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
December 7, 2025
Carolina Hurricanes winger Nikolaj Ehlers bagged a season-high three points in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Nashville Predators. He netted a power-play marker in the opening frame and set up Jackson Blake for a pair of goals. After becoming a regular 60-point scorer in Winnipeg, Ehlers has not quite hit the same heights with his new club. In 27 games, he has posted six goals and 19 points. The Danish forward must improve his scoring pace to record a third consecutive 60-point campaign. Ehlers and the Hurricanes will return to action on Sunday against the San Jose Sharks, who allow 3.35 goals per game.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 7, 2025
New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin had a special outing on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, tying a franchise record with his 25th career shutout in a 2-0 win. Sorokin and Tampa's Jonas Johansson kept the game tied until the 12:48 mark when Calum Ritchie opened the scoring on the power play. Sorokin finished with 32 saves, joining Glenn Resch at the top of the Islanders' shutouts list. It was Sorokin's third shutout of the season, putting him behind only Jesper Wallstedt of the Minnesota Wild (4). The Islanders' No. 1 has a 10-8-2 record, a 2.47 goals-against average, and a .912 save percentage. In his next start, Sorokin will attempt to post his first four-game winning streak since January-February of this year.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 7, 2025
Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett played a huge role in Saturday's high-scoring 7-6 overtime victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets, scoring the game-winning goal and delivering three assists. Bennett, who posted a new season high with four points, ended the game with just two ticks left in overtime. His entire line was on fire, as Brad Marchand also had four points (one goal, three assists) and Carter Verhaeghe finished with three points (two goals, one assist). After a sluggish start to the campaign, Bennett has started to look like his old self lately, going scoreless only twice in his past nine outings. During that span, he has produced three multi-point performances. Overall, Bennett has managed 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) in 27 games.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 7, 2025
St. Louis Blues forward Jordan Kyrou (lower body) was forced to leave Saturday's matchup against the Ottawa Senators after logging just 53 seconds of ice time. He was hurt only a couple of minutes into the game on a hit from Senators forward Stephen Halliday. Kyrou's early exit from Saturday's contest leaves him questionable for Sunday's meeting with the Montreal Canadiens. The 27-year-old is having a bad year with the Blues, sitting on only 16 points (eight goals, eight assists) through 28 games. Half of his points came during an eight-game point streak in October. Matt Luff, who is averaging nearly a point per game in the AHL this season, will likely take Kyrou's place in the lineup if he can't play against Montreal.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 7, 2025
Tampa Bay Lightning center Dominic James (undisclosed) joined the team's growing list of injuries on Saturday against the New York Islanders, Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site reports. Tampa Bay was without Nikita Kucherov (undisclosed) and Brayden Point (undisclosed) in the attack, giving James a second-line role. Now, Lightning head coach Jon Cooper may have to shake up his lineup again. James has tallied five points (two goals, three assists) in 19 games during his rookie season. The Lightning also lost Curtis Douglas (undisclosed) from the fourth line during Saturday's contest.
