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Nathan MacKinnon capped his impressive calendar year by scoring his 400th career goal and reaching the 70-point mark this season alongside future Olympic teammate Connor McDavid.
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NHL DECEMBER 31, 2025 – MacKINNON CAPS 2025 WITH 400TH CAREER GOAL, 70TH POINT OF THE SEASON

Nathan MacKinnon (2-2—4) celebrated New Year’s Eve with a four-point night, his 400th career goal and his 70th point of the season while the Avalanche (30-2-7, 67 points) celebrated with their ninth consecutive victory, 15th straight home win and League-best 56th regular-season victory in the calendar year.

  • MacKinnon (34-36—70) and Connor McDavid (24-46—70), who will both suit up for Team Canada at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, and each recorded their 70th point of the season Wednesday and made 2025-26 the first campaign since 1995-96 (Mario Lemieux & Jaromir Jagr) to feature multiple players hit the mark before New Year’s Day.
  • MacKinnon and Valeri Nichushkin, who ended the game with a hat trick, accounted for all four of Colorado’s goals in the opening 4:39 of their contest. They became the second set of teammates in NHL history to each score multiple goals in the opening five minutes of a game. They joined the Islanders’ duo of Duane Sutter (2-0—2) and Bryan Trottier (2-0—2) on Jan. 26, 1982.
  • MacKinnon became the third player in franchise history to reach the 400-goal mark, following Joe Sakic (625) and Michel Goulet (456), ended the calendar year with 52-73—125 in the regular season – the most points among all players for the second straight year.
  • Cale Makar collected an assist in the win and finished 2025 with 31-60—91 in the regular season – tops among defensemen after also pacing them in 2024. He became the first blueliner to lead his position in regular-season points in consecutive calendar years (outright or tied) since Nicklas Lidstrom (1999-2000).

DETROIT RED WINGS WIN ON NEW YEAR’S EVE

The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Winnipeg Jets 2-1 at Little Caesars Arena on December 31, 2025. Dylan Larkin scored on the power play and Mason Appleton added another goal in the first period. John Gibson made 24 saves for Detroit. Logan Stanley scored Winnipeg’s lone goal as the Jets suffered their seventh straight loss.

SABRES EXTEND WINNING STREAK TO 10, MOVE INTO PLAYOFF POSITION

Tage Thompson (2-1—3) scored a pair of third-period goals to seal the victory and help the Sabres extend their winning streak to 10 games, matching the longest run in franchise history as well as the longest run by any team this season (also COL: 10 GP from Nov. 4-26). Buffalo (21-14-4, 46 points) leapfrogged idle Florida (21-15-3, 45 points) and moved into a playoff spot for the first time this season.

  • Buffalo recorded its 11th comeback win of the season, tied for second most in the NHL behind only Philadelphia (14). The Sabres have earned six come-from-behind victories during their 10-game winning streak and have posted more comeback wins at this stage of a season (39 GP) only three times in franchise history (13 in 2006-07, 2005-06 & 1983-84).
  • The Sabres became the third team in the past five seasons to win 10 straight games after not qualifying for the playoffs in season prior (min. 82 GP). They joined the 2022-23 Devils (13 GP) – who were also led by Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff – and the 2024-25 Blues (12 GP).

NEWEST OLYMPIC-BOUND PLAYERS SHINE HOURS AFTER. . .

Tom Wilson and Macklin Celebrini were among several players who shone for their clubs in the hours after they were named to Team Canada’s roster for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.

