08.12.2024
Boston Bruins 4 - 3 Philadelphia Flyers
The Boston Bruins secured a dramatic 4-3 overtime victory over the Philadelphia Flyers at TD Garden, marking their fourth consecutive win. Pavel Zacha scored the game-winning goal in overtime following a strong forecheck and assist from David Pastrnak; it was his second overtime goal in three games. The Bruins showcased resilience by rallying from a 3-1 deficit in the third period with key goals from Trent Frederic, who scored twice, and Brad Marchand, who notched a tying goal with less than six minutes left. Philly's Matvei Michkov stood out with two early goals, marking his third straight multipoint game, but the Flyers fell short after also blowing a lead in their previous game against Florida. This loss highlighted Philadelphia's current struggle with maintaining third-period leads, prompting concern from captain Sean Couturier about the team's discipline. Jeremy Swayman made a crucial overtime save to keep Boston in the game, while Travis Konecny missed the latter part of the match due to coaching decisions despite being cleared to return after a precautionary removal. Marchand’s goal placed him alongside Ray Bourque for the most tying goals in the last 10 minutes of the third period in Bruins history, underlining the game's intense and competitive nature.
Buffalo Sabres 2 - 5 Utah Hockey Club
The Utah Hockey Club defeated the Buffalo Sabres 5-2 at KeyBank Center, marking the Sabres' sixth consecutive loss. Michael Kesselring led Utah with a goal and an assist as Utah scored five unanswered goals, after Tyson Kozak initially put Buffalo ahead with his first NHL goal. Karel Vejmelka contributed 23 saves for Utah, while Nick Schmaltz, Jack McBain, and Kevin Stenlund also scored to secure the win. This victory was notable as it gave Andre Tourigny his 100th NHL coaching win and marked Utah's first win of the season when trailing after the first period. Despite their efforts, Buffalo's defensive weaknesses, highlighted by turnovers and poor execution, were pivotal in their continued slump, as admitted by their coach Lindy Ruff. The match also highlighted the historical achievement of Tyson Kozak, a seventh-round draft pick, scoring his debut NHL goal.
Chicago Blackhawks 2 - 4 Winnipeg Jets
In Anders Sorensen's NHL coaching debut, the Winnipeg Jets defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 4-2, marking Sorensen's first game as the interim coach after replacing Luke Richardson. Mark Scheifele scored the decisive goal in the third period, and the Jets, now the first team this season to reach 20 wins, also saw significant contributions from Mason Appleton with a goal and an assist, and Kyle Connor with two assists. The Blackhawks, who have now lost five consecutive games, faced setbacks as goaltender Petr Mrazek left due to a lower-body injury, and Alec Martinez exited after being hit in the face by a deflected shot. Chicago's struggles were underscored by producing a season-low 14 shots on goal. Coach Sorensen became the first Sweden-born coach in NHL history, while Josh Morrissey played his 610th game with the Jets/Atlanta Thrashers, surpassing Dustin Byfuglien in franchise defensemen appearances.
New York Islanders 4 - 3 Carolina Hurricanes
In a thrilling matchup at UBS Arena, the New York Islanders narrowly defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3, thanks to standout performances by Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Bo Horvat. Pageau contributed a goal and two assists, while Horvat ended a 13-game goal drought with a crucial tally late in the game. Ilya Sorokin's impressive 28 saves were pivotal in maintaining the Islanders' lead. Meanwhile, Andrei Svechnikov was a bright spot for the Hurricanes, scoring twice and bringing his recent points tally to six in two games, but it wasn’t enough to counter the Islanders' aggressive play. The victory marked the Islanders' first home win against the Hurricanes since 2018, breaking a seven-game losing streak in such encounters. Maxim Tsyplakov also found the back of the net for the second consecutive game, marking a personal milestone.
Florida Panthers 3 - 1 San Jose Sharks
Matthew Tkachuk continued his scoring spree, netting two goals to extend his point streak to six games, as the Florida Panthers defeated the San Jose Sharks 3-1 at Amerant Bank Arena. Tkachuk now has 15 points over this streak, with consistent multipoint performances. Florida, enjoying a six-game point streak and having dominated the Sharks with 11 consecutive wins since January 2019, controlled the game's pace with 94 shot attempts. Sergei Bobrovsky made 27 saves for the Panthers, while Mackenzie Blackwood impressed for the Sharks with 49 saves in a resilient effort despite the loss. Aleksander Barkov added to Florida's tally with a power-play goal, and Tyler Toffoli scored San Jose's sole goal. Panthers coach Paul Maurice also set a franchise record with his 111th win, commending Tkachuk's exceptional play and influence in recent games.
