December 27, 2025
New York Islanders center Bo Horvat (lower body) will be back in the lineup on Saturday when the team returns from the holiday break with a matchup against the New York Rangers. Horvat missed the last five games before the break due to a lower-body injury. Anthony Duclair is expected to be a healthy scratch to accommodate Horvat's return. The Islanders' top scorer will skate alongside Jonathan Drouin and Emil Heineman on the first line. Horvat is flirting with his second career 70-point campaign this year, notching 19 goals and 31 points in 32 appearances. He scored twice in this season's first Battle of New York.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 24, 2025
Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid continued his ridiculous run of form with a five-assist performance in Tuesday's 5-1 victory over the Calgary Flames. It was his second career five-assist game, tying him with Leon Draisaitl and Paul Coffey for second place in Oilers history. Draisaitl had a hat trick of power-play goals on Tuesday night. Following Tuesday's victory, McDavid boasts 12 goals and 31 points through his last 11 appearances. He's had almost half of his season's total during that stretch. Recently, the Oilers captain has been locked in a close race with Nathan MacKinnon for the league's scoring lead, but McDavid now sits comfortably in first place with a six-point advantage over the Colorado Avalanche star. In 38 outings across the season, McDavid has tallied 67 points (23 goals, 44 assists).
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 24, 2025
Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka (upper body) missed a scheduled start on Tuesday night against the Colorado Avalanche. He was sidelined by an upper-body injury, prompting the team to sign Colten McIntyre to an amateur tryout agreement as a backup to Vitek Vanecek for the night. Vanecek had a strong performance, stopping 25 of 26 shots, but Utah still lost to the dominant Avalanche 1-0. The Mammoth have the rest of the week off, giving Vejmelka time to recover. Whether that will be sufficient for the Czech goaltender to avoid missing additional action remains uncertain. In 29 starts this season, Vejmelka has posted a 16-10-2 record, a 2.70 goals-against average, a .896 save percentage, and one shutout.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 24, 2025
Montreal Canadiens winger Alexandre Texier (upper body) was hurt during Tuesday's physical matchup against the Boston Bruins, leaving a 6-2 win after logging only 4:20 of ice time. He was ruled out for the rest of the game after the second intermission. Texier recently had a four-game point streak, but he has now finished four consecutive appearances without making a mark in the scoring department. The French forward has registered six points (three goals, three assists) and 16 hits in 15 appearances since joining the Canadiens in late November. Montreal continues its season on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, giving Texier some additional time to recover. If he can't play, Sammy Blais or Brendan Gallagher might move up in the lineup.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
December 24, 2025
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin (ankle) missed the final few minutes of Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Florida Panthers, Cory Lavalette of The North State Journal reports. The Russian blue-liner exited with 3:46 remaining in regulation and was spotted icing his right ankle after the game. Carolina's defense has taken several injury hits throughout the campaign and just lost Jaccob Slavin (upper body) for the second time this season. Nikishin is having a fine debut campaign, logging 13 points (four goals, nine assists), 60 shots, 46 blocks, and 69 hits with a team-best plus-13 rating in 35 outings.
--Taavi PailkSource: Cory Lavalette
December 24, 2025
Philadelphia Flyers forward Denver Barkey (undisclosed) missed the third period of Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, Jackie Spiegel of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. He was injured on a hit from behind and will be re-evaluated over the holiday period. Barkey played his third career game on Tuesday night. He has slotted well into the middle six and registered two assists in his NHL debut against the New York Rangers last week. Before making a step up into the big league, the 20-year-old registered 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) in 26 AHL appearances.
--Taavi PailkSource: Jackie Spiegel
December 24, 2025
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim was removed from Tuesday's matchup against the Blackhawks by a concussion spotter, Jackie Spiegel of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Sanheim wasn't available for the final 12:33 of action in a tightly-contested 3-1 road win. Speaking to reporters after the game, Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet didn't seem too concerned about Sanheim's status, suggesting that he might not have to miss additional time. With the league taking a Christmas break, the 29-year-old will have some additional time to recover. Philadelphia will return to work on Sunday against the Seattle Kraken. Sanheim has produced 16 points (three goals, 13 assists) in 36 games and shares the team lead with 65 blocked shots.
