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NHL News

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

Sunday, December 21, 2025

Patrick Kane (Upper Body) to Miss Sunday, Tuesday Games

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Red Wings RW Patrick Kane (upper body) will miss his fourth consecutive game Sunday against the Capitals and his fifth straight on Tuesday against the Stars. The 37-year-old, listed as day-to-day, is sidelined for evaluation of his upper-body injury. This extended absence will allow him the holiday break to recover, as the Red Wings don't play again until Dec. 27. Kane has been productive this season, tallying 23 points (six goals, 17 assists) in 24 games.

Canadiens Goaltender Samuel Montembeault Extends AHL Conditioning Stint

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Montreal Canadiens goaltender Samuel Montembeault will remain with the Laval Rocket on his conditioning stint until after the Christmas break, a revision to the initial plan. Assigned to the AHL on December 16, he could stay until December 30, with the team confirming he will rejoin the Canadiens after the break, likely before their December 28 game against Tampa Bay. Montembeault has lost both AHL starts, giving up four goals on 24 shots in a 5-2 loss and making 27 saves on 29 shots in a 2-0 defeat, but will benefit from additional practice time with the Rocket's goaltending coach.

Rangers Captain J.T. Miller Deemed Week-to-Week with Upper-Body Injury

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New York Rangers captain J.T. Miller has been deemed week-to-week with an upper-body injury sustained in Saturday's 5-4 shootout win. He did not travel for the team's road trip, missing Sunday's game against Nashville, with Tuesday's game against Washington also unlikely. While undergoing evaluations, the injury is not expected to land him on long-term injured reserve or impact his 2026 Winter Olympics availability. Miller has accumulated 10 goals, 22 points, 77 shots, and 74 hits through 35 appearances this season.

Ryan O'Reilly Dismisses Trade Talk Amid Predators' Turnaround

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Despite recent NHL trade speculation linking him to teams like the Maple Leafs, Capitals, Devils, and Avalanche, Nashville Predators' center Ryan O'Reilly has reportedly informed interested parties he is 'not ready to entertain the idea of a trade at this time.' O'Reilly, 34, is in the third year of a 4-year, $18M contract ($4.5M AAV). He leads the Predators with 28 points (10G, 18A) in 34 games. After expressing frustration in November, O'Reilly has since tallied 15 points (4G, 11A) in Nashville's recent 8-4 run, playing a key role in their resurgence. He wants to be part of the solution, not abandon ship, aligning with GM Trotz's 'progressive rebuild' strategy.

MacKinnon Leads Avalanche into Key Matchup with Strong Career Stats

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Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon leads his team with 24 goals, 41 assists, and 65 points in 52 career games against Minnesota. The Avalanche (25-2-7) currently sit first in both the Central Division and the NHL, boasting an impressive 8-1-1 record in their last ten games. MacKinnon's consistent performance is key as the Avalanche face a significant matchup.

Charlie Lindgren to Start Sunday for Capitals Against Red Wings

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Capitals G Charlie Lindgren will start Sunday's game against the Red Wings, marking his third start this month. The 32-year-old netminder holds a 5-4-1 record with a 3.10 GAA and an .887 save percentage this season. He will get the second half of the back-to-back set against Detroit, following Logan Thompson's start on Saturday.

John Gibson Extends Win Streak to Seven, Sets Red Wings Record

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Red Wings goaltender John Gibson matched his career-high with a seventh consecutive victory, making 24 saves in Saturday's win over the Capitals. This marks the longest winning streak by a Red Wings netminder since 2012. Gibson, acquired from the Ducks in the offseason, was recently named the NHL's Second Star of the Week after posting two shutouts in three games. Coach Todd McLellan praised his confident and efficient play, noting he looks "much more like his old self."

Jonathan Quick to Start Sunday for Rangers Against Nashville

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Rangers G Jonathan Quick will defend the road net against Nashville on Sunday, taking the second half of the team's back-to-back after Igor Shesterkin played Saturday. The 39-year-old has a 0-3-1 record in his last four outings, allowing 10 goals on 120 shots during that span. He faces a Nashville team that ranks 24th in the league with 2.82 goals per game this season.

Jake Allen to Start Sunday for Devils Against Red-Hot Sabres

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New Jersey Devils goaltender Jake Allen will start in net for Sunday's game against the Buffalo Sabres. The 35-year-old has been excellent in his past two starts, allowing just one goal in each of two Devils victories over the Golden Knights and Ducks. He will be playing behind a boosted lineup with the returns of Jack Hughes (hand) and Arseny Gritsyuk (upper body), facing a red-hot Sabres team that has won five straight games.

