News and Notes from Monday, December 29th, 2025
News
- The NHL announced that they have named Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov First Star of the Week.
- Eeli Tolvanen (SEA) and Juraj Slafkovsky (MON) would round out the rest of the Three Stars.
- The NHL Department of Player Safety announced that they have fined New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal.
- Barzal was fined $5,000 for slashing Columbus Blue Jackets forward Mason Marchment on Sunday, Dec. 28th.
- The fine is the maximum allowed per the terms of the CBA.
- The PWHL announced that New York Sirens F Casey O’Brien is the Player of the Week.
- O’Brien had her first three professional goals with a hat trick in the lone game she played against the Seattle Torrent.
- In Day 4 of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championships in Minnesota there were four games.
- Sweden defeated Germany 8-1.
- Czechia defeated Finland 2-1 in overtime.
- United States defeated Slovakia 6-5.
- Canada defeated Denmark 9-1.
Jersey Tracking and Mini Recaps
Columbus Blue Jackets v. Ottawa Senators – 7p ET
- In Ottawa, the Senators hosted the Blue Jackets. After a travel delay that postponed the delay 30 minutes, Columbus took the 1-0 lead when Boone Jenner scored his sixth. In the second, Columbus took the 2-0 lead when Damon Severson scored his third but then Jake Sanderson netted his eighth to put Ottawa on the board. In the third, Denton Mateychuk scored his seventh of the year to put Columbus up 3-1 and then Kirill Marchenko scored his 14th as the Blue Jackets downed the Senators 4-1.
Washington Capitals v. Florida Panthers – 7p ET
- In South Florida, the Panthers hosted the Capitals and in the first Tom Wilson got Washington on the board with his 18th goals on the year but then Florida got a pair of goals when Anton Lundell got his 13th and then Sam Reinhart scored his 20th goal of the year on the Panthers power play. Then, Washington tied the game with a power play goal from Tom Wilson, his second goal on the night. Following the scoreless second, Washington took back the lead when Dylan Strome scored his eighth of the year but then Florida answers when Brad Marchand scored his 22nd of the year. Then, Aaron Ekblad netted his second to put Florida up 4-3 and then Sam Reinhart scored his second of the night as the Panthers went on to defeat the Capitals 5-3.
New York Rangers v. Carolina Hurricanes – 7p ET
- In Raleigh, the Hurricanes hosted the Rangers and in the first New York got on the board when Vladislav Gavirkov scored a power play goal, his seventh goal of the year, but then Carolina evened the score when Sebastian Aho scored a power play goal of his own, his 14th goal on the year. In the second, Jonny Brodzinski scored his fourth to give the Blueshirts the lead once again. In the third, Carolina tied the game when Jordan Martinook netted his sixth of the year. In overtime, Jackson Blake scored the game winner on a power play, his 12th goal of the year, as the Hurricanes stopped the Rangers 3-2.
Edmonton Oilers v. Winnipeg Jets – 730p ET
- In Winnipeg, the Jets hosted the Oilers and after a scoreless first, Edmonton got a pair of goals when Max Jones scored his first goal on the year and then Jack Roslovic scored his 11th on the Oilers power play. In the third, Adam Lowry scored his second to put Winnipeg on the board but then Zach Hyman scored an empty net goal, his 11th goal on the year as the Oilers got the 3-1 win over the Jets.
Buffalo Sabres v. St. Louis Blues – 8p ET
- In St. Louis, the Blues and Sabres faced off for the final time this season and in the first Buffalo took the 1-0 lead with Noah Ostlund’s seventh of the year but then St. Louis tied the game when Brayden Schenn scored his eighth of the year. St. Louis then took the 2-1 lead when Jimmy Snuggerud scored his sixth of the year. In the second, Alex Tuch scored his 12th to tie the game for Buffalo. In the third, Zach Benson’s fourth of the year put the Sabres back in the lead and then Peyton Krebs scored an empty netter, his third goal, to give the Sabres the 4-2 win over the Blues.
Late Games
Los Angeles Kings v. Colorado Avalanche – 9p ET
Nashville Predators v. Utah Mammoth – 9p ET
Boston Bruins v. Calgary Flames – 9p ET
Minnesota Wild v. Vegas Golden Knights – 10p ET
San Jose Sharks v. Anaheim Ducks – 10p ET
Vancouver Canucks v. Seattle Kraken – 10p ET
Today’s Games
- NJ v. TOR – 7p ET
- MIN v. TOR – 7p ET (PWHL)
- MON v. FLA – 7p
- CAR v. PIT – 7p ET
- NYI v. CHI – 830p ET
- PHI v. VAN – 10p ET
Noteworthy in Hockey
- 32 Thoughts Podcast: Heat in the South, Questions up North (SportsNet)
- The Sheet with Jeff Marek: NHL is Back in Action ft. Erik Erlendsson & Greg Wyshynski (Daily Faceoff)
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