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NHL News

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

Saturday, December 20, 2025

Connor Ingram to Start for Oilers Sunday Amidst Defensive Concerns

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Connor Ingram is slated to start in goal for the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday against the Vegas Golden Knights. His debut comes with significant concerns following the Oilers' defensive lapses against the Minnesota Wild, which are deemed unsustainable given Ingram's less-than-stellar AHL numbers. The team will need to play much better defensively and secure an early lead to support him. This start is prompted by an injury to Tristan Jarry, whose status remains unconfirmed, placing the Oilers in a challenging goaltending situation. Ingram will be up against Vegas' backup, Carter Hart.

Nikita Kucherov Expected to Return to Lightning Lineup Saturday

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Nikita Kucherov (illness) is expected to return to the Tampa Bay Lightning's lineup for Saturday's game against the Hurricanes. He was a game-time decision after missing Thursday's contest and Saturday's optional morning skate but successfully completed warmups. Kucherov will resume his role on the top line and first power-play unit. This season, he has been a key offensive force, tallying 13 goals, 42 points, and 96 shots on net through 30 appearances.

John Leonard Scores First Red Wings Goal in Win Over Capitals

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Detroit Red Wings forward John Leonard scored his first goal with the team just 1:05 into Saturday's 5-2 victory over the Washington Capitals. Leonard, called up from the AHL to fill in for the injured Patrick Kane, banged home a rebound for his seventh NHL goal overall and first since the 2023-24 season. Prior to his call-up, he led the AHL with 19 goals in 20 games. Leonard expressed happiness with his Red Wings experience. The Red Wings improved to 7-2-1 in their last 10 games and 2-1 since Leonard joined the lineup, and will face the Capitals again Sunday.

Patrick Kane Remains Out for Red Wings Due to Injury

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Patrick Kane is currently sidelined for the Detroit Red Wings due to an injury. His absence led to the call-up of forward John Leonard from the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins, who scored his first goal with the Red Wings in Saturday's 5-2 victory over the Washington Capitals. No specific timeline or further details regarding Kane's injury were provided in the latest reports.

Jonathan Marchessault Sidelined Saturday with Lower Body Injury

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Jonathan Marchessault (lower body) will not play Saturday against Toronto, according to Brooks Bratten of the Predators' official site. He sustained the injury during Wednesday's 4-1 loss to Nashville. Marchessault has recorded seven goals and 10 points in 28 games this season. Tyson Jost is anticipated to enter the lineup to fill the void left by Marchessault's absence.

Juuse Saros to Start Saturday, Seeks Bounce-Back Performance

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Juuse Saros is confirmed to start in goal for the Nashville Predators at home against the Maple Leafs on Saturday. This outing provides Saros an opportunity to rebound after his 4-1 loss to the Hurricanes on Wednesday. He faces a Toronto team that has struggled offensively, scoring only 11 goals over their last six games and being shut out by the Capitals on Thursday.

Pyotr Kochetkov to Start Saturday vs. Lightning on Back-to-Back

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Pyotr Kochetkov will protect the road goal for the Carolina Hurricanes against the Lightning on Saturday, as reported by Walt Ruff. The 26-year-old netminder gets the second half of a back-to-back after Brandon Bussi's shootout loss on Friday. Kochetkov has won his last two starts, stopping 40 of 44 shots. He faces a Lightning team that has struggled with consistent scoring, netting 13 goals in their last four games, with eight coming in a single contest.

Vasilevskiy Returns to Net, Starts Saturday vs. Hurricanes

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Andrei Vasilevskiy will guard the home goal for the Lightning against the Hurricanes on Saturday. This start signifies his return to No. 1 duties, following his first action since Dec. 2 in Thursday's loss to the Kings, where he stopped 18 of 20 shots. The 31-year-old netminder faces a challenging matchup against the Hurricanes, who are playing the second half of a back-to-back after a 4-3 shootout loss to the Panthers.

Nick Lardis Scores First Career NHL Goal for Blackhawks vs. Senators

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Chicago Blackhawks prospect Nick Lardis scored his first career NHL goal with a backhand shot against the Ottawa Senators, bringing his team within one goal while trailing 5-3. Lardis, who was called up last week following Connor Bedard's injury, earned the opportunity after a 71-goal OHL season and a point-per-game start in the AHL. Alex Vlasic assisted on the milestone goal.

Seth Jarvis Placed on Injured Reserve with Upper Body Injury

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Carolina Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis (upper body) has been placed on injured reserve after sustaining an injury in Friday's 4-3 shootout loss to Florida. This move means he will miss a minimum of two games, though reports suggest he could be sidelined for an extended period. In a corresponding roster adjustment, Bradly Nadeau was recalled from AHL Chicago. Jarvis has been a key contributor this season, recording 19 goals, 29 points, 110 shots on net, and 43 hits across 34 appearances.

