Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog has ramped up his skating, fostering optimism about his recovery, though no specific timeline is available yet. Teammate Jonathan Drouin exited the latest game early due to a lower-body injury. Meanwhile, Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen approaches two months post-knee surgery, eyeing a return possibly in the first round of the playoffs if the Stars face the Avalanche. In Minnesota, Kirill Kaprizov is traveling but won’t play until at least the team's next practice. San Jose Sharks' Shakir Mukhamadullin suffered a hit that raised concerns about his availability, while Filip Chytil of the Vancouver Canucks is dealing with concussion symptoms, casting doubt on his return this season.

The Philadelphia Flyers concluded 2024 with a decisive 4-0 victory against the San Jose Sharks at the SAP Center, marking their fifth win in the last 13 games. The game was highlighted by a solid performance from the Flyers, although they faced a setback with the injury of goalie Sam Ersson, who left after two periods. Coach John Tortorella speculated that the injury occurred during a collision with Luke Kunin while Ersson was pursuing the puck. Aleksei Kolosov stepped in for the third period, successfully stopping seven shots, including a crucial save against Macklin Celebrini.

The Flyers took control early in the game, with Nick Seeler scoring the first goal just under six minutes into the first period. Following a strategic reshuffle of lines by Tortorella, Ryan Poehling extended the lead in the second period. The team showcased their offensive prowess, with multiple scoring opportunities and a revamped power-play unit that finally broke a scoring drought.

Travis Konecny added to the score, marking a significant moment as he ended an eight-game power-play goal drought. Egor Zamula capped off the scoring frenzy in the third period, further solidifying the Flyers' dominance in the game. Despite the injury concerns and recent losses, the Flyers displayed resilience and determination as they prepared for their upcoming matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights.