07.01.2025
Buffalo Sabres 4 - 3 Washington Capitals
In a thrilling matchup, the Buffalo Sabres ended a three-game skid by defeating the Washington Capitals 4-3 in a shootout. Alex Tuch was instrumental, scoring twice for Buffalo, while JJ Peterka, who tallied two assists, netted the decisive shootout goal. Washington's Tom Wilson matched Tuch with two goals, extending his streak to three games. Notably, John Carlson of the Capitals achieved a milestone, registering his 700th NHL career point as the seventh U.S.-born defenseman to do so. A key highlight was Tage Thompson's power-play goal, blasting in the season's fastest goal at 103.7 mph. Despite the Capitals' late rally, Buffalo's goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen's 25 saves helped secure the win. In other updates, Jiri Kulich left with an injury for Buffalo, and Aliaksei Protas netted his 17th even-strength goal of the season.
Montreal Canadiens 5 - 4 Vancouver Canucks
Nick Suzuki's power-play goal 48 seconds into overtime lifted the Montreal Canadiens to a thrilling 5-4 victory over the Vancouver Canucks at Bell Centre. Suzuki, who contributed two assists, scored with a deft wrist shot following a Nils Hoglander penalty. Lane Hutson also shone for Montreal with a goal and two assists, underscoring his remarkable rookie season as he reached 30 points quicker than any Canadiens defenseman before. Cole Caufield kept his scoring streak alive, with goals in four consecutive games, while Montreal came from behind twice to secure the win, exemplifying their resilience and improvement. For the Canucks, J.T. Miller’s two goals and two assists weren't enough despite an initial 3-1 lead. Quinn Hughes, in his 400th game, returned with two assists after missing four games due to injury. The Canucks' rapid succession of two goals in 20 seconds marked their quickest goal burst since October 2022.
Colorado Avalanche 3 - 1 Florida Panthers
Sam Reinhart's hat trick propelled the Florida Panthers to an 8-4 victory over the Colorado Avalanche, marking their seventh consecutive win. Reinhart's standout performance also extended his personal streak to 11 points in seven games, contributing significantly to Florida's dominant scoring run of 31-14 across the streak. Alongside Reinhart, Matthew Tkachuk delivered a goal and three assists, while Aleksander Barkov offered four assists in his 700th NHL game. Notably, Carter Verhaeghe also shone with two goals and an assist, extending his goal streak to five games. Despite the Avalanche's attempt to rally from an initial 3-0 deficit with early second-period heroics, the Panthers maintained composure, regaining and holding their lead with goals from Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Kevin Stenlund, ultimately sealing the game with two empty-netters. Colorado's Cale Makar and Valeri Nichushkin contributed with a goal and an assist each, while Jonathan Drouin's third-period goal highlighted his ongoing scoring streak. The game also saw the Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin join his teammates as one of three players with 20 goals this season, matching a record set by the 1995-96 Penguins and Flyers.
Seattle Kraken 2 - 3 New Jersey Devils
In a tense match at Climate Pledge Arena, Jacob Markstrom's critical 21 saves propelled the New Jersey Devils to a 3-2 victory over the Seattle Kraken, halting their own four-game losing streak and ending a five-game road slump. Particularly crucial were Markstrom's acrobatic third-period saves against Eeli Tolvanen and Matty Beniers, which cemented the win. Dawson Mercer contributed significantly with a goal and an assist, while Paul Cotter and Ondrej Palat added to the Devils' scoring. After Adam Larsson's equalizer for the Kraken and Shane Wright's power-play goal tied the game early in the third, Palat swiftly responded with a decisive goal just 37 seconds later, ensuring the Devils' narrow victory. Despite Philipp Grubauer's 26 saves and goals from Larsson and Wright, the Kraken couldn't overcome their current winless streak.