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NHL News

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

Thursday, December 18, 2025

Otto Stenberg Impresses in NHL Debut, Earns Second Line Spot

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St. Louis Blues rookie Otto Stenberg impressed coaching staff with his compete level and two-way game in his NHL debut Wednesday, despite recording no points or shots in 13:38 of ice time. The 2023 first-round pick (25th overall) showed fearlessness in puck battles and strong defensive reads. Coach Jim Montgomery praised his responsibility and puck support. Stenberg will remain in the lineup Thursday, skating on the second line with Jake Neighbours and Brayden Schenn, with a potential long-term role due to team injuries.

Canucks' Lankinen Expected to Start Saturday Against Boston

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Kevin Lankinen is expected to start in goal for the Vancouver Canucks on the road against Boston on Saturday, December 20, 2025, per Thomas Drance of The Athletic. This start follows Thatcher Demko's outing against the Islanders on Friday, marking the second half of a back-to-back. The 30-year-old netminder currently holds a 4-10-3 record with a 3.49 GAA and .878 save percentage across 17 appearances this season. He previously allowed four goals on 31 shots in a 5-2 loss to the Islanders during the 2024-25 season.

Demko Slated for Fourth Consecutive Start Friday vs. Islanders

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Thatcher Demko is slated to start Friday's road game against the Islanders, as reported by Thomas Drance of The Athletic. Demko is coming off a shutout victory over the Rangers on Tuesday and will make his fourth consecutive start. Since returning from a lower-body injury, the Canucks' goaltender has posted a 2-1-0 record with an impressive 1.35 GAA and a .938 save percentage over three starts.

Oettinger Starts in San Jose, Aims to Rebound from Recent Losses

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Jake Oettinger is confirmed to start in goal for the Dallas Stars against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday. Oettinger aims to snap a two-game losing streak, looking to improve on his 14-6-2 record, 2.54 GAA, and .907 save percentage this season. He has recently been outplayed by backup Casey DeSmith. The Sharks currently rank 18th in the NHL, averaging 2.97 goals per game, presenting an opportunity for Oettinger to regain form.

Flyers Place Egor Zamula on Waivers Amidst Defensive Logjam

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The Philadelphia Flyers placed defenseman Egor Zamula, 25, on waivers Thursday, an expected move given the team's healthy defense and Rasmus Ristolainen's return from a nine-month recovery. Zamula, who has played just 13 games this season with one assist and a +4 rating, struggled defensively and was surpassed by other prospects. This move clears a roster spot. If claimed, the Flyers will shed his $1.7 million cap hit; if he clears, he can be assigned to the AHL Phantoms/Lehigh Valley, saving $550k against the cap. He last played 11 days ago and had only appeared twice since November 29, becoming the team's eighth defenseman.

Alex Nedeljkovic Starts Thursday vs. Stars

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Alex Nedeljkovic will be in goal for the San Jose Sharks' home game against the Dallas Stars on Thursday. He returns to the crease after missing the last two games. In his recent three starts, Nedeljkovic posted a 2-1-0 record with a 2.00 GAA and .932 save percentage. He faces a tough challenge against the Stars, who are fourth in the league with 3.29 goals per game.

Horvat Out for Friday's Game, Saturday Status Undecided

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Bo Horvat (lower body) has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Canucks, marking his third consecutive absence. Despite missing Friday's contest, head coach Patrick Roy has not yet ruled out the 30-year-old center for Saturday's matchup in Buffalo. The Islanders do not anticipate Horvat missing significant additional time due to the injury.

Wolf Starts Thursday Against Kraken After Strong Recent Play

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Dustin Wolf will start in goal for Thursday's home game against the Kraken. His four-game winning streak ended Tuesday, but he remains effective with a 4-1-0 record, 2.21 GAA, and .916 save percentage over his last five starts. He faces a favorable matchup against the Kraken, who rank last in the league with 2.48 goals per game this season.

Rittich to Start Saturday's Road Game Against Buffalo

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David Rittich is slated to defend the road crease for the Islanders against Buffalo on Saturday. This start comes in the second half of a back-to-back set. Despite limited recent playing time, Rittich has been effective over his last five starts, posting a 3-1-1 record with a 1.94 GAA and a .921 save percentage.

