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Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
Andrei Vasilevskiy (undisclosed) could return to action Monday against the Panthers, according to head coach Jon Cooper. Vasilevskiy has missed the last five games and will be unavailable Saturday, but he practiced Friday and may return from injured reserve as early as Monday. Prior to his absence, he posted an 11-6-2 record with a 2.31 GAA and a .916 save percentage over 19 appearances.
Steven Stamkos scored four goals in Thursday's 7-2 win over the Blues, marking the second time in his career he's achieved this feat and tying the Nashville Predators' franchise record for most goals in a single game. This performance brings him to 594 career goals, ranking 22nd in league history. Stamkos has been hot recently, tallying eight goals, two assists, 25 shots, and eight hits in the Predators' last eight games.
Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Brandon Carlo underwent foot surgery on December 3rd and is expected to be out for approximately a month. The 29-year-old hasn't played since November 13th due to a lower-body injury, experiencing a setback on December 1st that necessitated the surgery. Head coach Craig Berube confirmed the recovery timeline. This season, Carlo recorded two points and averaged 20:04 of ice time in 18 games for the Maple Leafs.
Forward Sam Poulin has been traded from the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Edmonton Oilers on Friday morning, as part of a significant multi-player transaction. Poulin, alongside goaltender Tristan Jarry, was sent to Edmonton. In exchange, the Penguins acquired goaltender Stuart Skinner, defenseman Brett Kulak, and a 2029 second-round draft pick, a move that impacts the Penguins' overall roster composition.
Karel Vejmelka was the first goalie off the ice Friday morning, confirming he will start the home game against the Seattle Kraken. He has been relatively effective recently, posting a 2.33 GAA and .920 save percentage over his last six appearances, despite a 2-3-0 record. Vejmelka faces a favorable matchup against the Kraken, who are tied for the worst goal-scoring in the NHL, averaging just 2.50 goals per game this season.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have activated forward Rickard Rakell from Injured Reserve, a return sooner than the 3-4 weeks previously estimated by GM Kyle Dubas. Rakell, who practiced Friday, is expected to play Saturday against the San Jose Sharks. He suffered a hand injury on October 25, having recorded three goals and eight points in nine games before being sidelined. His return will significantly boost the lineup, potentially as a second-line center while Evgeni Malkin is week-to-week, and aid the power play.
Seattle Kraken center Jared McCann is sidelined for at least three weeks due to a lower-body injury, the team announced Friday. This follows a recent return from a 17-game absence for a similar issue; it's unclear if the problems are related. McCann is expected to return to injured reserve. Prior to this setback, he had recorded five goals and three assists, including two power-play points, in 11 games.
New York Islanders center Bo Horvat (lower body) is not expected to play Saturday against the Lightning, per Stefen Rosner of NHL.com. He remains day-to-day with the injury. The 30-year-old had been performing well recently, tallying five goals on 24 shots, including two power-play goals, in his last seven appearances.
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll (lower body) stated Friday he's feeling better but doesn't anticipate playing Saturday against Edmonton, David Alter of The Hockey News reports. Although eligible to return from injured reserve, he's expected to miss at least one more game. His next potential return date would be Tuesday against Chicago.
Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki opted to invite his skills coach, Joey Hishon, on the team's mentor road trip instead of a family member. Hishon, a former professional hockey player and 2010 first-round pick, previously worked with Suzuki as a skills development coach and had a significant impact on the captain's development.
St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington is no longer a target for the Edmonton Oilers after their acquisition of Tristan Jarry, closing his primary trade destination. Binnington is struggling this season with a career-low .869 SV% and 3.49 GAA, and has been outplayed by Joel Hofer. Despite this, his reputation and past playoff success still generate interest. The Blues are committed to his contract through 2026-27 and are considering trading him or helping him regain form.
Goaltender Stuart Skinner has been traded by the Edmonton Oilers to the Pittsburgh Penguins as part of the deal acquiring Tristan Jarry. In return for Skinner, the Oilers received Jarry, Sam Poulin, Brett Kulak, and a 2029 second-round pick. Skinner, who had three shutouts last postseason and helped his team reach the Cup Finals, is signed through this season with a $2.6 million average annual value.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson (lower body) is expected to test his injury at Saturday morning practice and could play against the Oilers. He needed help off the ice Thursday against San Jose, unable to put pressure on his leg. A determination on his status will be made before game time. The Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman has recorded four goals and 20 points in 30 games this season.
Defenseman Spencer Stastney has been traded from the Nashville Predators to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a 2027 third-round draft pick. Stastney, who has played 81 career NHL games with the Predators, recorded nine points and 10 penalty minutes in 30 games this season, his first as a regular in Nashville. The Oilers acquired him to add defensive depth.
Mark Stone scored two goals, including a power-play tally and the overtime winner, in Thursday's 3-2 victory over the Flyers. He netted a rebound in the second period and secured the win with a tap-in from Jack Eichel in the extra frame. Despite missing over a month due to a wrist injury, Stone has recorded points in all 14 games played this season, extending his scoring streak to eight consecutive games since his return, accumulating four goals and 11 points during this impressive stretch.
Tim Stutzle scored two goals, one on the power play, in Thursday's 6-3 victory over the Blue Jackets. The 23-year-old center's first tally late in the first period chased Elvis Merzlikins from the game, and he later tapped a rebound past Jet Greaves. This marked his fourth multi-goal performance and second consecutive game with a power-play goal. Through 30 contests, Stutzle has accumulated 14 goals and 28 points, with four goals and 10 points coming on the man advantage. He also received an assist from Dylan Cozens.
Dylan Cozens recorded three assists, with one coming on the power play, in Thursday's 6-3 victory over Columbus. The 24-year-old center contributed to goals by David Perron, Drake Batherson, and Tim Stutzle, helping the Senators establish an early 3-0 lead. Cozens has now accumulated five assists in his last two games. Through 30 contests this season, he has posted nine goals, 22 points, 87 hits, 65 shots on net, 22 PIM, and a minus-12 rating, with 13 of his points (five goals, eight helpers) coming on the power play.
Drake Batherson scored a goal and added two assists, one on the power play, in Thursday's 6-3 victory over the Blue Jackets. This marked his third multi-point effort in the last four games, as he contributed to Ottawa's first three goals. The 27-year-old winger has been hot, finding the back of the net seven times and accumulating 11 points over his last 11 games, including five power-play points (three goals, two assists). He also received an assist from Dylan Cozens during the game.
Michael Amadio scored the game-winning goal on three shots and added two assists, three hits, two blocked shots, and a plus-3 rating in Thursday's 6-3 win over the Blue Jackets. His goal in the final minute of the first period extended the Senators' lead to 4-1. This marked Amadio's first multi-point performance and first game-winning goal of the season. Through 30 games, he has accumulated seven goals, 14 points, 46 hits, 43 shots on net, 22 blocked shots, and a plus-4 rating.
New York Islanders defenseman Ethan Bear sustained a wrist injury on Sept. 26 after blocking a shot in a preseason game, forcing him to leave. Bear, who signed a one-year, two-way deal worth $775,000 on July 1, was subsequently placed on Season-Opening Injured Reserve (SOIR), which removed him from the active roster and salary cap count. He has been rehabbing in Bridgeport and is anticipated to return to action within a few weeks.
