News and Notes from Saturday, December 20th, 2025
News
- The NHL’s Department of Player Safety leveled a $5,000 fine against Anaheim’s F Frank Vatrano for unsportsmanlike conduct against Dallas’ F Jason Robertson.
- The fine is the maximum allowed and the money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
Jersey Tracking and Mini Recaps
Philadelphia Flyers v. New York Rangers – 1230p ET
- In New York, the Rangers hosted the Flyers in a divisional matinee contest. In the first, New York went up 1-0 when Artemi Panarin scored his 12th of the year. In the second, Travis Sanheim’s shorthanded goal, his third goal of the year, tied the game for the Flyers. Then, Owen Tippett scored his 10th to put Philadelphia in the lead and then Trevor Zegras netted his 15th on the power play to put the Flyers up a pair. Artemi Panarin then scored his second goal of the contest to bring the Rangers within a goal but Rodrigo Abols scored a shorthanded goal, his second goal of the year, as the Flyers went up a pair. In the third, Vincent Trocheck scored his sixth on the year to bring New York within a goal once more and then Mika Zibanejad scored a power play goal, his 12th of the year, as the Blueshirts evened the score. With no goals in overtime, Vincent Trocheck got the game winner in the shootout to lift the Rangers past the Flyers 5-4.
Detroit Red Wings v. Washington Capitals – 1230p ET
- In Washington, the Capitals hosted the Red Wings in matinee match-up and in the first Detroit took the 1-0 lead when John Leonard scored his first of the year. In the second, Detroit went up 2-0 when James van Riemsdyk scored his eighth of the year and then Elmer Soderblom netted his second to give the Red Wings the 3-0 lead. Then, Detroit went up 4-0 as Moritz Seider scored his fifth but then Washington got on the board when Aliaksei Protas got his 12th of the year. In the third, Martin Fehérváry got his third of the year to bring the Capitals within a pair but Dylan Larkin scored an empty netter, his 18th goal of the year, as the Red Wings got the 5-2 win over the Capitals.
Chicago Blackhawks v. Ottawa Senators – 3p ET
- In Ottawa, the Senators hosted the Blackhawks and in the first Senators took the 1-0 lead when Brady Tkachuk netted his fifth. In the second, Chicago tied the game when Ilya Mikheyev scored his fifth but then Tim Stützle scored a shorthanded goal, his 16th goal of the year as the Sens re-took the lead. Then, Andre Burakovsky scored a power play goal as the Blackhawks tied the game once more. Then, Brady Tkachuk scored his second goal of the game to put Ottawa back in the lead but then Ilya Mikheyev netted his second goal of the contest to tie the game again for Chicago. In the third, David Perron scored a pair of goals, the first on the Senators power play, to put Ottawa up a pair, but then Nick Lardis scored his first of the year as Chicago came within a goal. Then, Fabian Zetterlund scored his seventh as the Senators fought back and forth with the Blackhawks to earn the 6-4 win.
Edmonton Oilers v. Minnesota Wild – 3p ET
- In Minnesota, the Wild hosted the Oilers and in the first Matt Boldy scored a pair, the second goal on the power play, to put Minnesota up 2-0 but then Andrew Mangiapane scored his fifth as Edmonton got on the board. Then, Connor McDavid scored his 22nd goal on the Oilers power play to tie the contest but then Ryan Hartman netted his eighth as the Wild re-took the lead. Following a scoreless second, Vladimir Tarasenko scored his seventh of the year to put Minneota up a pair and then Nico Sturm hit the empty net with his second of the year as the Wild defeated the Oilers 5-2.
Montreal Victoire v. Vancouver Goldeneyes – 3p ET
- In Western Canada, the Goldeneyes and Victoire faced off for the first time in PWHL history and in the first Marie-Philip Poulin scored her second of the year to put Montréal up 1-0. In the second, the Victoire took the 2-0 lead when Dara Greig netted her first career PWHL goal but then Sophie Jaques scored her second to put Vancouver on the board. Then, Natálie Mlýnková scored her second of the year as Montréal re-took the two goal lead. In the third, Michela Cava netted her first goal on the year to bring the Goldeneyes within a goal but then Shiann Darkangelo scored her first of the year as the Victoire doubled up the Goldeneyes 4-2.
New York Islanders v. Buffalo Sabres – 5p ET
- In Western New York, the Sabres hosted the Islanders and in the first, Rasmus Dahlin scored his fourth of the year on the Buffalo power play to put the Sabres up 1-0. In the second, Tage Thompson’s 18th on the year put Buffalo up 2-0 but then the Islanders got on the board when Mathew Barzal got his 10th of the year. In the third, New York tied the game when Emil Heineman got his 12th of the year on the Islanders power play. After a scoreless overtime the game moved to the shootout where Josh Norris scored the game winner to give the Sabres the 3-2 win over the Islanders.