--Taavi PailkSource: Benjamin Pierce
December 6, 2025
Seattle Kraken left wing Mason Marchment (undisclosed) is expected to rejoin the lineup on Saturday against the Detroit Red Wings. He missed Thursday's 9-4 loss to the Edmonton Oilers with an undisclosed injury. During the morning skate, Marchment was on the third line next to Berkly Catton and Frederick Gaudreau. Jani Nyman is projected to make room for Marchment in the lineup. In 23 outings this season, Marchment has contributed two goals and nine assists, while recording 34 hits. However, he enters Saturday's contest with a three-game point drought. Marchment has a chance to end his dry spell in a matchup against a team that has allowed at least three goals in eight consecutive games.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 6, 2025
Minnesota Wild forward Danila Yurov (undisclosed) will be back in action on Saturday against the Nashville Predators, returning from a two-game absence. He is projected to rejoin Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello on the first line. Meanwhile, Ryan Hartman will drop to the fourth line, with Ben Jones sitting as a healthy scratch. Yurov has fit in quite well on the top line, notching five points (one goal, four assists) over his last seven appearances. The Russian rookie has managed seven points (three goals, four assists) in 21 games for the season overall. Minnesota's top line gets a juicy matchup on Saturday against the NHL's leakiest defense.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 6, 2025
Carolina Hurricanes center Jesperi Kotkaniemi (ankle) was removed from Injured Reserve on Saturday and will be in contention to play against the Nashville Predators. Kotkaniemi has missed nine games with an ankle injury. He is expected to replace Mark Jankowski on the fourth line. In 15 appearances this season, Kotkaniemi has recorded five points (two goals, three assists), a respectable total for a player who has averaged only 10:24 of ice time. Carolina also hopes to have defenseman K'Andre Miller (illness) back on Saturday after he missed Thursday's loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 6, 2025
Ottawa Senators center Shane Pinto (lower body) will miss two weeks of action. He was injured in Thursday's loss to the New York Rangers and has been placed on Injured Reserve ahead of Saturday's matchup against the St. Louis Blues. In a corresponding move, Ottawa recalled Hayden Hodgson from the minors. Pinto has been Ottawa's best goal-scorer this season with 12 markers in 27 games. He has added eight assists. On Saturday, Ridly Greig will replace Pinto as the third-line center. While Greig has some offensive upside, fantasy managers certainly can't expect him to provide similar production to Pinto. Greig has recorded eight points (two goals, six assists) in 22 appearances.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 6, 2025
Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (undisclosed) will miss a fifth consecutive game on Saturday against the New Jersey Devils. Pastrnak returned to the ice on Friday, skating before practice, but he isn't quite ready to make his comeback in Saturday's game. Alex Steeves is expected to maintain a first-line role against New Jersey. The 25-year-old has had a couple of great outings recently, finishing back-to-back games with multiple points. He may be poised for another good showing against a Devils team that has lost four consecutive games, allowing 16 goals during that stretch.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 6, 2025
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (undisclosed) will not return to action on Saturday against the New York Islanders. He was initially expected back after missing Thursday's matchup against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Jonas Johansson will remain between the sticks for Tampa, with Brandon Halverson backing him up. Johansson struggled on Thursday, allowing four goals on 31 shots in a 4-3 loss. However, he still has a winning record for the season at 5-3-0. Johansson has registered a 3.06 goals-against average and a .892 save percentage. The Swedish netminder faces a difficult matchup on Saturday. The Islanders have dropped only a handful of games over the last month, scoring six goals in their most recent effort, an impressive victory over the Colorado Avalanche.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 6, 2025
Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (undisclosed) won't play on Saturday against the New York Islanders. The three-time NHL scoring leader is dealing with an undisclosed injury, which will keep him sidelined for a third time this season. Kucherov has enjoyed a couple of huge weeks, taking up a position once again among the NHL's highest scorers. He has registered 34 points (12 goals, 22 assists) in 25 games. Brayden Point (undisclosed), who has missed six games, is questionable for Saturday's matchup, so Tampa Bay may be without two huge top-six pieces. Kucherov is considered day-to-day, and his first chance to return to action will come on Monday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 6, 2025
Dallas Stars winger Mikko Rantanen posted one goal and two assists in Friday's 4-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks. He started his work with a power-play assist in the first period and completed it with a pair of even-strength points in the third. Rantanen scored as many as three points for the fifth time this season. Only three players have more three-point games in 2025-26: Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon (7), Chicago's Connor Bedard (6), and San Jose's Macklin Celebrini (6). Two of Rantanen's three-point efforts have come in his last four appearances. He has been on fire recently and will head into Sunday's matchup against the Pittsburgh Penguins with a five-game point streak and a three-game goal streak. Rantanen ranks third in the league with 25 assists and has posted 38 points in 28 games.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 6, 2025
Winnipeg Jets left wing Kyle Connor scored in a fourth consecutive game as the team returned to winning ways with a 4-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night. Connor opened the scoring in the contest, recording his sixth career goal streak of at least four games. Only Ilya Kovalchuk (17) has managed more such streaks in franchise history. While Winnipeg has struggled to get wins on the board lately, the top line has continued to pick up points for fun. Connor has managed five multi-point efforts in his last 10 appearances, boosting his season total to 34 points (15 goals, 19 assists) over 27 games played.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
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