24.12.2024
New Jersey Devils 5 - 0 New York Rangers
Jack Hughes, Markstrom help Devils shut out Rangers
NEWARK, N.J. --
"Winning cures everything and, every year, we've had a great group in the locker room," Hughes said. "Last year, we had fun but weren't winning. This year we're winning and that makes it more enjoyable. We go to work when it's time to go to work."
"It's good ... we're having fun and we're playing hard," Markstrom said. "You know, it's so much easier to work harder and do stuff in practice, and in the gym, if you're winning hockey games and that's what we're doing right now."
Jack Hughes has 26 points (15 goals, 11 assists) in 22 games against the Rangers, the most among all skaters since he entered the NHL in 2019-20.
"I've had a couple good games against these guys, but it's a great rivalry and whether we're here or at Madison Square Garden, we always get up for these games," Hughes said. "Heading into Christmas break, we wanted to make a statement and have a great game. They came out and wanted to start fast and we matched that energy early."
"I thought in the second period, from a 5-on-5 standpoint, we held them in check but didn't generate enough ourselves," Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said. "So, defensively, the last couple games, it's tightened up from a 5-on-5 standpoint, but we're not getting enough looks at what we need in order to be successful offensively."
"It was just a lineup decision ... we needed more," Laviolette said.
The Devils went 3-for-4 on the power play. The Rangers were 0-for-4 with three shots on goal with the man-advantage.
Hughes gave the Devils a 1-0 lead at 4:29 of the first period on a wrist shot from the left face-off circle. Meier pushed it to 2-0 with a power-play goal at 4:41 of the second. He scored on a snap shot from the right circle after getting a backhand pass from Dawson Mercer from the opposite side.
Hughes made it 3-0 at 11:13 of the second with another power-play goal. After taking a pass from
"We wanted to get to our game and try to roll them over," Jack Hughes said. "We got the first one but we're just trying to play the same way. Some teams, when they get up a little bit, they park it a bit, but we stay aggressive and keep skating and keep packing it on."
Mercer scored a power-play goal at 12:35 of the third on a waist high deflection from the slot for the 5-0 final."I feel like we have extra weight on us, and everyone is trying too hard," Rangers forward
NOTES: Markstrom had his second straight shutout (12 saves in a 3-0 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday), the second time he has done so in his NHL career. He is the second Devils goalie with consecutive shutouts in his first season with the team, following
Toronto Maple Leafs 2 - 5 Winnipeg Jets
Mark Scheifele's hat trick and four-point performance led the Winnipeg Jets to a 5-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, breaking a six-game losing streak against them. Kyle Connor contributed significantly with two goals and two assists, while goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made 23 crucial saves for the Jets, who are now 5-1-1 in their last seven games. Despite being without their captain Auston Matthews due to injury, John Tavares managed to score twice for the Maple Leafs, marking his 200th goal with the team, a feat accomplished by only five players in NHL history with two different teams. The game highlighted the effectiveness of the Jets' first line, with Scheifele, Connor, and Gabriel Vilardi combining for 11 points in total, making Winnipeg the first NHL team this season to have two players with 20 goals each. Defenseman Haydn Fleury left the game with an injury, and the Leafs were also missing defenseman Chris Tanev due to a lower-body problem.
Boston Bruins 4 - 1 Washington Capitals
Elias Lindholm scored a crucial go-ahead goal in the third period, helping the Boston Bruins secure a 4-1 victory over the Washington Capitals at TD Garden. Brad Marchand played a pivotal role with a goal and two assists, extending his impressive point streak to 10 games, making him the oldest player in Bruins history to achieve such a streak. Charlie Coyle also contributed a goal and an assist, while Jeremy Swayman made 10 saves for the Bruins, who improved their record to 4-0-1 in their last five games. Despite a power-play goal from Jakub Vrana, the Capitals struggled offensively, managing only 11 shots on goal, the fewest they've been limited to by Boston since 1993. The game was notable for a controversial hit by Oliver Wahlstrom that led to a game misconduct. Despite not having a perfect game, the Bruins demonstrated resilience, particularly in a third period where they have struggled historically, to clinch the win against a strong Capitals team.
