Hitchcock said he is encouraged, but he's not ready to pencil either into the lineup yet, either.
Steen remains close to returning but won't get back into the lineup just yet. He has 13 goals and 24 points in 36 games.
Daily Faceoff is a news site with no direct affiliation to the NHL, or NHLPA
NHL Hockey Player News
#Flames PP unit -- Giordano only D, with Iginla, Jokinen, Tanguay, Cammalleri.
Tanguay on the top unit means Bouwmeester is bumped down to the second unit. Eight of his 21 points have come with the man advantage.
Line Change
#Flames PP unit -- Giordano only D, with Iginla, Jokinen, Tanguay, Cammalleri.
Tanguay will man the point on the top PP unit. Nine of his 22 points have come with the man advantage.
Goalie Start
Mike Smith (see PODCASTS below) will start in goal for the Coyotes in his 39th game of the season. Smith’s record for games played in one NHL season is 42, and he’s eager to prove he can handle the workload.
In nine career appearances against the Ducks, Smith has a 5-2-1 record with a 2.64 GAA, .896 SV% and one shutout.
Line Change
kindl out.
Kindl draws out as Commodore rotates in. He has a goal and nine points through 38 games.
Holmstrom said he had bad reaction to injections in knees on Thursday. But he hopes to play Thursday in Vancouver.
The veteran Holmstrom will get a rest tonight in hopes of staying in the lineup. He has eight goals and 18 points through 43 games.
Line Change
Mursak in
Mursak gets back into the lineup for only the third time this season. He has one assist on the year.
Line Change
Commodore in
Commodore sticks in the lineup, ousting youngster Jakub Kindl. The veteran has two assists through 14 games played with the wings.
Goalie Start
Howard starting
In nine career starts against the Flames, Howard has a 6-3-0 record with a 2.66 GAA and .905 SV%.
Line Change
Darcy Hordichuk will be the healthy scratch at forward.
Hordichuk draws out for tonight's game. He has only 28 PIM through 23 games.
Line Change
Petrell/Lander/Eager
Eager appears to be over his minor injury. The veteran has five goals and seven points through his first 36 games in Edmonton. Expect him to stick on the fourth line.
Line Change
Smyth/Belanger/Jones
Look for Smyth to play on the Belanger line to start tonight's game. The veteran is enjoying a rebound season with 16 goals and 34 points through 49 games. Expect him to play with more life after resting during the break.
Line Change
Cornet will play with Gagner and Eberle.
Cornet gets a shot at a scoring line. He will be making his NHL debut tonight.
Goalie Start
Craig Anderson to start in goal.
In 10 career starts against the Bruins, Anderson has a 3-7-0 record with a 3.39 GAA, .902 SV% and one shutout.
Clowe not playing. He's still on the ice now while most of the team is off.
Clowe is still not back to 100 percent due to his facial injury. The Mount Pearl, Newfoundland has nine goals and 26 points through 42 games. Expect him to draw back in shortly.
Call up / Send down
John McCarthy recalled.
Look for McCarthy to center the fourth line. He has no points through three games.
Line Change
Burns confirms he's in tonight
Expect Burns to take his regular shift on the second defensive pairing. He has seven goals and 17 points through 46 games.
Goalie Start
Niemi starts tonight for #SJSharks
In five career appearances against the Blue Jackets, Niemi has a 3-1-0 record with a 2.89 GAA and .906 SV%.
Line Change
Vandermeer dressed as a forward again, now tipping pucks out front. Guess he might stay as a winger for a while. #SJSharks
Look for Vandermeer on the fourth line. He has three assists in 11 games.
Jason Demers still out (not skating) with a lower body injury. #SJSharks
Don't expect Demers to play tonight. The Dorval, Quebec native has two goals and 11 points through 35 games. Expect this nagging injury to keep him from 100 percent.
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.