Leevi Merilainen recorded his second shutout in three games, making 24 saves as the Ottawa Senators defeated the New York Islanders 2-0. The Senators have now won three consecutive games, while the Islanders saw their winning streak halted at three. Adam Gaudette provided the game's first goal, redirecting a shot from Tyler Kleven in the first period, with Artem Zub sealing the victory with a late empty-net goal.

Islanders' goaltender Marcus Hogberg made 23 saves in a game that marked a disappointing start to their seven-game homestand. Despite Ilya Sorokin's availability, he did not play due to illness. The Islanders' defensive efforts included killing off four penalties recently, showcasing a resilient penalty kill, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win.

Leevi Merilainen propelled the Ottawa Senators to a 2-0 victory over the New York Islanders, securing his second shutout in just three games. With 24 saves, Merilainen was instrumental in halting the Islanders' three-game winning streak while the Senators celebrated their own third consecutive win.

The game's scoring began with Adam Gaudette redirecting a Tyler Kleven shot past Islanders' goalie Marcus Hogberg early in the first period. Artem Zub capped the game with his first goal of the season, sealing the win with a shot into an empty net in the final moments.

In a notable absence for the Islanders, Ilya Sorokin was available but did not play due to illness, with Semyon Varlamov still on injured reserve. The loss marks a challenging start to a seven-game homestand for New York.

In the latest updates from the NHL, several teams are dealing with injury concerns as they prepare for upcoming games. The Chicago Blackhawks will have forward Taylor Hall back in the lineup, while Craig Smith is listed as day-to-day due to a back injury.

The Colorado Avalanche welcomed Jonathan Drouin back from an upper-body injury, while the Montreal Canadiens reported that David Savard and Patrik Laine are not traveling with the team due to injuries and illness, respectively.

In Nashville, the Predators are missing Luke Evangelista for four weeks, alongside Jeremy Lauzon and Adam Wilsby, both on the IR. The New York Islanders are hopeful that Semyon Varlamov and Isaiah George will return to practice soon, but Hudson Fasching is sidelined for two weeks. The New York Rangers saw Igor Shesterkin return after an injury absence.

Further updates include Ottawa's Noah Gregor being out with a lower-body injury, Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin missing another game due to an upper-body injury, and San Jose's Fabian Zetterlund as a game-time decision. The Winnipeg Jets anticipate the return of Dylan Samberg and Josh Morrissey for their next matchup.

In recent NHL updates, Boston Bruins coach Joe Sacco provided an update on defenseman Hampus Lindholm, stating he is getting closer to skating but is not on the ice yet, with no specific timeline for his return. Meanwhile, Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Alec Martinez participated fully in practice following a neck injury.

Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog was seen skating but remains without a return timetable. Head coach Jared Bednar expressed optimism about Landeskog's progress, noting the positive impact of his presence during practice. However, Bednar also voiced frustration regarding a controversial play involving Scott Wedgewood, emphasizing the need for player safety.

In other injury news, Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov is on IR, and Nashville Predators defensemen Adam Wilsby and Jeremy Lauzon missed practice due to injuries. The New York Islanders reported that defenseman Isaiah George is in concussion protocol after a hit, while goaltender Semyon Varlamov has begun skating again. Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman left a game after being hit in the head, and Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko experienced back spasms but is not expected to be sidelined long.

Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Seth Jones returned to practice after a foot injury sidelined him since mid-November. Meanwhile, Detroit Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson will not play this weekend due to an upper-body injury.

Florida Panthers forward Jesper Boqvist is day-to-day, while Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson and forward Joel Eriksson Ek are also dealing with injuries, with Eriksson Ek being week-to-week.

New York Islanders forward Anthony Duclair is showing signs of returning to the lineup, while goaltender Semyon Varlamov has been placed on LTIR. Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews is managing an upper-body injury, and Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin has been cleared for contact but will not play until after Christmas.