Staal (illness) is on the ice for warmups; expected to play in Los Angeles.
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NHL Hockey Player News
Goalie Start
Vasilevskiy leads the Lightning onto the ice for warmups.
Vasilevskiy allowed two goals on 35 shots in the Lightning’s 5-2 win over the Oilers on Tuesday. Vasilevskiy has gone 5-1-0 with a 1.84 GAA, .938 SV% and one shutout in his last six starts. The 24-year-old has been outstanding this season and is a must-start tonight with the Islanders in town.
Goligoski (lower-body) is on the ice for warmups; expected to play in Philadelphia.
Goalie Start
Campbell was the first goalie off of the ice at the Kings morning skate.
Goalie Start
Dubnyk will start Thursday in Los Angeles.
Staal (illness) says he will return to the Wild lineup on Thursday.
Staal missed Tuesday’s game with an illness, but said he expects to play in Los Angeles. Head coach Bruce Boudreau called Staal a game-time decision, but it sounds like he’ll be back in. Staal has 11 points (5G /6A) in 13 games this season.
Goalie Start
Kinkaid will start Friday in Toronto.
Kinkaid allowed two goals on 19 shots after replacing Cory Schneider in the Devils loss in Ottawa on Tuesday. Kinkaid’s game has slipped recently, going 2-3-1 with a 3.45 GAA and .900 SV% in his last six starts and two relief appearances. He’ll be in tough again tonight. The Maple Leafs have struggled on home-ice, but are tied for sixth in the NHL in goal-scoring (3.40 GF/PG).
Bratt (jaw) expects to make his season debut on Friday.
Bratt has missed the first 13 games of the season after suffering a fractured jaw in practice right before the season started. Brett had 35 points (13G / 22A) while firing 100 shots in 74 games last season.
Jost (head) expects to return to the lineup on Friday.
Jost has missed the last four games with a head injury, but is expected to play Friday vs. the Jets. Jost will re-enter the lineup with just two points (1G / 1A) and nine shots on goal in 11 games.
Goalie Start
Varlamov will start Friday vs. the Jets.
Varlamov allowed three goals on 33 shots in Colorado’s loss to the Predators on Wednesday. Varlamov has now lost four in a row while posting a 3.09 GAA and .901 SV%. He draws a tough matchup vs. a well rested Jets team in Winnipeg. The 30-year-old netminder is 2-2-1 with a 2.40 GAA and .932 SV% on the road so far this season.
Andrighetto (lower-body) will not travel with the team on their upcoming two-game road-trip.
Andrighetto has missed the last three games and will miss at least two more with a lower-body injury. The Avalanche might get some reinforcements though, as Tyson Jost expects to make his return to the lineup.
Schenn (upper-body) is questionable for Friday.
Schenn missed Tuesday’s game vs. the Hurricanes, but was back on the ice for Thursday’s practice. Despite centring the second line today, Schenn remains questionable for Friday’s game vs. the Sharks.
Line Change
Maroon will not be in the Blues lineup on Friday.
Maroon has not scored a goal in 13 games this season and has played under 10 minutes in two straight games. It is unclear whether or not Maroon is banged up or if he will be a healthy scratch on Friday.
Send Down
The Rangers have assigned Boo Nieves to Hartford (AHL).
Nieves has not played this season because of a concussion but will go to Hartford to get back to game speed. Nieves had 21 points (8G / 13A) in 40 games with the Wolf Pack last year.
Hertl (head) will not play on Thursday.
Hertl will miss his second straight game with a head injury, which means that Antti Suomela will remain in the Sharks lineup. Missing tonight’s game also leaves Hertl questionable for Friday’s matchup in St. Louis.
Goalie Start
Hellebuyck will start Thursday vs. the Avalanche.
Hellebuyck surrendered four goals on 26 shots in the Jets loss to the Panthers in Finland last Friday. Hellebuyck has now allowed three-plus goals in four of his last five starts, giving up a combined 17 goals on 168 shots (.899 SV%). Tonight he faces an Avalanche team that comes in fourth in the NHL in scoring (3.53 GF/PG).
Goalie Start
Talbot will start Thursday in Florida.
Talbot allowed four goals on 23 shots in the Oilers loss in Washington on Monday. Mikko Koskinen started and lost on Tuesday, so they’ll come back to Talbot tonight in Florida. Talbot has gone 3-3-0 with a 2.86 GAA and .899 SV% in six road starts this season.
Goalie Start
Pickard will start Thursday vs. the Coyotes.
Pickard allowed two goals on 36 shots in the Flyers win in Arizona on Monday. Even with Brian Elliott back from injury, Pickard will make his third consecutive start on Thursday. He has had a tough season, but has stopped 65 of 71 shots (.916 SV%) in his last two outings. Pickard has a solid matchup as he closes out a home-and-home with the Coyotes.
Goalie Start
Vasilevskiy is expected to start Thursday vs. the Islanders.
Vasilevskiy allowed two goals on 35 shots in the Lightning’s 5-2 win over the Oilers on Tuesday. Vasilevskiy has gone 5-1-0 with a 1.84 GAA, .938 SV% and one shutout in his last six starts. The 24-year-old has been outstanding this season and is a must-start tonight with the Islanders in town.