Alex Lyon Set to Start Saturday, Aims to Extend Four-Game Win Streak

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Buffalo Sabres' Alex Lyon is slated to start Saturday's home game against the Islanders, looking to extend his impressive four-game winning streak. During this stretch, Lyon has allowed just nine goals on 107 shots, posting a .916 save percentage. For the season, he holds a 7-6-3 record with a 2.99 GAA and .904 save percentage across 18 appearances. The Islanders, his upcoming opponent, rank 23rd in goals per game with 2.86, offering a favorable matchup for Lyon to continue his strong play.

Rangers' Captain J.T. Miller Suffers Upper-Body Injury in Shootout Win

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New York Rangers captain J.T. Miller sustained an upper-body injury during Saturday's 5-4 shootout victory over Philadelphia. Miller, 32, left the game in the third period after a hit from Flyers defender Nick Seeler, appearing to injure his right arm or shoulder. He requires further evaluation, making his availability for Sunday's matchup against Nashville uncertain. If Miller is sidelined, Taylor Raddysh or Jonny Brodzinski could fill his spot. The Rangers rallied to win, killing two overtime penalties, but the loss of their captain casts a shadow over the victory.

Danault Trade Opens Significant Opportunity for Alex Turcotte with Kings

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Alex Turcotte is poised for a significant role with the Los Angeles Kings following Phillip Danault's trade. The former No. 5 overall pick has been buried on the fourth line, playing inconsistently with just 9 minutes per game this season, recording 2 goals and 6 points in 30 games. Danault's departure creates a gaping hole at center, forcing the Kings to gamble on Turcotte's development. He is now expected to potentially play on the third line with Quinton Byfield and Anze Kopitar, facing pressure to prove he can live up to his potential in a crucial season for the contending Kings.

Phillip Danault Reacquired by Canadiens from Kings Amidst Virus & Slump

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Phillip Danault has been reacquired by the Montreal Canadiens from the Los Angeles Kings for a 2026 second-round pick. The 32-year-old center, in the fifth season of a six-year, $33M contract, reportedly requested a trade. He hasn't played since December 10 due to a virus/flu, missing four games, during which the Kings were outscored 8-4 at even strength. This season, Danault recorded 0 goals and 5 assists in 30 games, a slow start compared to his 9 goals, 16 assists, and 25 points last season. Known for his 52.9% faceoff percentage and penalty-killing, he's expected to bolster Montreal's PK. The Kings did not retain his $5.5M salary. His departure also opens a significant role for Alex Turcotte in Los Angeles. Danault returns to Montreal, where he previously spent six seasons.

Canucks Prospect Jonathan Lekkerimäki Dominates AHL with Five-Game Goal Streak

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Vancouver Canucks forward Jonathan Lekkerimäki is on an impressive run in the AHL, recording goals in five straight games and multi-point efforts in his last two outings. The 21-year-old has tallied 10 points in 7 of 8 games this season, averaging 4.75 shots per game, including 9 on December 14. With only two power play goals, he's demonstrating strong even-strength generation and increased confidence. Lekkerimäki, who has 8 points in 32 NHL games, is projected for a significant future role with Vancouver, though he is likely to remain in the AHL for now due to roster construction.

Marcus Johansson Returns Saturday After Lower Body Injury

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Marcus Johansson (lower body) is slated to return to the Minnesota Wild lineup on Saturday against Edmonton, per Michael Russo. He missed the past two games due to the injury. Johansson has recorded 11 goals and 26 points in 33 appearances this 2025-26 season and is projected to play alongside Joel Eriksson Ek and Matt Boldy in his return.

Arvid Soderblom to Start Saturday Despite Recent Struggles

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Arvid Soderblom is expected to start for the Chicago Blackhawks on the road against Ottawa on Saturday, per Ben Pope. The goaltender has struggled recently, allowing at least three goals in each of his past four games. This season, Soderblom holds a 3-6-1 record with a 3.84 GAA and an .876 save percentage across 10 outings.

Daniil Tarasov Gets Saturday Start Against St. Louis

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Daniil Tarasov is expected to start in net for the Florida Panthers at home against St. Louis on Saturday, according to George Richards. In his last start Wednesday, Tarasov stopped 27 of 29 shots, securing a 3-2 win over Los Angeles. This season, he holds a 4-5-1 record with a 2.76 GAA and a .906 save percentage through 11 appearances.

Yaroslav Askarov Starts Saturday, Aims for Third Straight Win

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Yaroslav Askarov will protect the home net for the San Jose Sharks against Seattle on Saturday, per Sheng Peng. Askarov has won his last two outings, allowing eight goals on 73 shots during that span. This season, he boasts a 12-8-1 record with a 3.23 GAA and a .900 save percentage through 21 appearances. Seattle ranks 31st in the league with 2.47 goals per game.

Brandon Hagel Placed on Injured Reserve with Upper-Body Injury

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Brandon Hagel (upper body) has been placed on injured reserve, confirming he will miss Saturday's game against Carolina and Monday's matchup against St. Louis. This marks his second consecutive missed game, and his return after the Christmas break is uncertain. The move to IR means he is not eligible to play Monday. This season, Hagel has accumulated 18 goals, 31 points, 95 shots on net, and 25 hits through 32 appearances, making his absence a notable loss for the team.