERENCE




WESTERN CONFERENCE

Bracket Challenge

Don't forget to make your picks in the Stanley Cup Playoffs Bracket Challenge. Get your friend involved as well.
Here is where you sign up
.

NHL.com experts make their picks

If you need help filling out your bracket, 14 NHL.com staff writers and editors have already weighed in with their predictions for the first round and the Stanley Cup.
Check out
their picks here.