Player news from trusted outlets
Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
Joey Daccord will protect the home net for the Seattle Kraken against Edmonton on Saturday. He has gone 0-1-1 in his last two outings, permitting only three goals on 55 shots. This season, Daccord holds a 7-4-4 record with two shutouts, a 2.59 GAA, and a .906 save percentage across 15 appearances. Edmonton is tied for 13th in the league with 3.08 goals per game.
Mackenzie Blackwood is set to start at home for the Colorado Avalanche against Montreal on Saturday. He enters the game on a high note, coming off back-to-back shutout victories against San Jose on Wednesday and Nashville on Nov. 22. This season, Blackwood boasts a 4-0-1 record with a 1.98 GAA and a .928 save percentage across five outings. The Canadiens, his upcoming opponent, are 13-7-3 and rank fourth in goals per game with 3.48.
Carl Lindbom is slated to start Saturday at home against San Jose, as reported by Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The 22-year-old Vegas Golden Knights rookie is still seeking his first NHL victory, holding an 0-4-2 record with a 3.16 GAA and an .872 save percentage across six outings. This start could be his final opportunity with the team before likely being sent to the minors, as Carter Hart (suspension) is eligible to return and play with the Golden Knights on Monday. The Sharks currently hold a 12-10-3 record.
Brayden Point (undisclosed) will not play against the Rangers on Saturday, marking his fourth consecutive missed game. The Tampa Bay Lightning forward's return timeline remains unclear. Through 21 appearances this season, Point has recorded three goals, 11 points, and 44 shots on net. In his absence, Nick Paul is expected to fill a top-six role for the Lightning.
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Jonas Johansson will start Saturday against the Rangers, marking his second start in the last seven games. He recently turned aside 29 shots in a 5-3 win on Nov. 22. This season, Johansson holds a 4-2-0 record with a 3.23 GAA and an .893 save percentage across seven appearances.
Ottawa Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot (upper body) was placed on injured reserve Saturday. He has missed six of the last seven games and is unlikely to return during the current road trip, which concludes Tuesday. A corresponding move saw Dennis Gilbert recalled from AHL Belleville. Chabot has recorded two goals, 10 points, 22 shots, 36 blocked shots, and 13 hits in 18 appearances this season.
Jaden Schwartz (lower body) has been placed on injured reserve by the Seattle Kraken and is expected to miss approximately six weeks, potentially longer. The forward sustained the injury during Wednesday's 3-2 loss to Dallas. Prior to the injury, Schwartz had recorded eight goals and 15 points, along with 48 shots on net, 20 blocked shots, and 24 hits across 23 appearances this season.
Igor Shesterkin will patrol the home crease for the New York Rangers against Tampa Bay on Saturday, marking his second start in as many days. He recently stopped 19 shots in Friday's 6-2 victory over Boston. Shesterkin has been in strong form, allowing only six goals on 80 shots across his last three winning outings. This season, he holds a 10-8-2 record with a 2.45 GAA and a .911 save percentage through 20 appearances.
Cam Talbot will patrol the visiting crease for the Detroit Red Wings in Boston on Saturday. He has struggled in his last two starts, allowing nine goals on 48 shots in a pair of losses. Prior to this cold streak, Talbot had strung together four consecutive wins. This season, he holds a 9-4-0 record with a 2.97 GAA and an .887 save percentage across 14 appearances.
Jeremy Swayman will start in goal for the Boston Bruins at home against Detroit on Saturday, getting the second half of Boston's back-to-back. The 27-year-old netminder is coming off a strong 44-save performance in Wednesday's 3-1 victory over the Islanders. This season, Swayman holds a 10-6-0 record with a 2.68 GAA and a .915 save percentage across 16 appearances. He faces a Detroit team ranked 22nd in the league with 2.92 goals per game.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (undisclosed) has been activated from injured reserve Saturday and is set to return to the Edmonton Oilers' lineup against Seattle. He missed nine games due to the injury. Nugent-Hopkins is slated to play on the third unit alongside Adam Henrique and Mattias Janmark, and will also see time on the first power-play unit. Before his injury, he had accumulated five goals and 16 points, including nine power-play points, in 16 appearances.
Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak (undisclosed) is ruled out for Saturday's home game against Detroit, marking his second consecutive absence. Head coach Marco Sturm indicates the injury is not expected to be long-term, though Pastrnak could miss additional action next week as the Bruins have three games, including a Tuesday matchup in Detroit. The 29-year-old has recorded 11 goals and 29 points in 25 appearances this season.
Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri recorded a game-winning goal and two assists, including one on the power play, in Friday's 5-3 victory over the Panthers. Kadri's goal snapped a 10-game drought, and he has now posted multiple points in four of his last five outings. He contributed two points in the second period and set up an empty-netter in the third. On the season, the veteran has accumulated five goals and 21 points in 26 contests.
Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson scored a goal and added two assists, including one on the power play, in Friday's 5-4 shootout win against the Kings. The 20-year-old tied the game 4-4 late in the third period and extended his point streak to five games. Carlsson is having a breakout campaign, with 13 goals and 33 points in just 24 games, placing him in a tie with Connor Bedard for fourth in the early Art Ross Trophy race.
Charlie McAvoy (face) skated on his own ahead of practice Saturday for the first time since suffering a facial injury from a slap shot on Nov. 15. The Boston Bruins blueliner wore a full face shield and jaw protector during the skate, indicating he is still not close to a return. This season, McAvoy has recorded 14 helpers, 32 blocked shots, and 26 hits across 19 games.
New Jersey Devils goaltender Jake Allen delivered a stellar performance Friday, stopping all 42 shots in a 5-0 shutout win against the Sabres. This marks his first shutout of the season and the 29th of his career. The 35-year-old netminder now holds an 8-4-0 record with a 2.27 GAA and a .919 save percentage through 13 appearances. Allen ranks third in GAA among goalies with 10 or more appearances this campaign. He is expected to have a chance at starting Monday's home matchup against the Blue Jackets.
Crosby scored a pair of goals on three shots and added two hits in Friday's 4-3 overtime win over the Blue Jackets. The 38-year-old superstar has four goals and an assist over his last five contests, maintaining remarkable consistency by avoiding more than two consecutive games without a point this season. Through 23 appearances in his top-line role, he boasts 15 goals, 25 points, 53 shots, 19 hits, 24 PIM, and a minus-1 rating.
Utah Mammoth captain Clayton Keller played in Friday night's 4-3 loss to the Dallas Stars, just one day after the unexpected death of his father. The 27-year-old forward was named the game's first star at the American Airlines Center as a tribute to his courage and dedication during a difficult time.
Jakob Chychrun scored the game-winning goal Friday in a 4-2 victory over Toronto, extending his goal streak to five games. This was his sixth goal in five games. He is also on a remarkable 10-game point streak, accumulating 13 points (seven goals, six assists). This achievement ties him with Al Iafrate (1992-93) and Robert Picard (1978-79) for the longest point streak by a defender in Washington Capitals history, marking a significant franchise milestone.
Nathan MacKinnon recorded a goal and an assist in Friday's 3-2 shootout loss to the Wild. The Colorado Avalanche star continues his scorching start, leading the NHL with 19 goals and 41 points this season. He has tallied five goals in his past five games, marking the best start of his career. MacKinnon is an early-season favorite for the Hart Trophy, which he won in 2023-24. He has finished second to Nikita Kucherov for the Art Ross Trophy the past two seasons.
