While the Montreal Canadiens announced on Sunday morning that they had recalled Samuel Blais from the Laval Rocket, the organization stayed eerily quiet about goaltender Samuel Montembeault.

Blais’ call-up makes perfect sense since center Jake Evans left Saturday night’s game not even four minutes in after what looked like a knee-on-knee collision. In his post-game media availability, Martin St-Louis explained that he would not be flying with the team to Pittsburgh and that he was still being evaluated.

Canadiens: Fowler In Fantastic Company
Canadiens: About The Danault Trade
Canadiens: Fowler Frustrates Crosby And The Penguins

The absence of news on Montembeault was, however, surprising since the organization had already said a couple of times that the plan was for the netminder to rejoin the team in Pittsburgh this weekend. Following several media requests, the communications department confirmed that the goaltender's plan had been revised and that he would rejoin the team after the Christmas break.

Under the conditioning stint rules, a player can remain in the AHL for 14 days. Since Montembeault was assigned to the Rocket on December 16, he could conceivably stay there until December 30. The team has not confirmed the exact date the goalie will join the Canadiens, but, as previously reported, the goalie had to agree to this course of action. 

On paper, his stay is extended, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that he will see more action in the AHL since the Rocket’s next game is on December 27 against the Syracuse Crunch, while the Canadiens’ next game will be on December 28 against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Florida. If Montembeault joins the team right after the break, he will likely travel with them before the Tampa game, meaning he wouldn’t have time to play another game in Laval in any case.

The Becancour native has lost his two starts with the Rocket: 5-2 on Thursday, when he gave up four goals on 24 shots, and 2-0 on Saturday, when he made 27 saves on 28 shots, the second goal was an empty netter. The Rocket was playing without several of its key contributors, with Owen Beck, Adam Engstrom, and Jacob Fowler all with the Canadiens, and Alex Belzile, Joshua Roy, and Laurent Dauphin serving three-game suspensions. The goalie can hardly be blamed for Saturday’s defeat, but it’s clear the plan didn’t really go as hoped.

While the Canadiens play in Pittsburgh tonight and in Boston on Tuesday night, Montembeault will benefit from more practice time with Rocket goaltending coach Marco Marciano. He has done a great job with Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler in getting them ready for the NHL, so more time with him might just be what the doctor ordered for the veteran goaltender.

Since Fowler played last night, you can expect Dobes to be in the net tonight when the Habs take on the Pittsburgh Penguins, although that has yet to be confirmed by the team, which didn’t hold a media availability today.

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When Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Matt Grzelcyk cross-checked Senators top scorer Tim Stutzle in the face on Saturday afternoon, he seemed to get off lightly, receiving only a double minor for high-sticking.

The officials then effectively reduced the punishment by handing Stutzle a roughing minor. Then the Sens lessened the severity even further with a too-many-men penalty near the end of their power play.

So Sens fans came away feeling like they didn't really get their pound of flesh.

On Sunday, in the light of day, when the NHL had a good chance to fully review Grzelcyk's actions, they swooped in with a $2,604.17 fine. Only time will tell whether Grzelcyk will ever financially recover.

The incident happened in the first period of Ottawa's 6-4 win over the Hawks when Stutzle and Grzelcyk began shoving after the whistle. Grzelcyk eventually hit Stutzle with a clear cross-check to the face, captured perfectly in high-definition, slow-motion replay and witnessed by one of the referees, standing 3 feet away.

Tim Stützle gets cross-checked in the face 😲

Ottawa is headed to the power-play. pic.twitter.com/qBoyfa2jDE

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 20, 2025

This was clearly a much different situation than a player trying to lift an opponent's stick and accidentally catching him with a high stick, causing blood. And yet, Saturday's officials treated it the same. 

After reviewing the tape several times, I now think that in the middle of the jousting, Grzelcyk was probably just intending to cross-check Stutzle in the chest area. Unfortunately for both parties, his stick shaft appeared to accidentally ride upward as Stutzle simultaneously raised his arms to defend himself.

Still, when your intention is to lay a hard cross-check on someone after the whistle, versus something that accidentally happens during a hockey play in game action, then what happens next is and should be on you. 

So Grzelcyk was fortunate to stay in the game and only receive a double minor. And why the NHL continues to bother with its tiny fines is anyone's guess.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

This article was originally published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Read more:

Senators Announce The Next Man Up For Their Ring of Honour
Belleville Senators Fire Head Coach David Bell
Senators' First Step Toward Stanley Cup Playoff Return Is Better Goaltending
30 Games Into The Season, What Is The Ottawa Senators' Identity?
Popular Former Senator Forward Attempting Comeback At Age 38
Four Ottawa Senators Make Annual List Of Most Punchable NHL Players

Over the past 72 hours, another popular rumor has swirled around the NHL about another player getting traded from the Nashville Predators. 

Ryan O'Reilly, who's had his fair share of trade rumors throughout the season, has seen a massive spike in chatter.

National media outlets have mentioned teams like the Maple Leafs, Capitals, Devils, and Avalanche as potential destinations for the Predators' assistant captain.

On the surface, it'd make sense.

He leads the Predators in scoring with 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists) in 34 games as the first-line center with Filip Forsberg and Luke Evangelista. At 34 years old and in the third year of a 4-year, $18 million contract with a AAV of $4.5 million, O'Reilly is a player a lot of teams could realistically go after.  

He's a veteran who is over-performing for his age and doesn't cost much. A handful of outlets have gone as far as saying he should be in a third-line role and not in such an amplified role in Nashville. Less pressure to play on a contender.  

