The Predators have placed Ryan Johansen (upper-body) on IR.
Johansen’s movement to IR means he will miss his third consecutive game on Friday, but it is retroactive to December 2nd so he is eligible to return to lineup next Wednesday in Vancouver.
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NHL Hockey Player News
Goalie Start
Kinkaid will start Saturday in New York.
Kinkaid surrendered five goals on 27 shots in the Devils’ 5-0 loss in Arizona last Saturday. Cory Schneider was handed the loss last night, so Kinkaid gets the call for his eighth start of the season tonight in New York. Despite a 5-2-1 record, Kinkaid has proven to be a risky spot-start option this season, but he did stop 29 of 31 shots in a 3-2 win in New York back in October.
Goalie Start
Schneider will start Friday vs. the Blue Jackets.
Schneider stopped 41 of 42 shots in the Devils win in Columbus on Tuesday. Schneider has won three of his last four starts while posting a 1.76 GAA and .945 SV%. Tonight he will face Columbus again an comes in at 5-3-2 with a 2.55 GAA and .923 SV% in 10 home starts.
Goalie Start
Kuemper leads the Kings onto the ice for warmups.
Kuemper allowed one goal on 40 shots in the Kings win in St. Louis last Saturday. Kuemper has had a strong season, going 4-0-2 with a 1.72 GAA, .944 SV% and one shutout in six starts and two relief appearances. One of those wins came against the Senators, who he will face again tonight—he stopped 28 of 30 shots in a 3-2 shootout win in late-October.
Goalie Start
Elliott will start on back-to-back nights for the Flyers.
Line Change
Line Change
Drouin (illness) will not play Thursday vs. the Flames.
Goalie Start
Tkachuk has been suspended one game for spearing; will not play Thursday in Montreal.
Goalie Start
Ward will start Thursday in San Jose.
Ward allowed two goals on 39 shots in the Hurricanes win over the Panthers on Saturday. Ward has not seen a lot of action this season and tonight will be his fourth road start of the year—he is 2-1-0 with a 3.03 GAA and .913 SV% in the first three starts outside of Carolina.
Goalie Start
Ward will likely start Thursday in San Jose.
Ward allowed two goals on 39 shots in the Hurricanes win over the Panthers on Saturday. Ward has not seen a lot of action this season and tonight will be his fourth road start of the year—he is 2-1-0 with a 3.03 GAA and .913 SV% in the first three starts outside of Carolina.
Goalie Start
Lundqvist (illness) will return to the Rangers crease on Friday.
Lundqvist was scheduled to start Tuesday in Pittsburgh but missed the game because of an illness. Apparently Lundqvist has got over the bug and is ready to get back between the pipes tonight in Washington. Lundqvist comes into Friday’s matchup having won five of his last six while posting a 1.68 GAA, .945 SV% and one shutout.
Landeskog will return from his four-game suspension on Thursday.
Goalie Start
Markstrom will start Thursday vs. the Flyers.
Markstrom stopped all 30 shots that he faced in the Canucks’ shutout win over the Hurricanes on Tuesday. Markstrom has won two in a row while turning aside 65 of the 66 shots (.985 SV%) that he has faced. In his first start against the Flyers, Markstrom stopped 36 of 38 shots in a 5-2 win back in late-November.
Line Change
Burmistrov will be back in the Canucks lineup on Thursday.
Horvat is expected to miss up to six weeks with a fractured foot.
Goalie Start
Budaj will start Thursday vs. the Avalanche.
Budaj allowed five goals on 34 shots in the Lightning’s loss in Pittsburgh on November 25th. Andrei Vasilevskiy started the last four games, so Budaj will give him a break tonight vs. the Avalanche. The veteran backup has gone 1-2-1 with a 3.75 GAA and .867 SV% in four starts this season.
Matin (ankle) will be back in the Sharks lineup on Thursday.
Goalie Start
Jones will start Thursday vs. the Hurricanes.
Jones gave up four goals on 29 shots in the Sharks’ loss in Washington on Monday. Jones has lost two straight while allowing a combined nine goals on 72 shots (.875 SV%). Jones comes into Thursday’s game at 6-4-1 with a 2.32 GAA and .919 SV% on home ice this season.
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!
- 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.