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Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
Jonas Johansson is slated to start on the road for the Tampa Bay Lightning against the Kings on Thursday. In his last outing Sunday, Johansson secured a 5-4 shootout win over Montreal, making 31 saves on 35 shots. He currently holds an 8-6-1 record with a 2.82 GAA and an .896 save percentage across 16 appearances in the 2025-26 season. He'll face a Kings team that ranks 29th in goals per game.
Cam Talbot is confirmed to start in goal for the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday against the Penguins. The 38-year-old netminder will be playing the second half of a back-to-back, following John Gibson's win on Wednesday. Talbot enters the game having won his last two starts, stopping 56 of 60 shots. He faces a challenging Penguins offense that has scored 18 goals in their last four games.
Darcy Kuemper is set to make his return to the net for the Los Angeles Kings, guarding the home goal against the Lightning on Thursday. This marks his first start since December 15, when he sustained an upper-body injury against the Stars. Kuemper was activated from injured reserve on Tuesday. He faces a challenging opponent in the Lightning, who have scored 23 goals during their current five-game winning streak.
Eric Comrie is slated to guard the road goal for the Winnipeg Jets against the Maple Leafs on Thursday, marking his first appearance since December 11. The 30-year-old netminder previously concluded his stint as the Jets' starter with three consecutive losses, allowing 13 goals, before Connor Hellebuyck's return from knee surgery. Comrie will face a formidable Maple Leafs offense that has tallied 20 goals over their last five games.
St. Louis Blues forward Zach Dean, 22, has been cleared by the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program and is set to return to the Springfield Thunderbirds, the team's AHL affiliate. Dean was placed in the program before the season, missing all games to date. He played 11 games with the Thunderbirds last year, recording one goal and four points. A 2021 first-round pick by Vegas, Dean was acquired by the Blues in the Ivan Barbashev trade and is due for RFA status at season's end.
Vancouver Canucks forward Marco Rossi (lower body) is expected to miss at least one week, per Randip Janda of Sportsnet 650. Rossi missed Thursday's practice and the final eight minutes of Tuesday's 6-3 loss to Philadelphia. The 24-year-old has recorded five goals and 15 points in 25 games this season between Minnesota and Vancouver. Aatu Raty is slated to replace him in the lineup Friday against Seattle.
Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland (undisclosed) is expected to miss at least a week, according to Randip Janda of Sportsnet 650. He sustained the injury during Tuesday's 6-3 loss to Philadelphia. Garland has seven goals and 22 points in 33 appearances this season. Nils Hoglander is expected to draw back into the lineup Friday against Seattle due to Garland's absence.
Carolina Hurricanes goalie Brandon Bussi is slated to start at home against Montreal on Thursday, aiming for his third straight win. He has turned aside 36 of 40 shots (.900 SV%) across his past two outings. This season, Bussi holds a 13-1-1 record with a 2.08 GAA and a .912 save percentage in 15 appearances. Montreal is tied for sixth in goals per game with 3.28.
Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka (upper body) has been activated from injured reserve and is confirmed to start Thursday's game against the Islanders. He was initially listed as a game-time decision. Vejmelka will patrol the visiting crease, marking his return after missing the last two games. In a corresponding move, Matt Villalta was sent to AHL Tucson. This season, Vejmelka holds a 16-10-2 record with a 2.70 GAA and an .894 save percentage over 29 appearances.
Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk (groin) participated in Thursday's morning skate wearing a non-contact jersey, a significant step in his recovery from offseason groin surgery. Despite the progress, head coach Paul Maurice ruled him out for Friday's Winter Classic against the Rangers. Tkachuk has missed the first 39 games this season and is expected to return to the lineup in the next week or two. He recorded 22 goals and 35 assists in 52 regular-season games during the 2024-25 season.
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (groin) did not participate in practice, indicating he is not ready to return for Thursday's game against Montreal. This will mark his third consecutive game missed. In 28 appearances during the 2025-26 season, Gostisbehere has recorded four goals and 29 points. Mike Reilly and Joel Nystrom are expected to continue playing regularly in his absence, alongside Jaccob Slavin (upper body).
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll is expected to start at home against Winnipeg on Thursday. Woll is currently on a three-game winning streak, coming off a 33-save shutout victory over New Jersey on Tuesday. This season, he holds an 8-4-1 record with a 2.51 GAA and a .920 save percentage across 13 appearances. The Winnipeg Jets rank 23rd in the NHL for goals per game, averaging 2.82.
New York Islanders goaltender David Rittich will make his sixth consecutive start, playing at home against Utah on Thursday. This extended run in net is due to Ilya Sorokin remaining sidelined with a lower-body injury. Rittich has performed well in his last five games, posting a 3-1-1 record while allowing only eight goals on 144 shots. For the season, he holds a 10-4-2 record with two shutouts, a 2.27 GAA, and a .917 save percentage across 16 games.
Jake Oettinger is confirmed to start in goal for the Dallas Stars on Thursday's road game against the Chicago Blackhawks. The star netminder has been in excellent form, not allowing more than three goals in his last 14 starts since November 11. This season, Oettinger boasts a 16-6-3 record with two shutouts, a 2.51 GAA, and a .910 save percentage through 25 appearances. He faces a struggling Blackhawks team, which has gone 2-7-1 in their last 10 games.
Alex Ovechkin, the 40-year-old veteran, is set to lead the Washington Capitals against the Ottawa Senators in a New Year's Day matinee. Ovechkin has played in all 40 games this season, showcasing remarkable durability, and is currently second in Capitals scoring with 34 points. The Capitals are coming off a 6-3 victory over the New York Rangers. Ovechkin is projected to play on the top line alongside Connor McMichael and Justin Sourdif.
Leevi Merilainen will start Thursday's home game against the Capitals, marking his first time drawing a second consecutive start this season. The Ottawa Senators goaltender has seen limited playing time recently, holding a 1-6-0 record with a 3.49 GAA and an .870 save percentage over his last seven appearances.
William Nylander (lower body) is out for Thursday's game, his third straight absence. He skated lightly before practice but is doubtful for Friday's session, though the team hopes for a Saturday return against the Islanders. The injury occurred Saturday versus Ottawa after a collision with Artem Zub. This marks his second injury absence this season, having previously missed three games in October due to a cross-check from Jason Zucker, plus one game for illness. Nylander leads the Maple Leafs with 41 points (17 goals, 27 assists) in 33 games.
Jakub Dobes will protect the visiting net in Carolina on Thursday, marking his first start in four games. The Montreal Canadiens goaltender has a season record of 12-5-3 with a 2.90 GAA and an .894 save percentage across 20 appearances.
Nathan MacKinnon has achieved his 400th career NHL goal, joining an exclusive group as the 114th player in league history to reach this milestone. The Colorado Avalanche superstar, a 2013 first overall pick, 2022 Stanley Cup champion, Hart Memorial Trophy, and Ted Lindsay Award winner, is on pace for a career-best 72 goals, 76 assists, and 147 points this season. His team also became the first in the NHL to reach 30 wins this season, doing so in just 39 games.
Spencer Knight will defend the home net for the Chicago Blackhawks against Dallas on Thursday. Knight recently snapped a five-game regulation losing streak with a 3-2 overtime loss to the Islanders. He has posted a 10-11-2 record with a 2.62 GAA and a .910 save percentage across 27 starts this season, facing a tough Dallas team that ranks second in NHL scoring, averaging 3.43 goals per game.