Sorokin Slated to Start Friday's Home Game Against Canucks

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Ilya Sorokin is set to serve as the starting netminder for Friday's home game against the Canucks. He snapped a five-game winning streak Tuesday but will make his third consecutive start in the first half of a back-to-back. Sorokin faces a favorable matchup against the Canucks, who are scoring 2.73 goals per game, the sixth-worst mark in the league.

Hildeby to Start Thursday Against Washington After Rough Outing

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Dennis Hildeby will defend the road crease for the Maple Leafs against Washington on Thursday. He is coming off a challenging start Saturday against the Oilers, where he was pulled after allowing six goals on 32 shots. However, Hildeby had been effective in his three prior starts, posting a 1.28 GAA and a .958 save percentage despite a 1-0-2 record.

Wallstedt Returns to Crease for Thursday's Game in Columbus

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Jesper Wallstedt will serve as the starting netminder for Thursday's road game against Columbus. Despite being effective this season, he has started only once in the Wild's last five games. Wallstedt is currently amidst a strong run, boasting an 8-1-0 record with a 1.43 GAA and a .957 save percentage over his last nine starts.

Silovs to Start Thursday in Ottawa Amidst Recent Struggles

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Arturs Silovs is slated to patrol the visiting crease for the Penguins in Ottawa on Thursday. He has struggled recently, posting an 0-2-2 record and allowing 17 goals on 79 shots (.769 save percentage). Overall this season, Silovs holds a 4-4-6 record with a 3.20 GAA and an .890 save percentage across 14 appearances. The Senators are generating 3.06 goals per game.

Knight to Start Thursday for Blackhawks Against Montreal

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Spencer Knight will start in goal for the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday against Montreal. Knight has been a key factor in Chicago's season, posting a 10-8-5 record with two shutouts, a 2.54 GAA, and a .914 save percentage. The Blackhawks are currently 11th in the Western Conference. Montreal averages 3.15 goals per game.

Ersson to Start Thursday's Road Game Against Buffalo

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Samuel Ersson is confirmed to start in goal for the Philadelphia Flyers in Thursday's road game against Buffalo. Despite limited recent playing time, this marks his second start in the team's last six games. Over his last five starts, Ersson has recorded a 2-2-1 record, a 2.54 GAA, and an .897 save percentage.

Swayman to Start Home Game Thursday for Bruins vs. Edmonton

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Jeremy Swayman will patrol the home crease for the Boston Bruins against Edmonton on Thursday. He has won three of his last four starts, improving his season record to 14-8-0 with a 2.74 GAA and a .909 save percentage. After an off-year in 2024-25, Swayman has turned his performance around this season. The Oilers are third in NHL scoring, averaging 3.41 goals per game.

Kulak a Potential Trade Chip for Penguins After Acquisition

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Veteran defenseman Brett Kulak, recently acquired by the Penguins from the Oilers in the Tristan Jarry trade, could become a trade chip. Kulak, a pending unrestricted free agent, is seen as a reliable defenseman capable of playing a smart game, having recorded 7 goals and 25 points in 82 games last season. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman suggests he's better than his recent performance, noting his potential interest from contenders as a solid bottom-pairing, penalty-killing defenseman with playoff experience.

Milan Lucic Signs with EIHL Club Fife Flyers After Blues PTO

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Milan Lucic has officially signed with the EIHL club Fife Flyers after his professional tryout with the St. Louis Blues. The 37-year-old sustained an injury during the Blues' training camp, missing most action. After recovering, he played with the Springfield Thunderbirds on a PTO, but the Blues did not sign him. Lucic, a 17-year NHL veteran and Stanley Cup winner, will wear No.8 for the Scottish-based Flyers, pending paperwork completion.

Ullmark to Start Home Goal Thursday for Senators vs. Penguins

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Linus Ullmark will defend the home goal for the Ottawa Senators against Pittsburgh on Thursday. He has won his last two starts, allowing five goals on 52 shots in road victories over Columbus and Winnipeg. Overall, Ullmark's season record is 12-8-4 with a 3.00 GAA and an .879 save percentage. The Penguins are generating 3.22 goals per game, ranking eighth in the NHL.

Dobes Returns to Crease Thursday for Canadiens vs. Blackhawks

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Jakub Dobes will defend the home crease for the Montreal Canadiens against the Blackhawks on Thursday. He returns to action after sitting out three of Montreal's last four games. Over five starts this month, Dobes has posted a 3-2-0 record with a 2.48 GAA and a .904 save percentage. The Blackhawks are currently tied for the eighth-worst scoring mark in the NHL, averaging 2.82 goals per game.