Thomas Vanek apparently out for Sabres today with some kind of injury.
There is no word on what the injury could be but the Sabres will be without their leading goal scorer. Vanek has 12 goals and 15 assists in 20 games this season.
NHL Injury Report
Head coach Kirk Muller confirms Joni Pitkanen returns to the lineup tonight for the #Canes.
This will be Pitkanen's first game since February 12th when he suffered a lower-body injury. He had one goal, five assists and a +8 in 12 games before getting injured.
The Blues have placed Alex Steen on injured reserve.
The hope was that Steen (shoulder) would be able to return right away but that is not the case. He will join Andy McDonald on IR after the two of them collided in practice. There is no timetable for Steen's return, but it doesn't appear as if he will be out long-term.
Injury
Mike Green didn’t skate Friday and he won’t be making the trip to Winnipeg with the Capitals this afternoon because he aggravated the groin injury that caused him to miss three games in February.
Green has had a hard time staying healthy over the last few years and nothing has changed this season. Consider him day-to-day for now.
Injury
#Habs Therrien says Diaz and Bourque are out indefinitely. Their concussion symptoms seem to be more severe than what Gallagher experienced.
Diaz missed Wednesday game due to concussion-like symptoms. It appears as if the concussion is serious and he could be sidelined for an extended period of time.
Upper body injury for #CBJ D John Moore at today's morning skate.
Another injury to the Blue Jackets blueline, Moore will not play tonight. He has one assist and is a minus-4 in 13 games this season.
Injury
Anderson is now facing shots for the first time since his ankle injury #nhl #sens
This is the first time Anderson has faced shots since he got hurt on February 21. There is no word on when Anderson will return to the Senators crease. Consider him day-to-day.
Vlad Tarasenko brought a bucket of pucks to the ice surface just to get feel for puck. No skating, just throwing some pucks at the goal.
This is the first time Tarasenko has skated since he suffered a concussion on February 20. Concussions are tricky so there is no timetable for his return but it is positive news that he was at the rink.
Meszaros participated as a regular in Flyers practice this morning.
Meszaros has only appeared in four games this season but looks like he is nearing a return to the lineup. He scored 25 points in 62 games last season and is a fairly consistent fantasy option year-to-year so he would be a good depth defenceman to add to your team when he returns to the Flyers lineup.
Corey Crawford left last night's game with an upper body injury. He's considered day-to-day.
Crawford left yesterday's contest in the first period after suffering a lower-body injury. He only made six saves but since Chicago scored before he exited the game and Emery stopped all 15 shots he faced, Crawford was still awarded the win. The Blackhawks say the injury is not related to his previous injury that caused him to miss four games in February. The Blackhawks play again tonight so look for Emery to get the start.
Injury
Mike Green isn't on the ice for #Caps practice. Kundratek skating with Alzner.
Green missed three games with a lower-body injury but returned on Tuesday and played on Wednesday as well. This could just be a maintenance day for Green but more details will follow as they become available.
Alex Steen still not 100% wont play tonight #stlblues
There was some hope that Steen would play tonight after getting hurt in practice earlier in the week, but after the morning skate it was determined that he wasn't ready. He should be back in the Blues lineup soon. St. Louis' next game is tomorrow vs. the Oilers.
Michalek is not wearing a grey "no contact" jersey for the the first time
Michalek already said he won't play tonight but he could return to the Senators lineup on Saturday afternoon vs. Philadelphia. Monitor his status prior to Saturday's game.
Word from #CBJ coach Todd Richards is Anisimov will play tomorrow night in Chicago vs #Hawks
Anisimov made a quick recovery from what looked to be like a serious injury as he was taken off the ice on a stretcher last Thursday. Anisimov will play on a line with Calvert and Atkinson. He has four goals and two assists in 15 games this season.
#Flames @ #Avs update Duchene says he will play tonight.
Duchene will likely rejoin P.A. Parenteau and Jamie McGinn tonight. He is the Avs leading scorer so this is a big return for Colorado who take on Calgary tonight. Duchene only missed one game with a groin injury. He is playing 21+ minutes a game so he should have no problem getting on the stat sheet.
McDonagh says he is in.
McDonagh will return to the Rangers blueline tonight after sitting out their last game. McDonagh has 32 points and was a +25 last season but has struggled to produce offensively this season. He only has two goals and three assists in 17 games this season. McDonagh will return to the Rangers top-pair with Daniel Girardi.
Nash expects to play, just will test himself in warmups to make sure #NYR
This would be huge for the Rangers who have struggled without Nash. The Rangers are 23rd in the NHL in scoring right now so Nash will need to step into the lineup and make an impact right away. He missed the Rangers last four games and had three goals and nine assists in 14 games before getting hurt.
#Canes head coach Kirk Muller confirms Jeff Skinner, Tim Brent, Tim Gleason and Jamie McBain back in the lineup tonight vs. #Pens.
Skinner hasn't played since February 14 when he suffered a concussion. He will be back in the lineup tonight when Carolina takes on Pittsburgh. Skinner will be back on a line with Jordan Staal who is making his return to Pittsburgh tonight. Skinner had seven goals and seven assists in 13 games before getting injured.
