01.01.2025
Washington Capitals 3 - 1 Boston Bruins
The Washington Capitals secured a 3-1 victory against the Boston Bruins at Capital One Arena, propelled by Aliaksei Protas' two goals. Protas, who now has 11 points in his past 12 games, tied the game in the first period and scored an empty-netter to secure the win. Jakob Chychrun added a power-play goal for the Capitals, who have now taken first place in the Eastern Conference, thanks partly to Tom Wilson's two assists. Logan Thompson made 26 crucial saves, matching a franchise record for career wins achieved in the fewest appearances. Meanwhile, Alex Ovechkin was held scoreless, keeping him 25 goals shy of Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL record. Despite a strong start from Justin Brazeau, who scored for Boston early on, the Bruins fell short after outscoring opponents 5-1-1 in their previous seven games. Capitals’ defenseman Martin Fehervary left the game after an accidental hit, while Bruins forward Brad Marchand's nine-game road point streak was snapped.
Toronto Maple Leafs 3 - 1 New York Islanders
In a closely contested match at Scotiabank Arena, Steven Lorentz ended a 23-game scoring drought by netting the decisive goal in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 3-1 victory over the New York Islanders. Lorentz's goal, aided by Ryan Reaves and marking his first since November 5, followed Jean-Gabriel Pageau's tying goal for the Islanders just moments earlier. Despite a challenging game with overturned goals due to coach's challenges, Toronto prevailed, with additional goals from David Kampf and an empty-netter by John Tavares, who extended his point streak to eight games. William Nylander contributed with two assists, reaching a personal milestone, while Joseph Woll was pivotal with 30 saves. The Islanders responded with strong efforts, highlighted by coach Patrick Roy's strategic gamble of pulling Ilya Sorokin to create a 5-on-5 scenario, but ultimately, their chances fell short, leaving them with only two wins in their last seven games.
Vegas Golden Knights 2 - 3 Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights, rallying with three consecutive goals at T-Mobile Arena. Kirby Dach scored the game-winner at 10:09 of the third period after Cole Caufield and Emil Heineman had equalized the score. This win marked Montreal's third consecutive victory and their sixth in seven games, demonstrating their resilience and ability to find various ways to win. Caufield's goal was noteworthy as it marked the 100th of his NHL career. Goalie Sam Montembeault contributed with 27 saves, crucial in halting Vegas' prior six-game winning streak. Meanwhile, Vegas struggled after relinquishing a 2-0 lead gained from goals by Zach Whitecloud and Noah Hanifin, with the team acknowledging a need to maintain their aggressive play throughout. Montreal's comeback was their first multi-goal comeback win since March 2024, adding to their momentum as the team continues to build confidence and cohesion.
Chicago Blackhawks 2 - 6 St Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues triumphed over the Chicago Blackhawks with a 6-2 victory in the NHL Winter Classic held at Wrigley Field. Cam Fowler marked his 1,000th NHL game by scoring twice, becoming the first defenseman to achieve this milestone in an outdoor game. Justin Faulk added a goal and two assists, contributing to the Blues' comprehensive win. Jordan Binnington made 28 saves, helping the Blues maintain a perfect 3-0-0 Winter Classic record, including two victories against the Blackhawks. Despite a supportive home crowd and festive atmosphere, featuring events like the Smashing Pumpkins’ performance and a stirring national anthem rendition, the Blackhawks struggled, extending their losing streak to five games and remaining winless in Winter Classic matchups. The game, marked by power-play goals and memorable performances, highlighted the Blues' dominance in outdoor settings and the significance of the Winter Classic in the NHL calendar.
