WASHINGTON (AP) — Tom Wilson had two goals and an assist to lead the Washington Capitals past the New York Rangers 6-3 on Wednesday.

Wilson, who earlier in the day was named a member of Canada’s Olympic roster, got into a fight with Sam Carrick in the second period for at least his second Gordie Howe hat trick — a goal, an assist and a fight — since March 3, 2025.

Justin Sourdif also had two goals and Anthony Beauvillier and Aliaksei Protas each scored for the Capitals, who have won two of the last three games.

Adam Fox, making his return from long-term injured reserve, had a goal and an assist for the Rangers, who have lost three straight. Vincent Trocheck and Braden Schneider also scored.

With the Capitals tied 1-1 and needing a spark in the second, Wilson rose to the occasion. The 28-year-old came streaking up ice and leveled Noah Laba before getting to the front of the net and roofing a feed from Connor McMichael to restore Washington’s lead as he became the first Capital to hit the 20-goal mark this season. Minutes later, he answered for Laba’s hit, fighting Carrick.

The fight, initiated by Carrick, put the Capitals on the power play. Sourdif snuck a loose puck past Jonathan Quick, who had 21 saves, to end a 16-game goal drought to make it 3-1.

Fox responded with a power-play goal of his own soon after to pull things to 3-2 going into the third.

Protas and Wilson, netting his 200th career goal, added insurance tallies late to cushion the lead.

Schneider brought New York back within two late.

Wilson assisted Sourdif on an empty-netter.

Charlie Lindgren made 22 saves for Washington.

Up next

Rangers: Visit Florida in the Winter Classic on Friday.

Capitals: Visit Ottawa on Thursday.

 

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers made a rare trade with each other on Wednesday.

The Penguins sent forward Philip Tomasino to the Flyers in exchange for defenseman Egor Zamula. Tomasino had fallen out of favor with the Penguins and had been in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for a good chunk of the 2025-26 season before getting sent to the Flyers.

The Penguins have acquired defenseman Egor Zamula from the @NHLFlyers in exchange for forward Philip Tomasino.

Details: https://t.co/oxKHyv1NJvpic.twitter.com/2anGBLtk8L

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 31, 2025

Tomasino will report to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (the Flyers' AHL affiliate). 

Zamula had also fallen out of favor with the Flyers and is set to report to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (the Penguins' AHL affiliate). 

Per a team spokesperson, Egor Zamula will be assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Per the AHL's Web site, Ryan Graves was assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

— Seth Rorabaugh (@SethRorabaugh) December 31, 2025

Tomasino was initially acquired by the Penguins from the Nashville Predators for a fourth-round pick during last season. He compiled 11 goals and 23 points in 50 games with the Penguins before notching one assist in nine games this year.

Zamula has played in 13 games this season and has only one assist. He has played in 168 NHL games, scoring eight goals and recording 41 points. 

---

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1. By far the Rangers biggest flop – in terms of expectations this season – has been former top pick Brennan Othmann. Either the Blueshirts mis-coached him, or he simply doesn't have it.

2. "Othmann is like an appendix or tonsils," says Blue Collar Blue Shirts columnist Sean McCaffrey. "He serves no function at all for the Rangers and should be removed."

3. Now for the Good News: The Blueshirts are 19-18-5 for 43 points. A year ago they were 16-19-1 for 33 points.

4. Now for the Bad News, courtesy of superscout Jess Rubenstein: "The Rangers are 1-2-1 on the road trip and have earned three points out of a possible eight. If not for goalies Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick, their season would be over right now!`'

5. Now for more Good News: The return of Adam Fox will strengthen the defense, fortify the failing power play and provide missing leadership to a team without a playing captain now.

6. Friday's Rangers-Panthers outdoor "Winter Classic" at loan Depot Park in Miami once again proves how innovative – and daring –   he NHL has been under Gary Bettman's commissionership. Another outstanding, dynamic move.

Are The Rangers Any Better Than They Were Last Year?During the Rangers last game – at Carolina – a devoted fan who I happen to know and respect – did a double-take when he viewed Vin Trocheck on the New York bench.

7. Three decades ago plus – when the Bettman Era began – nobody in his right, or wrong, mind would have dreamed that a regular NHL outdoor game would be played under Florida's sheltering palms.

8. I know a few fans who dare not dream that the Rangers can win in the great outdoors.

9. The Maven believes the Blueshirts will fool everyone and the Panthers will skate off the ice at the end singing "Am I Blue!"

The Philadelphia Flyers have made a notable roster adjustment, sending defenseman Egor Zamula to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for forward Philip Tomasino.

The Penguins have acquired Egor Zamula from the Flyers for Philip Tomasino 🔄 pic.twitter.com/NRvPkRsed1

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 31, 2025

The move sees Tomasino immediately report to the Flyers’ AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Tomasino, 24, arrives with a resume that reflects both opportunity and unfinished business. A first-round selection by Nashville in 2019 (24th overall), the right winger has moved between the NHL and AHL since turning pro, appearing in 218 NHL games with the Predators and Penguins.

Across those appearances, he has produced 95 points, with an ability to play in a variety of roles. His most productive NHL season came in 2024–25 with Pittsburgh, where he posted 23 points and finished second on the team in game-winning goals.

This season has been more fragmented. Tomasino appeared in nine NHL games for the Penguins, recording one assist, while spending most of his time in the AHL with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. There, he was far more impactful, tallying 15 points in 14 games. 

For Pittsburgh, the acquisition of Zamula addresses a different organizational need. Signed by the Flyers as an undrafted free agent in 2018, Zamula developed patiently within the system before carving out a regular NHL role. Over parts of six seasons with Philadelphia, he appeared in 168 games, contributing 41 points from the back end. While his offensive ceiling remained modest, Zamula offered size, mobility, and familiarity with NHL minutes—qualities that can hold value for a Penguins blue line seeking depth and flexibility.

Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff has announced that goaltender Alex Lyon has left the team's road trip and will miss "a bit of time" due to a lower-body injury. 

This is certainly tough news for the Sabres, as Lyon has been playing some strong hockey for the Atlantic Division club this season. In 21 games so far this campaign with the Sabres, he has recorded a 10-6-3 record, a .906 save percentage, a .906 save percentage, and one shutout. 

Lyon has also been a major reason for the Sabres' ongoing nine-game winning streak, as he has won each of his last seven starts during it. With this, there is no question that the Sabres are going to miss him while he is out. 

While Lyon is set to miss time, the Sabres also announced that goaltender Colten Ellis has been activated off of injured reserve after being in concussion protocol. With this, the Sabres will be relying on Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Ellis while Lyon is out with his injury. 

The Sabres signed Lyon to a two-year, $3 million contract during the 2025 NHL off-season. This was after he had a 14-9-1 record, a .896 save percentage, and a 2.81 goals-against average in 30 games for the Detroit Red Wings in 2024-25. 

The Minnesota Wild (24-10-6) is back in action today to face the San Jose Sharks (19-17-3) on the road again to continue its seven-game road trip.

Minnesota has dropped both games against the Sharks this year. One was 6-5 in overtime and the other was 2-1 in overtime. Both games were at home.

Despite losing both games this year against the Sharks, the Wild have points in nine consecutive games over San Jose. They are 7-0-2 in that span.

Wild head coach John Hynes has not confirmed who will be in net today for this 3:00 game but both goalies have played the Sharks this year.

Wallstedt let up six in a loss and Gustavsson let up two in a loss. Wallstedt is 1-0-1 in his career against the Sharks with a 3.89 goals-against average and a .852 save percentage in two starts.

Gustavsson is 2-1-2 with a 2.36 goals-against average and .901 save percentage in five starts against the Sharks in his career.

We won't know until warmups who starts. But the Wild have been going with a goalie rotation again recently so if that is the case again, it would be Wallstedt's net.

Notes

Yakov Trenin leads the NHL with 197 hits, the highest total in franchise history through a season’s first 40 games and the fourth-highest total in the NHL through 40 games since the 2006-07 season.

Gustavsson is 6-0-1 with a 1.71 goals-against average, .931 save percentage and one shutout in his last seven starts.

Wallstedt is 5-1-1 with a 1.87 goals-against average, .931 save percentage and two shutouts on the road this season.

He leads the NHL with a .931 save percentage and four shutouts and ranks fourth in goals-against average with a 2.16.

The Wild rank third in the NHL with 54 points, tied for the third-highest point total in franchise history through a season’s first 40 games.

Minnesota is 21-4-3 since Nov. 1, ranking second in the NHL in wins and points (45).

San Jose is 6-4-0 in its last ten games and is on a two-game winning streak.

Colin Graf, whom ended Brock Faber's colligate career in Overtime of the National Championship game, has five goals in his last five games.

Macklin Celebrini, who was just named to Team Canada's roster for the Olympics, has nine points in his last five games and has one goal and four assists against the Wild in two games this year. He is third in the NHL in points with 60 in 39 games.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Recent Wild Stories

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- Minnesota Wild Set Franchise Record Heading Into Holliday Break.

- 'You Want To Get Out Of Your Zone': Why Quinn Hughes Changes The Game For The Wild.

- 'We Want To Compete For The Stanley Cup': Why Bill Guerin Went All In.

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- 'Sometimes You Gotta Look Yourself In The Mirror': Matt Boldy's Message Has Now Become The Wild's Mantra.

Growing chemistry of Macklin Celebrini, Igor Chernyshov lifts Sharks past Wild originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Wednesday was all about Macklin Celebrini, who officially was named to Team Canada’s roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics earlier in the day.

And Celebrini’s play certainly backed up that decision; the 19-year-old phenom posted a goal and assist in regulation, plus a shootout score in the Sharks’ 4-3 win over the Minnesota Wild at SAP Center to end 2025 on a high note.

But another youngster, 20-year-old Igor Chernyshov, also rose to the occasion on New Year’s Eve as the rookie winger continued his flaming hot start to his NHL career with two more points. The 2024 second-round draft pick now has eight points in his first seven games with the Sharks.

While much of the talk postgame centered around Celebrini’s upcoming trip to Milan, the emerging partnership on San Jose’s current top line is garnering more attention after the duo combined for two impressive goals.

The Celebrini-Chernyshov connection strikes again 😤 pic.twitter.com/1Tq5f0rt5r

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) December 31, 2025

CHERNYSHOV AND CELEBRINI AGAIN 🚨 pic.twitter.com/TB4zWYScIX

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) December 31, 2025

Coach Ryan Warsofsky was particularly impressed by Chernyshov’s savvy move on elite Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes to score the Sharks’ opening goal.

“That is an NHL move,” Warsofsky told reporters. “The speed, the demand that he wants with the puck. Him and Mack have obviously got some chemistry going right now, so a great finish. We’ve seen that — he had a couple of chances, similar move, and he actually just keeps like, similar to Mack, he keeps getting better.”

Ryan Warsofsky loves the chemistry he's seeing between Macklin and Cherny 🤝 pic.twitter.com/UGeSjzPNNo

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) January 1, 2026

San Jose winger Jeff Skinner had similar praise for Chernyshov, who has filled in nicely for the injured Will Smith alongside Celebrini.

