NHL Hockey Player News

Stuart Skinner will start Tuesday vs. Philadelphia.

After losing three straight games, the Oilers have won five in a row, three courtesy of Skinner, who will return to the crease on Tuesday. Skinner has saved 82 of 87 shots (.943 SV%) during his three-game winning streak and has been terrific dating back to late November, posting a .920 SV% in 12 games (10-2-0). The Oilers are -175 home favourites in a favourable matchup against a Philadelphia Flyers team that has lost two straight but defeated the Oilers 4-1 in their only other matchup this season.

Stuart Skinner
Alexandar Georgiev is in the starter's crease at Colorado's morning skate.

Georgiev will likely start for the eighth straight game and search for his sixth win over that stretch. Georgiev has helped the Avalanche collect a point in five straight (4-0-1) and has a save percentage above .900 in four of those games, a rarity for the inconsistent netminder this season. Georgiev and the Avalanche are sizeable -182 home favourites on Tuesday against the Islanders, who have lost two of their last three games (1-2-0), including being outscored 10-1 in two games against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Alexandar Georgiev
Ross Colton (undisclosed) will be a game-time decision Tuesday vs. the New York Islanders.

Colton has been out of the lineup since blocking a shot in the third period on December 27th, exiting the game after playing only 11:16 time-on-ice. Before leaving the game, Colton recorded four hits and extended his point streak to two games with an assist. He has been a game-time decision in each game since his injury.

Ross Colton
Arvid Soderblom was in the starter's crease at Tuesday's morning skate.

Petr Mrazek started the last three games for the Blackhawks, but after allowing 11 goals in his last two starts, the team will turn to Soderblom on Tuesday. Soderblom has not recorded a victory in seven appearances (0-5-1), posting an ugly .846 SV%. The Blackhawks are sizeable +247 road underdogs against a Predators team that has struggled lately, losing three of their last four (1-2-1), but defeated the Blackhawks 4-3 in a shootout on December 5th.

Arvid Soderblom
Timo Meier (mid-body) is out Wednesday in Washington and is currently being evaluated for his injury.

Meier will be unavailable for the Devils on Wednesday, January 3rd after he exited Saturday's contest against the Boston Bruins in the third period, playing only 12:30 time-on-ice. Before his injury, Meier had four points (4G / 0A) in four games after being held without a point in nine straight.

Timo Meier
Trevor van Riemsdyk will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday vs. Pittsburgh.

Van Riemsdyk has played 20 consecutive games for the Capitals, but he will be a healthy scratch as the team attempts to correct their defensive woes after being outscored 13-4 in their last three games (0-3-0). Martin Fehervary is expected to return to the lineup and replace van Riemsdyk on the back end.

Trevor van Riemsdyk
Darcy Kuemper will start Tuesday in Pittsburgh.

The Capitals, losers of four straight, will return to Kuemper on Tuesday when they visit the Pittsburgh Penguins. After a three-game winning streak where Kuemper allowed two goals or less in each game, Kuemper has allowed five goals in consecutive games, both losses, posting an ugly .833 SV%. The Capitals are +151 road underdogs against the Penguins, who have outscored their opposition 14-3 during a three-game winning streak.

Darcy Kuemper
Marcus Foligno (lingering issue) will be a game-time decision Tuesday vs. Calgary.

Foligno has not missed a game yet this season but has been battling an ongoing injury and will be a game-time decision on Tuesday against the Calgary Flames. In 35 games, Foligno has 15 points (6G / 9A), playing predominantly with Pat Maroon and Frederick Gaudreau.

Marcus Foligno
Pyotr Kochetkov was the first goalie off the ice at Carolina's morning skate.

Kochetkov has been solid for the Hurricanes over the last month and will likely return to the crease for the seventh time in the last eight games on Tuesday. Kochetkov has helped the Hurricanes collect at least a point in seven of his last eight games (5-1-2), posting a tremendous .930 SV%, giving the team high-caliber goaltending that they had been lacking all season. That said, the Hurricanes are +110 road underdogs against the New York Rangers, a team that is coming off a commanding 5-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning and has been atop the Eastern Conference for most of the season.

Pyotr Kochetkov
Okposo is week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

Okposo played 10:56 in Buffalo's 5-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Sunday and suffered a lower-body injury that will keep him out of the lineup on a week-to-week basis. The 35-year-old Okposo has 14 points (8G / 6A) in 38 games this season, averaging 13:59 time-on-ice while playing most recently on a line with Zemgus Girgensons and Peyton Krebs.

Kyle Okposo
Vinnie Hinostroza has been reassigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL).

