Line Change
Sergachev will draw back into the Lightning lineup on Thursday.
NHL Hockey Player News
Goalie Start
Vasilevskiy leads the Lightning onto the ice for warmups.
Tarasenko (illness) will not play Thursday vs. the Capitals.
The Coyotes have placed Nick Schmaltz (upper-body) on IR.
Schmaltz missed Wednesday’s game with an upper-body injury and could miss an extended period of time. Laurent Dauphin has been recalled from the AHL to fill-in for Schmaltz while he is out.
The Blues have acquired Jared Coreau from the Ducks for future considerations.
Ville Husso was hurt for the Blues AHL team so acquiring Coreau adds some goaltending depth at the AHL-level. Coreau once looked like a promising young netminder but has struggled mightily at the NHL-level and is 3-6-2 with a 3.57 GAA and .895 SV% in 13 games with San Diego (AHL) this season.
Goalie Start
Halak leads the Bruins onto the ice for warmups.
Halak allowed four goals on 32 shots in the Bruins loss to the Devils on December 27th. Tuukka Rask started the Winter Classic, so they’ll come back with Halak tonight vs. the Flames. Calgary has a high-powered offence but they are on the tail-end of a back-to-back, which makes Halak a more trustworthy option tonight.
Goalie Start
Markstrom will start Thursday in Montreal.
Markstrom allowed three goals on 33 shots in the Canucks win in Ottawa last night. With Thatcher Demko not expected to be called up until their next game, Markstrom will likely start both games of the Canucks back-to-back. Markstrom has won three in a row evil stopping 91 of the 98 shots (.929 SV%) that he has faced.
Pouliot will be a healthy scratch on Thursday.
Pouliot has played in 13 straight games, picking up just two assists, but will be replaced by Michael Del Zotto in Montreal.
Del Zotto will draw back into the Canucks lineup on Thursday.
Del Zotto has been a healthy scratch for 13 consecutive games but will replace Derrick Pouliot on Thursday. Del Zotto has just four points (1G / 3A) in 22 games this year.
Sutter (shoulder) will play for the first time since October 29th.
Sutter missed two months of action with a shoulder injury but will replace Josh Leivo (back spasms) in the lineup on Thursday. Sutter will likely return in a support role, serving as the team’s third-line centre behind Elias Pettersson and Bo Horvat. Sutter had just three goals and one assist in 13 games earlier this year.
Leivo will miss at least the next two games due to back spasms.
Leivo has been moved to IR due to back spasms that forced him to leave Wednesday’s game in Ottawa. Leivo has been ruled out of tonight’s game and Saturday’s game in Toronto, so moving him to IR was just a formality to active his replacement Brandon Sutter. Leivo is eligible to come off of IR for next Thursday’s game vs. the Coyotes.
Goalie Start
Quick was the first goalie off the ice at the Kings' morning skate on Thursday.
Quick stopped 22 of 24 shots in the Kings win in Colorado on Monday. Quick was given Tuesday night off so it’s not surprising that the Kings will come back to him tonight vs. a red-hot Lightning team. Quick finished December at 6-5-1 with a 2.33 GAA, .922 SV% and one shutout but should be left on the bench vs. the highest scoring team in the NHL.
Send Down
The Senators have reassigned Stefan Elliott to Belleville (AHL).
Elliott played just 8:45 TOI on Wednesday but returns to Belleville, where he has one goal and three assists in eight games this season.
The Coyotes have recalled Laurent Dauphin from Tucson (AHL).
Dauphin has six goals and 12 assists (18 points) in 30 games with Tucson this season. Dauphin could have an extended stay with the Coyotes because he is expected to replace Nick Schmaltz, who may land on IR.
Mantha (hand) will return to the Red Wings lineup on Friday.
Mantha has been out since December 2nd, missing the last 14 games with a hand injury but will play Friday vs. the Predators. Mantha has scored nine goals and five assists (14 points) in 27 games this season.
Goalie Start
Markstrom is expected to start Thursday in Montreal.
Markstrom allowed three goals on 33 shots in the Canucks win in Ottawa last night. With Thatcher Demko not expected to be called up until their next game, Markstrom will likely start both games of the Canucks back-to-back. Markstrom has won three in a row evil stopping 91 of the 98 shots (.929 SV%) that he has faced.
Line Change
Prosser will be a healthy scratch on Thursday.
Prosser will be replaced by Ryan Murphy, who will be making his season debut after being called up from Iowa (AHL) on Tuesday.
Line Change
Murphy will make his season debut on Thursday.
Murphy was recalled from Iowa (AHL) on Tuesday and will make his season debut in Toronto this afternoon. Murphy, who has played in 172 career NHL games, has 13 points (3G / 10A) in 27 games with Iowa this season.
Seeler (upper-body) will return to the Wild lineup on Thursday.
Seeler missed the last two games with an upper-body injury but will return to the lineup in Toronto on Thursday afternoon. Seeler doesn’t bring a lot of offence to the table, having picked up just three points (1G / 2A) in 36 games this year.
Goalie Start
Dubnyk leads the Wild onto the ice for warmups.
Dubnyk allowed three goals on 32 shots in the Wild’s loss to the Penguins on Monday. Since December 15th, Dubnyk has gone 1-5-1 with a 2.50 GAA and .913 SV% in his last seven starts. Things won’t get any easier in Toronto this afternoon—the Maple Leafs have won five of their last six while averaging 4.50 goals for per game.
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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