“He’s been great. Obviously, not much to go off before he got here a couple weeks ago,” Skinner said after providing a goal of his own Wednesday. “He’s really skilled, really big body and sort of knows how to put himself in the right spots. And I think that’s what you see with good — I think he’s been a goal scorer most of his life — and good point producers.

“He’s going to get his looks, and he wins his battles. You see him and Mack have some good chemistry, so that’s been fun to watch.”

All of a sudden, the Sharks now can fantasize about a future top line of Chernyshov, Celebrini and Smith — all three of whom are 20 years old or younger.

Each of the three youngsters already is producing plenty, helping San Jose reach 20 wins in 40 games thus far in the 2025-26 NHL season. For context, the team finished with 20 wins in the entirety of last season.

The surging Sharks clearly have improved significantly. If they can live up to Warsofsky’s words and keep getting better, then a teal future might be approaching sooner than anyone thought.

Download and follow the San Jose Hockey Now podcast

Game Info

Who: Nashville Predators (17-17- 4 at Vegas Golden Knights (17-9-11)

When: 2 Pm CST

Where: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nev.

TV: FanDuel Sports Network South

Radio: 102.5 The Game

Line (via BetMGM):

Predators

+1.5 (-155)

O 6 (-115)

+155

Golden Knights

-1.5 (+125)

U 6 (-105)

-190

A Reunion In Vegas

The Nashville Predators hope to close out 2025 on a positive note when they take on the Vegas Golden Knights in a New Year’s Eve matinee at T-Mobile Arena.

This will be the first of three meetings between the two clubs this season and the first since the trade that sent defenseman Nicolas Hague from Vegas to Nashville last June in exchange for Colton Sissons and Jeremy Lauzon.

The two teams will meet again when the Golden Knights host the Predators on Jan. 17 at 9 Pm at T-Mobile Arena. The series finale will be back in Nashville on March 21 at 1 Pm at Bridgestone Arena.

Spectacular Stamkos

After being silenced in St. Louis against the Blues last Saturday night, Steven Stamkos picked his hot streak back up with two third-period goals to lift the Preds over the Utah Mammoth 4-3 on the road Monday night.

Stamkos, who leads the team in goals on the season with 17, also added an assist in Utah and is just one goal shy of 600 for his NHL career. He ranks third in the League in the month in goals (11), sitting behind Connor McDavid (13) and Nathan MacKinnon (12).

The 35-year-old forward became the second player in franchise history with the winning goal in four straight victories, following Mike Fisher (4 from Jan. 23-Feb. 4, 2012).

Getting Over The Hump

The Preds will try once again to put themselves over the .500 mark for the first time since Oct. 25. They had a chance to do so in St. Louis but fell 3-2 to the Blues on Saturday.

Nashville has won 11 of its last 16 contests. The team’s 3.38 goals per game ranks ninth in the NHL in December.

Preds Leaders

Ryan O’Reilly, who earned an assist on each of Stamkos’ goals in Utah, leads the Preds in points with 34 (11g-23a). Filip Forsberg is next with 16 goals and 30 points. Luke Evangelista has 21 assists and 27 points, while Stamkos leads the Preds in goals with 17.

Juuse Saros is 15-12-3 in net, while Justus Annunen is 2-5-1.

Scouting The Knights

In their last game, Vegas fell 5-2 to the Minnesota Wild on Monday. The Knights have stumbled a bit lately, dropping five of their last six outings. However, they are 4-1-0 all-time when playing on New Year’s Eve.

Jack Eichel (12g-29a) leads the Golden Knights with 41 points, followed by Mitch Marner (9g-31a) with 40 points.

Both Tomas Hertl and Pavel Dorofeyev have 15 goals apiece. Sissons has three goals and five points with his new club, while Lauzon has five assists and 37 penalty minutes.

In net, Carter Hart is 4-2-3 since signing with Vegas, while Akira Schmid is 11-3-4 on the season.

NEWS & NOTES

Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski Named NHL's Third Star Of The WeekWerenski powered the Blue Jackets with five goals and two assists, becoming the first defenseman in franchise history with back-to-back multi-goal games.

Columbus Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski has had another great week and it has earned him the NHL's third star of the week. 

Werenski is joined by Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid and Ottawa Senators' Linus Ullmark as the other two stars in the NHL three stars of the week.

Columbus Blue Jackets Christmas Break Stats Check InThe Columbus Blue Jackets head into the Christmas break with a record of 15-15-6 with 36 points. They currently sit 8th in the Metro, 16th in the Eastern Conference, and 27th in the NHL.

Points

1. Zach Werenski - 40 - 2nd among all NHL Defensemen
2. Kirill Marchenko - 27 - 11 Power Play Points
3. Dmitri Voronkov - 26

Goals

1. Zach Werenski - 14 - T-1st among all NHL Defensemen
2. Dmitri Voronkov - 13 - 6 Power Play goals
3. Adam Fantilli - 12

Assists

1. Zach Werenski - 26 - 5th among all NHL Defensemen
2. Charlie Coyle - 17
3. Kirill Marchenko - 16

From THN's Archive: To Believe Or Not To Believe Columbus rattled off 16 wins, a historic streak. But could this surprising team truly contend for the Stanley Cup?

A DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE often precedes an unstoppable tsunami. In November, the Columbus Blue Jackets warned us of what they were about to do. They humiliated the Montreal Canadiens and goaltender Al Montoya with a 10-0 win Nov. 4, then dropped an eight-spot on the St. Louis Blues eight days later. Columbus beat the Washington Capitals and Tampa Bay Lightning twice each, not to mention the New York Rangers.  

Cleveland Monsters Christmas Break Stats Check InThe Cleveland Monsters are 12-10-3-1 with 28 points, and currently sit 6th in the North Division, tied with the Toronto Marlies.