Detroit Red Wings 0 - 4 St Louis Blues
Holloway scores 1st NHL hat trick, Blues shut out Red Wings
DETROIT --
“I thought we were very strong defensively from start to finish, and we had a lot of chances offensively,” Binnington said. “It was a very complete game and it showed our commitment to playing for each other.”
“That was 60 minutes with high compete and playing the right way,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. “I think we were connected in all three zones and we played really fast tonight.”
“We had some push at times, but we just can’t get any rhythm,” Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said. “We would get a good shift from one line and then we would lose the next shift. We have to start piling onto the good shifts.”
The Red Wings have been outscored 13-4 during the three-game losing streak.
“We’re just not getting anything going,” Detroit captain
“I didn’t see anyone at the net, but I thought I could slide it over to Holly,” said Blues defenseman
Texier, newly promoted to the first line, made it 2-0 just 18 seconds into the second period after beating Talbot with a wrist shot from the right face-off dot.
“He has really blossomed here,” Montgomery said. “His confidence is high and I think he’s playing more direct and more north-south.”
Holloway scored his second goal of the game at 7:45 to extend it to 3-0, one-timing
Holloway completed the hat trick at 15:54 of the third period with an empty-net goal for the 4-0 final.
Detroit’s top defenseman,
“Obviously, when any team loses its top two left-shot defensemen, it is going to look like that,” Lalonde said. “I thought our defensemen elevated -- our young guys who aren’t even everyday NHL players -- and we held that team to 21 shots.”
NOTES: Holloway’s hat trick was the first by a Blues skater this season. … Binnington surpassed
Florida Panthers 0 - 4 Tampa Bay Lightning
Johansson makes 36 saves, Lightning shut out Panthers
SUNRISE, Fla. --
“I feel confident, comfortable, and the team has been really solid in front of me which makes my life a whole lot easier,” Johansson said. “It was a really good team effort.”
“These are two teams who have battled it out, and when you include playoffs, regular season, and preseason, we have probably played this team more than double of any other,” Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said.
“These are two cross-state rivals, the last five Stanley Cups have had these two teams in them. Anytime you get together, it is pretty entertaining. This was another one tonight. They are always different, but the teams compete really hard.’’
Florida had not lost a regulation game at home since Nov. 25 against the Washington Capitals.
“I think the offensive part of our game was there … their guy made some saves, we missed some nets,” Florida coach Paul Maurice said. “I don’t think we had a whole lot in the tank, but they did not lay over in that game. There was a pretty good spark there. We’ll leave it where it is. The four days [off] will be great for this team. It was our third home game this month. We’ve done a little traveling here, and I think it showed.’’
Kucherov gave the Lightning a 1-0 lead when he beat Bobrovsky glove-high with a backhand shot at 6:56 of the first period. Guentzel made it 2-0 at 9:20, one-timing a drop pass from Hagel from the high slot.
Chaffee scored on the power play when he pulled a rebound from his skate off a point shot from Cirelli at 16:24 for a 3-0 Lightning lead.
Hagel scored into an empty net to make it 4-0 with 5:42 remaining in the third period, Florida pulling Bobrovsky on a power-play chance.
“We just stuck to our game. [Sunday], our 5-on-5 was not the problem, but we had a few hiccups on the power play and, when you play this many games, it happens,” Hagel said. “We knew we did the right things and came here knowing we just needed to improve on some things.” The Panthers got a scare late in the first period when Matthew Tkachuk left under the help of defenseman Nate Schmidt and a team athletic trainer after colliding with Kucherov at full speed.
Kucherov was given a five-minute major for kneeing and a game misconduct.
Tkachuk returned to a loud ovation at 2:19 of the second period.
