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NHL News

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

Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Wilson Achieves Gordie Howe Hat Trick, 200th Goal, Named to Team Canada

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Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson delivered a monumental performance, securing a Gordie Howe hat trick with two goals, an assist, and a fight against Sam Carrick in a 6-3 win over the Rangers. He became the first Capital to hit 20 goals this season and reached his 200th career goal. The 28-year-old was also officially named to Team Canada's Olympic roster, recognizing his impactful play and physical presence. This caps off a significant day for Wilson.

Eichel to Travel with Golden Knights on Road Trip Amid Lower-Body Injury

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Vegas Golden Knights forward Jack Eichel (lower body) missed his seventh consecutive game Wednesday against Nashville, having been out since December 13. Despite being a game-time decision, he remained sidelined. However, Eichel will join the team on their upcoming three-game road trip, starting Friday in St. Louis. While his return to play is not yet confirmed, traveling with the team is a positive development. He has recorded 12 goals and 41 points in 31 appearances this 2025-26 season.

Hellebuyck Starts for Jets Against Red Wings, Seeks to End Six-Game Skid

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Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is slated to start in net Wednesday on the road against the Detroit Red Wings. He aims to break a challenging six-game skid, during which he has posted an 0-3-3 record with an .882 save percentage. The Red Wings present a formidable challenge, having scored 18 goals and achieved a 4-2-0 record in their last six outings, with three of those wins coming in overtime.

Adam Fox Returns from LTIR, Scores Goal & Assist in Rangers Loss

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New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox (shoulder) has been activated from long-term injured reserve, ending a 14-game absence. He immediately rejoined the top defensive pairing and first power-play unit. In his return against the Capitals, Fox made an immediate impact, recording one goal and one assist for two points in 21:13 minutes, helping elevate the power play. Coach Mike Sullivan praised his strong game, noting his clear impact. Before his injury, Fox had 3 goals, 26 points, 51 shots, 41 blocked shots, and 15 hits in 27 appearances.

Penguins Acquire Defenseman Egor Zamula, Offers Depth & Offensive Potential

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The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired defenseman Egor Zamula from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for forward Philip Tomasino. Zamula, 25, offers size, mobility, and NHL experience, addressing a need for defensive depth. He played 168 NHL games over six seasons with the Flyers, recording 8 goals, 33 assists, and 41 points. In the 2023-24 season, he set career highs with 5 goals, 16 assists, and 21 points in 66 games. This season with the Flyers, he had one assist and a +4 rating in 13 games. Zamula will start with AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton but has a good chance for a call-up.

Jake Allen to Start Against Blue Jackets on Wednesday

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New Jersey Devils goaltender Jake Allen will start in net against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday, taking the second half of the team's back-to-back. Allen's season record stands at 10-8-1 with one shutout, a 2.54 GAA, and a .910 save percentage through 20 appearances. He steps in after Jacob Markstrom played in Tuesday's 4-0 loss to Toronto. Columbus currently ranks 21st in the league with 2.95 goals per game.

Gibson to Start Against Jets; Seeks Rebound After Streak Ends

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Detroit Red Wings goalie John Gibson is slated to start at home against Winnipeg on Wednesday. Gibson, who holds a 12-8-1 record, 3.07 GAA, and .891 save percentage across 22 appearances this season, will look to rebound after his eight-game winning streak was snapped in a 5-2 loss to Carolina on Saturday, where he allowed four goals on 37 shots. The Jets currently rank 22nd in the league for goals per game.

Othmann Labeled Rangers' 'Biggest Flop,' Future With Team Questioned

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New York Rangers' former top pick Brennan Othmann has been identified as the team's biggest flop this season, failing to meet expectations. Columnist Sean McCaffrey critically stated Othmann "serves no function at all for the Rangers and should be removed," fueling speculation that either the team's coaching has been ineffective or Othmann simply lacks the necessary talent. His performance has led to significant questions regarding his long-term role with the Blueshirts.

Wallstedt Confirmed to Start Wednesday vs. San Jose

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Jesper Wallstedt is slated to start for the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday against San Jose. The goaltender holds an 11-2-2 record this season with a 2.16 GAA and .931 save percentage in 15 outings. In his last start, he stopped 23 of 26 shots in a 4-3 overtime win over Winnipeg. San Jose is tied for 17th in goals per game.

Vasilevskiy Guards Crease Wednesday vs. Anaheim

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Andrei Vasilevskiy will be in goal for the Tampa Bay Lightning on the road against Anaheim on Wednesday. He enters the game on a three-game winning streak, having allowed just seven goals on 72 shots during that span. This season, Vasilevskiy boasts a 14-7-2 record with a 2.30 GAA and a .913 save percentage over 23 appearances. Anaheim ranks fourth in the league in goals per game.

