28.02.2025
Boston Bruins 1 - 2 New York Islanders
In a notable matchup, the New York Islanders ended their season-long four-game losing streak with a 2-1 victory over the Boston Bruins at TD Garden, thanks in large part to Ilya Sorokin's impressive 38 saves. Islander goals came from Alexander Romanov and Kyle Palmieri, with Palmieri capitalizing on a rebound off a quirky Tony DeAngelo play. Bruins' David Pastrnak extended his career-high point streak to 16 games by scoring Boston's lone goal and reached a milestone with his 800th NHL point, becoming the third-fastest player in Bruins history to achieve this. The game marked a rare regulation win for the Islanders at TD Garden, not achieved since 2017, while the Bruins faced their fifth consecutive game without a victory. Additionally, the game was marred by a concerning incident where Boston's Matt Poitras crashed into an open bench door, leaving his condition uncertain. Bruins captain Brad Marchand emphasized Pastrnak's elite form, suggesting he should be high on MVP lists, despite the team's current struggles.
Montreal Canadiens 4 - 3 San Jose Sharks
In an exciting game at the Bell Centre, Cole Caufield scored an impressive overtime goal at 3:21 to secure a 4-3 victory for the Montreal Canadiens against the San Jose Sharks. Caufield's skillful play involved maneuvering the puck between his legs to bypass Macklin Celebrini before scoring over goaltender Alexandar Georgiev. Nick Suzuki was a standout for the Canadiens with two goals and an assist, helping Montreal to win their third consecutive game since the 4 Nations Face-Off break. San Jose's Will Smith contributed a goal and an assist, but the team continues its struggles with a seventh straight loss, and just one win in their past 14 games. The game also saw notable achievements, including Montreal's Lane Hutson reaching 40 assists as the sixth-fastest rookie defenseman in NHL history, and Caufield tying Johnny Gagnon for the fourth-most overtime goals in Canadiens' history.
Detroit Red Wings 2 - 5 Columbus Blue Jackets
In a thrilling game at Little Caesars Arena, the Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Detroit Red Wings 5-2, largely thanks to a four-goal surge in the second period, which included two goals from James van Riemsdyk. Boone Jenner, recently back from a shoulder injury, assisted on three of those goals, showcasing his significant impact on the team's performance. Despite starting strong with an early goal from Alex DeBrincat, the Red Wings couldn't maintain their lead, as standout performances from Sean Kuraly and Kent Johnson, who had a goal and an assist, propelled the Blue Jackets to victory. With Columbus coach Dean Evason's strategic line adjustments, which included placing van Riemsdyk alongside Jenner and Johnson, the team maintained dominance, overshadowing Detroit's goalie Cam Talbot's efforts. The teams are poised for a rematch at the 2025 NHL Stadium Series, each currently holding a wild card spot in the standings with 66 points, underscoring the importance of their upcoming outdoor clash.
Tampa Bay Lightning 3 - 0 Calgary Flames
Vasilevskiy makes 27 saves, Lightning shut out Flames for 7th straight win
TAMPA --
"We probably weren't as good as we were against Edmonton," Hedman said. "'Vasy' made some big saves for us. He is one of the best to ever do it. We see him day in and day out, the way he prepares, the way he practices... great guy, great goaltender."
"Honestly, I thought we played a great game. We got a tough bounce on the kill in the first, gives them a little life, one or two breakdowns, they make us pay," Calgary forward
Kucherov gave Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead at 19:15 in the first period. With the Lightning on the power play, Kucherov was controlling the puck at the half wall and placed a centering pass intended for
"Tough bounce on that PK, you hate to use that one as an excuse," Weegar said. "But we’ve got to find ways to score goals, especially on this road trip. I thought the response throughout the game was great. We need a big response against Florida."
"Amazing play by 'Hags,' he got the puck off the boards and found me in the middle of the ice," Cernak said. "It was pretty easy for me to score and I'm glad it went in. I saw he was moving to my right, so the left side was open."
Hagel added an empty-net goal at 17:10 for the 3-0 final. He has 13 points (seven goals, six assists) during a seven-game point streak.
