Kulikov (illness) will play on Sunday.
Kulikov missed Thursday’s game with an illness, but will be back in the lineup tonight vs. the Oilers. Kulikov has one goal and 11 assists (12 points) in 34 games this season.
NHL Hockey Player News
Goalie Start
Scrivens will be in goal for the Oilers.
Scrivens stopped 19 of 21 shots in the Oilers shocking 5-2 win over the Blackhawks on Friday. He has won two in a row and three of his last five with a 1.99 GAA and .929 SV%. This is the best he has played all season, so you might be able to trust him tonight with the 19-11-9 Panthers in town.
Goalie Start
Backstrom starts for the Wild.
Backstrom allowed three goals on 27 shots in the Wild’s 3-1 loss to the Predators last night. He will start his third straight game and for the second time in as many nights. He draws a rough matchup in Chicago0—he allowed three goals on 19 shots in a loss to the Hawks on Thursday.
Kulikov (illness) is not expected to play on Sunday.
The Panthers are expected to go with the same group of defnsemen tonight vs. the Oilers, which means Kulikov will miss his second straight game with an illness.
Barkov (illness) is not expected to play on Sunday.
The Panthers are expected to ice the same group of forwards as Friday night, which means that Barkov is expected to miss his second straight game with an illness.
Goalie Start
Andersen is the Ducks probable starter.
Andersen surrendered three goals on 30 shots in the Ducks win over the Predators last Sunday. He had a full week off with Ilya Bryzgalov getting the nod on Wednesday. He comes in having won two in a row and three of his last four. Andersen is 12-4-2 with a 2.15 GAA and .925 SV% at home.
Call up / Send down
The Red Wings recalled Tom McCollum from Grand Rapids (AHL).
McCollum, 25, has gone 10-8-3 with a 2.33 GAA and .911 SV% in 21 games with Grand Rapids this season. He will backup Petr Mrazek while Jimmy Howard is out.
The Red Wings have placed Jimmy Howard (groin) on injured reserve.
Howard underwent an MRI on Sunday, but the Red Wings placed him on IR before the results of the MRI were even revealed. He will miss at least the next seven days, but based on how the injury looked, expect him to be out much longer than that. Petr Mrazek has been elevated to the Red Wings starter with Howard out.
After being re-evaluated, Mason (lower-body) will miss up to two weeks.
Mason’s injury is reportedly not related to his previous lower-body injury, but it will keep out of at least the next six games. The Flyers will roll with Ray Emery and Rob Zepp as their goaltending tandem while Mason is sidelined.
Goalie Start
Luongo will start for the Panthers.
Luongo stopped 32 of 33 shots in the Panthers 3-1 win over his old team in Vancouver on Thursday. It was a special night for Bobby Lu, who did not disappoint. He was given Friday night off, so he will go again tonight in Edmonton. Luongo is 5-3-2 with a 2.23 and .935 SV% in 10 starts vs. Western Conference opponents.
Goalie Start
Luongo is the Panthers projected starter.
Luongo stopped 32 of 33 shots in the Panthers 3-1 win over his old team in Vancouver on Thursday. It was a special night for Bobby Lu, who did not disappoint. He was given Friday night off, so he will go again tonight in Edmonton. Luongo is 5-3-2 with a 2.23 and .935 SV% in 10 starts vs. Western Conference opponents.
Injury
McCormick is out indefinitely with a blood clot in his leg.
McCormick remains in hospital after finding a blood clot in his leg over the weekend. McCormick is out indefinitely and his season could be over.
Call up / Send down
The Flyers have officially recalled Rob Zepp from Lehigh Valley (AHL).
With Steve Mason out, Zepp has been recalled to join Ray Emery as the Flyers goalie tandem for the next week. Zepp stopped 25 of 28 shots in a win over the Jets in his only NHL start.
Goalie Start
Crawford will start on Sunday vs. the Wild.
Crawford allowed two goals on 44 shots in the Blackhawks win over the Wild on Thursday. Crawford stole the game for the Hawks and will face the Wild again tonight, this time at home. Crawford is 7-4-1 with a 2.44 GAA and .909 SV% at United Center this season.
Injury
Mitchell (undisclosed) practiced on Sunday; should return Tuesday.
Mitchell has been sidelined with an undisclosed injury since December 15th. With Mikhail Grigorenko and Phil Varone being sent to the AHL on Saturday, it opens the door for Mitchell to return Tuesday vs. Detroit.
Injury
Gionta (concussion) returned to practice on Sunday.
Gionta has been sidelined with a concussion since December 21st. He has missed the last nine games, but returned to the ice this morning. His return to practice suggests that he could be back in the lineup on Tuesday vs. the Red Wings.
Call up / Send down
The Capitals have sent Steven Olesky back to Hershey (AHL).
Olesky was recalled prior to Saturday’s game, but served as a healthy scratch. His stay with the Capitals was short-lived.
Call up / Send down
The Bruins sent Seth Griffith back to Providence (AHL).
Griffith, 22, registered 10 points (6G / 4A) in 30 games with the Bruins. He served as a healthy scratch the two games, so he heads back to the AHL to get some playing time.
Call up / Send down
Brian McGrattan cleared waivers and was reassigned to Adirondack (AHL) on Saturday.
The enforcer seems to be a dying breed in the NHL, so the 33-year-old McGrattan went unclaimed on waivers. He heads the to AHL for the first time since 2012-13, when he played with Milwaukee.
Toffoli is out indefinitely with mononucleosis.
Toffoli was a late scratch from Saturday’s game vs. the Jets because of mono. There is no timetable for his return, but he is expected to miss at least two weeks. Mono can be tough, because you can lose a substantial amount of weight and strength.
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!