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NHL Hockey Player News

Nash (groin) will return to the Rangers’ lineup on Thursday.

Nash missed the last four games with a groin injury, but will be back in the lineup tonight in Dallas. Nash has had a solid year, scoring 11 goals with seven assists across 27 games. Nicklas Jensen was sent to Hartford and his spot in the lineup will be taken by Nash.

Rick Nash
Luongo will start Thursday in Winnipeg.

Luongo was yanked after allowing five goals on 17 shots in the Panthers’ loss in Minnesota on Tuesday. The Panthers didn’t show up in this one and Luongo suffered, but they’ll get him right back between the pipes tonight in Winnipeg. Luongo has struggled recently and is 3-5-2 with a 2.73 GAA and .908 SV% on the road.

Roberto Luongo
Luongo was the first goalie off of the ice for the Panthers.

Luongo was yanked after allowing five goals on 17 shots in the Panthers’ loss in Minnesota on Tuesday. The Panthers didn’t show up in this one and Luongo suffered, but they’ll get him right back between the pipes tonight in Winnipeg. Luongo has struggled recently and is 3-5-2 with a 2.73 GAA and .908 SV% on the road.

Roberto Luongo
Schneider will start Thursday in St. Louis.

Schneider allowed five goals on 31 shots in the Devils’ loss in New York on Sunday. Schneider’s road woes continue as he now sits 1-8-3 with a 3.25 GAA and .899 SV% when playing outside of New Jersey. At this point, you need to start him at home and sit him on the road, he is just seems to be a completely different goalie at the Prudential Center.

Cory Schneider
Dubnyk is expected to start Thursday in Nashville.

Dubnyk allowed one goal on 30 shots in Minnesota’s win over the Panthers on Tuesday. The 30-year-old netminder has won five in a row while allowing just seven goals on 146 shots (.952 SV%). Tonight will be his first start vs. the Predators and he comes in at 5-3-3 with a 1.70 GAA and.949 SV% on the road this season.

Devan Dubnyk
Price will start Thursday vs. the Sharks.

Price allowed two goals on 29 shots in the Canadiens’ overtime loss to the Bruins on Monday. Price has gone 3-1-1 with a 2.15 GAA and .913 SV% in his first five starts in December. Tonight will be his second start of the season against the Sharks—he allowed two goals on 30 shots in a 2-1 loss on December 2nd.

Carey Price
Smith will start Thursday in Toronto.

Smith stopped 37 of 38 shots in the Coyotes’ 4-1 win over the Red Wings on Tuesday. Smith continues to face an abundance of shots and is hanging in there pretty well. He is due for a poor performance here and there, but they’ve been few and far between so far. He could face close to 50 shots tonight against a Maple Leafs team that is in the top-5 in shots per game.

Mike Smith
Darling will start Thursday in Brooklyn.

Darling allowed one goal on 34 shots in the Blackhawks’ win in New York on Tuesday. Darling has won three of his last four starts while stopping 114 of 117 shots (.974 SV%). Darling has played very well since Corey Crawford got hurt and tonight he will take on an Islanders team that has lost three of five.

Scott Darling
Bernier will likely start Thursday in Boston.

Bernier allowed two goals on 24 shots in the Ducks’ win over the Sharks last Friday. He also appeared in Tuesday’s game, stopping both shots that he faced after replacing John Gibson. Bernier has gone 2-2-0 with a 3.52 GAA and .883 SV% in two starts on the road this season and tonight he faces a Bruins team that has lost four of their last five.

Jonathan Bernier
Hellebuyck will start Thursday vs. the Panthers.

Hellebuyck allowed three goals on 30 shots in the Jets’ loss in Edmonton on Sunday. Hellebuyck has gone 1-2-1 with a 3.58 GAA and .876 SV% in four starts and one relief appearance in the month of December. Tonight he takes on the Panthers on home-ice—Hellebuyck has gone 7-4-1 with a 2.36 GAA and .922 SV% at the MTS Centre.

Connor Hellebuyck
Zatkoff was the first goalie off of the ice.

Zatkoff allowed one goal on three shots after replacing Peter Budaj in the Kings’ loss in Buffalo on Tuesday. Zatkoff has struggled this season and has gone 1-5-0 with a 3.20 GAA and .882 SV%. Zatkoff has had a rough season, but he draws a good matchup vs. the Red Wings. The Detroit native has gone 2-0-0 with a 1.50 GAA ad .953 SV% in two career starts vs. the Red Wings.

Jeff Zatkoff
Niemi was the first goalie off of the ice.

Niemi allowed two goals on 36 shots in the Stars’ win over the Ducks on Tuesday. It was a great game for Niemi, who has had a rough 2016-17 season. As difficult of a season as it has been, Niemi has been great on home-ice. He enters tonight’s game vs. the Rangers with a 6-1-1 record, 1.99 GAA and .938 SV% at American Airlines Center this season.

Antti Niemi
Allen will start Thursday vs. the Devils.

Allen allowed five goals on 33 shots in the Blues’ loss in Nashville on Tuesday. Allen has lost three of his last four starts while posting a 2.90 GAA and .895 SV%. The Blues are back on home-ice, where Allen has been dominant this season. The 26-year-old has gone 10-0-2 with a 1.79 GAA and .932 SV% at the Scotttrade Center, making him a must-start vs. a Devils team that has struggled on the road.

Jake Allen
Andersen will start Thursday vs. the Coyotes.

Andersen allowed two goals on 42 shots in the Maple Leafs’ shootout loss to the Sharks on Tuesday. Andersen has now lost three of his last four games, despite posting a really strong 1.94 GAA and .933 SV%. During his time in Anaheim, Andersen was 5-0-3 with a 1.56 GAA and .941 SV% in eight career starts vs. the Coyotes.

Frederik Andersen
Greiss will be between the pipes on Wednesday.

Greiss allowed two goals on 26 shots in the Islanders’ win over the Blues last Thursday. Greiss has won three straight games while stopping 80 of 86 shots (.930 SV%). Tonight he will take on the Blackhawks on home-ice—Greiss has gone 5-2-0 with a 2.57 GAA and .915 SV% in seven starts at Barclays Center.

Thomas Greiss
Greiss is in the starter's crease at the Islanders' morning skate.

Greiss allowed two goals on 26 shots in the Islanders’ win over the Blues last Thursday. Greiss has won three straight games while stopping 80 of 86 shots (.930 SV%). Tonight he will take on the Blackhawks on home-ice—Greiss has gone 5-2-0 with a 2.57 GAA and .915 SV% in seven starts at Barclays Center.

Thomas Greiss

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

Get the most out of your hockey news with our in-depth coverage of the NHL with our comprehensive player news updates. Below we’ve compiled go-to destinations for player injuries, trades, signings, line combinations, and more!