Given his age, it's assumed that O'Reilly would like to compete for another cup before he retires. He's currently playing on the Predators team that is tied for last place in the NHL after starting the first month and a half of the season at 6-12-4. 

O'Reilly has been vocal about his own individual frustrations, giving himself a tongue-lashing after a 3-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Nov. 6. 

"I know for myself, I'm the number one center and I'm turning the puck over wherever," O'Reilly said. "I can't make a 6-foot pass to save my life. You're not going to have much success if I'm playing pathetic like that...I've had one good year in my career." 

That quote alone is one that many experts and analysts have gone back to in defense of O'Reilly's "not being happy in Nashville." 

All of that makes a good defense as to why O'Reilly would be gone by the trade deadline, but taking a closer look at the Predators, currently, and O'Reilly, it feels like the rumors are a lot of noise with little or dated substance. 

A lot has happened since O'Reilly made that comment after the Flyers game. Nashville has won eight of its last 12, most recently defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs, 5-3, on Saturday. 

In that stretch, O'Reilly has scored 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) in 12 games, playing an integral role in the Predators' turnaround and logging top-line minutes. 

A lot of what the Predators have been doing lately has been conveniently voided when talking about why O'Reilly should leave. Both head coach Andrew Brunette and the players have said over the last few games that the work and effort are beginning to pay off, and they're starting to get positive results. 

O'Reilly is playing well and is now getting support for the first time this season. He most likely wants to see how this run will play out, at least, instead of leaving right in the middle of it. 

Then there's the word "rebuild," which is more complex than just burning everything down and starting from scratch. General manager Barry Trotz has said before that the team is rebuilding, but not in the sense of a ground-up rebuild.

They want to progressively get younger players into the line up and have them working with the veterans. Evangelista has been a prime example of that, 23-years old on the first line, playing with O'Reilly and Forsberg, and amounting 24 points in 33 games. 

Veterans rumored to want to leave are expected to play a significant role in ushering in the next generation. Dumping them off would go against what we've been hearing about for the last five months. 

But that's not to say Trotz isn't entertaining the idea of trading players. That's still happening, but not in the sense of giant blockbuster deals. 

Defenseman Spencer Stastney is an example of that, who was traded to the Edmonton Oilers this season for a 2027 third-rounder. He's a player who has had a good, steady year, but is not one of the Predators' superstars.

Those are the kind of players that Trotz will be trying to get more from in the market. 

While everyone is talking about O'Reilly, Steven Stamkos and Juuse Saros, they should be focused more on Michael Bunting, Erik Haula and Nick Blankenburg. 

Bunting specifically, who has 19 points in 34 games on Nashville's third line, could be huge for any team looking to add bottom-six depth. Haula leads the Predators on power play points with eight and is a veteran center. 

Blankenburg, despite being on the shorter side at 5-feet-9-inches, gave the Predators an unexpected spark from the blue line, tallying 14 points, which is the second most among defenseman. Roman Josi leads that category with 15 points. 

Contract-wise, Bunting is in the final year of a 3-year, $13.5 million contract with an AAV of $4.5 million. Haula is in the final year of a 3-year, $9.45 million deal with a $3.15 annual hit. Blankenburg is in the final year of a 2-year, $1.55 million contract with a $775,00 AAV. 

They're pieces that you can move around instead of having to fill in giant gaps. Good hockey players who will heighten any team's interest in the league and help the Predators become deeper. 

And then there is the most apparent reason why an O'Reilly trade isn't going to happen anytime soon: he doesn't want to leave Nashville yet. 

Pierre LeBrun reported on Dec. 19 that O'Reilly informed interested teams that he "isn't ready to entertain the idea of a trade at this time." He added that he likes Nashville and wants to be part of the solution rather than abandon ship. 

LeBrun even added in The Athletic article that an O'Reilly trade "may not happen at all." 

If the personal aspects count for anything, O'Reilly would also be moving a wife and four kids to the next team. He is also somewhat involved in the Nashville music scene, singing backup vocals for an Irish bluegrass band called JigJam and recently releasing a children's song. 

He's in Nashville to play hockey, but this is the best NHL market to be as a musician. 

O'Reilly getting traded isn't the craziest thing in the world, but given the current state of the Predators and their future intentions, it doesn't make sense why he'd want to leave now or why the team would want to trade him. 

The Pittsburgh Penguins will play the second half of a home-and-home against the Montreal Canadiens in Pittsburgh on Sunday evening. 

The first game took place inside the Bell Centre in Montreal on Saturday night, and the Canadiens won, 4-0. The Penguins were blanked for a second straight game and have lost eight in a row heading into Sunday's game. 

They continue to look like a broken team with no answers. However, that can start to change if they can find a way to win this game. 

Jacob Fowler recorded his first career NHL shutout for the Canadiens on Saturday and it's the second time that he has played well against the Penguins this year. The Penguins will likely avoid him on Sunday since Jakub Dobes is in line to get the start. Dobes is 12-5-2 with a 2.91 goals-against average and an .893 save percentage this year. 

Arturs Silovs will likely start in goal for the Penguins after Stuart Skinner was the starter on Saturday night. Head coach Dan Muse may announce other lineup changes during his media availability before the game. 

Puck drop for this game will be at 7 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Fans can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'

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ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild (22-9-5) has been nearly flawless for six weeks. Since Nov. 7, they’re 17-2-2 and rolling through opponents. they face the Colorado Avalanche (25-2-7) for a huge matchup.

The last time these two teams met the Wild ended the Avalanche’s 10-game winning streak in a shootout victory.

