Coyotes defenseman Zbynek Michalek is no longer on the IR list and is skating in pre-game warmups tonight at Edmonton.
Michalek hasn't played since March 9th because of a lower-body injury. He only had two assists in 25 games before getting hurt.
NHL Hockey Player News
Goalie Start
#Coyotes goalie Mike Smith, who is 4-1-1 with a 2.35 GAA vs. Edmonton, has stopped 64 of 65 shots in 2 starts since returning from injury
Smith allowed just one goal on 41 shots in a 2-0 loss to the Canucks on Monday. He has posted a 0.51 GAA and .985 SV% in two starts since returning from his upper-body injury. He faces a skilled Oilers team that can score at any time.
Goalie Start
#canucks Cory Schneider is sick. Luongo starts. Dustin Butler called in from University of Calgary to back up Luongo.
Luongo allowed two goals on 22 shots in his last start. Tonight will mark his 15th start of the season and his first since March 30th. He is 0-1-0 with a 3.04 GAA and .875 SV% vs. the Flames this season.
Call up / Send down
Carolina has recalled forward Tim Wallace on an emergency basis from the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL).
Wallace scored one goal and averaged 10:09 of ice time per game in 21 games with Carolina from Feb. 4-March 18, before being assigned to Charlotte. In 47 games with the Checkers this season he has notched nine goals, earned 13 assists (22 points) and accumulated 44 penalty minutes.
The recall of Nilstorp was prompted by Dallas goaltender Kari Lehtonen suffering a lower body injury in Tuesday’s game against Los Angeles. Lehtonen left the game late in the first period after experiencing some soreness. He is listed as day-to-day.
Consider Lehtonen doubtful for Friday's contest with the Predators.
Goalie Start
James Reimer set to make a 6th straight start vs Rangers tonight. #Leafs
Reimer allowed three goals on 34 shots in a 4-3 win over the Rangers on Monday. He has now won four out of his last five starts with a 2.21 GAA and .924 SV%. He will face the Rangers again tonight, so no reason why he can't win again.
Call up / Send down
The Dallas Stars have called up goaltender Cristopher Nilstorp under emergency conditions from the Texas Stars of the AHL.
The recall of Nilstorp was prompted by Dallas goaltender Kari Lehtonen suffering a lower body injury in Tuesday’s game against Los Angeles. Nilstorp is 18-11-3 with a 2.26 goals against average and .909 save percentage with Texas. He is also 1-3-1 with Dallas this season and has posted a 3.09 goals against average and .897 save percentage.
Call up / Send down
Tye McGinn has been reassigned to the #ADKPhantoms
McGinn had no points and was a minus-3 in his last two games with Philly. He hasn't played since last Wednesday.
Milan Hejduk will likely return to action on Thursday as the Avs face defending champion Los Angeles.
Hejduk last played Mar. 30 in a victory over Nashville and the Avs dropped five consecutive games as he recovered from a shoulder injury.
Paul Stastny is returning to the lineup Wednesday night
Stastny injured his left foot blocking a shot Mar. 24 against Vancouver and the injury has lingered beyond the initial 10-day prognosis. His 19 points in 31 games placed him third on the team in scoring. He missed eight games, the same number Jones had missed after sustaining a knee injury. A longer than expected absence has been especially tough as his club dropped seven of eight games.
If Milan Michalek feels okay, I'm sure he will be in the lineup tomorrow vs PHI. At this point, they're waiting for him to say he's good.
The Senators leading goal-scorer last season hasn't played in March 8th because of a knee injury. Monitor his status prior to tomorrow's game. He is only owned in 19.7% of ESPN leagues so he is likely available in your league.
Goalie Start
Allen Friday vs. #cbj
Allen is not getting as many starts over Elliott now as he did earlier in the season because of Elliott's recent success. Allen will get his seventh start on the road in Columbus on Friday. He is 5-1-0 with a 2.78 GAA and .887 SV% away from St. Louis this season. Don't hesitate to use him as a spot start.
Goalie Start
Elliott starts Thursday vs. #wild
Elliott is starting to look more like he did last year after a bad start to the season. He has recorded a shutout in each of his last two starts (vs. DET and NSH). He will be in the cage again tomorrow vs. the Wild. He is 2-0-0 with a 2.93 GAA and .861 SV% in two starts vs. Minnesota this season.
Injury
Ward "hurting" a lot, hasn't skated since blocking shot. #Caps
Sounds like Ward is in danger of missing his second straight game tomorrow. Consider him doubtful.
Oates said Erat looks "a ways away" still.
The Capitals gave up a big prospect to get Erat so the fact that he is going to miss an extended period of time is not what Washington had in mind. He will miss his third straight game tomorrow.
#Flames injury update: Derek Smith is out with a knee injury #CGYVAN
Smith will miss his fifth straight game today and has been placed on IR. He is not fantasy relevant.
#NHLDucks C Ryan Getzlaf (lower body) will skate warm-up and be a game-time decision tonight, Coach Bruce Boudreau said.
Getzlaf is in danger of missing his fourth straight game tonight. Monitor his status during pre-game warm-ups.
Signing
Habs sign Budaj to a two-year extension.
He is 6-1-1 with a 2.28 GAA and .917 SV% as Carey Price's backup this season.
Josh Harding is practicing with the Wild for the first time since the morning skate Feb. 11 in Calgary. The next day, he was scratched from his anticipated start in Vancouver because of complications he was having adjusting to new medication for multiple sclerosis.
Darcy Kuemper will remain at least until Harding is ready to return. I assume he would need a number of practices.
Injury
Heatley now officially done for the year with his shoulder injury - not what the Wild wanted to hear.
Heatley had season ending shoulder surgery. Feel free to drop him.
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.
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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.
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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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