Montreal Canadiens 2 - 4 Washington Capitals
In a thrilling NHL matchup, Tom Wilson scored two consecutive goals in the third period, leading the Washington Capitals to a 4-2 comeback victory against the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre. Despite taking a puck to the face and briefly leaving the game, Wilson showcased resilience and determination, helping Washington secure its ninth consecutive road win, setting a franchise record. Logan Thompson contributed with 22 saves, while Dylan Strome sealed the win with a power-play goal, marking the Capitals' third third-period comeback this season. Montreal started strong, with goals from Alex Newhook and Cole Caufield, but failed to maintain their lead despite several third-period opportunities. Canadiens rookie defenseman Lane Hutson extended his point streak to six games, tying a franchise record.
Ottawa Senators 3 - 1 Nashville Predators
In a strong team effort, Linus Ullmark's 37 saves led the Ottawa Senators to a 3-1 victory over the Nashville Predators, marking Nashville's seventh consecutive loss. Jacob Bernard-Docker, Claude Giroux, and Nick Cousins scored for Ottawa, with Tim Stutzle contributing two assists, bringing the Senators' recent record to 4-1-1. Bernard-Docker and Giroux's goals in the second period set the pace, while Cousins' breakaway goal in the third sealed the win. Despite a late goal from Fedor Svechkov, the Predators extended their scoring woes with only two or fewer goals in each game of their losing streak. Nashville's goaltender Juuse Saros made 27 saves, but the Predators struggled offensively, being outscored 23-11 during their skid. The loss left Nashville seeking solutions to their goal-scoring issues, while Ullmark commented on the strong team effort from the Senators, emphasizing teamwork over individual performance.
Detroit Red Wings 1 - 2 Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche snapped their recent downturn with a 2-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings, extending their unbeaten run to 13 games against Detroit. Cale Makar broke his goal drought with a pivotal power-play goal in the second period, aided by Nathan MacKinnon and a crucial screen by Valeri Nichushkin, who also scored the game's opening goal. Goalie Alexandar Georgiev was exceptional, making 29 saves, including a stunning sequence of five stops in 11 seconds, preserving Colorado's narrow lead. The Red Wings, suffering their fifth consecutive one-goal loss, struggled to capitalize on their opportunities, with Lucas Raymond scoring their lone goal. Ville Husso, standing in for injured Detroit goalies, made 23 saves but couldn't secure a win, leaving the Red Wings in search of answers to their losing streak. Notably, forward Ross Colton returned to Colorado's lineup after a foot injury, marking his first appearance since October.
Pittsburgh Penguins 5 - 2 Toronto Maple Leafs
The Pittsburgh Penguins, led by two-point performances from Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell, triumphed over the Toronto Maple Leafs with a 5-2 victory at PPG Paints Arena. Rust and Rakell each contributed a goal and an assist, while Michael Bunting scored the go-ahead goal on a power play in the third period. Tristan Jarry's 25 saves helped secure the Penguins' fifth win in six games, following a loss to the New York Rangers. Despite a strong effort from Toronto's Mitch Marner and William Nylander, the Maple Leafs fell, marking their second straight defeat. Notably, Sidney Crosby assisted on a goal to tie Gordie Howe for the fifth-most assists for one team in NHL history. The game was highlighted by Pittsburgh scoring multiple power-play and short-handed goals, a feat they hadn't accomplished since 2006. Additionally, Penguins coach Mike Sullivan celebrated his 700th game with the team, commending the Penguins for their most complete game of the season.
Los Angeles Kings 4 - 1 Minnesota Wild
Adrian Kempe led the Los Angeles Kings to their fifth consecutive victory with a goal and an assist in a 4-1 win over the Minnesota Wild at Crypto.com Arena. The game saw Trevor Moore secure two empty-net goals for the Kings, while Darcy Kuemper made 22 saves in his first game back after injury. Minnesota's winning streak ended despite Marc-Andre Fleury's 30 saves and a goal by Yakov Trenin. Notably, Kings forward Alex Laferriere matched last season's goal total with his 12th of the year, supported by Phillip Danault's crucial plays. Anze Kopitar marked his 1,400th NHL game, becoming the 11th to achieve this for a single team, while Kirill Kaprizov's scoring streak ended as his line combined for a minus-9 rating.
Edmonton Oilers 4 - 2 St Louis Blues
The Edmonton Oilers secured a 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues at Rogers Place, with Connor McDavid leading the charge by registering a goal and an assist. Leon Draisaitl contributed with two assists, and Zach Hyman found the net for the Oilers, continuing his strong performance since his return from injury. Stuart Skinner was solid in goal with 30 saves, helping Edmonton achieve their fifth win in six games. Despite the loss, the Blues extended an impressive point streak, having gone 4-0-1 before this game. Connor McDavid capitalized early in the second period due to a fortunate bounce off a Blues' defenseman, and Zach Hyman expanded the lead with a power-play goal. Notably, Dylan Holloway scored his first goal against his former team, and Jake Neighbours added another for St. Louis. Edmonton's Troy Stecher sealed the game with his inaugural goal for the Oilers, a decisive wrist shot past Jordan Binnington.