December 4, 2025
Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Kirill Marchenko (knee) has been cleared for action and will return from a four-game absence on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings. He will return to the top six and work on the first power-play unit. After putting together a 12-game point streak, Marchenko has gone scoreless in each of his last three appearances. Nonetheless, he continues to be Columbus' highest-scoring forward, boasting 22 points (eight goals, 14 assists) through 22 appearances. Marchenko has finished four straight outings without a point only twice in 2025.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 4, 2025
Florida Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe (personal) has rejoined the team and will play on Thursday against the Nashville Predators. He missed Tuesday's loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs due to the birth of his son. Verhaeghe is close to becoming the fourth Panther this season with 20-plus points. He has managed four goals and 12 assists in 24 outings. Recently, Verhaeghe has been red-hot, notching six points (two goals, four assists) during a three-game point streak. On Thursday, Verhaeghe will skate on the second line with Sam Bennett and A.J. Greer. He will also rejoin the first power-play unit.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 4, 2025
Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood (back) will not dress for Thursday's tilt against the New York Islanders. The veteran netminder exited Tuesday's win over the Vancouver Canucks early due to a back issue, and while Wedgewood is not expected to miss much time, he will have the night off on Thursday. Wedgewood's emergence has been one of the stories of the season in the NHL, as he currently holds a league-best 13-1-3 record. He has allowed 2.07 goals with a .920 save percentage and one shutout. Mackenzie Blackwood, who is 6-0-1 for the campaign, will get the start on Thursday, with Trent Miner providing backup.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 4, 2025
Minnesota Wild center Danila Yurov (undisclosed) will miss a second consecutive game on Thursday against the Calgary Flames. The 21-year-old was filling in as the first-line center when he suffered an undisclosed injury. He has notched seven points (three goals, four assists) in 21 games during his rookie campaign, including five points (one goal, four assists) in his last seven outings. Marco Rossi (lower body) is expected to miss at least three more games, putting pressure on Ryan Hartman to perform well. He took over the top-line center role on Tuesday night against the Edmonton Oilers.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 4, 2025
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (undisclosed) won't play on Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Jonas Johansson will guard the crease, while Brandon Halverson has been called up from the minors to serve as the backup. Fortunately, Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said that Vasilevskiy isn't dealing with anything serious and is expected to return to action on Saturday against the New York Islanders. The Islanders ended the former Vezina Trophy winner's six-game winning streak on Tuesday. Vasilevskiy holds an 11-6-2 record with a 2.31 goals-against average, a .917 save percentage, and one shutout. Five of his eight losses came in his first five starts of the campaign.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 4, 2025
Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (undisclosed) is not ready to return to action on Thursday against the St. Louis Blues. The Czechia star exited the lineup last week and will miss a fourth consecutive game. Pastrnak remains day-to-day. Following three successive 100-point campaigns, Pastrnak's scoring rate has dropped in 2025-26, and he likely won't be able to extend the streak this season. However, Pastrnak has still been among Boston's leading scorers, producing 29 points (11 goals, 18 assists) in 25 games. Alex Steeves, who scored twice in Tuesday's 5-4 loss to the Detroit Red Wings, is filling in for Pastrnak on the first line.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 4, 2025
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh (undisclosed) signed a three-year, $12.3 million contract extension on Thursday. The veteran rearguard was set to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2026. McDonagh has made close to 400 appearances with the Lightning over two stints at the club, including 15 this season. He has missed nearly a month of action due to an undisclosed injury. After posting back-to-back 30-point campaigns, McDonagh is unlikely to extend the streak. He currently sits on six points (three goals, three assists), and it's unclear when McDonagh can return to action.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 4, 2025
Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka finished Wednesday's 7-0 victory over the Anaheim Ducks with a 27-save shutout. He became only the second goaltender in the league this season to shut out the Ducks, who average the third-most goals (3.48). Vejmelka, who registered his first shutout of the season, rebounded superbly after a rough outing against the San Jose Sharks on Monday, where he was pulled in the first period. The Mammoth's No. 1 now holds an 11-7-2 record for the season. Vejmelka boasts a solid 2.73 goals-against average, but he has managed only a .891 save percentage, which is one of the worst marks among regular starters in 2025-26.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 4, 2025
