December 8, 2025
Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart made it two wins in two games as the team beat the New York Rangers 3-2 in overtime on Sunday. Hart allowed a pair of second-period goals but had a solid performance, finishing with 21 saves. Through his first two outings with Vegas, Hart has registered a 2.32 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage. Considering he had been out of the league since 2024, it has been an impressive return from Hart, who has begun to rob starts from Akira Schmid. However, Schmid still has a role to play on the team, especially after his shutout against the New Jersey Devils on Friday.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 8, 2025
Anaheim Ducks left wing Cutter Gauthier took on the role of a playmaker in Sunday's 7-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, recording two assists. The 21-year-old entered Sunday's contest as Anaheim's leading goal-scorer, but Gauthier focused on other areas against the Blackhawks. Gauthier helped Mason McTavish and Beckett Sennecke on the score sheet, with the first goal coming on the power play. It was Gauthier's fourth multi-point effort in eight games. He is among three Ducks players to average at least a point per game for the season. In 29 appearances, Gauthier has tallied 33 points (16 goals, 17 assists).
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 8, 2025
Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson had two of the team's goals in Sunday's 7-1 blowout win against the Chicago Blackhawks. Carlsson notched an even-strength goal late in the second period and had a power-play marker early in the third to make it 6-0. The 20-year-old Swedish star returned to the score sheet after finishing each of his previous two outings pointless. Carlsson has been spectacular for the Ducks in 2025-26 and could become only the third player in franchise history to post a 100-point season. Currently, he sits on 38 points (16 goals, 22 assists) through 29 games. Only six players in the league have been more productive than Carlsson.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 8, 2025
Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson celebrated his first shutout of the season in a 2-0 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday. He stopped 39 shots in a tight game that didn't get its second goal until Aliaksei Protas lit the lamp during an empty-net situation 1:26 from the end of regulation. While it took until his 21st start for Thompson to register his maiden shutout of the year, he has maintained a spot among the NHL's best goalies. The Calgary-born netminder boasts a 13-6-2 record and has a 1.96 goals-against average with a .925 save percentage. Among goalies who have started at least half of their team's games, Thompson is the only one with a goals-against average below 2.00.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 8, 2025
St. Louis Blues forward Brayden Schenn notched three points in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens. He opened the scoring with a power-play goal and recorded two assists. Dylan Holloway also tallied three points (one goal, two assists) as the Blues managed to win a second consecutive game for only the third time this season. It has been a tough campaign for everybody involved, and Schenn is no exception. He is currently on pace to finish the season with only 36 points. The veteran forward has scored six goals and 13 points in 30 appearances. Four of his points have come in Schenn's last two outings, giving him a chance to record his first three-game scoring streak of the season when the Blues host the Boston Bruins on Tuesday.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 8, 2025
San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini recorded a goal and two assists in Sunday's 4-1 road win over the Carolina Hurricanes. He set up Collin Graf and John Klingberg for a pair of goals before capping off the scoring with an empty-net goal. Celebrini ended a brief two-game point drought on Sunday. The 19-year-old is having a sensational campaign and is currently on pace for a franchise-record 118 points. In 30 outings, Celebrini has totaled 15 goals and 28 assists. He already has two three-point efforts this month and will look to start building another point streak on Tuesday night against the Philadelphia Flyers.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 7, 2025
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Samuel Montembeault (illness) has been ruled out for Sunday's action against the St. Louis Blues. He was initially scheduled to start, but Montreal must change its plans due to Montembeault's illness. Jakub Dobes will play on a second consecutive night, with Kaapo Kahkonen called up from the minors to serve as his backup. Dobes saved 22 of 23 shots against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, beating them 2-1 in a shootout. He has lost only one of his last five starts and will be an outstanding fantasy option on Sunday, as the Blues are struggling this season and average the second-fewest goals per game (2.52).
--Taavi PailkSource: Montreal Canadiens
December 7, 2025
Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart (lower body) will return to the lineup on Sunday against the New York Rangers, Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. He is available for selection after missing one game due to a lower-body injury. Hart made his Golden Knights debut earlier this week, defeating the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 in a shootout. He finished his first NHL outing since January 2024 with 27 saves on 30 shots. The Golden Knights haven't yet named their starter for Sunday's contest. Akira Schmid is coming off a shutout performance on Friday night against the New Jersey Devils and may remain between the sticks against a Rangers team that has gone a horrible 3-8-2 on home ice this season.