“That is who he is. He is incredible and is not going down easily,” Florida captain Aleksander Barkov said of Tkachuk. “You can count on that he is going to come back, no matter what. He is a true warrior. He battles through a lot of things.”
NOTE: Kucherov hit the 50-point mark with his first-period goal, matching his own franchise mark for fewest games to hit 50 points in a season (also 30 games, last season).
Pittsburgh Penguins 7 - 3 Philadelphia Flyers
In a high-scoring clash, the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 7-3, with Sidney Crosby tying Mario Lemieux's franchise record of 1,033 career assists in the NHL. Crosby, also the game’s standout with a goal and three assists, played his 1,308th game, compared to Lemieux's 915. Penguins' contributors included Rickard Rakell with a goal and two assists, Michael Bunting scoring twice, and Bryan Rust adding a goal and an assist. The Flyers saw goals from Sean Couturier, Noah Cates, and Egor Zamula, with Samuel Ersson being replaced after the Penguins’ relentless attack in the first two periods. Notable performances also came from Evgeni Malkin, who joined Lemieux and Crosby as only the third Penguins player with 500 power-play points, and Tristan Jarry, who made 24 saves. Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan cited the importance of attitude and effort in overcoming challenges, while Philadelphia coach John Tortorella remained focused on improvement. Each team will resume play after the holiday break, looking to build on different aspects of their gameplay.
Columbus Blue Jackets 5 - 4 Montreal Canadiens
In an exciting game, Kirill Marchenko scored a decisive late-third period goal to help the Columbus Blue Jackets secure a 5-4 victory over the Montreal Canadiens, marking his 13th goal and third point of the night. Marchenko was pivotal alongside linemates Dmitri Voronkov, who scored twice, and Sean Monahan, with each tallying multiple points. Despite the Canadiens' rally, including a two-point performance from both David Savard and Jake Evans, their three-game win streak was halted. Notably, Patrik Laine exited after the first period following big hits in his first game back in Columbus since being traded. The match also saw Denton Mateychuk make his NHL debut for the Blue Jackets. Marchenko extended his career-best six-game point streak, while Zach Werenski set a franchise record with points in 11 straight home games.
New York Islanders 1 - 7 Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres ended a 13-game losing streak with a dominant 7-1 victory over the New York Islanders at UBS Arena, as Jiri Kulich led the charge with two goals and an assist, marking his first multi-point NHL game. The Sabres' offensive onslaught included goals from Beck Malenstyn, Jason Zucker, Zach Benson, Jack Quinn, and Tage Thompson, with Rasmus Dahlin contributing four assists. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 27 saves, allowing only one goal from Kyle Palmieri, who ended his three-game goalless streak for the Islanders. Notably, Islanders' goaltender Ilya Sorokin was penalized for the first time in his NHL career, and coach Patrick Roy's attempt to pull the goalie early in the third proved ineffective. Despite some noteworthy saves, the Islanders struggled defensively, continuing their challenge with power-play goals allowed on home ice, resulting in their first seven-goal concession since late 2023.
Nashville Predators 5 - 2 Carolina Hurricanes
In a decisive 5-2 win at Bridgestone Arena, the Nashville Predators triumphed over the Carolina Hurricanes with standout performances by Jonathan Marchessault and Filip Forsberg. Marchessault extended both his goal streak to four games and point streak to seven games by contributing two goals and an assist. Forsberg, adding to the team's offensive strength, notched three assists, aiding in goals by Steven Stamkos, Ryan O'Reilly, and Mark Jankowski. Juuse Saros bolstered the Predators’ efforts with 25 saves, helping secure Nashville's fourth win in six games. For the Hurricanes, Jordan Staal and Sebastian Aho managed to score, although a sluggish start put them at a disadvantage. Despite a spirited third period, Carolina fell short, with Coach Rod Brind’Amour expressing disappointment in their inability to find their rhythm earlier. The match also marked the Nashville debut of Justin Barron and was marred by a facial injury to Michael McCarron after being hit by a puck.
