New Jersey
Devils

News: Kovalchuk had five points in the final three games of the Eastern Conference finals, registering a goal in Game 6; he now leads the NHL in playoff scoring.
Impact: Kovalchuk snagged four assists over the last three games as well, as he helped guide the Devils to the Stanley Cup Finals. He's been arguably one of the best players in the NHL this postseason and in a position of consideration for the Conn Smythe Trophy. Expect him to be active against the Kings during the Stanley Cup Finals.

News: Brodeur stopped 33 of 35 shots Friday night to help lead the Devils to a 3-2 overtime win over the Rangers and a spot in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Impact: The 40-year-old netminder has been reborn in these playoffs and looks as good as he's ever been. In 18 playoff games this year, Brodeur has a 12-5 record with a 2.04 GAA and a .923 SV% including one shutout.

News: Henrique scored the game-winning goal at the 1:03 mark of overtime as the Devils downed the Rangers 3-2 on Friday to take the Eastern Conference Finals, four games to two.
Impact: The rookie center has had a solid playoff run so far with three goals and eight assists in 18 games. Henrqiue and the Devils will square off against the Kings in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Wednesday night. Two of Henrique's three goals in the playoffs are overtime winners.

News: Zajac went to the locker room in the second period Friday after getting slashed in the arm, NHL.com's Dan Rosen reports.
Impact: Zajac was slashed by Brandon Prust near his wrist, and left the ice to get it looked at. Zajac is back on the bench, and it looks like he will return to the game.

News: Carter scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal at the 15:36 mark of the third period as the Devils downed the Rangers, 5-3, in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Impact: He now has three goals and two assists through 16 playoff games, including two game winners.

News: Parise picked up his seventh goal of the playoffs Wednesday night by scoring into an empty net to cap a 5-3 victory over the Rangers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Impact: The Devils' captain also added an assist and now has seven goals and seven assists through 17 playoff games, including five points (3G, 2A) in his last two games.

News: Josefson played 12:58 in Monday's Game 4 victory over the Rangers in Monday's Eastern Conference Finals, his first game since April 3 after suffering a broken wrist.
Impact: Josefson is a versatile forward that is expected to shut down the opposition but can also chip in offensively when needed. The game was his first since injuring his wrist late in the regular season in a game against the Islanders.

News: Brodeur turned away 28 of 29 shots in Monday's Game 4 victory over the Rangers; he has allowed seven goals in four games and also added an assist on Monday.
Impact: Brodeur has not played that poorly in the series, as the Devils have had the better run of play despite finding the series tied. Brodeur's four assists during the playoffs are more than most defensemen in the league. Brodeur and the Devils have a large task ahead of them to Wednesay's Game5.

News: Salvador registered a goal and an assist in Monday's 4-1 victory over the Rangers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, giving him four points in the last two games.
Impact: Salvador has assisted on four of the Devils' seven goals in the conference finals and has suddenly exploded with three goals this postseason after not having one during the regular season.

News: Parise potted two goals and added an assist in New Jersey's 4-1 win over the Rangers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Monday.
Impact: Parise had been quiet this series with just one assist over three games, but, in fairness to Parise, the Devils as a team had been quiet. The Devils' captain added an empty-netter to ice the victory and will need him come to up big in Game 5.

News: Updating a previous report, Devils coach Pete DeBoer said Josefson (wrist) will indeed be active for Game 4 on Monday, the Devils' official Twitter reports.
Impact: As expected, Josefson is in for the Devils while Petr Sykora is a healthy scratch. Josefson has not played in a game since April 3.

News: Volchenkov practiced on Sunday after taking an elbow from New York's Brandon Prust in Game 3, Tom Gulitti of The Record reports.
Impact: It's unclear as to whether or not Volchenkov will play in Game 4, but the fact that he was at practice is a good sign. The bigger story here is whether or not Prust will be punished by the NHL for the hit.

News: Harrold will play in Monday's Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the third-consecutive game in which he's been in the lineup, the Newark Star-Ledger's Rich Chere reports.
Impact: Harrold was inserted into the lineup for Wednesday's Game 2 and likely will remain in the lineup. He gives the Devils a strong-skating defenseman that can make outlet passes, but likely won't contribute much offensively. He does see time with the team's second power-play unit.

News: Larsson will be a scratch again for the third consecutive game for Monday's Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Newark Star-Ledger's Rich Chere reports.
Impact: Larsson had a rough outing in the Game 1 loss to the Rangers and has been replaced in the lineup by Peter Harrold. Larsson played solidly after entering the lineup in the second round victory over Philadelphia, but likely will not be back in the lineup unless there is an injury.

News: Zubrus will skate on New Jersey's first line with Travis Zajac and Zach Parise in Monday's Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Newark Star-Ledger's Rich Chere reports.
Impact: Zubrus has been a versatile player during his career with the Devils and has skated with Zajac and Parise before. However, Zubrus isn't always the most productive player even when surrounded by talented linemates. Look for Zubrus to do the dirty work in the corners and in front of the net as well as being active on the forecheck along with Parise.

