Line Change
Coach Barry Trotz said Smithson will likely be in the lineup tomorrow.
Expect Smithson to oust a forward from the third line. The faceoff specialist has a goal and five points through 44 games.
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NHL Hockey Player News
Line Change
Torts also says that he will give Artem Anisimov shifts with different lines again tonight; says it's important to #NYR to get Artie going
Anisimov has been relegated to fourth line duties in recent games which is probably not the best place for him. Expect him to get a look with Marian Gaborik at some point during the game.
Line Change
Torts says Stralman will start at point on PP
Stralman has points in each of his last two games and is rewarded for his productive play. If this pace keeps up, he could be worth a look on your fantasy hockey squad.
Goalie Start
Avalanche goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere will start Thursday night in a key Northwest Division showdown against the Minnesota Wild at the Pepsi Center.
In 25 career starts against the Wild, Giguere has a 9-11-2-3 record with a 2.29 GAA, .914 SV% and three shutouts.
Goalie Start
All-Stars Jimmy Howard and Pavel Datsyuk were given the day off, Babcock said. They'll play Thursday.
In 11 career appearances against the Canucks, Howard has a 6-5-0 record with a 2.94 GAA, .907 SV% and one shutout.
Line Change
Babcock confirms Howard and Datsyuk just resting, will play Thurs.
Datsyuk is simply getting his rest before playing tomorrow. The All Star has 14 goals and 53 points through 50 games this season.
Line Change
Holmstrom (sore knees) confirms that he will play Thursday at Vancouver. Babcock confirms Howard and Datsyuk just resting, will play Thurs.
The veteran Holmstrom is rested and ready to draw back into the lineup. He has eight goals and 18 points through 43 games.
Line Change
Babcock confirms Howard and Datsyuk just resting, will play Thurs.
Howard was granted a maintenance day today after playing during the break. Expect him to start tomorrow for the Red Wings.
Babcock said Cleary had some swelling in his leg, nothing significant, and he is expected to play Thursday.
Cleary took a maintenance day and is not expected to miss any playing time. He has 10 goals and 22 points through 51 games this season.
Line Change
Lovejoy in for Engelland.
Engelland takes a seat for tonight's tilt. Popular last season for his ability to drop the gloves, Engelland has rounded out his game, producing two goals and 12 points through 45 games with 42 PIM.
Line Change
#Pens coach Bylsma: Ben Lovejoy will be playing tonight -Sam
Lovejoy draws in for the first time since January 17th. He has a goal and three points in 25 games.
Goalie Start
#Pens coach Bylsma: Brent Johnson will be going tonight -Sam
In nine career appearances against the Leafs, Johnson has a 4-4-0 record with a 3.49 GAA and .855 SV%.
Goalie Start
Craw in net tomorrow.
In six career appearances against the Oilers, Crawford has a 2-3-0 record with a 2.91 GAA and .882 SV%.
Hurricanes forward Chad LaRose is day-to-day due to illness.
Sounds like LaRose might miss a game due to the flu. The winger has 11 goals and 21 points through 46 games.
Call up / Send down
RALEIGH, NC – Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that team has recalled forward Drayson Bowman from the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL).
Bowman showed some success earlier in the season, scoring two goals and five points in 13 games. Look for him to fill in on the fourth line.
Goalie Start
Jaroslav Halak gets the start Friday against the Kings.
In seven career starts against the Kings, Halak has a 5-2-0 record with a 1.96 GAA, .927 SV% and one shutout.
Most newsworthy thing was probably Guillaume Latendresse (concussion) taking a slight step backwards and being held out of Wednesday's practice.
Latendresse had yet another setback and did not practice this morning. Limited to only 16 games on the season, the power forward has five goals and nine points.
Goalie Start
Coming off a strong January, Jonas Hiller (16-18-7, 2.77 GAA, .908) will again get the nod in the back-to-back scenario as he’s allowed two or fewer goals in 10 straight starts — including one he didn’t finish due to injury.
In 12 career appearances against the Stars, Hiller has a 4-6-1 record with a 2.56 GAA and .921 SV%.
Call up / Send down
CALGARY, AB – The Calgary Flames announced today they have signed centre Krys Kolanos to a two year, two-way contract and have recalled him from the Abbotsford Heat.
Kolanos tore up the AHL this season and could get an extended look with the Flames.
CALGARY, AB – The Calgary Flames announced today they have signed centre Krys Kolanos to a two year, two-way contract and have recalled him from the Abbotsford Heat.
Kolanos tore up the AHL this season and could get an extended look with the Flames.
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.
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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
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- 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.
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- 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.