Let's take a quick look at some stats and who the team leaders are. 

Points

1. Luca Pinelli - 19 - 12th among all AHL rookies
2. Mikael Pyyhtiä - 14
3. 2 Tied with 13 (Del Bel Belluz, Dumais)

Goals

1. Luca Pinelli - 8 - 10th among all AHL rookies
2. Jack Williams - 6
3. 3-Tied with 5 (Del Bel Belluz, Dumais, Ahcan)

Assists

1. Luca Pinelli - 11 - 14th among all AHL Rookies
2. Mikael Pyyhtiä - 10
3. Will Butcher - 10

From THN's Archive: Captain Columbus Rick Nash shoulders captaincy, aiming to elevate the Blue Jackets beyond zero playoff games with newfound all-situations play.

“It’s kind of my job (to get us over the hump) being captain, you’ve got to be a leader,” said Nash, who took over the Jackets captaincy last March following Adam Foote’s trade to Colorado. “But we’ve got 22 guys on the team and a lot of older guys who’ve been in the playoffs and won Stanley Cups, so it should be good, but that’s our next step in Columbus.”

Is It Finally Time To Trade Yegor Chinakhov?Yegor Chinakhov was drafted in the 1st round of the 2020 NHL Draft.

Chinakhov requested a trade away from the CBJ last summer, and back in 2023, there were rumors that he was "unhappy" in Columbus and may want out. His agent, Shumi Babaev, told THN Columbus that "At the moment, there are no conversations about a trade on our part. He likes Columbus, both the team and the city." He went to tell us that "We are in touch with the General Manager (Jarmo), the only thing Yegor wants is to have more ice time, feel the coach's trust, and help the team win more games. He's very happy after yesterday's game. Felt great on the new line."

From THN's Archive: Nikita Filatov The dynamic Russian winger is patiently learning how to light up North American rinks in his first pro season on this side of the pond

When the Columbus Blue Jackets made Nikita Filatov the first Russian player selected at the 2008 NHL draft, they did so with some degree of risk. The lack of a transfer agreement between the Russian Hockey Federation and the NHL meant there was no guarantee Filatov could leave the Motherland. And playing at home in the upstart, flush-with-cash Kontinental League was a draw many players hailing from the great red hockey-factory of a nation would not resist.  

Cannon City Quotables: Columbus Blue Jackets vs. New York IslandersAfter a chaotic clash, hear directly from Blue Jackets and Wild stars on the drama and their hard-fought victory.

The Columbus Blue Jackets were back in action after the Christmas break. For their first game back, there was a lot of drama. 

Newly acquired forward Mason Marchment threw a hit at New York Islanders' rookie Matthew Schaefer that caught the ire of the Islanders players, and Mathew Barzal landed a huge two-handed chop across the shin guards of Marchment. After that, chaos ensued. Eventually, cooler heads would prevail, and the Blue Jackets would go on to win the game 4-2.

From THN's Archive: Columbus KarmaThe Columbus Blue Jackets haven’t had much luck in their 20-plus years as an NHL franchise. They signed a hot-shot UFA in a bold attempt to win this season, but, instead, the losses continue to pile up. On the plus side, they’ve also piled up a bevy of bona fide prospects

It's safe to say the Columbus Blue Jackets did not land the most coveted free agent on the market last summer just to have him grab the keys, jump behind the wheel and steer the bus directly to the Tankville Turnpike. But as the all-star break came and went, that’s where they found themselves, in first place in the Greatest-Connor-To-Come-Along-Since-McDavid Lottery Sweepstakes. Unlike other teams that will remain nameless, (cough, Chicago…cough, Arizona), the Jackets didn’t draw it up this way. Despite signing Johnny Gaudreau to a seven-year deal, they’re just really, really bad, and they’ve had a ton of terrible luck when it comes to injuries.

Blue Jackets Trade Yegor Chinakhov To Pittsburgh PenguinsYegor Chinakhov was drafted in the 1st round of the 2020 NHL Draft.The Columbus Blue Jackets Finally Have The Pest They've Missed For Years In Mason MarchmentThe Columbus Blue Jackets have been a very easy team to play against for a long time. Mason Marchment should change that. Blue Jackets Place Isac Lundeström On IRLundeström was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in 2018. From THN's Archive: Brain BoostersBlue Jackets and GM are looking for bright and talented players for their club

GAME PREVIEWS & RECAPS

Columbus Blue Jackets (34 pts) vs. Los Angeles Kings (39 pts) Game PreviewColumbus is 28-33-1-7 all-time, and 10-22-1-2 on the road vs. L.A.

Series History vs. The Kings

• Columbus is 28-33-1-7 all-time, and 10-22-1-2 on the road vs. L.A.
• The home team is 6-0-2 in the last 8 games of the series.
• The CBJ went 1-1 vs. the Kings last season.
• Columbus has killed off 20 of the last 23 Kings man advantages.

Columbus Blue Jackets Lines, Defensive Pairings, & Scratches For Tonight's Game vs. Los Angeles KingsThe Columbus Blue Jackets are at Crypto.com Arena to take on the LA Kings at 10 PM. Blue Jackets Score Three Power Play Goals, Two By Mason Marchment to Beat KingsThe Columbus Blue Jackets are now 15-15-6 with 36 points.

Mason Marchement(6-PPG, 7-PPG) and Kirill Marchenko(11-PPG) scored for the Blue Jackets, and Jet Greaves made 23 saves in a 3-1 win over the LA Kings on Monday night. 

It was a brilliant game by the Blue Jackets, who defensively stifled the Kings all night long, giving them very little. The Blue Jackets' power play scored three goals on seven power plays to stay hot. 

