Player news from trusted outlets
Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
Casey DeSmith is confirmed to start Sunday's game against the Senators, as reported by Stars radio analyst Bruce LeVine. The Dallas Stars netminder has been alternating games with Jake Oettinger and has not allowed more than two goals in his last four starts, recording a save percentage of at least .920 in each. He enters the matchup with a 5-1-2 record, a 2.20 GAA, and a .919 save percentage.
Pyotr Kochetkov (lower body) will not be in the lineup for Sunday's home matchup against Calgary, marking his third consecutive missed game, according to Walt Ruff of the Hurricanes' official site. There is currently no timeline for his return. Despite being limited to only five appearances this season, Kochetkov holds an impressive 4-0-0 record, having allowed just seven goals on 95 shots.
Devin Cooley is set to start Sunday's game against the Hurricanes, as reported by Derek Wills of Sportsnet 960 The Fan. This marks a rare back-to-back start for Cooley, who has arguably outplayed Calgary's top goaltender, Dustin Wolf. Cooley boasts a 3-2-1 record, a 2.00 GAA, and a .930 save percentage, having won his last three decisions. His continued strong performance could lead to increased playing time.
Boston Bruins winger Morgan Geekie, 27, is tied for the NHL lead with 20 goals and has 26 points in 27 games, putting him on pace for a 61-goal, 79-point season. He scored three goals in two games while linemate David Pastrnak was injured, showcasing his emerging star power. Geekie, who set career-highs last season with 33 goals and 57 points, signed a six-year, $33 million extension this summer, which is now looking like a significant bargain for the Bruins.
Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson led his team to a 4-1 victory over the New York Islanders with two goals and an assist. Wilson opened the scoring on the power play in the first period and netted his team-high 15th goal in the second after an Islanders' goaltending error. His performance helped the Capitals extend their winning streak to four games.
Bo Horvat scored the New York Islanders' only goal in their 4-1 loss to the Washington Capitals, burying a bouncing puck to cut the deficit to 2-1 late in the third period. The loss marks the Islanders' third straight and fourth in their last five games. The team's power play struggled, converting just one of three opportunities in the game and two of their last 34 chances overall.
Spencer Knight will patrol the home crease for the Chicago Blackhawks against Anaheim on Sunday, as reported by Ben Pope. Knight has gone 0-2-1 in his last three outings, surrendering eight goals on 77 shots. This season, he holds a 7-5-4 record with a 2.47 GAA and a .920 save percentage through 16 appearances. Anaheim ranks second in the league with 3.63 goals per game this campaign.
Two-time Stanley Cup champion Matt Murray, 31, has joined the Seattle Kraken organization, currently playing for the AHL's Coachella Valley Firebirds. Murray reflected on the "major price" of his early success, citing significant hip issues that led to "pretty severe" bilateral hip surgery on October 9, 2023, causing him to miss most of the 2023-24 season. After playing only 54 NHL/AHL games over three seasons due to injuries, he aims to rediscover his game and provide depth for the Kraken.
New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox has been placed on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) with an upper body injury, sustained in Saturday's 4-1 loss to Tampa Bay. Sources indicate he is considered week-to-week and will not be eligible to return to the lineup until at least December 27 against the Islanders. Despite the unclear exact recovery timeline, Fox is expected to be ready for the Olympics if selected by Team USA. This season, Fox has amassed 3 goals, 26 points, 51 shots on net, 41 blocked shots, and 15 hits in 27 appearances.
Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Laurent Brossoit is nearing a return from a knee injury that sidelined him for the entire 2024-25 season and is expected to begin an AHL conditioning stint. Due to his $3.3 million cap hit and the team's current goaltending depth, Chicago has granted other teams permission to discuss a potential trade for the 32-year-old. Brossoit previously posted a 15-5-2 record with a 2.00 GAA and .927 SV% in 23 games with the Jets and was part of Vegas' 2022-23 Stanley Cup team.
