NHL Recap December 22, 2025 | Pro Hockey News

From Tampa Bay Darren Raddysh And Andrei Vasilevskiy put in a strong performance in a win, the latter adding to his impressive 2025 calendar year totals.
* Mason March scored for his second game in a row since being acquired by the Blue jackets and now owns the most goals by a Columbus player through their first two games with the club.

* The final slate of games before the three-day holiday break is headlined by a nearly eight-hour NHL on TNT tripleheader starting at 4:00 PM ET.

LIGHTNING LEAN ON RADDYSH’S THREE POINTS, VASILEVSKIY’S 23 SAVINGS FOR WIN
Darren Raddysh (1-2-3) led the game in scoring and recorded his 100th career point in the Lightning‘s victory over the Blues. Andrei Vasilevskiy (23 saves) allowed just one goal in the win and continued his strong 2025 calendar year.

* Raddysh became the ninth defender in Lighting history to reach 100 points and needed the second-fewest games (206 GP) of that group to reach the milestone, trailing by just one Then Boyle (174GP).

* Vasilevskiy (.919 SV%) is currently connected Darcy Kuemper for the highest save percentage in 2025 (min. 40 GP; including play-offs) – a distinction highlighted in the Annual review 2025. The Tampa Bay netminder also pushed his regular season win total to 35 this calendar year, which is tied with Jake Oettinger for the most.

FRESH-YEAR PLAYERS BRING CLUBS TO VICTORY IN #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES

Players skating in their first season with their respective clubs – or the first week before Mason March

– were featured in the latest #NHLStats: Live Updates:

*Marchment scored two power-play goals to lift the win Blue jackets to victory. He became the fourth player in franchise history to score in the first two games with the club and joined Luca Del Bel Belluz (2023-24 to 2024-25), Tyler Motte (2017-18) and Scottie Upshall (2010-11). No Columbus player has extended that run to three. Marchment’s three goals are the most by a Blue jackets player through the first two games with the franchise.

* Frederick Gaudreauwho skates in his first campaign with the Crackingpreviously opened the scoring for Seattle Jordan Eberle his netted 10th match with multiple goals with the franchise in the 3-1 win over Anaheim. Mikael Granlund scored the Ducks‘ only goal and equaled the franchise benchmark for longest goal streak in their first season at the club (4 GP), equalizing Chris Kreider (2025-26), Alex Killorn (2023-24) and Bill Houlder (1993-94).

* Trevor Zegras (0-1-1) was one of four newcomers to Philadelphia’s lineup this season to find the scoresheet and help the team Kites (18-10-3, 43 points) jumped from a Wild Map position to second in the Metropolitan Division. Zegras, with whom he is connected Mitch Marner (36) for most points among new team players this season, becoming the second Philadelphia player in the last 30 years to record an eight-game scoring streak in his first season with the club. Kim Johnson (8 GP in 2001-02).

QUICK CLICKS

* Connor McDavid, Linus Ullmark And Zach Werensky called NHL’s “Three Stars” of the week
* Kites players bring puppies to the arena for pre-match arrivals
* Mike Stelter discusses Ben’s Cup youth tournament with NHL.com
* Sidney Crosby praised by coaches, teammates after passing Mario Lemieux on Penguins points list
* Matthew Schaefer signs up as a Hockey Fights Cancer champion

LAST DAY BEFORE HOLIDAY BREAK, BLOCKBUSTER HAS NHL TRIPLEHEADER ON TNT
The final slate of games before the three-day holiday break is highlighted by a nearly eight-hour NHL on TNT tripleheader, starting with a matinee at Scotiabank Arena. Fans can also tune in to the United Center closer by visiting the Cheap chairs Altcast with the Sklar Brothers on truTV.

* Moritz Seider and leading the Atlantic Division Red Wings can enter the break on a three-game winning streak if they duel Jason Robertson and the Starswho have recorded victories in four consecutive matches since December 15. Seider could become Detroit’s second defenseman in the past 20 seasons (since 2006-07) with a three-match goal streaknext Filip Hronek (4 GP of November 17-25, 2022).

* Trevor Zegras and the Kites can continue to rise in the Metropolitan Division standings when they face each other Tyler Bertuzzi and the Blackhawks. Tuesday marks two years since Zegras and Chicago were sidelined Connor Bedard gifted fans with two lacrosse-style goals on the last night of competition before the holiday break.

* Sidney Crosby is about to play his first game since the leapfrog Mario Lemieux for the franchise points record when the Penguins are opposed Auston Matthews and the Maple leaves. Crosby needs one assist to catch up Adam Oates (1,079) for eighth place on the NHL’s all-time list.

TUESDAY’S 13 GAME SCHEDULE STACKED WITH EVEN MORE STORYLINES
More storylines to look forward to during Tuesday’s 13-game slate:

* Steven Stamkos can score his third straight match-winning goal as the Predators play Quinn Hughes and the Wild on ESPN+ and Hulu. Stamkos would be the third player in franchise history with the winner in three consecutive games Mike Visser (3 GP of January 23-31, 2012) And Steve Sullivan (3 GP of January 5-9, 2007).

* Take Thompson and the Sabres will put their six-game winning streak on the line when they visit Tim Stutzle and the Senatorswho are 4-0-0 in four games since December 15. Buffalo can record its first seven-game winning streak since posting a franchise record of 10-0-0 during Thompson’s first season with the Sabres (November 8-27, 2018).

* Connor McDavid And Nathan Mackinnon can continue to jockey for the outright lead in the Art Ross Trophy Race when the Oil squirters And Avalanche host of the Flames And Mammothrespectively. McDavid owns an active streak of 10 match points, two of the longest this season shared by Nick Suzuki (12 GP of October 9 – November 4) And Kirill Marchenko (12 GP of October 25 – November 17).

* Matthew Schaefer could become the youngest defenseman in NHL history to reach the 10-goal mark Islanders host Jack Hughes and the Devilswhile colleague chooses number 1 Macklin Celebrini needs two points for the NHL’s most by a teenager heading into the holidays. Schaefer would best achieve the current figure Phil Housley (18 years, 320 days later January 23, 1983).

* David Pastrnak can extend his points series against Montreal until about ten games when the Browns fight against Suzuki and the Canadians. Pastrnak would be Boston’s third player in the rivalry’s 101-season history with a 12-game run against Montreal, after Bobby Orr (14 GP of December 21, 1969 – January 22, 1972) And Season Cain (13 GP of February 7, 1943 – November 18, 1944).

* The Rangers And Panthers will play their penultimate matches before meeting in the 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic when they visit the Capitals And Hurricanesrespectively. The two clubs will face off on January 2 at LoanDepot Park in Miami, which is located at 25.77 degrees north latitude – narrowly eclipsing the Miami Arena (+25.78) for the southernmost regular season game in NHL history (indoor or outdoor). Click here to watch a time-lapse of the construction of the ice skating rink at LoanDepot Park.

*For more stats and storylines leading up to the 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classiccheck out our #NHLStats package.

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