Also, no Ryan Shannon on the ice (upper body)
Shannon will miss his second consecutive game. Shannon has two goal and nine points in 37 games.
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NHL Hockey Player News
Line Change
J. Johnson-Wisniewski
As expected, Johnson lines up in the top four alongside James Wisniewski. He has eight goals and 24 points in 61 games.
Line Change
#CBJ captain Rick Nash on the ice for warm-ups here in Pittsburgh.
Nash will play this afternoon amid trade rumors. Expect more than a few eyes to be on the Blue Jackets' captain.
No Victor Hedman on the ice for #tblightning warmups
As expected, Hedman will not play today. He has three goals and 13 points in 44 games.
Goalie Start
Garon leads the #tblightning onto the ice
In five career appearances against the Devils, Garon has a 1-2-1 record with a 2.29 GAA and .913 SV%.
Goalie Start
Backstrom starts in net against San Jose
In 17 career starts against the Sharks, Backstrom has a 4-10-3 record with a 3.03 GAA, .907 SV% and one shutout.
Injury
Mikko Koivu skated before practice, Yeo said. He is feeling "better," but no timeframe announced yet #mnwild
Koivu has yet to practice with the team which indicates he is not quite ready. However, the captain shouldn't need too much help getting back into full swing once healthy.
Line Change
#Isles activate Mike Mottau from IR.
Mottau could be an option for the Isles lineup tonight. He has two assists in 28 games with a minus-9 rating.
Before trading G Ben Bishop to OTT for a 2013 2nd rd pick, STL signed him to a one-year, one-way contract. #TradeCentre #tsn
Bishop was slated to become a UFA so the Sens get their new player for at least a full season.
Trade call still needs to happen, but Bishop will be headed to Sens for a draft pick. #tradecentre
Great pickup by the Senators to grab a promising young netminder. Expect him to get a fair share of starts with Craig Anderson sidelined.
Line Change
Veilleux LW w Peters/Orymeyer
Expect Veilleux to fill out the fourth line. He has no points this season.
Line Change
Palmieri on RW w Clutterbuck/Cullen.
Palmieri will make his Wild debut on the third line. He has four goals and seven points in 29 games.
Line Change
Falk paired with foster.
Look for Foster to get eased into the lineup on the third pairing. In 37 games, split between the New Jersey Devils and Anaheim Ducks, the offensive defenseman scored four goals and 14 points.
Line Change
Prosser and Kassian #mnwild scratches tonight.
Prosser takes a turn in the press box. He has a goal and nine points in 32 games.
Line Change
Prosser and Kassian #mnwild scratches tonight.
Kassian takes a seat after playing a few games on the fourth line. The pugilist has no points in 16 games.
Line Change
Larsson will be paired on defense with Salvador.
Salvador will once again help mentor the young d-man. The veteran has five assists in 60 games.
Line Change
Zidlicky will be paired with Volchenkov
Zidlicky gets a very reliable partner, who should help ease him into the new system. Through 41 games, the offensive defenseman has 14 assists.
Line Change
Boulton and Taormina will be the healthy scratches.
Boulton was recently waived so his exclusion from the lineup is no surprise. The pugilist has no points a 76 PIM in 36 games.
Line Change
Boulton and Taormina will be the healthy scratches.
Taormina is the odd-man out with Marek Zidlicky and Adam Larsson getting into the lineup. The rookie scored a goal and seven points in 26 games.
Goalie Start
Blue Jackets goaltender Curtis Sanford will start at Pittsburgh on Sunday.
In two career appearances against the Pens, Sanford has a 2-0-0 record with a 0.52 GAA, .974 SV% and one shutout.
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.