In a thrilling comeback, the Anaheim Ducks defeated the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 in a hard-fought game at home. After trailing by two goals, the Ducks rallied back with Mason McTavish and Frank Vatrano scoring in quick succession during the second period to level the score. Alex Killorn then netted the decisive goal late in the third period, securing the Ducks' fourth victory in five games.

The Canadiens initially took the lead with Joel Armia's short-handed goal and Christian Dvorak's power-play tally in the first period. However, despite a strong start, Montreal faltered as Anaheim's Lukas Dostal made 21 saves to preserve the win. This defeat marks Montreal’s fifth straight loss as they continue their California road trip.

Mason McTavish played a pivotal role in leading the Anaheim Ducks to a 6-4 victory over the Seattle Kraken. He scored the tying goal early in the second period and assisted on Robby Fabbri's go-ahead goal just over four minutes later. The Ducks surged with three goals in the first eight minutes of the second period, showcasing a remarkable turnaround after a rough patch where they lost seven of eight games.

In addition to McTavish and Fabbri, Troy Terry, Cutter Gauthier, Jackson LaCombe, and Frank Vatrano contributed to the scoreline, each netting a goal. The Ducks have now won three consecutive games, largely due to solid performances from their players, including Lukas Dostal, who made 26 saves. The Kraken saw goals from Eeli Tolvanen, Mitchell Stephens, Jaden Schwartz, and Shane Wright, but ultimately couldn't overcome the Ducks' offensive onslaught.

In a tightly contested match, the Tampa Bay Lightning triumphed over the Anaheim Ducks with a 4-3 victory that culminated in a shootout. Jake Guentzel emerged as the decisive player, netting the only goal in the shootout. Brayden Point, Anthony Cirelli, and Guentzel contributed to the Lightning's regulation goals, while Andrei Vasilevskiy made 34 saves, including a perfect performance in the shootout.

The Ducks showcased their resilience, with Robby Fabbri, Troy Terry, and Leo Carlsson finding the back of the net. Fabbri's goal in the third period, assisted by Jacob Trouba, tied the game and forced overtime, extending the Ducks' challenging road trip to 1-3-1.

After missing four games due to personal reasons, Anaheim Ducks forward Troy Terry has made a timely return to the lineup, providing a boost for his team. Meanwhile, Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill provided updates on several injuries, revealing that forward Mason Marchment is a couple of weeks away from returning. Marchment has resumed skating in Dallas but will need to wear a bubble or cage upon his return and will need media clearance regarding his ability to breathe properly.

Additionally, the Stars are monitoring Tyler Seguin, whose timeline for return is uncertain until he begins skating. Roope Hintz, another Stars forward, left the game early with an upper-body injury after a hit from Auston Matthews and will be evaluated upon returning to Dallas.

In Minnesota, the Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov, along with defensemen Brock Faber and Jared Spurgeon, practiced prior to yesterday's session, showing signs of recovery. Defenseman Jonas Brodin, however, is still limited to off-ice workouts and has not yet started skating.

On the injury front for the Eastern Conference, Utah Hockey Club defenseman John Marino made his season debut after recovering from back surgery. Conversely, forward Dylan Guenther has been placed on the IR retroactively. In Vancouver, defenseman Filip Hronek has returned after a six-week absence due to both upper and lower body injuries. Lastly, Vegas Golden Knights forward Jack Eichel also returned to the lineup after a brief one-game absence due to illness.

Marco Rossi of the Minnesota Wild has been recognized as the NHL's First Star for the week ending January 5, thanks to his impressive performance, which included 3 goals and 5 assists over three games. Rossi's contributions were pivotal in securing victories for the Wild, bringing their record to 25-11-4. His standout moments included a three-point game against the Nashville Predators and a crucial tying goal in a shootout victory over the Washington Capitals.

Second Star honors went to Troy Terry of the Anaheim Ducks, who notched 4 goals and 2 assists across four games, significantly aiding the Ducks' campaign for improvement in the standings. Terry's highlight was scoring the game-winning goal in overtime against the Winnipeg Jets, showcasing his ability to perform under pressure.

Darcy Kuemper of the Los Angeles Kings earned the Third Star distinction as he excelled in goal, posting a remarkable 0.50 GAA and a .985 save percentage during the week. His performance included a shutout against the New Jersey Devils, contributing to the Kings' four-game winning streak.