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NHL News

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

Sunday, January 4

Toews Sidelined with Upper-Body Injury, Expected to Miss Time

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Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews sustained an upper-body injury Saturday against the Hurricanes after crashing into the end boards, though he returned to that game. He subsequently missed Sunday's game versus the Panthers, his first absence this season. Head coach Jared Bednar stated Toews will miss "some time." In his absence, Ilya Solovyov stepped into the lineup and is expected to receive consistent playing time on the third pairing, with Samuel Girard continuing to skate alongside Cale Makar. Toews has accumulated 1 goal, 12 assists, 68 shots, and 58 blocked shots across 40 appearances this season.

Sharks D John Klingberg Sidelined This Week with Lower-Body Injury

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San Jose Sharks defenseman John Klingberg (lower body) will not play this week, head coach Ryan Warsofsky confirmed Sunday. Klingberg sustained the injury during Wednesday's 4-3 shootout win over the Wild and subsequently missed Saturday's game against the Lightning. His availability for the Sharks' Jan. 11 game against the Golden Knights, part of an upcoming back-to-back set, remains uncertain. Prior to the injury, Klingberg was performing strongly, recording six goals, nine points, and a plus-6 rating over his last 11 appearances.

Akira Schmid to Start Against Blackhawks Sunday

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Akira Schmid is confirmed to start in goal for the Vegas Golden Knights against the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday. Schmid has struggled recently, going 0-2-0 in his last three outings with a .847 save percentage, and hasn't secured a win since December 11. Despite recent form, he holds an 11-4-4 record with two shutouts, a 2.50 GAA, and a .895 save percentage across 20 games this season.

Flames' John Beecher Handed One-Game Roughing Suspension

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Calgary Flames forward John Beecher has received a one-game suspension from the NHL's Department of Player Safety. The suspension follows a roughing incident that took place on Sunday. He will be unavailable for the Flames' upcoming game.

Jets' Logan Stanley Receives One-Game Roughing Suspension

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Winnipeg Jets defenseman Logan Stanley has been suspended for one game by the NHL's Department of Player Safety. The ban comes as a result of a roughing incident that occurred on Sunday. He will miss his next scheduled game.

Arvid Soderblom to Start Sunday Against Golden Knights

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Arvid Soderblom is slated to start in net for the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday, facing the Vegas Golden Knights. The goaltender has been in a slump, posting a 1-5-0 record with a 5.40 GAA and a .842 save percentage across his last seven appearances. He will look to improve his recent form against a Golden Knights team that has lost four straight.

Jake Allen Confirmed to Start Sunday Against Hurricanes

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Jake Allen is confirmed to start in goal for the New Jersey Devils at home on Sunday against the Carolina Hurricanes. Allen recently delivered a strong 33-save performance in Wednesday's 3-2 victory over Columbus. In December, the veteran netminder recorded a 3-4-1 record with a 2.93 GAA and a .902 save percentage across eight appearances.

Connor Bedard Expected to Return Before Olympic Break

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Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard (shoulder) is anticipated to return to action before the Olympic break, which commences on February 6. Bedard has been sidelined since suffering a shoulder injury on December 12, missing 10 games. While his return is not immediate, the 20-year-old is having a career-best season with 19 goals and 25 assists in 31 games.

Brandon Bussi Returns to Net Sunday vs. Devils After Six-Goal Outing

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Brandon Bussi is confirmed to start Sunday's game against the Devils, marking his first appearance since allowing six goals in his last outing on New Year's Day. Despite that recent performance, the 27-year-old goaltender maintains a strong season record of 13-2-1, alongside a 2.33 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage. The Devils, who have won their last two games, will be playing on the second night of a back-to-back.

Jamie Benn Exits Game with Upper-Body Injury, Status Unclear After Hard Fall

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Jamie Benn (upper body) exited Sunday's 4-3 overtime loss to Montreal after falling awkwardly in the third period, hitting his face hard on the ice and bleeding. He required assistance to leave the game, and his status remains unclear as the Stars plan further evaluation. There was no immediate update following the contest. Benn has recorded seven goals and 14 points through 23 appearances this season, and it's uncertain if he will miss additional time.

Alexander Wennberg Lands 3-Year, $18 Million Extension with Sharks

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San Jose Sharks forward Alexander Wennberg, 31, has officially signed a three-year, $18 million contract extension with the team on Sunday. This significant deal secures his future with the Sharks, coming during a season where the veteran has contributed seven goals and 19 assists. The extension reflects the team's commitment to Wennberg's role and production as a key offensive contributor.

