Thompson left Game 3 on Friday in Montreal with a lower-body injury and did not return.
NHL Hockey Player News
Brandon Hagel has been suspended for 1 game for his hit on Florida’s Aleksander Barkov.
Moverare is a healthy scratch for Game 3 in Edmonton.
Moverare will take a seat on Friday as the Kings are opting to dress just six defencemen. Winger Trevor Lewis will draw into the lineup in his place.
Line Change
Lewis will draw into the Kings lineup for Game 3 in Edmonton.
Lewis will slot into LA's lineup on Friday as they opt to dress 12 forwards. Defenceman Jacob Moverare will sit in his place.
Goalie Start
Kuemper will start Game 3 in Edmonton.
The Kings will look to take a commanding 3-0 series lead over the Edmonton Oilers on Friday, turning to Kuemper between the pipes for a third consecutive outing. The 34-year-old Kuemper was excellent in Game 2 on Wednesday, saving 24 of 26 shots (.923 SV%) in a 6-2 victory. He has a 2.77 GAA and .905 SV% in 36 career playoff appearances (19-10). The Kings enter Game 3 on Friday as +126 road underdogs against an Oilers team desperate for their first win in the playoffs.
Montembeault left Game 3 vs. Washington with an undisclosed injury and will not return.
Montembeault appeared to suffer a lower-body injury about five minutes into the second period of Game 3. He attempted to continue playing but was removed from the game at the eight-minute mark and was unable to return. We should get an update on his status ahead of Game 4 on Sunday.
Siegenthaler (lower-body) is on the ice for warmups and is expected to play in Game 3 against the Hurricanes.
Siegenthaler has not played since February 4th due to a lower-body injury but appears ready to make his seasonal playoff debut and return on Friday for Game 3 vs. Carolina. The 27-year-old Swiss defender will make a welcome addition to New Jersey's already battered blue line after he had two goals, nine points and a +9 plus/minus in 55 games during the regular season.
Goalie Start
Markstrom will start Game 3 against the Hurricanes.
Facing a 2-0 series deficit, Markstrom and the Devils will be hoping the third time's the charm when they host the Hurricanes for Game 3 on Friday. Markstrom is hardly the one to blame for the hole the Devils find themselves in, as evident by his .930 SV% and 2.52 GAA. New Jersey will thankfully be playing on home ice for the first time in the series, where Markstrom logged a 14-7-4 record across 26 regular season appearances. The Devils enter action on Friday at +135 on the money line.
Goalie Start
Andersen will start Game 3 in New Jersey.
Andersen will look to extend his streak of giving up one or fewer goals to three games as he also looks to extend Carolina's opening series lead to 3-0 in New Jersey on Friday. The 35-year-old Danish netminder has been sensational to start the playoffs for Carolina, pitching a 2-0-0 record, 1.00 GAA and .960 SV% in their first two games played. He heads to New Jersey to take on the injury-ridden Devils, who closed out the regular season with a mediocre 19-17-5 home record.
Struble is a healthy scratch for Game 3 against the Canadiens.
Struble will take a seat on Friday as the Habs are opting to shake up their lineup given the 2-0 series deficit. Arber Xhekaj will draw into the lineup in his place.
Line Change
Xhekaj will draw into the Canadiens lineup for Game 3 against the Capitals.
Xhekaj will slot in on Friday as the Habs look to add a more physical presence to their Game 3 lineup. Jayden Struble will sit in his place.
Line Change
Kapanen will draw into the Canadiens lineup for Game 3 against the Capitals.
Kapanen will slot in for Patrik Laine, who was a surprise scratch due to an upper-body injury. Kapanen will skate with Joel Armia and Emil Heineman on the Habs' fourth line.
Goalie Start
Montembeault will start Game 3 against the Capitals.
Despite facing a 2-0 series deficit, the Canadiens will unsurprisingly stick with Montembeault between the pipes for Game 3 on Friday. Though he's yet to come away with a victory, Montembeault has arguably been Montreal's star performer through the first two games of the series. The 28-year-old netminder has allowed just five goals on 63 shots, resulting in a .921 SV% and a 2.49 GAA. If he is able to maintain this level of play, then a little bit more goal support in Game 3 should be all Monteambeault needs to guide the Habs to their first win of the series.
Protas (foot) will not play in Game 3 on Friday.
Protas last appeared on April 4th due to a foot injury but has been travelling with Washington for their first-round series vs. Montreal and is a game-time decision to return for Game 3 on Friday. The 24-year-old took a massive step forward in his fourth NHL season in 2024-25, with 30 goals, 60 points and a +40 plus/minus in 76 games played.
Laine (upper-body) will not play in Game 3 against the Capitals.
Laine was a surprise scratch on Friday, with the Habs not announcing his absence prior to warmups. The team added he is considered day-to-day with the injury. Oliver Kapanen will take his spot in the lineup.
Goalie Start
Kuemper was the first goalie off the ice at Los Angeles skate ahead of Game 3.
The Kings will look to take a commanding 3-0 series lead over the Edmonton Oilers on Friday, turning to Kuemper between the pipes for a third consecutive outing. The 34-year-old Kuemper was excellent in Game 2 on Wednesday, saving 24 of 26 shots (.923 SV%) in a 6-2 victory. He has a 2.77 GAA and .905 SV% in 36 career playoff appearances (19-10). The Kings enter Game 3 on Friday as +126 road underdogs against an Oilers team desperate for their first win in the playoffs.
Johansson (undisclosed) is being further evaluated and remains uncertain for Game 4 vs. Vegas.
Johansson only played 11:09 time-on-ice in Thursday's 5-2 win, giving Minnesota a 2-1 series lead, and is uncertain for Game 4. The 34-year-old Johansson has one point (0G / 1A) through three playoff games.
Minnesota has signed Riley Mercer to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Mercer is an undrafted goalie out that has spent the previous five seasons playing for the Drummondville Voltigeurs in the QMJHL. The 21-year-old had an excellent 2024-25 season, posting a 2.53 GAA and .925 SV% in 46 games (27-15-4) with Drummondville.
Ekblad has served his 20-game suspension and will be back in Florida's lineup for Game 3 on Saturday vs. Tampa Bay.
Ekblad was suspended for 20 games in early March for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program. He will make his return to the lineup on Saturday in Game 3 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 29-year-old Ekblad had 33 points (3G / 30A) in 56 games this season.
Barkov (undisclosed) is questionable for Game 3 vs. Tampa Bay on Saturday.
Barkov exited Thursday's game in the third period after receiving an unsuspecting hit from Tampa Bay's Brandon Hagel. Hagel was issued a five-minute major penalty for interference and is scheduled to have a hearing with the NHL's Department of Player Safety. The 29-year-old Barkov has three points (0G / 3A) through two playoff games and his status for Game 3 is uncertain.
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.
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