Lennart Petrell, who injured his groin during the 1st period against Nashville, is also absent from the morning skate
Don't expect Petrell to play tonight. The gritty forward scored four goals and nine points with 45 PIM in 55 games.
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NHL Hockey Player News
Taylor Hall not skating this morning.
Hall was skating so his absence is somewhat telling. The former first overall pick scored 27 goals and 53 points in 61 games.
Line Change
Omark draws back in.
The second-year forward scored two goals in 11 games.
Goalie Start
Khabi starts in Tampa for 1st time since Game 7 vs CGY.
In seven career starts against his former team, Khabibulin has a 4-3-0 record with a 1.85 GAA, .927 SV% and one shutout.
#leafs lines, MacArthur-Grabovski-Frattin
MacArthur moves down to the Grabovski line. Through 67 games, he scored 19 goals and 39 points.
Line Change
#leafs lines, Ashton-Bozak-Kessel
Ashton moves up to the top line. The rookie has no points in his first eight NHL games.
Goalie Start
Marc-Andre Fleury will start in goal.
In five career appearances against the Preds, Fleury has a 2-2-1 record with a 2.53 GAA and .906 SV%.
Early indications are Craig Anderson could make his return from the hand injury Friday night vs. Habs. #nhl #sens
Anderson owners should be prepared to activate the starting goalie for tomorrow's game.
Travis Zajac looks like he'll be an extra forward again in today's practice. He has on green practice jersey, signifying not on top 4 lines.
Zajac is skating close to everyday which is a great sign. Still no firm date on when he will return.
Line Change
9-43-40
Gillies gets bumped down to the fourth line. He has two goals and five points in 29 games with the Blue Jackets.
Line Change
25-19-15
Russell moves up to the third line despite being waived. The rookie has two goals in 32 games.
Line Change
22-17-61
Nash gets a new set of linemates. The Blue Jackets captain scored 25 goals and 48 points in this rollercoaster season.
Line Change
18-16-13
Atkinson moves up to the top line. The rookie scored two goals and four points through 18 games.
Goalie Start
#Flyers Bryzgalov first goalie off
In five career starts against the Caps, Bryzgalov has a 3-2-0 record with a 2.21 GAA, .930 SV% and one shutout.
No practice today for Wings. They're hopeful Lidstrom back soon, but see how he feels tomorrow before know about Saturday.
Lidstrom has circled Saturday as his possible return date. The future Hall-of-Fame defenseman is enjoying another stellar season with 10 goals and 31 points in 62 games.
Call up / Send down
TRANSACTION: Doug Janik has been assigned to @griffinshockey of the American Hockey League.
Janik heads back to the minors, indicating Lidstrom or Kindl will play on Saturday. He registered an assist in nine games.
Line Change
Koivu will return to his normal No. 1 center position between linemates Dany Heatley and Devin Setoguchi.
Expect Koivu to center the top line tonight. Through 45 games, the Wild's captain has 10 goals and 37 points.
Goalie Start
Starting goaltenders: NSH- Pekka Rinne (2011-12 stats: 39-15-8, 2.38 GAA)
In two career appearances against the Pens, Rinne has a 1-0-1 record with a 2.99 GAA and .911 SV%.
Goalie Start
Kari Lehtonen, who made 27 saves Tuesday and was 3-3 in the shootout, is expected to start in goal for Dallas.
Through seven career start against the Canucks, Lehtonen has a 2-5-0 record with a 3.79 GAA and .874 SV%.
Goalie Start
Probable goaltenders: Marc-Andre Fleury for Penguins.
In five career appearances against the Preds, Fleury has a 2-2-1 record with a 2.53 GAA and .906 SV%.
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.