Wedgewood Starts Both Back-to-Back Games for Avalanche

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Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood, 33, is slated to start Sunday's contest against the Panthers, marking his second consecutive start in a back-to-back situation. This decision comes after he stopped 25 of 28 shots faced against the Hurricanes on Saturday. Wedgewood is currently riding a personal five-game winning streak, and this will be the first time this season he has started both games of a back-to-back set. The Panthers enter the game following a 5-1 defeat in the Winter Classic.

Patrick Kane Disappointed After Omission from Team USA Olympic Roster

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Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane expressed disappointment after not being selected for the 2026 Winter Olympics, despite his efforts to be considered. Kane, who has represented Team USA twice previously (2010 silver, 2014 fourth place), cited injury troubles this season, having missed 15 games due to an upper-body injury and another incident where he scored his 498th career goal. In 28 games this season, he has tallied six goals and 18 assists. Kane is currently only seven points away from surpassing Mike Modano for the most points by an American-born player in NHL history.

Daniil Tarasov Set to Start Sunday vs. League-Leading Avalanche

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Florida Panthers goaltender Daniil Tarasov is slated to make his first start of 2026 on Sunday against the formidable Colorado Avalanche. Tarasov, currently serving as the number two netminder behind Sergei Bobrovsky, holds a season record of 4-6-2 with a 2.96 goals-against average and an .899 save percentage. He faces a significant challenge in the Avalanche, who boast the league's best offense, averaging 4.08 goals per game, though they will be playing on the second night of a back-to-back.

Oettinger to Start Sunday vs. Canadiens, Aims to Rebound

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Jake Oettinger is confirmed to start Sunday's game against the Canadiens. The 27-year-old netminder will be looking to rebound after allowing four goals in his last outing, his first time surrendering more than three since November 8. On the season, Oettinger holds a 16-7-3 record with a 2.57 GAA and a .907 save percentage. He faces the NHL's sixth-best offense as he aims to guide the Stars back to second in the Central Division.

Silovs to Start Sunday's Road Game Against Blue Jackets

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Arturs Silovs is set to start in goal for the Penguins on Sunday against the Blue Jackets, playing the second half of Pittsburgh's back-to-back. The 24-year-old has a 7-5-6 record with one shutout, a 3.19 GAA, and an .886 save percentage across 18 appearances this season. Silovs enters the game having won his last three starts, during which he allowed nine goals on 76 shots. He faces a Columbus team tied for 20th in the league in goals per game.

Jones Out Sunday vs. Avalanche with Upper-Body Injury

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Seth Jones (upper body) is not expected to play Sunday against the Avalanche, making him day-to-day and set to miss at least one game. The defenseman sustained the injury during Friday's 5-1 loss to the Rangers at the Winter Classic. Through 40 appearances this season, Jones has recorded six goals, 24 points, 78 shots on net, 47 blocked shots, and 38 hits. He will be replaced in the lineup by either Donovan Sebrango or Tobias Bjornfot for Sunday's contest.

Jet Greaves Confirmed Starter vs. Penguins, Riding Strong Stretch

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Jet Greaves is confirmed to start Sunday's game against the red-hot Penguins, as reported by Aaron Portzline. The 24-year-old goalie is currently on a strong run, having won four of his last five starts with a save percentage over .900 in each. For the season, Greaves holds a 12-10-5 record with a 2.56 GAA and a .912 save percentage. The Penguins enter the matchup on a four-game winning streak, scoring 20 goals in that span.

Saturday, January 3

Minten Delivers Two Goals, Including Overtime Winner, for Bruins

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Fraser Minten scored two goals, including the overtime winner, on six shots in Saturday's 3-2 victory over the Canucks. The Vancouver native opened the scoring in the first period and then sealed the win at 4:41 of overtime. This performance breaks a streak where he had been limited to four helpers over his previous 10 games. Minten now has eight goals (two game-winners), 17 points, 53 shots, 86 hits, 29 blocked shots, and a plus-8 rating in 42 appearances for the Boston Bruins.

Matthew Schaefer Sets NHL Record with OT Winner, Praised by Tavares

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Matthew Schaefer scored two goals, including the overtime winner against the Maple Leafs, setting an NHL record as the first 18-year-old defenseman with two multi-goal games. He's on a three-game, four-point streak (3G, 1A), now with 28 points (12G) this season, tied for third in goals among defensemen. Former No. 1 pick John Tavares called Schaefer 'a stud' and a 'game changer,' highlighting his elite skating and puck play.