Werenski Day-to-Day with Lower Body Injury After Scoring 14th Goal

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Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski is considered day-to-day with a lower-body injury after blocking a shot with his foot in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Ducks. He collapsed in pain and couldn't get off the ice, resulting in a penalty. Fortunately, he didn't suffer any broken bones and might return shortly after the holiday break, though he could miss Monday's game. Werenski scored his 14th goal of the season, tying him for first among NHL defensemen in goals and points (40) in 35 appearances, adding 132 shots and 52 blocked shots.

Jake Oettinger Starts Sunday for Stars, Tied for NHL Lead in Wins

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Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger will get the start Sunday against the Maple Leafs. Oettinger is tied for the league lead with 15 wins this season. He is coming off a 34-save performance against the Sharks, which snapped a personal two-game losing streak. The 27-year-old brings a 15-6-2 record, 2.56 GAA, and a .907 save percentage into the matchup against a Maple Leafs team that has lost four of its last five games.

Brady Tkachuk Pots Two Goals, Extends Scoring Streak to Three Games

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Senators' Brady Tkachuk scored two goals in Saturday's 6-4 win over Chicago, extending his scoring streak to three games. His first goal deflected off his leg, while his second was a skilled shot from the slot. Since returning from a broken thumb in late November, Tkachuk has recorded five goals and 11 points in 11 contests, adding 53 shots, 30 hits, and a minus-2 rating.

Tim Stutzle Delivers Three-Point Effort, Continues Hot Streak

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Senators' Tim Stutzle recorded a shorthanded goal and two assists in Saturday's 6-4 victory against Chicago, registering a point in every period. This marks his fifth multi-point performance in the last six games, during which he has amassed five goals and 13 points. Stutzle is aiming to reach the 90-point plateau for the first time since the 2022-23 season.

David Perron Nets Two Goals, Including Game-Winner, Against Chicago

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Senators' David Perron scored two goals, including a power-play tally and the game-winner, in Saturday's 6-4 win over Chicago. Both goals came in the third period, breaking a 3-3 tie. This marks Perron's first multi-goal performance of the season. The veteran winger now has seven goals in 37 games this season, with five of those goals coming in his last 11 contests.

Adam Wilsby Scores Second Career NHL Goal, Sparks Predators Victory

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Nashville Predators defenseman Adam Wilsby scored his second career NHL goal in Saturday's 5-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. His goal, coming on a 4-on-4 with 33 seconds left in the second period, tied the game and was described as a critical turning point that gave the Predators momentum. It had been about a year and 36 games since his first NHL goal on December 17, 2024, against the New York Rangers. Wilsby's timely goal helped secure the win for Nashville.

Ilya Mikheyev Snaps Goal Drought with Two-Goal Performance

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Blackhawks' Ilya Mikheyev scored two goals in Saturday's 6-4 loss to the Senators, both coming in the second period. This performance snapped a significant 20-game goal drought for Mikheyev, during which he had only recorded two assists. Through 33 contests this season, the veteran winger now has a total of six goals and 10 points.

Matt Boldy Scores Two Goals, Extends Streak to Four Games

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Wild's Matt Boldy scored two goals, including a power-play tally, in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Oilers. The 24-year-old winger's goals included a breakaway and a one-timer. Boldy has now scored in four consecutive games, bringing his season total to 22 goals in 36 games, tying him for third in the Rocket Richard Trophy race alongside three other players, including teammate Kirill Kaprizov.

Despite Elite Season, Scott Wedgewood Faces Olympic Snub Risk

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Scott Wedgewood is having a career-best season for the Colorado Avalanche, leading the NHL in wins, goals against average, and save percentage. Through 22 games, he boasts a 15–1–4 record with a 2.10 GAA and a .920 SV%. Despite these elite numbers, reports indicate Wedgewood is at risk of being overlooked for Team Canada's 2026 Winter Olympics roster, with teammate Mackenzie Blackwood reportedly among the candidates. His dominant performance, including last season's 1.99 GAA and .917 SV% in 19 games, makes his potential snub surprising.

Fowler Blanks Penguins with 30 Saves for First Career NHL Shutout

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Montreal Canadiens goalie Jacob Fowler delivered a stellar performance, recording his first career NHL shutout with 30 saves against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Fowler frustrated Sidney Crosby and made several highlight-reel saves, including a crucial poke check on Crosby and a side-to-side stop on Connor Dewar. Coach Martin St-Louis praised Fowler's mature play and confidence, noting he 'did a heck of a job.' In his fourth NHL game, Fowler sent a clear message to management that he's not ready to be sent down to Laval.

Sharks Rookie Igor Chernyshov Shows Promise in Early NHL Games

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San Jose Sharks rookie Igor Chernyshov, recently called up from the Barracuda, impressed in the team's loss to the Seattle Kraken. Just three games into his NHL career, Chernyshov created multiple scoring chances, including those set up by teammate Collin Graf. His early performances suggest potential as a developing asset for the Sharks.