Player news from trusted outlets
Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
Sidney Crosby netted two goals, including the power-play game-winner, in Monday's 5-1 victory over Philadelphia. Crosby, 38, continues his strong season with 18 goals and 29 points through 25 contests. He boasts an impressive 59 goals and 137 points in 92 career games against the Flyers. With 1,716 career points, Crosby is now just seven points shy of surpassing Mario Lemieux for the Pittsburgh Penguins' all-time franchise record.
Ilya Sorokin is confirmed to start in goal for the New York Islanders at home against Tampa Bay on Tuesday, as reported by Stefen Rosner of NHL.com after he was the first goalie to exit the ice. Sorokin is currently in a three-game losing streak, during which he has posted a 2.47 GAA and an .868 save percentage. Despite a better GAA than his last two campaigns, he has struggled to secure wins this season, recording just seven victories in 17 outings.
Igor Shesterkin is slated to start in goal for the New York Rangers at home against the Stars on Tuesday, as reported by Vince Z. Mercogliano of The Athletic. This will mark his fifth straight appearance in the crease. In his prior four outings, Shesterkin has posted a 3-1-0 record with a 2.27 GAA and a .921 save percentage. He had a strong November, recording a 7-5-0 record and a .907 save percentage across 12 appearances during the month.
Sean Monahan scored two goals, including the game-winner, in the Columbus Blue Jackets' 5-3 victory over the Devils on Monday. The veteran center tied the score at 2-2 early in the second period and later gave the Blue Jackets a 4-2 lead midway through the third. This marked Monahan's first multi-point performance of the campaign, and three of his five goals this season have come in his last two contests, signaling a potential breakout from an early-season slump.
Charlie Coyle recorded a goal and two assists, including one on the power play, in the Columbus Blue Jackets' 5-3 victory over the Devils. His third-period tally secured the lead for the Blue Jackets. Acquired from the Avalanche this offseason for a checking role, Coyle has emerged as a surprising offensive contributor, accumulating two goals and nine points over his last 10 games, highlighted by a pair of three-point performances.
Sidney Crosby showcased his enduring prowess against the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday night, adding two more goals to his impressive career tally against the rival team. These markers, his 58th and 59th career goals specifically against the Flyers, underscored his continued excellence in the heated cross-state rivalry. Crosby's impactful performance was a key factor in propelling the Pittsburgh Penguins to a commanding 5-1 victory, further cementing his legacy in this storied matchup.
Josh Norris made a triumphant return to the Buffalo Sabres lineup on Monday night, matching his career-best single game points total with 2 goals and an assist in the team's 5-1 victory over the Jets. Norris had been sidelined since suffering an upper-body injury in the season opener.
Logan Cooley (lower body) is confirmed in the lineup for Monday's game in San Jose, successfully avoiding his first missed game of the 2025-26 campaign. The rising star had been unable to put weight on his left leg after a collision during Saturday's game against St. Louis, but the injury is now deemed a stinger rather than anything serious. Cooley will center the second line alongside Nick Schmaltz and Dylan Guenther and is expected to skate on the No. 1 power-play unit for UTA.
Colorado Avalanche forward Parker Kelly was sidelined by illness and absent from Monday's practice. Kelly has been a welcome revelation for the team, infusing the lineup with vitality through his energy, upbeat temperament, and unexpected aptitude for depth scoring. His status for Tuesday's game is uncertain due to the illness.
Valeri Nichushkin has fully participated in practice without a non-contact sweater, with coach Jared Bednar stating he's a "possibility" to return to the lineup Tuesday night. Nichushkin appeared solid but slightly rigid in practice, indicating he's very close to game action. He has missed the last eight games since sustaining a lower-body injury on November 6 after blocking a shot, having recorded 5 goals and 7 assists for 12 points in 17 games prior to the injury.
Nathan MacKinnon was absent from Monday's practice, sidelined by illness, having battled symptoms since Saturday. Despite feeling unwell, he remarkably recorded a three-point performance in Colorado's 7-2 victory over Montreal. MacKinnon currently leads the NHL with 20 goals and 44 points, and his 24 assists rank second, placing him in contention for the rare "Triple Crown." The Avalanche hope for his recovery for Tuesday's game.
Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog was absent from Monday's practice, sidelined by an illness. His potential absence for Tuesday's game against Vancouver would be significant, as he has rediscovered his form with 4 goals and 4 assists in his last nine games, serving as an emotional backbone for the team.
Philadelphia Flyers forward Tyson Foerster exited Monday's 5-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second period with an upper-body injury and did not return. The injury occurred while he was shooting on a 5-on-3 power play, just 43 seconds after he had tied the game 1-1 on an earlier power-play opportunity. His potential absence will be a significant loss for the Flyers.
Anaheim Ducks goaltender Petr Mrazek has been classified as day-to-day with a lower-body injury, sustained Sunday in Chicago. The injury forced him out of Monday's game in St. Louis, where Ville Husso started and Vyacheslav Buteyets was recalled from AHL San Diego to back up. Mrazek is not expected to play in Wednesday's game against the Mammoth, as the team plans to be cautious with his recovery. This update was reported Monday by Zach Cavanagh of The Sporting Tribune.
Winnipeg Jets netminder Eric Comrie is slated to start Monday's road game against the Buffalo Sabres. Comrie recently snapped a three-game losing streak with a 5-2 win in Nashville, turning aside 20 of 22 shots. Since assuming the No. 1 role due to Connor Hellebuyck's knee injury, the 30-year-old holds a 1-3-0 record, a 3.29 GAA, and an .887 save percentage across four starts. The Sabres enter the matchup 3-2-0 in their last five games, coming off a 3-2 shootout win.
Star defenseman Adam Fox has been placed on long-term injured reserve with a shoulder injury sustained Saturday, sidelining him from week to week. He is expected to miss at least 10 games and 24 days. Fox, who leads the Rangers in average ice time at 23:50, sits second among NHL defensemen with 26 points in 27 games and is a crucial offensive and power-play contributor. His return is anticipated by the Olympics.
San Jose Sharks center Will Smith recorded a two-goal performance in Monday's 6-3 victory over the Utah Mammoth, extending his goal streak to three consecutive games. Smith, who credits his recent success to a new mindset of shooting the puck more, became only the second player age 20 or younger in Sharks history to register multiple goals in consecutive games, following his two-goal effort against the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday.
The Florida Panthers have recalled center/winger Jack Studnicka from their AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, to address multiple forward injuries. The 26-year-old has notched 1 goal and 6 points in 8 AHL games this season and previously impressed with 4 goals and 5 points in 4 preseason games. Studnicka brings 107 games of NHL experience (6 goals, 16 points) and 233 AHL games (58 goals, 168 points) to the Panthers, though his season debut status for Tuesday is unknown.
Defenseman Mike Matheson has signed a five-year, $30 million contract with the Montreal Canadiens on Friday. The signing solidifies Matheson's presence with the team, with discussions highlighting his importance to the Canadiens' lineup and future plans.
Veteran forward Robby Fabbri has signed a professional tryout agreement with the AHL Charlotte Checkers, following his release from the Pittsburgh Penguins after a fall PTO. Fabbri's career has been plagued by significant injuries, including multiple ACL tears and recent knee and hand surgeries, which limited him to 8 goals and 8 assists last season with Anaheim. A 2019 Stanley Cup champion, he looks to extend his career after being a Bill Masterton Trophy nominee for perseverance.
