December 20, 2025
Tampa Bay Lightning center Anthony Cirelli (undisclosed) will play on Saturday against the Carolina Hurricanes. Cirelli didn't finish Thursday's loss to the Los Angeles Kings due to an undisclosed injury. However, he won't miss additional time and will remain in the lineup against Carolina. Cirelli has contributed nine goals and 10 assists in 30 outings this term. He has been slumping offensively for a while, finishing nine of his last 11 games pointless. The 28-year-old last scored a goal nearly a month ago, lighting the lamp on Nov. 24 in a 3-0 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 20, 2025
Tampa Bay Lightning winger Brandon Hagel (upper body) was placed on Injured Reserve on Saturday, Diandra Loux of The Hockey News reports. He will miss his second consecutive game on Saturday night against the Carolina Hurricanes and won't be eligible to be activated until Dec. 27. Tampa Bay also faces the St. Louis Blues on Monday before the Christmas break. Hagel tops the Lightning with 18 goals and has accumulated 31 points over 32 games. In Hagel's absence, Gage Goncalves has landed in a top-six role, but he isn't expected to make a significant impact.
--Taavi PailkSource: Diandra Loux
December 20, 2025
Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (illness) is a game-time decision for Saturday's tilt against the Carolina Hurricanes. On Thursday, Kucherov was a late scratch for a meeting with the Los Angeles Kings. He has been dealing with an illness and didn't skate on Saturday morning. Kucherov has once again been a scoring machine with the Lightning, notching 42 points (13 goals, 29 assists) in 30 outings. Brandon Hagel (upper body) has already been ruled out for Saturday, giving Gage Goncalves a top-six job. However, he has limited fantasy value, producing seven points (two goals, five assists) in 30 appearances this season.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 20, 2025
New York Rangers forward J.T. Miller (upper body) left Saturday's 5-4 shootout win against the Philadelphia Flyers in the third period. He contributed an assist as the Rangers turned a 4-2 deficit into a win thanks to a third-period comeback. However, Miller appeared to have hurt his arm or shoulder with eight minutes left in regulation. The Rangers captain has had a disappointing campaign, totaling 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists) in 35 contests. A serious injury would be another setback for him. Jonny Brodzinski and Taylor Raddysh are the candidates to enter the lineup if Miller is deemed unhealthy to play on Sunday against the Nashville Predators.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 20, 2025
Minnesota Wild defenseman Zach Bogosian (lower body) will be absent for a third straight contest on Saturday against the Edmonton Oilers. The towering blue-liner is nursing a lower-body injury and is considered day-to-day. Bogosian's next chance to return will be on Sunday against the Colorado Avalanche. Matt Kiersted and David Jiricek have seen regular action recently, as several injuries have struck the team's defense. Jonas Brodin (lower body), Jacob Middleton (upper body), and Daemon Hunt (lower body) have all been on the shelf, along with Bogosian. On Friday, Minnesota reassigned Carson Lambos to the minors, suggesting that one of the defensemen could be ready to return from the infirmary.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 20, 2025
Minnesota Wild left wing Marcus Johansson (lower body) is considered questionable for Saturday's matchup against the Edmonton Oilers. The Swedish veteran may miss a third consecutive game due to a lower-body injury. Johansson has had an impressive campaign, scoring 26 points (11 goals, 15 assists) and logging a team-best plus-15 rating in 33 appearances. Minnesota's frontline has also been without Mats Zuccarello (upper body) and Vinnie Hinostroza (upper body) recently. As a result of the injuries, Yakov Trenin has joined the top six. Trenin finished Thursday's 5-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets with two assists, but he isn't a consistent contributor on the offensive end.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 20, 2025
New York Islanders center Bo Horvat (lower body) will miss a fourth straight game on Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres. He isn't traveling with the team after sustaining a lower-body injury earlier this month. Horvat's absence is a huge blow for the Islanders, as he leads the team in goals (19) and points (31). Furthermore, Mathew Barzal (undisclosed) is also dealing with a health issue and has been a game-time decision for a pair of contests this week. The team would be without its top two centers if Barzal had to sit as well. Jean-Gabriel Pageau has moved into the top six in Horvat's absence, although he is mostly known for his defense, and fantasy managers don't have much to gain by picking him up.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 20, 2025