Columbus Blue Jackets (36 pts) vs. New York Islanders (46 pts) Game PreviewColumbus is 27-23-1-7 all-time, and 18-7-1-4 at home vs. New York.

Series History vs. The Islanders

• Columbus is 27-23-1-7 all-time, and 18-7-1-4 at home vs. New York.
• The home team is 10-3-1 in the last 14 games of the series.
• The Blue Jackets have won 3 of the last 5 overall against the Isles.
• The CBJ have not had a power play against the Islanders since 2023.

Columbus Blue Jackets Lines, Defensive Pairings, & Scratches For Tonight's Game vs. New York IslandersThe Columbus Blue Jackets are back at home after the Christmas break to take on the New York Islanders at 5 PM. Marchenko Scores Twice In Thrilling Comeback Win Over the New York IslandersThe Columbus Blue Jackets are now 16-15-6 with 38 points and have won two straight games.

Kirill Marchenko(12,13), Ivan Provorov(5), and Cole Sillinger(4-EN) scored the goals for Columbus, while Jet Greaves stopped 24 shots in a 4-2 Blue Jackets win on Sunday night. 

The Jackets scored three late goals in the third period to pull out the victory, something they're not used to doing. 

This game pretty much had it all. From a called back goal (controversial) to an allowed goal (also controversial), to multiple major penalties being reviewed, and everything in between.

Columbus Blue Jackets (38 pts) vs. Ottawa Senators (41 pts) Game PreviewColumbus is 19-21-2-3 all-time, and 7-13-11 in Ottawa.

Series History vs. The Senators

• Columbus is 19-21-2-3 all-time, and 7-13-11 in Ottawa.
• The CBJ are 3-6-1 in the last 10 vs. the Sens.
• The Blue Jackets lost to the Senators on December 11th 6-3.

Columbus Blue Jackets Lines, Defensive Pairings, & Scratches For Tonight's Game vs. Ottawa Senators The Columbus Blue Jackets are back on the road to take on the Ottawa Senators tonight at 7:30 PM. Blue Jackets Beat Travel Woes And Senators To Win Third Straight GameThe Columbus Blue Jackets are now 17-15-6 with 40 points. Although they're still in 8th place in the Metro, they sit just 4 points out of the playoff race. Columbus Blue Jackets (40 pts) vs. New Jersey Devils (42 pts) Game PreviewColumbus is 30-22-1-3 all-time, and 17-12-0-0 at home vs. New Jersey.

 DENVER — It’s selection time for the Canadian men’s Olympic hockey team and several Colorado Avalanche players could be selected.

Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar are locks, but where things could get interesting is in goal.

Will Team Canada general manager Doug Armstrong opt for Mackenzie Blackwood, Scott Wedgewood, or possibly both? Or will he choose just one? We’ll find out at 10 a.m. local time here in Colorado.

For now, Blackwood appears to be the favorite—and based on what head coach Jared Bednar has said about his goaltender throughout the season, it’s hard to make a case against him.

Blackwood Has Potential to Be the Best

The 29-year-old Blackwood, who was drafted in the 2nd round (42nd overall) by the New Jersey Devils in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, reached a milestone during Monday’s 5-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings at Ball Arena. Blackwood made his 250th career start and picked up the win and made 23 saves on 25 shots in the process. 

Blackwood had a slow start to the season after missing most of training camp, along with the preseason and the early portion of the regular season, while recovering from offseason lower-body surgery that took longer than anticipated.

His first few starts weren’t particularly impressive, and while head coach Jared Bednar did express some frustration with those early performances, he consistently emphasized that he had the utmost faith in his goaltender to turn things around.

"I hate to sound cruel, but that's a Blacky problem at this point," he stated on Nov. 13 following a 6-3 Avs win over the Buffalo Sabers. "It's not a problem for me; I have lots of confidence in Blacky and I know there's lots of minutes between here and the end of the season, but (Scott Wedgewood) is playing great, so I'm not gonna not play Wedge to play Blacky at this point, so those minutes come in practice and hard work he's been doing that and he'll get his games...Wedge is rested and ready to go for Sunday.”

Bednar gave Blackwood some tough love, but he also reiterated that he knew just how special his goaltender was. And Blackwood has proven that.

Through 15 games, Blackwood owns a 13-1-1 record with a 2.15 goals-against average and a league-best .924 save percentage.

Teammate Scott Wedgewood is tied for the NHL lead in wins with Florida Panthers star Sergei Bobrovsky at 17, while also posting an NHL-best 2.13 goals-against average to go along with a .919 save percentage.

The Avalanche find themselves in a rare and enviable position, with both goaltenders essentially neck-and-neck across every major statistical category. That kind of balance in net is highly unusual.

Olympic Bound

Following Monday’s win over Los Angeles, The Hockey News asked Bednar to address whether Blackwood has another level to reach in his game following the completion of his 250th career game.

“Yes,” Bednar stated plainly. “I do. I think he’s a great goalie in this league and I think he has the potential to be one of the best.”

Our eyes and the stats show that Blackwood is one of the best and in just over half an hour, he could be awarded with the opportunity to represent his country in the Milan Olympic Games. 

Flyers trade Zamula to Penguins, acquire forward who was first-rounder in 2019 originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

It had felt inevitable that Egor Zamula was headed for a change of scenery.

That came Wednesday as the Flyers traded the defenseman to the Penguins in exchange for Philip Tomasino.

Zamula was sent to AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley a little under two weeks ago after he cleared waivers. He had not played for the Phantoms since 2022-23, so this was a pretty significant sign that the 25-year-old defenseman had fallen down the organizational depth chart.

