Hannikainen (shoulder) has been placed on IR; will miss two months.
Hannikainen, 22, was injured after playing just 6:15 TOI in his NHL debut on Saturday. This is a tough break for Hannikainen, who will be sidelined until early February.
NHL Hockey Player News
Goalie Start
Ward is expected to start Monday in New York.
Ward was pulled after he allowed three goals on 14 shots in the Hurricanes’ loss to the Sabres on Friday. Tonight Ward will close out November with his 10th start of the month—he has gone 3-3-3 with a 2.62 GAA and .893 SV% in his first nine starts in November. One of those losses came in New York on November 10th, he allowed three goals on 23 shots in a 3-0 loss.
Johnson (undisclosed) missed Monday’s practice.
Johnson has been battling injuries for the last two weeks. Johnson was injured early in last Friday’s game and missed Saturday’s contest. Thankfully for Johnson owners, the Lightning don’t play until Wednesday, but Johnson’s absence from practice puts his status in doubt.
Andersen (flu) returned to practice on Sunday.
Andersen has missed the last two games with the flu, but was back in net in practice on Sunday. Andersen has been dealing with a fever, that spiked as high as 102 degrees. John Gibson is expected to start again on Monday but Andersen could be aiming to return for Friday’s game home game vs. the Sharks.
Goalie Start
Gibson is likely to be in goal again on Monday.
Gibson allowed three goals on 32 shots in the Ducks overtime loss to the Blackhawks on Friday. With Frederik Andersen out with the flu, Gibson is expected to make his third straight starting tonight vs. Vancouver. Since being called-up he has gone 1-1-1 with a 2.46 GAA and .918 SV% in two starts and one relief appearance. He draws a good matchup vs. a Vancouver team that has lost six of eight.
Injury
Sekac (ankle) resumed skating on Sunday.
Sekac has been sidelined with a sprained ankle since November 1st, but returning to the ice on Monday is a good sign that Sekac is progressing towards a December return.
Lupul (undisclosed) is not expected to play on Monday.
Lupul missed Sunday’s practice and is expected to be held out of Monday’s contest with an undisclosed injury. The Maple Leafs did not reveal the nature or severity of the injury, but it is not believed to be serious. Expect Daniel Winnik to replace Lupul.
Goalie Start
Varlamov will be in goal on Monday vs. the Islanders.
Varlamov allowed three goals on 28 shots in Colorado’s win over Winnipeg on Saturday. Since returning from injury, Varlamov is 2-1-0 with a 2.96 GAA and .891 SV%. It hasn’t exactly been pretty for Varly, but the wins are all that matter to Patrick Roy. Varlamov will start in Brooklyn tonight, he is 2-2-0 with a 2.03 GAA and .927 SV% on the road this season.
Goalie Start
Luongo leads the Panthers onto the ice for warmups.
Luongo allowed two goals on 25 shots in the Panthers win over the Islanders on Friday. The win snapped a three-game losing streak for Luongo, who will be making his seventh start on the road this season—in his first six road outings, the 36-year-old netminder is 1-3-2 with a 2.76 GAA and .914 SV%.
Goalie Start
Sparks will make his NHL debut on Monday.
Sparks, 22, was the 190th overall pick in 2011, but has transformed himself into a top goalie prospect this season. Through 11 games with the Marlies, he has gone 8-2-1 with a 1.90 GAA and .938 SV%. With James Reimer out and Jonathan Bernier borderline unplayable, Sparks will make his NHL debut tonight vs. the Oilers.
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Goalie Start
Quick leads the Kings onto the ice for warmups.
Quick stopped 29 of 30 shots, but walked away on the wrong side of a 2-1 shootout final in Tampa Bay on Wednesday. Quick has gone 4-4-1 with a 2.51 GAA and .909 SV% in nine November starts. Tonight he will make his second start against the Blackhawks—he allowed four goals on 26 shots in a 4-2 loss in the first meeting.
Goalie Start
Goalie Start
Goalie Start
Niemi leads the Stars onto the ice for warmups.
Niemi allowed two goals on 36 shots in the Stars win over the Canucks last night. With Kari Lehtonen out and Niemi coming off of a strong game, it looks like he will start for the second straight evening. Niemi has gone 3-3-0 with a 2.55 GAA and .903 SV% in the month of November. Tonight he will take on a Wild team who has dropped five of their last six games.
Goalie Start
Saros leads the Predators onto the ice for warmups.
Saros, 20, was the Predators fourth round pick (99th overall) in 2013. The 5-foot-11 netminder has gone 8-2-0 with a 2.40 GAA and .919 SV% 10 games into his first season with Milwaukee (AHL). Saros has spent the last two years in the SM-liiga, he was 13-18-16 with a 2.14 GAA and .929 SV% in 47 games with HPK Hameenlinna last year.
Johnson (undisclosed) is not on the ice for warmups; will not play vs. the Islanders.
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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