  • Wilson (2-1—3) recorded his 15th career three-point outing, reached 200 NHL goals and 40 this calendar year to lift the Capitals (21-14-5, 47 points) to victory. Wilson became the sixth player to score 200 goals with the franchise and became the third member from the 2012 NHL Draft class to reach the mark alongside Filip Forsberg (334) and Tomas Hertl (267). Wilson is one of four forwards who did not represent his country at the 4 Nations Face-Off (also Celebrini, Bo Horvat & Nick Suzuki) who will be heading to Italy – the Capitals shared a video of him learning the news that he had made Team Canada’s roster.
  • Celebrini (1-1—2) collected two points and scored in the shootout to help the Sharks (20-17-3, 43 points) surpass the Kings (16-13-9, 41 points) for the first Wild Card seed in the Western Conference. He became the third-fastest teenager to 40 assists in a season in NHL history, behind Sidney Crosby (34 GP in 2006-07) and Wayne Gretzky (36 GP in 1980-81). Celebrini can become the youngest player and only teenager to play for Team Canada at Olympics involving NHL players.
  • Brandon Hagel (0-3—3) and Brayden Point (1-0—1), two of the three Lightning players named to Team Canada’s roster (also Anthony Cirelli), were a part of every Tampa Bay goal to help their club move into second place in the Atlantic Division. Hagel and Point helped their current head coach – and bench boss for Team Canada in Italy – earn a win in his 1,000th game. It marked Jon Cooper’s 595th victory, which is the most by a head coach through that milestone (next closest: Al Arbour w/ 531).

TEAM CANADA UNVEILS OLYMPIC ROSTER

Team Canada unveiled their full 25-man roster ahead of the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, naming 19 players in addition to Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid, Cale Makar, Sam Reinhart and Brayden Point, who were originally revealed in June.

  • Team Canada’s roster has combined to win 23 Stanley Cups, 35 individual NHL Awards (including 7 Art Ross Trophies, 6 Hart Trophies and 4 Conn Smythe Trophies) and includes four NHL captains (Crosby, McDavid, Mark Stone & Nick Suzuki) as well as 19 players returning from the team that won the 4 Nations Face-Off last February.
  • Drew Doughty (age 36) joined Crosby (age 38) on the roster – the pair will look to win Olympic gold for the third time as teammates (2014 & 2010).
  • All three goaltenders have won the Stanley Cup, a first for Team Canada at the Olympics: Jordan Binnington (2019 w/ STL), Darcy Kuemper (2022 w/ COL) and Logan Thompson (2023 w/ VGK).

FORWARDS

  • Macklin Celebrini (San Jose Sharks)
  • Anthony Cirelli (Tampa Bay Lightning)
  • Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins)
  • Brandon Hagel (Tampa Bay Lightning)
  • Bo Horvat (New York Islanders)
  • Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche)
  • Brad Marchand (Florida Panthers)
  • Mitch Marner (Vegas Golden Knights)
  • Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers)
  • Brayden Point (Tampa Bay Lightning)
  • Sam Reinhart (Florida Panthers)
  • Mark Stone (Vegas Golden Knights)
  • Nick Suzuki (Montreal Canadiens)
  • Tom Wilson (Washington Capitals)

DEFENSE

  • Drew Doughty (Los Angeles Kings)
  • Thomas Harley (Dallas Stars)
  • Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche)
  • Josh Morrissey (Winnipeg Jets)
  • Colton Parayko (St. Louis Blues)
  • Travis Sanheim (Philadelphia Flyers)
  • Shea Theodore (Vegas Golden Knights)
  • Devon Toews (Colorado Avalanche)

GOALTENDERS

  • Jordan Binnington (St. Louis Blues)
  • Darcy Kuemper (Los Angeles Kings)
  • Logan Thompson (Washington Capitals)

NOTES

  • Sidney Crosby and Drew Doughty are the only players with previous Olympic experience (2010 Vancouver, 2014 Sochi)
  • 16 players on the roster have won the Stanley Cup
  • 19 players participated in Canada’s 2025 4 Nations Face-Off victory

TROCHECK, RANGERS CONTEST FINAL GAME BEFORE WINTER CLASSIC

Vincent Trocheck (1-0—1) was one of several players with a history of coming up big in outdoor games to find the score sheet for the Rangers in their final game before they face off against the Panthers in the 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic at loanDepot park in Miami on Friday. Puck drop is at 8 p.m.

