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NHL News

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

Friday, January 2

Igor Shesterkin to Start Winter Classic vs. Panthers

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Igor Shesterkin is confirmed to start in goal for the New York Rangers in Friday's Winter Classic against the Florida Panthers in Miami, as reported by Penguins play-by-play announcer Josh Getzoff. Shesterkin concluded December with a 6-3-2 record over 11 games, posting a 2.58 GAA and a .907 save percentage. Despite losing his last two starts of the month, he demonstrated strong play, stopping 56 of 60 shots. The Panthers, with a 9-4-2 December record and 3.33 goals per game, present a significant challenge.

Avalanche's Blackwood Lands on IR Again with Lower-Body Injury; Snubbed from Olympics

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Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood has been placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury, marking his second stint on IR this season after missing training camp. He will miss a three-game road trip and be re-evaluated. Despite the stop-and-start season, Blackwood boasts an elite 13-1-1 record, a .924 save percentage, and a league-leading 2.07 GAA in 16 appearances, winning his last seven starts. He was also notably snubbed from Team Canada's Olympic roster. Scott Wedgewood is expected to shoulder the workload, with Trent Miner recalled.

Bobrovsky Confirmed to Start Winter Classic, Ends 14-Year Outdoor Game Drought

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Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is confirmed to start in Friday's 2026 NHL Winter Classic against the New York Rangers at loanDepot Park in Miami. This marquee event marks his first outdoor appearance since the 2012 Winter Classic, when he played for the Philadelphia Flyers against the same Rangers, ending a 14-year gap between outdoor games. In December, Bobrovsky posted a 7-2-1 record with a 2.67 GAA and an .897 save percentage over 10 outings.

Red Wings Prospect Cossa Earns Back-to-Back AHL Goalie of Month Honors

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Detroit Red Wings top prospect Sebastian Cossa has earned AHL Goaltender of the Month for December, marking his second consecutive monthly honor and making him the first Red Wings netminder to achieve this twice in a season. He is also the first AHL goalie since Logan Thompson (2021) to win consecutive monthly awards. Cossa posted a 7-0-1 record with two shutouts, a 1.76 GAA, and a .929 SV% in December. For the season, he leads all AHL goalies with a 15-1-1 record, 1.65 GAA, and .936 SV%. Selected 15th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, Cossa is widely anticipated to make his NHL debut soon.

Capitals' Thompson Named to Olympic Roster, Vezina Favorite Status Solidified

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Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson has been named to Team Canada’s Olympic roster and is currently a Vezina Trophy favorite, highlighting his thriving NHL career. Thompson was the last AHL goalie in 2021 to capture Goaltender of the Month honors in consecutive months, a feat now matched by Red Wings prospect Sebastian Cossa. His continued success at the NHL level underscores the elite company Cossa joins in translating AHL dominance into NHL stardom.

Red Wings Prospect Tralmaks Poised for 2026 Olympic Bid with Latvia

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Grand Rapids Griffins forward Eduards Tralmaks, a prospect within the Detroit Red Wings organization, is a strong candidate to represent Latvia at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Latvia, a rapidly rising hockey nation, could see Tralmaks play a meaningful role. He is currently tied for second in scoring among Latvian skaters in the AHL. Competing in a challenging Olympic group against the United States, Germany, and Denmark, the tournament offers Tralmaks a significant opportunity to elevate his profile and prove his capabilities on an international stage.

Rakell Earns First Olympic Berth, Joins Sweden's 2026 Milano Cortina Roster

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Pittsburgh Penguins forward Rickard Rakell will make his Olympic debut for Sweden at the 2026 Milano Cortina Games, calling it a 'dream come true.' Despite a longer-term injury this season and initial uncertainty, Rakell made the cut. He's excited to share the experience with teammate Erik Karlsson and feels good about the team's prospects, having learned from the 4 Nations Face-off. Rakell is also focused on the Penguins' 17 games before the Olympics.

Karlsson Named to Swedish Olympic Roster for 2026 Milano Cortina Games

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Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson has been named to the 2026 Swedish Olympic roster, marking his second Olympic appearance after competing in Sochi 2014. Karlsson, who was a 'lock' for the team, expressed excitement for the NHL's return to the Olympics after 12 years. He will have a new defensive partner for the tournament and remains focused on the Penguins' 17 upcoming games before heading to Milan.

Gustavsson to Start Against Ducks, Continues Dominant Goaltending Streak

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Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson is slated to start on the road against Anaheim on Friday. Gustavsson has been in dominant form recently, posting a 6-0-1 record with a 1.71 GAA and .931 save percentage over his last seven appearances. Overall this season, he holds a 13-8-4 record, 2.47 GAA, and .912 save percentage in 25 outings for the Wild.

Jack Eichel Returns to Lineup Friday After Lower Body Injury

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Vegas Golden Knights star Jack Eichel (lower body) is set to return to the lineup Friday in St. Louis after missing seven games since December 13. Eichel, who has recorded 12 goals and 41 points, including 16 power-play assists, in 31 games this season, will center the top line alongside Ivan Barbashev and Mitch Marner, and also play on the top power-play unit. His return is a significant boost for the Golden Knights.

