Spaling will return to the lineup tonight after missing Tuesday's game with an upper-body injury.
Spaling is one of Nashville’s top penalty killers and a strong two-way forward.
NHL Hockey Player News
Line Change
Jay McClement missed Tuesday’s game to be with his wife while she was giving birth and is questionable to return to the lineup Thursday.
Josh Leivo would likely remain in the Maple Leafs lineup should McClement be unavailable.
Goalie Start
Habs announce Peter Budaj will make his 1st start of the season tonight vs. the Edmonton.
Budaj went went 8-1-1 with a 2.28 GAA and .908 SV% in a backup role last season. He will face the high-octane Oilers offence tonight. Edmonton has scored 11 goals in their first three games.
Lupul (leg) was at the Maple Leafs optional skate this morning, he is expected to play tonight.
Lupul bruised his leg in Tuesday's loss vs. Colorado. He should be out there tonight against the Predators.
Stalberg is "banging around out there," said Predators head coach Barry Trotz. He is making progress and has a chance to play as early as Saturday.
Stalberg was expected to miss two more weeks with and AC sprain in his shoulder. This is great news for the Predators who signed him to a 4-year, $12 milllon US deal in the offseason. Monitor his status prior to Saturday's contest with the Islanders.
Injury
Shawn Matthias woke up feeling sick, doubtful for tonight.
If Matthias can not play, Joey Crabb will likely make his Panthers debut.
Goalie Start
Bernier is expected to get the start against the Predators.
Bernier suffered his first defeat of the season on Tuesday, but still played very well. He allowed just two goals on 33 shots, but the Maple Leafs did not provide much in the way of goal support. Against the Predators, he should be a good play tonight.
Waiver Move
The Phoenix Coyotes have placed Chris Summers on waivers.
Summers has yet to appear in a game for the Coyotes this season.
Injury
Boll (upper-body) makes his season debut tonight.
Boll will play on the Blue Jackets fourth line with Derek MacKenzie and Mark Letestu.
Panik will return to the lineup with Tom Pyatt (collarbone) out with an injury.
Panik will look to get back into head coach Jon Cooper's good side after being a healthy scratch on Tuesday. He has no points and a minus-2 rating in two games.
Sabres head coach Ron Rolston says Tallinder is close to returning, possibly Saturday.
Tallinder (upper-body) will miss his third straight game tonight. For now consider him questionable for Saturday.
Goalie Start
Brodeur starts Friday vs. Flames
Brodeur's career is clearly on the decline and so far this season you have seen that. He has two OTL in his first two starts while posting a 3.24 GAA and .868 SV%. He starts against the up-start Flames who have surprised a few teams already this season.
Goalie Start
Rinne expected to get the start for the Predators.
Rinne recorded his first win of the season by turning aside 32 of 34 shots in a 3-2 victory over Minnesota. He will likely face the Maple Leafs, which is never an easy task. Rinne will look to continue trending in the right direction.
Line Change
Mikhail Grigorenko out; Johan Larsson in.
Grigorenko has seen his ice-time drop in every game this season. The 2012 third overall pick has struggled this season. “You have to find a way to be an impact in a game,” coach Ron Rolston said. “It’s his ability to put himself in positions where he can use those skills. That means you’ve got to go to the puck, you’ve got to get the puck, you’ve got to support the puck, you’ve got to be around the puck, you’ve got to battle for the puck. You can stickhandle in a phone booth and that doesn’t really translate unless you can be an impact on the game."
Line Change
Connor Carrick out; Alexander Urbom in.
Carrick has one goal and a minus-2 rating while averaging 13:37 TOI in three games this season.
Line Change
Alexander Urbom in; Connor Carrick out.
Urbom will make his Capitals debut tonight after being claimed off of waivers last week. He had eight assists in 68 games in the AHL last season.
Goalie Start
Anton Khudobin was first off the ice this morning; He starts for the Hurricanes.
Khudobin stopped 17 of 18 shots in a 2-1 win over the Flyers on Sunday. Cam Ward has yet to win so the Hurricanes will turn to Khudobin tonight against the Capitals. Facing Alex Ovechkin is never a great matchup. There are better options than Khudobin tonight.
Goalie Start
Bishop will start for the Lightning.
Bishop has yet to lose this season. He has started 2-0 with a 1.90 GAA and .935 SV%. He will start against a Panthers team that is struggling right now. He should make for a good start tonight.
Goalie Start
Miller first goalie off the ice at morning skate.
After sitting out two games with a groin injury, Miller will return to cage tonight against the Blue Jackets. He has played well so far posting a 1.53 GAA and .963 SV% in his first two starts. He will look to continue his strong play and get the Sabres their first win this season.
Goalie Start
Holtby will start tonight vs. Carolina.
Holtby turned aside 19 of 21 shots in a 2-1 loss to Dallas on Saturday. He has had four days off since his last start so he should be well rested as he looks for his first win. He was 3-1-0 with a 1.75 GAA and .952 SV% in four starts against the Hurricanes last 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
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.