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Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
Calle Jarnkrok will draw back into the Toronto Maple Leafs' lineup for Saturday's game against the Winnipeg Jets, filling in for the injured William Nylander (lower body). The veteran forward last played against the Utah Mammoth, where he scored a goal. Jarnkrok has recorded six goals in 28 games this season and is expected to provide depth as the Maple Leafs navigate Nylander's absence.
William Nylander (lower body) is confirmed out for Saturday's game against Winnipeg and is unlikely to play Monday versus Minnesota after reaggravating a previous injury against the Vegas Golden Knights. The exact timeline for his return remains unclear, with coach Craig Berube hesitant to provide one given the unexpected duration of his last absence. Nylander, who leads the Maple Leafs with 48 points (17 goals, 31 assists) in 37 games, had just returned from a six-game absence due to the same injury, recording three goals and seven points in four games before his latest setback.
Dennis Hildeby is set to start in goal for the Toronto Maple Leafs against the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday. This follows a challenging outing Tuesday in Utah where he allowed six goals on 41 shots. Despite that, coach Craig Berube expressed confidence, stating his last game was "more on us as a team" and that Hildeby's game has "really grown." This season, Hildeby holds a 4-6-4 record with a 2.97 GAA and a .911 save percentage across 17 appearances. He faces a Winnipeg team on a four-game winning streak.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will guard the home net for the Buffalo Sabres against Minnesota on Saturday, aiming for his fourth consecutive win. He faces a depleted Wild lineup missing their entire second line, including Matt Boldy, Marcus Johansson, and Joel Eriksson Ek due to injuries. Luukkonen holds a 10-6-1 record with a 2.59 GAA and a .904 save percentage across 17 starts this season. The Wild are currently tied for 17th in league scoring, averaging 3.06 goals per game.
Miro Heiskanen (personal) participated in Saturday's practice and is expected to return to the Dallas Stars' lineup against Tampa Bay on Sunday, following a two-game absence. The defenseman has been a key contributor this season, tallying seven goals, 36 points, 93 shots on net, and 87 blocked shots in 46 appearances. Heiskanen consistently serves on the top defensive pairing and the first power-play unit for the Stars.
Lucas Raymond delivered a stellar performance for the Detroit Red Wings, tallying three assists, including one on the power play, in Friday's 4-2 victory over the Sharks. He contributed to goals by Alex DeBrincat, Dylan Larkin, and Marco Kasper. Raymond has been consistently productive, avoiding back-to-back scoreless games since late December, and has accumulated four goals and 15 points over his last 13 contests, aiming for a career-best season.
Elvis Merzlikins is slated to start in goal for the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday, facing the Penguins on the road. This follows his strong 30-save effort in Thursday's 4-1 victory over Vancouver. So far this campaign, Merzlikins holds a 7-7-1 record with a 3.84 GAA and an .882 save percentage through 16 appearances. Pittsburgh averages 3.17 goals per game this season.
Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson recorded the fastest skating speed by an NHL defenseman this season, clocking an astonishing 24.37 MPH in a game against the Vancouver Canucks. This mark is the second-highest ever recorded by a defenseman since NHL Edge began tracking in 2021-22, and the third-highest among all skaters this season. The 23-year-old ranks in the 99th percentile for various speed bursts and leads all defensemen in 22+ mph bursts. Sanderson, who is on pace for 16 goals and 62 points this season, aims to further utilize his exceptional speed to expand his offensive game.
Mark Jankowski had a standout performance for the Carolina Hurricanes, scoring the game-winning goal and adding two assists, including one on the power play, in Friday's dominant 9-1 victory over the Panthers. This marked his first multi-point game of the season and his first power-play point of 2025-26, assisting Taylor Hall's third-period goal. Jankowski has quietly accumulated four goals and 10 points in 36 games this season.
Taylor Hall contributed significantly to the Carolina Hurricanes' 9-1 rout of the Panthers on Friday, scoring two goals, one of which was on the power play. Both of his tallies came in the third period, helping Carolina extend their lead. Hall has been in excellent form in January, recording four goals and eight points over his last eight games while playing on the second line and second power-play unit.
