You never forget your first.

As the Ottawa Senators take on the Leafs in Toronto on Saturday night, Sens prospect Xavier Bourgault finally gets a chance to play in his first NHL game.

Bourgault has waited four and a half years for this moment, which is a long time for a first-round NHL draft pick. The L'Islet, Quebec-born 23-year-old is one of only five first-round picks from 2021 (Tyler Boucher, Chaz Lucius, Corson Ceulemans, Chase Stillman) who haven't played in at least one NHL game.

So Saturday night will remove him from that list and become the memory of a lifetime, especially when you consider how he got here.

Performance-wise, he got here with 27 points in 32 games this season, already surpassing his total (26 points in 61 games) from all of last season in Belleville, impressing the organization enough to earn a call-up with the club on Saturday morning.

But how he literally got here, travel-wise, will be part of the memory as well.

"So I went back home (for Christmas) actually in Quebec City," Bourgault told Sens host Jackson Starr after Saturday's game-day skate. "Then I drove to Toronto because of the game last night in Toronto. I drove eight hours, I think. So, it was pretty crazy. I drove back after the game, in the storm, back to Belleville. Then I got the call (from Ottawa) and drove right back to Toronto for (Saturday's) game.

“Just grateful for the chance tonight. It wasn’t easy since going pro, so just exciting for me now. It’s been a long road for me.”

Former Belleville head coach David Bell was one man who saw this coming back at training camp. He knew that Bourgault had more to offer than we saw last season.

"I think part of it last year, which is what he struggled with, was that he was hurt," Bell said after Sens rookie camp. "He had a hip flexor that was sore. He had a wrist that was sore.

"He's very dynamic and can shift east-west when he's healthy, and he wasn't able to do that last year. And as a shooter and passer with a sore wrist, he couldn’t do that. He was handcuffed quite a bit. Now he’s healthy, and you’re seeing a little bit more of what he was in junior — a dynamic, game-breaking type of player."

Bourgault will be paired on a line on Saturday with veteran Nick Cousins and centre Stephen Halliday. He and Halliday have played a lot together in Belleville the past two seasons. So after some holiday time, Bourgault is glad to follow it up with some Halliday time.

"We've been playing together in Belleville. Halliday is a great playmaker. I'm used to his game too, so it's fun to come back on his line here in Ottawa."

With injuries up front this season, the Senators have taken serious looks at other Belleville players like Olle Lycksell, Hayden Hodgson, and Arthur Kaliyev. Now the Sens have decided to kick the tires on Bourgault to see what he looks like at the next level. 

Sens GM Steve Staios obviously liked what he saw from Bourgault during his brief time in Edmonton. When Staios came to Ottawa and moved on from winger Roby Jarventie, he dealt him to the Oilers for Bourgault and fellow forward Jake Chiasson.

After that mediocre 2024-25 season, Staios still opted to re-sign Bourgault, a player that his Hamilton Bulldogs came up against in the 2022 Memorial Cup. Bourgault had seven points in four games at that tournament.

Given the long road to get here, literally and figuratively, there's zero chance Xavier Bourgault ever forgets his first, especially when it's a Saturday night Battle of Ontario on a national TV stage in Toronto.

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Read more Ottawa Senators news and features at The Hockey News:

Top Ottawa Senators Prospect Suits Up Again At World Juniors
Josh Norris: 'I Really Felt Like (Ottawa Fans) Had My Back, Even When I Was Injured'
NHL Player Fined For Cross-Checking Senators Star Tim Stutzle In The Face
Ottawa Senators Have A Soft Spot For Their Tough Guy
Senators Announce Their Latest Addition To Ring Of Honour

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Steve Warne is the Ottawa Senators site editor at The Hockey News. Steve has covered the Senators since day one, first as Sports Director for Rogers Radio in Ottawa on AM 1310 and FM 105, then as the long-time host of the morning show at TSN 1200 radio, the Sens' flagship station. Steve is also the owner and host of the popular Sens Nation Podcast.

Follow Steve on Twitter/X @stevewarnemedia

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The three-day holiday break was a much-needed hiatus and reset for the Pittsburgh Penguins, who had won just one of their previous 10 games and are 3-5-4 in the month of December.

And it also appears to have offered space for some injured Penguins to heal and, ultimately, rejoin the team. 

Centers Blake Lizotte and Evgeni Malkin - who were both placed on injured reserve back on Dec. 9 - both skated on Saturday. Malkin skated on his own prior to team practice, and Lizotte was a full participant in practice, including slotting in at fourth-line center during line rushes. 

Both players have been sorely missed in the Penguins' lineup, as the team is 1-5-4 in the 10 games that they have missed Malkin and 1-5-3 in the nine since Lizotte went down.

