December 9, 2025
Buffalo Sabres left wing Jason Zucker (lower body) is facing another spell on the sidelines after he was placed on Injured Reserve on Tuesday. Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff expects Zucker to "miss some time" due to a lower-body injury. Zucker was unavailable for most of November due to a viral illness. He had been hugely impressive since returning, amassing 11 points (five goals, six assists) in nine games. For the season, Zucker has notched 18 points (nine goals, nine assists) in 21 games. Josh Dunne will take Zucker's spot in the lineup on Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers, but he has no fantasy value.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 9, 2025
Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (undisclosed) is poised to rejoin the lineup on Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues, Lou Korac of NHL.com reports. The Czech superstar has joined his teammates for pregame warmups after initially being regarded as a game-time decision. Pastrnak, who has missed five contests, is once again averaging over a point per game this season, scoring 11 goals and serving 18 assists in 26 appearances. Alex Steeves has seen time on the first line during Pastrnak's absence and must now settle for a lesser role.
--Taavi PailkSource: Lou Korac
December 9, 2025
Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood (back) will start on Tuesday night against the Nashville Predators. He has been out of the lineup for three games due to a back issue. This season, Wedgewood ranks in the top four in all the main goalie categories. He has a 13-1-3 record, a 2.07 goals-against average, and a .920 save percentage. Over his last three starts, Wedgewood has allowed three total goals, recording his first shutout of the season against the Chicago Blackhawks on Nov. 23. On Tuesday night, Wedgewood faces the NHL's fourth-weakest offense, as Nashville is averaging only 2.61 goals per game.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 9, 2025
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin (upper body) was placed on Injured Reserve ahead of Tuesday's tilt against the Anaheim Ducks. He departed the lineup on Sunday against the Dallas Stars and will miss at least a couple more games after Tuesday night. Pittsburgh also placed Blake Lizotte (upper body) on Injured Reserve on Tuesday. The Penguins are once again struggling with injuries in the attacking department, giving Thomas Novak a top-line role. Novak has been a regular on the score sheet recently and could cause plenty of trouble for the opposition as Sidney Crosby's partner in crime.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 9, 2025
St. Louis Blues forward Jordan Kyrou (lower body) will miss a second consecutive game on Tuesday against the Boston Bruins and is considered week-to-week. Blues head coach Jim Montgomery told reporters that Kyrou is anticipated to miss at least one week of action, meaning he will probably sit out three more games after Tuesday night. Mathieu Joseph will get a look on the second against Boston after he recorded one assist in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens. Joseph hasn't managed points in back-to-back games since February, recording eight points (two goals, six assists) in 24 outings this season.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 9, 2025
Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley (lower body) will rejoin the lineup on Tuesday against the Winnipeg Jets. He has missed 12 games due to a lower-body injury. Harley is projected to skate on the second defensive pairing and the second power-play unit. Compared to the previous campaign, Harley's scoring rate had dropped in 2025-26, but he has still been impactful. In 18 appearances, Harley has had 10 points (one goal, nine assists), 21 shots, and 43 blocks. He will look to build momentum against a struggling Jets team that has lost seven of its last nine games. Vladislav Kolyachonok will sit out Tuesday's game as a healthy scratch.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 9, 2025
Colorado Avalanche right wing Martin Necas (illness) is a game-time call for Tuesday's contest against the Nashville Predators. He left the morning skate early due to illness. Necas has had a great time in Denver and is currently on pace for a massive 110-point campaign. In 29 outings, he has contributed 14 goals and 25 assists. Gavin Brindley (lower body) was activated from Injured Reserve on Tuesday and could be Necas' replacement in the lineup against Nashville. This is a very favorable fantasy matchup for Colorado's frontline, as the Predators allow the second-most goals in the league (3.50) and have the fifth-worst save percentage (.883).
