Glad Wednesday, Razzball devoted!
It was a brief slate on Tuesday night time with simply 5 NHL video games to recap.
In Toronto, we didn’t even have Auston Matthews or William Nylander to verify in on. The announcement on Tuesday afternoon was that each can be “out with a decrease physique harm.”
Properly, that’s actually not a really Knies reward for Leaf followers this vacation season!
Worry not, followers of the blue buds. Matthew Knies – 1 G (11), +1, 7 PIM, 3 SOG, 3 H, 1 BLK in 15:58 TOI, and the remainder of the lesser-known supporting solid of forwards offered sufficient offense to carry the Leafs to their third win in 4 video games.
Joseph Woll’s 33 saves on 33 pictures had been additionally greater than sufficient for his third consecutive win, and his first shutout of the season.
However I’m fairly certain nobody had this one on their Night time Earlier than New Yr’s Eve NHL Bingo Card.
Matthew Knies and Nico Hischier drop the gloves off the draw 👊 pic.twitter.com/RX2MgLPaRa
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 31, 2025
Now, don’t get me flawed. I do know it’s not precisely Tie Domi vs Troy Crowder right here, nevertheless it’s Knies to see one of many Leafs stepping up and making an attempt to make one thing occur. And for the document, I used the time period ‘stepping up’ earlier than seeing that head coach Craig Berube used that actual time period earlier Tuesday afternoon in a presser.
If something, Knies ought to earn a few brownie factors along with his head coach after that one.
Had been the Leafs the one workforce to tug off an thrilling victory on Tuesday night time?
Right here’s what else I noticed in Tuesday night time’s NHL motion…
Sam Montembeault – Each groups had been flying Tuesday night time, and I used to be a bit shocked it took so long as it did for both workforce to attain. After two shutout intervals, Florida scored a pair simply over the midway mark within the third interval. BUT…the Habs didn’t hand over. (Extra beneath).
Cole Caufield – 1 G (19), 1 A (20), +1, 5 SOG. I watched this one, and after the 2 Florida targets, it felt just like the Habs had been able to lie down and settle for their destiny. The one drawback is that nobody advised Caufield and the remainder of les petit enfants. Caufield’s aim got here 14 seconds after Sam Reinhart buried Florida’s second of the night time and injected some hearth (and hope) into the Canadiens.
Nick Suzuki – 2 G (12, 13), +1, 2 PIM, 7 SOG, 1 PPG, GWG, 1 H. 12/20 FOW. Le Capitaine! Suzuki scored the tying aim with 1:22 left within the third interval, then scored the game-winner on the OT PP. All of this might be the second most fun a part of the day for the Habs star, as rumor has it he’s already been contacted a few spot on the Olympic roster (which might be introduced Wednesday).
Noah Dobson – 2 A (20), +2, 4 SOG, 1 PPA, 1 H, 5 BLK in 24:32 TOI. Lane Hutson had a few assists too, however Dobson’s potential to fill in the remainder of the scoring classes gave him the sting for a write-up. The 8 factors in his final 4 GP are fairly candy. However the 95 blocked pictures in 38 video games are good for 4th place total on the league leaderboard, and are serving to out big-time in these leagues with prolonged classes.
Daniil Tarasov – 26 saves on 29 pictures and the 3-2 OT loss. Tarasov performed properly on this one, particularly in OT after his workforce ended up having to kill a penalty. Ultimately, the flurry of pictures from Montreal was an excessive amount of to deal with.
Brad Marchand – It’s a 9-game level streak for Marchand, who’s formally as much as 45 factors in 38 video games, and 1024 in his profession. Talking of his 1000-point achievement, I’ll go away you with somewhat New Yr’s reward on the backside of the web page right here, too!