Filip Gustavsson is slated to start in goal for the Minnesota Wild on Saturday, facing Buffalo on the road. He has a recent record of 0-1-1 in his last two starts, having allowed seven goals on 59 shots. This season, Gustavsson holds a 14-9-5 record with a 2.50 GAA, a .911 save percentage, and three shutouts across 29 appearances. Buffalo's offense ranks 10th in the league, averaging 3.26 goals per game.
Nikolaj Ehlers delivered a dominant performance for the Carolina Hurricanes in Friday's 9-1 rout of the Panthers, scoring three goals, including one on the power play, and adding a power-play assist. This marked his sixth career hat trick and his first with Carolina. Ehlers opened the scoring and contributed two more goals in the third period. He has been prolific in January, with three or more points in three of nine games, totaling six goals and 12 points this month.
Logan Thompson is set to start in goal for the Washington Capitals at home against Florida on Saturday. He recently made 23 saves in Thursday's 3-2 loss to San Jose. This season, Thompson has compiled a 17-13-4 record, a 2.36 GAA, a .915 save percentage, and two shutouts across 34 appearances. Florida's offense is ranked 20th in the league, averaging 3.00 goals per game in the 2025-26 campaign.
Connor Hellebuyck is confirmed to start in goal for the Winnipeg Jets against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. He enters the game on a three-game winning streak, having stopped 79 of 88 shots during that span. This season, Hellebuyck holds a 12-12-4 record with a 2.73 GAA and a .901 save percentage across 28 appearances. He faces a challenging matchup against the Maple Leafs, who currently rank fourth in the league with an average of 3.36 goals per game.
Aleksei Kolosov is set to start in goal for the Philadelphia Flyers at home against the New York Rangers on Saturday. This season, Kolosov has a 0-2-0 record in three NHL appearances, having stopped 39 of the 44 shots he has faced. He will be looking for his first win of the campaign. The Rangers, who rank 29th in the league with 2.58 goals per game, present a potentially favorable matchup. Kolosov previously made 24 saves in an 8-5 victory over the Rangers last April.
New York Islanders goaltender David Rittich started Saturday against his former team, the Calgary Flames, making 15 saves in a 4-2 loss. This defeat drops his season record to 11-6-3 and extends his career record against the Flames to 0-5-2. Rittich, who played his 250th NHL game, had been enjoying a terrific season with a 2.39 GAA and .910 SV% in 19 appearances prior to the game, and was on a roll with an 8-3-3 record and .920 SV% over his last 14 starts. He signed with Calgary in 2016 and spent parts of five seasons there.
Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar is day-to-day with an upper-body injury, avoiding a "season-crippling" scenario after suffering an unknown ailment early in Wednesday's game against the Buffalo Sabres. The 28-year-old will not play in Saturday's home game against the New York Rangers, leaving backup Sam Ersson (.853 SV%) and unproven prospect Aleksei Kolosov to manage the net as the Flyers attempt to snap a five-game losing streak.
New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin delivered a "masterpiece" performance on Thursday, shutting out Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers 1-0. His exceptional play garnered high praise, with teammate Mathew Barzal stating, "There’s not enough words to describe how good that guy is." Sorokin's stellar outing was a critical factor in the Islanders' success, especially as they navigate their road trip.
Brock Nelson scored two goals on four shots, blocked two, and finished minus-3 in Friday's 7-3 loss to the Predators. The 34-year-old Avalanche center is currently on a sizzling stretch, tallying 11 goals and seven assists over his last 12 contests. For the season, Nelson has accumulated 24 goals, 40 points, 102 shots, 38 blocked shots, and a plus-8 rating across 46 appearances.
Roman Josi recorded three assists, two shots on goal, two blocked shots, and a plus-3 rating in Friday's 7-3 victory over the Avalanche. The Predators defenseman has been on an offensive tear, accumulating three goals and five helpers over his last three games, including three power-play points. This season, Josi has 26 points (9 on PP), 90 shots, 53 blocked shots, 20 PIM, and a minus-5 rating through 35 appearances, showcasing peak form.
