Two of the NHL stars – Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers (left) and Mitch Marner of the Vegas Golden Knights (right), shown in a split-screen image.
The NHL holiday break has officially arrived, but not before a chaotic 10-game slate on Tuesday night that reshuffled the standings and rewrote the history books. As the league pauses for Christmas, the headlines are dominated by historic offensive explosions and a trade market that refuses to sleep.
The biggest story heading into the freeze is Connor McDavid. The Oilers captain gifted Edmonton fans an early present with a massive five-assist performance in a 5-1 dismantling of the Calgary Flames. McDavid now sits comfortably atop the league scoring race with 67 points, while Leon Draisaitl netted a hat trick to silence the Saddledome.
Meanwhile, in Las Vegas, the “Mitch Marner Era” is in full swing. The former Maple Leaf scored twice in a seven-goal outburst against the San Jose Sharks, helping the Golden Knights tie a franchise record for goals in a single period. It was exactly the kind of offensive dominance Vegas envisioned when they pulled off the blockbuster deal earlier this season.
Elsewhere, the Buffalo Sabres are the hottest team in hockey, entering the break on a seven-game winning streak under new GM Jarmo Kekäläinen. And don’t look now, but the Utah Mammoth are proving to be a defensive force, despite a tight 1-0 loss to the Avalanche.
NHL Scores & Notes: Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Here is the complete rundown of scores from the final night before the holiday break:
Toronto Maple Leafs 6, Pittsburgh Penguins 3
Note: William Nylander erupted for 4 points; Leafs offense looks scary good.
Vegas Golden Knights 7, San Jose Sharks 2
Note: Marner (2G) and Stone (1G, 1A) led a 5-goal first period.
Edmonton Oilers 5, Calgary Flames 1
Note: McDavid (5A) and Draisaitl (3G) own the Battle of Alberta.
New York Rangers 7, Washington Capitals 3
Note: An offensive clinic by the Blueshirts at MSG.
Montreal Canadiens 6, Boston Bruins 2
Note: A stunning blowout rival victory for the Habs on the road.
Detroit Red Wings 4, Dallas Stars 3 (OT)
Note: Dylan Larkin plays hero in overtime.
Philadelphia Flyers 3, Chicago Blackhawks 1
Note: Flyers lock it down defensively to enter the break on a high.
Nashville Predators 3, Minnesota Wild 2
Note: Wild stumble despite Quinn Hughes logging 28 minutes.
Seattle Kraken 3, Los Angeles Kings 2
Note: Kraken scrape by to stay in the Wild Card hunt.
Colorado Avalanche 1, Utah Mammoth 0
Note: A goaltending duel in Denver goes to the Avs.
Latest NHL Trade Rumors & News
As we unwrap our gifts, GMs are working the phones. The Minnesota Wild, still integrating Quinn Hughes after that massive trade with Vancouver earlier this month, are reportedly hunting for a top-six winger to boost their scoring depth. Sources suggest they are eyeing Seattle’s Jordan Eberle or potentially a reunion with a former forward. Meanwhile, chatter out of Toronto suggest the Leafs might not be done dealing, with rumors of a “core-shaking” move still lingering despite their recent success.
For the absolute latest updates on these developing stories, bookmark nhltraderumor.com and never miss a beat.