So far as this sport was involved, although, Mr. Extra time was again in OT along with his regular slick strikes and dekes, and nearly caught Montembeault off stability for the game-winner. Sadly for the Panthers, he was additionally again to his previous methods with a not-so-slick elbow to Mike Matheson’s jaw. The following penalty, and Nick Suzuki’s GWG, value Florida the additional level.
Jacob Markstrom – 26 saves on 29 pictures and the 4-0 loss at TOR. Markstrom was outplayed by the man on the different finish of the ice, nevertheless it wasn’t a horrible exhibiting. You realize the statsheet is unhealthy when the one different guys value mentioning are Luke Glendening and Paul “Welcome Again” Cotter for his or her 4 hits and a pair of blocked pictures (every).
Frederik Andersen – 23 saves on 28 pictures and a 5-1 loss at PIT. It was not a great night time for Freddie. As the children may say, he was not Bussin’. However you understand who’s Bussin’ much more now?
(not) Pyotr Kochetkov – Scheduled to have surgical procedure on a “decrease physique harm” and is anticipated to overlook the remainder of the season. If Bussin’ Brandon Bussi is out there in your league and also you want a lift from the again finish, you might do rather a lot worse than this speculative add. Anderson is 5-9-1 and has an .865 save proportion. The door to elevated enjoying time for Bussi is vast open now.
Stuart Skinner – 27 saves on 28 pictures in a 5-1 blowout vs CAR. Mark Jankowski spoiled Skinner’s shutout with 1:35 left within the third, however both method, this was a much-needed win for the 27-year-old netminder. It was Skinner’s first win as a Penguin (in 4 begins), and broke an unpleasant three-game stretch of 12 GA.
Anthony Mantha – 2 G (13, 14), +2, 3 SOG, 1 PPG, i, 14:35 TOI. For the third consecutive week, we’re headed again to the ‘Memberberry bush. I discussed nearly forgetting about Tarasenko two weeks in the past, and stated the identical about James van Riemsdyk final week. This week, it’s Anthony Mantha. With 5 factors in his final three video games, he’s properly on his approach to surpassing his profession excessive in targets and factors (25 G, 48 PTS – 2017-2018).
Justin Brazeau – Former Bruin alert! – 1 G (12), 1 A (8), +1, 3 SOG, GWG, 1 H, 1 BLK, and 4 targets in his final TWO GAMES?! Brazeau has 6 of his 20 factors in his final three video games and continues to supply after accidents pushed him right into a second-line function with the Pens.
Erik Karlsson – 2 A (25), +3, 1 SOG, 1 PPA, 1 BLK, and 19:40 TOI. The Pens announcers stated Karlsson nearly missed Tuesday night time’s sport with an sickness, however determined to provide it a go as a substitute of lacking his first sport of the yr. This man performs almost 20 minutes of hockey, information two factors, blocks a shot, and is a +3 on the night time whereas he’s sick? Somebody must ship this to all of the gamers who’ve a troublesome time exhibiting up for work with a chilly or the sniffles.
David Rittich – 17 saves on 19 pictures and the shootout win at CHI. He’s 10-4-0-2 (with that final 2 representing his earlier shootout losses).
Bo Horvat – 1 G (21), 4 PIM, 3 SOG, 1 PPG, 3 H, 22:56 TO,I, 11/20 FOW. Bo missed a number of video games with a lower-body harm, however is again on the scoring observe with two targets in his final 2 video games. AND, for what it’s value, he scored the shootout winner too.
Matthew Schaefer – 1 A (16), 1 SOG, 1 PPA, 1 H, and 26:54 TOI. His 25 factors in 40 video games put him on tempo to no less than give Phil Housley’s rookie defenseman document a run.
Housley’s 66 factors in 77 video games (1982-1983) may be robust to succeed in, however this 18-year-old child is the true deal nonetheless. Suppose again to what you had been doing at 18. When you stated you had been making an attempt to determine learn how to make an honest pot of pasta and never fail your first yr of post-secondary training, be a part of the membership.