Dostal to Start Wednesday Home Game Against Tampa Bay

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Lukas Dostal is confirmed to start for the Anaheim Ducks at home against Tampa Bay on Wednesday. This season, he has a 13-9-1 record, a 3.12 GAA, and an .889 save percentage across 24 appearances. Dostal is currently winless in his last three starts (0-2-0), having allowed 12 goals on 59 shots (.797 SV%). He faces a challenging matchup against Tampa Bay, ranked fifth in goals per game.

Flyers Acquire Former First-Round Pick Philip Tomasino in Trade

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The Philadelphia Flyers have acquired forward Philip Tomasino, 24, from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenseman Egor Zamula. Tomasino, a 2019 first-round pick (24th overall), will report to the AHL's Lehigh Valley Phantoms. He has accumulated 95 points in 218 NHL games with the Predators and Penguins. His most productive NHL season was 2024-25 with Pittsburgh (23 points). This season, he recorded one assist in nine NHL games for the Penguins and 15 points in 14 AHL games.

Justus Annunen to Start Against Golden Knights Wednesday

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Nashville Predators goaltender Justus Annunen will start Wednesday's road game against the Vegas Golden Knights. Annunen is coming off a 16-save performance in a 2-1 win over the Rangers on December 21. This season, he holds a 2-5-1 record with a 3.43 GAA and an .866 save percentage through 11 appearances. Vegas ranks 13th in the league with 3.14 goals per game this campaign.

Alex Lyon Out Indefinitely with Lower-Body Injury; Ellis Recalled

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Buffalo Sabres goaltender Alex Lyon is out indefinitely with a lower-body injury, confirmed by coach Lindy Ruff. He has returned to Buffalo for evaluation, missing Wednesday's game against Dallas and expected to miss Saturday's in Columbus. Lyon, who was on a 7-game winning streak, has a 10-6-3 record, a .906 save percentage, and a 2.82 GAA with one shutout in 21 appearances this season. Colten Ellis has been activated off injured reserve and will serve as Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen's backup.

Seth Jones Secures Spot on U.S. Olympic Roster

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Seth Jones has secured a spot on the U.S. Olympic hockey roster, sources confirm. This selection marks a significant achievement for the defenseman, who will represent his country at the prestigious international tournament.

Clayton Keller Named to U.S. Olympic Hockey Roster

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Clayton Keller has been named to the U.S. Olympic hockey roster, according to sources. This significant announcement confirms his participation in the upcoming Olympic games, representing his country on the international stage.

Swayman Starts Against Oilers Wednesday, Seeks Redemption

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Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman is slated to start on the road against Edmonton on Wednesday. This will be a rematch against the Oilers, who previously handed him a 3-1 loss on December 18, despite him stopping 22 of 25 shots. For the season, Swayman holds a 14-10-2 record with a 2.87 GAA and a .901 save percentage across 27 appearances. Edmonton ranks third in goals per game with 3.38.

Binnington Starts Wednesday vs. Top-Ranked Colorado Off Recent Loss

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St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington is expected to start on the road against Colorado on Wednesday. He will be looking to rebound after stopping just 13 of 17 shots in a 4-1 loss to Tampa Bay on December 22. Binnington's season record stands at 7-9-6 with a 3.44 GAA and an .870 save percentage in 23 appearances. Colorado presents a tough challenge, ranking first in goals per game this campaign with 4.00.

Askarov Starts Wednesday vs. Minnesota Amidst Goal-Surrendering Streak

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San Jose Sharks goaltender Yaroslav Askarov is slated to start at home against Minnesota on Wednesday. Askarov currently holds a 14-10-1 record with a 3.38 GAA and an .897 save percentage across 25 outings this season. A notable concern is that he has surrendered at least three goals in each of his past nine appearances. Minnesota is in a three-way tie for 14th in goals per game with 3.08.

Luukkonen Starts Wednesday vs. Dallas, Riding Two-Game Win Streak

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Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is set to start on the road against Dallas on Wednesday. Luukkonen is currently on a two-game winning streak, having stopped an impressive 48 of 50 shots (.960 save percentage) in his last two starts. For the season, he holds a 6-5-1 record with a 2.58 GAA and an .897 save percentage in 12 outings. With Alex Lyon (lower body) out, Colten Ellis (concussion) will serve as his backup against the high-scoring Stars.