Carter Hart to Start Friday Against Low-Scoring Blues

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Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart is expected to start Friday's road game against St. Louis. Hart holds a 4-2-3 record with a 3.18 GAA and an .883 save percentage in nine appearances this season, having allowed five goals in each of his last two outings. He faces a St. Louis team that ranks 32nd in goals per game (2.46) and has been outscored 10-3 in its last two losses, presenting a favorable matchup for Hart.

Nikolaj Ehlers Ends Goal Drought with Three-Point Effort

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Carolina Hurricanes forward Nikolaj Ehlers recorded a power-play goal on two shots and two assists in Thursday's 7-5 loss to the Canadiens, ending an eight-game goal drought. The 29-year-old was placed on the top line with Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov, with the trio combining for four goals and seven assists. Ehlers now has nine goals, 20 assists, 97 shots on net, and a plus-2 rating through 40 games this season, continuing to be a strong offensive contributor.

Andrei Svechnikov Collects Three Points in Loss to Canadiens

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Carolina Hurricanes winger Andrei Svechnikov scored a goal on five shots and added two assists in Thursday's 7-5 loss to the Canadiens. Playing on the new-look top line with Sebastian Aho and Nikolaj Ehlers, Svechnikov has been on a hot streak, tallying four goals and eight assists over his last eight games. Through 40 appearances this season, he has 11 goals, 30 points, 113 shots on net, 66 hits, 28 PIM, and a minus-1 rating, putting him on pace for a 60-point season.

Sebastian Aho Records Rare Five-Point Game in Hurricanes Loss

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Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho delivered a rare five-point performance in Thursday's 7-5 loss to the Canadiens, scoring twice on three shots and adding three assists, along with two PIM and two hits. This marks his fourth multi-point effort in the last eight games, during which he has accumulated seven goals and seven assists. Through 40 appearances this season, Aho boasts 16 goals, 40 points, 91 shots on net, 36 hits, and a plus-2 rating, consistently producing at a point-per-game pace.

Lukas Dostal to Start Friday vs. Minnesota Amid Recent Struggles

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Lukas Dostal will start in goal for the Anaheim Ducks on Friday against Minnesota. The 25-year-old netminder has faced challenges recently, allowing 14 goals on 68 shots (.794 SV%) over his last three games. Overall this season, Dostal holds a 13-9-2 record with a 3.15 GAA and an .888 save percentage across 25 appearances. The Wild rank 16th in NHL scoring, averaging 3.07 goals per game.

Joel Hofer Named Blues' Starting Goalie for Friday's Game

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Joel Hofer will guard the cage for the St. Louis Blues at home against the Golden Knights on Friday. The 25-year-old netminder handled the majority of the workload for the Blues in December, appearing in 10 of 15 games and recording a 5-3-0 record with a 2.20 GAA. This will be Hofer's first start of 2026, and he is currently considered the No. 1 option in St. Louis, though his hold on the position is described as tenuous.

Kevin Lankinen to Start Saturday Against Boston Bruins

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Kevin Lankinen is slated to start in goal for the Vancouver Canucks at home against the Boston Bruins on Saturday. Lankinen has seen limited action recently, playing in only two of the Canucks' last nine games, where he posted a 2-0-0 record with a 2.77 GAA. All of his recent and upcoming appearances have been in back-to-back situations, indicating that fantasy managers should not expect him to take starts away from Thatcher Demko.

Thatcher Demko Starts Friday, Aims to Snap Losing Streak

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Thatcher Demko will defend the home goal for the Vancouver Canucks against Seattle on Friday. Demko will be looking to snap a three-game losing streak, having allowed 13 goals on 105 shots during that span. This season, the 29-year-old netminder holds an 8-8-0 record with a 2.72 GAA and a .905 save percentage over 17 appearances. The Seattle Kraken are currently ranked 29th in NHL scoring, averaging 2.61 goals per game.

Evgeni Malkin (Upper Body) Skates, Remains Out for Road Trip

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Evgeni Malkin (upper body) participated in practice Friday wearing a non-contact jersey, indicating a positive step in his recovery. However, he will not travel with the Pittsburgh Penguins for their upcoming two-game road trip. While this is progress, Malkin does not appear to be significantly closer to returning to the lineup. Thomas Novak continues to fill in as the second-line center in his absence and is expected to drop to the bottom-six upon Malkin's return.

David Rittich to Start Saturday with Sorokin Backing Up

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Islanders' David Rittich will make his seventh consecutive start Saturday against Toronto. He holds a 10-5-2 record with two shutouts, a 2.46 GAA, and a .909 save percentage in 17 appearances this season. Notably, Ilya Sorokin (lower body) has been activated from injured reserve and will serve as Rittich's backup for the first time since Sorokin's injury on Dec. 20.