December 22, 2025
Vegas Golden Knights forward Tomas Hertl finished Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers with three points. He notched two points on the power play, including his goal. With Jack Eichel (lower body) out of the lineup, Hertl has recently had more responsibilities, coming alive offensively by posting a three-game point streak (one goal, four assists). The Czech veteran has had only two longer scoring streaks this season. Across the campaign, Hertl has registered 27 points (13 goals, 14 assists) in 34 games. Before the holiday break, he will head out one more time, facing a meeting with his former team, the San Jose Sharks, who allow 3.36 goals per game.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 22, 2025
Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid stretched his point streak to 10 games on Sunday, bagging an even-strength goal and two power-play assists in a 4-3 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. The Oilers captain recorded his 18th career point streak of at least 10 games, ranking behind only Wayne Gretzky (31) in NHL history. He has been incredible over the last three weeks, amassing 12 goals and 14 assists during his scoring streak. It has put McDavid in the race for his sixth Art Ross Trophy as the league's top scorer. As the new week starts, McDavid leads the standings, with Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon trailing by just one point. McDavid has totaled 62 points (23 goals, 39 assists) in 37 games.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 22, 2025
Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby set the franchise's scoring record in Sunday's 4-3 shootout win over the Montreal Canadiens. The Penguins captain entered the contest one point behind Mario Lemieux. He had a goal and an assist against Montreal, reaching 1,724 points (645 goals, 1,079 assists) in his 1,387th career game. Crosby also moved past Lemieux to eighth on the NHL's all-time scoring list. The top pick of the 2005 draft has aged like fine wine and continues to average over a point per game even during his 21st NHL season. He has notched 20 goals and 17 assists in 35 appearances, giving Crosby a realistic opportunity to post his second 50-goal season.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 22, 2025
Edmonton Oilers goaltender Tristan Jarry (lower body) will be sidelined for a couple of weeks, head coach Kris Knoblauch said on Sunday. Edmonton's new No. 1 suffered a lower-body injury on Thursday against the Boston Bruins and has missed two games. Calvin Pickard and Connor Ingram will work between the pipes until Jarry returns. Ingram made his Oilers debut on Sunday night, recording a 4-3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights with 25 saves. Pickard had a rough weekend, suffering a 5-2 defeat at the hands of the Minnesota Wild on Saturday. Neither goalie looks like a great fantasy option and must rely on Edmonton's offense to get wins.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
December 21, 2025
Detroit Red Wings right wing Patrick Kane (upper body) won't be available until after the Christmas break, Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press reports. The Red Wings have one more game before the break, facing the Dallas Stars on Tuesday. This will mark Kane's fifth consecutive absence. Kane has been sharp when in the lineup this season, posting 23 points (six goals, 17 assists) in 24 appearances. John Leonard has been doing a great job as his replacement on the second line, scoring in back-to-back games and amassing three points (two goals, one assist) in four outings.
--Taavi PailkSource: Helene St. James
December 21, 2025
Buffalo Sabres center Tyson Kozak (upper body) won't play on Sunday against the New Jersey Devils, Mike Morreale of NHL.com reports. He suffered an upper-body injury during Thursday's win over the Philadelphia Flyers and will be sidelined for a second consecutive game. With Kozak out, Buffalo has lost one of its most physical players, as the 22-year-old ranks third on the team with 62 hits. Offensively, Kozak has contributed two goals and two assists in 24 outings this season. Josh Dunne has taken over fourth-line center duties for the Sabres.