Ryan Kesler broken right foot. Not good for Canucks
Kesler will be out long-term. He missed the start of the season with an injury and was only able to play in 7 games before getting hurt again.
NHL Injury Report
Daily Faceoff NHL injury report compiles all of the reported injuries from across the National Hockey League so you can see who is set to be sidelined, what their injury is, and how long they are expect to be out of commission. Injury updates are some of the most important NHL player news for any hockey fan to stay on top of, as winning or losing can ultimately be decided by the absence of a key player from within a team’s lineup. If you’re an avid hockey bettor, it’s crucial to your betting success that you stay informed on the latest injury news. Check out the latest NHL injury report on this page and see who’s set to miss some time this NHL season.
Reading the NHL Injury Report
The daily NHL injury report provides you with information regarding the type of injury a player is suffering from, the severity of it, as well as the timeline for their potential return. Common injury designations are day-to-day (almost fully healthy) out (not healthy, but not a long-term issue), and injured reserve/long-term injured reserve (out for an extended period of time).
Along with our regularly updated NHL injury report, you can also stay in the know regarding NHL injuries through team reporters/beat writers, social media channels and journalists, as well as official site reports from the NHL or their respective clubs.
Common NHL Injuries
In a physical sport such as hockey, injuries are a necessary evil as the toll it takes on each player’s body builds up over the course of an entire season. With the speed the game is played at the NHL level, it is common place for various injures to occur on a game-to-game basis. Whether it’s from a hard hit, inadvertent contact from a stick, or even being pelted by a blocked shot or deflected puck, it can be nearly impossible to avoid getting banged up over the course of an NHL contest.
Unlike many other professional sports leagues across the globe, the NHL tends to keep injury details close to the vest, reporting injury designations as either an upper body injury or lower body injury after players undergo tests. Below we’ll dive into some of the most common injuries that occur across the NHL, how they can affect players, and how long these injuries can sideline them from action.
Upper Body Injuries
Upper body injuries encompass all injuries that occur from the waist and up which includes the torso, arms, back, as well as the head. Common upper body injuries include shoulder dislocation, clavicle fractures, and broken/sprained wrists. An upper body injury could happen in a number of ways.
One of the most common and severe injuries that occurs across the NHL are concussions. Concussions are caused when the brain bounces or twists within the skull. This can be caused in a number of ways in hockey, generally from a hard impact whether that’s against another players body, the ice, or the boards. Recovery timelines for concussions vary from case-to-case with some players suffering mild effects and clearing protocol within a few weeks, to drastic scenarios where a player could miss the remainder of the season.
Lower Body Injuries
While players are often able to play through upper body injuries, a lower body injury can force a player to miss an extended amount of ice time depending on the location and severity of the issue. Lower body injuries encompass all issues from the waist down.
With so many pivotal muscle groups found within the lower body, these types of injuries often leave athletes unable to practice, let alone compete. Arguably the worst lower body injury a player can experience is a knee injury. From ACL tears, to MCL strains, or even broken patellas, there a numerous key ligaments and muscles, within the knee that are essential to a hockey players ability to hit the ice. Severe injuries to the knee can lead to lengthy absences from the lineup as well as a host of potential issues down the line of a players career if not successfully rehabbed. Other common lower body injuries in hockey include hip pointers, groin strains, and sprained/broken ankles.
Reserve Lists
In the NHL, players are often moved in and out of the lineup due to injury but when an issue occurs in which a player is set to miss an extended period of time, they must be placed under the official designation of the injured reserve list. NHL teams utilize reserve lists as a way to provide injured players time to recover from their physical ailments, as well as to free up space within their active roster to replace the output of their missing player.
There are two versions of reserve lists in the NHL, the injured reserve list (IR) and the long term injured reserve list (LTIR). Each reserve list holds their own distinctions for players to qualify, as well as how teams are able to replace members of the roster when they are forced to send an injured athlete to an injury reserve list. Below are the key differences between each reserve list and how an injured player can find themselves placed there in a season.
Injured Reserve List
The injured reserve list (IR) is for any player who is set to miss seven calendar days or more due to injury, disablement or illness is designated. Once a player is sent to injured reserve they must spend at least seven calendar days out of the teams lineup, but is still able to attend practices, team meetings, as well as travel with their team. Players are eligible to stay on the injured reserve until they are cleared by their team medical staff as ready and fit to return to competition…. When a player is sent to the injured reserve list, clubs are able to call up players from their roster to replace them whether that is from a scratched member of their main roster, a call up from the minors (AHL/ECHL), or by signing a free agent (cap space permitting).
Long Term Injured Reserve List
Similar to the injured reserve list, the long term injured reserve list (LTIR) is designed for teams to make up for severe injuries that have occurred to a player during the season. A player can be placed on the LTIR if they have been evaluated by medical staff and are ruled out of action for a minimum of 24 calendar days or 10 NHL games. Players often spend a much longer time on this reserve list once they are placed there due to the nature and severity of their injuries.