--Taavi PailkSource: Jackie Spiegel
December 23, 2025
Boston Bruins winger Viktor Arvidsson (lower body) could return from a five-game absence on Tuesday against the Montreal Canadiens, as he is considered a game-time decision. If he is cleared for action, Arvidsson is expected to rejoin the second line and operate on the second power-play unit. This has been Arvidsson's second spell out this season, with the Swedish veteran limited to 25 appearances. He has recorded seven goals and 14 points. Arvidsson scored a 3-2 game-winning goal on the power play when Boston and Montreal clashed for the first time this season.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 23, 2025
Washington Capitals right wing Ryan Leonard (shoulder) was activated from Injured Reserve and is set to end a seven-game absence on Tuesday against the New York Rangers. The exciting rookie will hope to continue where he left off. Just before he was injured, Leonard exploded for a four-point outing and had a stretch of eight points (two goals, six assists) in six games. He is tied for fifth in scoring among first-year players, sitting on 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists) in 29 games. On Tuesday, Leonard may see increased ice time if Tom Wilson (undisclosed) gets ruled out.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 23, 2025
Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (undisclosed) is a game-time decision for Tuesday's tilt against the New York Rangers. The power forward wasn't available for the morning skate and may miss his first game of the season due to an undisclosed injury. It's been a monster year for Wilson, who leads the Capitals in goals (17), points (34), and hits (97) after 36 games, putting himself in the frame for a spot on Team Canada for the Olympics. Ryan Leonard (shoulder) is available following a seven-game absence and could take Wilson's spot in the top six on Tuesday.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 23, 2025
Montreal Canadiens center Phillip Danault (illness) will enter the lineup for Tuesday's tilt against the Boston Bruins. He is set to make his second Canadiens debut after the team reacquired him from the Los Angeles Kings late last week. The veteran forward will link up with Alexandre Texier and Josh Anderson on the third line. The 2025-26 campaign has been a nightmare for Danault so far, as he has gone goalless in 30 appearances with five assists. He is expected to have a much better scoring rate now that he is back with the Canadiens. During his first stint in Montreal, Danault produced 194 points (54 goals, 140 assists) in 360 games.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 23, 2025
San Jose Sharks right wing Collin Graf (face) will be in the lineup on Tuesday against the Vegas Golden Knights. He will play despite taking a puck to the face at Monday's practice and leaving the session early. The 23-year-old has had a couple of great weeks, posting nine points (six goals, three assists) in eight games. He has scored in back-to-back games while skating with Macklin Celebrini and Igor Chernyshov on the top line. Additionally, Graf has been part of the second power-play unit. In total, he has notched 19 points (nine goals, 10 assists) in 35 outings. Another goal on Tuesday would give Graf a second three-game goal streak this month.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 23, 2025
Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (illness) will remain sidelined on Tuesday against the San Jose Sharks, missing a fourth consecutive contest. Vegas' leading scorer dropped out of the lineup last week due to an illness and remains day-to-day. His next chance to return will be on Saturday night against the Colorado Avalanche. During Eichel's absence, Mitchell Marner has worked as a center, while Tomas Hertl has seen more usage. The Czech forward has responded with a three-game point streak and will try to match his second-longest scoring streak of the season in Tuesday's meeting with his former team. It's a superb matchup for the Golden Knights against the seventh-worst defense in the NHL.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 23, 2025
Seattle Kraken defenseman Vince Dunn (upper body) has been ruled out for Tuesday's clash against the Los Angeles Kings. He exited Monday's victory over the Anaheim Ducks with an upper-body injury and will miss at least one game. Dunn joins Brandon Montour (hand) on the shelf, leaving the Seattle defense in a tough spot. Ryker Evans is set to join the top-four group on Tuesday and will work on the first power-play unit. Meanwhile, Cale Fleury will take Dunn's spot in the lineup. He is also projected to join the second power-play unit. L.A. allows the second-fewest goals in the league (2.51), making this a difficult matchup for the Kraken.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 23, 2025
San Jose Sharks defenseman Timothy Liljegren (upper body) won't play on Tuesday against the Vegas Golden Knights, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports. The Swedish blue-liner suffered an upper-body injury during the morning skate ahead of Saturday's matchup against the Seattle Kraken. San Jose plans to re-evaluate Liljegren after Christmas. Liljegren is an important piece in the backline for the Sharks, averaging over 20 minutes of ice time. However, his fantasy stock is at an all-time low, as Liljegren has managed only four assists in 28 games and has no goals. Defensively, the 26-year-old has contributed 63 blocks and 25 hits.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sheng Peng
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