Annunen (illness) is not dressed for Game 1 on Sunday in Winnipeg.
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NHL Hockey Player News
Line Change
Holm will backup for Colorado for Game 1 on Sunday in Winnipeg.
Iorio (undisclosed) left Game 1 early and is without an update on his injury status.
Iorio made his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut on Sunday but was limited to only 1:50 time-on-ice before exiting the game with an undisclosed injury. The 21-year-old defenseman played six games with the Capitals this season.
Goalie Start
Hellebuyck will start Game 1 vs. Colorado.
Girard (concussion) is out for Game 1 vs. Winnipeg.
Girard was a full participant in the morning skate on Sunday but will be out for Game 1 vs. Winnipeg as he takes one more game to recover from his concussion. The 25-year-old last appeared on April 13th and had three goals, 18 points, 73 SOG and 10 PIms in 59 games played in 2023-24.
Goalie Start
Georgiev will start Game 1 on Sunday in Winnipeg.
McIlrath will draw back into Washington's lineup on Sunday for Game 1.
With the Capitals missing a key pair of their defensemen, Dylan McIlrath will make his second career playoff appearance as he draws into Washington's lineup on Sunday. The 32-year-old bruising veteran only appeared in three games for Washington during the regular season and had an assist, one SOG and five PIMs.
Line Change
Iorio will draw back into Washington's lineup for Game 1 in New York.
With Nick Jensen still unable to recover from his upper-body injury, Vincent Iorio will make his playoff debut on Sunday vs. New York. The 21-year-old rookie defenseman appeared in six games for the Capitals this season and failed to pick up a point while collecting six SOG and a +1 plus/minus.
Jensen (upper body) will be out for Game 1 on Sunday in New York.
Jensen has been out since April 13th due to a scary upper-body injury and will miss game 1 as he nears his return. The 33-year-old shut-down defensemen scored only one goal in 2023-24, with 14 points, 71 SOG, 10 PIMs and a -9 plus/minus in 78 games played.
Sandin (upper body) will be out for Game 1 on Sunday in New York.
Goalie Start
Lindgren will start Game 1 on Sunday in New York.
Goalie Start
Shesterkin will start on Sunday vs. Washington.
Shesterkin was 36-17-2 with a 2.58 GAA, .912 SV% and four shutouts this season. He was much better in the second-half of the season, winning. 17 of his final 23 games (17-5-1) with a .929 SV% and four shutouts. Shesterkin was 2-1-0 with a 2.00 GAA and .926 SV% in three games against the Capitals this season.
Mantha (undisclosed) was a full participant in practice on Sunday and is a game-time decision for Game 1.
Mantha missed the final two games of the regular season but could play in game 1 in Dallas. Mantha, who tallied 10 points (3G / 7A) in 18 games after being traded to Vegas, is expected to skate on the third line with Willam Karlsson.
Goalie Start
Demko is in the starter's crease at Vancouver's morning skate ahead of Game 1.
Silovs has been recalled from Abbotsford (AHL) on an emergency basis.
Kane (sports hernia) practiced in full on Sunday and is hopeful to return for Game 1.
Kane revealed on Sunday that he's been dealing with a sports hernia this season and they decided it was best to rest him for the final three games of the regular season. Kane skated on the fourth line in Sunday's practice, so expect him to play a minimal role to begin the series vs. Los Angeles.
Jensen (upper body) will be a game-time decision on Sunday for Game 1 vs. New York.
Sandin (upper body) will be a game-time decision for Game 1 on Sunday.
Sandin has been out since April 7th due to an upper-body injury but is expected to return on Sunday for Game 1 vs. New York. The 24-year-old appeared in a career-high 68 games with Washington in 2023-24, and had three goals, 23 points, 79 SOG, 24 PIMs and a -13 plus/minus.
Goalie Start
Vasilevskiy will start Game 1 on Sunday in Florida.
Vasilevskiy was a workhorse after making his season debut on November 24th. It was statistically the worst season of his career, as his 2.90 GAA and .900 SV% were the worst marks of his first 10 seasons. Despite the underwhelming splits, Vasilevskiy still won 30 of 52 games, making it the seventh straight season he's won 30-plus games. He struggled in the postseason last year but is 65-42 with a 2.37 GAA and .921 in 110 career playoff appearances.
Goalie Start
Georgiev is in the starter's crease at Colorado's morning skate on Sunday.
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.