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The Vancouver Canucks pushed their win streak to four games on Saturday after a 5-4 shootout victory over the Boston Bruins. Liam Öhgren was the hero in the shootout while also scoring and adding an assist in regulation. As for Vancouver's other goal scorers, Linus Karlsson scored twice, while Max Sasson scored the Canucks first goal of the game. 

While Vancouver had a few standouts, no player had a stronger game than Kevin Lankinen. The Canucks goaltender stopped 38 of the 42 shots he faced before going a perfect seven for seven in the shootout. Thanks to his performance, Lankinen picks up his fifth victory of the season and first since November 16. 

This was yet another example of Vancouver finding a way to win despite being outplayed by its opposition. The Canucks were outshot 42-22 in this game, yet somehow kept their win streak alive. Whether it was Lankinen coming up with big saves at crucial times or depth pieces scoring massive goals, the win streak continues heading into the final game before the holiday break. 

Shifting over to standouts from this game, Aatu Räty is one player who deserves a shoutout. After being a healthy scratch in each of the last three games, the 23-year-old had one of his most impressive performances in the NHL as he set a new career high with eight hits. Räty also went nine for 12 in the faceoff dot, which included going six for seven in the defensive zone. 

Vancouver's fourth line of Öhgren, Sasson and Karlsson also put forth impressive performances as the trio led the way offensively for Vancouver. They scored all four of the Canucks goals in regulation, with Öhgren scoring the shootout winner. With Vancouver's top players struggling to score recently, these three are showing they can step up when the team needs them the most. 

"We didn't like our start in the first," said Öhgren post-game. "But I think we came out much better in the second period and in the third as well. We really pushed it and happy to get the win."

After what was a frustrating start to the season, the positive vibes seem to be returning to the Canucks. They are finding ways to win, which is even more impressive considering that they are on the road and are still missing center Elias Pettersson. The question now is, can Vancouver keep the momentum not just on Monday, but when they return home after the holiday break? 

Stats and Facts:

- Liam Öhgren records his first assist with the Canucks

- Marco Rossi record his first point with the Canucks 

- Linus Karlsson records his first career three-point game 

- Kevin Lankinen's 38 saves are the most during his time with Vancouver

Scoring Summary:

1st Period: 

8:23- BOS: Morgan Geekie (25) from Charlie McAvoy and Elias Lindholm (PPG)
19:45- VAN: Max Sasson (7) from Liam Öhgren and Linus Karlsson

2nd Period:

4:22- VAN: Linus Karlsson (6) from Evander Kane and Filip Hronek (PPG)
9:41- BOS: Pavel Zacha (10) from Nikita Zadorov and Casey Mittelstadt
12:05- BOS: Tanner Jeannot (4) from Mark Kastelic and Fraser Minten

3rd Period:

3:53- VAN: Linus Karlsson (7) from Marco Rossi
7:34- VAN: Liam Öhgren (2) from Marcus Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk
16:16- BOS: Andrew Peeke (3) from Marat Khusnutdinov and Morgan Geekie

Overtime:

No Scoring

Shootout:

VAN: Liam Öhgren

Up Next: 

The Canucks will wrap up their five-game road trip on Monday against the Philadelphia Flyers. Monday will also be the final game before the NHL's holiday break. Puck drop is scheduled for 4:30 pm PT. 

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Less than halfway through the 2025-26 season, the Philadelphia Flyers are already icing a much different team than the one they started the year with.

Once upon a time, Flyers GM Danny Briere cited the size of Zeev Buium, which was already comparable to the likes of Cam York, Emil Andrae, and Jamie Drysdale, as one of the primary drivers that led to the selection of Jett Luchanko instead.

Well, Andrae, 23, didn't even make the Flyers to start this season after an impressive 2024-25 season on the whole, and his 5-foot-9 size and ho-hum training camp didn't do him favors in comparison to taller teammates Adam Ginning and Egor Zamula.

Now, Andrae has emerged as one of Rick Tocchet's most important defenders and is already up to nine points in 24 games, smashing last year's total of seven points in 42 games.

As for Ginning and Zamula? Both had their opportunities to play for the Flyers and make a case to stick in the NHL, but, at least for now, both players are loitering in the AHL with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Ex-Flyers Coach John Tortorella Shuts Down Talk of NHL Return... For NowFormer <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> head coach John Tortorella isn't close to throwing in the towel on his coaching career, but the veteran bench boss was well prepared to say any talk of an NHL return right now is premature.

Are the Flyers suddenly turning over a new leaf after experiencing first-hand the lack of success they had going with a bigger lineup for the sake of being bigger? Maybe, but the diminutive Denver Barkey having an impressive and productive NHL debut against the New York Rangers on Saturday afternoon isn't a coincidence.

