Nikita Filatov will play.
Filatov has a partially broken nose but is good enough to play tonight. At this point he is making good use of his last chance in the NHL.
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NHL Hockey Player News
Brian Lee in for Filip Kuba
Kuba won't play tonight so make sure to keep him out of your lineup. He scored two goals and eight points in his first 24 games this season, surprisingly playing in every contest.
Line Change
Gonchar, Karlsson on 1st pp unit. Forwards: Filatov, Greening, Spezza.
Gonchar moves back to the top power play unit after a stint on the second. Nine of his 17 points have come with the man advantage.
Goalie Start
Craig Anderson to start in goal vs Stars.
Over six career appearances against the Stars, Anderson holds a 3-1-0 record with a 3.38 GAA, .902 SV% and one shutout.
Injury
Mondator, Bolland and Seabrook missed practice for #Blackhawks but all scheduled to play Friday night vs. Islanders.
Look for Bolland to play on the second power play unit and third line in tomorrow's game.
Mondator, Bolland and Seabrook missed practice for #Blackhawks but all scheduled to play Friday night vs. Islanders.
Seabrook is likely taking a maintenance day. His absence from the power play is likely indicative of not being fully healthy.
Mondator, Bolland and Seabrook missed practice for #Blackhawks but all scheduled to play Friday night vs. Islanders.
Look for Montador to play on the power play and third defensive pairing. His four goals currently lead the team's defense in scoring.
Goalie Start
For everyone asking, Crawford starts in goal Friday vs. Islanders. #blackhawks
Crawford won his only career start against the Isles, shutting them out through 29 shots.
Line Change
Kruger centering Sharp, Hossa
Sharp gets moved to the second line after playing on the top line most of the season. The versatile forward has 11 goals and 23 points through 25 games.
Line Change
Kruger centering Sharp, Hossa
Kruger gets a bump up to the second line after playing on a checking line most of the season. The Swedish import has two goals and seven points through 24 games.
Kane w/ Toews, Stalberg
Kane moves up to the top line after playing center for most of the season. The former first overall pick has seven goals and 24 points in 25 games.
$125 Waivers
FLA's Tyler Plante on unconditional ($125) waivers. If he clears, it allows FLA and Plante to mutually agree to terminate his contract.
Plante likely will be released by the Panthers and will have the ability to sign with any team.
Goalie Start
Mike Smith will start in goal for the Coyotes, who have won two games in a row after a humbling 5-0 loss to Vancouver on Nov. 25. Smith stopped 24 of 25 shots in a 4-1 win at Chicago on Tuesday after shutting out Dallas on Saturday.
In 11 career starts against the Jets, Smith holds a 7-4-0 record with a 2.44 GAA and .910 SV%.
Line Change
#SJSharks Handzus did skate line rushes with Mitchell and McGinn, so there's one signal.
Handzus draws back into the lineup after a one-game absence. He has very limited fantasy hockey value as a third line center.
Goalie Start
Antti Niemi vs Carey Price
Niemi lost his only career start against the Habs, stopping 16 of 19 shots faced.
Goalie Start
That streak likely will continue Friday in Buffalo (7:30 p.m., Fox Sports Net Detroit), when the Red Wings try to stretch their winning streak to seven games (but it's not confirmed, since they didn't practice today).
In two career appearances against the Sabres, Howard is 1-0-0 record with a 2.05 GAA and .927 SV%.
Sobotka (mouth injury) wearing full cage.
Sobotka is expected to draw back into the lineup shortly after his injury. He scored two goals and nine points in 22 games prior to getting hurt.
Pietrangelo (sick) not on ice
Sounds like Pietrangelo may be too sick to play tomorrow. Then again, the team may want to play it safe with their top defender. Expect another update on his status.
Perron doing work with power-play unit. #stlblues
Perron continues to progress but when he gets back into the lineup is anyone's guess. Despite rumors he may return to the lineup on Saturday, the decision is up to him.
Call up / Send down
#NYR assign Andre Deveaux to @CTWhale
Deveaux served his three-game suspension and heads back to the AHL. He holds no fantasy hockey value while in the minors.
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.