Here are tonight's news and notes for the game.

Minnesota is 62-55-13 all-time against the Avalanche and 35-26-5 on home ice. The Wild’s 35 all-time home wins over Colorado is their most against any single opponent, while their 137 points and 62 wins ranks second.

Connections:

Forward Yakov Trenin recorded two goals and three points in 16 games with the Avalanche in 2023-24. Colorado defenseman Brent Burns was selected by Minnesota in the first round (20th overall) of the 2003 NHL Draft and collected 183 points (55-128=183) and 325 PIM in 453 games with the Wild across seven seasons

Avs forward Brock Nelson is from Warroad and defenseman Sam Malinski is from Lakeville.

Stats:

Vladimir Tarasenko leads Minnesota with 35 points (15-20=35) in 47 games against Colorado. Mats Zuccarello owns 33 points in 35 career games and Kirill Kaprizov has 14 goals and 22 points in 18 games against the Avalanche.

Nathan MacKinnon leads the Avalanche with goals with 24, assists with 41 and points with 65 in 52 career games against Minnesota. Gabe Landeskog has 21 goals and 43 points in 50 games and defenseman Cale Makar has 23 points in 26 games against the Wild.

Filip Gustavsson is 2-7-1 with a 3.81 GAA and a .884 SV% in nine starts against Colorado. Jesper Wallstedt is 1-0-0 with a 1.85 GAA and a .951 SV% in his lone start.

Mackenzie Blackwood has a 2-4-2 record with a 2.72 GAA and a .904 SV% in eight career starts vs. Minnesota. Wedgewood is 1-2-2 with a 2.70 GAA and a .913 SV% in six games (four starts) against the Wild.

'Structure Over Speed': How the Wild’s Structure Neutralized Colorado’s Elite Rush GameWild's disciplined structure stifled Colorado's elite rush attack. Learn how defensive execution and forward support neutralized the Avalanche's potent offense.

Milestones:

Tarasenko has four goals and six points during an active three-game point streak and has five goals and nine points in his last seven games.

Kirill Kaprizov is currently tied for second in franchise history with 145 power-play points (70-75=145).

Trenin notched nine hits against the Oilers which tied his season high. He leads the NHL with 179 hits, the highest total in franchise history through a season’s first 36 games.

Matt Boldy and Kaprizov were Minnesota’s co-leaders in goals in November, with each player scoring 10 goals in 14 games. It marked the first time in team history that the Wild had two players each score 10 or more goals in the same calendar month.

Both Boldy and Kaprizov have over 20 goals this season. They are the only team in the NHL to have multiple players hit that mark.

Boldy extend his active goal and point streaks to four games (5 goals and 3 assists), tying his career-long goal streak set earlier this season. He has seven goals and seven assists in his last eight games.

Kaprizov is 11 points away from passing Marian Gaborik for second all-time in career points with the Wild.

Kirill Kaprizov Sets Minnesota Wild Franchise Record For Most Home GoalsKirill Kaprizov shattered a Wild home goal record, igniting a pivotal clash against the surging Avalanche with two electrifying second-period strikes.

Records:

Minnesota has won seven consecutive games, the longest active streak in the NHL, tied for the team’s longest streak of the season and tied for the fourth longest in franchise history.

All seven of the Wild's wins in the current winning streak have come in regulation, tying the franchise record for most consecutive wins in regulation.

The Wild rank third in the NHL with 49 points (22-9-5) and hold an active 14-game home point streak (12-0-2) since Nov. 1, the longest run in franchise history and the second-longest streak in the NHL this season (COL, active 16 game streak).

Minnesota is 19-3-2 (.833) since Nov. 1, ranking first in the NHL in wins, points (40), team GAA (1.76) and team SV% (.939) while ranking second with a plus-37 goal differential.

Minnesota is 22-9-5 which is third in the Central Division and third in the NHL.

Minnesota is 8-2-0 in its last ten games and 19-3-2 since Nov 1. ranking first in the NHL in wins.

Colorado is 25-2-7 which is first in the Central Division and first in the NHL.

Colorado is 8-1-1 in its last ten games and 18-1-3 since Nov 1. Ranks third in the NHL in that span. They have scored 91 goals in that span which ranks second behind the Dallas Stars.

The Avalanche have allowed the second-fewest goals with 45 since then and rank only behind the Wild's 43. Colorado is leading the NHL in shots per game with 35 since Nov 1.

Colorado leads the NHL with 41 goals scored in the first period. The Wild are second in goals allowed in the first period and first since Nov 1.

The Wild are 17-3-3 when scoring first. They trail the Avalanche who are 18-1-4 when scoring first.

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Recent Minnesota Wild Stories

Quinn Hughes ‘Extremely Open-Minded’ About Future With Wild After First Night In MinnesotaHughes arrives in Minnesota, impressing immediately with his calm demeanor and on-ice performance, fueling excitement for his future with the Wild.

- '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.

- Wild Acquire Quinn Hughes From Vancouver For Zeev Buium, Marco Rossi And More.

- When The Ice Shrinks, The Wild's Game Is Built To Hold Up.

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

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While Detroit Red Wings goaltender John Gibson didn't get off to the kind of start that he wanted in his first several starts since being acquired from the Anaheim Ducks during the offseason, he's been making up for it in a big way.

He made 24 saves in Detroit's win over the Washington Capitals on Saturday afternoon, helping the Red Wings pick up their seventh win in their last 10 games. 

For Gibson, it was his seventh straight victory, tying his previous career-best as a member of the Ducks. 

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

And that's not all.

