The 25-year-old was forced from Toronto's final regular-season game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday, and has not participated in practice over the past two days.
It's tough news for the Maple Leafs, as Zaitsev finished second on the team behind Jake Gardiner in points by a defenseman with 36 in 82 games.
Zach Werenski - who had missed the team's final four games of the regular season with an upper-body injury - will play in Game 1, head coach John Tortorella announced, according to NHL.com's Dan Rosen.
Werenski had an outstanding rookie campaign, leading all Blue Jackets defenseman and rookie blue-liners with 47 points in 78 games.
Of course, this is all to say that Wednesday will be Werenski's first NHL playoff game of his career.
Murray backstopped the Pens to the Stanley Cup last spring in his first taste of the NHL playoffs, but split the 2016-17 regular season with veteran Marc-Andre Fleury.
Player
Starts
Record
GAA
Sv%
Murray
47
32-10-4
2.41
.923
Fleury
34
18-10-7
3.02
.909
Fleury only made one start last postseason, but is one of the club's leaders and could be riding out his final playoffs with the franchise as expansion looms.
In 21 postseason starts last year, Murray was phenomenal, posting a 15-6-2 record with a 2.08 goals-against average and .923 save percentage.
The first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs begins Wednesday night, and your favorite sports app's NHL editors have made their opening-round picks. Remember: We can predict the future. It's one of the perks of working at theScore.
We're not giving last year's Cup finalists much respect, but they're up against Connor McDavid. And, let's face it, the spring will be more entertaining with at least two rounds featuring the sport's most dynamic player.
NHL superstars delivered some downright magical goals during the 2016-17 campaign.
From Sidney Crosby's one-hander, to Nikita Kucherov's wizardry in the shootout, there were many jaw-dropping scores, and we're lucky enough to get them all in one place.
Follow theScore's fantasy feed on Twitter (@theScoreFantasy) for the latest news, features and more. And download Squad Up, theScore's free-to-win-money sports game.
Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Wednesday, April 12 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockeyand apply to 5v5 situations):
Dynamic Duos
LW Mike Hoffman (64K) & RW Mark Stone (53K), Senators (vs. Bruins): The Senators experimented with different lineup combinations in Tuesday's practice and head coach Guy Boucher said to not pay much attention to them. One constant was the pairing of the team's second- and fourth-leading scorers. They had Corsi For ratings of 57 and 60 percent with centers Derick Brassard and Kyle Turris, respectively.
C Boone Jenner (36K) & RW Cam Atkinson (43K), Blue Jackets (at Penguins): The Bruins will be without D Brandon Carlo and likely D Torey Krug for their first game, but they don't compare to the Penguins' injuries. The absences of Ds Kris Letang, Trevor Daley and Olli Maatta resulted in a 46.47 CF% since March 12. The latter two have returned, but Letang's contributions were not made up for during the regular season.
Bargain Plays
(Photo courtesy Getty Images)
C Ryan Spooner (40K), Bruins (at Senators): The Senators finished the regular season with the second-worst penalty-kill percentage of the 16 playoff teams. Their 246 times shorthanded ranked 16th in the league. Boston finished 82 games with the seventh-ranked power-play percentage. Spooner plays on the point of unit one in addition his third-line center role at 5v5.
LW Mikkel Boedker (25K), Sharks (at Oilers): Boedker finished with just 26 points, his lowest full-season total since 2011-12. He concluded the regular season in a third-line role beside RW Jannik Hansen and C Tomas Hertl. The trio had a CF% of 55.93 in 58 minutes together and averaged 14.45 scoring chances per 60 minutes.
Top Fades
(Photo courtesy Action Images)
C Leon Draisaitl (55K), Oilers (vs. Sharks): Draisaitl didn't score in five regular season games against the Sharks, totaling just eight shots on goal but handing out three assists. He requires a goal or a handful of shots in order to return value at his salary, so owners should opt instead for C Connor McDavid (74K) who is much more immune to difficult matchups. McDavid had four goals and four assists in five games against San Jose.
