PHILLIP DANAULT

By Jan Levine, RotoWireSpecial to Yahoo SportsIn this space, we'll look at which NHL players are seeing their fantasy hockey values rise or fall on a week-to-week basis. He tallied a career-high 27 goals and added 24 assists last season, his first as a King. He has a decent chance of exceeding the career-high 53 points he potted in 2018-19 as a member of the Canadiens. Scott Mayfield, D, NYIMayfield has already tied his career-high in goals with five, which is the good news. The bad news is that he hasn't lit the lamp in 17 games and has just four assists during that streak.

By Evan Berofsky, RotoWireSpecial to Yahoo SportsWe're getting down to the last few weeks of the fantasy regular season. Based on pedigree and production, Thomas could be in line to inherit even more responsibilities. And he's already put up two goals — both PPGs — and two assists with the Canucks after arriving at the end of January. Three goals from Fabbri's first four looked promising, be then he had only two points in the next 10. Despite those drawbacks, Ristolainen has gone off since Jan. 17 with nine points, 13 shots, 28 hits and 16 blocks.

He's also performed well since Oct. 30 with eight points, 31 shots and 17 hits in 11 games while averaging 19:05. Phillip Danault, LA (Yahoo: 34%)In his first year with the Kings, Danault managed 27 goals and 24 assists supplemented by 194 shots, 74 hits and 49 blocks. And it's almost like he never missed five weeks, skating 19-plus minutes in both outings and contributing a goal with 11 shots. His numbers of late haven't been too encouraging, with just an assist, 11 shots, nine hits and eight blocks from the last two weeks. But as is a common theme in this column, the promise of a legitimate blueline power-play role — especially in deeper leagues — qualifies Ekholm as a recommendation.

Kings Oilers Hockey Los Angeles Kings center Phillip Danault, (24) celebrates his goal with teammate right wing Arthur Kaliyev, left, as Edmonton Oilers goalie Mike Smith looks away during the third period of Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Tuesday, May 10, 2022 in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP) (Jeff McIntosh)EDMONTON, Alberta — (AP) — Adrian Kempe scored 1:12 into overtime to give the Los Angeles Kings a 5-4 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night for a 3-2 lead in the first-round playoff series. Kempe muscled his way past his defender and wrapped a shot around Edmonton goalie Mike Smith to secure the victory. The result means the Oilers need a win in Game 6 in Los Angeles on Thursday to stave off elimination. Kempe also scored and had an assist for the Kings in regulation.

The Los Angeles Kings rebounded from back-to-back blowout losses to even their first-round playoff series with a 4-0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 4.

The NHL playoffs are missing the close games and comebacks that seemingly comes annually with all the postseason intensity.

Evander Kane picked up his first hat trick in a Stanley Cup playoff game, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman each had two goals, and the Edmonton Oilers dominated the Los Angeles Kings for the second straight game, posting a 8-2 victory in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series.

The Los Angeles Kings raised the Stanley Cup for the second time in June 2014.

So much for the notion that goals are hard to come by in the playoffs.

Nathan MacKinnon had three goals and two assists, Nicolas Aube-Kubel scored twice in a dominant first period and the Colorado Avalanche set a franchise record with their 53rd win by routing the Los Angeles Kings 9-3.

Matt Roy and Trevor Moore had a goal and an assist, and the Los Angeles Kings beat the New York Islanders 5-2 on Saturday night for their fifth straight win. Phillip Danault, Quinton Byfield and Brendan Lemieux also had goals and Cal Petersen made 26 saves. Los Angeles followed up a 4-1 win at Anaheim on Friday with another emphatic performance, improving to 9-1-2 in its past 12 games.

Scott Laughton scored 2:22 into overtime, Cam Atkinson had a pair of goals in regulation and assisted on the winner, and the Philadelphia Flyers snapped a franchise-record 13-game losing streak with a 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Kings.

(Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP) (Ryan Remiorz)Alexander Romanov played 54 games during the regular season for the Montreal Canadiens. Facing elimination at home Monday in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning might finally be the impetus for coach Dominique Ducharme to shake up his lineup and bring in fresh legs. Of particular concern is the Canadiens' inability to match the Lightning's physicality in an effort to wear down the defending champions. Assuming Tampa Bay closes this out, Joseph would be one of the 52 names on the Stanley Cup. Work ethic.”___Follow AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SWhyno___More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2021 The Associated Press.

Of course, the Canadiens have felt this way before, looking outclassed in the semifinal opener against Vegas before roaring back and winning in six games. Cooper and his team will also need to adjust to Montreal's adjustments and will rely on a mature approach to playoff hockey. “(We are) trying to get to the strength of our game as much as possible and wear teams down over the course of a long series,” Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh said. They did last year in the final falling behind to Dallas and last round against the New York Islanders. Tampa Bay players have said on multiple occasions the Canadiens are “here for a reason” and that they won't underestimate the opponent standing in their way of a second Cup championship.

The Montreal Canadiens need more from their best offensive line in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

(Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP) (Ryan Remiorz)MONTREAL — (AP) — Montreal Canadiens interim coach Dominique Ducharme has been sent home and is isolating following irregularities in COVID-19 testing. The Canadiens say Ducharme will undergo further tests before the game. Ducharme was promoted to interim head coach from assistant after the firing of Claude Julien on Feb. 24. Under Ducharme, the Canadiens finished fourth in the all-Canadian North Division before upsetting Toronto and Winnipeg in the first two playoff rounds. ___More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2021 The Associated Press.