NHL Hockey Player News

Colin Miller(D)|WPG
Line Change
Line Change
Miller is listed as a scratch for Friday's game in Ottawa.

Miller will be the odd-man out on Friday as the Devils opt to go back to a more traditional lineup with Brendan Smith dropping back to take Miller's place on the blue-line. Miller has zero goals and one assist across 16 games this season. Chris Tierney will draw into the lineup in his place.

Source:
Amanda Stein 2023-12-29T23:52:06.443Z
Colin Miller
Matthew Phillips(C)|COL
Line Change
Line Change
Matthew Phillips will rejoin the Capitals' lineup Friday vs. the Islanders.

Ivan Miroshnichenko will be a healthy scratch on Friday, allowing Phillips to draw back into the lineup after a two-game absence. Phillips has five points (1G / 4A) in 22 games and is expected to play on the third line with Hendrix Lapierre and Evgeny Kuznetsov.

Source:
Bailey Johnson 2023-12-29T18:46:47.272Z
Matthew Phillips
Joel Hanley(D)|CAL
Line Change
Line Change
Joel Hanley will be a healthy scratch Friday vs. Chicago.

Hanley played in the last four games for the Stars, his longest stretch of the season, but will be a healthy scratch on Friday, allowing Nils Lundkvist to re-enter the lineup. In 13 games this season, Hanley is averaging 12:16 time-on-ice and has one point (0G / 1A) and 12 hits.

Source:
Owen Newkirk 2023-12-29T17:07:10.804Z
Joel Hanley
Ethan Bear(D)|WAS
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Line Change
Ethan Bear will not make his Capitals' debut Friday after signing earlier Thursday.

After undergoing offseason shoulder surgery and prolonged contract negotiations, Bear signed a two-year, $4.125 million contract with the Washington Capitals on Thursday but will not make his debut yet. The 25-year-old Bear played 61 games with the Vancouver Canucks last season, scoring 16 points (3G / 13A), recording a +6 plus/minus, and registering 82 blocks while averaging 18:32 time-on-ice. Bear should help solidify the blueline for a Capitals team that already ranks top-10 in the league defensively, allowing only 2.75 goals per game.

Source:
Stefen Rosner 2023-12-29T17:13:42.788Z
Ethan Bear
Nils Lundkvist(D)|DAL
Line Change
Line Change
Nils Lundkvist will draw back into the Stars' lineup Friday vs. Chicago.

Lundkvist will play for only the second time in the last eight games for the Stars as he will re-enter the lineup in favour of Joel Hanley. Lundkvist, who was acquired by the Stars last offseason for a first-round pick, has failed to impress the Stars' coaching staff and establish himself as a permanent fixture in their lineup. He has seven points (0G / 7A), averaging 14:37 time-on-ice in 24 games this season.

Source:
Bruce LeVine 2023-12-29T17:05:37.844Z
Nils Lundkvist
Victor Olofsson(RW)|VGK
Line Change
Line Change
Victor Olofsson is expected to be a healthy scratch Saturday vs. Columbus.

Olofsson has played 22 consecutive games for the Sabres but is expected to be a healthy scratch on Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Olofsson is averaging 11:58 time-on-ice this season but has seen that total dip as low as 6:43 during a nine-game stretch where he has only recorded a single point (0G / 1A).

Source:
Lance Lysowski 2023-12-29T16:36:37.068Z
Victor Olofsson
Tage Thompson(C)|BUF
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Line Change
Tage Thompson (personal) was activated from the non-roster list Friday.

Thompson was a late scratch for Wednesday's game, with the team only announcing his absence just over 30 minutes before the puck drop, but he will return to the lineup on Friday after being activated from the non-roster list. Thompson has nine goals and ten assists in 26 games this season. Tyson Jost drew into the Sabres' lineup and centred the first line in Thompson's absence.

Source:
Lance Lysowski 2023-12-29T16:16:11.069Z
Tage Thompson
Olli Maatta(D)|UTA
Line Change
Line Change
Olli Maatta is expected to draw back into the Red Wings' lineup Friday vs. Nashville.

Maatta is expected to draw back into the lineup after a two-game absence due to an upper-body injury. The veteran defenseman skated alongside Shayne Gostisbehere at practice on Thursday and has six points (1G / 5A), 16 hits, and 29 blocks through 27 games this season.

Source:
Max Bultman 2023-12-28T18:40:13.935Z
Olli Maatta
Simon Edvinsson(D)|DET
Line Change
Line Change
Simon Edvinsson is expected to be the odd man out of the Red Wings' lineup Friday vs. Nashville.

With Olli Maatta and Jeff Petry expected to return to the lineup on Friday, Edvinsson is expected to serve as a healthy scratch. Edvinsson played the last two games from the Red Wings, averaging over 14 minutes of time-on-ice, recording one point (0G / 1A), and registering three hits.

Source:
Max Bultman 2023-12-28T18:47:21.803Z
Simon Edvinsson
Johnathan Kovacevic(D)|NJD
Line Change
Line Change
Jonathan Kovacevic will be a healthy scratch Thursday in Carolina.

Kovacevic will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Jordan Harris (lower-body) to make his return to the lineup from a 15-game absence. The 26-year-old Kovacevic has been a regular in the Canadiens lineup this season, scoring five points (4G / 1A), blocking 45 shots, and taking 28 hits while averaging 17:48 time-on-ice.

Source:
Priyanta Emrith 2023-12-28T17:08:41.109Z
Johnathan Kovacevic

NHL Line Changes

NHL line changes are essential in keeping a team’s players fresh on the ice over the course of a hard-fought 60-minute matchup. With shift changes occurring rapidly throughout any given game, we are here to provide you with everything you need to know regarding line changes.