Spencer Knight – 19 saves on 21 pictures and the 3-2 SO loss to NYI. Knight fell behind early on two NYI targets, so no less than his workforce pushed again a bit and compelled OT. Is there anybody else who’s lacking Connor Bedard greater than Spencer Knight, although?
Teuvo Teravainen – 1 G (7), +1, 2 SOG. For the entire gamers who’re lighting it up and on the best way to crushing their profession highs in factors, it’s good to keep in mind that not everybody is having fun with some extent explosion this yr.
Oliver Moore – 2 A (8), +1, 1 SOG, 1 PPA, 1 H. Nothing greater than a pleasant sport for Moore, who has simply 3 factors in his final 10 video games.
Dan Vladar – 31 saves on 34 pictures in a 6-3 win at VAN. Don’t be too happy with this netminding terror you’ve constructed. The flexibility to destroy the Canucks is insignificant subsequent to the facility of the Drive.
Noah Cates – 1 G (10), 1 A (12), +2, 1 SOG, 2 BLK, and 13:07 TOI. Some quick instances for Noah Cates on a Tuesday night time. He’s nonetheless the second-best Cates behind Phoebe, although. Transferring in Stereo certainly.
Matvei Michkov – 2 A (13), +1, 3 SOG, 12:30 TOI. Ray Ferraro and the Canucks broadcast workforce gave Michkov a tough time throughout this sport, mentioning how Michkov got here into the season off form and ended up injuring an ankle early on because of this. The newly turned 21-year-old (December 9) is doing his finest to work his method again into Rick Tocchet’s good graces, however scoring only one aim in December isn’t the best way to get there anytime quickly.
Travis Konecny – 1 G (12), 1 A (23), +2, 2 PIM, 3 SOG, 2 H, 1 BLK, and 16:54 TOI. 35 factors in 38 video games for the ever-underrated Konecny.
Thatcher Demko – 27 saves on 31 pictures and the 6-3 loss to PHI. This was Demko’s third straight loss, with 13 targets towards (complete) in these 3 GP. I almost wrote up David Kampf for his aim and help, too, however *barf emoji*.
Jake DeBrusk – 0 PTS, -2, 3 SOG, 5 H, 19:03 TOI. One night time after getting the dreaded “wholesome scratch” name, the $5.5 millon greenback man decides to show it again on once more. He’s a gifted scorer, however right here’s hoping for the Canucks’ sake that he places in a extra constant effort than he did throughout these years in Boston. 5 hits means he had a bit of fireplace Tuesday night time. Now he must maintain it heat.
THREE-POINT CHALLENGE!
Y’all know the drill right here. Select one participant to document 3 factors in one in every of our 10 video games on Wednesday night time. You may’t take any of the group of: Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Macklin Celebrini, Leon Draisaitl, Mikko Rantanen, Martin Necas, Nikita Kucherov, Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy.
You additionally can’t select any of the FOUR guys tied for tenth, both! – Wyatt Johnston, Mark Schiefele, Kyle Connor, and Jason Robertson.
GET YOUR PICKS IN EARLY – we’ve received WSH and NYR enjoying at 12:30 PM, then NSH at VEG beginning at 3:00!
I used to be going to take Marchand, as I’m certain he’s offended about costing his workforce some extent Tuesday night time, however Florida is off right now. I’ll take Cale Makar for 3 towards Jordan Binnington and the Blues.
And, as promised, please take no less than a minute or two to bask within the glory that’s embedded right here.
Perennial Selke winner? Verify. Stanley Cup champion? Verify. Hockey Corridor of Famer? Verify.
However flawlessly executed scenes as an ACTOR? Uh…I suppose so.
Take pleasure in!
I hope you loved it. When you have any questions or feedback, go away them beneath, and I’ll get again to you as quickly as I can! Glad Wednesday, and I’ll see you subsequent week!
Comply with me @marmosdad on Twitter/X and Bluesky @marmosdad.bsky.social
