January 2, 2026
Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho welcomed 2026 with mixed emotions on Thursday, bagging a season-high five points in a matchup against the Montreal Canadiens but ending up on the losing side. Aho finished the contest with two goals and three assists, but Carolina blew a 4-2 lead to lose 7-5. The Finnish forward had two power-play points during his second career five-point outing. After a couple of rough weeks in December, Aho has put together a string of impressive performances, totaling seven goals and 14 points over his last eight appearances. The scoring surge has made Aho Carolina's runaway points leader, with 16 goals and 24 assists through 40 games.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
January 2, 2026
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews produced a big performance on New Year's Day, totaling four points in a 6-5 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. He potted his 14th career hat trick and delivered one assist, helping Toronto win the game from a 4-1 deficit. Matthews passed Pat LaFontaine for the most hat tricks by a U.S.-born player in NHL history and now needs only two more tallies to break Mats Sundin's franchise record. Recently, Matthews has begun to regain form, tallying eight points (four goals, four assists) across his past three appearances. Yet, he still isn't averaging a point per game for the season, sitting on 18 goals and 13 assists after 34 outings.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
January 2, 2026
Utah Mammoth winger Dylan Guenther started off 2026 with a bang, notching four points, including his first career hat trick, in a 7-2 road victory over the New York Islanders. The 22-year-old potted all his goals during even-strength play and tallied a power-play assist on Mikhail Sergachev's sixth goal of the season. Last term, Guenther took a big step forward with a 60-point campaign, and he's on course for another career year in 2025-26. The 22-year-old leads Utah with 20 goals and is in a three-way tie for the team scoring lead with 36 points. Over his last four appearances, Guenther has averaged two points per game.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
January 2, 2026
Montreal Canadiens right wing Josh Anderson (undisclosed) tallied his team's fifth goal in Thursday's 7-5 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes but left the game early due to injury. Anderson lit the lamp near the end of the second period and didn't come out for the third. The 33-year-old bagged his ninth goal of the campaign on Thursday night. He has also had four assists, while featuring in all 40 games up to this point. Montreal has used Anderson on the third line. If Anderson is forced to miss his first game of the season on Saturday against the St. Louis Blues, Owen Beck will likely be his replacement in the lineup.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
January 2, 2026
New York Islanders center Bo Horvat (lower body) exited Thursday's 7-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth in the third period. He left the action with 12 minutes remaining in regulation. Horvat struggled to put weight on his left leg as he limped down the tunnel. The Islanders' top scorer was injured a day after he was named on Team Canada for the 2026 Olympics. In 36 outings, Horvat has managed 21 goals and 33 points this campaign. The Islanders are expected to provide an update on him either Friday or Saturday. Simon Holmstrom or Calum Ritchie may get an opportunity in the top six if Horvat misses time. Meanwhile, his injury could also impact Team Canada.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
January 2, 2026
New York Rangers center Noah Laba (upper body) is considered week-to-week. The rookie sustained an upper-body injury during Wednesday's matchup against the Washington Capitals and won't be available for the first few games of 2026. Laba has notched 12 points (five goals, seven assists) across his first 42 career games in 2025-25. The timing of his injury is very unfortunate, as the 22-year-old was hurt just before the 2026 Winter Classic against the Florida Panthers. New York has also lost Conor Sheary (lower body) from its third line ahead of the game. Brett Berard, Anton Blidh, and Justin Dowling are the candidates to fill the gaps in the lineup.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 2, 2026
New York Rangers left wing Conor Sheary (lower body) was placed on long-term Injured Reserve. He must now sit out at least 10 games, including Friday's Winter Classic against the Florida Panthers. Sheary sustained a lower-body injury in Wednesday's loss to the Washington Capitals. Through 37 appearances, Sheary has contributed one goal and eight assists this season. He was part of the third line on Wednesday, along with Noah Laba (upper body), who was also injured. To bolster the frontline depth, the Rangers called up Brett Berard, Anton Blidh, and Justin Dowling from the AHL, while reassigning Brennan Othmann to the minors.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 1, 2026
Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Miles Wood (lower body) was placed on Injured Reserve on Thursday, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports. Wood was injured during Wednesday's matchup against the New Jersey Devils. According to Portzline, the veteran forward may have suffered an ankle injury. Wood, who has recorded 12 points (eight goals, four assists) in 32 games this season, started Wednesday's contest on the second line. Recently acquired Danton Heinen was recalled from the minors to fill Wood's spot on the roster. Heinen is a former 40-point scorer but hasn't provided fantasy value in 2025-26, registering two points (one goal, one assist) in 13 NHL outings.