Minnesota Wild 4 - 3 Chicago Blackhawks
In a thrilling game at the Xcel Energy Center, the Minnesota Wild snapped a four-game losing streak with a narrow 4-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Brock Faber's crucial go-ahead goal early in the third period gave Minnesota a 3-2 lead, cementing his impact after a previously disallowed goal due to goaltender interference. Kirill Kaprizov and Jared Spurgeon also contributed goals for the Wild, with Filip Gustavsson making a triumphant return from injury by stopping 28 shots. Notably, Kaprizov set a new franchise record by reaching 50 points in just 34 games, surpassing his own previous record. Meanwhile, Connor Bedard maintained an impressive rookie year for the Blackhawks, matching Patrick Kane's mark for the third-most points by a teenager in a calendar year, with support from Nick Foligno's scoring effort. Despite a late push from Chicago, which brought the game within one with 33 seconds left, Minnesota held on to the victory thanks to Marcus Foligno's empty-net tally.
Vancouver Canucks 4 - 3 San Jose Sharks
The Vancouver Canucks continued their impressive form with a 7-4 victory over the San Jose Sharks, extending their point streak to nine games. Key performances from Andrei Kuzmenko, who scored twice on his return to the lineup, and Quinn Hughes, who contributed a goal and an assist, helped the Canucks maintain their lead in the NHL standings with 49 points. Thatcher Demko also made 21 saves for the Canucks, who have won seven out of their last nine games. Despite efforts from San Jose's Mario Ferraro, who registered three assists, and Mackenzie Blackwood, who made 19 saves, the Sharks suffered their fifth consecutive loss. Notably, Hughes' performance tied Alexander Edler for the most multi-point games by a defenseman in Canucks' history, while the third line of Teddy Blueger, Dakota Joshua, and Conor Garland has been prolific, amassing 28 points in their last 10 games. The Canucks welcomed a holiday break with optimism, as highlighted by Joshua, who emphasized the team's focus on maintaining their momentum after the break.
Utah Hockey Club 2 - 3 Dallas Stars
In a closely contested hockey game, Roope Hintz notched his team-leading 15th goal of the season to help the Dallas Stars edge past the Utah Hockey Club with a 3-2 victory at Delta Center. Alongside Hintz, Jamie Benn and Colin Blackwell contributed goals for the Stars, who improved their season record to 20-13-0 and claimed their third win in five games. Casey DeSmith's solid performance in goal, with 23 saves, was instrumental in their victory. On the opposing side, Barrett Hayton scored in his second consecutive game, and Karel Vejmelka defended admirably with 27 saves for Utah, which saw its impressive nine-game unbeaten streak in regulation come to an end. Noteworthy moments included Blackwell's opening goal on a 2-on-1 break, Kevin Stenlund's equalizer with a skillful tip-in, and Hayton's effort that narrowed the scoreline late in the game.
Vegas Golden Knights 3 - 1 Anaheim Ducks
In a compelling matchup at T-Mobile Arena, the Vegas Golden Knights triumphed over the Anaheim Ducks with a 3-1 victory. Tomas Hertl was instrumental for Vegas, scoring the decisive goal at 9:36 of the third period, assisted by Jack Eichel, and adding an assist to his tally. Keegan Kolesar also contributed a goal and an assist, while goaltender Adin Hill impressed with 31 saves, helping the Knights clinch their fourth consecutive win and eighth in nine games. Despite Mason McTavish's equalizing goal for the Ducks early in the third period, Anaheim couldn't overcome the loss of goalie John Gibson, who exited in the first period after an eye injury, requiring Lukas Dostal to step in and make 19 saves. Tanner Pearson opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal off a McTavish turnover, and Kolesar ensured victory with a goal from a William Karlsson assist. The game also saw Anaheim's Brock McGinn leave the ice late in the first period.