It’s now the longest winning streak by a Red Wings goaltender since 2012. The last goalie to win seven consecutive games for Detroit isn’t a name that immediately comes to mind for most Red Wings fans: Joey MacDonald.

MacDonald was in his second tenure with the Red Wings, with whom he originally signed as an undrafted free agent in 2002. He also spent time with the Boston Bruins, New York Islanders, Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Montreal Canadiens. 

MacDonald then finished his professional career with the Schwenninger Wild Wings of the German DEL. 

After posting two shutouts in three games, Gibson was named the NHL’s Second Star of the Week — a performance that led head coach Todd McLellan to say he looks much more like his old self, the one McLellan routinely coached against while with the San Jose Sharks, Edmonton Oilers, and Los Angeles Kings.

“Just looks like Gibby,” McLellan said. "He’s confident. The guys feel really good about playing around him. There’s less pucks coming off him, more whistles, very efficient.”

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A former Buffalo Sabres goaltender is taking his talents overseas. 

Lowen Frankfurt of the DEL in Germany has announced that they have signed former Sabres goalie Dustin Tokarski for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. 

Tokarski had been on a professional tryout (PTO) with the Detroit Red Wings' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, before signing with Lowen Frankfurt. In two games with the Griffins during his PTO, he recorded a 1-0-0 record, a .929 save percentage, and a 1.92 goals-against average. Now, he will be looking to make an impact with Lowen Frankfurt after signing with the German club. 

Tokarski appeared in 42 games over two seasons with the Sabres from 2020-21 to 2021-22, where he recorded a 12-20-7 record, a .901 save percentage, a 3.35 goals-against average, and one shutout. He also had an 11-9-3 record, a .890 save percentage, and a 3.32 goals-against average in 24 games during the 2023-24 season with the Sabres' AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans. 

In 86 career NHL games over 10 seasons split between the Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens, Anaheim Ducks, Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Carolina Hurricanes, Tokarski posted a 27-36-12 record, a .902 save percentage, and a 3.37 goals-against average. 

Coming into Saturday night, it had been about a year and 36 games since Nashville Predators defenseman Adam Wilsby felt the thrill of putting a puck into the net.

The native of Stockholm, Sweden finally lit the lamp for only the second time in his NHL career in the Predators' 5-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs at Bridgestone Arena Saturday.

With the Leafs in front 2-1 late in the second period, Filip Forsberg picked off a pass and fed the puck to Ryan O’Reilly. Toronto goaltender Joseph Woll got out of position, and ‘The Factor’ found a wide-open Wilsby in the slot.

The 6-foot-1, 192-pound left-shot defenseman didn’t miss, tying the game with 33 seconds left in the frame. The goal came on a 4-on-4 following unsportsmanlike conduct minors to the Preds’ Nicolas Hague and the Leafs’ Simon Benoit.

"I just saw the lane opening up and I just tried to shoot as hard as I can and it went in," Wilsby said after the game. "There was a lot of, 'oh my God, wow' on the bench. It was a really cool goal."

Wilsby’s goal ended up being a critical turning point in the game. The Preds were outplaying Toronto, outshooting them 15-6 in the period and 24-14 through the first 40 minutes. A goal the other way might have given the Leafs new life and changed the complexion of the game.

At the 9:28 mark of the third period, Luke Evangelista put Nashville ahead on a highlight-reel between-the-legs backhander after getting behind a Toronto defender.

The goal sent a buzz through Bridgestone Arena and the hockey world.

OH. MY. GOODNESS. 😱

LUKE EVANGELISTA, TAKE A BOW

📺: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/4KjbdjVctFpic.twitter.com/cepyeREd0r

— NHL (@NHL) December 21, 2025

The Leafs pulled Woll for the extra attacker late in the third, and Steven Stamkos tallied a big insurance empty-netter for a 4-2 Preds lead with 1:34 remaining in regulation.

Jake McCabe narrowed the gap to 4-3 with 49 seconds left, but Cole Smith sealed the 5-3 triumph with an empty-netter of his own.

"It was a great crowd and we had a lot of good energy throughout the game and we're happy with our effort," Wilsby said.

Wilsby’s first NHL goal also came in the month of December. In a 2-0 shutout victory over the New York Rangers at Bridgestone Arena on Dec. 17, 2024, he jumped on a loose puck at the point, deked a Rangers defender and sniped in a shot from the slot for a 2-0 lead, which held up for the final score.

That goal was a form of redemption for Wilsby, who had one waved off the previous week in Dallas against the Stars after an offside review. He finally got one that counted the next week against the Rangers, and his second career goal on Saturday gave the Preds a big lift.

Ironically, the Rangers come to Bridgestone Arena Sunday on the second night of a back-to-back for both teams. Puck drop is set for 6 Pm CT.

DENVER — Scott Wedgewood is tied with four other goaltenders for the NHL lead in wins and owns both the league’s lowest goals against average and highest save percentage this season; yet even with those credentials, he remains at risk of being overlooked for the 2026 Winter Olympics roster.

Hockey Canada recently announced that the Olympic roster would be unveiled on New Year’s Eve, and according to a recent report, Scott Wedgewood is not in the running to be one of the three Canadian goalies named to the team. However, his teammate Mackenzie Blackwood remains in the running.

On a recent TSN Insider segment, NHL insider Pierre LeBrun reported that Team Canada has narrowed its goalie pool to four candidates, including Mackenzie Blackwood, Logan Thompson, and former Avalanche netminder Darcy Kuemper.

