Staal (cervical strain) has been cleared by doctors for contact and is targeting next Thursday’s game in Montreal as a potential return date.
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NHL Hockey Player News
Line Change
Vrana is expected to be a healthy scratch against the Blackhawks on Saturday.
The Capitals are in the midst of their dad trip, and will rotate in their normal scratches as a result. Alex Chiasson is expected to draw into the lineup and take Vrana's spot on the second line. Look for Vrana to take his usual spot in the lineup on Monday.
Goalie Start
Anderson will start against the Rangers on Saturday.
Anderson allowed two goals on 25 shots in a 3-2 win over the Sabres on Thursday. Anderson has been on a nice run of late, winning four of his last six starts. He draws a decent matchup this afternoon against the Rangers.
Dzingel will miss Saturday's game against the Rangers due to a family issue.
Goalie Start
Forsberg will start Saturday against the Capitals.
Forsberg turned away 29 of 32 shots in a losing effort against the Ducks on Thursday. The Blackhawks reassigned G Jeff Glass this week, giving the interim starting job to Forsberg. Despite the vote of confidence from his coaches, Forsberg has lost four straight starts. He’ll have a tough time turning it around tonight against the Capitals.
Goalie Start
Hellebuyck will start Friday against the Avalanche.
Hellebuyck turned away 24 of 27 shots in the Jets’ 4-3 victory over the Capitals on Tuesday. He hasn’t played particularly well of late, with just a .885 SV% in his last four starts, but he draws an excellent matchup at home against the Avalanche tonight.
Comeau (upper-body) will return to the lineup Friday in Winnipeg.
Comeau missed the last two games with an upper-body injury. Nail Yakupov is expected to draw out of the lineup in favour of Comeau. Comeau’s enjoyed a nice year in Colorado, collecting 22 points (10G / 12A) in 53 games but has just one goal in his last seven contests.
Goalie Start
Allen will start Friday in Dallas.
Allen made just 19 saves in the Blues 4-1 loss against the Penguins on Sunday. Allen’s struggles have continued of late, stopping just 48 of 56 shots in his last three starts. Nevertheless, he gets the call for the third time in four games tonight in a challenging matchup against the Stars.
Call up / Send down
The Rangers have re-assigned Lettieri to Hartford (AHL).
Goalie Start
Reimer is expected to start in Winnipeg on Sunday.
Goalie Start
Luongo will start in Calgary on Saturday.
Luongo will start Saturday for the first time since December 4th. He served as the Panthers’ backup in their 4-3 win over the Canucks on Wednesday. Luongo boasts a 2.62 GAA and a .928 SV% this season. He draws a difficult matchup against the Flames in his return tonight.
Methot (knee) will make his return to the Stars' lineup on Friday.
Methot hasn't played a game since January 4th, and has no points in just 16 games for the Stars this season. He is expected to take Julius Honka's spot in the lineup.
Call up / Send down
The Blue Jackets have activated Milano from injured reserve and have re-assigned him to Cleveland (AHL).
Gardiner (lower-body) is expected to play Saturday in Pittsburgh.
Gardiner left the Leafs' game on Wednesday early and missed the morning skate on Friday. Babcock said after practice he expects Gardiner to play tomorrow, but you'll want to monitor the situation after their morning skate tomorrow to be sure.
Goalie Start
Neuvirth will start vs. the Blue Jackets on Friday.
Neuvirth stopped just 32 of 36 shots in the Flyers’ 5-4 shootout loss to the Devils on Tuesday. Neuvirth (2.61 GAA/.911 SV%) has been a serviceable back-up this season, and should see a starter’s workload for the next five to six weeks while Brian Elliot nurses a core muscle injury. He draws a mediocre matchup tonight against the Blue Jackets.
Roussel (back) will not play Friday vs. the Blues.
Roussel has 14 points (5G/9A) in 49 games for the Stars this season. Gemel Smith is expected to take his spot in the lineup.
The Senators have activated Dumont from injured reserve.
The Sens did a bit of roster shuffling this morning, activating Dumont while sending down Colin White in favour of Max McCormick. Dumont has just two points in 21 games with the Senators this season.
Call up / Send down
The Senators have recalled McCormick from Belleville (AHL).
Call up / Send down
The Bruins have recalled Szwarz from Providence (AHL).
Goalie Start
Neuvirth was in the starters' crease at the Flyers' morning skate on Friday.
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.
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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.
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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
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- 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.
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- 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.