  • Trocheck, who posted 2-1—3 in the 2024 Stadium Series to help New York become the first team in NHL outdoor history to earn a three-goal comeback win, spent his first six and a half NHL seasons with the Panthers and witnessed firsthand the growth of hockey in Florida – hockey registration has risen in the state by 49.63% since the franchise’s inaugural season (find more in the 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic By The Numbers). The chance to play outdoors in the Sunshine State means a lot to Trocheck.
  • Artemi Panarin, who leads all Rangers in outdoor points (1-3—4 in 3 GP), collected a pair of assists against the Capitals and became the first player born outside North America to record five consecutive calendar years with at least 90 points. Click here to read more about Panarin and the other top outdoor performers highlighted in the #NHLStats Pack: 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic.
  • Adam Fox (1-1—2) and Mika Zibanejad (0-1—1) also found the score sheet Wednesday and hope to have their names added to Team USA and Team Sweden rosters, respectively, for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 in the coming days. There are currently five players named to Olympic rosters with the Panthers or Rangers: Brad Marchand (Team Canada), Sam Reinhart (Team Canada), Matthew Tkachuk (Team USA), Aleksander Barkov (Team Finland) and Uvis Balinskis (Team Latvia).

KOPITAR CAN RING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH 1,300 POINTS

The first day of 2026 will be rung in with an eight-game slate including three national broadcasts across Canada on Sportsnet as well as Anze Kopitar within striking distance of 1,300 career points. Kopitar (446-852—1,298) can become the fifth active player to reach that milestone when the Lightning visit the Kings – should he do so, he would join Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin and Patrick Kane.

Canadiens’ Demidov Named NHL ‘Rookie of the Month’ for December

Montreal Canadiens right wing Ivan Demidov, who topped all rookies with 4-10—14 in 15 games, has been named the NHL’s “Rookie of the Month” for December.

Demidov edged Anaheim Ducks right wing Beckett Sennecke (5-6—11 in 15 GP), Detroit Red Wings defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka (2-7—9 in 15 GP), Vancouver Canucks center Linus Karlsson (5-3—8 in 13 GP), San Jose Sharks left wing Igor Chernyshov (3-5—8 in 7 GP) and Washington Capitals right wing Ryan Leonard (2-6—8 in 7 GP) for the honor.

The 20-year-old Demidov paces NHL rookies with 10-23—33 through 39 total contests this season, also sitting among the top 2025-26 freshmen in assists (1st; 23), even-strength assists (1st; 15), shooting percentage (1st; 18.9% – minimum: 1 SOG/GP), even-strength points (2nd; 23), power-play assists (2nd; 8), power-play points (t-2nd; 10), game-winning goals (t-2nd; 2), goals (3rd; 10) and even-strength goals (3rd; 8).

McDavid, MacKinnon and Celebrini Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ for December

Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon and San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini – three No. 1 picks selected for Canada’s roster at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 – have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the month of December.

FIRST STAR – CONNOR McDAVID, C, EDMONTON OILERS

McDavid led the League with 13-21—34 in 15 contests – the most points by any NHL player in a single calendar month since Mario Lemieux in December 1995 (12-22—34 in 14 GP w/ PIT) – to lift the Oilers (20-15-6, 46 points) from sixth to first place in the Pacific Division via a 9-5-1 December. McDavid failed to find the scoresheet in his first appearance of the month (Dec. 2 vs. MIN), but closed December with points in 14 straight outings – his seventh career run of at least 14 games and first since March 11 – April 13, 2023 (10-19—29 in 16 GP). He produced nine multi-point efforts over his final 14 contests, including five straight from Dec. 4-13 (7-8—15), his 13th career hat trick (Dec. 4 vs. SEA: 3-1—4), and his second career five-assist and 12th career five-point performance (Dec. 23 vs. CGY: 0-5—5). McDavid additionally placed among the top December performers in power-play assists (1st; 12), power-play points (1st; 16), assists (t-1st; 21), power-play goals (t-1st; 4), goals (2nd; 13), shots on goal (2nd; 71), even-strength goals (t-3rd; 8) and even-strength points (t-3rd; 17). The 28-year-old McDavid, who sat eight points behind MacKinnon for the League scoring lead at the end of November, now shares first place with 24-46—70 through 41 total appearances this season. The five-time Art Ross Trophy winner also paces the NHL in assists (46), power-play assists (23) and power-play points (30) in 2025-26, while ranking fourth in goals (24), even-strength points (38) and shots on goal (145).