HOW DID SCOTT WEDGEWOOD MAKE THAT SAVE!? 😱

Incredible. pic.twitter.com/rg5o8eSBny

— NHL (@NHL) November 17, 2025

But any list that doesn't include Wedgewood in some capacity just seems wrong for a variety of reasons.

Colorado's Dominance Has Been Unexpected

When it was revealed during the offseason that Blackwood was dealing with a lower-body injury, Colorado Avalanche fans responded with a familiar, collective unease—the kind that carries an unspoken here we go again, signaling fears of yet another arduous season.

Wedgewood arrived in Colorado last year via a trade with the Nashville Predators and proceeded to deliver the finest campaign of his eight-year professional career. He finished 13-4-1 with a 1.99 goals-against average and a career-high .917 save percentage, numbers that far exceeded expectations for a presumed backup.

Many assumed the performance was an outlier and that Wedgewood would regress toward his career norms—perhaps dipping well below a .900 save percentage—settling back into the role of a capable but unspectacular No. 2. Instead, the 33-year-old has forced a reevaluation.

Scott Wedgewood deserves ALL THE STARS #GoAvsGo

— Sticks Up My Sleeve (@ayebeesees) November 17, 2025

While Blackwood recovered from what was later disclosed as lower-body surgery, Wedgewood shouldered the burden, stabilizing the crease and, at times, carrying the team. From the outset of training camp, there was a perceptible shift in the atmosphere surrounding the Avalanche. Goaltending remained the lingering concern, but Wedgewood’s play has largely erased it, offering reassurance that Colorado’s most pressing question may, in fact, already be answered.

Wedgewood Is Arguably Hockey’s Top Goalie at the Moment

Now 22 games into the season, Wedgewood has compiled a 15–1–4 record, pairing a 2.10 goals against average with a career-high .920 save percentage. Equally noteworthy is the manner in which Jared Bednar and the Avalanche have managed his workload. Wedgewood has made nine fewer starts than New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin, yet despite the substantial disparity in usage, the two netminders are level in wins.

Viewed in proper perspective, if Wedgewood were just a typical backup, he would be exactly that—an unremarkable goaltender with average numbers, far from any serious conversation about league-leading wins or elite performance. But the reality is very different: Wedgewood ranks at or near the top in nearly every meaningful category, and yet he still risks being left off the Olympic roster. If that happens, we already know the expected excuse: “There are so many elite goaltenders, but only a few spots.” While technically true, being tied for the league lead in wins—and excelling across other key statistics—should be more than enough to earn a place on Team Canada.

The other excuse might be what we brought up earlier, the anomaly factor. That claim, however, collapses under even modest scrutiny. Wedgewood appeared in 19 games for the Avalanche last season and has already made 22 starts this year, many of them against red-hot opponents and the NHL’s elite. Despite the increased workload and heightened competition, his save percentage has actually improved.

As Michael Traikos, Managing Editor of The Hockey News, recently stated, the Avalanche—the NHL’s top team—boast not only exceptional depth but also arguably the two best goaltenders in the league. Beyond Wedgewood, Mackenzie Blackwood has fully recovered from his injury and notably recorded back-to-back shutouts earlier this season, posting a save percentage identical to Wedgewood’s. Accordingly, it would seem logical for Team Canada to consider selecting both Wedgewood and Blackwood.

The best team in the NHL also happens to have the 2 best goalies in the NHL.

If you’re the Avs, who have seen Wedgewood and Blackwood combine for 3 straight shutouts, this is a great problem. If you’re Team Canada, it poses a complicated questionhttps://t.co/r08UAt8KtE

— Michael Traikos (@Michael_Traikos) November 27, 2025

The final roster spot might be a contest between Logan Thompson and Darcy Kuemper, though the probability of that scenario remains slim. Furthermore, the options Canada had at the 4 Nations Face-Off last season haven't exactly been stellar between the pipes this season.

Jordan Binnington, Colorado’s favorite sweetheart, is 7-8-6 with a .873 save percentage. Then there’s Adin Hill, who has missed most of the season due to injury and has only recently returned to the lineup. In five starts, Hill has a record of 1-0-2 with a .888 save percentage—not much better.

Scott Wedgewood clearly deserves a spot on the Olympic roster. It’s obvious why—unless you’re completely blind. But life has a way of throwing curveballs, and as much as Wedgewood shouldn’t be snubbed, the reality is that he probably will be.

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Dmitri Voronkov(13), Mason Marchment(5), and Zach Werenski(14) scored the goals for Columbus, and Elvis Merzlikins shook off a sloppy start to make 24 saves in a 4-3 loss to Anaheim. 

First Period - SOG 10-9 Ducks - CBJ Goal - Dmitri Voronkov-PPG

The first period was going pretty well for the CBJ until Mikael Granlund scored on a 3-on-1 Anaheim breakaway to make it 1-0 just 2:14 into the game. Jacob Trouba scored to make it 2-0 just 46 seconds later. Elvis Merzlikins had given up 5 goals in his last 8 shots, dating back to the last game he started. 

Rookie Beckett Sennecke put the Jackets on the power play when he got called for holding the stick. Dmitri Voronkov took a nice pass from Charlie Coyle to put one past Ducks goalie Lukáš Dostál. It was his 6th power play goal of the season. 

Kent Johnson gave the Ducks their first power play of the game when he shot a puck over the glass for a delay of game penalty. The Jackets killed it off fairly easily and is the 47th straight Anaheim penalty they've killed off. 

Second Period - SOG 10-10 - CBJ Goal - Mason Marchment

Newly acquired Mason Marchment scored his first goal as a Blue Jacket when he knocked down a Damon Severson shot to get it past Dostál. It was a beautiful deflection, and in the celebration, he lost his gum on the ice. He picked it up and put it back in his mouth - No big deal. 