Making sure a team is efficiently making line changes can be essential to their success within a matchup, as it ensures that the players needed on the ice to gain the upper hand are ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice. For NHL daily fantasy hockey players, knowing how to track line changes can be important as you look to keep tabs on the players you’ve drafted to your lineup and their production.

On The Fly

Unlike other sports where play must come to a stop in order to make a player substitution, in hockey, players can switch in-and-out of play on the fly. This helps in keeping the breakneck pace of the contest going, increasing the amount of action from whistle-to-whistle and avoiding any unnecessary stoppages.

On the fly changes are generally done when a team is in possession of the puck and are looking to make a transition play from their own end to their opponent’s side of the rink. Players must be aware of the action around them when making an on the fly substitution as a poorly timed switch could leave themselves vulnerable to an odd-man rush on the other end.

In order to make successful line changes on the fly it is up to the team coaching staff to keep players informed on when their line matchups are due to hit the ice. Generally, with both forwards and defensive pairings, line changes go from the first line trickling its way down to the fourth. Depending on the situation of the game, coaches may opt to give a particular line more playing time, increasing the amount of shifts they receive.

Play Stoppages

NHL line changes can also be made during stoppage of play, with both sides being given the chance to put fresh bodies on the ice ahead of the upcoming faceoff. Examples of a play stoppage that would allow teams to make line changes are after minor or major penalties, offsides, icing, and puck out of play calls. These line changes are often much more calculated as each coach has time to survey the other team and decide what would be the most advantageous line combination that will provide them with a competitive advantage.

Bench Configuration

It may seem like a confusing and unorganized area of the game, but in hockey there is a fair amount of strategy put into the bench configuration within a matchup. With both benches positioned in the neutral zone, making sure that players can quickly hop the boards and get into the game is key to making successful line changes. Benches are generally set so that players entering into the game on the fly are in the best possible position on the ice to fulfill their role.

Generally, a bench in hockey will have the forwards positioned closest to the attacking zone, whereas the defenceman will be situated closest to their defensive zone. This separates the forward lines and defence pairings from on another on each end of the bench so that groups can easily stay together. From here the rested forwards ready to enter into the game will be placed in the centre of the bench, positioned near the coaches so they can easily receive instruction before hitting the ice. This is also advantageous as players coming off the ice for a line change will often enter from the opposite side they came onto the ice from, preventing any unnecessary traffic or confusion when making a change. While each team may have their own preferences on how to configure their bench, these are the most common ways they are run.

Line Change Rules

Understanding the rules of NHL line changes in hockey is an understated part of the game and when used correctly can swing the tide of a matchup in your favour. Without in-depth understanding of line changes in hockey, this can cause costly mistakes that can result in minor penalties, lengthy shifts, or mismatches off a faceoff.

Last Line Change

The last line change rule exists so that the home team is able to make an adjustment to whatever lineup the visiting team decides to roll out after a stoppage in play. This rule was designed to make NHL line changes efficient, as well as provide both sides with the chance to strategically place their players based on the lines sent out by their opponents.

For example, after the whistle, the home team’s coach can elect to make a line change to the personnel on the ice. After that, the visiting coach will send out any new players into the game off of a line change. Thanks to the last line change rule, the home team coach is now granted the opportunity to make one last line change before play resumes to counter whatever line changes were made by the opposing team.

For daily fantasy sports bettors this is where having ample knowledge of each NHL team can come in handy. You can envision how each team may look to gain a competitive advantage over their opponent during a possession, drafting players who are set up for success within a matchup.

Penalties & Infractions

While NHL line changes are meant to be an efficient and simple way to keep the game being played at a fast-pace with minimal interruptions, there is still room for serious error during these substitutions. It’s not uncommon to see teams assessed for a penalty due to a botched line change, resulting in a power play opportunity for the opposing team.

A common penalty called as a result of a poorly executed line change is “too many men on the ice”. This penalty results when the offending team has six or more skaters (including the goaltender) on the ice at any given time and comes in physical contact with the puck. While players entering in the game during a shift change are eligible to hop the boards and get in on the action once their teammate is within five feet of the bench, they must time this correctly or they could be hit with a premature substitution infraction. When a bench minor penalty such as too many men on the ice is assessed, it is up to the team’s head coach to decide who serves the penalty based on the players currently on the ice at the time of the penalty.

Another line change infraction to be aware of is in the case of an icing call. Icing is called when a team plays a puck from their own side of the red centre line across the red goal line in their opponents end. When icing is called, a faceoff will be taken from the end of the team that committed the infraction. During an icing call the team that was called for icing is not able to make any line changes, meaning they are forced to keep all players who were on the ice at the time of the infraction in the contest. Their opponents however are allowed to make any line change they desire, making this an incredibly beneficial call if they can strategize correctly.

How Line Changes Impact Fantasy Hockey

NHL line changes can come fast and suddenly so it can be challenging to keep track of certain players over the course of a matchup. This can make it difficult for avid fantasy hockey managers and sports bettors to know when the players they’ve wagered on are on the ice. Some broadcasts now incorporate various display mechanics that allow for you to see who is on the ice at any given time, making shift change tracking much simpler than ever before. Be sure to stay up-to-date on the jersey numbers of any players on your fantasy roster or that you bet on as a failsafe so that you can find them quickly while watching the action unfold.

Knowing how long a typical shift for a player entering into a matchup is can be an advantageous piece of knowledge for fantasy managers and bettors alike. The longer a player’s shift lasts, the higher their chances of registering a point or other statistical milestone which can help you in winning your fantasy matchups and/or bets placed on a game.