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Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
Brett Pesce (upper body) has been activated off injured reserve, clearing him to play Wednesday against the Golden Knights. The Devils blueliner is expected to join Luke Hughes on the second pairing. Pesce had not scored in nine outings before his injury and will be looking for his first goal of the season upon his return. Dennis Cholowski will be a healthy scratch.
Defenseman Brandon Montour (undisclosed) is not expected to play Thursday against the Flames. Despite a recent slump with only three shots in his last three outings, Montour maintains 2:02 of power-play ice time. Through 27 games this season, the 31-year-old has recorded six goals, 16 points, 68 shots on net, 35 blocked shots, and 34 hits for the Seattle Kraken.
Pavel Dorofeyev (undisclosed) is confirmed to play Wednesday against New Jersey, avoiding a full game absence after leaving Sunday's win over Columbus. The 25-year-old winger is currently on a three-game point streak, contributing two goals and one assist during that span. This season, Dorofeyev has accumulated 13 goals and 21 points through 31 appearances for the Vegas Golden Knights.
Detroit Red Wings rookie defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka is showcasing his offensive upside, tallying two goals and five assists for seven points over his last seven games. The 2023 17th overall pick scored a highlight-reel goal against the Islanders, contributing to Detroit's 6-1-2 run. He now has 13 points in 34 games, ranking fourth among rookie defensemen, and is building momentum after early season concerns.
Carter Hart is expected to start in goal for the Vegas Golden Knights at home against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday, as reported by Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. In his last outing Saturday, Hart stopped 28 of 30 shots, securing a 3-2 victory over Columbus. This season, he has improved his record to 3-0-1 with a 2.61 GAA and a .901 save percentage across four appearances. The Devils currently rank 23rd in the league for goals per game.
Forward John Leonard, called up from the Grand Rapids Griffins to replace the injured Patrick Kane, received praise from coach Todd McLellan for his Detroit Red Wings debut. McLellan noted Leonard's "speed and creativity," stating his line was a factor in the game. Leonard, who leads the AHL with 19 goals in 20 games, generated a prime offensive opportunity and had a partial breakaway, finishing with 13:02 of ice time, two shots, and one hit. He will remain in the Red Wings lineup for Wednesday's game against the Utah Mammoth.
Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane is currently sidelined with an injury and is considered day-to-day. His absence from the lineup necessitated the call-up of John Leonard from the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins. Leonard, who leads the AHL with 19 goals in 20 games, stepped in to replace Kane, with coach Todd McLellan praising Leonard's speed and creativity in his debut. The team hopes for Kane's swift return, but no specific timeline beyond day-to-day has been provided.
Anton Forsberg was the first goalie off the ice during Wednesday's morning skate, signaling he is expected to start for the Los Angeles Kings against the Florida Panthers. Forsberg is currently serving as the Kings' primary netminder while Darcy Kuemper (upper body) is on injured reserve. In 10 appearances this season, he holds a 4-3-3 record with a 2.82 GAA and an .893 save percentage. His last encounter with the Panthers on November 6 resulted in a 5-2 loss, where he allowed five goals on 24 shots.
Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark left Wednesday's practice early after a discussion with the team's athletic therapist, Dom Nicoletta. Head coach Travis Green, however, downplayed any significant concern, stating he isn't worried about Ullmark's early exit. Ullmark has started in three-quarters of the Senators' games this season, currently ranking 41st in the NHL with a 3.00 goals-against average and 49th with an .879 save percentage. No further details on his condition were provided, but the coach's comments suggest it may not be a serious issue.
Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot (upper body) resumed full practice with teammates Wednesday, a significant step in his recovery. He will miss Thursday's game against Pittsburgh, as confirmed by coach Travis Green. Chabot, sidelined since November 22 after re-injuring himself, expressed relief at being back, stating he "went through the pace of a normal NHL practice, the contact, and competing." He could potentially return for Saturday's game vs. Chicago or Sunday's vs. Boston. Nikolas Matinpalo's roster spot may be affected by his return.
Jason Zucker (lower body) is targeting a return to the Buffalo Sabres lineup following the Christmas break, according to head coach Lindy Ruff. The veteran winger has missed the last three games and is expected to miss at least four more. Before his current absence, Zucker was productive, recording five goals and six assists, including five power-play points, in his last nine outings. Upon activation from injured reserve, he is anticipated to reclaim a top-six forward role and a spot on the No. 1 power-play unit.
The St. Louis Blues have assigned winger Hugh McGing to the AHL's Springfield Thunderbirds following a successful NHL call-up. McGing, recalled on December 9th, played three games, recording his first career NHL goal and an assist while averaging 10:52 of ice time. Despite his positive performance, the move comes as the Blues have made other roster adjustments, including recalling Otto Stenberg and claiming Jonatan Berggren. McGing, a 2018 fifth-round pick, had 4 goals and 6 points in 18 AHL games this season and is expected to be a top candidate for future NHL call-ups.
Lightning assistant coach Rob Zettler reported Wednesday that Brandon Hagel is considered day-to-day due to an upper-body injury. Hagel exited Monday's loss to the Panthers in the third period. While the injury doesn't appear serious, his status for Thursday's game against the Kings is uncertain. If Hagel cannot play, Dominic James is a candidate to enter the lineup. The team will assess his condition before making a final decision.
Connor Hellebuyck is slated to start Wednesday's road game against St. Louis. He holds a 9-6-1 record with a 2.44 GAA and .915 save percentage in 16 appearances this season. Since returning from a knee injury on Saturday, Hellebuyck has been effective, posting a 1-0-1 record and stopping 52 of 56 shots (.929 save percentage) in two outings. He faces a St. Louis team ranked 29th in goals per game.
Pyotr Kochetkov is scheduled to start Wednesday's road game against Nashville. This will be his second start in the Hurricanes' last three games, despite limited playing time recently. He has been effective this season, recording a 5-1-0 record with a 2.10 GAA and a .904 save percentage over seven appearances. Kochetkov will have a favorable matchup against the Predators, who rank seventh-worst in the league for goals per game.
Jordan Binnington is slated to start in goal for the St. Louis Blues on Thursday against the New York Rangers. This start comes as the second half of a back-to-back for the Blues, following Joel Hofer's start on Wednesday. Binnington's recent performance has been underwhelming, with a 2-3-1 record and a 4.51 goals-against average in his last six games. The team aims to improve their standing despite recent struggles.
The Minnesota Wild have acquired Quinn Hughes, a move that could potentially shake up the power balance in the Western Conference. The team is now setting its sights on challenging the West's top contenders. This acquisition signals a significant strategic shift for the Wild as they aim to compete at a higher level.
The New York Islanders have loaned defenseman Travis Mitchell back to their AHL affiliate in Bridgeport. Mitchell, 26, made his NHL debut recently and played in nine games, averaging 11:32 minutes per game, providing stability on the blue line. His loan comes as the team considers defensive depth options and his waiver exemption status. Mitchell recorded one goal and six hits in his NHL stint.
Thatcher Demko recorded his first shutout of the season, stopping all 23 shots in the Vancouver Canucks' 3-0 victory over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. The 30-year-old netminder has won two of his last three starts since returning from a lower-body injury. Demko's season record now stands at 7-5-0 in 13 games with a 2.45 GAA and a .910 save percentage. The Canucks are managing his workload carefully.
Morgan Geekie netted two goals, including the game-winner, in the Boston Bruins' 4-1 victory over Utah. The 27-year-old winger has four two-goal games in his last 13, scoring 12 goals in that span, placing him second in the Rocket Richard Trophy race. Many expected regression after last season's 33 goals, but Geekie is now on pace for 58.