The Blue Jackets went on their second power play when Beckett Sennecke drove through Elvis Merzlikins to get a goalie interference call. Elvis was able to pop back up and continue, but it was a hard shot. The Penalty was killed with ease by Anaheim. 

Mason McTavish scored to make the score 3-2 at 13:36 into the second. Dante Fabbro tried to get a puck from behind the net to Brendan Smith, but it was stolen and fed to McTavish, who was standing point blank for the score. 

Mason Marchment went to the box for tripping with 3:30 left in the second, giving the Ducks their second power play. Columbus was able to kill it off. 

Third Period - SOG 7-7 - CBJ Goal - Zach Werenski

The first 10 minutes of the third period was a bunch of back-and-forth hockey with a few scoring chances each. Both Merzlikins and Dostál had to make a couple big saves each as well. 

Zach Werenski continued his hot streak by scoring his 14th goal of the season at 12:44 of the third. Werenski's goal now puts him tied for first among all NHL defensemen in goals, and tied with Cale Makar in points. 

Unfortunately, a common mistake reared its ugly head of the Jackets when they simply couldn't clear the puck after several seconds. Pavel Mintyukov put in the game-winner with just over three minutes to play.

Zach Werenski blocked a shot with his foot and collapsed to the ice, having to crawl to the bench in obvious pain. The CBJ ended up taking a penalty on the play because he couldn't get off the ice. They killed the penalty, but it was too late. 

A replay of what happened to Werenski.

Watch at your own discretion. pic.twitter.com/fU7CMPD5oQ

— The CBJ Center (@CBJcenter) December 21, 2025

The Jackets would fall to the Ducks 4-3. 

Final Stats

Player Stats

• Dmitri Voronkov scored his 13th goal of the season. It is his 6th power play goal of the season.
• Mason Marchment scored his 1st goal as a CBJ and 5th of the season.
• Zach Werenski scored his 14th goal and picked up his 26th assist.
• Charlie Coyle recorded his 17th assist.
• Damon Severson picked up his 8th assist.
• Ivan Provorov tallied his 9th assist.
• Denton Mateychuk got his 7th assist.
• Kent Johnson registered his 8th assist of the season.

Team Stats

• The Jackets' power play went 1/2.
• The Columbus PK stopped all three Ducks man advantages. They have now killed off 49 straight Duck power plays.
• Columbus won 57.4% of the faceoffs. 35/61
• The Blue Jackets had 15 giveaways.

Up Next: The Jackets travel to Downtown LA to play the Kings on Monday night. 

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NASHVILLE — The Toronto Maple Leafs appeared to be in control of their fate while leading 2-1 late in the second period. However, a defensive coverage mistake allowed Adam Wilsby to walk into the Predators' zone uncontested and fire a shot past Joseph Woll, tying the game.

In the third period, Luke Evangelista gave Nashville a lead they would not relinquish with an incredible solo effort around Toronto’s defense—a highlight-reel goal likely to be shown for years to come. The Leafs eventually fell 5-3 in what was a very winnable game, and a disappointing follow-up to one of their worst outings of the season against Washington.

Following a loss to one of the Western Conference’s struggling teams, the defeat only intensifies the debate: are the Leafs’ problems purely mental, or is it a question of fundamental ability?

Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube used the term "avoidable" to describe both of those critical Nashville goals.

"It's mental, for sure. We've got to get through it. We've got to get over that. We've got to make better decisions throughout the game." Berube said. 

WILSBY'S FIRST OF THE SEASON 🤩 pic.twitter.com/MZgSEGwjK3

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) December 21, 2025

Toronto's bench boss had previously noted during practice that he didn't mind mistakes if they stemmed from aggressive play. While the Leafs did start aggressively—highlighted by Nicolas Roy scoring in his 400th NHL game on a line with Nick Robertson and Bobby McMann—that energy faded.

“There's definitely a shift we have to make mentally, where you never want to play 'not to lose,'” Roy lamented after the game. 

NEVER BACK DOWN NEVER WHAT?!!!! pic.twitter.com/0z09mI3Re5

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) December 21, 2025

The statistics reflect this regression. While Toronto controlled 68 percent of the expected-goals share in the first period according to NaturalStatTrick.com, that number plummeted to 42 percent in the second and a dismal 22 percent in the third. Overall, the Predators outshot the Leafs 34-22. Despite the offensive slump, the club has largely stuck to a positive public message rather than identifying a specific cause 

Not everyone agrees on the root cause, however. While some in the locker room admit to a mental block, the team captain took a different view.

"I think mentally we're fine,” Auston Matthews said. “I thought tonight, as shitty as it is losing, I thought the process was better. I thought we had good energy all night".

Regardless of the diagnosis, the results are stark: the Maple Leafs have fallen to last place in the Atlantic Division. They must now regroup before facing a formidable Dallas Stars team on Sunday.

You often here that the NHL is a results-based business and if it's not the mental side of it, it can only be ability. Are their top stars willing the team to success when they need to? Is Berube's coaching method not the correct one for this group?

Time could be running out, but a win against a top Western Conference opponent like the Dallas Stars could help calm things down for a bit.

As Nick Robertson summarized the locker room sentiment: “We haven't had that much success as of late... we've got to start winning some games”.

Fresh from a day off after their win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night, the Montreal Canadiens came out strong against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Martin St-Louis’ men were ready from the puck drop and skated with speed while showing great anticipation, forcing the Pens to commit 11 giveaways in the first frame alone.