Hinostroza has been reassigned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL, indicating that Bryan Rust will likely return to the lineup for Pittsburgh. In 14 games with Pittsburgh, Hinostroza has three points (1G / 2A) and 27 shots on goal while averaging 9:45 time-on-ice.

Vinnie Hinostroza
Curtis Lazar (lower body) is a game-time decision Wednesday vs. Washington.

Lazar has been day-to-day with a lower-body injury since the Devils returned from the Christmas break but looks probable to make his return on Wednesday against the Washington Capitals. Lazar has been a regular in the Devils lineup this season, scoring 10 points (4G / 6A) in 30 games while playing predominantly Michael McLeod and Nathan Bastian.

Curtis Lazar
Marc-Andre Fleury will start Tuesday vs. Calgary.

With Filip Gustavsson expected to be on the injured reserve for the next several weeks with a lower-body injury, Fleury will return to the crease for Minnesota on Tuesday. The 39-year-old Fleury has played well since the start of December, posting an impressive .919 SV% in six appearances (3-2-0). That said, the Wild have lost two straight (0-2-0) and are slight +101 road underdogs on Tuesday against the Calgary Flames, who have lost two of their last three games (1-2-0).

Marc-Andre Fleury
Juuse Saros was in the Predators' starter's crease from Tuesday's morning skate.

Despite a 3-2 win in their last outing courtesy of Yaroslav Askarov between the pipes, the Predators will likely turn back to Saros, who has lost three straight outings. Saros has allowed 13 goals over his last three games (0-3-0), posting a .829 SV% after an eight-game stretch (7-1-0) where he was nearly unbeatable, posting a stellar .936 SV%. That said, the Predators are significant -273 home favourites against a Chicago Blackhawks team that was destroyed by an 8-1 margin against the Dallas Stars on Sunday.

Juuse Saros
Tristan Jarry will start Tuesday at Washington.

The Penguins have been stout defensively over their last three games (3-0-0), allowing only three total goals, and will turn to Jarry on Tuesday after trusting Alex Nedjelkovic between the pipes in their last contest. In his last two games (2-0-0), Jarry has saved 47 of 49 shots (.959 SV%) and will look to continue his stretch of fine play against the Washington Capitals, who he recorded a 19-save shutout against earlier this season. The Penguins are sizeable -172 home favourites against the Capitals on Tuesday.

Tristan Jarry
Hellebuyck will start Tuesday vs. the Lightning.

Hellebuyck had the night off on New Year's Eve but will likely return to the crease on Tuesday when the Jets host the Tampa Bay Lightning. Hellebuyck has been amongst the best goalies in the league since mid-November, posting an outstanding .937 SV% in 15 games (11-2-2), allowing fewer than three goals in all but two contests. The Jets are -136 home favourites against a Lighting they defeated 3-2 on November 22nd, courtesy of a 31-save performance from Hellebuyck (.939 SV%).

Connor Hellebuyck
Spencer Martin will start Tuesday vs. Boston.

Martin entered Friday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs in relief, saving 16 of 19 shots (.842 SV%) in an eventual 6-5 victory, but has not started a game since December 7th, when he allowed seven goals on 36 shots (.806 SV%) in a 7-3 loss to the New York Islanders. Martin is slated to start on Tuesday against the Boston Bruins, who he was terrific against on November 27th, saving 31 of 33 shots (.939 SV%) in a 5-2 victory. That said, the Blue Jackets are still sizeable +196 home underdogs against a Bruins team that has outscored their opposition 14-6 over their last three games (3-0-0).

Spencer Martin
Filip Gustavsson (lower body) is week-to-week after being placed on the Injured Reserve.

Gustavsson will join Kirill Kaprizov in his week-to-week injury diagnosis as he was placed on the Injured Reserve with a lower-body injury Monday. The 25-year-old last appeared on December 30th and made 22 stops (.864 SV%) in a losing effort to Winnipeg. He should return to the Wild' in a few weeks to look to improve on his 10-9-2 record, .903 SV% and 2.96 GAA on the season.

Filip Gustavsson
Tristan Jarry was the first goalie off the ice at the Penguins' morning skate.

The Penguins have been stout defensively over their last three games (3-0-0), allowing only three total goals, and will likely turn to Jarry on Tuesday after trusting Alex Nedjelkovic between the pipes in their last contest. In his last two games (2-0-0), Jarry has saved 47 of 49 shots (.959 SV%) and will look to continue his stretch of fine play against the Washington Capitals, who he recorded a 19-save shutout against earlier this season. The Penguins are sizeable -172 home favourites against the Capitals on Tuesday.

Tristan Jarry

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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