--Taavi PailkSource: Danny Webster
December 7, 2025
Washington Capitals right wing Ryan Leonard (upper body) will be on the shelf for the foreseeable future. He was placed on Injured Reserve on Sunday, with Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery saying that Leonard will miss an "extended period of time" after he sustained an upper-body injury in Friday's loss to the Anaheim Ducks. Right before the Ducks game, Leonard became only the fourth Capitals player over the past 40 years to record a four-point game at age 20 or younger. Overall, he has tallied 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists) in 29 games, ranking fourth in scoring among first-year players. Sonny Milano is projected to take Leonard's spot on the third line Sunday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 7, 2025
Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson (upper body) is regarded as a game-time decision on Sunday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He has missed two games with an upper-body injury. Declan Chisholm has filled in for him and will presumably exit the lineup if Carlson is ready to return against Columbus. Carlson is having a fantastic year, averaging nearly a point per game. In 26 outings, he has contributed six goals and 17 assists. Furthermore, he is fourth on the Capitals team with 38 blocks. Carlson has met the Blue Jackets twice already this season, finishing both games with two points.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 7, 2025
St. Louis Blues forward Jordan Kyrou (lower body) will miss Sunday's contest against the Montreal Canadiens and is considered day-to-day. He sustained a lower-body injury early in Saturday's 2-1 win over the Ottawa Senators, logging just 53 seconds of ice time. Kyrou has notched 16 points (eight goals, eight assists) in 28 games during a disappointing campaign. The former All-Star will join fellow forwards Jimmy Snuggerud (wrist), Alexey Toropchenko (leg burns), and Nathan Walker (upper body) on the shelf. Matt Luff is expected to replace Kyrou in the lineup, while Brayden Schenn could move up into the top six. Without Kyrou, St. Louis' first power-play unit will also have a new look.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 7, 2025
Dallas Stars forward Matt Duchene (upper body) was activated from long-term Injured Reserve on Sunday and is poised to end a 24-game absence against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Duchene has featured only four times for the Stars this season, recording one goal and one assist. Mavrik Bourque and Sam Steel have seen time in the top six during Duchene's absence. On Sunday, Dallas will also welcome back defenseman Nils Lundkvist (lower body), who has missed 25 games. With Thomas Harley (lower body) still absent, Lundkvist may see increased time on the ice.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 7, 2025
Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov (lower body) has been named the starter for Sunday's contest against the San Jose Sharks, Walt Ruff of the Hurricanes' official site reports. This will be his first appearance since Kochetkov improved to 4-0-0 for the season with a 3-1 victory over the Boston Bruins on Nov. 17. He has missed eight games with a lower-body injury. While the sample size is small, Kochetkov has done a great job this season, posting a 1.70 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage. On Sunday, he faces an exciting Sharks attack, but Kochetkov and Carolina are expected to win the clash, as the bookmakers have the odds for a home victory at -333.
--Taavi PailkSource: Walt Ruff
December 7, 2025
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin (upper body) will exit the lineup for Sunday's matchup against the Dallas Stars. He is considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Malkin has turned back the clock this season, posting 29 points (eight goals, 21 assists) in 26 games. His absence will undoubtedly be a blow for the Penguins. However, Noel Acciari (upper body) and Justin Brazeau (upper body) are ready to rejoin the Penguins' frontline on Sunday night, partially offsetting the loss of Malkin. Brazeau had a hot start to the season before missing 14 games with an upper-body injury. He has recorded six goals and 12 points in 12 appearances.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 7, 2025
Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper returned to winning ways on Saturday night by shutting out Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks with 23 saves in a 6-0 victory. The experienced netminder had suffered three consecutive losses, including one against Chicago on Thursday. He was in danger of dropping four consecutive starts for the first time in 2025-26. Kuemper has been in fine form throughout the campaign, posting a 2.24 goals-against average with a .914 save percentage and two shutouts. However, due to L.A.'s scoring woes, Kuemper's record stands at 9-6-5. The Kings are ranked 27th in goals per game with 2.68.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
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