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NHL News

Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.

Friday, January 16

Broberg (Concussion) Cleared, Expected to Play Friday vs. Lightning

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St. Louis Blues defenseman Philip Broberg (concussion) is expected to return to the lineup Friday against the Lightning. He was initially considered a game-time decision after entering concussion protocol following a Jan. 10 game versus the Golden Knights, having missed one full game. Head coach Jim Montgomery had stated Thursday that Broberg still needed to clear medical hurdles. Now cleared, Broberg is slated to fill a top-four role and receive power-play time, providing a boost to the Blues' defense.

Gostisbehere Out Friday Due to Lower-Body Injury, Not Illness

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Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere will miss Friday's game against the Panthers due to a lower-body injury. This is an update from an earlier report of an illness, with the injury now being the primary concern. He had been productive this season, recording six goals and 32 points in 35 appearances. One of Mike Reilly or Joel Nystrom is expected to take his place in the lineup.

Marner Booed by Leafs Fans, Records Two Assists in Vegas OT Win

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Vegas Golden Knights forward Mitch Marner was booed by Toronto Maple Leafs fans at home during Thursday's 6-5 overtime victory, a prelude to a hostile trip to Toronto. The former Maple Leaf, who signed an 8-year, $96M deal with Vegas on July 1, recorded two assists in the wild game. Marner, now playing center due to William Karlsson's injury, is second on the team with 49 points (11 goals, 38 assists) as the Golden Knights extended their winning streak to six games.

Troy Terry Placed on Injured Reserve, Return Timeline Unclear

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Anaheim Ducks forward Troy Terry (upper body) has been placed on injured reserve ahead of Friday's game against the Kings. This update comes despite earlier reports that he was cleared to play and had participated in a second consecutive morning skate. The Ducks' medical staff elected to shut him down, and Sam Colangelo was recalled. Terry had missed the last three games due to his injury, and his return timeline is currently unclear. Prior to his absence, he recorded seven points in his last five appearances.

Capitals GM: Ovechkin's Future Beyond This Season Remains Undiscussed

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Washington Capitals general manager Chris Patrick stated that discussions about Alex Ovechkin's future beyond the current 2025-26 season "will have to wait." Ovechkin, 40, is in the final year of his contract and has reached 20 goals again this season. Patrick indicated that Ovechkin is focused on the short term and the team's playoff push. The GM also confirmed the Capitals are actively pursuing a "higher end, skilled winger" before the March 6 trade deadline, noting that Ovechkin's contract situation won't significantly impact their deadline plans.

Wild Send Carson Lambos Back to AHL After Brief Recall

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The Minnesota Wild have sent defenseman Carson Lambos, 23, back down to the American Hockey League (AHL). Lambos was briefly recalled and made his NHL debut this season, playing one game where he recorded one shot on goal, one blocked shot, and a plus-one rating in 10 minutes and 16 seconds of ice time. His demotion comes as the Wild recall David Jiricek.

Wild Recall David Jiricek from Iowa Amidst Injury Woes

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The Minnesota Wild have recalled defenseman David Jiricek, 22, from Iowa (AHL) as the team faces a tough road trip with multiple key players on Injured Reserve, including Matt Boldy, Jonas Brodin, Joel Eriksson Ek, and Zach Bogosian. Jiricek has played 18 NHL games this season, recording zero points, 11 shots, and five hits. Carson Lambos was sent back down to the AHL in a corresponding move.

Justus Annunen Finds Form, Signs Two-Year Extension with Predators

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Nashville Predators goalie Justus Annunen has won his last three starts, posting a .900 save percentage over his previous four games, including victories against Vegas, Washington, and the Rangers. This turnaround follows a tough start to the season where he held a .859 SV% and 1-5-1 record. Annunen's improved play led to him signing a two-year, $2.5 million contract extension with the Predators, beginning in the 2026-27 season. He made 37 saves on 40 shots in a recent loss to Colorado.

Askarov Starts in Detroit After Struggling in Last Outing

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Yaroslav Askarov will be in goal for the San Jose Sharks on the road against Detroit on Friday, continuing his trend of alternating starts. This follows a challenging home start against the Golden Knights on Sunday, where he allowed six goals on 31 shots, resulting in a .806 save percentage in a 7-2 loss. Askarov will look to rebound in this upcoming matchup.

Flyers' Vladar (undisclosed) out Saturday, day-to-day for Monday

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Dan Vladar (undisclosed) is not expected to play Saturday against the Rangers, marking his second consecutive missed game after sitting out Wednesday's loss to Pittsburgh. Despite the absence, he remains day-to-day and could potentially return for Monday's game in Vegas. This season, Vladar holds a 16-7-4 record with a 2.46 GAA and .905 save percentage across 28 appearances. While he recovers, Samuel Ersson and Aleksei Kolosov are expected to compete for starting duties for the Philadelphia Flyers.

