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Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
Jacob Fowler (Montreal Canadiens) will start in goal Saturday on the road against the Rangers, marking his second consecutive start after a successful NHL debut. He is coming off a 36-save performance in Thursday's 4-2 victory over Pittsburgh. The Rangers currently rank 29th in the league with 2.56 goals per game this season.
Stuart Skinner (Pittsburgh Penguins) will not be in the lineup Saturday against the Sharks, placed on non-roster injured reserve due to visa problems. Recently acquired from Edmonton on Friday, Skinner requires proper paperwork to play in the United States. The Penguins were forced to recall Sergei Murashov from the AHL to back up Arturs Silovs against San Jose.
Carter Hart (Vegas Golden Knights) will start Saturday's road game in Columbus, marking his fourth appearance of the season. Since January 2024, he has posted a 2-0-1 record with a 2.80 GAA and an .889 save percentage in his first three starts. The Blue Jackets are tied for 21st in NHL scoring, averaging 2.90 goals per contest.
Samuel Ersson is confirmed to start Saturday's home matchup against Carolina for the Philadelphia Flyers. The 26-year-old netminder holds a 2-2-0 record in his last four starts, having allowed 10 goals on 105 shots. This season, Ersson's overall record stands at 5-3-2 with a 2.99 GAA and a .871 save percentage across 10 appearances.
Igor Shesterkin is set to patrol the home crease for the New York Rangers against Montreal on Saturday. The goaltender has a recent record of 0-1-1 in his last two outings, allowing six goals on 67 shots. For the season, Shesterkin holds a 12-10-3 record with one shutout, a 2.48 GAA, and a .912 save percentage through 25 appearances.
Lukas Dostal will defend the road net for the Anaheim Ducks against New Jersey on Saturday. He was activated from injured reserve Friday, following a nine-game absence due to an upper-body injury. This season, Dostal has posted a record of 11-5-1 with a 2.81 GAA and a .904 save percentage through 17 appearances.
Dennis Hildeby is expected to patrol the home crease for the Toronto Maple Leafs against Edmonton on Saturday, marking his fourth consecutive start. This extended run comes as both Anthony Stolarz (upper body) and Joseph Woll (lower body) remain out of action. Hildeby currently holds a 2-2-3 record over 10 appearances this season.
Blue Jackets G Jet Greaves will patrol the home crease against Vegas on Saturday. He holds a 7-7-5 record this season with a 2.74 GAA and a .907 save percentage through 19 outings. Greaves has gone 0-3-3 in his last six appearances, surrendering 16 goals on 172 shots. Vegas ranks 14th in the league with 3.07 goals per game. Greaves aims to turn his recent performance around in this matchup.
Devils G Jake Allen will defend the home crease versus Anaheim on Saturday. He is 8-7-0 with one shutout, a 27.0 GAA, and a .903 save percentage across 16 appearances this season. Allen has notably outplayed Jacob Markstrom, with the netminders splitting the crease. The Ducks are generating 3.52 goals per game, ranking second in the NHL this season.
Utah Mammoth C Logan Cooley (lower body) was placed on injured reserve Friday, per the NHL media site. He has been out since Dec. 5 against Vancouver and will be sidelined for a minimum of eight weeks. Cooley has amassed 14 goals, 23 points, 59 shots on net, and 34 hits through 29 appearances this season before his injury.
Devils LW Timo Meier (personal) was designated as a non-roster player Saturday. He is currently away from the team while attending to a family health matter. Meier has accounted for 11 goals, 23 points, 93 shots on net, and 61 hits through 30 appearances this season. His return timeline is pending the resolution of his personal situation.
Ducks C Ryan Strome is a potential trade target, per NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, due to a delayed start from an oblique injury, healthy scratches, and the team's strong performance without him. Strome, 32, has no trade protection on his five-year, $5M AAV contract. He has 5 points (1-4=5) in 13 games this season, playing a reduced fourth-line role (8-11 TOI) since returning from injury and scratches.
