Player news from trusted outlets
Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
Jacob Fowler is confirmed to start in goal for the Montreal Canadiens at home against the Flames on Wednesday, as reported by Patrick Frioley of RDS. The 21-year-old netminder has a 3-2-2 record, 2.57 GAA, and one shutout in seven NHL appearances this season. This start could mean Sam Montembeault takes the second game of the back-to-back versus the Panthers on Thursday.
Edmonton Oilers prospect Josh Samanski has been named to Team Germany's roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics, where he will play alongside Leon Draisaitl. Samanski is currently excelling with the AHL Bakersfield Condors, recording 5 goals, 20 assists, 25 points, and a +6 rating in 32 games this season, earning a reputation for his tireless work ethic and potential to be an impact NHL player.
Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl has been named to Team Germany's roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics. He will be joined by Oilers prospect Josh Samanski on the squad. Draisaitl's presence is expected to provide a powerful pairing and advocacy for the young forward on the international stage, as Germany announced its roster on Wednesday.
Logan Thompson is anticipated to start in goal for the Washington Capitals at home against Dallas on Wednesday, according to Sammi Silber of The Hockey News. This season, Thompson holds a 15-11-4 record with a 2.37 GAA and .915 save percentage across 30 appearances. He has struggled recently, going winless in his last three outings (0-2-1) and allowing 10 goals on 93 shots.
Capitals forward Aliaksei Protas (lower body) has been placed on injured reserve, retroactive to January 1st. He has already missed the last two games due to the injury and will be unavailable for Wednesday's game against Dallas. However, Protas was seen on the ice for the Capitals' morning skate, suggesting a potential return to action sooner than expected. Brett Leason was recalled from AHL Hershey to provide depth.
Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin delivered a stellar performance, posting a 44-save shutout in Tuesday's dominant 9-0 victory over the Devils. This marks a season-high in saves for Sorokin, surpassing his previous best of 35 saves. The shutout came in his first start since recovering from a nagging lower-body injury, with the Islanders' offense providing ample support.
Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak scored two goals on seven shots in Tuesday's 7-4 loss to the Kraken, finding the net in both the first and second periods. This performance marks his third consecutive multi-point effort, signaling a heating offensive streak. Through 38 appearances this season, Pastrnak has accumulated 19 goals, 48 points, 133 shots on net, 32 PIM, 45 hits, and a minus-10 rating.
Berkly Catton netted his first two NHL goals, including one on the power play, in the Seattle Kraken's 7-4 victory over the Bruins. The 19-year-old's first goal ended a nine-game point drought and an eight-game absence due to an upper-body injury. His second goal came just over a period later. Catton now has seven points, 30 shots, 16 blocked shots, and 12 PIM in 28 games this season, primarily in a third-line role.
Kaapo Kakko registered a three-point night, scoring twice and adding a power-play assist in the Seattle Kraken's 7-4 win against the Bruins. Both goals, including the eventual game-winner, came in the third period. This performance ended an eight-game goal drought for Kakko, though he had accumulated six assists during that span. He now has four goals, 10 assists, and four power-play points in 25 games this season.
Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk is reportedly close to returning to action after undergoing offseason groin surgery. His impending return is expected to provide a boost to the team's offense and specifically benefit defenseman Aaron Ekblad, who is currently quarterbacking the first power play unit. Tkachuk's return will be a significant addition as the Panthers continue their season.
Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad is receiving a significant boost in ice time, taking over quarterbacking duties on the first power play unit due to Seth Jones' upper-body injury. Ekblad has recorded six goals and 18 assists in 40 games this season, with five goals and eight assists coming on the man advantage. His offensive production is expected to further benefit from the impending return of Matthew Tkachuk from groin surgery.
Defenseman Seth Jones is currently sidelined with an upper-body injury. His absence has led to Aaron Ekblad taking over quarterbacking duties on the first power play for the Florida Panthers. The timeline for Jones' return is not specified, but his injury has created a significant opportunity for Ekblad in fantasy hockey.
Alexander Wennberg had a three-point performance, scoring a power-play goal and adding two assists in the San Jose Sharks' 5-2 victory over the Blue Jackets. This marks one of his best games of the season, occurring shortly after signing a three-year contract extension. Wennberg has accumulated eight goals and 29 points (seven on the power play) through 42 games, positioning him to potentially surpass 50 points for the first time since the 2016-17 season.
Draisaitl delivered a three-point effort in Tuesday's 6-2 win over the Predators, scoring a goal on three shots and adding two assists, including a power-play helper. This performance ended a four-game goal drought for the 30-year-old superstar. Over his last 16 games, he's tallied six goals and 23 assists. For the season, Draisaitl now boasts 21 goals, 60 points, 120 shots on net, and a plus-3 rating across 43 appearances, positioning him to potentially near his career-best 128-point campaign.
McDavid spearheaded the Oilers' offense with a hat trick, scoring three goals on 10 shots and going plus-2 in Tuesday's 6-2 victory against the Predators. This marks his second hat trick of the campaign, with his first initiating his current 16-game point streak. During this impressive run, McDavid has amassed 17 goals, 22 assists, and 18 power-play points. The superstar center now totals 28 goals, 75 points (32 on the power play), 161 shots on net, and a plus-2 rating through 43 contests this season.
Former Carolina forward Mikko Rantanen returned to Raleigh on Tuesday night, where he was met with jeers from the hometown fans. Despite the reception, Rantanen contributed a goal and an assist for the Dallas Stars. His team ultimately fell to the Hurricanes in a 6-3 defeat.
Jacob Markstrom started for the New Jersey Devils against the Islanders on Tuesday, where the team suffered an 'embarrassing' 9-0 loss. Markstrom allowed goals on the first two shots he faced, contributing to the Devils' extended struggles after a strong 8-1 start. He had been splitting starts with Jake Allen, posting a .914 save percentage and 2.39 GAA over his last 12 games (2-3-0), and held an 8-7-3 career record against the Islanders, including two prior losses this season.
Brad Marchand was pulled from Tuesday's game vs. the Maple Leafs due to a lingering injury concern that worsened, prompting a preventative move by Panthers staff. His status for Thursday's game vs. the Canadiens is unclear. This follows two scoreless games, ending his 10-game point streak. Marchand recently revealed he re-signed with the Florida Panthers on a six-year, $31.5M deal, despite a prior offer from the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 37-year-old forward has 23 goals and 23 assists in 40 games this season and is set to play in the Winter Olympics.
Nikita Kucherov recorded two assists in a 4-2 victory over the Avalanche on Tuesday, extending his point streak to eight games (19 points; seven goals, 12 assists) and his multipoint streak to seven. His performance has contributed to the Lightning's eight consecutive wins. On Monday, Kucherov earned the NHL's First Star for the second consecutive week (week ending Jan. 4) and is off to a strong start for a potential third honor.
New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin made an exceptional return from a nagging lower-body injury, stopping all 45 shots he faced to record a shutout in the team's 9-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils. This performance, his first game action since December 19, marked his 26th career shutout, making him the Islanders' franchise leader in that category.
