Line Change
Schneider will get one of Anaheim (Thurs)/LA (Sat).
Check back for a further update on which game Schneider starts.
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NHL Hockey Player News
Injury
Higgins has a swollen hand. Fear is he has another staph infection. Medical thinks he has same virus. He is not travelling.
Sounds like Higgins will miss at least tomorrow's game. The Canucks will need to recall another forward or dress seven defensemen.
Goalie Start
#Canucks Luongo will start tomorrow vs Sharks
In 20 career appearances against the Sharks, Luongo has a 7-10-1-2 record with a 2.77 GAA and .914 SV%.
Hot Streak
With his assist last night, Sam Gagner is up to 12 points in his last 15 games. 8 of 12 have come at even-strength.
Gagner now ranks seventh among Oilers forwards in points. He remains on track for his customary 40-point output.
Alex Plante, by the way, is officially concussed.
Plante took a heavy hit from Vancouver Canucks winger Dale Weise last night and is out indefinitely.
Ryan Whitney says he can't envision being 100% any time soon. Says he's as pissed off as the people watching. Says he feels average.
Whitney entered the season as a favorite to handle the team's offensive load from the blue line. However, it is clear the Boston native hasn't fully recovered from season-ending surgery. It might be a good idea to give him a pass for the rest of the season.
Convenient, as Colin White didn't skate today after leaving early last night.
Sounds like White could miss a game or two as he hasn't been skating since leaving last night's game.
Line Change
Douglas Murray says he's ready to return.
Sounds like Murray will return at some point this week. The Swedish d-man has missed the past 10 games.
Mike Smith on ice for firsrt time since injury.#coyotes
Smith has been on the ice all week which is a positive sign. Considering Jason LaBarbera has allowed three-or-more goals in each of his last three starts, the Coyotes will be happy when Smith returns.
Forwards Chuck Kobasew (head), David Jones (groin) and Peter Mueller (head) also participated in today's optional skate.
Mueller continues to take strides towards his recovery but remains out indefinitely.
Sacco said Kobasew is close to returning to the lineup, and Jones a little further out.
Expect Jones to get back into the lineup within the next two weeks. The Guelph, Ontario native scored seven goals and 14 points in 31 games prior to getting hurt.
Sacco said Kobasew is close to returning to the lineup
Kobasew last played on December 9th due to a suspected concussion. The scoring winger has three goals and six points through his first 28 games with the Avs.
"He's starting to get back into the swing of things. It's his second day on the ice. He skated yesterday when we were in Minnesota. It's all positive, but still has a way to go . . . We all know with those type of injuries, we want to make sure we're taking the right steps before he (returns)."
Great news out of Colorado as Wilson could get back into the lineup within the next month or so. He has a goal and 14 points through 28 games.
Line Change
Maintenance day for Steve Montador.
Expect Montador to play tomorrow night against the Kings. He has five goals and 10 points through 26 games with the Blackhawks.
Patrick Kane has the flu.
Kane is not expected to miss tomorrow's game. The former 1st overall pick has nine goals and 34 points through 36 games.
Marcus Kruger missed #Blackhawks' practice with upper-body injury.
Kruger may miss tomorrow's tilt against the Kings. The rookie has three goals and 10 points through 34 games.
Goalie Start
Craw in goal tomorrow
In four career starts against the Kings, Crawford has a 4-0-0 record with a 1.75 GAA and .934 SV%.
Line Change
Leland Irving got his first NHL win in that game and we may see him later this week against either the Islanders or Senators
Irving has looked great over his first two NHL starts with a 1.44 GAA and .958 SV%.
Goalie Start
Miikka Kiprusoff gets the start in net tonight.
In 24 career appearances against the Blue Jackets, Kipper has a 15-5-3 record with a 2.13 GAA, .925 SV% and two shutouts.
Line Change
@Chasenpucks39 reports Ryan Reaves is out. #stlblues
The Red Wings don't dress an enforcer so playing Reaves is relatively pointless.
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.
- 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.