Barkey, 20, is in the midst of his first season playing pro hockey and got the call-up from the AHL in the wake of an injury to Christian Dvorak, though the Flyers probably needed to add a forward to their roster regardless.

Well, two primary assists later, the 5-foot-9, 155-pound forward has already made a case to stay with the Flyers beyond this one-game cameo, excelling on a line with top forwards Sean Couturier and Owen Tippett.

In my eyes, Barkey, formerly the captain of the OHL London Knights, was one of the most impressive young guns in Flyers training camp alongside Nikita Grebenkin.

Flyers: How Ty Murchison Fared in Thrilling NHL DebutIf one game can be taken for anything concrete, the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> may have found themselves a useful new piece on defense with prospect Ty Murchison.

The 2023 third-round pick is one of those players that, despite their size, manages to get involved in every play at both ends of the ice, attack the game with poise and moxie, and carry themselves assuredly, whether right or wrong.

The Flyers have a use for more of those players, even though the logjam at forward doesn't necessarily help the cause.

Still, the Flyers now have two more players shorter than 5-foot-10 than they started with the season with, and it's working out well so far for them.

Another poor performance from Sam Ersson spoiled Barkey's debut, which ended in a 5-4 shootout loss, but as long as the Flyers continue to trust in their most talented players above singular traits, the results will eventually come.

Marc Bergevin is parting ways with the Los Angeles Kings to join the Buffalo Sabres' new staff. 

After spending four-and-a-half seasons with the Kings as a senior advisor to the GM, he's moving on to join the Sabres as an associate GM.

Bergevin will be a part of Buffalo's front office, working alongside the newly hired GM, Jarmo Kekalainen. Kekalainen was hired by Buffalo as a senior advisor, the same role as Bergevin with Los Angeles.

This hire by the Sabres comes on the same day as the team relieved associate GM and Rochester Americans GM Jason Karmanos from his duties. It seems that Kekalainen knew who he wanted working alongside him in efforts to steer the ship in Buffalo back on its tracks.

The 60-year-old Bergevin was the GM of the Montreal Canadiens for 10 seasons from 2012 to 2021. He was succeeded by Jeff Gorton, who is now Montreal's president of hockey operations.

Former Kings GM Rob Blake was the one who brought on Bergevin following his departure from the Canadiens. Now with Ken Holland at the wheel, Bergevin will be off to take on a new challenge.

Ken Holland's Latest Move May Force Him Into AnotherAfter Los Angeles Kings GM Ken Holland sent Phillip Danault back to the Montreal Canadiens, there will be a gaping hole down the middle when next season rolls around

The Sabres currently own the longest playoff drought in NHL history, and their addition of Bergevin will be a hope for them to build the team up from the ruins.

In addition to Bergevin's experience as an NHL GM and senior advisor, he'll be overseeing Team Canada at the upcoming Spengler Cup, which kicks off on Boxing Day.

---

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The Florida Panthers hit the ice on Saturday evening in Sunrise searching for a fifth consecutive victory while playing a third game in four nights.

Florida battled back from an early deficit but ultimately ran out of gas against the spunky St. Louis Blues, falling 6-2 at Amerant Bank Arena.

St. Louis picked up the game’s first goal on a nifty deflection.

Directly off a faceoff in Florida’s zone, a point shot by Cam Fowler was tipped by Jake Neighbours to give the Blues a 1-0 lead 9:58 into the game.

The visitors doubled their lead early in the second period while on a power play on a shot that was nearly kept out of the net.

Panthers goaltender Daniil Tarasov made an amazing glove save while sliding to his left, but the shot by Jonatan Berggren was just hard enough to cause Tarasov’s glove to cross over the goal line, just past the post, as he stretched back to catch it.

Just like that it was 2-0 Blues with over 18 minutes left in the middle frame.

Florida finally got themselves on the scoreboard about five minutes later.

Seth Jones cut to the net and put a shot on Joel Hofer that was stopped, but the rebound went to Jesper Boqvist at the opposite side of the net and his shot went off A.J. Greer in front and past Hofer’s blocker.

The Panthers would tie the game a few minutes after that thanks to a familiar looking goal.

With Florida on the power play, Brad Marchand corralled the puck below the goal line and sent a perfect pass to Sam Reinhart in the slot, and Reinhart’s quick shot eluded Hofer to tie the score at two with 7:15 to go in the second period.

It looked like the game would go into the intermission with the game all tied up, but a shocking goal by Justin Faulk with 0.8 on the clock gave the Blues a 3-2 edge and some good vibes to take into the final frame.

St. Louis would regain their two-goal advantage when Luke Schenn stole the puck from Seth Jones behind Florida’s net and fed Neighbours in the slot.

The 23-year-old’s second of the game made it 4-2 Blues with 7:58 to go.

