Line Change
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NHL Hockey Player News
Larkin (illness) will be back in the Red Wings lineup on Sunday.
Goalie Start
Howard starts in net for the Red Wings.
Howard stopped all six shots that he faced after replacing Petr Mrazek in the Red Wings’ loss in Pittsburgh on Thursday. Mrazek started on Saturday night, so Howard will start tonight in New York. He has lost 10 in a row and is 2-4-3 with a 3.34 GAA and .897 SV% on the road this season.
Scandella (undisclosed) is on the ice for warmups; expected to play vs. Chicago.
Goalie Start
Ward will start Sunday vs. the Lightning.
Ward allowed two goals on 24 shots in the Hurricanes 5-2 win over the Sharks on Friday. Ward has played very well since the All-Star break, going 3-0-2 with a 1.88 GAA and .934 SV% in five starts in February. Tonight he faces the Lightning for the second time this season, he allowed four goals on 31 shots in a 4-3 loss back in November.
Goalie Start
Dubnyk leads the Wild onto the ice for warmups.
Dubnyk allowed three goals on 28 shots in the Wild’s win in Calgary on Wednesday. Darcy Kuemper started the second game of the back-to-back, but Dubnyk will start in today’s outdoor game. Dubnyk has won two in a row while stopping 49 of 54 shots (.907 SV%).
Goalie Start
Crawford will start Sunday's Stadium Series game.
Crawford allowed three goals on 34 shots in the Blackhawks win in New York on Wednesday. The win snapped a three-game losing streak for Crawford, who is 32-14-3 with a 2.21 GAA and .929 SV% on the season. He’ll be taking on a Wild team that has won three in a row while averaging 5.00 goals per game.
Goalie Start
Miller starts Sunday vs. the Avalanche.
Miller allowed four goals on 32 shots in the Canucks loss to the Ducks on Thursday. Miller has lost seven of his last eight starts and comes into play at 12-17-8 with a 2.64 GAA and .915 SV% on the season. Tonight he faces an Avalanche team that has won four of their last five while averaging 2.80 goals per game.
Goalie Start
Lundqvist will start Sunday vs. the Rangers.
Lundqvist allowed for goals on 19 shots in the Rangers loss to the Blackhawks on Wednesday. Antti Raanta started on Thursday, but Lundqvist will go tonight vs. the Red Wings. King Henrik is 5-2-0 with a 1.85 GAA and .925 SV% in February and 18-4-2 with a 2.20 GAA and .920 SV% on home ice.
Trade
The Maple Leafs have acquired Colin Smith and a fourth-round draft pick from the Avalanche for Shawn Matthias.
Smith, 22, is a pending restricted free agent at the season. He was a seventh round pick (192nd overall) in 2012 and has just one game of NHL experience. He has picked up 13 goals and 21 assists (34 points) in 54 games with San Antonio (AHL) this season. He will report to the AHL’s top team the Toronto Marlies.
The Avalanche have acquired Shawn Matthias from Toronto for Colin Smith and a fourth-round draft pick.
Matthias, 28, signed a one-year deal with the Maple Leafs at the start of the season but will now provide third-line depth for the Avalanche, who are making a playoff push in the Western Conference. Matthias has 17 points (6G / 11A) in 51 games with the Maple Leafs this season, but had a career-high 18 goals with the Canucks last season.
Call up / Send down
The Rangers have recalled Marek Hrivik from Hartford (AHL).
Goalie Start
Howard is expected to start on Sunday.
Howard stopped all six shots that he faced after replacing Petr Mrazek in the Red Wings’ loss in Pittsburgh on Thursday. Mrazek started on Saturday night, so Howard is expected to start tonight in New York. He has lost 10 in a row and is 2-4-3 with a 3.34 GAA and .897 SV% on the road this season.
Goalie Start
Bishop will start again on Sunday.
Bishop allowed two goals on 39 shots in the Lightning’s win in Pittsburgh yesterday. Despite a busy afternoon, Bishop will start again tonight in Carolina. Bishop is 4-3-0 with a 2.75 GAA and .906 SV% since the All-Star break and 9-8-1 with a 2.22 GAA and .922 SV% on the road this season.
The Blues have activated Jake Allen (knee) has been activated from IR.
Goalie Start
Dubnyk is expected to start Sunday's Stadium Series game.
Dubnyk allowed three goals on 28 shots in the Wild’s win in Calgary on Wednesday. Darcy Kuemper started the second game of the back-to-back, but Dubnyk is expected to start in today’s outdoor game. Dubnyk has won two in a row while stopping 49 of 54 shots (.907 SV%).
Faulk (leg) will take warmups tonight; game-time decision.
Line Change
Goalie Start
Fleury will start Sunday in Buffalo.
Fleury was scratched from his scheduled start yesterday due to an illness, but has been pegged to start today in Buffalo. Fleury is 4-2-1 with a 2.71 GAA and .906 SV% since the All-Star break and 8-7-4 with a 2.20 GAA and .927 SV% on the road 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.
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
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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.
- NHL Latest Line Combination Changes – Bringing you every line combination from across all 32 NHL teams, check out the latest NHL line combination changes made ahead of their next tilt.
- NHL Player Signings and Contract Details – Your go-to spot during NHL free agency, check out the latest NHL player signings and contract details today.
- 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.