Hockey headlines for December 18, 2021

Saturday, December 18, 2021

Jets fall to Capitals 5-2 in Lowry's debut behind bench (Winnipeg Free Press)
Blackhawks lose in overtime to depleted Predators (Chicago Sun-Times)
Golden Knights edge Rangers in shootout (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Maurice parts way with Jets (Winnipeg Free Press)
Bettman reduces Maple Leafs veteran Jason Spezza’s suspension to four games (Toronto Star)
'The right call': More Flames games postponed as COVID outbreak swells to 32 (Calgary Herald)
Florida Panthers shut down through Christmas as team deals with COVID-19 outbreak (Miami Herald)
Bruins’ Saturday game at Canadiens, Thursday game vs. Avalanche postponed (Boston Globe)
Canes coach, staffer test positive for COVID; team skates on as other NHL clubs pause (Raleigh News & Observer)
COVID catches up with Leafs as Spezza, Simmonds, join Tavares, Kerfoot on sidelines (Toronto Sun)
Nugent-Hopkins latest Edmonton Oilers player sidelined by virus (Edmonton Sun)
Canucks and Leafs add players to COVID-19 list ahead of Saturday showdown (Vancouver Province)
COVID-19: Capacity at Rogers Arena restricted to 50 per cent (Vancouver Province)
Surging COVID-19 cases wreaking havoc across the NHL (Globe & Mail)
Professional sports just had their worst week of COVID since the beginning (New York Post)
COVID-19 outbreaks reverberate among local sports teams (Los Angeles Daily News)
'It was a selfless act' (Winnipeg Free Press)
Whirlwind 24 hours for new Jets coach (Winnipeg Sun)
Olympics just one concern for Blackhawks as COVID-19 rips through NHL (Chicago Sun-Times)
Sebastian Cossa built to be Team Canada's goalie at world juniors (Edmonton Sun)
How goaltending woes, mismanagement, and increased parity has grounded the once-proud Flyers (Philadelphia Inquirer)
July’s free agency pickups shine in Penguins 3-2 win against Sabres (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
"Chuck" and the Blues do it again, top Stars 4-1 (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
Rangers lose to Vegas in shootout to close busy stretch (New York Newsday)
Ducks’ early flurry isn’t enough in overtime loss to Coyotes (Orange County Register)
Another loss to Blues has Jamie Benn, Rick Bowness questioning Stars’ effort, heart and motivation (Dallas Morning News)
Forward Sam Lafferty returns to the Penguins' lineup (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
Panarin not in Rangers' lineup vs. Vegas (New York Newsday)
Penguins forward Brian Boyle out against Sabres (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
Ryan Reaves ‘looking for heads’ when Rangers face Knights (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Gallant: No bitterness as he faces Vegas with Rangers (New York Newsday)
St. Louis Blues recognize Stars goalie Ben Bishop with video tribute following his retirement (Dallas Morning News)
COVID-19 could halt Isles' recent momentum (New York Newsday)
Sharks aren’t panicking, but there’s cause for concern: ‘Our will to win needs to increase’ (San Jose Mercury News)
Rangers’ Igor Shesterkin practices fully for first time since injury (New York Post)
Zaitsev injury opens the door for Bernard-Docker to get a long look on Senators blueline (Ottawa Citizen)
Islanders coach sees similarities between Anthony Beauvillier and Vegas star (New York Post)
Oilers' Brendan Perlini deserves more ice time based on Columbus game (Edmonton Journal)
Kurtis Gabriel gives himself a puncher’s chance to stick with the Chicago Blackhawks: ‘Whenever the rough stuff gets going, that’s when I get going’ (Chicago Tribune)
Call-ups Max Willman, Jackson Cates providing an unexpected boost for Flyers (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Winter Classic scene starts to take shape at Target Field (St. Paul Pioneer Press)