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NHL News

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

Saturday, January 3

Zeev Buium Making Impact with Canucks, Focused on Development

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Defenseman Zeev Buium has recorded three points in his first nine games with the Vancouver Canucks since being acquired in the Quinn Hughes trade, averaging over 20 minutes per night. The 20-year-old is focused on continuous improvement, putting in extra work on and off the ice. His skating and puck-handling abilities have been evident, with him averaging over 2.5 shot attempts per game, as he aims to become the best player he can be for the young Canucks squad.

Swayman to Guard Road Goal vs. Canucks, Seeks Third Straight Strong Outing

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Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman is slated to start on the road against Vancouver on Saturday. Swayman has been in strong form, allowing just two goals in each of his last two starts. For the 2025-26 season, he holds a 15-10-2 record with a 2.84 GAA and a .903 save percentage across 28 appearances. His last encounter with the Canucks on December 20 resulted in a 5-4 shootout loss, where he stopped 19 of 23 shots.

Akira Schmid Takes on Bigger Role with Golden Knights

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Akira Schmid, acquired by the Vegas Golden Knights on June 29, 2024, has played 25 games for the team, taking on a significantly larger role this season with 17 starts compared to three last season. He recorded 13 wins and a .944 save percentage in his first season with Vegas, though his save percentage has dipped to .895 this season. The trade also involved Paul Cotter and Alexander Holtz.

Alexander Holtz's Performance Since Golden Knights Trade

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Alexander Holtz, traded to the Vegas Golden Knights on June 29, 2024, has played 65 games for the team, recording 14 points (5 goals, 9 assists). His playing time has been limited this season, with only 12 appearances. The trade also involved Paul Cotter and Akira Schmid, with the article noting that Cotter has provided more production for the Devils than Holtz has for the Golden Knights.

Paul Cotter's Production Reviewed Post-Devils Trade

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Paul Cotter, acquired by the New Jersey Devils on June 29, 2024, has played 149 games for the team over the last two seasons, accumulating 32 points (21 goals, 11 assists). The left winger's production has reportedly struggled since joining the Devils, with his peak performance occurring in the 2023-24 season with the Vegas Golden Knights, prior to the trade that also involved Alexander Holtz and Akira Schmid.

Pickard to Start Against Flyers After Strong Win

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Calvin Pickard is slated to start in net for the Edmonton Oilers at home against Philadelphia on Saturday. This follows a strong performance where he stopped 41 of 42 shots in a 3-1 victory over Winnipeg on Monday. Pickard currently holds a 4-5-2 record with a 3.69 GAA and an .874 save percentage across 14 appearances this 2025-26 season. The Flyers rank 20th in goals per game, averaging 2.92.

Binnington to Start for Blues Against High-Scoring Canadiens

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Jordan Binnington will be in goal for the St. Louis Blues at home against Montreal on Saturday. This marks the second half of a back-to-back, following Joel Hofer's start. The 32-year-old netminder has a 7-10-6 record this season, posting a 3.56 GAA and an .869 save percentage through 24 appearances. He faces a challenging matchup against the Canadiens, who rank third in the league with 3.38 goals per game in the 2025-26 campaign.

Vasilevskiy Set to Start Against Sharks, Riding Four-Game Win Streak

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Andrei Vasilevskiy is projected to start on the road for the Tampa Bay Lightning against San Jose on Saturday. He enters the game on a strong four-game winning streak, during which he has allowed just 10 goals on 100 shots, good for a .900 save percentage. For the 2025-26 season, Vasilevskiy holds a 15-7-2 record with an impressive 2.33 GAA and a .913 save percentage across 24 appearances. San Jose is tied for 18th in the league with 3.05 goals per game.

Kuemper Slated to Start Against Minnesota Saturday

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Darcy Kuemper (LA) is expected to start in net against Minnesota on Saturday. He recently allowed four goals on 23 shots in a 5-3 loss to Tampa Bay on Thursday. This season, Kuemper holds a 10-7-0 record with two shutouts, a 2.27 GAA, and a .913 save percentage across 24 appearances. Minnesota ranks 13th in the league with 3.12 goals per game.

Vejmelka to Start Home Game Against New Jersey

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Karel Vejmelka (UTA) is confirmed to start in goal at home against New Jersey on Saturday. He recently secured a 7-2 victory over the Islanders on Thursday, making 20 saves. This season, Vejmelka has a 17-10-2 record with one shutout, a 2.68 GAA, and an .895 save percentage through 30 appearances. New Jersey ranks 27th in the league with 2.65 goals per game.

