The holiday break is officially in the rearview mirror, and the NHL returned with a bang on Saturday night. From historic rookie performances to swirling trade rumors involving one of the game’s biggest stars, there is no shortage of headlines this Sunday morning.
The biggest story coming out of the weekend is Macklin Celebrini, who continues to tear up the league. The Sharks’ phenom scored his 20th goal of the season in a 6-3 rout of the Canucks, becoming the fastest teenager to reach that mark since Auston Matthews in 2016-17. Speaking of Matthews, the rumor mill is heating up in Toronto, but first, let’s look at the action on the ice.
NHL Scores and Highlights from December 27, 2025
Saturday featured a massive slate of rivalry games and overtime thrillers. Here is everything you need to know from the games on December 27, 2025:
- Lightning 4, Panthers 2: The Battle of Florida went to the Bolts. Nikita Kucherov dazzled with two goals, including the empty-net sealer, while the Lightning penalty kill shut down the Panthers’ high-octane offense.
- Sabres 4, Bruins 1: Buffalo is officially the hottest team in the NHL. The Sabres captured their eighth straight victory behind a three-point night from Mattias Samuelsson.
- Maple Leafs 7, Senators 5: A wild Battle of Ontario saw the Leafs outgun the Sens. Toronto has now won two straight, stabilizing their ship after a rocky mid-December.
- Hurricanes 5, Red Wings 2: Carolina snapped their three-game skid in convincing fashion. Shayne Gostisbehere and Andrei Svechnikov each put up three points to reclaim dominance in the Metro.
- Capitals 4, Devils 3 (OT): Alex Ovechkin continues to defy age with a goal and an assist, setting the stage for Jakob Chychrun’s overtime winner.
- Wild 4, Jets 3 (OT): Matt Boldy was the hero for Minnesota, netting two goals including the OT winner to stun the Jets in Winnipeg.
- Islanders 1, Rangers 0: A goaltending duel for the ages. David Rittich posted a 27-save shutout, and Anders Lee’s first-period goal stood as the winner.
- Kings 6, Ducks 1: Alex Laferriere exploded for a hat trick as Los Angeles crushed their cross-town rivals.
- Flames 3, Oilers 2: The Battle of Alberta was a grinder, but Blake Coleman’s late third-period goal lifted Calgary past Edmonton.
- Avalanche 6, Golden Knights 5: In the night’s highest-scoring affair, Colorado rallied late to edge Vegas in a shootout thriller.
- Sharks 6, Canucks 3: Aside from Celebrini’s milestone, the Sharks’ offense overwhelmed Vancouver, proving San Jose is a team on the rise.
- Blackhawks 4, Stars 3 (SO): Tyler Bertuzzi scored twice in regulation, and Chicago stunned Dallas in a shootout to end their losing streak.
- Blues 3, Predators 2: Pavel Buchnevich netted a pair of goals to help St. Louis grind out a tough central division win.
Latest NHL News, Trade Rumors & Fantasy Predictions
Beyond the scores, the rumor mill is buzzing. Reports from Sportsnet suggest that while Auston Matthews has a no-movement clause, the Los Angeles Kings are emerging as a potential suitor should Toronto look to shake up their core in the offseason. Meanwhile, at the World Juniors, Team Canada narrowly escaped with a 2-1 OT win over Latvia, sparking debate about their medal chances. For fantasy owners, keep an eye on Matthew Schaefer (NYI); the rookie defenseman is playing huge minutes and looks like a potential Calder Trophy winner in June.
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