"I think we were a game below .500 in January and I really liked the way we were playing," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. "We were defending, we were playing well, we just couldn't put the puck in the net. But I thought if we just kept that up it had to break at some point and in February it has. The pucks are going in for us and we're still defending hence we've strung a few wins together."
Said Flames coach Ryan Huska: "When you don’t score goals, someone’s got to step up and generate. [Forward
NOTES: Coleman played in his 600th NHL game. He had four shot attempts (one on goal) and three blocked shots in 17:12. Coleman won two Stanley Cups with the Lightning in 2020 and 2021. ... Kucherov has 13 points (four goals, nine assists) during a nine-game point streak. ...Vasilevskiy posted his 38th career shutout. ... Huberdeau had five shots on goal, but could not extend his six-game point streak.
Florida Panthers 4 - 3 Edmonton Oilers
In a thrilling rematch of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, the Florida Panthers edged the Edmonton Oilers 4-3, with Anton Lundell shining with a goal and two assists at Amerant Bank Arena. Despite a close contest, the Panthers pulled ahead with two third-period goals, securing their second win against the Oilers this season and their seventh victory in their last nine games. Lundell's performance marked his first multipoint game since December, while Leon Draisaitl extended his impressive goal streak to seven games, tying a career high. Panthers Coach Paul Maurice expressed mixed feelings about the team's play, despite the win. Meanwhile, Oilers Coach Kris Knoblauch emphasized the need for complete team effort to overcome their current losing streak.
Pittsburgh Penguins 5 - 4 Philadelphia Flyers
Evgeni Malkin led the Pittsburgh Penguins to a thrilling 5-4 overtime victory against the Philadelphia Flyers with a four-point performance, including the decisive goal 1:03 into OT. The Penguins, who overcame a 3-0 deficit, saw standout performances from Malkin and Erik Karlsson, each contributing two goals and crucial assists. For the Flyers, Matvei Michkov shined with two goals and an assist, tying records for Flyers rookies with his third three-point game of the season. Despite the Penguins' goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic being pulled early after allowing three goals, Joel Blomqvist's commendable performance in relief with 21 saves helped shift the momentum. The game also highlighted Malkin and Sidney Crosby making NHL history as the first duo to achieve 400 wins in games where both scored points.
Washington Capitals 2 - 5 St Louis Blues
Philip Broberg's two goals led the St. Louis Blues to a 5-2 victory over the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena, marking their fourth win in their last five games. The Blues, who have won three consecutive games for the first time this season, saw Dylan Holloway and Colton Parayko score 35 seconds apart in the second period, with Jake Neighbours adding a goal and an assist. Pavel Buchnevich and Brayden Schenn each contributed two assists, and Joel Hofer made 16 saves. Meanwhile, the Capitals faced their first consecutive regulation losses since mid-December, despite goals from Connor McMichael and Pierre-Luc Dubois. Notably, Alex Ovechkin remains 12 goals short of Wayne Gretzky's all-time scoring record with 23 games left in the regular season. The game highlighted Broberg's recent surge with five points in his past five games, showcasing his elite skating, as noted by teammate Holloway. Additionally, Blues coach Jim Montgomery expressed satisfaction with the team's control during their recent wins. Schenn marked his 1,000th NHL game, and Robert Thomas extended his point streak to nine games.
Carolina Hurricanes 5 - 2 Buffalo Sabres
In a commanding 5-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres, Mikko Rantanen shone with a goal and an assist, marking his first multipoint performance in his short tenure with the Carolina Hurricanes since being traded from the Colorado Avalanche. The Hurricanes, who had lost their previous two games, surged ahead early with three first-period goals, including Rantanen's power-play goal, showcasing improved special teams play after going 3-for-53 in their prior 21 games. Notably, Taylor Hall, newly acquired alongside Rantanen, scored his first goal for the Hurricanes, extending the lead after a nifty setup by Jack Roslovic. The Sabres, who had recently been on a hot streak, struggled to compete and were ultimately outplayed, as noted by their coach Lindy Ruff. Carolina's defensive effort, hailed by coach Rod Brind’Amour, proved vital in maintaining their lead, while Jordan Staal, Sebastian Aho, and Seth Jarvis also contributed to the scoreline. Meanwhile, Pyotr Kochetkov made 13 saves as the Hurricanes extended their dominant record against Buffalo, particularly on home ice. Taylor Hall's goal marked a significant milestone as he became a goal-scorer for seven NHL teams, a testament to his extensive career in the league.
