NHL Hockey Player News
Nikitin (shoulder) is not expected to play Thursday in Pittsburgh.
Goalie Start
Schneider will start Thursday in Colorado.
Schneider was yanked after giving up five goals on 30 shots in the Devils loss in Minnesota on Tuesday. He has dropped his last two games while giving up a combined eight goals on 54 shots (.852 SV%). Tonight he will take on an Avalanche team who have went 6-4-0 in their last 10 games.
Goalie Start
Coyotes will go back to Smith on Thursday.
Smith allowed one goal on 34 shots in the Coyotes loss to the Canadiens last Saturday. Louis Domingue got the nod on Monday, but the Coyotes will go back to Smith tonight vs. the Blackhawks. He has gone 1-1-0 with a 3.84 GAA and .910 SV% in his first two games against Chicago this season.
Varlamov (groin) will take part in Thursday's morning skate; may play vs. Devils.
Goalie Start
Elliott will be between the pipes on Thursday.
Elliott allowed four goals on 16 shots in the Blues 5-4 win over the Jets on Tuesday. It wasn’t a pretty outing for Elliott but it was enough to earn a second straight victory. Tonight he faces the Flyers and home, where Elliott has gone 11-5-1 with a 2.34 GAA and .913 SV% this season.
Goalie Start
Gibson gets the nod in Calgary.
Gibson allowed one goal on 38 shots in the Ducks won over the Canadiens last Wednesday. He was given the last two games off, but Gibson will be back in net tonight in Calgary. Gibson has won three straight while posting a 1.33 GAA and .960 SV%.
Goalie Start
Gibson was the first goalie off of the ice for the Ducks.
Gibson allowed one goal on 38 shots in the Ducks won over the Canadiens last Wednesday. He was given the last two games off, but it looks like Gibson will be back in net tonight in Calgary. Gibson has won three straight while posting a 1.33 GAA and .960 SV%.
Goalie Start
Crawford will start Thursday in Arizona.
Crawford made 35 saves on 36 shots in the Blackhawks 1-0 OT loss to the Rangers on Sunday. He has won three of his last four while registering a 0.98 GAA and .970 SV%. He is a must-start tonight in Arizona—Crawford is 14-6-1 with a 1.94 GAA and .931 SV% on the road.
Helm (oblique) will not play Thursday; expected to play on the weekend.
Helm left this morning’s practice early, but he is expected to be ready for Saturday’s game (@ PHI) or Sunday’s game (@ PIT). Monitor his status heading into the weekend.
Goalie Start
Howard starts Thursday vs. Columbus.
Howard made 36 saves on 38 shots in the Red Wings 5-2 win over Edmonton on Monday. He has won three of his last four starts while posting a 2.34 GAA and .923 SV%. Tonight he will face the Blue Jackets for the third time this season—he has posted two shutouts, winning one and losing on in a shootout in the first two meetings.
Krejci (knee) returned to the ice on Wednesday.
Krejci is nearly three weeks into a 4-6 week timetable. Today was the first time he has skated since the injury, which is a great sign for the Bruins. The Bruins are sitting in a playoff spot right now, so they will not rush him back, to make sure he is ready for the postseason.
Luongo (shoulder) will not play on Thursday.
Luongo will miss his third straight game with a shoulder injury. He has been skating on his own, but is not ready to join his teammates for practice. He will likely need to be cleared for practice if he is going to be available for Saturday’s game in Carolina.
Goalie Start
Ellis will make his third straight start on Thursday.
Ellis allowed three goals on 28 shots in the Panthers 4-3 shootout win over the Islanders on Saturday. He has gone 1-1-0 with a 2.77 GAA and .900 SV% since being recalled. Tonight he will take on a Jets team who have alternated losses and wins in their last seven games.
Goalie Start
Lindback will start Wednesday vs. the Maple Leafs.
Lindback allowed two goals on 22 shots after replacing Matt Hackett in the Sabres loss in Washington on Saturday. Lindback has gone 0-2-0 with a 3.33 GAA and .915 SV% in Buffalo. Lindback has gone 2-0-0 with a 1.33 GAA and .948 SV% in his career against the Maple Leafs.
Backstrom (illness) is expected to play on Wednesday.
Backstrom missed Tuesday’s practice and Wednesday’s morning skate because of an illness, but is expected to play tonight vs. the Rangers. Backstrom has five assists in his last four games.
Orpik (lower-body) will be a game-time decision on Wednesday.
Orpik missed Tuesday’s practice and Wednesday’s morning skate but there is still a chance that he plays tonight. He will be a game-time decision, but will be replaced by Cam Schilling if he can’t play.
Injury
Green (upper-body) will not play on Wednesday.
Green took part in the Capitals morning skate, but he was ruled out of tonight’s game vs. the Rangers. With Green out, Nate Schmidt will be in the lineup. Green is day-to-day.
Helm (oblique) returned to Red Wings practice on Wednesday.
Helm was back at practice for the first time since suffering an oblique injury, but he left the skate midway through, so he seems doubtful to be in the lineup on Thursday vs. Columbus.
Goalie Start
Holtby starts Wednesday vs. the Rangers.
Holtby made 16 saves on 17 shots in the Capitals dominant 6-1 win over the Sabres on Saturday. Holtby has won three of his last four while posting a 1.51 GAA and .945 SV%. He will take on a Rangers team who are 11-1-2 in their last 14 games—over that span, New York has averaged 3.43 goals 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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