With Lizotte appearing primed for a return - potentially, on Sunday against the Chicago Blackhawks - it will be a welcome thing for a team that has struggled defensively as of late.

"I think it starts with just that energy he plays with," head coach Dan Muse said. "I mean, it's contagious. And I think he's able to, because of the way he plays, a lot of times, he's creating momentum for our team. Whether it's the way he tracks and strips, or just stays on pucks, blocks shots... he does a lot of little things there that go a long way and that are greatly appreciated in the locker room."

5 Things The Penguins Should Ask For This Holiday SeasonThe Pittsburgh Penguins could use a boost right now - and there are some things that they should add to their holiday wishlist to help them get back in the thick of the playoff race

Lizotte also figures to rejoin a fourth line that was creating a lot of momentum for the Penguins prior to his injury, as they are able to hone a lot of the details on both sides of the puck to generate chances and help dictate play.

"The way they're able to create momentum in different ways," Muse said. "Sometimes, it's blocking a shot in the d-zone, their ability to get in on the forecheck... and I think just being able to recover pucks off the forecheck, also create off the forecheck. There's an energy there when they're going. They're also a line that they'll start in the d-zone a lot - and in the o-zone - which is always a big benefit."

Muse said there is nothing new to report on Malkin and that he is "status quo." 

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Promising Goaltending Tandem Leading Way For WBS PenguinsThe Pittsburgh Penguins may be struggling at the NHL level, but they have two promising goaltending prospects waiting in the wings and dominating the AHL

- The Penguins' lines and pairings largely remained the same despite the team's uneven effort in a 6-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Dec. 23. Lizotte slotted back in for Hayes, but the top-nine remained intact - as did the defensive corps:

Forwards
Rickard Rakell - Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust
Anthony Mantha - Tommy Novak - Justin Brazeau
Rutger McGroarty - Ben Kindel - Ville Koivunen
Connor Dewar - Lizotte - Noel Acciari
(Danton Heinen, Kevin Hayes)

Defensemen
Parker Wotherspoon - Erik Karlsson
Brett Kulak - Kris Letang
Ryan Shea - Jack St. Ivany
(Ryan Graves-Connor Clifton)

Goaltenders
Stuart Skinner, Arturs Silovs

Takeaways: Penguins' Push Comes Up Short, Maple Leafs' Stars Come Up BigAfter a dramatic 4-3 shootout win against the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday, the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> hoped to carry some of that momentum into their final game before the holiday break on Tuesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

- The holiday break probably came at just the right time for the Penguins, as their December hasn't quite gone the way that they had hoped. Despite their recent struggles, though, they still only remain three points out of a playoff spot, but they are also just three points out of the basement of the Eastern Conference.

The break, hopefully, gave them a chance to reset and build off of some of the momentum they seized during their shootout win against the Montreal Canadiens on Dec. 21 and during some of their finer moments in the loss against the Leafs.

"Hockey is weird that way," Justin Brazeau said. "When I first came back, the Dallas game and then the Anaheim game, for 59 or whatever it was minutes of it, was pretty good hockey. I thought we were doing a lot of good things, and stuff like that [last-second goal] can kind of take the confidence and stuff out of the group."

Takeaways: In Storybook Fashion, Penguins Snap Eight-Game Skid On Crosby's Historic NightThe Pittsburgh Penguins earned a much-needed win over the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday night - and Sidney Crosby made some history along the way.

Brazeau also said that, despite the recent stretch of games, the locker room is still very much intact and focused on getting back to the game that worked for them earlier on in the season. 

"There's no panic setting in," Brazeau said. "I think we all think we can get back to the way we were playing. And in a lot of those games, too, they're losses, but we were up by three or four goals going into the third. So, we were obviously doing things the right way leading up to that, we just kind of maybe took the foot off the gas a little bit. I think that's a mental thing, too, where it's like, it happens one game, and then the next game, it happens again, and it's kind of like, 'oh boy, here we go.'

"I think the locker room's been great. It helps when you have guys like Sid and stuff around who have kind of seen it all throughout their careers. They've seen the highs and the lows, and I think it's about staying as even-keel as possible."

Crosby Reaches Milestone For Second Consecutive GameThe big milestone may have come for <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>' captain Sidney Crosby on Sunday against the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a>, when he surpassed Mario Lemieux <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/breaking-sidney-crosby-breaks-mario-lemieux-s-franchise-record-to-become-penguins-all-time-leader-in-points">to become the Penguins' all-time leader in points</a>.&nbsp;

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The Buffalo Sabres hope to resume their winning ways after the Christmas holiday break against the Boston Bruins at KeyBank Center on Saturday, but will have to do it without Rasmus Dahlin. The Sabres team captain travelled to Sweden to visit his fiancee over the break, and is making his way back to Buffalo. Head coach Lindy Ruff indicated it was doubtful that he would play against Boston, but that he should be back for the club’s upcoming three-game road trip starting in St. Louis on Monday. 

