NHL Hockey Player News

Lehtonen gets the nod vs. Chicago.

Lehtonen allowed three goals on 24 shots in a loss to the Maple Leafs last Thursday. It was his fifth loss in his last six starts, but the lone win in that stretch came on a 47-save performance against the Blackhawks who he will face tonight. It is never an easy matchup when Chicago is in town, but last Tuesday's game gives you a little more confidence.

Kari Lehtonen
Thomas starts for the Panthers.

Thomas stopped 22 of 23 shots in a 2-1 win over the Red Wings on Saturday night. He will be back in the cage tonight vs. Detroit again tonight, but Pavel Datsyuk will be in the lineup this time around. HE will look for his third straight win, but it is not the best matchup.

Curtis McElhinney vs. Martin Brodeur

McElhinney gave up two goals on 30 shots but still walked away with the loss last night vs. Pittsburgh. It was a great outing vs. a good Penguins team, but his team couldn't get enough rubber past Marc-Andre Fleury. His 0.89 GAA and .966 SV% since Bobrovsky went down is encouraging and he draws a great matchup tonight vs. a lowly Devils offence.

Curtis McElhinney
Holtby starts for the Capitals.

Holtby allowed two goals on 36 shots in a win over the Predators on Saturday. Holtby has now won three out of his last four starts with a 2.50 GAA and .926 SV%. He gets the nod tonight against the Lightning who have dropped three out of their last four.

Braden Holtby
Raanta expected to get the call for Chicago.

Raanta allowed two goals on 31 shots in a win over the Panthers after relieving an injured Corey Crawford on Sunday. He likely gets the call tonight in Dallas to face a Stars team coming off of a convincing win over the Flyers. Raanta will serve as the Blackhawks number-1 until Crawford returns, making him a solid pick-up and short-term goalie help.

Antti Raanta
Brooks Laich (groin) skated Sunday, but hasn't since.

Laich will miss his sixth consecutive game tonight and not participating in skates suggests that he is not getting any closer to a return. He had four goals and two assists in 25 games.

Brooks Laich
Michal Neuvirth (lower body) is still on injured reserve, but is skating this morning.

With Philipp Grubauer winning his start on Sunday and proving to be a capable backup, there is no reason for the Capitals to rush Neuvirth back. He will likely miss his sixth straight game tonight unless he is activated from IR after the morning skate.

Michal Neuvirth
HIller leads the Ducks onto the ice for warmups.

Hiller stopped 23 of 25 shots and two of three shootout attempts in a 3-2 win over the Blackhawks on Friday. He was given Saturday off, so he should be well rested to take on an Islanders team who have lost nine in a row (0-7-2). He is a must-start tonight.

Jonas Hiller
Peters starts for the Hurricanes.

Peters allowed two goals on 22 shots in 5-2 win over the Predators on Thursday. He is 2-0 with a 1.50 GAA and .939 SV% in his last two outings, but draws a tough outing on the road against a Canucks team who have won four straight.

Justin Peters
Stars center Vernon Fiddler will miss at least this week with the upper body injury he suffered in Saturday’s 5-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.

Fiddler left Saturday’s game in the first period and did not return. “He’s going to be out with an upper body [injury] for at least this week,” said Stars coach Lindy Ruff. “We’ll see where he is at the end of this week.” With Fiddler out, Ruff will have to shuffle his lines. He put Cody Eakin in Fiddler’s spot between Antoine Roussel and Ryan Garbutt during Monday’s practice, a move he made in Saturday’s game as well.

Vernon Fiddler
Michalek skated this morning and is questionable for Tuesday's meeting with the Avalanche.

Michalek has missed the last nine games with a lower-body injury that he suffered in the first period of a game on November 14. He is a key minute-eater on the Coyotes blueline and his return would certainly help their blueline - they are 3-4-2 without him in the lineup. Monitor his status during Tuesday's morning skate.

Zbynek Michalek
Doan (illness) will not make the trip to Colorado for Tuesday's game.

Doan did not play on Friday and will sit out at least one more game as he continues to battle an illness. The 37-year-old is having a tremendous start to the season, posting 12 goals and 23 points in 27 games. He could be available back in Phoenix on Thursday vs. the Islanders.

Shane Doan
Coyotes head coach Dave Tippet says he hopes to have Morris (personal) back later this week.

Morris missed Friday's game against the Canucks due to a family matter and won't suit up on Tuesday against the Avalanche either. The Coyotes next game would be Thursday, so Morris could be back in Phoenix when they take on the Islanders.

Kane (lower-body) will not play Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues.

Kane will miss his fourth consecutive game as he continues to nurse a lower-body injury that he suffered on November 29 in Philadelphia. Jets head coach Claude Noel said that Kane remains day-to-day so monitor his status leading up to Thursday's tilt with the Avalanche.

Evander Kane

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?

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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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