Hathaway is expected to draw back into the Flyers lineup for Game 1 in Carolina.
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NHL Hockey Player News
Tippett may be a healthy scratch for Game 1 in Carolina.
Goalie Start
Vladar will start Game 1 in Carolina.
Ehlers (lower-body) is expected to play in Game 1 vs. the Flyers.
Ehlers missed Game 4 vs. the Senators but was a full participant in practice the last two days, and is expected to play in Game 1 on Saturday night. Ehlers finished Round 1 with one assist and seven shots on goal in his three games.
Nikishin (concussion) will be a game-time decision for Game 1 vs. Philadelphia.
Nikishin suffered a concussion on a devastating hit from Tyler Kleven in Game 4 vs. the Senators. But the week between games served him well, as Nikishin was in practice on Friday and the morning skate on Saturday. Head coach Rod Brind'Amour said that he needs to clear one final concussion test in order to get cleared to play in Game 1. He's considered a game-time decision.
Miller (undisclosed) is expected to play in Game 1 vs. the Flyers.
Miller missed Saturday's morning skate, but head coach Rod Brind'Amour said that he was taking his option and anticipates him playing in Game 1 vs. the Flyers. Miller finished Round 1 with three assists in four games.
Goalie Start
Vejmelka starts Game 6 vs. Vegas.
The Mammoth have squandered third-period leads multiple times in their opening-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights, and find themselves on the brink of elimination, down 3-2 heading into Game Six. Vejemelka's play in his last two games has been concerning, losing both outings in overtime and allowing a combined 10 goals on 74 shots (.865 SV%), more than he has allowed in any two-game stretch during the regular season. The Mammoth enter a must-win Game Six on Friday as slight -101 home underdogs.
Durzi (undisclosed) is on the ice for warmups and is expected to play in Game 6.
Sergachev (undisclosed) is on the ice for warmups and is expected to play in Game 6.
McBain (lower-body) is expected to make his series debut in Game 6.
Hayton (undisclosed) is not on the ice for warmups and will not play in Game 6.
Goalie Start
Hart will start Game 6 in Utah.
The Golden Knights will hand Hart his sixth consecutive start to open the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Friday as they look to punch their ticket to the second round. Hart turned in a solid performance in Game 5, stopping 34 of the 38 shots he faced on route to a 5-4 overtime victory. Hart and the Golden Knights enter action in Game 6 at -115 on the money line.
Stanley (illness) is not expected to play in Game 6.
Kesselring is expected to draw into the Sabres lineup for Game 6.
Goalie Start
Lyon led the Sabres onto the ice for Game 6.
Lyon will get the nod once again for the Sabres in Game 6 as they aim to eliminate the Bruins. Lyon was on the losing end of a goaltending duel in Game 5, allowing two goals on 29 shots in the 2-1 overtime loss. The Sabes head into Game 6 as narrow favourites, entering action at -125 on the money line.
Crozier is listed as a scratch for Game 6.
Line Change
Geekie is listed as a healthy scratch for Game 6.
Paul (illness) is listed as active for Game 6.
D'Astous (undisclosed) is listed as active for Game 6.
Goalie Start
Vasilevskiy led the Lightning onto the ice for warmups.
Vasilevskiy will be between the pipes for the Lightning when they aim to keep their season alive on Friday against the Canadiens. The former Conn Smythe winner allowed three goals on 24 shots in Game 5, as the Lightning suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat. Vasilevskiy and the Lightning enter action in Game 6 at -120 on the money line.
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.