Bowen Byram, who had three points and the game-winning overtime goal in Ottawa on Tuesday moved to the top pairing with Mattias Samuelsson at the club’s morning skate on Saturday and quarterbacked the first power-play unit. Jacob Bryson and Zach Metsa will play against the Bruins, and defenseman Ryan Johnson has been recalled from AHL Rochester.  

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Forward Jason Zucker skated with the club for the first time since being injured in Calgary on December 8, the last time the Sabres lost. The veteran winger indicated that he is unsure how long it will be before he returns to the lineup, and that he might not travel with the club next week, but said in jest that there is no hurry. 

 "They got rid of the dead weight,” Zucker said. “ "It's been fun to watch, obviously terrible watching, but it's been great to see the guys playing really well throughout the lineup, everyone from goaltenders on out, are playing really well."

In a bit of a surprise, the Sabres will not be starting Alex Lyon – winner of six straight –, but will instead go with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen between the pipes. Luukkonen started in the 3-1 win in New Jersey on December 21, but is .500 (5-5-1) on the year. The Bruins did not skate on Saturday, do to travel restrictions because of the holiday break, and according to Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe, backup Joonas Korpisalo will start for the Bruins.   

Follow Michael on X, Instagram  @MikeInBuffalo

The Chicago Blackhawks come out of the holiday break in dead last, 32nd place, of the NHL standings. At 13-17-6, they are trying to break a six-game losing streak against the 25-7-6 Dallas Stars. 

The break could not have come at a better time for Chicago. Their downward spiral came after a strong start to the season, but it is clear that the team has a long way to go at the NHL level. 

Scouting Dallas

The Dallas Stars are one of the best teams in the league. They have a handful of elite players spread across a lineup filled with depth at forward and defense. Their goalie, Jake Oettinger, is one of the best in the world at the position. He is projected to start against Chicago. 

Steel - Johnston - Rantanen

Robertson - Hintz - Bourque

Hryckowian- Duchene - Benn

Bäck - Faksa - Bastian 

Lindell - Heiskanen 

Harley - Lundkvist

Capobianco - Petrovic 

Oettinger

Mikko Rantanen is starting to look like himself now that he’s been in Dallas for a while. Other star forwards in their prime are around him, like Roope Hintz, Wyatt Johnston, and Jason Robertson. 

On defense, it’s an amazing group led by Miro Heiskanen and Thomas Harley. The two of them play on different pairs, meaning one of them is on the ice for 3/4ths of the game. They are hard to create offense against, create chances themselves, and know how to cause a breakout. 

Veterans like their captain, Jamie Benn, and Matt Duchene are still incredibly productive, and they also provide leadership that allows the young players to learn how to play the right way. It’s a brilliant mix that the Blackhawks would love to find one day in the future. 

Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago

The NHL schedule features a number of challenging tasks for certain teams throughout the year. One of them is being the road team the day after the holiday break. It’s extra difficult for Chicago because they have to take a long flight to Dallas. 

As a result, they have not hit the ice in four days. Their first time on will be warmups ahead of Saturday night’s game against the Stars. We won’t know line combinations until then. It is fair to assume that Spencer Knight will start after the long layoff; however, everything remains fluid. 

Ahead of the flight, the Blackhawks recalled forward Landon Slaggert to take the trip with them. With a back-to-back situation coming up (home vs the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday), it makes sense to have extra bodies. 

How To Watch

The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. To view this game, it can be found locally on CHSN. Nationally, it can be streamed on ESPN+. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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The Winnipeg Jets have gone from first to worst. 

Coming out of last year's holiday break, the 25-10-1 Jets sat comfortably atop the Central Division, the Western Conference and the entire NHL league standings as a whole. 

Fast forward one calendar year, and the same team is sitting nearly dead-last in the 32-team league, unable to string together wins, and playing as a complete shadow of its former self. 

Currently at 15-17-3, Winnipeg is second-last in the league, just one point higher than the 32nd-place Chicago Blackhawks. 

It has been a disastrous first third of the season for Winnipeg, which captured the Presidents' Trophy last season by a considerable margin. 

With Connor Hellebuyck out for three weeks following arthroscopic knee surgery, the Jets plummeted below the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, Utah Mammoth and Nashville Predators in a powerful Central Division. Backup netminder Eric Comrie did not do his part, but the fault was not solely on the shoulders of the long-time AHL backstop. 