The Habs were without newly acquired Phillip Danault, who is set to join the team in Boston on Monday, but they could have used him. Jake Evans, who started the game very well by bulldozing Tommy Novak, left the game before the four-minute mark after colliding with Ben Kindell twice near the blueline on a penalty kill. As soon as he exited the ice, he went straight to the dressing room when he got off the ice, never to be seen again.

Canadiens: How Montembeault's Second Start With Laval Went
Canadiens To Have Big Contingent At World Junior Championships
Canadiens: Hughes Brings Danault Back

Slafkovsky Did It All

While he doesn’t play with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield anymore at even strength, Juraj Slafkovsky still skates with them on the first power play unit, and he made the most out of it when he scored the first goal of the game.

The big Slovak did absolutely everything on the play: he stretched his stick to poke the puck away from the Penguins' recovery attempt to Suzuki, then headed back to the slot and tapped the ice to ask for the puck, which Caufield passed to him. He didn’t one-time it, though; he walked in, picked his spot and beat Stuart Skiner with a sharp wrister high.

That was a fantastic shift, a perfect demonstration of how his game has improved this year: his confidence, his ability to shift from attack to defence and then attack again effortlessly. It’s great to see.

He didn’t let up in the second either; minutes into the frame, he backchecked and robbed the Penguins of a scoring chance. With Evans leaving the game so early, he even got to play on two lines at times, filling in between Josh Anderson and Alex Texier. It shows just how much St-Louis appreciates his body of work.

Fowler Shuts The Door

Through 40 minutes of play, Jacob Fowler had only faced 14 shots, including only four in the second frame, but he had to make some high-quality saves. His positioning and technique remind me of one Carey Price. I’m not saying he’ll have the same kind of career, but he’s so well-positioned in his net that he can make any save look easy, much like the winningest goalie in Habs history.

He made a few highlight reel-worthy saves. Including one when a Pens’ defenseman faked a slap shot but passed the puck cross-zone on the doorstep to Connor Dewar, who one-time it. The left-winger might have thought it would be an easy goal, but Fowler calmly followed the puck and made the save with a side-to-side move.

Later in the frame, he had to make the split to reach a puck, and while a rebound could have left him vulnerable, he managed to freeze the puck right away. Later still, Sidney Crosby walked in from the side with the puck on his stick, and he poke checked him as if there was nothing to it.

If I had written this straight after the second frame, when Pittsburgh had a total of 14 shots, I would have said it’s not about the quantity of shots but about the quality. However, in the final frame, the Penguins took 16 shots on net, and he once again saved them all. No matter how busy he is in a game, the youngster can maintain the same level of concentration, which is admirable.

Jacob, Jacob, Jacob...#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/lgF02sXUDl

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) December 21, 2025

In his fourth game in the NHL, Fowler was more impressive than in his first three, as if to send management a message that he’s not ready to go back down to Laval even if Samuel Montembeault is set to rejoin the team on Sunday. Both he and Jakub Dobes are waiver-exempt and could easily be sent down to Laval. Still, from a performance standpoint, neither deserves to be there right now, especially not after Fowler recorded the first shutout of his career. Asked about his young netminder, the bench boss explained:

He's a kid that you know, you feel like he’s got a lot of confidence, I think he believes in himself, and it’s not arrogance, there’s a big difference. He plays very maturely, like in all these games he’s getting right now, you can’t buy that experience. Playing on a Saturday night at the Bell Centre, you can’t buy that; you’ve got to live through it. He did that tonight, and he did a heck of a job. The way he carries himself, he seems like he’s been ready for this for a long time.

- St-Louis on Fowler

While Montembeault lost his two games with Laval, he did look good in Saturday’s game, but I wouldn’t send another goaltender down until I’ve tested him in the NHL.

Hughes’ Timely Acquisition

After the game, Jake Evans was still being evaluated, but the coach confirmed that he wasn’t flying with the team to Pittsburgh tonight. According to game footage, he got hurt on a knee-on-knee hit, and it would be surprising if he were to be ready to come back before the Christmas break. Montreal plays the Penguins again tomorrow and the Boston Bruins on Tuesday, which means that Phillip Danault’s acquisition will have been more than timely, especially since he and Danault can do the same kind of defensive work.

The Canadiens have announced that Jake Evans will not return to tonight's game after this play pic.twitter.com/8zD7HRB5Qc

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 21, 2025

Watching the Penguins play tonight, I couldn’t help but wonder if Sidney Crosby would finish his career there. I was always of the opinion that he was a Penguins for life, but tonight, seeing what they could or, more importantly, couldn’t do, I couldn’t help but think it would be a waste of his talent. A bit like Connor McDavid trying to win the Stanley Cup in Edmonton without proper goaltending. Needless to say, the trade deadline should be interesting this season.

The Canadiens headed to Pittsburgh right after the game and will play there tomorrow night before heading to Boston for their last game before the Christmas break on Tuesday night.

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Sharks reinforcements Collin Graf, Igor Chernyshov impress in loss to Kraken originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

• Editor’s note: Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.

The Barracuda are coming! The Barracuda are coming!

There were moments during the 2023-24 NHL season where William Eklund, then a rookie, felt helpless to stem the tide of the Sharks’ losing. The Sharks won just 19 games that season and sported an NHL-worst -150 Goal Differential. There was help coming for Eklund, but it wasn’t clearly on the horizon yet.

What a difference that two years make.

Eklund is better, but now, the Sharks have got Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith as regular contributors. And Saturday night, though they lost 4-2 to the Seattle Kraken, San Jose also appears to be armed with Barracuda alumni Collin Graf and Igor Chernyshov. The Sharks outplayed Seattle for most of the night.

