Spezza (illness) will miss his second straight game.
Spezza skated on Thursday morning but won’t play after losing eight pounds due to illness. Dennis Gurianov will remain in the Stars top-6 with Spezza out.
NHL Hockey Player News
Goalie Start
Ward was the first goalie off of the ice at the Blackhawks morning skate.
Goalie Start
Rittich will start Thursday vs. the Lightning.
Rittich stopped 26 of 28 shots in the Flames loss in Dallas on Tuesday. It was still a strong performance but the loss snapped a three-game winning streak for Rittich, who has allowed just seven goals on the last 126 shots (.944 SV%) that he has faced. Rittich is 5-0-1 with a 3.09 GAA and .881 SV% in seven appearances at the Scotiabank Saddledome this year.
The Coyotes have recalled Adin Hill from Tucson (AHL).
Hill was sent down on Wednesday in a “paper move” prior to the NHL’s roster freeze. There’s no word whether or not Hill will start on Thursday.
The Coyotes have recalled Conor Garland from Tucson (AHL).
Garland was “sent” to the AHL on Wednesday in a paper move before the NHL roster freeze but returns ahead of Thursday’s game. Garland has not recorded a point but has 16 shots on goal while averaging 13:11 TOI/gm in six games.
Goalie Start
Bishop will start Thursday vs. the Blackhawks.
Bishop stopped all 21 shots that he faced in the Stars shutout win over the Flames on Tuesday. Bishop left the game briefly but returned to complete the team shutout. Bishop has gone 3-3-0 with a 2.38 GAA and .922 SV% in December and is a must-start tonight vs. the Blackhawks. The 32-year-old is 7-2-1 with a 2.02 GAA and .935 SV% on home-ice.
Goalie Start
Rittich is in the starter's crease at the Flames morning skate.
Rittich stopped 26 of 28 shots in the Flames loss in Dallas on Tuesday. It was still a strong performance but the loss snapped a three-game winning streak for Rittich, who has allowed just seven goals on the last 126 shots (.944 SV%) that he has faced. Rittich is 5-0-1 with a 3.09 GAA and .881 SV% in seven appearances at the Scotiabank Saddledome this year.
Bjugstad (upper-body) won’t play Thursday; targeting a return on Saturday.
Bjugstad took part in the Panthers morning skate but will not play Thursday against Toronto. Bjugstad could potentially return on Saturday, which would force the Panthers to demote a forward.
Duchene (lower-body) will return to the Senators lineup on Friday.
Duchene has missed the last six games with a lower-body injury but will play Friday vs. the Devils. Duchene has had an outstanding season to date, picking up 12 goals and 22 assists (34 points) in 29 games before getting injured.
Goalie Start
Kinkaid will start Friday vs. the Senators.
Kinkaid was pulled after he allowed five goals on 21 shots in the Devils blowout loss to the Maple Leafs on Tuesday. Kinkaid was given last night off, so he will start tonight vs. the Senators. The 29-year-old has gone 2-3-2 with a 3.64 GAA and .878 SV% in December.
Pominville is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury.
Pominville was forced to leave Tuesday’s game vs. the Panthers after a collision with teammate Rasmus Ristolainen. Pominville is not expected to be in the lineup in Washington on Friday.
The Predators have loaned Eeli Tolvanen to Finland for the World Juniors.
Tolvanen has two points (1G / 1A) in four games with the Predators and 12 points (4G / 8A) in 24 games with Milwaukee this season. Tolvanen had six points (1G / 5A) in five games with Finland at the World Juniors last year.
Send Down
The Flames have sent Kerby Rychel to Stockton (AHL).
Rychel did not record a point while averaging 9:10 TOI/gm during his call-up. Rychel heads back to Stockton where he has 21 points (13G / 8A) in 25 games.
The Flames have recalled Buddy Robinson from Stockton (AHL).
Robinson is a big winger (6-foot-6, 232 lbs.) has has 12 points (2G / 10A) and 20 PIMS in 26 games with Stockton this season. He has two points (1G / 1A) in seven career NHL games.
The Flames have recalled Ryan Lomberg from Stockton (AHL).
Lomberg has not registered a point in three games with the Flames this seaosn but has six points (2G / 4A) in 19 games with Stockton.
Line Change
Santini will draw back into the Devils lineup on Thursday.
Santini was activated from IR on December 1st but hasn’t played since October 20th. Santini does not have a point in one NHL game or three AHL games.
Goalie Start
Blackwood will start Thursday in Columbus.
Blackwood will make his first career NHL start tonight in the front-end of the Devils’ back-to-back. Blackwood was a second-round pick (No.42 overall) in 2015 and has gone 30-38-4 with a 2.91 GAA, .898 SV% and six shutouts in 83 AHL games. Sub-par AHL numbers and a tough road matchup in Columbus should keep Blackwood on the waiver wire.
Goalie Start
Rinne will start Thursday in Philadelphia.
Rinne allowed two goals on 36 shots in the Predators loss in Chicago on Tuesday. Rinne has dropped two straight starts but is 4-2-0 with a 2.67 GAA and .902 SV% in December. Tonight he faces a Flyers team that is under .500 and with a rookie netminder making his second career start. Rinne is 3-3-1 with a 2.43 GAA and .925 SV% on the road.
Sissons (undisclosed) will not play on Thursday.
Sissons was forced to leave Tuesday’s game with an undisclosed injury and will not play Thursday in Philadelphia. Tyler Gaudet has been called up from Milwaukee (AHL) and is expected to replace Sissons in the lineup.
Goalie Start
Halak will start Thursday vs. the Ducks.
Halak stopped all 22 shots that he faced in the Bruins shutout win in Montreal on Monday. The performance ended an ugly four-game stretch for Halak, who comes into Thursday’s game at 6-0-0 with a 1.82 GAA, .945 SV% and one shutout on home-ice this season. He gets a tough opponent tonight, Anaheim enters play as winners of 11 of their last 14.
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.