Defensive lapses, a lack of offence and a failure to generate strong possession play has the Jets in a seemingly never-ending downward spiral, even with the return of their reigning Hart Trophy and Vezina and Jennings winning goaltender. 

Head coach Scott Arniel has found himself at a loss for words more often than not following less than ideal home and road performances, while his captain (who has clearly rushed himself back into the fold following his offseason hip surgery) has attempted to take the brunt of the blame for his team's dreadful start.

General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff's offseason gambles have come up empty, spearheaded by the loss of speedster Nikolaj Ehlers, all the way through the depth, veteran signings of Jonathan Toews, Tanner Pearson and Gustav Nyquist. Chevy's lone salvageable signing has been Cole Koepke, who continues to finish checks, while providing a smooth-skating wing as a flank to whichever centreman he is paired up with in the team's bottom-six.

The Jets' top trio of Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele and Gabe Vilardi have produced exactly as expected, but the offence pretty much stops after the top line. Josh Morrissey continues to dominate on the back-end, as he should, while Logan Stanley's offensive outburst has somehow managed to mask his daily defensive blunders enough to keep his place in the lineup, over the strong skating Haydn Fleury, or the youngster Elias Salomonsson. 

Lowry, Luke Schenn and Cole Perfetti might actually be the three slowest skaters in the NHL at this given moment. None of the three players are seemingly able to find that top gear, with or without the puck. Oh, and when Perfetti does collect the disc, he actually finds a way to skate slower than when he was opening up to receive it. 

Schenn has seen his moment of greatness flicker, while sources say that Lowry has admitted to returning sooner than he should have, and continues to deal with the effects of going under the knife this offseason. 

Vlad Namestnikov and Alex Iafallo have been 'alright', but it is Morgan Barron who has shone in his penalty killing, depth forward role, as he continues to do everything he should to get a better look at a top-six role - something his coach appears unwilling to consider. 

Dylan DeMelo, Neal Pionk and Dylan Samberg have played hockey this season. Not great hockey, not bad hockey. They have simply played hockey for the Jets this year. Not much memorable thus far. 

Where this goes from here will fall on the shoulders of Arniel, Cheveldayoff and Co. to decide if a season-long tank job is a better choice for the organization that currently holds the No. 3 selection in the 2026 NHL Draft, or if its veteran roster can pull up its collective socks to right the quickly sinking ship in time for a season-long postseason push. 

Given the draft-and-develop mentality that has worked at times for the organization, and at other times, driven away top prospects, there is no time like the present to Waive some under-producers, give some of its top minor-league producers a chance, while allowing a few of the ECHL's striking crew to play meaningful AHL minutes as the farm works its way up to the big leagues. 

Whether the team decides to show out for Arniel over the next month, or opts to maintain its inconsistent evening showings, one thing is for certain, these are not the same Jets that we have seen over the course of the past two-plus seasons. And they will not return to that form unless some serious soul searching and changes occur. 

For now, it's an 'F' rating following the Christmas break. 

The Edmonton Oilers will be placing David Tomasek on waivers when the NHL roster freeze lifts at midnight on Saturday. He's already back in Sweden, getting ready to play games for his former team, while the Oilers will free up $1.2 million in cap space. 

On the surface, this money saved could be used to address some of the team's cap issues when the roster returns to full health. But could it also be used to sign a game-changing UFA?

Speculation around a potential Marc-André Fleury NHL comeback is gaining momentum as injuries and goaltending questions remain in Edmonton. The buzz intensified following Tristan Jarry’s injury, forcing the Oilers to lean on Connor Ingram and Calvin Pickard. So far, the returns on both netminders has been strong, but there's going to be a temptation to consider Fleury, if he wants to return to the NHL and the Oilers somehow wind up on his radar.

Oilers Officially Announce Plans to Terminate David Tomasek's ContractDavid Tomasek's NHL tenure ends as the Edmonton Oilers will terminate his contract, clearing cap space for his return to Europe.

Why The Oilers for Fleury?

Insiders like Pierre LeBrun and Frank Seravalli have talked a lot about Fleury in recent days, both suggesting the Oilers make a lot of sense.  LeBrun wrote, "Probably not surprising, but hearing that some teams have checked in on Marc-Andre Fleury to see if there’s any chance at all he would consider playing again. Again, not surprised teams with goalie needs would want to check on it."

Seravalli, specifically connected the Oilers, noting, “I think he’s got the itch to keep playing, and I think for a guy who really has made it home in Minnesota, there’s no room for him there with [Jesper] Wallstedt and [Filip] Gustavsson.” He added, Fleury is “going to be with a team that has an authentic chance to win, and that’s got the Oil written all over it."    

The organization might not feel the same sense of urgency as some analysts do, but if Fleury becomes an affordable option, would the Oilers not at least entertain a conversation? They probably should. 

