Overview
- Joseph Woll made 33 saves for his first shutout of the season in Toronto’s 4-0 home win over New Jersey, the Leafs’ third victory in four games.
- Toronto played without Auston Matthews, William Nylander and Chris Tanev (lower-body injuries) and Dakota Joshua (kidney injury), while Bobby McMann, Nicolas Roy, Calle Jarnkrok and Matthew Knies provided the goals.
- New Jersey’s skid reached four games and capped a dismal December marked by scarce scoring; captain Nico Hischier fought Matthew Knies as coach Sheldon Keefe called for more urgency.
- Dawson Mercer appeared in his 367th straight game for the Devils, maintaining his ironman streak to start his NHL career.
- Hockey Canada unveiled its 25-player Olympic roster featuring Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Sidney Crosby and Macklin Celebrini, with goalies Jordan Binnington, Darcy Kuemper and Logan Thompson, while notable omissions included Connor Bedard and Matthew Schaefer.