Line Change
NHL Hockey Player News
Goalie Start
Johnson leads the Bruins onto the ice for warmups.
Johnson allowed one goal on 37 shots in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Jets on Thursday. Today, he will start behind a patchwork Bruins line-up with a bunch of key players resting. He has been excellent all season long, but the team in front of him this afternoon makes him a risky spot-start.
Call up / Send down
The Bruins have recalled Matt Lindblad from Providence (AHL).
Lindblad has played in one game with Boston this season. He has eight goals and 16 assists in 53 games with Providence this season.
Brodziak (undisclosed) will not play on Sunday.
Brodziak is listed as day-to-day and is expected to be ready for the playoffs. With Brodziak out, Nino Niederreiter will play center for the first time in his NHL career.
Mason (upper-body) is listed as day-to-day.
Mason should be ready to go for game 1 of the playoffs.
Injury
Paille (head) is day-to-day.
Paille was injured in Saturday on a hit from the Sabres' Jake McCabe. Originally the Bruins were worried about him not being ready for the playoffs, but he is reportedly feeling much better today and is day-to-day.
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Line Change
Bergeron (undisclosed) will not play on Sunday.
Bergeron left Saturday's game early and did not return. He is reportedly dealing with a minor injury but is expected to be ready for game 1 of the playoffs.
Goalie Start
Thomas will start for the Stars tonight.
Thomas stopped 23 of 25 shots in a loss to the Blue Jackets on Wednesday. The loss dropped him to 2-3-1 with a 3.15 GAA and .895 SV% with the Stars. Who would of thought his numbers would be much worse in Dallas than they were in Florida. He will open the playoffs as Kari Lehtonen's backup.
Line Change
Goalie Start
Lindback will start for the Lightning.
Lindback allowed two goals on 36 shots in a win over the Flyers on Thursday. With Ben Bishop out, Lindback will start the season finale. He was great against Philly, giving his coaches and teammates confidence that he can play well for them in the playoffs if he is called upon.
Line Change
Kunyk will make his NHL debut on Sunday.
Kunyk, 23, was signed a couple weeks ago. He has 22 goals and 21 assists in 37 games with the University of Alaska-Fairbanks this year. He will slide in for Ondrej Palat who is out with a lower-body injury.
Hedman (lower-body) is a game-time decision this afternoon.
Hedman was injured on Friday but may not miss any time and play this afternoon in Washington. Hedman has one goal and seven assists in his last six games and 55 points (13G / 42A) in 74 games this season.
Palat (lower-body) will not play on Sunday.
Palat has played all 81 games this season, but will miss the season finale today vs. Washington. Palat suffered the upper-body injury on Friday in Columbus. Palat scored his 23rd goal of the season before getting hurt. Consider him day-to-day.
Filppula (lower-body) will not play on Sunday.
Filppula will miss his second straight game with a lower-body injury, but is listed as day-to-day and could be ready for game 1 of the playoffs.
Call up / Send down
The Bruins have recalled Justin Florek from Providence (AHL).
Florek has one goal and one assist in three games with the Bruins this season. In 69 games with Providence he has 19 goals and 19 assists (38 points).
Call up / Send down
The Bruins have recalled Craig Cunningham from Providence (AHL).
Cunningham has 25 goals and 22 assists (47 points) in 73 games with Providence this season. He made his NHL debut on December 17th. With all the call-ups the Bruins appear to be set to rest a number of guys today.
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!
- 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.