--Taavi PailkSource: Aaron Portzline
January 1, 2026
Vancouver Canucks right wing Conor Garland (undisclosed) will be out of the lineup for at least one week, head coach Adam Foote said on Thursday. The Canucks boss told reporters the injury to Garland was the result of a slew foot against the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday. Garland has been among Vancouver's most productive players in 2025-26, recording seven goals and 22 points. On Thursday, Foote also announced that Marco Rossi (lower body) will miss at least one week, leaving the Canucks without two-thirds of their second line for the next three games. Aatu Raty and Nils Hoglander are expected to come into the lineup on Friday versus the Seattle Kraken. Meanwhile, Kiefer Sherwood could be Garland's replacement on the second line.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
January 1, 2026
Vancouver Canucks center Marco Rossi (lower body) will be out for at least one week, head coach Adam Foote announced on Thursday. The Canucks return to action on Friday night against the Seattle Kraken. If he misses only a week, Rossi will be out for three games. The Austrian forward has made eight appearances for Vancouver since being acquired from the Minnesota Wild on Dec. 12. He has been sluggish offensively, posting one goal and one assist. Aatu Raty will probably take Rossi's spot in the lineup on Friday, while David Kampf might move up to the second line.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
January 1, 2026
Pittsburgh Penguins winger Yegor Chinakhov is ready to make his team debut on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings. The Penguins acquired Chinakhov on Dec. 29 from the Columbus Blue Jackets, and he skated on the third line during the morning skate. In Columbus, Chinakhov managed only six points (three goals, three assists) in 29 appearances this season. He is expected to have a larger role with the Penguins, who have the league's 11th-best scoring record. Additionally, Chinakhov may benefit from Pittsburgh's impressive 30.1 percent power play. On Thursday, he is projected to work with the second power-play unit.
--Taavi PailkSource: Michelle Crechiolo
January 1, 2026
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (groin) will remain sidelined for Thursday's tilt against the Montreal Canadiens, missing a third consecutive game. The in-form veteran, who has tallied 29 points (four goals, 25 assists) in 28 appearances this season, recently suffered a groin injury. Gostisbehere's injury has opened the door for Joel Nystrom to play regularly. While Nystrom hasn't scored with 36 shots this season, he collected his seventh assist in Tuesday's 5-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The rest of the defensive group is taking on increased responsibilities as well, with Jaccob Slavin (upper body) also sidelined.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 1, 2026
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (lower body) will return to the lineup for Thursday's matchup against the Winnipeg Jets. The Maple Leafs captain missed Tuesday's 4-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils due to a lower-body injury. Matthews has failed to match his high standards in 2025-26, but he finished 2025 on a high. The star forward has managed four points (one goal, three assists) over his last two appearances, reaching 27 points (15 goals, 12 assists) for the season. Unfortunately, Matthews has once again been bothered by injuries, appearing in only 33 of 39 games. On Thursday, Matthews will center the first line, working with Max Domi and Matthews Knies. John Tavares will drop to the second line, joining Bobby McMann and Matias Maccelli.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 1, 2026
Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander (lower body) will sit out a third consecutive game on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets. The Swedish superstar is reportedly progressing and skated before Thursday's practice, but he still needs a bit more time to recover from a lower-body injury he sustained last weekend against the Ottawa Senators. Nylander's play has been outstanding this season, as he has totaled 41 points (14 goals, 27 assists) in 33 appearances. Fortunately for the Maple Leafs, they will have Auston Matthews (lower body) back against Winnipeg, giving the offense a boost.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 1, 2026
Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson brought the fireworks on New Year's Eve against the New York Rangers, finishing a 6-3 win with a Gordie Howe hat trick. He scored two goals in the contest, had one assist, and fought Rangers forward Sam Carrick in the second period. It was a busy outing for Wilson shortly after he was named to Canada's roster for the 2026 Olympics. Wilson will be hoping the new year brings him just as much success as 2025 did. He finished the calendar year with 40 regular-season goals, by far the most of his career. In Thursday's matchup against the Ottawa Senators, Wilson has a chance to record a third consecutive three-point game. The 31-year-old has 21 goals, 40 points, and 105 hits through 39 appearances, all team-highs this season.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
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