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 9, 2025
New York Islanders center Jean-Gabriel Pageau (upper body) will return from an eight-game absence in Tuesday's matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights. He will skate with Anders Lee and Mathew Barzal on the second line. Before he suffered an upper-body injury, Pageau was stuck on a five-game scoring drought. However, it has been a decent campaign for him. In 22 outings, the defensive-minded forward has totaled six goals and 12 points. Pageau's return means there is no room for Maxim Tsyplakov in the lineup on Tuesday.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 9, 2025
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Cam York (upper body) will miss Tuesday's clash against the San Jose Sharks. He will be out for a second straight game due to an upper-body injury. York is tied for fourth on his team with 11 assists and has scored one goal in 23 games this season. Due to York's absence, Ty Murchison will make his NHL debut against San Jose. He will join Noah Juulsen on the third defensive pairing. Murchison does not have much fantasy upside, posting four points (one goal, three assists) in 21 AHL appearances in 2025-26.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 9, 2025
Detroit Red Wings goaltender John Gibson had a perfect night at the office on Monday, finishing a 4-0 victory over the Vancouver Canucks with a 39-save shutout. The American netminder landed his first shutout of the season and won his third consecutive start. Gibson has started to recover from a tricky patch, although his save percentage for the season still stands at a dissapointing .881 percent. He has allowed 3.35 goals while going 7-7-1. Wednesday's matchup against a low-scoring Calgary Flames team gives Gibson a good opportunity to record his first four-game winning streak since November 2021. However, Cam Talbot will also be an option to start as Detroit begins a back-to-back.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 9, 2025
Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri finished Monday's 7-4 victory over the Buffalo Sabres with a goal and two assists. Yegor Sharangovich also had three points (two goals, one assist) as the NHL's worst offense suddenly came alive. Kadri factored in Calgary's first four goals. While his team has struggled to generate goals all season, Kadri is having a fine campaign. Across 31 appearances, he has notched six goals and 26 points. Five of Kadri's last 10 outings have ended with multiple points. He will look to continue that momentum in the next matchup against a Detroit Red Wings team that has one of the worst save percentages in the league at .882.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 9, 2025
Minnesota Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek recorded a season-high three points in Monday's 4-1 road victory over the Seattle Kraken, ending a five-game scoreless spell. The Swedish forward opened the scoring early in the second period and bagged a pair of assists in the third. With his second assist, Erikson Ek broke a tie with Mikael Granlund for the 10th-most points in Wild history. Recently, Eriksson Ek has struggled to make an impact offensively, but his season hasn't gone too badly. After 30 appearances, Erikson Ek sits on 19 points (five goals, 14 assists). He is third on the Wild squad with 52 hits.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 9, 2025
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Dennis Hildeby stopped all 29 shots against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday to record his first career shutout in a 2-0 victory. With Joseph Woll (lower body) and Anthony Stolarz (upper body) sidelined, Hildeby made his fifth start of the campaign and improved to 2-2-2. The 24-year-old Swedish native boasts a 2.16 goals-against average and a .936 save percentage. He currently looks like a great option between the sticks for fantasy managers. Next up, Hildeby will face the San Jose Sharks on Thursday if neither Woll nor Stolarz returns.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 9, 2025
Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Dakota Mermis (lower body) will be evaluated on Tuesday after he was injured in Monday's win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Mermis was forced to exit the game early in the third period due to a knee-on-knee hit from Lightning forward Gage Goncalves, who received a major penalty and a game misconduct. The 31-year-old was reinserted into the lineup on Monday after he served as a healthy scratch for three games. Now, he might have to miss time due to injury. Mermis has recorded one goal, five shots, nine blocks, and eight hits in 11 outings with the Maple Leafs this season. Philippe Myers, who made way for Mermis in the lineup on Monday, is likely to replace him if he misses time.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
December 9, 2025
Minnesota Wild defenseman Jacob Middleton (undisclosed) was injured in Monday's victory over the Seattle Kraken. He left the contest in the third period due to an undisclosed injury. Before his exit, Middleton recorded an assist on Minnesota's first goal. This gives Middleton six assists for the season. He has yet to score a goal with 21 attempts on the net. Last season, Middleton produced a career-high eight goals. In 2025-26, the veteran rearguard has also recorded 46 blocks and 45 hits in 27 appearances. Minnesota played with seven defensemen on Monday night, so a forward might come into the lineup as Middleton's replacement if he can't play in Thursday's contest against the Dallas Stars.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
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