Detroit Red Wings 4 - 2 Pittsburgh Penguins
In an exciting matchup at Little Caesars Arena, the Detroit Red Wings secured a 4-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins, highlighted by J.T. Compher’s decisive power-play goal in the third period. The Red Wings, under new coach Todd McLellan, improved to 2-1-0, with McLellan celebrating his 600th career NHL win. Alex Lyon was impressive in goal for Detroit, making key saves including a crucial block by Moritz Seider in the game's final minute. Drew O'Connor was the standout for Pittsburgh, scoring both goals in what was his first multi-goal game since 2021. Patrick Kane also contributed with his 125th goal featuring an assist from Alex DeBrincat. Despite an early exit in the second period, Erik Karlsson returned to the game, and Dylan Larkin sealed Detroit's win with an empty-net goal.
Columbus Blue Jackets 4 - 3 Carolina Hurricanes
In an exciting matchup at Nationwide Arena, the Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 in a shootout after a dynamic performance by Kirill Marchenko, who scored twice and set a franchise record for most December points. Sean Monahan contributed three assists, while Adam Fantilli delivered the deciding shootout goal. Elvis Merzlikins was impressive in goal, saving three out of four Carolina attempts and making a total of 33 saves. Dmitri Voronkov also shined for the Blue Jackets, scoring a power-play goal to tie the game in the third period. The Hurricanes saw goals from Ty Smith, Jack Roslovic, and Jesperi Kotkaniemi, with Sebastian Aho assisting twice, but ultimately fell short. Zach Werenski extended his home point streak to 13 games, and his 11 shots on goal set a new franchise record. Both teams showed resilience, but Columbus managed their composure to secure the victory and continue their strong December performance.
Dallas Stars 4 - 2 Buffalo Sabres
In a competitive matchup at American Airlines Center, the Dallas Stars secured a 4-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres, with Jason Robertson leading the charge with a goal and two assists. Robertson highlighted the team's persistence in sticking to their fundamentals and generating plenty of chances, as Dallas outshot Buffalo effectively. Roope Hintz, Wyatt Johnston, and Esa Lindell also contributed goals for the Stars, with Lindell sealing the win with an empty-netter. Johnston's critical third-period goal came from deflecting a shot by Thomas Harley, who offered two assists in the game. Despite their earlier three-game winning streak, the Sabres fell short, with goals from Jason Zucker and Beck Malenstyn; Buffalo goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 29 saves but acknowledged the need for better cohesion and seizing opportunities. Both teams analyzed the game's swings, with Dallas coach Pete DeBoer praising his team's patience and grinding effort.
Minnesota Wild 5 - 3 Nashville Predators
In a compelling 5-3 victory over the Nashville Predators, Marco Rossi was a standout for the Minnesota Wild, contributing two goals and an assist at the Xcel Energy Center. Mats Zuccarello and Jonas Brodin each added a goal and an assist, while goalie Filip Gustavsson made an impressive 43 saves. The Wild capitalized on Nashville's penalty issues, scoring three power-play goals, with Declan Chisholm also finding the net on one such advantage. Despite the Predators getting contributions from Brady Skjei and Jonathan Marchessault, their defensive lapses proved costly. Minnesota's win was marred by an injury to Jared Spurgeon, who left the game after a collision. This victory marked Minnesota's third win in four games, while Nashville extended their losing streak to three.
Colorado Avalanche 5 - 2 Winnipeg Jets
In an exciting match, the Colorado Avalanche secured a 5-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets, marking their fifth consecutive win, with Casey Mittelstadt scoring the pivotal goal at 7:22 in the third period, snapping his 19-game goal drought. Mikko Rantanen extended his point streak to 11 games, while Artturi Lehkonen and Devon Toews also contributed goals. Mackenzie Blackwood made 20 saves, and both Josh Manson and Jonathan Drouin provided crucial assists, with Drouin returning from a 16-game absence. Despite efforts from the Jets' Rasmus Kupari and Gabriel Vilardi, and 33 saves by Eric Comrie, Colorado's strong performance, including an empty-net goal by Ross Colton, secured the win. Notably, Nathan MacKinnon reached 143 points in the 2024 calendar year, joining an elite group of players such as Connor McDavid and Jaromir Jagr to achieve such a feat in a single calendar year.