St. Louis Blues v. Florida Panthers – 6p ET
- In South Florida, the Panthers hosted the Blues and in the first Jake Neighbours scored his ninth to give St. Louis the 1-0 lead. In the second, Jonatan Berggren scored his fourth with a power play goal to put the Blues up 2-0 but then Florida got on the board when A.J. Greer scored his seventh of the year. Then, Sam Reinhart’s 19th of the year on the Panthers power play tied the game but then Justin Faulk scored his ninth of the year put St. Louis back in the lead. In the third, Jake Neighbours scored his second of the night to but the Blues up a pair and then Robert Thomas scored a pair, the second being a shorthanded, empty net goal as the Blues downed the Panthers 6-2.
Vancouver Canucks v. Boston Bruins – 7p ET
- In Beantown, the Bruins hosted the Canucks and in the first Morgan Geekie scored his 25th on the Boston power play to go up 1-0 but then Max Sasson scored his seventh to tie the game for Vancouver. In the second, Vancouver took the 2-1 lead when Linus Karlsson scored his sixth on tje power play butt then Boston tied the game when Pavel Zacha scored his 10th of the year. Tanner Jeannot then scored his fourth of the year to give Boston the lead back. In the third, Linus Karlsson scored his second of the game to bring the Canucks even and then Liam Ohgren netted his second of the year to give Vancouver the lead. Then, Andrew Peeke scored his third of the year as the Bruins made it a 4-4 game. After a scoreless overtime, the contest moved to the shootout where Liam Ohgren scored the lone goal to give the Canucks the 5-4 win over the Bruins.
Pittsburgh Penguins v. Montreal Canadiens – 7p ET
- In Montréal, the Canadiens hosted the Penguins and in the first Montréal took the 1-0 lead when Juraj Slafkovský scored his 10th of the year with a power play goal and then Owen Beck scored his first career NHL goal to give the Canadiens the 2-0 lead. In the second, Josh Anderson scored a shorthanded goal, his seventh goal on the year, to put Montréal up 3-0. In the third, Josh Anderson scored an empty net goal, his second goal of the night, to give the Canadiens the 4-0 shutout victory over the Penguins.
Carolina Hurricanes v. Tampa Bay Lightning – 7p ET
- In Tampa Bay, the Lightning hosted the Hurricanes and in the first Carolina took the 1-0 lead when Eric Robinson scored his seventh and then Jackson Blake scored a power play goal, his 10th goal of the year, to put the Hurricanes up 2-0. Then, Bradly Nadeau scored a power play goal, his second goal of the year, to put Carolina up 3-0. In the second, Gage Concalves scored his third as Tampa got on the board and then Brayden Point scored his sixth to bring the Lightning within a goal. Then, Jack Finley’s second of the year tied the game 3-3. In the third, Andrei Svechnikov’s eighth of the year put the Hurricanes back in the lead but then Ryan McDonagh scored his fourth of the year to even the score 4-4. Jake Guentzel then scored a pair of goals, the second as an empty netter, as the Lightning defeated the Hurricanes 6-4.
Toronto Maple Leafs v. Nashville Predators – 7p ET
- In Nashville, the Predators hosted the Maple Leafs and in the first Nicolas Roy scored his third to put Toronto up 1-0. In the second, Nashville tied the game with Erik Haula’s power play goal, his fifth goal of the year, but then Toronto re-took the lead when John Tavares netted his 14th. Then, Adam Wilsby scored his first of the year to bring the game to an even score once more. In the third, Nashville took their first lead when Luke Evangelista scored his fifth and then Steven Stamkos scored an empty netter, his 13th goal of the year to put the Predators up a pair. Then, Bobby McMann scored his ninth to bring Tampa Bay within a goal but then Cole Smith scored an empty net goal, his fourth goal on the year, as the Predators stopped the Lightning 5-3.
Late Games
Vegas Golden Knights v. Calgary Flames – 10p ET
Columbus Blue Jackets v. Anaheim Ducks – 10p ET
Seattle Kraken v. San Jose Sharks – 10p ET
Today’s Games
- TOR v. NYS – 12p ET (PWHL)
- WAS v. DET – 1p ET
- OTT v. MIN – 2p ET (PWHL)
- BOS v. SEA – 5p PT (PWHL)
- COL v. MIN – 6p ET
- OTT v. BOS – 7p ET
- BUF v. NJ – 7p ET
- MON v. PIT – 7p ET
- NYR v. NAS – 7p ET
- TOR v. DAL – 7p ET
- WIN v. UTH – 7p ET
- VGK v. EDM – 8p ET
Noteworthy in Hockey
- Hutson Leads U.S. Blueliners Into WJC – (Hockey HotStove)
- 32 Thoughts: Maple Leafs will face core questions if struggles continue – (SportsNet)
- Saturday Headlines: Latest on Jarvis, Jarry injuries – (SportsNet)
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