One major difference between the IR and the LTIR is the ability to circumvent the salary cap. When a player is placed on the LTIR, teams are able to pull from what is referred to as the “LTIR Pool”. The LTIR pool is the amount in which a team is granted in cap space after a player has been assigned to the LTIR. This amount is determined by subtracting the total amount of cap space remaining for a team from the affected player’s salary cap hit for the season. The amount given in the LTIR pool is also dependent on whether a team is under or over the salary cap at the beginning of the regular season.
For example, if a player who has a $2 million annual cap hit is placed on the LTIR and their team was under the salary cap by $500K, they would deduct the $500K in remaining cap space from the player’s annual salary hit, leaving the team with $1.5M to spend on replacements for their injured player.
However, if a team is over the salary cap to begin the regular season the LTIR pool is divided differently. In this case whatever the value of the overage in salary cap is at the start of the season will be the LTIR pool funds available for a club. For example, if a team is over the salary cap by $1 million, and a player with a $5 million cap hit is placed on the LTIR, their LTIR pool is valued at $1M as that is the amount they were over the cap to begin the season.
When a player is removed from the LTIR, the team must be under the annual salary cap hit on that day.
Considering Injuries When Placing NHL Bets
Considering injuries when placing NHL bets is incredibly important. By staying informed about the latest injury news heading into a matchup, you can better formulate how a matchup may play out based on the personnel available for action. Here’s how you can use the NHL injury report to influence your next bet and help give you a knowledgeable boost on all your wagers placed on tonight’s clashes.
Moneyline and Puck Line Bets
When placing a moneyline or puck line bet, knowing who is suiting up for action can make or break your chances of winning your wager. It only takes the absence of one player to shift the lines and change the outcome of the game. By waiting for the latest injury report prior to puck drop, bettors can make informed decisions before throwing down a wager on an upcoming matchup.
For example, if the New Jersey Devils are set to play the Columbus Blue Jackets but Jack Hughes is out due to injury, you may not want to back the Devils on the moneyline. Instead, you can use this information to reevaluate where the best value is on the adjusted moneyline and puck line for this contest.
Goal Total Bets
Each team relies heavily on their top goal-scorers to produce on a nightly-basis. If one of these performers is sidelined due to injury this could majorly effect the final score of the game. For example, if Minnesota Wild star forward Kirill Kaprizov is out of action due to injury heading into a contest against the New York Islanders, you could use this information to your advantage by betting the Under on the matchup due to the elite goal-scorer’s absence.
The same can be said inversely about a team’s goaltending. If the Tampa Bay Lightning are set to be without superstar netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy in their clash with the Toronto Maple Leafs, it may be in your best interest to bet the Over as his backup may not be able to handle the oppositions high-powered offence.
Prop Bets
Player injuries are also a prevalent factor to take into account before placing a prop bet on a matchup. If a team is without some of their top line players, it can leave the door open for someone lower in the depth chart to step up in their place.
For example, if The Ottawa Senators are taking on the San Jose Sharks, but Brady Tkachuk is listed as out on the latest injury report, other members of the Senators may be due for an increase in output as they look to make up for the void in production left by their team captain.
Futures Odds
While you don’t need a crystal ball to place a successful futures bet, knowing the latest injury news for each team can make a positive impact on your bets potential success. The NHL regular season is a vigorous journey that takes a heavy toll on the bodies of the athletes competing, and can sometimes lead to key members of a roster winding up on the injured reserve as a result. If a team does end up with an injury to one of their top players, this could completely derail their hopes of competing into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
For example, if Colorado Avalanche superstar forward Nathan Mackinnon suffers a season-ending injury just before the All-Star break, you can expect to see their Stanley Cup future odds drop drastically as their best player is put on the shelf. On the other hand, you can also expect to see the ripple effects of this change in odds as other top contenders see their Stanley Cup odds increase as the competition among the top of the league is dropped.
NHL Injury Report FAQs
How often does the NHL injury report get updated?
The NHL injury report is updated daily so that you can see the latest injury news ahead of puck drop in any of today’s matchups. Seeing timely updates to the NHL injury report can make a major impact on your daily fantasy sports picks and wagers on a particular game. All information provided on the NHL injury report is provided directly by the NHL and each respective franchise to ensure accuracy.
How long can a player stay on the injured reserve list?
While the minimum amount of time spent on the injured reserve list is seven calendar days, there is no maximum amount of time that a player can be placed on the injured reserve list. If a player is set to be sidelined for longer than 24 calendar days or 10 NHL games, then a club may opt to place them on the long-term injured reserve instead. This allows franchises with the ability to exceed the salary cap while a player is placed on this reserve list.
How long does it take to recover from an ice hockey injury?
No injury recovery timeline is the same as another as there are several factors that go into the rehab process for a player being affected by injury. Factors include but are not limited to, injury severity, player injury/medical history, age, as well as the location of the injury. Some injuries are able to clear up in a matter of days, while others may take an athlete out of action for the entirety of a season.