The emergence of Emil Andrae and a healthy Rasmus Ristolainen had bumped Zamula down to Lehigh Valley. Ty Murchison, a prospect who was called up earlier this month for his NHL debut, had also played some games over Zamula.

Zamula, a 6-foot-3 undrafted product, played 13 games for the Flyers this season and 168 over parts of six seasons. He had eight goals, 33 assists and a minus-12 mark in his Flyers career. He struggled at times in the defensive zone and moving the puck with pace.

As he gets a new opportunity in Pittsburgh’s organization, he’s on the final year of a two-year, $3.4 million deal.

Tomasino, a 24-year-old forward, was selected by the Predators at 24th overall in the 2019 draft. This is the second time he has been traded. Nashville dealt him to the Penguins in November 2024.

The first-rounder’s best NHL season came as a rookie in 2021-22, when he had 32 points (11 goals, 21 assists) through 76 games for the Predators.

In seven career matchups with the Flyers, Tomasino put up five goals, his most against any NHL team.

The 6-foot winger had played just nine games for Pittsburgh this season. With the team’s AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Tomasino had 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) and a plus-12 rating in 14 games.

He’s on a one-year, $1.75 million deal and will report to the Phantoms.

As the calendar turns to a new year on Wednesday, the Detroit Red Wings are hoping to carry their recent momentum into 2026 after posting their strongest start to a season in years. With each victory, Detroit moves closer to ending a playoff drought that has lasted nearly a decade and achieving the franchise’s long-term goals.

The Red Wings will look to add another win when they face a struggling Winnipeg Jets team that has fallen sharply from its Presidents’ Trophy–winning form and now holds the NHL’s worst record at 15-18-4. Winnipeg will be desperate to stop its slide, so Detroit must be ready for an aggressive effort while also trying to solve Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, the reigning league MVP and a back-to-back Vezina Trophy winner. The matchup sets the stage for an exciting showdown that should send hockey fans out of 2025 on a high note.

Lineup Storylines

Detroit recently reassigned sparkplug forward John Leonard to the AHL, creating a need for scoring to come from other areas. That has not been a problem lately, as production has been spread throughout the lineup. Forwards Lucas Raymond, Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat, along with defenseman Moritz Seider, are all averaging more than a point per game while there's also been some unexpected contributors like Andrew Copp and Axel Sandin Pellikka that have also made a difference.

Even the bottom of the lineup has chipped in with James van Riemsdyk has scored six goals in his last 11 games, while his linemate Michael Rasmussen has thrived alongside the veteran, entering Wednesday with points in three straight contests on one goal and two assists.

Defensively, the Red Wings have taken noticeable steps forward. During their 14 game surge, they are allowing just 2.79 goals per game, tied for 12th best in the league over that span with Toronto and New York. Detroit will aim to remain disciplined in its own zone and avoid giving any advantages to a Jets team that capitalizes on its chances.

Winnipeg’s offense remains dangerous, led by its star top line of Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele and Gabe Vilardi. The trio has combined for 52 of the Jets’ 106 goals this season, making them one of the most lethal units in the NHL.

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Player & Betting Trends (Presented By BetMGM)

DET ML (-120) | WPG ML (+100)

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O/U 6.0 Goals

The Red Wings and Jets have met just 23 times since Winnipeg’s return to the NHL, and those matchups have consistently tested Detroit. Winnipeg has won nine of the last 13 meetings, including three of the past four games played in Detroit. Despite elite goaltending on both sides, recent history suggests offense could be on display. Five of the last six meetings between these teams have produced six or more goals, pointing toward the possibility of a high scoring affair.

For Detroit, Lucas Raymond appears poised to continue his strong play against Winnipeg. The Swedish winger has found success against Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, posting three goals and six assists for nine points over his last six games versus Winnipeg, including five points across his last two meetings with the Jets.

On the other side, Kyle Connor has been a consistent thorn in Detroit’s side. The Michigan native has tallied eight goals and eight assists for 16 points in his last 11 games against the Red Wings, often reminding his hometown fans of what they are missing since his days at the University of Michigan.

Goalie Matchup

Detroit: John Gibson (Season: 12-8-1 record, 3.06 GAA, .891 SV% | VS WPG: 5-11-3 record, 3.31 GAA, .891 SV% in 20 games)

Winnipeg: Connor Hellebuyck (Season: 9-9-3 record, 2.53 GAA, .908 SV% | VS DET: 7-5-1 record, 2.78 GAA, .909 SV% in 14 games)

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After an eight-game losing streak threatened to derail their season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have begun to get back on track a little bit.

All of a sudden, they've won three out of their last four games. They've scored 19 goals in those four games, and they're getting better goaltending than they were during their losing streak. They're also getting healthier. 

And all of that became very evident in their 5-1 win against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday. 

Big man Anthony Mantha scored two goals, and linemates Justin Brazeau and Tommy Novak added two more, as the Penguins played their best hockey game since Dec. 1 against the Phildelphia Flyers. The Penguins largely controlled play against the best team in the Metropolitan Division throughout the game, they capitalized on their opportunities, and they were able to shut down the Hurricanes in the final minutes of the third period. In fact, they did not allow a goal in the third period.

Sidney Crosby opened the scoring with his 21st of the season as well, and Stuart Skinner earned his first win in Pittsburgh with a 27-save performance. 

The Penguins now find themselves just two points out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, and they have games in hand against most teams ahead of them.

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Here are some takeaways from this impressive win:

- Mantha and Brazeau have both been revelations for the Penguins this season, and it's amazing how well they work together in tandem. They're both big-bodied, and their size allows them to gain a huge advantage in the danger areas of the ice. 