Blues C Brayden Schenn is facing harsh social media backlash after an altercation with Connor Bedard resulted in Bedard's shoulder injury. The incident occurred at the faceoff dot as Schenn attempted to prevent a shot. While coach Jeff Blashill called it a 'freak accident,' fans are calling for retribution. Schenn is expected to 'answer the bell' when the Blues and Blackhawks meet again on Jan. 7.
San Jose Sharks defenseman Timothy Liljegren, 26, is a pending unrestricted free agent generating significant trade interest. If the Sharks become sellers, Liljegren could be targeted by teams seeking defensive depth for the playoffs. Potential landing spots include the Detroit Red Wings, who could use him as an upgrade over Travis Hamonic on their bottom pairing's right side. The New York Islanders, having a strong 2025-26 season, also need more right-side depth. The Ottawa Senators are another club looking for blueline depth, where Liljegren could fit on their bottom pairing and offer a penalty kill option.
Jakub Dobes, initially considered the "hot hand" for the Montreal Canadiens, struggled to build on his momentum, contributing to the team's ongoing goaltending headache. Despite coach Martin St-Louis's efforts to get Samuel Montembeault back on track, Dobes's own performance faltered, leaving the Canadiens with multiple struggling options. Dobes started the four games immediately preceding Jacob Fowler's recent call-up. The team is now fostering internal competition, with Dobes, Montembeault, and Fowler all vying for ice time, indicating a clean slate for all three netminders.
Samuel Montembeault's performance has been shaky this season, leading to a complex goaltending situation for the Montreal Canadiens. Coach Martin St-Louis initially tried to help Montembeault regain form, but the team now faces a dilemma with multiple struggling options. Montembeault has not started a game since December 2 against the Ottawa Senators, with Jakub Dobes starting the four games prior to Jacob Fowler's recent call-up. The Canadiens are now in a situation where three goaltenders are vying for ice time, with the team emphasizing a clean slate and internal competition. A home game for Montembeault is suggested given the Bell Centre crowd's current stance.
Mason Marchment scored a pair of goals on six shots in Friday's 5-3 loss to the Mammoth, snapping a six-game skid. The winger had previously missed one contest due to an undisclosed injury during that span. Through 27 appearances this season for the Seattle Kraken, Marchment has accumulated four goals, 13 points, 44 shots on net, 35 hits, 20 PIM, and a minus-2 rating.
Kevin Stenlund notched three assists and blocked two shots in Friday's 5-3 win over the Kraken. This performance marks one of two multi-point efforts in his last five outings, during which he has accumulated a goal and four assists. Through 33 appearances this season for the Utah Mammoth, Stenlund has recorded two goals, seven helpers, 30 shots on net, 22 hits, 24 blocked shots, 16 PIM, and a minus-5 rating. Despite being listed on the fourth line, he is trusted in a shutdown role.
Nick Schmaltz scored a goal on two shots and added two assists in Friday's 5-3 win over the Kraken, contributing to Utah's victory. He stole the puck to score the Mammoth's first goal at 8:09 of the second period and assisted on Dylan Guenther's power-play tally and Lawson Crouse's empty-netter. In December, Schmaltz has recorded two goals and five helpers over seven outings. Through 33 appearances this season for the Utah Mammoth, he has 12 goals, 29 points, 75 shots on net, 26 blocked shots, and a minus-2 rating, tracking toward a career year in goals and points.
Blackhawks star Connor Bedard sustained a right shoulder injury in the final seconds of Friday's 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues after a shove from Brayden Schenn. Coach Jeff Blashill called it a 'freak accident.' Bedard is ruled out for Saturday's game against the Detroit Red Wings, with the next game Tuesday providing four days of rest. The 20-year-old, who notched two assists Friday, ranks tied for third in the league with 44 points and tied for fourth with 19 goals.