Goalie Start
Crawford will start Thursday vs. the Hurricanes.
Crawford surrendered four goals on 40 shots in the Blackhawks loss in Calgary on Saturday. Crawford played very well when he first returned from injury, but has since lost three in a row while allowing a combined 14 goals on 104 shots (.865 SV%). He might have an opportunity to get back on track tonight vs. a Hurricanes team that is on a five-game losing streak.
NHL Player News: Your Ultimate Source for Hockey Player News
At Daily Faceoff you can stay in the know regarding all 32 teams and their top players this season. From trades, to injuries, and everything in between, you can find all the latest NHL player news today here. Staying up to date with player news NHL can also give you a competitive edge in your fantasy hockey leagues, as well as your NHL bets.
Check out all the latest NHL updates below and learn more about the hottest updates in the hockey world today.
Who are the top NHL players to watch this season?
There’s never been more talent scattered across the NHL than there is this season. With living legends like Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin still setting records left-and-right, alongside today’s current superstars such as Connor McDavid and Nathan Mackinnon, the level of talent in the NHL is at an all-time high. Along with these established stars, there’s plenty of budding stars emerging every season such as Connor Bedard, Macklin Celebrini, and Matvei Michkov.
What are the latest updates on NHL player suspensions or disciplinary actions?
Already this season we’ve seen the hammer brought down by the NHL Department of Player Safety. Notable suspensions and fines include Ryan Reaves of the Toronto Maple Leafs who was given a five-game suspension for an illegal check to the head against the Edmonton Oilers, and Los Angeles Kings forward Tanner Jeannot who was dealt a three-game suspension, also for an illegal hit to the head.
In the 2023-24 season, there were a total of 14 suspensions and 17 fines issued throughout the NHL. The longest suspension served was dealt to former-Detroit Red Wing David Perron at six-games after a cross-checking penalty dealt ironically against his current team in the 2024-25 season, the Ottawa Senators. Additionally, Perron was fined $148,437.48 for his actions.
How are NHL player performances impacting fantasy hockey?
NHL player performances make a direct impact on the outcome of any fantasy hockey matchup. Staying up to date with the latest news and performances of your team’s players can be the difference between winning and losing.
Some notable fantasy hockey performers that flew under the radar in most drafts this year include Martin Necas (123 ADP) of the Carolina Hurricanes and Kiefer Sherwood of the Vancouver Canucks. While sleeper picks are always a great get, nothing is worse than a bust taken early on. Some of the most disappointing players of the fantasy hockey season includes Zach Hyman (28 ADP) of the Edmonton Oilers and Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars (33 ADP).
Whether you’re checking out how your current rostered players are performing or scouting for hidden gems on the waiver wire, the latest player news can help you make your next winning move this season.
Which NHL players are having breakout or comeback seasons?
Every season there are several players who have breakout years, establishing themselves as some of the best up-and-coming stars in the league. In the 2024-25 season early breakout candidates have emerged such as Dylan Strome of the Washington Capitals (on-pace for his first 100-point season) and Ivan Barbashev of the Vegas Golden Knights (on-pace for career-high in points).
Additionally, nothing beats a comeback story, and that can be said about surging veterans such as Anze Koipitar of the Los Angeles Kings, and Matt Duchene of the Dallas Stars.
How often is NHL player news updated?
Our player news is updated regularly throughout the season, bringing you fresh player updates every day throughout the calendar year. Providing our users with a one-stop destination for everything you need to know from across the NHL, our player news is the go-to spot for all the biggest stories in the hockey universe.
What types of information does NHL player news cover?
Our NHL news covers every aspect of the hockey season. From injuries to trades to rumours and even suspensions, we’ve got you covered through it all with credible and fast-updates all-season long.
Are there specific sources for reliable NHL player updates?
All of our sources come from credible and reputable areas. When you’re at Daily Faceoff, you can trust that we are never going to spoon-feed you fake news. You can trust you’re only reading legitimate news that matters.
How does NHL player news impact betting lines?
Player news has a massive impact on the latest hockey betting lines. From daily game lines and prop bets, to Stanley Cup futures bets, every trade, roster change, and injury can shake up the odds set by oddsmakers.
By staying informed on the latest NHL updates, you can become a better NHL bettor as you’ll have a winning edge thanks to our in-depth news coverage.
DFO’s Specialized News Categories
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- NHL Player Injury Updates and Recovery Timelines – See all the latest NHL player injury updates, timelines for their return, and impact made on each team.
- NHL Waiver Wire Moves and Implications – Check out all the latest moves made on the NHL waiver wire and their implications on the teams involved.
- NHL Latest Line Combination Changes – Bringing you every line combination from across all 32 NHL teams, check out the latest NHL line combination changes made ahead of their next tilt.
- NHL Player Signings and Contract Details – Your go-to spot during NHL free agency, check out the latest NHL player signings and contract details today.
- NHL Roster Changes and Transactions – Looking to see what the latest moves made by your favourite team were? Then check out the latest NHL roster changes and transactions here on DFO.