--Taavi PailkSource: Mike Morreale
December 21, 2025
Edmonton Oilers forward Jack Roslovic (lower body) was activated from long-term Injured Reserve and is expected to return from an 11-game absence on Sunday night against the Vegas Golden Knights. Roslovic has been a great pickup for the Oilers, totaling 10 goals and 18 points in 23 appearances. Despite missing nearly a month of action, the 28-year-old remains Edmonton's third-highest goal-scorer. He has found the back of the net in each of his last two appearances. Roslovic last managed a three-game goal streak in November 2024. On Sunday, Roslovic is projected to join Vasily Podkolzin and Leon Draisaitl on the second line.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 21, 2025
New Jersey Devils winger Arseni Gritsyuk (upper body) has been cleared for action and will return from a four-game absence on Sunday against the Buffalo Sabres. The Devils' offense will get a big boost for Sunday's contest, as Jack Hughes (hand) and Timo Meier (personal) will also be available. Gritsyuk is expected to be paired with Hughes on the same line. The Russian winger has amassed 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) in 31 games during this rookie campaign, tied for the seventh-most among first-year players. In his first meeting with Buffalo, Gritsyuk potted two goals in a 5-0 win on Nov. 27.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 21, 2025
New Jersey Devils winger Timo Meier (personal) will return to action on Sunday against the Buffalo Sabres. He has sat out five games for personal reasons. The Swiss forward has managed only one point in his last four appearances. However, Meier recorded a six-game point streak not long ago and has had a good bounce-back season. Across 30 outings, Meier has recorded 23 points (11 goals, 12 assists) and 61 hits. He returns in a good matchup, facing a Sabres team that allows 29.9 shots and 3.35 goals per game.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 21, 2025
New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes (hand) will rejoin the lineup on Sunday against the Buffalo Sabres. He has missed 18 games after sustaining a "freak" hand injury at a team dinner last month. Hughes is expected to slot back into the top-line center role and will work on the first power-play unit. Before his injury, Hughes showed fantastic form, notching 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) in 17 outings. He averages over four shots per contest and could have a very productive comeback game on Sunday against a team that allows the seventh-most goals in the NHL.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 21, 2025
New York Rangers forward J.T. Miller (upper body) will exit the lineup on Sunday against the Nashville Predators and is considered week-to-week. The Rangers captain suffered an upper-body injury during Saturday's shootout win against the Philadelphia Flyers. While Miller faces a spell on the sidelines, he is expected to be available for Team USA at the 2026 Olympics. Miller's fantasy production has been disappointing this season. After being a 100-point player a couple of campaigns back, the 32-year-old has recorded 10 goals and 22 points in 35 contests. Taylor Raddysh is projected to enter the Rangers' lineup as Miller's replacement.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 21, 2025
Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson scored in his sixth consecutive game on Saturday, helping his team defeat the New York Islanders 3-2 in a shootout. Thompson was responsible for Buffalo's second goal, becoming only the second player in franchise history with multiple six-game goal streaks in a campaign. It has been a mixed season for Thompson, as he leads the Sabres with 18 goals and 31 points in 34 appearances but holds a team-worst minus-12 rating. Buffalo's record for consecutive games with a goal is eight, a mark shared by three players. Thompson can move another step closer to it on Sunday against the New Jersey Devils.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 21, 2025
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jacob Fowler had a memorable outing on Saturday, recording his first career shutout in a 4-0 win over Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 21-year-old stopped 31 shots, becoming the sixth-youngest American netminder to post his first NHL shutout. Fowler made his fourth appearance of the season and improved to 2-1-1. He has recorded a 2.49 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage. With Samuel Montembeault currently in the AHL on a conditioning assignment, Fowler has recently split goaltending duties with Jakub Dobes. The latter is expected to be between the sticks on Sunday for a rematch against Pittsburgh.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 21, 2025
St. Louis Blues right wing Jonatan Berggren tallied three points in Saturday's 6-2 win over the Florida Panthers, scoring a power-play goal and adding two assists. This was Berggren's third appearance for the Blues after he was claimed off waivers last week. Berggren struggled to get playing time in Detroit this season but has been a good fit in St. Louis. He saw first-line usage on Saturday and has scored in back-to-back games, boasting four points (two goals, two assists) through his first three outings with his new team. Overall, Berggren has registered 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 18 appearances this season.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 21, 2025
Montreal Canadiens center Jake Evans (lower body) won't play on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He suffered a lower-body injury in Saturday's home game against the Penguins and won't travel to Pittsburgh for a rematch. Evans has managed 10 points (five goals, five assists) and 44 hits across 34 games this season. On the negative side, he carries a team-worst minus-13 rating. Newly reacquired Phillip Danault (illness) could be Evans' replacement in the lineup next week. However, he won't be available for Sunday's action, and defenseman Jayden Struble might fill the gap in the lineup.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
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