Luukkonen Set to Start Road Game Against Columbus

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Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (Buffalo Sabres) is projected to start on the road against Columbus on Saturday. He enters the game on a three-game winning streak, having stopped 76 of 79 shots for a .962 save percentage during that span. For the 2025-26 season, Luukkonen holds a 7-5-1 record with a 2.46 GAA and a .903 save percentage in 13 appearances. Columbus is tied for 20th in goals per game.

Fowler Confirmed to Start in St. Louis Saturday

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Jacob Fowler (Montreal Canadiens) is confirmed to start in goal on the road against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday. In his last outing, he made 17 saves on 21 shots during a 5-4 shootout loss to Tampa Bay last Sunday. Through six NHL appearances this season, Fowler holds a 3-1-2 record, having allowed 16 goals on 167 shots. St. Louis ranks 32nd in the league with 2.50 goals per game.

John Tavares Praises Islanders Rookie Matthew Schaefer as 'A Stud'

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Toronto Maple Leafs' John Tavares, a former No. 1 overall pick, highly praised Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer, calling him 'a stud' and a 'game changer' with elite skating and puck-handling abilities. Tavares reflected on his own rookie season and discussed the Islanders' dynamic team, noting they are a formidable opponent. Tavares has never met Schaefer, but acknowledged his impressive half-season career.

Nylander (Lower Body) Out for Fourth Straight Game

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William Nylander (Toronto Maple Leafs) will miss his fourth consecutive game due to a lower-body injury, remaining out against the Islanders on Saturday. Prior to his injury, Nylander had a strong showing with three goals and two assists in his last two games, ending a December slump where he recorded four assists in 10 games. This season, he has accumulated 14 goals and 41 points in 33 appearances.

Askarov to Start Against High-Scoring Lightning on Saturday

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Yaroslav Askarov will patrol the home crease for the San Jose Sharks against Tampa Bay on Saturday. Despite allowing 10 goals on 92 shots, Askarov has won his last three outings. This season, he holds a 15-10-1 record with a 3.35 GAA and an .896 save percentage across 26 appearances. Tampa Bay ranks fourth in the league with 3.35 goals per game, presenting a significant challenge for the Sharks' netminder.

Cole McWard Recalled, Set for Islanders Debut

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Defenseman Cole McWard has been recalled by the New York Islanders from Bridgeport (AHL) and is projected to make his NHL debut with the team against the Toronto Maple Leafs. This season with Bridgeport, the 24-year-old right-shot defenseman has recorded 16 points (5 goals, 11 assists) in 29 games. An undrafted free agent, McWard previously played six NHL games with the Vancouver Canucks, scoring one goal, and was part of Abbotsford's Calder Cup championship run in 2025.

Markstrom to Start Saturday Against Utah Mammoth

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Jacob Markstrom will patrol the home crease for the New Jersey Devils against Utah on Saturday. He and Jake Allen have been sharing the net since December 11th, with Saturday being Markstrom's turn. This season, he holds a 9-9-1 record with a 3.32 GAA and an .884 save percentage across 20 appearances. The Utah Mammoth rank 17th in NHL scoring, averaging 3.07 goals per game.

Greaves Defends Crease Saturday vs. Buffalo, Boasts 11-10-5 Record

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Jet Greaves is confirmed to start in goal for the Columbus Blue Jackets against Buffalo on Saturday. This follows his 30-save performance in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to New Jersey. So far this season, Greaves holds an 11-10-5 record, a 2.62 GAA, and a .909 save percentage through 26 appearances. The Sabres, his upcoming opponent, are tied for 15th in the league with 3.10 goals per game.

Zibanejad Explodes for Five Points, Leads Rangers to Victory

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Mika Zibanejad delivered an impressive performance for the New York Rangers in Friday's 5-1 win over the Panthers, recording three goals and two assists, including a power-play goal and assist. He directly participated in all five of the team's goals. The 32-year-old center has been hot, notching 10 points (four goals, six helpers) over his last seven outings, bringing his season total to 35 points in 42 games. He is currently on pace to surpass the 60-point mark for the fifth consecutive campaign.

Drew Doughty Continues Career Amidst Kings' Roster Changes

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Drew Doughty, a foundational 'franchise-level pillar' for the Los Angeles Kings alongside Anze Kopitar and Jonathan Quick during their Stanley Cup era, is noted to still have 'some runway left' in his career. His ongoing presence is highlighted in discussions surrounding the Kings' evolving roster and the challenges they face in transitioning from their veteran core, particularly regarding the team's center depth.