But it's not just the size. They both have the skill and the finishing ability as well, which is a rare combination. Mantha has a lethal shot and is able to use that advantageously, while Brazeau has soft hands and the ability to get his stick on any pucks thrown in his vicinity. 

Mantha, who has 14 goals and 27 points, is on pace for 30 goals and 57 points, while Brazeau - with 12 goals and 20 points - is on pace for 34 goals and 56 points despite missing 14 games to injury. And the most impressive thing about this is that neither of them have seen time with Sidney Crosby, which is usually the case when wingers are producing at this clip.

And they've also been doing it without Evgeni Malkin this month, which is even more impressive. Novak has done a fine job as second-line center, but the line with Malkin centering it was dominant at the start of the season before Brazeau's injury.

The Penguins' lineup - once Malkin returns and Yegor Chinakhov joins the lineup - will become crowded with scorers and young players with high potential, which is certainly a good problem to have. It gives the Penguins lineup deployment options - and it also makes a few players more expendable in the trade market, should they want to go that route.

Penguins' Biggest Summer Acquisition Hits New Career-HighNew Pittsburgh Penguins' winger Justin Brazeau is putting up the best numbers of his career in Pittsburgh.

- Speaking of Chinakhov, I'm very interested to see what this lineup looks like with him in it. And, especially, with him and Malkin back in the fold. 

Because the second line is playing so well - and, presumably, he'll be ready for Jan. 1 against the Detroit Red Wings - I think a natural spot to start him would be on the third line with Rutger McGroarty and Ben Kindel. That third line has been driving play and playing well on both sides of the puck, but the production has yet to come. Chinakhov could, potentially, help in that department, and it will help ease him into the Penguins' lineup.

Once Malkin comes back? I'm not sure what you do. Novak has been very good for well over a month now, the top line is still producing, the fourth line has been excellent, and McGroarty and Kindel are both playing well enough to remain in the lineup. 

As far as trimming the roster itself, it makes sense to either waive Kevin Hayes or option Ville Koivunen, who could, perhaps, use some more time in the AHL. But the actual lineup is not going to be easy to figure out. 

And when is the last time the Penguins had a problem like this? Honestly, it's hard for me to recall. This team, when healthy, is deep at forward, and it's a wonderful problem to have. 

- The fourth line is playing some great hockey right now. 

Blake Lizotte makes a discernible difference centering that line. Noel Acciari has been playing sound fundamental hockey all season long, and Connor Dewar is the sparkplug that helps energize the line and get it going on the forecheck. 

This is, honestly, a perfect fourth line. If they can maintain this level, it's going to make for some tough decisions as far as the lineup.

- After a string of rough games, Erik Karlsson was much better in this one, as was Kris Letang. I still didn't love Letang's play on Carolina's lone goal, but otherwise, they were much better. 

- The Penguins needed this kind of confidence-building win. Even if they've won three out of their last four, the other two wins came with plenty of flaw. 

That wasn't really the case Tuesday. The Penguins played better defensive hockey, and they were rewarded for it. They also got the goaltending, as Skinner earned his first win as a Penguin. 

They need both of those things - defense and goaltending - to be functional if they hope to make a run at a playoff spot. 

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The Hockey News Ottawa is looking back on some of the biggest Senators news of the 2025  calendar year.  In part two of our walk down memory lane, we're looking at the big news and events from April to June, and there was nothing bigger than the Senators getting back to the postseason for the first time since 2017.

April

The Drought Finally Ends

The Senators clinched a playoff spot for the first time in eight years, closing out the 2024-25 season with a record of 45-37 for 97 points, earning the first wild card and finishing just one point behind the Florida Panthers, the eventual Stanley Cup champions.

The Senators drew the Toronto Maple Leafs in Round 1, and unfortunately, they quickly fell behind in the series 3-0, though Games 2 and 3 could have gone either way, with both going to overtime.

To their credit, the Senators didn’t roll over. After winning Game 4 in Ottawa, 4–3 in overtime, Brady Tkachuk left the ice yelling to the crowd, “We’re coming back here.”

The Senators made good on that vow by heading to Toronto for Game 5 and shutting out the Leafs 4–0. However, back in Ottawa for Game 6 (and we’re cheating a little here since it happened on May 1), while the Senators tied the game with two minutes to go on a goal by David Perron, they couldn’t hold on. Max Pacioretty scored with just over five minutes left to eliminate the Senators in six games.

Except for Game 1, all five games that followed could have gone either way. The hope at the time was that the sting of that loss would serve the Senators well in the coming season.

Award Nominees

As the Stanley Cup Playoffs marched on without Ottawa, Perron was named the Senators’ Masterton Trophy nominee. The trophy goes to the player who best exhibits perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication. Perron dealt with injuries last season, but more importantly, he had to step away from the team to be with his family as they successfully helped their newborn daughter through her health challenges.

Meanwhile, Brady Tkachuk was Ottawa’s nominee for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy for the third straight year. The award is given annually to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a significant humanitarian contribution to their community. The trophy is named after King Clancy, a beloved Senators captain from the 1920s, known for his scoring ability, leadership, and toughness. One hundred years later, that description fits Tkachuk to a tee.

Ray Shero Passes

On a sad note, in April 2025, longtime NHL executive Ray Shero passed away at the age of 62. The well-liked Shero was Pittsburgh’s general manager when they won the Stanley Cup in 2009 and served as an assistant GM with the Senators from 1993 to 1998.

May

Exit, Stage Left

As the Senators held their player exit meetings, disappointed to be halted in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, they all went their separate ways. It turned out to be the end for free agents  like Adam Gaudette (signed in San Jose), Anton Forsberg (signed in LA), Travis Hamonic (Detroit), Dennis Gilbert (Philadelphia), and Angus Crookshank (New Jersey).