Nashville Predators 2 - 1 Winnipeg Jets
The Nashville Predators ended the Winnipeg Jets' franchise-record 11-game winning streak with a 2-1 victory at Bridgestone Arena. Juuse Saros was pivotal for Nashville, stopping 23 shots, while Filip Forsberg and Tommy Novak provided the scoring for the Predators, who snapped a two-game losing streak. Despite a strong performance from Eric Comrie, who made 28 saves for Winnipeg, the Jets couldn’t capitalize on a crucial 5-on-3 power play in the second period. Neal Pionk scored for Winnipeg off a pass from Rasmus Kupari, leveling the score temporarily. However, Novak's power-play goal put the Predators ahead for good. This win represented the longest winning streak ever halted by the Predators, surpassing their 2005-06 halt of Detroit’s eight-game streak. Notably, Predators forward Steven Stamkos has endured an 11-game point drought, and Predators defenseman Roman Josi was sidelined due to an upper-body injury.
Utah Hockey Club 6 - 1 Minnesota Wild
In a dominating performance, the Utah Hockey Club secured a 6-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild, largely thanks to Clayton Keller's career-high five-point game, featuring one goal and four assists. Utah extended their home winning streak to four games and claimed victory in six of their last eight games. Nick Schmaltz added one goal and two assists, while goaltender Karel Vejmelka made 16 saves. Barrett Hayton and Dylan Guenther contributed with power-play goals, while Sean Durzi and Logan Cooley also found the net. Frederick Gaudreau scored the lone goal for the Wild, who have struggled recently with losses in four of their last seven games. Marc-Andre Fleury managed 25 saves as the Wild missed out on a comeback opportunity, unable to overcome the early offensive burst from Utah.
Vegas Golden Knights 7 - 5 Chicago Blackhawks
In a high-scoring showdown at T-Mobile Arena, the Vegas Golden Knights secured a 7-5 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks, largely thanks to an explosive first period where they netted five goals. Key performances for the Golden Knights came from Ivan Barbashev, who tallied two goals and two assists, and Keegan Kolesar, who also scored twice, while Brett Howden contributed three assists. Despite Connor Murphy providing three assists for the Blackhawks, they couldn't overcome a tough start and suffered their fifth consecutive loss. Chicago's Petr Mrazek was replaced by Arvid Soderblom after allowing five goals on 15 shots, with Soderblom making 16 saves in relief. The Blackhawks launched a spirited comeback attempt, with Colton Dach, Ethan Del Mastro, Ilya Mikheyev, and Phillipp Kurashev all finding the net, but Barbashev's second goal secured the win for Vegas.
Anaheim Ducks 5 - 2 Vancouver Canucks
In an exciting matchup at the Honda Center, Ryan Strome and Troy Terry each tallied a goal and two assists, leading the Anaheim Ducks to a 5-2 comeback victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Anaheim's rally was highlighted by three goals in the second period, overturning a 2-0 deficit. Frank Vatrano initiated the comeback with his team-leading 18th goal of the season, followed by Cutter Gauthier's equalizer, both exploiting the same spot over Canucks' goalie Arturs Silovs' glove. Strome secured the lead with a wrist shot, while Jackson LaCombe extended it during a 4-on-4 play in the third period. Terry's empty-net goal sealed the win. Despite Tyler Myers' one-goal, one-assist performance, and Pius Suter's goal for Vancouver, the efforts fell short. Anaheim's goalie Lukas Dostal made 22 saves, while the Canucks' record now stands at 27-21-11 following their recent overtime victory against the Los Angeles Kings.