* The Devils And Mammoth both emerged victorious during a TNT doubleheader on Wednesday night, with Dylan Guenther Lift Utah past Detroit. Guenther’s seven goals this month rank fourth among all skaters.
* Sydney Crosby continues his pursuit Mario Lemieux‘s franchise record for points and eighth on the NHL’s all-time list through a 10-game Thursday. Crosby, who has found the scoresheet in eight of his past 10 games, needs that one point to tie the game Penguins icon.
PANTHERS, HURRICANE CONTINUE SUCCESSFUL CALENDAR YEARS WITH PROFITS
The back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Panthers (18-13-2, 38 points) and leads the Metropolitan Division Hurricanes (22-9-2, 46 points) each skated to a win against an interconference foe and furthered their success this calendar year. They are two of seven teams with more than 50 wins in the regular season and playoffs combined since Jan. 1.
*For more information on the teams and players who have led the way since the calendar change, check out the Annual Review 2025 by #NHLStats.
* Sam Bennett (1-0-1) found the deficit 10 seconds into the third period – the fastest goal to start a period by Florida this season – to win the Panthers defeat the kings and move within one point of the Devils for the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference after New Jersey withstood Vegas’ third-period comeback attempt. It was Bennett’s 23rd game-winning goal with the Pantherswith which he was associated Stephen Weiss, Pavel Bure and his teammate Carter Verhaeghe for the sixth highest in franchise history.
* Sebastian I am (2-1-3) based on two Hurricanes goals in the third period in a span of 1:50 and helped his club extend the NHL’s longest active win streak to five games (tied with MIN). Aho, the fifth player in franchise history with 70 career power-play goalsscored three points for the ninth time in his career in a period that is only behind Ron Francis (17) and Erik Steel (12) for the most in franchise history; His 21 career multi-goal bouts passed Francis (20) as the second most in franchise history, behind Staal (25).
GUENTHER LIFTS MAMMOTH TO VICTORY ON TNT DOUBLEHEADER
Dylan Guenther scored one of his team’s four goals to help the side Mammoth (17-16-3, 37 points) are the best of the Red Wings, gaining ground on the Kings (14-10-9, 37 points) and the idle Sharks (17-14-3, 37 points) in the Western Conference Wild Card race. Guenther’s goal marked his seventh since December 1, making him third Mammoth player to record at least that many in a subsequent calendar month Logan Cooley (8) and Nick Schmaltz (7), both of whom did this last October. Only three players League-wide have more goals in december: Connor McDavid (9), Alex DeBrincat (8) and Nathan Mackinnon (8).
* ICYMI: The MammothDirector of Youth Programs Kristen Bowness was featured in our series on women in hockey on Wednesday. Bowness develops, manages and oversees amateur hockey throughout Utah, building programs that grow the game both on and off the ice.
QUICK CLICKS
* NHL EDGE Stats: Sabres showing signs of a possible turnaround* Joel Hofer records third shutout as Blues blank Jets* Winter Classic ice cream trucks arrive in Miami, construction of the ice rink begins* Role Model to headline entertainment for 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic* Countdown to Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics now at 50 days
CROSBY’S POTENTIAL RECORD NIGHT ON TAP THURSDAY
Twenty teams will take to the ice on Thursday, culminating in a showdown between… Kites And Sabres on ESPN+. The Penguins will also be in action as Sidney Crosby is two down after putting his name atop the franchise’s all-time points list.
* The Sabres will play their first match under the new general manager Jarmo Kekalainen – the franchise is 4-2-3 in their first games under a new GM. Despite currently sitting 16th in the Eastern Conference standings, Buffalo has won three in a row and is just seven points back of the playoff line. Take Thompson (16-13-29 in 32 GP) leads the team in scoring and can extend his goal streak to five games for the third time in his career – only Gilbert Perréault (5x) and René Robert (4x) have done this more for the franchise.
* Taking the lead for Philadelphia in 2025-2026 has been Trevor Zegras (14-19—33 in 32 GP). Zegras is mentoring all new team players this season and has found the scoresheet in each of his past five appearances, including a goal in his past four. He could become the tenth different player Kites history with a five-game streak in his first season with the club.
* Crosby (19-16-35) has found the scoresheet in six of eight games in December so far and could climb several all-time lists tonight with a goal or an assist. He can bind Mario Lemieux (1,723) for the most points scored Penguins history and an eighth place on the Leagues all time list; he can match Adam Oates (1,079) for eighth place on the NHL’s all-time assists list; and he could become the seventh player League history to record at least 18 career seasons with 20 goals.
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