Related: Retired Goaltender Coming to Oilers?: Maybe We Should Pump the Brakes a Little

Those same insiders speculate that Fleury would only want to join a legitimate contender, making Edmonton a logical match. No one has gone so far as to comment on the cost or the kind of salary Fleury is looking for, but one would imagine it's not outrageous, given that half the season is over and there are question marks about how effective the veteran would be. 

Coming off a solid 2023–24 season with the Wild, Fleury represents a low-risk, high-reward option, especially if he can be had for around the $1.2 million the Oilers no longer have to worry about with Tomasek off the roster. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more.   Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.

The Christmas break is over for the Montreal Canadiens, who boarded a plane to Tampa Bay this morning at 9:30 AM. Even though they’ve yet to announce it, the Habs have also officially recalled Samuel Montembeault from his conditioning stint with the Laval Rocket. Not that the 14 days he could have spent there had passed, but he had agreed to play two games, and since that had been done, and the Sainte-Flanelle is going to practice today in Florida, there was no point in extending his stay any longer.

Even though they’ve yet to announce it, the Canadiens have recalled Montembeault from Laval #GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/FQznri56BD

— Karine Hains (@KarineHains) December 27, 2025

In two games in the AHL, Montembeault suffered as many defeats, allowing five goals for a 2.53 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage. It’s worth noting that he was backstopping a weakened Rocket side that was without many of its regulars. Some of Pascal Vincent’s best players were in Montreal or in the stands, serving suspensions after the events that followed a Michael Pezzetta hit on Marc Del Gaizo in a game against the Toronto Marlies.

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The Canadiens didn’t recall Montembeault straight after the two games since they weren’t holding any practice with a packed schedule on the road. Instead, the goaltender remained in Montreal, where he practiced with Rocket goaltending coach Marco Marciano.

During Montembeault’s stay in the AHL, the Canadiens had a 3-1-1 record, playing Jacob Fowler for three games and Jakub Dobes for two. Over that stretch, the Habs outscored their opponents 18-11, and both goaltenders played well.

It will be interesting to see how the Tricolore moves forward with its goaltenders; neither of the youngsters deserves to be sent back down, and Montembeault has yet to prove his stint in the AHL and the extra work put in with Marciano helped. With four games on the schedule this week, it’s quite possible that each masked man gets a game before the Canadiens make a decision.

Fowler was in the net the last time the Canadiens played, backstopping them to a 6-2 win over the Boston Bruins. Martin St-Louis will speak to the media later this afternoon, and he may decide to show his hand, just to put an end to speculation. The Habs are set to practice at 2:30 PM.

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Game info 

Who: Nashville Predators (16-16-4, 5th Central) at St. Louis Blues (14-16-8, 6th Central) 

When: 7 p.m. CST 

Where: Enterprise Center, St. Louis, Mo. 

TV: FanDuel Sports Network South 

Radio: 102.5 The Game 

Line (via BetMGM): Predators (+1.5) Blues (-1.5). Over/under 5.5 (-118/-102). 

Blues for the Blues 

The Nashville Predators dominated the St. Louis Blues in both meetings so far this season. 

In the Dec. 11 matchup, Steven Stamkos scored four goals en route to a 7-2 Predators win. Four days later in St. Louis, Filip Forsberg scored a hat trick in the Predators' 5-2 win over the Blues. 

It's a complete turnaround from last season, as the Predators did not win a game against the Blues, going 0-4-0 in their meetings. 

Nashville has battled back in the Central Division after starting the year 1-5-2 against Central Division opponents; they are now 5-6-2 against local opposition. 

Climb continues 

The Predators have seemingly dug themselves out of a hole created in the first month and a half of the season, and are beginning to move up in the standings.

Nashville has won 10 of its last 14 and three straight. It's the Predators' longest winning streak of the season and longest since they won four straight from March 4, 2025, to March 11. 

A win against the Blues would give Nashville its first winning record since Oct. 25, when it defeated the Los Angeles Kings 5-4 in a shootout to improve to 4-3-2 on the year. Defeating St. Louis would move Nashville to 17-16-4 on the season. 

In the standings, a win gains more separation between fifth and sixth and puts Nashville one point outside of the final Wild Card spot behind the Utah Mammoth (39 points). 

Forsberg, O'Reilly point streaks 

Two of the Predators' top forwards, Filip Forsberg and Ryan O'Reilly, are looking to extend multi-game point streaks tonight. 

O'Reilly has a game point streak, scoring 11 points in that run and has four points in the last two games. Forsberg has a nine-game point streak, scoring 12 points in that time, which included the hat-trick game against the Blues on Dec. 15. 