RW Alexander Radulov (62K), Canadiens (vs. Rangers): The Canadiens had the highest expected goals for per 60 minutes over the final month of the season of the 10 teams involved in Wednesday's opening night of the playoffs. Even still, Radulov had just three goals since Feb. 27 and just six since the end of January. He registered three or more SOG in just four games since March 12.
Contrarian Options
(Photo courtesy Action Images)
LW Zach Parise (56K), Wild (vs. Blues): The Blues were significantly worse on the road than they were at home in the final month of the season, posting a 48.19 CF% and an expected goals against per 60 minutes of 2.54 over the final month. Parise notched 25 of his 42 points on home ice and registered 88 more shots on goal.
RW Phil Kessel (60K), Penguins (vs. Blue Jackets): Kessel finished his 2016-17 season with just one goal in his final 12 games, with it coming against his former team, the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was able to pick up seven assists during the scoring slump, and he should have a full dose of C Evgeni Malkin on his left side in the playoff opener. Kessel did notch multiple SOG in all but one game during his drought.
Sidney Crosby led more than just the NHL's goals race this season. He's the league's No. 1 jersey seller, too.
The NHL announced its top sellers Wednesday, and to no surprise, No. 87 is at the top, followed by Blackhawks teammates Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews.
The rest of the list, full of the usual suspects, is as follows:
Even before the Anaheim Ducks and Calgary Flames take the ice for Game 1, the teams are already at each other's throats after Mark Giordano's questionable knee-on-knee hit on Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler in last week's contest.
The hit has the Ducks upset, and rightfully so, as they're now without their top blue-liner for anywhere from one to five weeks.
"I think there’s a lot of hate there," Ducks defenseman Josh Manson - who fought Giordano after the hit - said last week, according to the Associated Press. “Our guys had to do something. Hockey is a fast game, and things happen. It’s unfortunate. Hopefully Cam is all right, but it’s tough."
Heading into the series, the Ducks appear to have the advantage after owning the season series. They went 4-1-0 in five games, outscoring the Flames 17-14.
We can expect a bloodbath, but here's what else the series should see:
The 19-year-old can contribute offensively - he tallied 48 points in his first campaign - and he'll back up that play by bringing physicality and tenacity to the ice regardless of his age.
He proved against the Los Angeles Kings two weeks ago that he isn't afraid and won't back down from anyone, and that's exactly the mentality a young team needs going into the postseason.
The Ducks are a heavy squad, but one thing appears certain: Tkachuk will not be pushed around.
Rickard Rakell
Rickard Rakell had one of the NHL's premier breakout seasons in 2016-17.
After tallying 29 goals over his first 165 games in the league, the 23-year-old went off for 33 in 71 contests - good enough to lead all Ducks players.
He's been the club's most dynamic forward, but still has much to prove. Despite his recent offensive outburst, Rakell's career playoff numbers are nothing to brag about. He has just three goals and five points in 27 career postseason matches.
Those numbers will need to improve if the Ducks intend on reaching the second round.
Weakest links
Flames can't win in Anaheim
It's been well-documented that Calgary can't win in Anaheim.
The Flames' 3-1 loss to the Ducks at Honda Center on April 5 pushed the club's regular-season losing streak in Anaheim to 25 games, dating back to Jan. 19, 2004.
The Flames have had slightly better luck in the postseason, but not much. After winning their first-ever playoff game against the Ducks at home in 2006, Anaheim has won the last five meetings.
The Ducks have home ice in the first round so it's quite simple - if the Flames can't win at least one game in Anaheim, they're toast.
Missing Fowler
Nine different Ducks defenders contributed to the 35 goals scored by the team's back end this season, while Fowler notched 11 of them.
It's quite clear that he's the team's most lethal option on the blue line, and unfortunately - due to the injury mentioned above - he'll be M.I.A. for the Ducks, at least to begin the series.
