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NHL News

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

Friday, December 19, 2025

Flyers Call Up Prospect Denver Barkey from AHL Lehigh Valley

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The Philadelphia Flyers called up 5-foot-9 winger Denver Barkey from AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Friday. The 20-year-old prospect has recorded 16 points (7 goals, 9 assists) in 26 games this season and could make his NHL debut Saturday against the Rangers. Despite his size, Barkey is lauded for his competitiveness, relentless forecheck, and high hockey IQ, with his Phantoms coach noting he "plays like he's 6-4." Flyers development staff have compared the 2023 third-round pick to Travis Konecny.

Casey DeSmith Gets Nod vs. Anaheim After Impressive 4-0-1 Run

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Casey DeSmith will start Friday's road game against Anaheim, marking his second half of a back-to-back set for the Dallas Stars. He draws the start after Jake Oettinger played Thursday. DeSmith has been in excellent form, securing wins in four of his last five starts, with a 4-0-1 record, a 2.00 GAA, and a .932 save percentage during that span. The Ducks present a challenge, ranking second in the NHL with 3.44 goals per game.

Rangers Rookie Gabe Perreault Nets First Career NHL Goal

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Gabe Perreault made an immediate impact for the New York Rangers upon his recall from AHL Hartford, scoring his first career NHL goal in a 2-1 overtime win against the St. Louis Blues. The 20-year-old forward's goal came off a deflection in the second period. Perreault played 13:09 minutes on a line with Noah Laba and Taylor Raddysh, also seeing time on the second power-play unit. Prior to his call-up, he recorded 10 goals, 7 assists, and 17 points in 20 AHL games. Coach Sullivan expressed excitement about his potential.

Akira Schmid Confirmed Starter for Saturday vs. Flames

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Akira Schmid is confirmed to start in goal for the Golden Knights on Saturday against Calgary. He has won his last two games, stopping 41 of 43 shots (.953 SV%). This season, Schmid holds an 11-2-4 record with a 2.33 GAA and .903 SV% in 17 outings, including a 19-save shutout against the Flames in October. Despite his recent success, he has moved to the No. 2 role behind Carter Hart, who starts Sunday.

Carter Hart to Start Sunday vs. Oilers; Faces Tough Test

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Carter Hart is slated to start in goal for the Golden Knights on Sunday against Edmonton. Hart has a 3-0-2 record with a 2.26 GAA and .917 save percentage over his first five starts this season. He faces a challenging matchup against the Oilers, who rank third in the NHL with 3.40 goals per game, marking his toughest opponent yet. This start follows Akira Schmid's Saturday start, solidifying Hart's role as the primary netminder.

Panthers' Luostarinen Hits 400 Games, Earns High Organizational Praise

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Eetu Luostarinen is set to play his 400th career NHL game tonight for the Florida Panthers against the Carolina Hurricanes. Originally drafted by the Hurricanes, he was traded to Florida in 2020 and has since developed into a key third-line winger and elite penalty killer. Coach Paul Maurice lauded him, stating, 'He's as good a player as we have.' This season, Luostarinen has 3 goals and 13 points in 25 games. He's also expected to be a key figure for Finland at the 2026 Olympics.

Drew Helleson Set to Return to Ducks Lineup vs. Stars

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Drew Helleson is slated to return to the Anaheim Ducks' lineup tonight against the Dallas Stars. His re-entry comes as the team navigates a blueline logjam, with Olen Zellweger expected to be a healthy scratch. Helleson's performance upon his return will be closely monitored as the Ducks continue to evaluate their defensive pairings amidst a competitive roster situation.

Olen Zellweger Likely Healthy Scratch for Ducks vs. Stars

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Olen Zellweger is expected to be a healthy scratch for the Ducks against the Stars, marking his first time in the press box this season. Despite being arguably Anaheim's best defenseman in 2025-26 with 14 points (5-9=14) in 34 games and strong underlying 5v5 metrics (53.53% SAT), his modest point total and removal from the power play unit are noted. Coach Quenneville cited performance and rotation for the decision, despite Zellweger's diligent defensive efforts.

Marchessault Day-to-Day with Lower-Body Injury, Status Uncertain

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Jonathan Marchessault (lower body) is considered day-to-day for the Predators ahead of Saturday's game against the Maple Leafs. He exited Wednesday's game versus the Hurricanes after just 5:27 of ice time due to the injury. Given Nashville's back-to-back schedule this weekend against the Leafs and Rangers, his availability is uncertain, and he may face an all-or-nothing scenario despite his day-to-day classification.

