Bjugstad (migraines) will not play on Saturday; possible for Sunday.
NHL Hockey Player News
Goalie Start
Schneider will be in goal for the Devils on Saturday.
Schneider stopped all 36 shots that he faced in the Devils’ shutout win in Ottawa on Wednesday. It was a great effort from Schneider, who wrapped up 2015 ranked sixth in the NHL in Wins (16), seventh in SV% (.927) and 10th in GAA (2.10). He has been one of the better fantasy options through three months of the season, but will be a risky starter tonight with Dallas in town.
Goalie Start
Montoya will start on Sunday vs the Wild
Montoya stopped 15 of 16 shots in the Panthers win over the Devils on December 17th. Roberto Luongo started the last six games, but Montoya will start the second game of the back-to-back. The Panthers are the hottest team in the NHL and Montoya has been one of the top backup options in the NHL, going 5-1-1 with a 1.79 GAA and .930 SV% in eight starts.
Goalie Start
Luongo will start Saturday vs the Rangers.
Luongo allowed one goal on 30 shots in the Panthers win over the Canadiens on Tuesday. Luongo has now won six straight games while posting an impressive 1.47 GAA and .942 SV%. He has been red-hot and tonight he will take on a Rangers team that has lost four of six while giving up an average of 4.33 goals per game over that span. Start Luongo and don’t think twice.
Goalie Start
Mrazek will start on Saturday.
Mrazek allowed four goals on 36 shots in the Red Wings loss to the Penguins on Thursday. Mrazek finished December at 5-4-0 with a 2.50 GAA and .913 SV% and will look to improve as the calendar flips over to 2016. Today he’ll take on the Sabres for the third time this season, he has gone 1-1-0 with a 2.93 GAA and .903 SV% in the first two meetings.
Call up / Send down
The Blues have reassigned Jordan Caron to Chicago (AHL).
Caron did not record point and was a minus-3 in four games during his time with the Blues. His return to the AHL suggests that the Blues could get Patrik Berglund back in the lineup on Saturday.
Call up / Send down
The Islanders have recalled Adam Pelech from Bridgeport (AHL).
Pelech, 21, did not record a point in two games with the Islanders this season, but has six points (2G / 4A) in 26 games with the Sound Tigers. He has been recalled because Johnny Boychuk was injured on Thursday.
The Islanders have placed Johnny Boychuk (upper-body) on IR.
Boychuk left Thursday’s game late in the third period and did not return. The Islanders blueliner will miss at least seven days, but as of now there is no timetable for his return. Expect him to be evaluated this weekend and a firm timetable should be released after that.
Goalie Start
Quick will start in goal for the Kings.
Quick allowed two goals on 44 shots in the Kings win in Edmonton on Tuesday. He won both games of the Kings’ back-to-back, stopping 69 of 71 (.972 SV%). Quick has gone 9-2-0 with a2.06 GAA and .926 SV% in December and tonight he starts in Calgary, where the Flames have been red-hot as of late. Quick is 10-3-1 on the road this season.
Goalie Start
Rinne leads the Predators onto the ice for warmups.
Rinne allowed three goals on 29 shots in the Predators win over the Rangers on Monday. Carter Hutton started on Tuesday, so Rinne is expected to be between the pipes tonight in Dallas. Rinne has struggled on the road this season, going 3-6-3 with a 2.91 GAA and .891 SV%. I wouldn’t expect anything to be easy for him tonight against the NHL’s highest scoring squad.
Tarasenko (illness) will not play on Thursday.
Tarasenko missed the morning skate, but it was announced that he would play. However, Tarasenko will be held out of the lineup vs. the Wild.
Goalie Start
Darling starts Thursday in Colorado.
Darling will make his first start since December 10th. Darling allowed fovea goals on 33 shots in a loss in Nashville that night and has lost his last three outings. Tonight will be his sixth road start of the season and it has not been kind to him. In his previous five away starts he has gone 0-3-2 with a 3.41 GAA and .890 SV%.
Goalie Start
Zatkoff starts Thursday in Detroit.
Zakoff made 27 saves on 28 shots in the Penguins loss in Winnipeg on Sunday. Matt Murray started four of the last five games, including last night, but Zatkoff will go tonight in Detroit. Zatkoff has lost his last five games, but was victorious in his only career start against his hometown Detroit Red Wings.
Backstrom (upper-body) will play on Thursday after leaving Wednesday's game early.
Goalie Start
Grubauer will be in goal on Thursday.
Grubauer stopped 31 of 32 shots in the Capitals win in Carolina on December 21st. With Braden Holtby being virtually unbeatable, Grubauer has not seen a lot of action this season, but he has been solid when called upon (2.30 GAA / .914 SV%). He will get another crack at the Hurricanes tonight, making him a strong option.
Goalie Start
Greiss will start in goal in Buffalo on Thursday.
Greiss gave up three goals on 33 shots in the Islanders win in Toronto on Tuesday. He got revenge for Sunday’s loss to the Leafs and it moved him to 3-2-0 with a 1.59 GAA and .950 SV% in December. Tonight he will face the Sabres for the second time this season— he stopped 20 of 22 shots in a 2-1 loss in the first meeting.
Line Change
Moulson will be back in the Sabres lineup on Thursday.
Goalie Start
Ullmark will be in goal for the Sabres on Thursday.
Ullmark turned aside 24 of 26 shots that he faced in the Sabres 2-0 loss to the Capitals on Monday. Chad Johnson started last night, so Ullmark will go tonight vs. the Islanders. Ullmark won his first meeting with the Isles but comes into play at 3-7-0 with a 2.53 GAA and .906 SV% on home ice this season.
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.
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