Scouting St. Louis 

The Blues have been hovering around .500 over their last six games, posting a 3-2-1 record in that stretch. 

Prior to the break, they fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning, 4-1, on Dec. 22. 

Robert Thomas (27 points) and Justin Faulk (20 points) continue to power the Blues offense as they are looking to keep pace with the Predators and possibly jump ahead in the s

The Islanders will take the ice without their top goaltender for at least one more game, as Ilya Sorokin (lower-body injury) was placed on injured reserve Saturday, ahead of their home matchup against the rival Rangers.

In a corresponding move, the Islanders called up AHL Bridgeport goalie Marcus Hogberg as their emergency backup.

With the IR decision retroactive to Dec. 20, Sorokin will be eligible to return to action Sunday, when the Islanders visit the Blue Jackets. The NHL requires a seven-day IR stint, so the prodecural designation for Sorokin could simply be precautionary, rather than the sign of some setback.

But the status on Sorokin's injury is still unclear. The 30-year-old netminder last played on Dec. 19 against the Canucks, allowing three first-period goals in a 4-1 home loss. 

He stopped 27 of 30 shots then, and played until the Islanders pulled him in the closing minutes for an extra skater with the net empty.

In his absence, the Islanders have turned to David Rittich, who's allowed three goals and made 61 saves in their last two games. 

Sorokin, who became one of the NHL's highest-paid goalies by signing an eight-year, $66 million extension in 2023, is a star talent the Islanders sorely need to compete for a playoff spot.

In 24 games this season, he owns a 12-10-2 record (three shutouts) with a 2.55 goals-against average and .910 save percentage. He began December on a five-game winning streak, but over his last two starts, he's allowed six goals on 51 shots.

The Islanders (20-13-4) currently sit in third place in the competitive Metropolitan Division, with 44 points and a plus-3 goal differential.

After a five-game road trip and holiday break, the new-look Vancouver Canucks (15–18–3) are back in town to take on the San Jose Sharks (17–17–3). Prior to the break, Vancouver suffered a 5–2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers in their first game against former Head Coach Rick Tocchet. San Jose entered the holiday break with a string of losses, with their most recent being against the Vegas Golden Knights by a score of 7–2. 

This will be the first time that new players Zeev Buium, Marco Rossi, and Liam Öhgren play in front of a home crowd as members of the Canucks. As well, this will be the first time Vancouver fans will watch their team without Quinn Hughes being a member of the organization since he made his debut back in 2019. Off the ice, it’ll be interesting to see what kind of reception the team ends up getting after making their biggest organizational move in a long time. 

Prior to their most recent loss to the Flyers, the Canucks were on an impressive run of four straight wins, a good chunk in part due to a slightly tidier system and great goaltending from both Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen. For fans who want the team to bounce-back and make a push for the post-season, tonight’s game will mark the start of a potential comeback. For those who believe in committing to the rebuild (which feels like most fans), tonight will be about setting that precedent. 

Players To Watch: 

Zeev Buium 

Canucks fans have yet to see Buium play in person as a player on their team, as the defenceman was acquired on the day that Vancouver departed for their five-game road trip. Since making his Canucks debut, he has a goal and two assists in five games while playing on a pairing with Tyler Myers. Touted as the heir apparent of Hughes’ place on the team, Buium is a dynamic offensive-defenceman who can contribute greatly to his team’s production. Fans will want to keep an eye specifically on him as a peek at what the future holds for Vancouver’s blueline. 

Macklin Celebrini

Celebrini has been the biggest story in the Sharks’ season thus far, as he’s consistently remained near the top of the NHL in points since the beginning. He’s currently only trailing Connor McDavid (67) and Nathan MacKinnon (61), all while only being 19 years old. Many will already be paying attention to Celebrini solely due to the fact that he’s from North Vancouver and is noted to have been a Canucks fan before being drafted. Tonight will mark the third time he’ll play in Vancouver at the NHL level. 

Vancouver Canucks (15–18–3): 

Points: 

Elias Pettersson: 8–14–22

Kiefer Sherwood: 16–4–20

Conor Garland: 7–13–20 

Filip Hronek: 2–18–20

Evander Kane: 6–12–18

Goaltenders: 

Thatcher Demko: 8–6–0

Kevin Lankinen: 5–10–3

Nikita Tolopilo: 2–1–0

Jiří Patera: 0–1–0

San Jose Sharks (17–17–3): 

Points: 

Macklin Celebrini: 19–36–55

Will Smith: 12–17–29

Tyler Toffoli: 10–15–25

Alexander Wennberg: 7–16–23

William Eklund: 8–14–22

Goaltenders: 

Yaroslav Askarov: 12–10–1

Alex Nedeljkovic: 5–7–2

Game Information: 

Start time: 7:00 pm PT 

Venue: Rogers Arena 

Television: Sportsnet Radio: Sportsnet 650 

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This morning, at 9:30 AM, the Montreal Canadiens will board a charter flight to Florida to begin their traditional holiday trip in the sunbelt. Their first of five will be a tilt with the Tampa Bay Lightning on December 28. With 45 points, the Habs are second in the Atlantic Division and fourth in the Eastern Conference, behind the Carolina Hurricanes, who have just 47 points. In fact, only five points separate the Conference leaders and the last wild-card spot, held by the Florida Panthers. In other words, every point is crucial at this stage, and Martin St-Louis is aware of that fact.

