National Hockey League

National Hockey League

: Alan Dobbins/RMNB WASHINGTON, DC In the biggest Logan Thompson news of the day, the Capitals' starting goaltender has chosen a goal song. Thompson, now playing his second season in Washington, has selected Olivia Dean's pop hit Man I Need for his signature tune, as shown on the Capital One Arena scoreboard during warmups on Wednesday. Capitals players have been able to choose their own goal songs since the 2019-20 season, but Thompson had thus far gone without one.

"The expectation is to go to Milan and win the gold medal,"

Wilson is the Capitals' top scorer and plays at all strengths. In 38 games this season, Wilson has recorded 19 goals and 37 points, putting him on pace for a career-best 41 goals and 79 points. The Caps' alternate captain likely bolstered his case with several strong showings in front of essential figures for Hockey Canada, including general manager Doug Armstrong and head coach Jon Cooper.

I didn't talk to the team after the game. I'll talk to them in the morning. But it is more of the same. We have to find a way to get some pucks to fall in for us. We had to execute better on the chances that we do get. We had some really clean looks in really good spots, and we either missed the net or hit the goaltender in the chest. That is kind of the way it has been going.

The biggest day of the World Juniors Group Stage almost always ends up being the finale on New Year's Eve, and it's no different this year. The Toronto Maple Leafs boast two prospects playing at this year's WJC, those being Canada's Ben Danford and Sweden's Victor Johansson, both of whom have helped their teams to undefeated records so far in the tournament's round-robin stage.

Kendall Coyne Schofield scored her league-leading sixth and seventh goals, while Nicole Hensley shone in net with a 31-save outing as the Minnesota Frost topped the Sceptres 5-1 in Toronto Tuesday. Katy Knoll, Britta Curl-Salemme and Grace Zumwinkle also scored for Minnesota (4-1-1-2). Taylor Heise had three assists. Daryl Watts had the lone goal for Toronto (4-0-2-3). Elaine Chuli made 14 saves, with Raygan Kirk turning away seven shots in relief in the third period.

William Nylander is day-to-day still, so we will see. He is doing better, but he is still day-to-day. He is out today. Auston Matthews will be a game-time decision (due to the injury from the blocked shot in Detroit). Chris Tanev has a lower-body injury. It is not the same injury as before. He is getting evaluated today, so we will have a better timeline tomorrow or later today.

Caps-Cats games are rarely dull, and tonight's game was no exception...although perhaps this one had a bit too much action, and not of the good kind, in a penalty-filled affair that ultimately went the wrong way for the good guys. Plus: Two goals for Tom Wilson tonight, you absolutely love to see it.

Trocheck's game has not deteriorated, though he did have somewhat of a down season following the 2024 postseason run. Trocheck's locker room presence also did not prove to help, as the team struggled to get on the same page, and Trocheck's nightly "we're doing all the right things" quotes enraged fans rather than comforting them. With a slightly improved team this season, Drury may want to hold onto his prized center.

The Buffalo Sabres are the hottest team in the NHL. Coming into the 2025-26 season nobody expected those words but it is in fact true. The Sabres have climbed back into the playoff conversation, riding a league-high nine-game winning streak. This comes at a great time as the Atlantic Division is up for grabs this season. Buffalo is no longer at the bottom of the Atlantic Division and now sits fifth place.

Rifai is working his way back from wrist surgery that has kept him sidelined for the entire season to date, and was placed on waivers on Sunday in order to report back to the American Hockey League. The 27-year-old defenceman has played in one game for the Marlies this season and had 13 points in 63 games for the AHL squad in 2024-25.