The 25-year-old leaves a huge hole, but with it comes the chance for someone to rise to the occasion. One worthy option is Sami Vatanen.
After setting a career high with 38 points last season, Vatanen managed only 24 this time around, including just three goals. He's been solid in the postseason, however, with 16 points in 28 career games. That production would be greatly welcomed by the Ducks.
Prediction
The Ducks have all the makings of a Stanley Cup contender.
They have a strong offense, a goaltender who can steal games, and both the size and ruggedness to go toe-to-toe with anyone. For that reason, it's hard to picture a less experienced Flames team taking four games from them.
As mentioned above, the Flames cannot - for whatever reason - win in Anaheim, and that's something they'll need to do. Unfortunately for them, the Ducks have been nearly as dominant in Calgary.
The Ducks have gone 6-3-1 over their last 10 games in Calgary, dating back to 2014. The Flames have certainly enjoyed a strong season, but they may have been matched up against their kryptonite in Round 1.
With an 82-game schedule now in the books, the fun begins Wednesday night, with a full slate of five first-round games.
As you prepare to spend the next eight weeks glued to your television, take a look at the top storylines in the race for the Stanley Cup.
1. Canada's back
Following a disappointing no-show last season, five Canadian teams qualified for the playoffs this time around, each with something to prove.
Edmonton ended an 11-year drought, while Toronto defied all odds to qualify with a rookie-laden roster. Montreal has a revenge date with the Rangers, while Ottawa and Calgary quietly had terrific seasons.
This should be fun.
2. The kids vs. the favorites
The Maple Leafs put together a stellar month of March to secure their first playoff berth in an 82-game season since 2004. Their reward? Facing the best team in hockey.
The Capitals' season is just beginning; anything short of a Stanley Cup will be considered a failure for the Presidents' Trophy winners, and an early matchup with the up-and-coming Leafs makes for arguably the most compelling opening round series.
3. McDavid & Co.
He put a ribbon on the Art Ross in reaching 100 points, he's the odds-on favorite to win MVP, and now he gets to taste the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time. Sit back, relax, and let's see how far captain Connor can carry the Oilers.
4. New faces, new places
Remarkably, seven of the 16 head coaches in the tournament are in their first year on the job with their respective clubs.
Claude Julien (Montreal)
Bruce Cassidy (Boston)
Guy Boucher (Ottawa)
Bruce Boudreau (Minnesota)
Mike Yeo (St. Louis)
Glen Gulutzan (Calgary)
Randy Carlyle (Anaheim)
There's plenty of intrigue among these bench bosses, as Julien, Cassidy, and Yeo took over mid-season - the same thing Mike Sullivan did before leading the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Stanley Cup last June.
What's more, Yeo is facing his former team in Minnesota, as is Todd McLellan, who spent seven years with the Sharks before joining Edmonton in 2015-16.
5. Quest to repeat
The Penguins' mission to defend their Stanley Cup championship comes with a first-round matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets - who won't be intimidated.
By no means will it be an easy path for the Pens, as no team has repeated since the Red Wings in 1997-98. Pittsburgh's depleted blue line will surely be tested, and a potential path back to the final will likely require Crosby vs. Ovechkin Vol. III.
The club announced recently Lindy Ruff wouldn't return next season after a disappointing campaign, and general manager Jim Nill has apparently acted quickly upon searching for an experienced replacement.
Hitchcock was let go by the St. Louis Blues in February after five-plus seasons behind the bench, and previously stated he'd retire at the conclusion of the 2016-17 schedule.
The 65-year-old ranks fourth on the all-time coaching wins list (781) - just one victory behind the legendary Al Arbour. He spent seven seasons with the Stars to begin his NHL coaching career, winning the Stanley Cup with the club in 1999.
After winning the Central Division in 2015-16, the Stars followed up with a turbulent 79-point season, and Hitchcock will be tasked with transforming the talented, defensively deficient team back into a contender.