While it’s a good position to be in, the Canadiens still have to decide on what they are going to do with their goaltenders. The plan may have been for the Habs to give Jacob Fowler a few games this season to see where he is, but because of the goaltending issues that have plagued the first half of the season, that plan came very early.

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Before the Christmas break, former number one goaltender Samuel Montembeault was sent down to the Laval Rocket in the AHL to work on his game and play a couple of games. He won neither of them, although he couldn’t be blamed for the losses, but he did spend a lot of time with Rocket goalie coach Marco Marciano, going back to the basics.

In fact, the Canadiens were meant to call him up on December 21, but since he had played the night before and the Habs weren’t set to hold any practice in Pittsburgh or in Boston, they elected not to do so. He stayed behind with Marciano and worked hard in Brossard.

Now, the Habs will have to call him up, since the rules for a conditioning stint in the AHL allow it to last up to 14 days and require the player's consent. It’s doubtful that Montembeault will want to extend his stay, which means that unless the Habs send down a goaltender, they’ll be travelling with a trio of masked men.

While both Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler are waiver-exempt and could conceivably be sent down, I don’t think it would be wise to send Dobes down. Still, Fowler has made it very hard for the Canadiens to demote him, even though he’s in the first year of his professional career.

So far in five games, he has a 3-1-1 record, with a 2.40 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage. Furthermore, as pointed out by TVA Sports’ Anthony Martineau, among all NHL goaltenders who have played at least five games this season, the youngster ranks first in expected goals saved per 60 minutes and second in save percentage on high-danger shots. In his last two games, he has shut out the Pittsburgh Penguins and backstopped the Canadiens to a big win against the Boston Bruins, on enemy territory. Even though the Bruins came out strong in the first frame, he weathered the storm as the hosts peppered his net with 17 shots in the first frame and allowed the Tricolore to come back in the game and get the two points.

How can the Canadiens justify sending him back down with the form he’s in? With the playoff race as tight as it is right now, Montreal cannot attempt to make a mistake. Sending the youngster down when he’s doing too well would send the wrong message. I can understand the organization wanting to give Montembeault a chance to bounce back, but it cannot afford to waste points. If the Becancour native falters, he needs to make way. Until he’s proven he’s got his game back, the Canadiens shouldn’t send down Fowler, even if his age, experience and contract situation make him the perfect candidate to go to Laval.

Professional sports is a results business; the Canadiens are no longer at the start of a rebuild. They need points, and they need them both now and, in the future, if they want to make the spring dance, and there is no doubt that they do. Whichever way you look at it, Fowler has made a fantastic case for himself to be kept around, and he has earned it, at least the way I see it. Despite money and contractual implications, it’s merit that should dictate the way forward; that’s how you build a winning team and culture.

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On Friday, the Chicago Blackhawks had three prospects participate in the World Junior Championships, which kicked off on Friday in Minnesota. There were also a handful of prospects playing that the Chicago Blackhawks may have their eyes on at the 2026 NHL Draft. 

Let's start with the ones already drafted by Chicago:

Anton Frondell

Anton Frondell scored the first goal of the entire event to put Sweden up 1-0. He also set up the next goal, a power play goal scored by Victor Eklund. 

In addition to the two points, Frondell had some other incredible chances that were saved by either the goaltender or the post. His defensive game is also impactful, as it was difficult for Slovakia to do anything of note when he was on the ice. 

Blackhawks Prospect Anton Frondell Dominates In Sweden’s WJC Win Over SlovakiaThe Chicago Blackhawks have a high-end prospect in Anton Frondell. He showed the goods in the first game of the World Junior Championships.

Frondell is Sweden's key to winning their first Medal in 14 years and third ever. There is a lot of high-end prospect talent on this team, and Frondell is right there at the top.

AJ Spellacy

AJ Spellacy is never going to be the guy leading the highlights like Anton Frondell, James Hagens, or Michael Misa, amongst others, but he does make life easier on star players. 

In Team USA's 6-3 win over Team Germany, Spellacy was noticeable. His line was playing the right way for the majority of the game. Spellacy, in particular, had two assists.

