Player Notes

Kane scored a goal on four shots on net in Monday's Game 3 loss to the Red Wings.
Recommendation: Kane didn't score in Chicago's opening series, but has now lit the lamp in back-to-back games, and he has a point in all three games of this series.

Vitale (undisclosed) is expected to practice with the team Tuesday, Pens Inside Scoop reports.
Recommendation: Vitale only recorded one assist and four PIMs in four playoff games before being injured, so even when he's able to return his fantasy impact will likely be minimal.

Powe (undisclosed) skated with the Rangers' practice team Monday, the Bergen Record reports.
Recommendation: Powe participated in a contact drill around the center circle, which is a good sign if he does indeed have a concussion, as suspected. However, he did not record any points in the three playoff games he played before being injured, so his return shouldn't have a huge impact on any fantasy leagues.

Andersson picked up an assist against the Blackhawks in Game 3 on Monday. He also was a plus-1 and had two penalty minutes.
Recommendation: Andersson, a rookie with limited NHL experience, has tallied assists in back-to-back games, giving him four in 10 playoff contests.

Grabovski has reportedly admitted that he bit Montreal forward Max Pacioretty in a game on Feb. 9, reports TSN.ca, which cited Dmitry Chesnokov, a Russian-American writer with Yahoo! Sports. "(Pacioretty) was choking me and I bit him," said Grabovski. "Don't stick your hands where you shouldn't."
Recommendation: After the incident, the NHL didn't hand down any supplemental discipline because it couldn't determine if there was a bite or not. Honestly comes later, we guess. "To be honest with you he was choking me pretty hard, to the point where I really couldn't breathe," continued Grabo. "And I couldn't pull his hand away at all. I tried to hit him with my other hand, but I couldn't because he was choking me. There was nothing left to do but bite him." We wonder if the league will reconsider its stance and levy something that will be effective to start next season

Handzus will be in the lineup for Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals despite not practicing in the Monday morning skate, ESPN Chicago reports.
Recommendation: Handzus has missed most of the practices recently, but has still skated in the first two games of the Western Conference semifinals. The Blackhawks have not reported any injury for Handzus, but his play has not been up to par in the series against Detroit.

Zetterberg had a pair of assists, including one on the game-winning tally in the Wings' victory over Chicago on Saturday.
Recommendation: After making a heads-up play in a race to a loose puck in the Hawks' zone, Zetterberg brought the puck behind the Chicago goal line before firing a pass through a defenseman's skates to Brendan Smith at the back door. Aside from his contributions offensively, Zetterberg's value in the series will also come in the form of providing a tough defensive matchup for Hawks captain Jonathan Toews.

Marleau assisted on both San Jose goals as the Sharks edged the Kings 2-1 in Saturday's Game 3 of the teams' second-round series.
Recommendation: He has a 5-3-8 ledger after seven playoff games, with half of those points coming on San Jose power plays. There's no sign that this productivity will abate.

Toews was taken out of Game 2 as the Red Wings pushed him around in the Blackhawks' 4-1 loss, ESPN Chicago reports.
Recommendation: Maybe this will wake up Toews, who has not potted a goal in seven postseason games this season. He does have three assists in the last three games, but no goals to show for it. "I'm not going to go off and complain about some calls I thought should have been called or whatever, one way or another," Toews said. "If that's the way they're going to play, well, we need to play the same. There's a lot of clutch and grab, a lot of interference. If they're going to let that go, that's something we need to know and maybe do to them a little bit."

Spezza played his first game since January 29 against the Penguins in Sunday's Game 3. He played 18:40, was a minus-1, and had four shots on net.
Recommendation: Spezza missed almost the entire season with his back injury, but he didn't seem worse for the wear in this game, a good sign for the Senators.

Greening scored the game-winning goal in double overtime against the Penguins on Sunday.
Recommendation: Greening helped Ottawa avoid the 3-0 hole with his third goal of the postseason. He only had eight goals during the regular season, but he has picked up his play during the playoffs.

Staal (third-degree MCL sprain) faces a three-month recovery time but will not need surgery, Tampa Tribune writer Erik Erlendsson reports
Recommendation: It's a significant injury, but the offseason should be enough time for Staal to be ready for the 2013-14 season, which would have been in jeopardy had he suffered a tear. The news is good, in other words.

Stoll (head) is not in the lineup for Saturday's Game 3.
Recommendation: Stoll suffered a head injury after being hit by Raffi Torres of the Sharks. It is unknown how long he will remain out of the lineup.

Gomez had two assists and a plus-2 rating in the San Jose loss to Los Angeles on Thursday.
Recommendation: Those two assists are Gomez's first points of the postseason. With Raffi Torres, Martin Havlat, and Adam Burish out, Gomez will need to take on a bigger role in the Sharks' offense this series. He has the potential to do so with 101 points in 144 career playoff games.

Thornton had an assist and a single shot Thursday, as the Sharks collapsed in the closing minutes for a loss in Los Angeles.
Recommendation: Thornton has seven points in six games this postseason, but only has a single point and three shots in the series against Los Angeles thus far.

Carter notched his fourth goal of the playoffs and added an assist in a 4-3 win Thursday.
Recommendation: Carter is certainly rewarding those who bet on his scoring success from the regular season carrying over into the playoffs.

Marchand notched the game-winner in overtime, while adding an assist in 22:17 of ice time in Thursday's Game 1 of the Bruins' second-round series against the Rangers.
Recommendation: Marchand left Thursday's morning skate in some pain due to an undisclosed injury, but not only did he suit up that evening, he turned in arguably his best effort in the postseason to date.

Richards picked up his seventh assist of the playoffs in a Game 2 win over the Sharks on Thursday.
Recommendation: Richards has hit the scoresheet in four of the last five games now after registering just one point in his first three games of the playoffs.

Kearns will be in the line-up again for San Jose Thursday in Los Angeles, according to CSN Bay Area.
Recommendation: Kearns only played 6:05 in his NHL playoff debut on Tuesday. He'll be in the line-up again Thursday, but temper your expectations.

Bonino's injury in March was a torn hamstring, Eric Stephens of Orange County Register reports.
Recommendation: General manager Bob Murray said Bonino suffered the injury while playing soccer before practice. He was able to return from the injury, and played in 27 games altogether during the 2012-13 season, recording 13 points and a minus-3 rating.

General manager Bob Murray said Getzlaf never returned to full strength after injuring his right ankle, Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register reports.
Recommendation: Getzlaf suffered the right ankle injury on March 3 against Dallas when he got tangled up with Jamie Benn. With a full offseason ahead of him, Getzlaf should be fully healed by next season.

Bolland, who had been out with a groin injury since April 22, saw close to 12 minutes of ice time in his return on Wednesday in the Blackhawks' 4-1 victory over the Red Wings in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals.
Recommendation: With Bolland out of the lineup, the Blackhawks missed his toughness which will be needed if they plan on going further in the playoffs. Bolland centered the third line and won 4-out-of-7 face-offs in the contest. He also collected a pair of minor penalties and had a plus-1 on the ice.