Islanders' Horvat (lower body) out for remainder of road trip

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Bo Horvat (lower body) is unlikely to join the New York Islanders for the remainder of their current seven-game road trip, as announced Friday. Despite initially being expected to travel, the 30-year-old center has now been ruled out for the entire trip, which has three games remaining. The team confirmed that Horvat has not experienced any setback in his recovery and continues to skate at the Islanders' facility. His next potential opportunity to return to action will be when the team plays at home against the Sabres on January 24.

Trade Rumors Link Canucks' Evander Kane to Los Angeles Kings

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Vancouver Canucks forward Evander Kane is reportedly a trade target for the Los Angeles Kings, according to MayorsManor.com. Kings GM Ken Holland previously signed Kane with the Oilers in 2022. Kane, an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, was acquired by Vancouver for a 2025 fourth-round pick. This season, he has recorded seven goals and 21 points in 46 games, leading the Canucks in penalty minutes (55) and ranking third in hits (76). The Canucks are reportedly entering a rebuild and are open to trades ahead of the March 6 deadline.

Patrick Kane Nears Modano's U.S.-Born Points Record, Hopes for Presence

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Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane is on the verge of making history, needing just three points to tie Mike Modano's record for most points by a U.S.-born NHL player (1,371 career points) and four to surpass it. Kane expressed his desire for Modano to be present when he breaks the record, calling it "special" given Modano's influence as a player he admired and the "face of USA hockey." Modano has also indicated he would like to attend the milestone event.

Joel Eriksson Ek Lands on Injured Reserve with Lower-Body Injury

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Joel Eriksson Ek has been placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury, as reported by Michael Russo of The Athletic. His placement is retroactive to January 8, allowing for a quicker return once healthy. However, he is expected to miss Saturday's game against Buffalo. The Minnesota Wild center has recorded 11 goals and 32 points in 45 appearances during the 2025-26 season. The Wild also placed Matt Boldy on IR, calling up Hunter Haight and Nicolas Aube-Kubel from the minors.

Matt Boldy Placed on Injured Reserve with Undisclosed Injury

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Matt Boldy has been placed on injured reserve with an undisclosed injury, as reported by Michael Russo of The Athletic. The winger had been highly productive, tallying 12 goals and 10 assists in 22 games since December. His absence will likely see Vladimir Tarasenko or Yakov Trenin step into a top-six role for the Minnesota Wild, who are also dealing with Joel Eriksson Ek's placement on IR, further impacting their forward group.

Ross Colton Returns to Avalanche Lineup Tonight Against Predators

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Colorado Avalanche forward Ross Colton will return to the lineup tonight against the Nashville Predators. He was listed as day-to-day yesterday, January 15, with an upper-body injury and was a game-time decision. His return comes as the Avalanche have numerous forwards currently injured, and no call-ups from the Colorado Eagles were made, indicating confidence in his availability for the game.

Mackenzie Blackwood Returns from Injury, Starting for Avalanche Tonight

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Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood has been activated from injured reserve and is slated to start Friday's home game against the Predators, marking his first appearance since December 31st. He missed six games with a lower-body injury and was officially cleared to return on Wednesday. The 29-year-old has been stellar this season, posting a 13-1-1 record with a 2.07 GAA and a .924 save percentage across 15 appearances. His return provides a significant boost, restoring the Avalanche's full goaltending tandem.

Nylander to Miss Saturday's Game with Aggravated Lower-Body Injury

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Maple Leafs' leading scorer William Nylander is expected to miss Saturday's game against Winnipeg due to an aggravated lower-body injury. He sustained the injury during Thursday's overtime loss to Vegas, where he had a goal and an assist before exiting. This marks his second absence for the issue, having previously missed six games from December 28 to January 8. Nylander, who leads the Leafs with 48 points (17 goals, 31 assists) in 38 games, is undergoing evaluation with no timetable for his return. Calle Jarnkrok is anticipated to see increased playing time.

Lukas Dostal to Start Against Kings Despite Recent Struggles

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Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal is confirmed to start in net against the Los Angeles Kings on Friday. Despite a recent subpar 3-7-1 record, 3.71 GAA, and one shutout over his last 13 appearances, Dostal continues to receive a heavy workload. The Czech netminder will look to improve his performance as the Ducks continue to rely on him, keeping Ville Husso on the bench for the upcoming road game.

Ducks Acquire Physical Forward Jeffrey Viel from Bruins for 4th-Round Pick

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The Anaheim Ducks have acquired forward Jeffrey Viel from the Boston Bruins in exchange for a 2026 fourth-round draft pick (the better of Detroit's or Philadelphia's). Viel, 28, is a physical, agitating grinder who has appeared in 10 NHL games this season for Boston, recording 30 penalty minutes but no points. He spent most of last season in the AHL with Providence and previously scored 40 points for Winnipeg's AHL affiliate in 2023-24. Viel's acquisition adds depth and a physical presence, aligning with coach Joel Quenneville's desired bottom-six style. He is unlikely to play in Friday or Saturday's games against the Kings.