He also created chaos in front of the net, laid some big hits, stood in front of the net, tipped pucks, and did a good job gaining the offensive zone whenever that was asked of him. 

WILL ZELLERS HAS HIS SECOND! #WorldJuniorspic.twitter.com/deOfUI2pQO

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 27, 2025

If Team USA is going to win its third Gold Medal in a row, Spellacy must continue playing his role at a high level. If he keeps bringing some offense in addition to the other things he does well, this team will be deeper than originally thought. 

Vaclav Nestrasil 

Team Czechia is looking to medal for the fourth year in a row. They have upset Canada a lot in recent years, but were unable to do so in the opener on Friday. The Canadians pulled out a 7-5 victory, but it was far from easy. 

One of Czechia's best and most productive players is Chicago Blackhawks prospect Vaclav Nestrasil. As the other two players mentioned, he had two points as well. Nestrasil's two points came in the form of assists, proving that his playmaking abilities are off the charts. 

Now Nestrasil’s no look pass set up this Tomas Galvas.

This kid is gold. Very goodpic.twitter.com/z6FjF4zf18https://t.co/sZklS6CVv2

— Vinnie Parise (@VinnieParise) December 27, 2025

When the Blackhawks drafted Nestrasil 25th overall in 2025, there was a lot of unknown. However, whether it's his production at UMass or here playing for Czechia, he has shown that to be a great decision by Kyle Davidson. 

2026 NHL Draft

The Chicago Blackhawks will come out of the holiday break with the worst record in the National Hockey League. With Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar out for a couple of weeks, it is hard to see the Hawks climbing out of their current slump any time soon. 

That could mean that another top-three pick is on the horizon. Right now, that means looking at Gavin McKenna, Keaton Verhoeff, and Ivar Stenberg. 

Canada made the curious decision to healthy scratch Verhoeff, but that won't impact his status as a top-three pick in the draft. The North Dakota defenseman has been having an incredible year playing defense, but he is one of the younger players on Team Canada, trying to find his way. 

Gavin McKenna, on the other hand, is Canada's go-to offensive player right now. He is projected to be the number one overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and has been for some time. The Penn State forward has taken some time to adjust to the NCAA game after dominating his whole major junior career, but you see his true abilities come out at a tournament like this. 

McKenna had two assists in the win. His playmaking has a certain level that other players his age can't reach. There is a lot more where that came from for McKenna, and the Blackhawks are going to be scouting him hard. A player like that joining Connor Bedard, his relative through marriage, would do wonders for the future of the franchise. 

Ivar Stenberg, who also has the pedigree to be the first overall pick, had a big day as well. The only goal that Sweden scored that wasn't scored or assisted by Anton Frondell was the game-winner put in by Stenberg.

His game-breaking talent will make an NHL team very happy as soon as next year. If the Blackhawks were able to add him and Frondell in the same year, it would be franchise-altering for them. 

NHL teams, especially ones like the Blackhawks who are going to be picking high, had to be happy with what they saw from McKenna and Stenberg on Friday. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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Detroit Red Wings team captain Dylan Larkin is playing some of the best hockey of his career, and it's paying off incredible dividends for his club, which is now first overall in the Atlantic Division and tied for first place in the Eastern Conference. 

Considering where the Red Wings were in the standings one calendar year ago, it's a monumental improvement in their fortunes. 

Their most recent victory took place on Tuesday evening over the Dallas Stars at Little Caesars Arena, and it was Larkin who played a critical role in the outcome.

Larkin not only scored the game-tying goal late in the third period after a terrific pass from James van Riemsdyk, but he also scored the overtime game-winner for his 20th tally of Detroit's centennial campaign. 

THE CAPTAIN WINS IT 🫡

Dylan Larkin's second of the game is the @Energizer overtime winner! pic.twitter.com/pLKBuLyuy6

— NHL (@NHL) December 24, 2025

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

With the overtime goal, Larkin now has 11 in his career. He only needs one more to match the 12 scored by Sergei Fedorov for the most in franchise history. 

FYI: Dylan Larkin scored his 11th career overtime goal, trailing only Sergei Fedorov (12) for the most in franchise history. #LGRWpic.twitter.com/UfPPMGEO60

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 24, 2025

The Red Wings will be retiring the iconic No. 91 jersey number of Fedorov next month on Jan. 12. 

There is no player on the Red Wings roster who more badly wants to bring Stanley Cup Playoff hockey to Little Caesars Arena for the first time in the venue's existence than Larkin.

Thanks to his contributions so far this season, they're that much closer to that goal, and would occupy the second overall seed in the Eastern Conference if the postseason were to begin today. 

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