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NHL News

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

Tuesday, January 6

Kings' Kopitar Day-to-Day with Lower-Body Injury, Not Expected to Be Long Term

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Anze Kopitar (lower body) is considered day-to-day and is not expected to be out long term, according to Dennis Bernstein. The Los Angeles Kings captain sustained the injury Monday against the Wild and was ruled out mid-game. With the Kings playing San Jose on Wednesday, the team is unlikely to rush the 38-year-old back if he's not 100% healthy. A center from AHL Ontario may be recalled if Kopitar is unavailable due to the team's current depth issues.

Nedeljkovic to Start for Sharks vs. Blue Jackets, Seeks First Win Since Dec. 11

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Alex Nedeljkovic is slated to start in goal for the San Jose Sharks at home Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 29-year-old has struggled recently, allowing at least three goals in each of his last three starts and has not secured a win since December 11 in Toronto. He will aim to rebound against a Columbus team that is last in the Eastern Conference with an 18-16-7 record, and is coming off a blown 4-1 lead against the Penguins.

Canucks' Demko Starts in Buffalo, Seeks First Win Since Dec. 19

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Thatcher Demko is confirmed to start in goal Tuesday against the Sabres in Buffalo. He has been struggling recently, holding an 0-3-1 record with an .880 save percentage and a 3.96 GAA over his last four outings, with his last win coming on December 19. Demko previously faced the Sabres on Dec. 11, allowing three goals on 15 shots in a 3-2 loss. On the season, he holds an 8-8-1 record, 2.72 GAA, and .904 save percentage through 18 appearances.

Sabres' Luukkonen Starts vs. Canucks, Aims to Rebound from Loss

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Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is expected to start at home Tuesday against the Canucks. He has shown significant improvement recently, posting a 3-1-0 record with a 1.76 GAA and .938 save percentage over his last four starts. His three-game winning streak was snapped Saturday in Columbus, where he allowed four goals on 34 shots in a 5-1 loss. Luukkonen will face a Canucks team tied for 24th in the NHL with 2.76 goals per game, as Vancouver begins a six-game road trip.

Brad Marchand Laments Fans 'Ran' Mitch Marner Out of Toronto

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According to Brad Marchand, it was "unfortunate" to see Toronto Maple Leafs fans "ran" Mitch Marner out of town. Marchand highlighted Marner's significant impact as a "point-of-game player," noting that his departure is a considerable loss for the Maple Leafs. This comment came as Marchand discussed his own free agency possibilities last summer, where Toronto was a potential destination.

Malkin Cleared for Contact, Possible Return Thursday vs. Devils

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Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (upper body) has been cleared for contact and is a potential option for Thursday's game against the Devils. Head coach Dan Muse noted Malkin "looked good" in practice. He is expected to reclaim his role as the No. 2 center and rejoin the top power-play unit, where he has contributed 13 of his 29 points this season. The team will continue to have conversations regarding his return timeline.

Bobrovsky to Start for Panthers Against Maple Leafs in Toronto

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Sergei Bobrovsky will be in goal for the Florida Panthers on the road against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday. He recently allowed four goals on 19 shots in a 5-1 loss to the Rangers at the Winter Classic. This season, Bobrovsky holds a 17-10-1 record with three shutouts, a 2.84 GAA, and an .885 save percentage through 28 appearances. Toronto's offense ranks fourth in the league, averaging 3.34 goals per game during the 2025-26 campaign.

Avalanche's Toews Sidelined Week-to-Week with Upper Body Injury

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Colorado Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews (upper body) has been deemed week-to-week by head coach Jared Bednar, according to Corey Masisak of The Denver Post. A best-case scenario for his return is estimated at two weeks. This injury marks the first time Toews is likely to miss more than six regular-season games since the 2021-22 season. The Avalanche are expected to call up a defenseman from the AHL in the near future to help offset Toews' absence.

Landeskog Facing Multi-Week Absence Due to Upper Body Injury

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Colorado Avalanche winger Gabriel Landeskog (upper body) is expected to be sidelined for "some weeks," according to head coach Jared Bednar, Corey Masisak of The Denver Post reports. While not officially ruled out for Team Sweden at the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics, his participation looks doubtful. With Landeskog out, Ross Colton is anticipated to move into a top-six role, and Taylor Makar could receive an extended look at the NHL level. At this point, he will likely find himself on injured reserve.

Oettinger to Start in Net for Stars Against Carolina Hurricanes

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Jake Oettinger will defend the road net for the Dallas Stars against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday, Mike Heika of the Stars' official site reports. He is coming off a 25-save performance in Sunday's 4-3 overtime loss to Montreal. This season, Oettinger has a 16-7-4 record with two shutouts, a 2.62 GAA, and a .905 save percentage across 27 appearances. The Hurricanes currently sit 10th in the league with 3.26 goals per game this campaign.

