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Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
Jake Oettinger is scheduled to start for the Dallas Stars against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday. A win would put him in the league lead for goaltender wins this season. The 26-year-old netminder has a 2.52 GAA and a .908 save percentage this season. He faces a Penguins team that, despite missing Evgeni Malkin, is still averaging 3.19 goals per game.
Scott Wedgewood is expected to dress for the Avalanche's Tuesday game against the Predators after a minor back tweak. He was pulled from a 3-1 win over the Canucks as a precaution. Despite missing three games, Wedgewood remains tied for the NHL lead in wins with 13, ranks second in GAA (2.07), and leads the league with a .920 save percentage. Trent Miner has been reassigned to the AHL.
Jet Greaves will start in goal for the Columbus Blue Jackets against the Washington Capitals on Sunday. This is the second game of a back-to-back set, with Elvis Merzlikins having played Saturday. Greaves, 24, has a 7-4-5 record this season, with a 2.81 GAA and a .901 save percentage in 16 appearances. Washington's offense ranks second in the league, averaging 3.48 goals per game.
Evgeni Malkin (upper body) will not play Sunday against the Dallas Stars. The Pittsburgh Penguins forward is considered day-to-day and will miss at least one game. Malkin has recorded eight goals, 29 points, and 66 shots in 26 appearances this season. His absence will be felt, but the Penguins will welcome back Justin Brazeau and Noel Acciari from upper-body injuries for Sunday's game.
Justin Brazeau (upper body) has been activated from injured reserve and will return to the lineup Sunday against the Dallas Stars after a 14-game absence. Brazeau has registered six goals, 12 points, 22 shots, 12 blocked shots, and 17 hits in 12 games this season. He is expected to contribute fantasy value if he remains a productive member of Pittsburgh's top six.
Brock Nelson scored the go-ahead goal with 52 seconds left in the first period, helping the Colorado Avalanche secure a 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Nelson tapped in a loose rebound to put the Avalanche ahead 2-1. This goal extends his impressive run, as he now has accumulated 10 points in his last 10 games, contributing significantly to Colorado's recent success.
David Rittich will start Sunday's game against the Panthers, marking his return to the net after four consecutive starts by Ilya Sorokin. The veteran netminder, 33, has a 6-2-1 record this season with a 2.61 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage. He faces a Panthers team that recently scored seven goals in their last outing. This start comes on the second night of a back-to-back for the New York Islanders.
Pyotr Kochetkov is set to start in goal Sunday against the San Jose Sharks, marking his return after an eight-game absence due to a lower-body injury. Kochetkov boasts a 4-0-0 record this season with a 2.67 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage, having allowed only seven goals on 95 shots faced. The Hurricanes will rely on him as they face a Sharks team that ranks 25th in the league with 2.79 goals per game.
Daniil Tarasov will start in net Sunday against the New York Islanders, according to Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site. This marks a rare start for Tarasov, who has played in only eight games this season as the primary backup to Sergei Bobrovsky. Despite limited action, the 26-year-old has posted a 2-4-1 record with a 2.67 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage. He leads the Panthers on the second night of a back-to-back against an Islanders team riding a three-game winning streak.
Filip Forsberg reached a significant career milestone, scoring his tenth goal of the season and 700th career point in the Nashville Predators' 6-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. The 31-year-old forward now has 19 points in 28 games this season and is second all-time in Predators scoring behind Roman Josi. Forsberg's 328th career goal also solidifies his lead as the Predators' all-time leading goal scorer.
Colton White has made an invaluable impact for the New Jersey Devils since his recall on Nov. 5, averaging nearly 12 minutes of ice time as a depth defenseman. Despite limited minutes and playing on his off-side, White ranks first or second in several defensive metrics for the team. His return to the NHL after 940 days is a testament to his commitment and positive attitude, earning praise from teammates and coaches for his work ethic and consistency.
Matt Duchene (upper body) has been activated from long-term injured reserve by the Dallas Stars. After a 24-game absence, Duchene is set to return to the lineup Sunday against Pittsburgh. In four appearances this season, he has recorded one goal, two points, three shots on net, four blocked shots, and two hits. His return provides a boost to the Stars' forward group.
Samuel Ersson will start in goal for the Philadelphia Flyers against the league-leading Colorado Avalanche on Sunday. Ersson led the team out for warmups, confirming his start. In his first nine appearances this season, the 26-year-old netminder has a 5-2-2 record with a 2.97 goals-against average and an .869 save percentage. He has won his last two starts, making 55 saves on 60 shots.
Mackenzie Blackwood is set to start in goal for the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday against Philadelphia. This marks his second start in as many days, following a 3-2 overtime victory where he made 24 saves. Blackwood boasts an impressive 7-1-1 record this season, allowing just 19 goals on 238 shots. Philadelphia's offense ranks 23rd in the league, averaging 2.85 goals per game.
Nikolaj Ehlers scored a power-play goal and added two assists in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Predators. He potted his sixth goal of the season in the first period and set up Jackson Blake for two tallies. This was his first multi-point performance since November 9. A steady contributor in his first season with Carolina, Ehlers hasn't gone back-to-back contests without getting onto the scoresheet since October 20, delivering six goals and 19 points over that 22-game stretch.
Jackson Blake scored two even-strength goals, including the game-winner, and added a power-play assist in Saturday's 6-3 victory over Nashville. His tallies in the second and third periods marked his first GWG of the season. The 22-year-old winger snapped a six-game point drought with this performance, and his power-play point was his first since October 16. Through 27 contests, Blake has delivered eight goals, 18 points, 64 shots on net, 18 PIM, and a plus-0 rating.
Alex Nedeljkovic will get the start Sunday against the Hurricanes, as reported by Max Miller of NHL.com. He has primarily served as a backup due to Yaroslav Askarov's impressive run. The 29-year-old is seeking his first win since November 7, having lost his last three starts. He carries a 3-5-2 record, 3.19 GAA, and an .894 save percentage into the game against the Hurricanes, who are fifth in the NHL with 3.41 goals per game.
Dustin Wolf recorded his second shutout of the season Saturday, making 27 saves in a 2-0 victory over Utah. The 24-year-old netminder has been turning his season around, allowing two goals or fewer in seven of his last 12 outings. Over this stretch, he holds a 6-4-1 record with an impressive 2.21 GAA and a .918 save percentage, showcasing significant improvement in his recent performances.
Brad Marchand had a season-high four-point effort Saturday, scoring a goal and adding three assists, including one on the power play, in the Panthers' 7-6 overtime win against Columbus. The 37-year-old winger collected two helpers in the second period to erase a 4-1 deficit, then scored to rally from a 6-4 deficit, and finally set up Sam Bennett for the OT winner with just four seconds left. He now has 16 goals and 31 points in 26 contests this season.
Sam Bennett delivered a season-high four points Saturday, scoring the game-winning goal in overtime and adding three assists, two on the power play, in the Panthers' 7-6 victory over the Blue Jackets. The 29-year-old winger continues to overcome a slow start to the season, having now racked up four goals and 12 points over his last nine games. This marks a significant turnaround from his initial 18 contests of 2025-26, where he managed only three goals and five points.
