NHL Today: Islanders End Home Stand In Shootout Loss To Boston; Avs Trade Tatar

Good morning, my name is Andrew Fantucchio. It’s Saturday, December 16, and here’s what’s happening around the NHL today.

Islanders Penalty Kill Can’t Contain Bruins:

The Islanders fell to the Boston Bruins 5-4 in a shootout on Friday to wrap up their longest homestand of the season.

Momentum swung back and forth in the high-scoring affair. The Islanders surrendered the lead three times as their penalty kill once again did them in.

They conclude the home stand with 10 points out of a possible 12 and a record of 4-0-2.

Tomas Tatar Traded From Avalanche To Kraken:

Tomas Tatar signed a short, one-year deal with the Colorado Avalanche this past offseason, but his stay with the team was even briefer.

The Avalanche traded Tatar to the Seattle Kraken on Friday, receiving a fifth-round selection in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft in return.

Tatar, 33, had nine points in 27 games for Colorado and didn’t score his first goal of the season until just the other night. According to Evan Rawal, Hockey Now’s Colorado beat writer, Tatar never quite fit into the Avalanche’s system.

The trade gives Tatar in Seattle and opens up one for players like Ben Meyers and Joel Kiviranta to earn a spot in Colorado’s lineup.

The Avalanche visit the Winnipeg Jets tonight, while the Kraken host the Los Angeles Kings.

NHL/NHLPA Investigating Medical Protocol After Coyotes Player Left Without Care By Hospital:

The NHL and NHLPA are trying to figure out how Arizona Coyotes defenseman Juuso Valimaki was left without care by a Dallas hospital after he took a 93 mph slap shot to the face in a game on Nov. 14 against the Stars, according to Daily Faceoff.

Valimaki was told by doctors at American Airlines Center his injury required surgery, but the hospital said he couldn’t be operated on for another two days while they attended to “more critical incoming patients.”

However, sources told Daily Faceoff that Valimaki was “unable to function,” and there was a chance he could have asphyxiated on his own blood had he gone back to the hotel as the hospital advised.

It wasn’t for another five hours, and only once the NHLPA stepped in, that Valimaki received 55 stitches in his mouth after fracturing a bone and losing three teeth.

Valimaki has since returned to action for the Coyotes. He has six points in 23 games this season.

Yesterday’s Scoreboard:

Bruins: 5, Islanders: 4 (SO)

Rangers: 5, Ducks: 1

Predators: 6, Hurricanes: 5 (OT)

Stars: 5, Senators: 4

Coyotes: 1, Sharks: 0

Sabres: 5, Golden Knights: 2

Today’s Schedule:

All Times EST

New York Islanders vs. Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.

Vancouver Canucks vs. Minnesota Wild, 2 p.m.

New York Rangers vs. Boston Bruins, 7 p.m.

New Jersey Devils vs. Columbus Blue Jackets, 7 p.m.

Detroit Red Wings vs. Philadelphia Flyers, 7 p.m.

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m.

Colorado Avalanche vs. Winnipeg Jets, 7 p.m.

Washington Capitals vs. Nashville Predators, 8 p.m.

Dallas Stars vs. St. Louis Blues, 8 p.m.

Buffalo Sabres vs. Arizona Coyotes, 9 p.m.

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Calgary Flames, 10 p.m.

Florida Panthers vs. Edmonton Oilers, 10 p.m.

Los Angeles Kings vs. Seattle Kraken, 10 p.m.

More From National Hockey Now:

Philadelphia: The Philadelphia Flyers are winning, but that doesn’t mean they’re ready to go all in at the NHL trade deadline.

Pittsburgh: Rikard Rakell is emerging from a dark place as he nears a return to the lineup of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Boston: The other side from last night’s results at UBS Arena, where the Boston Bruins picked up the shootout win.

Detroit: Patrick Kane has shown he’s still got it through his first few games with the Detroit Red Wings.

Montreal: A goalie tops the prospect power rankings for the Montreal Canadiens. As if they weren’t already deep enough in goal.

San Jose: The Sharks made a minor trade for Jack Studnicka. Read the reaction from the San Jose locker room.

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