Carolina Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis (upper body) will miss time after crashing into a goalpost 20 seconds into overtime during Friday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Florida Panthers. Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour said Jarvis' injury "is not good. He's going to be out for a while." The 23-year-old finished Friday's contest with a pair of assists and is Carolina's second-highest scorer. In 34 appearances, Jarvis has notched 29 points (19 goals, 10 assists). He leads the team in goals. Carolina will also miss Jarvis' physicality, as he has amassed 43 hits this season.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 20, 2025
Center Phillip Danault (illness) has returned to the Montreal Canadiens, who reacquired him from the Los Angeles Kings for a 2026 second-round draft pick originally belonging to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Danault moved to L.A. in 2021 as an unrestricted free agent, signing a six-year, $33 million contract. He had a productive four-year stint with the Kings, but the wheels have come off for Danault in 2025-26. The 32-year-old has gone goalless in 30 appearances, dishing out only five assists. Montreal scores significantly more goals than the Kings, so Danault should have much more success offensively in the second half of the season.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 20, 2025
The Columbus Blue Jackets have acquired winger Mason Marchment from the Seattle Kraken, giving up a 2026 fourth-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick. Marchment is in the final season of a four-year, $18 million contract. The Kraken acquired Marchment this offseason from the Dallas Stars for a third- and fourth-round draft pick. He made 29 appearances for the team, logging 13 points (four goals, nine assists) and 38 hits. Marchment's numbers have dropped significantly compared with his years in Dallas. The 30-year-old will beef up the Blue Jackets' lineup and could be a valuable asset in the postseason.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 19, 2025
Nashville Predators right wing Jonathan Marchessault (lower body) was labeled day-to-day on Friday. He sustained a lower-body injury on Wednesday night against the Carolina Hurricanes. The veteran escaped a serious injury, but he could still miss some action. Nashville continues its season this weekend with a back-to-back against the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers. Marchessault has yet to get going in 2025-26, posting only 10 points (seven goals, three assists) in 28 contests. With Marchessault sidelined, Luke Evangelista and Matthew Wood could see increased ice time, and Tyson Jost is expected to fill his spot in the lineup.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 19, 2025
Edmonton Oilers goaltender Tristan Jarry (lower body) was placed on Injured Reserve on Friday. He is set to miss at least three games due to a lower-body injury. It's an unfortunate blow for the 30-year-old who has only just joined the team. Jarry has posted a 3-0-0 record with the Oilers since being acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins on Dec. 12. Edmonton has a back-to-back scheduled for this weekend, meaning both Calvin Pickard and Connor Ingram could get action. Neither goalie looks like a good fantasy option, as they will face very tough opponents in Minnesota and Vegas.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 19, 2025
Detroit Red Wings right wing Patrick Kane (upper body) will miss a third consecutive game on Saturday against the Washington Capitals. The former MVP was injured last Saturday against the Chicago Blackhawks, and it remains unclear when he can rejoin the action. Kane has been impactful this season, notching 23 points (six goals, 17 assists) in 24 games. In his absence, John Leonard has received a chance on the second line, recording one assist across two games. He figures to remain in the role for Saturday's tough matchup against one of the NHL's best defensive teams.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 19, 2025
Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore (upper body) will miss this weekend's back-to-back and is considered week-to-week. He sat out his first game of the season on Wednesday against the New Jersey Devils. With 20 points (four goals, 16 assists) in 31 games, Theodore is the runaway scoring leader among Vegas' defensemen and has 48 blocks. On Wednesday, Jeremy Lauzon hopped into the lineup as Theodore's replacement, registering one shot, one block, three hits, and two penalty minutes. Meanwhile, Noah Hanifin led the blue line in ice time with 26:07, logging 2:18 of action on the power play.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 19, 2025
Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (illness, lower body) has not joined the team for this weekend's back-to-back on the road against the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers. Vegas' star man has been dealing with an illness this week and also has a lower-body injury, missing his first game of the season on Wednesday night against the New Jersey Devils. With Eichel sidelined, the Golden Knights travel to Alberta without their top scorer. Eichel notched 41 points (12 goals, 29 assists) in 31 games. In his absence, Mitchell Marner is set to skate as a center, while Brandon Saad practiced on the first line on Friday.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
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