Utah Mammoth winger JJ Peterka led the demolition job in Wednesday's 7-0 victory over the Anaheim Ducks, notching two goals and two assists. Peterka became the fourth Utah player with a four-point effort this season. Only the league-leading Colorado Avalanche (6) have more. After managing only six points in November, Peterka already has five points in two games this month. On Friday, the exciting winger gets a perfect matchup to maintain his hot form, as the Mammoth visit the Vancouver Canucks, who allow a league-worst 3.63 goals per game. After 28 outings, Peterka has posted 12 goals and 21 points for the season.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 4, 2025
Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield posted a power-play assist in Wednesday's 3-2 shootout victory over the Winnipeg Jets. Caufield's work helped Juraj Slafkovsky score Montreal's first goal midway through the second period. With the assist, Caufield extended his point streak to nine games. Currently, it's the longest active scoring streak in the league. The entire first line has heated up for the Canadiens. Slafkovsky made it on the score sheet for a fourth consecutive game on Wednesday night, and Nick Suzuki is riding a seven-game point streak. The trio will look to continue their success over the weekend during a back-to-back against Toronto and St. Louis. Caufield leads his team with 14 goals and has managed 29 points in 26 games.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 4, 2025
Philadelphia Flyers winger Matvei Michkov had his second multi-point performance in three games on Wednesday, finishing a 5-2 home win against the Buffalo Sabres with a pair of assists. He recorded a power-play helper on a Travis Konecny goal in the first period and had an even-strength assist when Owen Tippett capped off the scoring in the second. Recently, Michkov has enjoyed his best spell of the season, averaging a point per game over a five-game span. His role is expected to grow in the coming weeks, with Tyson Foerster (upper body) unavailable for at least a couple of months. Michkov has managed eight goals and 16 points in 26 games for the season.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 4, 2025
Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger logged a 30-save shutout in Wednesday's 3-0 road win against the New Jersey Devils. Dallas' No. 1 collected his second shutout of the season, improving to 12-4-2. On Wednesday, Oettinger recorded his 161st career win to surpass Ed Belfour for the third most in franchise history. Oettinger tends to have some leaky nights, but he has won four consecutive starts and eight of his last seven outings. The 2024 All-Star holds a 2.60 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage this season.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 4, 2025
Washington Capitals right wing Ryan Leonard had the best game of his young career on Wednesday, posting two goals and two assists in a 7-1 road victory over the San Jose Sharks. Leonard became the first Capitals rookie to record a four-point game since legendary playmaker Nicklas Backstrom in 2008. The 20-year-old is riding a four-game point streak and has finished scoreless just once in his past six outings. He has scored power-play points in three consecutive games. Washington has used Leonard on the first power-play unit, which has given him a big lift. In even-strength situations, he has been limited to a third-line role. Leonard boasts 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists) in 28 games for the season.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 4, 2025
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Cam York (upper body) was injured during the second period of Wednesday's 5-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres, Adam Kimelman of NHL.com reports. He sustained an upper-body injury late in the period during a scrum. York has been a regular in the Flyers lineup after missing the first three games of the season. He has registered 12 points (one goal, 11 assists) and 46 blocks in 23 outings. Noah Juulsen will likely be used as York's replacement in the lineup if he isn't ready to play in Sunday's contest against the Colorado Avalanche.
--Taavi PailkSource: Adam Kimelman
December 3, 2025
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen (triceps) will be sidelined for at least one more week. On Wednesday, the Finnish blue-liner practiced in a non-contact jersey for the first time since having surgery in late March to repair a ruptured right triceps tendon. Once he is ready to return, Ristolainen will likely slot into a top-four role in the Flyers defense. Last season, he finished the year with 19 points (four goals, 15 assists), 100 shots, 94 blocks, and 97 hits in 62 appearances. Ristolainen may not have much fantasy value, but he will improve the Flyers defense as the team aims to end a five-year postseason drought in 2026.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
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