News: Kovalchuk will skate on New Jersey's second line with Adam Henrique and Patrik Elias for Monday's Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Newark Star-Ledger's Rich Chere reports.
Impact: Kovalchuk and the Devils have been shut out twice by the Rangers in the Eastern Conference Finals and this combination is a skilled trio that could generate some more offense for New Jersey. Kovalchuk had six shots on goal in Saturday's Game 3 loss.

News: Henrique will play right wing on the Devils' second line with Patrik Elias at center and Ilya Kovalchuk on the left in Monday's Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Newark Star-Ledger reports.
Impact: The Devils have been shut out in two games this series and coach Peter DeBoer wants to spark some offense from his skilled players. Henrique is in a good situation with two veteran players and could benefit in Game 4.

News: Sykora will be a healthy scratch for Monday's Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Newark Star-Ledger's Rich Chere reports.
Impact: Sykora has been largely ineffective in three games against the Rangers with no points and three shots on goal. The veteran will sit out Game 4 in favor of Jacob Josefson.

News: Josefson (wrist) will play in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Monday, Dan Rosen of NHL.com reports.
Impact: Josefson hasn't played since fracturing his wrist April 3. At this point in the playoffs, a young player like Josefson with fresh legs could give the Devils a spark. Petr Sykora will probably be scratched to make room for Josefson.

News: The Rangers scored two goals on Brodeur, and added a late empty-netter to take a 3-0 win in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final series Saturday afternoon. Brodeur made 19 saves in the game.
Impact: The Devils couldn't be faulted for not trying; Brodeur's opposing number, New York's Henrik Lundqvist, turned aside 36 shots and the Rangers blocked another 19. The Rangers' first goal came on a power play, and the second was a deflection from just outside the crease, so we can't lay the blame for this home loss at Brodeur's door.

News: Kovalchuk fired six shots on goal, but he and the rest of the Devils were stymied all afternoon Saturday by New York's star netminder, Henrik Lundqvist. The Rangers won Game 3, 3-0, to take a 2-1 series lead.
Impact: He's been collared just five times in this postseason, and two of those have been Lundqvist's doing. His offensive firepower is much too solid to suggest sitting him; Game 4 is Monday, and you should have him active for that.

News: Tallinder (leg) is likely to be available before the Eastern Conference Finals series' against the Rangers wraps up, Devils coach Pete DeBoer tells the Bergen County Record.
Impact: Tallinder has remained out since Jan. 17 with a blood clot in his lower leg. Tallinder resumed skating last week and was cleared to take part in full practices Wednesday.

News: Josefson (wrist) is likely to be available before the Eastern Conference Finals series' against the Rangers wraps up, Devils coach Pete DeBoer tells the Bergen County Record.
Impact: Josefson has been out since April 3 with a fractured wrist. Josefson, who took part in practice Friday, finished with seven assists and two goals on the season.

News: Clarkson scored what turned out to be the game winner early in the third period and the Devils held on to beat the Rangers 3-2 in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday.
Impact: He's having a strong playoff run, with three goals, six assists and a plus-minus rating of plus-6 through 14 games. Wednesday's game winner was Clarkson's third of the playoffs.

News: Kovalchuk scored his sixth goal of the playoffs Wednesday night to help the Devils to a 3-2 win over the Rangers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Impact: He's at a point-per-game pace in these playoffs with six goals and seven assists through 13 games. The only sore spot in Kovalchuk's game is his plus-minus as he's a minus-4.

News: Josefson (wrist) hopes to play in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Rangers, but he still doesn't know when he'll be able to practice with the team, the Bergen Record's Tom Gulitti reports.
Impact: The series began Monday with a Game 1 victory by the Rangers, with Game 2 slated for Wednesday. While the 21-year-old Josefson is hopeful that he can return at some point, he'll likely need to turn in some contact practice before making into a game. Josefson recorded a plus-10 ratio in his 41 games this season, but he hasn't played since April 3.

News: Parise led all New Jersey players with five shots on goal in Monday's 3-0 loss to the Rangers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Impact: Parise had several quality scoring chances, including a semi-breakway that was snuffed out by the Rangers' Ryan McDonagh during the first period. Look for Parise to continue carrying the Devils' offensive load and being a factor on the team's penalty kill.

News: Brodeur allowed two goals on 27 shots in Monday's Game 1 loss to the Rangers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Impact: Brodeur held strong until early in the third period when the Devils lost track of Dan Girardi, who came off the bench and fired a one-timer past Marty. The second goal came on a 2-on-1 power-play rush but Brodeur did make a highlight reel save on the Rangers' Marc Staal in the third period, denying him on a rebound with a diving save. The Rangers finished off the game with an empty-net goal, but Brodeur played solidly to keep the Devils in the game.

News: Zidlicky has an undisclosed injury.
Impact: There's little news on Zidlicky's injury, and he's considered day-to-day.