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Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
Spencer Martin will defend the road crease for the New York Rangers against the Islanders on Wednesday. He'll draw the start in the first half of a back-to-back set. Martin has settled for losses in two of his last three starts, going 1-2-0 with a 3.42 GAA and .882 save percentage during that time. He will face an Islanders offense that ranks eighth-worst in the NHL, scoring 2.81 goals per game this season.
David Rittich is confirmed to start Wednesday's home game against the Rangers for the New York Islanders, after being the first goalie off the ice during morning skate. The 33-year-old veteran looks to bounce back from losing his last three starts, where he posted a 3.08 GAA and .864 save percentage. Overall this season, Rittich holds an 11-7-3 record with a 2.57 GAA and .902 SV% across 21 appearances. He previously shut out the Rangers on Dec. 27 and will now alternate starts with Ilya Sorokin.
James Reimer is expected to start Wednesday's home game for the Ottawa Senators against the Colorado Avalanche. Reimer has lost his last two starts, allowing four goals in each outing. In four appearances with Ottawa this season, he holds a 1-2-1 record with a 3.32 GAA and an .871 save percentage. He faces a significant challenge against the Avalanche, who currently lead the league with an average of 3.94 goals per game.
Elvis Merzlikins was the first goalie off the ice Wednesday, signaling he'll start in net for the Columbus Blue Jackets against the Flyers. He was initially slated to start Monday's postponed game versus the Kings. Merzlikins is also expected to split the upcoming back-to-back contests against Chicago and St. Louis with Jet Greaves on Friday and Saturday, maintaining the team's current goalie plan.
Veteran defenseman Ben Chiarot has signed a three-year contract extension with the Detroit Red Wings, valued at $11.55 million. The deal was finalized on Wednesday, securing Chiarot's presence with the team for the foreseeable future.
Pavel Dorofeyev delivered a strong offensive performance for the Vegas Golden Knights, scoring two goals in Tuesday's 3-2 overtime loss to Montreal. The 25-year-old winger found the net in both the first and third periods, marking his fourth multi-goal game of the season. This effort extends a recent hot streak, as he has now scored seven goals in his last seven contests. Dorofeyev is just one tally shy of reaching 25 goals for the second consecutive season and has accumulated 40 points through 52 games.
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Jack St. Ivany underwent successful surgery on his left hand and is expected to miss up to eight weeks, sidelining him for at least the next two months. The surgery was performed by Dr. John Fowler and Dr. Dharmesh Vyas. St. Ivany left Sunday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks and did not return. This season, he has recorded a career-best 7 assists in 17 games for the Penguins, making his absence a significant blow to the team's defensive depth.
Jared McCann delivered a standout performance, scoring two goals and adding two assists in the Seattle Kraken's 5-1 victory over the Washington Capitals on Tuesday. This marked his first multi-goal game of the season. McCann, who scored twice on four shots and finished plus-3, led the Kraken's offense, including a power-play opener. He also set up linemates Jordan Eberle and Matty Beniers. The 29-year-old forward has been in a rhythm, accumulating eight goals and nine assists in 15 January appearances, bringing his season totals to 14 goals, 26 points (10 on power play), 69 shots, and a plus-2 rating over 28 contests.
Will Smith scored a power-play goal, dished two assists, and added two penalty minutes in Tuesday's 5-2 win over the Canucks. Smith has three goals and four assists in five games since returning from an upper-body injury. He has 15 goals and 21 assists in 38 games this season.
Macklin Celebrini scored a goal and added three assists in Tuesday's 5-2 win over the Canucks. He earned two assists on the power play. Celebrini has 27 goals and 51 assists for 78 points in 51 games this season, with 16 points in 11 January games.
Ryker Evans scored his fifth goal of the season in the Seattle Kraken's 5-1 victory over the Washington Capitals on Tuesday. Evans' goal extended Seattle's lead to 4-1 in the third period.
Matty Beniers recorded a goal and an assist in the Seattle Kraken's 5-1 victory over the Washington Capitals on Tuesday. Beniers' goal was his 13th of the season and extended his point streak to four games.
Jordan Eberle contributed a goal and an assist in the Seattle Kraken's 5-1 win over the Washington Capitals on Tuesday. Eberle leads the Kraken with 19 goals this season.
Seattle Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer is set to start Tuesday against the Washington Capitals. Grubauer has a 10-5-3 record with a 2.41 GAA and .918 save percentage this season. In his last six outings, he is 2-2-2 with a 3.40 GAA.
Tyler Toffoli scored a goal for the San Jose Sharks in their 5-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. Toffoli's goal was his 15th of the season.
Adam Gaudette scored a goal for the San Jose Sharks in their 5-2 victory against the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. Gaudette's goal was assisted by Macklin Celebrini.
John Klingberg scored a power-play goal in the San Jose Sharks' 5-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. Klingberg also added an assist, contributing to the Sharks' dominant offensive performance.
San Jose Sharks goaltender Yaroslav Askarov is set to start Tuesday against Vancouver. He has lost his last three starts, allowing 12 goals on 74 shots. However, Askarov has won his previous two starts against the Canucks this season with strong save percentages.
Brayden Schenn scored two goals on four shots and added six hits in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Stars. This performance marks his third goal in the last two games, breaking a nine-game scoring drought. The 34-year-old center now has 12 goals, 22 points, 75 shots, 115 hits, 45 PIM, and a minus-24 rating through 53 appearances. Schenn is currently playing in a top-line role for the St. Louis Blues due to Robert Thomas's lower body injury, who was ruled out for two weeks as of Jan. 15, with a potential extended absence through the Olympic break.
Alex DeBrincat scored a goal assisted by Patrick Kane, who tied Mike Modano for the most points by a U.S.-born NHL player in the Red Wings' 3-1 loss to the Kings. DeBrincat's goal late in the third period briefly cut the deficit.
