Player Notes

McElhinney signed a one-year, one-way contract with the Blue Jackets, the Columbus Dispatch's Aaron Portzline reports.
Recommendation: McElhinney spent the 2012-13 season with AHL Springfield, going 29-16-3 with a 2.32 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage.

Kindl scored his first career playoff goal, which stood as the eventual game-winner in Thursday's victory over Chicago.
Recommendation: For a player who struggled at times to stay in the regular blue-line rotation last season, Kindl's emergence over the course of the year has been a huge boost to the Wings as they had to adjust to life without Nicklas Lidstrom heading up their blue-line corps this season. Although his offensive contributions are not elite, Kindl's expanded role put him on pace for a 26-point season if projected over a typical 82-game slate.

Cracknell re-signed with the Blues on a one-year contract on Friday.
Recommendation: Cracknell was a bit contributor for the Blues this season, recording a modest six points in 20 games. He doesn't figure to vault into a more impactful role in 2013-14.

Redden (undisclosed) practiced Friday but remains questionable for Saturday's Game 5 against the Rangers, the Boston Herald reports.
Recommendation: For the first time all series, the Bruins' defense looked rather shaky with Redden and Dennis Seidenberg both sidelined. A potential Redden return would likely send Dougie Hamilton to the press box for Game 5.

Kreider potted the game-winning goal in Thursday's Game 4 OT win over Boston.
Recommendation: With a chance to skate on Rick Nash's line thanks to a series of lineup adjustments, Kreider was on the receiving end of a pass from Nash in the extra frame and managed to beat Tuukka Rask on the blocker side to extend the Rangers' season for at least another game as the series will return to Boston for Game 5.

Coach Todd McLellan said Burish (hand) is "very close" to playing and could be available for Sunday's Game 6 against the Kings, the Calgary Sun reports.
Recommendation: Burish was similarly questionable for Game 5 but ultimately sat out in the 3-0 loss to the Kings. The 30-year-old didn't supply much in the way of offense in the regular season, charting just 3 points and minus-7 rating over 46 games.

Demers returned to play in Thursday's Game 5 match-up after being out with an injury since mid-April.
Recommendation: Demers only say 3:47 of ice time though and had two minutes in the box for a rough boarding call against LA's Robyn Regher. His return was notable because, like teammate Brent Burns, the Sharks have moved Demers to forward. Could be interesting for future games if the Sharks can stay alive.

Wellwood (Achilles) recently had his cast removed from his foot and his beginning the initial stages of his rehab, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Recommendation: Wellwood faces a long recovery process after severing three tendons in his right foot and cutting through 70 percent of his Achilles heel after slamming feet-first into the boards in an April 7 game with AHL Adirondack. There's a slim chance Wellwood won't be able to walk again, but doctors believe he'll surpass that milestone with a careful rehab process.

Boyle scored a power-play goal during Thursday's 4-3 overtime victory over Boston.
Recommendation: A season-long member of head coach John Tortorella's dog house, Boyle's goal helped snap an abysmal 0-for-23 streak for the Blueshirts. It also snapped a five game point scoring drought for the veteran center.

Powe (undisclosed) did not practice Friday, the Bergen Record's Andrew Gross reports.
Recommendation: Powe has not played since Game 3 of the first round against the Capitals. However, his status for Saturday's Game 5 against the Bruins is unknown.

Coach Darryl Sutter said Stoll (head) skated for 15 minutes Friday but remains "a long ways off," the LA Times' Helene Elliot reports.
Recommendation: While he may not be close to returning to game action, it is definitely good to see him back on the ice for the first time since suffering a head injury in Game 1 of the second-round series against the Sharks. However, he still has not been cleared for contact, and it is unknown when he will be able to play again.