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Jayden Struble has been ruled day-to-day with an upper-body injury, causing him to miss the game against the Colorado Avalanche. His absence allowed Arber Xhekaj to remain in the lineup. Struble has demonstrated a physical edge this season, including dropping the gloves just four seconds into a game on November 15, and has recorded 36 hits in 19 games.
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj remained in the lineup against the Colorado Avalanche due to Jayden Struble's upper-body injury. Despite a challenging game defensively, Xhekaj delivered nine hits in 13:46 of ice time. He has accumulated 41 hits in 22 games this season, ranking third on the team. His continued presence is being evaluated as Struble's return looms.
Ilya Sorokin is confirmed to start Sunday's matinee contest for the New York Islanders against the Capitals. Despite losing his last two starts, Sorokin has shown strong form, allowing three goals or fewer in nine consecutive outings. The 30-year-old netminder holds a 7-7-2 record with a 2.70 GAA and .901 save percentage this season. He previously limited the Capitals to just one goal on 23 shots in their first meeting this year on Halloween.
Logan Thompson is confirmed to start in goal for the Washington Capitals on Sunday against the Islanders. He enters the matchup on a two-game win streak, having allowed just three goals on 45 shots in his last two outings. This season, Thompson holds a 10-6-1 record with a 2.15 GAA and a .912 save percentage across 17 appearances. The Islanders have struggled offensively, scoring only five goals in their last four games, posting a 1-2-1 record.
New York Islanders forward Kyle Palmieri (knee) has been placed on injured reserve as of Sunday. The team confirmed Saturday that the 34-year-old is slated to undergo season-ending knee surgery, which carries an estimated recovery timeline of 6-8 months. Palmieri sustained the significant injury during Friday's 4-3 shootout loss against Philadelphia. To fill the roster spot, the Islanders have called up Marc Gatcomb from their AHL affiliate, Bridgeport, on Sunday.
Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart (suspension) was recalled from his conditioning loan with AHL Henderson on Saturday. His suspension officially concludes Monday, making him eligible to join the lineup for Tuesday's home game against Chicago. Despite his eligibility, it remains uncertain when Hart will make his debut for Vegas. During his three appearances in the minors, he posted a 1-2-0 record with a 3.07 GAA and an .839 save percentage.
Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander returned to the lineup Saturday, assisting on Easton Cowan's goal in a 7-2 win over the Penguins. He had missed the previous game due to an undisclosed illness and a practice for 'maintenance,' following an earlier three-game absence for a lower-body injury. Despite missing four games this season, Nylander leads the Maple Leafs in scoring with 32 points (11 goals, 21 assists) in 23 games, ranking third in the NHL with 1.52 points per game.
Matvei Michkov scored two goals in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Devils, marking his first multi-goal performance of the season. The 20-year-old winger broke a 1-1 tie by beating Jacob Markstrom twice in the second period. This performance continues a surge that has seen Michkov light the lamp seven times in his last 11 games, a significant improvement after delivering only one tally in his first 13 contests of the season for the Philadelphia Flyers.
Owen Tippett delivered a stellar performance in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Devils, scoring two goals and adding an assist for a three-point night. The 26-year-old winger potted the Philadelphia Flyers' first and last goals while also setting up Trevor Zegras for the game-winner. Tippett has been on fire in the second half of November, accumulating three goals and 11 points in his last eight games, a significant turnaround after managing only one assist in his previous 10 contests.
Minnesota Wild forward Mats Zuccarello, 38, achieved his 700th career NHL point, becoming the first Norwegian and third undrafted player in league history to reach this milestone. Since returning from a lower-body injury that caused him to miss the first 15 games, Zuccarello has tallied 10 points (1 goal, 9 assists) in 11 games, contributing to the Wild's 9-0-2 record with him in the lineup. He skates on the top line and first power-play unit with Kirill Kaprizov.