Lukas Dostal Starting in Goal for Ducks Against Dallas Stars

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Lukas Dostal will start in goal for the Anaheim Ducks at home against the Dallas Stars on Friday. Dostal has had a solid 2025-26 campaign, posting a 12-6-1 record with a 2.73 GAA and a .905 save percentage across 19 starts. He faces a tough challenge against the Stars, who rank fourth in the NHL, averaging 3.34 goals per game.

Minnesota Wild Odds Rise After Quinn Hughes Trade

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The Minnesota Wild have seen their Stanley Cup and Presidents' Trophy odds rise following a trade involving Quinn Hughes. The Avalanche continue to lead as favorites.

Jesper Wallstedt to Start Sunday vs. Colorado

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Jesper Wallstedt is scheduled to start in net for the Minnesota Wild against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday. He has a 10-1-2 record with a 1.96 GAA and .936 save percentage this season. Wallstedt faces a tough test against the Avalanche, who lead the league in scoring.

Scott Wedgewood Set to Start; Boasts 14-1-4 Record

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Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood is slated to start Friday against the Winnipeg Jets. After recovering from a minor back issue, Wedgewood has been highly effective, holding a 14-1-4 record with a 2.11 GAA and .920 save percentage over 21 starts. He is tied for second in the NHL with 14 wins and will face the struggling Jets.

Marcus Johansson Questionable for Saturday vs. Oilers

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Marcus Johansson is considered questionable for Saturday's game against the Oilers due to a lower-body injury. He has missed the last two games but could return before the holiday break. Johansson was on a four-game point streak prior to his absence, recording three goals and three assists.

Filip Gustavsson Slated to Start Saturday vs. Oilers

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Filip Gustavsson is set to start Saturday's home game against the Oilers. Gustavsson is on a four-game winning streak, with a 1.25 GAA and .949 save percentage in that span. He will face the Oilers, who rank third in the NHL in goals per game.

Karel Vejmelka to Start Friday vs. New Jersey

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Karel Vejmelka is slated to start in goal for the Utah Mammoth versus the New Jersey Devils on Friday. Vejmelka has a 15-9-2 record with a 2.72 GAA and .894 save percentage this season. He has won his last three games, allowing eight goals on 81 shots.

Tyler Seguin Undergoes ACL Surgery; Return Post-Olympic Break

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Dallas Stars' Tyler Seguin underwent successful ACL surgery on his right knee, performed by Dr. Dan Cooper. His return timetable will be reevaluated after the Olympic break in late February. Seguin sustained the injury on December 2nd after a collision with Rangers defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov. He missed most of last season due to hip surgery. Fantasy managers should not expect significant late-season production.

John Gibson to Start Saturday Against Washington Amidst Hot Streak

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Detroit Red Wings' John Gibson will defend the road goal in Washington on Saturday. He has been sensational in his last six games, winning all of them while giving up only 12 goals on 185 shots for a .935 save percentage. Overall this season, Gibson holds a 10-7-1 record with a 3.07 GAA and an .890 save percentage across 19 appearances. The Capitals, coming off a 4-0 win, are sixth in NHL scoring, averaging 3.24 goals per contest.

Patrick Kane Ruled Out for Saturday's Game with Upper-Body Injury

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Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane (upper body) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against Washington. He suffered the upper-body injury in last weekend's win over Chicago and will now miss his third consecutive game. It is not yet clear when the 37-year-old will be able to return to action. His final two chances to suit up before the holiday break will be Sunday in a rematch against Washington and Tuesday against Dallas.

Lane Hutson Makes History with 60 Assists, Continues Offensive Surge

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Montreal Canadiens' Lane Hutson recorded three assists in the 4-1 win over Chicago, marking his fourth multi-point game in five outings. He made history as the first Habs defenseman to gather 60 helpers in a calendar year. Hutson now has 5 goals and 31 points in 34 games, on pace for 75 points, potentially tying the fourth-highest for a Habs defenseman. His offensive surge includes improved shooting (58 shots, 8.6% S%) and increased ice time, even on the penalty kill, due to Matheson's absence. Coach St-Louis is now utilizing his PK skills.