General manager Steve Staios quickly began a busy offseason by signing Nikolas Matinpalo to a two-year contract.

Worlds

Matinpalo was one of several Senators who headed off to the World Hockey Championship. Tim Stützle arrived a little late and played for Team Germany, later admitting he probably should have shut it down for the year after the Senators’ season ended. Shane Pinto suited up for the United States and helped the Americans win gold.

Jacques Talk

Jacques Martin was named to the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame. The former Senators head coach is the winningest coach in team history and returned for a second stint a couple of years ago when DJ Smith was fired. Martin guided the Senators through the remainder of that season before being replaced by Travis Green.

Management Changes

Without getting into specifics as to why, the Senators mutually parted ways with the well-regarded Ryan Bowness, who served as both Belleville’s GM and Ottawa’s associate general manager. Bowness was kept on after Pierre Dorion was fired, but the Sens opted to replace him with former Hamilton Bulldogs GM Matt Turek. Sam Gagner was also named director of player development. Turek replaced

June

The Remote NHL Draft

The Senators made six selections at the 2025 NHL Draft. They entered the draft with the 21st overall pick but traded it to the Nashville Predators for the 23rd and 67th overall picks. With the 23rd selection, they chose defenceman Logan Hensler from the University of Wisconsin.

NHL teams were invited to bring in guests or celebrities to make draft announcements from their home cities, and the Senators opted for comedian Tom Green, who announced the Hensler selection. The Senators then traded the 67th overall pick along with a sixth-round pick in 2026 to the Los Angeles Kings for defenceman Jordan Spence.

Rounds three through seven saw the Senators select Blake Vanek, son of former NHLer Thomas Vanek; Goalie Lucas Beckman, who was traded in December from dead-last Baie-Comeau to first-place Chicoutimi; diminutive Russian forward Dmitri Aitsev; Croatian-born forward Bruno Idzan; and Russian goaltender Andrei Trofimov.

Re-Signings

The Senators re-signed restricted free agent Tyler Kleven to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $1.6 million.

Toward the end of the month, Claude Giroux signed a one-year extension with a base salary of $2 million, plus bonuses that could bring the total to $4.7 million. Through the first half of the 2025-26 season, he's more than earned his keep.

The Senators also re-signed Levi Marilainen to a one-year contract worth $1 million. He will be a free agent again this summer and is arbitration-eligible.

Olympic Senators

Finally, thoughts began turning to the Olympics when various national hockey federations announced the first six players on their preliminary rosters. Those lists included Ottawa Senators Brady Tkachuk (Team USA), Tim Stützle (Team Germany), and Lars Eller (Team Denmark). Full rosters are expected to be out on New Year's Eve.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News - Ottawa

Ottawa Senators Year In Review Part One: January To March

Canada unveils Olympic hockey roster loaded with NHL stars. Here's the full team originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Canada will be taking a team loaded with NHL stars to Italy for the Winter Games.

The Canadians on Wednesday unveiled their men’s ice hockey roster for the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.

The 25-man squad is headlined by Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid, Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon and Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar. It also features veterans like Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby, Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty and Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand. Crosby and Doughty were part of Canada’s gold-medal winning team at the 2014 Sochi Games.

Meanwhile, San Jose Sharks young sensation Macklin Celebrinicracked the roster at just 19 years old.

Here’s a position-by-position breakdown of the team:

Goaltenders

• Jordan Binnington, St. Louis Blues
• Darcy Kuemper, Los Angeles Kings
• Logan Thompson, Washington Capitals

Defenseman

• Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings
• Thomas Harley, Dallas Stars
• Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche
• Josh Morrissey, Winnipeg Jets
• Colton Parayko, St. Louis Blues
• Travis Sanheim, Philadelphia Flyers
• Shea Theodore, Vegas Golden Knights
• Devon Toews, Colorado Avalanche

Forwards

• Macklin Celebrini, San Jose Sharks
• Anthony Cirelli, Tampa Bay Lightning
• Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
• Brandon Hagel, Tampa Bay Lightning
• Bo Horvat, New York Islanders
• Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
• Brad Marchand, Florida Panthers
• Mitch Marner, Vegas Golden Knights
• Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
• Brayden Point, Tampa Bay Lightning
• Sam Reinhart, Florida Panthers
• Mark Stone, Vegas Golden Knights
• Nick Suzuki, Montreal Canadiens
• Tom Wilson, Washington Capitals

Crosby, MacKinnon, Makar, McDavid, Point and Reinhart were announced in June as Canada’s first six roster selections.

Blues general manager Doug Armstrong serves as Team Canada’s GM, while Lightning two-time Stanley Cup champion head coach Jon Cooper is the Canadians’ bench boss.

Among the notable omissions from the Olympic team were Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard, who’s currently sidelined due to injury, Panthers forward Sam Bennett, Jets forward Mark Scheifele, Islanders rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer and Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood.

The Olympic men’s ice hockey competition runs from Feb. 12-22.

The Milan Cortina Games will see NHL players competing in the Olympics for the first time since 2014, when Canada defeated Sweden for gold.

The Canadians will be looking to build off their 4 Nations Face-Off title triumph last February. The 4 Nations Face-Off, which was conducted by the NHL and featured Canada, Finland, Sweden and the United States, marked the first best-on-best international hockey tournament since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

Canada defeated Team USA 3-2 in overtime of the 4 Nations Face-Off final.

When will Team USA’s Olympic hockey roster be announced?

The Americans will reveal their roster on Friday, Jan. 2. The announcement will be made on NBC’s “TODAY” during the 8 a.m. ET hour.