Hockey headlines for December 20, 2021

Monday, December 20, 2021

NHL halts all cross-border travel for games because of COVID-19 (Los Angeles Times)
NHL, NHLPA will make decision on Olympics in coming days after rash of postponements (USA Today)
Golden Knights win in shootout in Robin Lehner’s return to Long Island (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Penguins hold off Devils, extend winning streak to 7 (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
Jets return to successful brand of hockey in win over Blues (Winnipeg Sun)
NHL suspends Brett Connolly for 4 games for the Chicago Blackhawks forward’s hit on the Dallas Stars’ Tanner Kero (Chicago Tribune)
Kraken cancel practice as defenseman Carson Soucy becomes fifth player to enter COVID-19 protocol (Seattle Times)
Blue Jackets cancel practice after three players COVID positive (Columbus Dispatch)
Leafs sign late draft pick Ty Voit to three-year deal (Toronto Star)
Jennifer Botterill leads an impressive group of potential front office candidates (Vancouver Province)
Canes Christmas break starts now after final pre-holiday game scrapped due to COVID (Raleigh News & Observer)
Jets season halted until after Christmas as NHL, NHLPA announce stop to cross-border travel (Winnipeg Sun)
Games against San Jose, Anaheim postponed as NHL temporarily halts cross-border travel (Vancouver Province)
COVID issues force Red Wings to shut down through at least Dec. 26 (Detroit News)
Maple Leafs shut down until at least Boxing Day (Toronto Sun)
Lightning hope to get back on schedule after postponement (Tampa Bay Times)
Canadiens' Gallagher says COVID-19 hit him hard (Montreal Gazette)
Kent Johnson joins Michigan teammate Owen Power on ice with Team Canada (Edmonton Sun)
Isles come back but lose to Vegas in shootout (New York Newsday)
Devils fall short to Penguins, 3-2, for sixth straight loss (NorthJersey.com)
Depleted Capitals can’t hold a two-goal lead and suffer a 3-2 loss to the visiting Kings (Washington Post)
Helmet caper haunts Binnington in 4-2 loss to Jets (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
Islanders' forward making case for more playing time (New York Post)
Dream now a reality for Reichel (Winnipeg Free Press)
New Jersey native Drew O'Connor enjoys homecoming at the Prudential Center (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Unsettling NHL pause is actually good for the Edmonton Oilers (Edmonton Sun)
Stars forward Tanner Kero resting at home after scary collision vs. Blackhawks (Dallas Morning News)
Lightning’s Brayden Point to return shortly after holiday break (Tampa Bay Times)
Merzlikins seeks to break funk, find fun (Columbus Dispatch)
Sabres dealing with more uncertainty as Alex Tuch set for debut (Buffalo News)
Wild winger Rem Pitlick looking to prove himself once again (St. Paul Pioneer Press)
Kurtis Gabriel will get ‘every opportunity’ to earn steady role with Blackhawks (Chicago Sun-Times)
Pine native Ty Voit signs with Maple Leafs (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
Coyotes, Valley hockey community mourn passing of Matt Shott (Arizona Republic)