NHL News: Crosby Breaks Record, Leafs Crumble, and Trade Rumors Heat Up

0 Diana khan December 22, 2025

Monday, December 22, 2025, will go down in hockey history. In a poetic twist of fate, Sidney Crosby has officially surpassed Mario Lemieux as the Pittsburgh Penguins’ all-time leading scorer. The captain collected a goal and an assist in yesterday’s thrilling shootout win over Montreal—Lemieux’s hometown team—bringing his career total to 1,724 points. It was a torch-passing moment that had the entire hockey world buzzing this morning.

But the headlines didn’t stop in Pittsburgh. The Colorado Avalanche are looking like an unstoppable force, with Nathan MacKinnon becoming the league’s first 30-goal scorer of the season. He netted two in a 5-1 drubbing of the Wild, ending Minnesota’s seven-game win streak. Meanwhile, Connor McDavid continues to feast, reclaiming the league scoring lead with a three-point night as the Oilers held off the Golden Knights.

On the trade front, the rumor mill is spinning early. With the March deadline approaching, reports suggest the Avalanche are aggressively hunting for a defenseman, with names like Calgary’s Rasmus Andersson floating as potential targets. The New York Islanders are also shopping for a top-six winger and blue-line help to salvage their playoff hopes.

For Leafs fans, it’s a “Blue Christmas” after a tough 5-1 loss to Dallas. Jason Robertson finally scored against the only team he hadn’t yet beaten, leaving Toronto searching for answers as they slide down the standings.

Here is a look at all the action from yesterday.

NHL Scores & Highlights from December 21, 2025

🐧 Penguins 4 – 3 Canadiens (SO) The Headline: History for Sid. Crosby passes Lemieux with a 2-point night. The Pens snap their skid in dramatic fashion with a shootout victory.

⭐️ Stars 5 – 1 Maple Leafs The Headline: Robertson Haunts Toronto. Jason Robertson scores his 23rd, and Oettinger makes 27 saves as Dallas dominates a lackluster Leafs squad.

🏔️ Avalanche 5 – 1 Wild The Headline: MacKinnon hits 30. Nathan MacKinnon scores twice, becoming the first player to hit the 30-goal mark this season, halting the Wild’s 7-game heater.

🛢️ Oilers 4 – 3 Golden Knights The Headline: McDavid on Top. Connor McDavid posts 3 points to take the NHL scoring lead. The Oilers survive a late Vegas push.

⚔️ Sabres 3 – 1 Devils The Headline: Buffalo Rolling. The Sabres extend their winning streak to six games, shutting down a high-powered Devils offense.

🐘 Utah Mammoth 4 – 3 Jets (OT) The Headline: Keller is Clutch. Clayton Keller buries the overtime winner, helping Utah recover after blowing a late lead to Winnipeg.

🏛️ Senators 6 – 2 Bruins The Headline: Sens Stun Boston. Zetterlund scores twice as Ottawa routs the Bruins for their fourth straight win.

🎸 Predators 2 – 1 Rangers The Headline: Forsberg Stays Hot. A defensive battle in Nashville ends with the Preds edging out New York thanks to Filip Forsberg.

🐙 Red Wings 3 – 2 Capitals (OT) The Headline: Mo Seider Magic. Moritz Seider blasts the game-winner in overtime to complete the sweep of the Caps.

Latest NHL Trade Rumors & Fantasy Predictions

As we head toward the 2026 NHL trade deadline, the market is heating up faster than expected. Are the Avalanche about to land a big fish on the blue line? Will the Leafs panic-trade to save their season? For the absolute latest scoops, insider rumors, and data-driven Fantasy Hockey predictions, make sure to add nhltraderumor.com to your bookmarks. Don’t get left behind—sign up for our newsletter below to get breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.