I’ll talk more about Chernyshov, just three games into his NHL career, in another article.

On Graf, this is the most confident NHL game that I’ve seen the 23-year-old winger play, especially offensively.

Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky corrected me: “In all three zones.”

And indeed, the 6-foot-1 winger scored a goal off a turnover that he forced, set up Chernyshov for multiple chances, and out-battled the Kraken all over the ice.

Read the full article at San Jose Hockey Now

Download and follow the San Jose Hockey Now podcast

Even if things haven't been going so hot at the NHL level for the Pittsburgh Penguins, there are some good things happening down on the farm. 

And one Penguins' forward prospect is beginning to make a pretty good case for an imminent NHL call-up. 

23-year-old winger Avery Hayes - signed to a two-year entry-level contract this summer by the Penguins - is on quite the run with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins right now. In his last 11 games, Hayes has six goals and 11 points to go along with 38 shots on goal, and he continues to get better and better as the season rolls on. 

On the AHL season overall, he has nine goals and 17 points in 23 games - including three game-winning goals and the tying goal to send the game to extra time on Saturday against the Utica Comets, which ultimately ended in a 3-2 shootout loss for WBS.

Gritty effort from Hayesy! pic.twitter.com/Vg07kBaGtw

— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) December 21, 2025

The undrafted forward showed out well in NHL training camp as one of the final cuts from the camp roster, making it until the last week. Hayes earned his entry-level contract last season after putting together a campaign for WBS that included 23 goals and 42 points in 60 games - as well as six game-winning goals. 

He has yet to make his NHL debut with the Penguins, but given the big club's immense struggles as of late - Pittsburgh has lost eight straight games - it would come as no surprise if Hayes does have his NHL debut sooner rather than later. There is an NHL roster freeze until Dec. 28, so until that time, Pittsburgh can only recall AHL players on an emergency basis. 

After Eighth Straight Loss, Where Do The Penguins Go From Here?The Pittsburgh Penguins are at a crossroads after their 4-0 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, which handed them their eighth straight loss. What's next for the organization?

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The house wins on Hockey Night in Canada. 

The Calgary Flames continued their strong play on home ice Saturday night, earning a 6–3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

Mikael Backlund led the way with two goals, while Connor Zary and Mackenzie Weegar each recorded three assists. Weegar’s performance included the 200th assist of his NHL career. Ryan Lomberg, Adam Klapka, Joel Farabee and Jonathan Huberdeau also scored for Calgary, while Devin Cooley turned aside 34 shots to secure his fourth win of the season.

The Flames went All-In early, and with Hockey Night in Canada spotlighting the matchup, the Flames delivered an energetic start.

Calgary opened the scoring at 3:54 when Zary drove the net and created a rebound that found its way to Backlund, who shoveled the puck home for his eighth goal of the season.

The Flames extended the lead at 8:42 after sustained pressure in the Vegas zone. Yan Kuznetsov’s point shot made its way through traffic and deflected off Klapka in front, slipping past Akira Schmid to make it 2–0.

Vegas responded at 10:02 when Riley Smith broke in alone, made a move to the backhand, and beat Cooley to cut the deficit to one on just the Knights’ third shot of the game.

Calgary answered again at 15:45 as Zary picked off a pass in his own zone and led a 2-on-0 rush with Lomberg, who finished the play to restore the two-goal advantage.

Moments later, Lomberg dropped the gloves with Jeremy Lauzon following the ensuing faceoff, igniting the Saddledome crowd. Calgary carried a 12–6 edge in shots after the opening 20 minutes.

The second period featured steady pace and flow, and the Flames capitalized. At 8:38, Backlund drove the net and stayed with the play, sliding home his second goal of the night off a pass from Weegar, with Zary picking up the secondary assist. The goal gave Calgary a 5–1 lead and marked Weegar’s 200th career NHL assist.

Vegas pulled one back at 14:34 when Kaeden Korczak fired a shot through traffic that eluded Cooley, making it 5–2.

The Golden Knights pushed in the final frame, outshooting the Flames 21-5 and applying sustained pressure, generating several quality chances. Mark Stone converted on the power play, batting a bouncing puck into the net to bring Vegas within two at 5–3.

However, with the Vegas net empty, Huberdeau scored into the empty net to seal it for the Flames. 

Three Takeaways:

Brzustewicz Settling In:

Hunter Brzustewicz continues to look comfortable at the NHL level. In his fifth game since being recalled, he made mature reads, directed pucks to the net, and even rang a shot off the post. He looks close to finding his first NHL goal any game now.

Triple Chip Performances:

Zary recorded his first multi-point game of the season with three assists and now has four assists in his last three games. Weegar also finished with three helpers, highlighted by his career milestone.

Captain Leading the Way:

Backlund’s two-goal night proved pivotal. With four goals over his last two games, the Flames captain continues to deliver timely offence and set the tone for his team.

The Final Word: 

Backlund on his hot hand:

“Some good plays, just trying to go to the net and put the puck in. Obviously it feels good to score some goals and help the team win.”

Lomberg on the goal and fight: 

“(Lauzon) hit Matty (Coronato) pretty good a couple of shifts before… it just kind of worked out that I scored before I got the chance to ask him (to fight).”

Weegar on 200 assists milestone: 

“I think I got more compliments on the plus-2 than I got on the 200th assist tonight… (Backlund) gets the goal that I got the 200 on and I look up to Backs a lot so it’s a great moment for sure.”