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Ice Chips: Maple Leafs F Nylander (groin) to miss seventh straight game vs. Kraken

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TSN.ca Staff

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - DECEMBER 18: William Nylander #88 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the Washington Capitals on December 18, 2025 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) (Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Keep updated on all the injury news and roster updates from around the NHL with daily Ice Chips.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Forward William Nylander is getting closer to returning to the lineup but will remain out for tonight’s contest against the Seattle Kraken.

Nylander has missed the past six games with a groin injury, last suiting up on Jan. 15 against the Vegas Golden Knights.

The 29-year-old has 17 goals and 48 points in 37 games this season.

He was fined $5,000 on Monday for giving the middle finger towards broadcast cameras on Sunday while sitting in the press box.

The Maple Leafs have lost five straight games heading into tonight’s game against Seattle. Toronto will also face the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers on their Western road trip before the upcoming Olympic break.

Buffalo Sabres

Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff told reporters that goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will probably miss about a week with a lower-body injury and the team will evaluate him from there.

It remains to be determined if Luukkonen, who was named to Team Finland’s Olympic roster, will be available for the Games in Milan.

Luukkonen was injured in Tuesday’s 7-4 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, departing the game in the first period after Auston Matthews scored. He did not return to the game and was replaced by Colten Ellis.

In 21 appearances this season, Luukkonen is 11-7-2 with a .903 save percentage and 2.73 goals-against average.

The Sabres, who are third in the Atlantic Division and are riding a four-game winning streak, host the Los Angeles Kings tonight.

Boston Bruins

The Bruins have recalled forward Matt Poitras from AHL Providence.

Poitras, 21, has eight goals and 24 points in 39 games this season with Providence. He has yet to suit up in a game for Boston in 2025-26.

Last season, Poitras split the campaign between Boston and Providence. With Boston, he had one goal and 11 points in 33 games. In Providence, he scored 17 goals with 41 points in 40 games.

A second-round pick (54th overall) by the Bruins in 2022, Poitras has appeared in 66 career NHL games, scoring six goals with 26 points.

The Bruins host the Philadelphia Flyers tonight at TD Garden.

New York Rangers

Forward Brett Berard has been recalled from the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack ahead of tonight’s rematch at home against the New York Islanders.

The Rangers lost 5-2 to the Islanders on Long Island Wednesday night.

Berard, 23, has six goals and 18 points in 30 AHL games this season.

He has also suited up in 12 games with the Rangers but has yet to record a point.

Berard, a fifth-round pick by New York in 2020, has six goals and 10 points in 47 career NHL games.

New York Islanders

Ilya Sorokin will get the start tonight against the Rangers as the Islanders aim for a third straight win.

Sorokin is coming off a 21-save shutout over the Flyers on Monday.

In 31 appearances this season, the 30-year-old is 17-12-2 with a .916 save percentage and 2.43 GAA.

Washington Capitals

The Capitals have recalled goaltender Clay Stevenson from the AHL’s Hershey Bears.

Stevenson, 26, is 11-8-3 in 24 games with Hershey this season, recording a .912 save percentage and 2.57 GAA.

He made his NHL debut last season with Washington on Apr. 17, allowing five goals in a 5-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Capitals face the Detroit Red Wings on the road tonight.