SECOND STAR – NATHAN MacKINNON, C, COLORADO AVALANCHE

MacKinnon, the “First Star” of November, placed second in December with 14-12—26 across 14 games to power the League-leading Avalanche (30-2-7, 67 points) to a 12-1-1 month as they created a 10-point cushion in the Presidents’ Trophy race. MacKinnon registered points in 12 of his 14 December outings, highlighted by an NHL-best 10 multi-point performances – including a four-game stretch from Dec. 9-16 (4-5—9) and a three-game run to end the month (Dec. 27-31: 4-5—9), capped by his 400th career goal and 32nd career four-point effort Dec. 31 vs. STL (2-2—4). He also scored in nine of his 14 contests to top the League in both goals (14) and even-strength goals (13) while ranking among the December leaders in shots on goal (1st; 72), plus/minus (1st; +21), even-strength points (2nd; 21) and game-winning goals (t-2nd; 3). The 30-year-old MacKinnon, who has finished as the runner-up in the Art Ross Trophy race each of the past two years, matches McDavid with 34-36—70 through 39 total games this season – the first time since 1995-96 that multiple NHL players have accumulated at least 70 points before New Year’s Day. MacKinnon, who currently has a nine-goal edge in the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy race (34), also sits among the 2025-26 leaders in points per game (1st; 1.79), even-strength goals (1st; 27), even-strength points (1st; 54), shots on goal (1st; 180), even-strength assists (2nd; 27), game-winning goals (t-2nd; 5), assists (5th; 36) and power-play points (t-10th; 16).

THIRD STAR – MACKLIN CELEBRINI, C, SAN JOSE SHARKS

Celebrini finished fourth in the NHL with 8-17—25 in 14 contests to propel the Sharks (20-17-3, 43 points) into the first Wild Card spot in the Western Conference on the strength of an 8-6-0 December. Celebrini found the scoresheet in 11 of his 14 appearances, including a nine-game run to close the month (Dec. 11-31: 7-12—19). He also notched eight multi-point performances, spurred by a pair of three-game stretches (Dec. 13-18: 3-6—9 and Dec. 27-31: 3-4—7), and produced five contests with at least three points. Celebrini additionally ranked among the December leaders in even-strength assists (1st; 16), even-strength points (1st; 24), assists (t-3rd; 17), even-strength goals (t-3rd; 8), goals (t-7th; 8), shots on goal (t-9th; 51) and plus/minus (t-12th; +10). The 19-year-old Celebrini, who registered 25-38—63 during his rookie campaign (70 GP), sits third in League scoring with 22-40—62 through 40 overall appearances in 2025-26 – a point total surpassed by just two teenagers in NHL history through their first 40 games of a season: Wayne Gretzky (21-49—70 in 1980-81 w/ EDM) and Sidney Crosby (21-45—66 in 2006-07 w/ PIT). Celebrini – who has factored on 50.8 percent of his team’s total goals this season (62 of 122), second only to McDavid (51.1%) – also places among the 2025-26 leaders in even-strength assists (1st; 28), assists (2nd; 40), even-strength points (2nd; 46), even-strength goals (t-2nd; 18) and goals (t-8th; 22).

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IPM Editor