Less than a minute later, Robert Thomas one-timed a shot past Tarasov from the slot, putting Florida behind 5-2 with just over seven minutes on the clock.

Thomas added a shorthanded empty-net goal with 3:32 to go, cementing the Blues’ victory over the Cats.

On to Carolina.

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Photo caption: Dec 20, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; St. Louis Blues defenseman Justin Faulk (72) celebrates with teammates after scoring against the Florida Panthers during the second period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Josh Norris got the deciding goal in the shootout and the Buffalo Sabres beat the New York Islanders 3-2 on Saturday for their fifth straight win.

Rasmus Dahlin had a goal and an assist, and Tage Thompson scored for the sixth consecutive game for the Sabres. Alex Lyon had 32 saves and got an assist on Dahlin’s goal.

Mathew Barzal had a goal and an assist, Emil Heineman also scored, and David Rittich made 30 saves for the Islanders, who lost for the third time in four games without leading scorer Bo Horvat.

After Norris scored on the Sabres’ attempt in the fifth round of the shootout, Lyon turned aside a try by the Islanders’ Calum Ritchie to preserve the win.

Barzal and Buffalo’s Jack Quinn also scored in the tiebreaker.

Heineman scored the tying goal for the Islanders on the power play with 29 seconds left in regulation, and with Rittich on the bench for an extra skater.

Barzal got the Islanders on the scoreboard when he pounced on the rebound from his own shot with 23 seconds remaining in the second period.

Dahlin gave Buffalo the lead less than two minutes into the game with a notable individual effort on the power play. With Barzal in the penalty box, Dahlin got the puck from Lyon behind the Sabres’ goal and skated the length of the ice, weaving past three Islanders to beat Rittich with a backhand.

Thompson made it 2-0 midway through the second period when he faked a shot from the left circle and swept the puck between Rittich’s leg pad and the right post to equal the career-best scoring streak he set last month. Thompson leads Buffalo with 18 goals — 12 in his last 18 games.

On their longest win streak of the season, the Sabres have now won consecutive home games after firing general manager Kevyn Adams and promoting Jarmo Kekalainen to the position.

Up next

Islanders: Host New Jersey on Tuesday night.

Sabres: At New Jersey on Sunday night.

BUFFALO, NY -- After falling 4-1 to the Vancouver Canucks on Friday, the New York Islanders earned a point against the Buffalo Sabres, ultimately losing 3-2 in a shootout. 

Emil Heineman tied the game at 2-2 with 29 seconds to play in regulation on a 6-on-4 advantage.

After a back-and-forth overtime, Josh Norris scored in the fifth round of the shootout as Buffalo secured the second point.  

Here's how we got there. 

After Mathew Barzal took a tripping penalty in the neutral zone, Sabres star defenseman Rasmus Dahlin skated past Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Heineman, and then Ryan Pulock before deking to his backhand to give the home team a 1-0 lead at 1:47 of the first period:

RASMUS DAHLIN, EVERYONE 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/B6sdDDrQqP

— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) December 20, 2025

Josh Norris beat Rittich glove side with a one-timer at X, but the goal was waved off due to goaltender interference. 

Tage Thompson doubled the Sabres' lead to 2-0 at 8:55 of the second period after he tucked one past Rittich off the rush:

TAGE. pic.twitter.com/WP2fEuM3l3

— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) December 20, 2025

Late in the second period, the Islanders got a great look to crack the scoreboard, but Alex Lyon slid over to deny Emil Heineman with the right pad at  18:06 of the second: 

However, the Islanders built on that momentum and found the scoresheet at 19:37 of the second. Anders Lee found Mathew Barzal alone in the slot. His first shot was stopped but he was able to roof the rebound to extend his point streak to seven games (two goals, five assists):

Barzal gets the #Isles back in it. Down 2-1 after 2. Hard work pays off! pic.twitter.com/EpuqmShJHH

— The Elmonters (@TheElmonters) December 20, 2025

The Islanders found themselves on the penalty kill at 4:24 of the third period. Buffalo spent the entire power playi n the Islanders' zone but credit to the penalty killers and Rittich for battling to get back to even strength. 

With 1:27 to play in regulation, the Islanders found themselves on the power play after Michael Kesselring slashed Lee.  

The Islanders went to work, with Barzal finding Heineman for the tying tally:

On his 10th shot of the game Emil Heineman finds the back of the net sending the game to overtime! #Islespic.twitter.com/ZDucLlnNOt

— The Elmonters (@TheElmonters) December 21, 2025

The Islanders had plenty of chances in overtime, but couldn't score. Barzal scored in the shootout, with Jack Quinn answering him before Norris's eventual game winner. 

The Islanders battle the New Jersey Devils at UBS Arena on Tuesday night, with puck drop at 7 PM ET.