Anaheim Ducks 3 - 2 New Jersey Devils
Ryan Strome led the Anaheim Ducks to a 3-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils with a tie-breaking slap shot goal late in the third period, complemented by his earlier assist on Troy Terry's goal. Following a two-goal surrender by the Ducks, Strome's decisive play marked his second consecutive game-winning goal within the final five minutes, a rare NHL feat. Robby Fabbri also contributed with a goal, extending Anaheim's lead before the Devils leveled the score, thanks to goals by Jonas Siegenthaler and Timo Meier. Although the Devils outshot Anaheim early and faced tough saves by goaltender Lukas Dostal, the Ducks secured their win, continuing their streak of winning each time they score three or more goals this season. Notably, the Devils faced their first consecutive regulation losses since October, with their coach Sheldon Keefe critiquing their defensive lapses.
San Jose Sharks 0 - 4 Philadelphia Flyers
Ersson, Kolosov help Flyers shut out slumping Sharks
SAN JOSE -- The Philadelphia Flyers handed the San Jose Sharks their eighth straight loss with a 4-0 win at SAP Center on Tuesday.
"Our point of emphasis is our checking," Philadelphia coach John Tortorella said. "[We're] trying to play better in front of our goalie. For the most part, we did that and found a way to score some goals."
"We didn't have anything tonight," San Jose coach Ryan Warsofsky said. "This wasn't good enough."
Nick Seeler gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead at 5:59 of the first period. He skated down from the left wing, made a move around Barclay Goodrow in the circle, and banked a shot in off Georgiev from along the goal line.
"Just a tough bounce there. I was trying to be on the post and be solid," Georgiev said. "Somehow the puck just hit me on the hand and managed to get in."
Ryan Poehling pushed the lead to 2-0 at 12:09 of the second period. He picked up the rebound of Zamula's one-timer from the left point, moved the puck to his backhand and scored past a sprawling Georgiev.
"I think it's always nice to obviously have coach trust me to play more," Poehling said. "For me, it's just always having confidence in yourself and just playing the right way. I think tonight was a good example of that." Travis Konecny made it 3-0 with a power-play goal at 13:44, scoring glove side with a one-timer from the left circle off a cross-ice pass from Owen Tippett.
Zamula extended it to 4-0 at 2:30 of the third period. He got to a loose puck in the left corner and sent a shot back toward the crease, where it deflected in off Sharks defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin.
"[My game] still feels up and down, but I feel like the last three or four games [it is] getting better," Zamula said. "[I'm starting to play] faster and feel good right now. So, the new year is coming and I hope I will play better."
NOTES: Tortorella did not have an update on Ersson postgame. ... Sharks defenseman Jake Walman missed his fourth straight game with a lower-body injury. ... Sharks forward William Eklund, who missed his third straight game, was placed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury. ... Sharks forward Carl Grundstrom did not play after sustaining an upper-body injury in a 3-1 loss to the Calgary Flames on Saturday.
Calgary Flames - - - Vancouver Canucks
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Edmonton Oilers 4 - 1 Utah Hockey Club
The Edmonton Oilers defeated the Utah Hockey Club 4-1, ending a two-game winless streak, with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl each extending their point streaks to 12 games. McDavid's performance was particularly notable as his two assists propelled him to third place on the Oilers' all-time scoring list with 1,036 points, surpassing Mark Messier's 1,034. Mattias Ekholm contributed with a goal and an assist, while Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Troy Stecher, and Draisaitl also scored. Stuart Skinner made 26 saves for the Oilers. Despite Jack McBain's equalizer and Jaxson Stauber's 34 saves, Utah suffered its fifth consecutive loss. The game featured quick goals by Edmonton, including a tic-tac-toe play by Nugent-Hopkins and a deflection by Stecher, before Draisaitl sealed the victory with an empty-net goal, marking his league-leading 26th of the season.