Panthers Prospect Sandis Vilmanis Earns Spot on Latvia's Olympic Roster

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Florida Panthers winger Sandis Vilmanis has been named to Team Latvia's 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic roster. The 21-year-old is in his second season with the AHL's Charlotte Checkers, where he has scored eight goals and 19 points in 31 games, on pace to surpass his rookie numbers. A former fifth-round pick (157th overall) in the 2022 NHL draft, Vilmanis, standing 6-foot-1, 192 pounds, has rapidly ascended the Panthers' prospect pool and has represented Latvia at the World Junior Championship three times.

Panthers' Uvis Balinskis Named to Latvia's 2026 Olympic Roster

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Florida Panthers defenseman Uvis Balinskis has been named to Team Latvia's 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic roster, marking his second Olympic Games appearance. Balinskis, 29, previously played in the 2022 Olympics, notching three assists in four games, and has represented Latvia at five World Championships. Due to a significant injury to Dmitry Kulikov, he has returned to the Panthers' lineup, skating in 32 games this season with one goal and seven points while averaging 13:58 of ice time.

Ingram to Start for Oilers Against Predators at Home

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Connor Ingram will face the Nashville Predators at home Tuesday, per Tony Brar of Oilers TV. After starting the 2025-26 campaign with back-to-back victories, Ingram has gone 0-2-0 in his last two starts, allowing a total of nine goals on 61 shots (.852 save percentage). He continues to work in tandem with Calvin Pickard until Tristan Jarry (lower body) is ready to return to the lineup. The Predators are 6-2-0 in their last eight games, scoring 25 goals.

Seth Jarvis Returns to Lineup After Rib Injury, Expected to Play Tuesday

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Seth Jarvis (ribs) is confirmed to play in Tuesday's home game against the Stars, according to Ryan Henkel. Jarvis missed the last eight games after landing on injured reserve. The right-shot winger participated in Tuesday's morning skate on the third line with Jordan Staal and Jordan Martinook. While he's expected to eventually return to a top-six role, he will initially skate on a defensive line and receive power-play time.

Alex Ovechkin Scores Two Goals, Including Game-Winner, in Capitals' Victory

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Alex Ovechkin scored two goals on four shots, adding four hits, two PIM, and a plus-2 rating in Monday's 7-4 win over the Ducks. The NHL's all-time leading goal scorer netted the game-winner in the second period and an empty-netter in the third. This marks Ovechkin's first multi-goal performance since December 3rd, having scored only once in the 14 games prior. The 40-year-old now has 17 goals and 36 points in 43 contests this season.

Connor McMichael Records Four Assists in Capitals' 7-4 Victory Over Ducks

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Connor McMichael notched four assists in Monday's 7-4 win against the Ducks, contributing to each of the Capitals' first four goals, including Justin Sourdif's first career hat trick. The 24-year-old has not recorded points in consecutive games since late November. Despite this, his season totals of five goals and 25 points in 43 contests, along with 82 shots on net and a plus-6 rating, offer value in deeper season-long fantasy formats.

Bo Horvat (Lower Body) Joins Islanders for Seven-Game Road Trip

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Bo Horvat (lower body) will travel with the Islanders for their upcoming seven-game road trip, as reported by Stefen Rosner of NHL.com. While Horvat will not be available for Tuesday's game against the Devils, his presence on the trip indicates he is trending positively towards a return. Once cleared, the center is expected to reclaim his role as the second-line center and rejoin one of the power-play units.

Justin Sourdif Explodes for First Career Hat Trick, Adds Two Assists in Win

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Justin Sourdif erupted for his first career hat trick, scoring three goals and adding two assists in Monday's 7-4 victory over the Ducks. The 23-year-old center's hat trick was nearly natural, with his first two goals coming late in the first period and his third in the second. Sourdif has now recorded three multi-point performances in his last four games, accumulating five goals and nine points, 10 shots on net, and a plus-9 rating during that span. His recent offensive surge could earn him a top power-play unit spot, especially if Tom Wilson (lower body) remains sidelined.

Matthew Schaefer (Illness) Cleared to Play Tuesday Against Devils

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Matthew Schaefer (illness) has been cleared to play and will be in the lineup against the Devils on Tuesday, according to Stefen Rosner of NHL.com. Schaefer will not miss any game time after being sidelined for Monday's practice. The rookie blueliner has registered 12 goals and 16 assists, including 13 power-play points, through 42 games this season and is currently favored to win the Calder Trophy.

Nathan MacKinnon Receives Midseason NHL Award as Avalanche Excel

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Nathan MacKinnon has been honored with a midseason NHL award, indicating the Colorado Avalanche are poised for a successful showing at the NHL Awards. The report suggests the team is performing exceptionally well, with MacKinnon among the key players earning recognition for their outstanding contributions during the first half of the season.