02.03.2025
Columbus Blue Jackets 5 - 3 Detroit Red Wings
In a thrilling NHL Stadium Series game held at Ohio Stadium, the Columbus Blue Jackets overcame the Detroit Red Wings with a 5-3 victory, thanks to Justin Danforth's decisive late goal at 17:43 of the third period and Elvis Merzlikins' 43 saves. The event marked Columbus's first NHL outdoor game and drew a massive crowd of 94,751, the second-largest for an NHL game. The atmosphere was electric with Ohio State football traditions, a touching tribute to the late Johnny Gaudreau, and Merzlikins honoring his late teammate Matiss Kivlenieks by wearing a helmet dedicated to both men. The game saw notable performances from Alex DeBrincat, who scored twice for the Red Wings, and rookie defenseman Denton Mateychuk, who scored the first outdoor goal for the Blue Jackets. Columbus's win placed them ahead of the Red Wings for the first wild card spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Unique achievements included Erik Gustafsson playing in outdoor games for five different NHL teams and Cam Talbot dressing for six.
New York Islanders 7 - 4 Nashville Predators
In a captivating NHL game, New York Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin was credited with a rare goalie goal during a 7-4 victory against the Nashville Predators at UBS Arena. This marked only the 20th goalie goal in NHL history, as Predators forward Steven Stamkos inadvertently passed the puck into his own empty net, with Sorokin being the last Islanders player to touch it. Sorokin also made 24 saves, helping his team secure their second consecutive win. Brock Nelson starred for the Islanders with two goals and an assist, while Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Kyle Palmieri, Bo Horvat, and Casey Cizikas also contributed goals. For Nashville, Colton Sissons had a goal and two assists, Cole Smith scored twice, and Marc Del Gaizo notched his first NHL goal. Despite the loss, Predators coach Andrew Brunette acknowledged the team's second and third period efforts. Notably, this game followed a trade involving Gustav Nyquist, aligning with Nashville's strategic adjustments amidst an ongoing challenging season.
Washington Capitals 1 - 3 Tampa Bay Lightning
In a game where Alex Ovechkin scored his 884th career NHL goal, closing in on Wayne Gretzky's all-time record, the Washington Capitals fell 3-1 to the Tampa Bay Lightning, marking the Lightning's eighth consecutive win. Ovechkin's goal came late in the third period, narrowing the gap to 2-1, but an empty-net goal by Brandon Hagel sealed the victory for Tampa. Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy came close to another shutout, showcasing a strong performance with 20 saves and extending his impressive streak to 9-0-1 in his last 10 starts. Mitchell Chaffee and Gage Goncalves also scored for the Lightning, who became the third team this season to win at least eight games in a row. Despite the loss, Washington coach Spencer Carbery expressed confidence in the team's potential for improvement, while Capitals center Nic Dowd recorded a notable face-off win percentage of 83.3%.
Florida Panthers 3 - 0 Calgary Flames
Bobrovsky, Panthers shut out Flames for 8th victory in 10 games
SUNRISE, Fla. --
Bobrovsky got his 14th shutout with the Panthers, passing
“I thought the whole team performance was terrific,” Bobrovsky said. “In that second period, if it was not for their goalie, we could have scored five or six goals. It was [an] incredible performance by our guys. Fun game.”
Through two periods, the Panthers had a 35-12 advantage in shots and a 66-23 edge in shot attempts before the Flames outshot them 11-7 in the third.
“The thing we need to take from this is that we had a pretty good push back,” Vladar said. “I am very proud of this group. A couple guys said this in the room afterward, that if we play like we did in the third, we will put ourself in a pretty good position. That was our hockey, for sure.”
Calgary was shut out for the second straight game, having lost 3-0 at the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday.
“We didn’t play very well today,” Flames coach Ryan Huska said. “I thought [Vladar] was unreal. If he wasn’t on the way he was, that game gets away even more so than it did today. I thought we were a slow team and didn’t look prepared to play.”
Calgary challenged for goaltender interference on Gadjovich, but the call on the ice stood.
“We played a full 60 there. Everyone played as hard as they could,” Gadjovich said. “We did what we wanted to do, executed, and stuck with the game plan.” Rodrigues made it 2-0 at 19:24. He threw the puck to the crease in what appeared to an intended pass for Bennett, who was charging toward the left post, and it deflected in off Vladar’s stick.
“I thought we played a playoff-type of game,” Rodrigues said. “We didn’t give them very much, especially in the first two [periods], stayed patient and when we got chances off their turnovers, we capitalized on them.”
“You know what? That was a good game,” Florida coach Paul Maurice said. “We played well pretty much straight through. They played hard, battled on pucks. They’re in a playoff fight, and played well. This was a good game to be good in, and we needed to be.”
NOTES: The Panthers honored Flames forward
Pittsburgh Penguins 2 - 3 Boston Bruins
David Pastrnak extended his career-high point streak to 17 games, contributing a goal and an assist in the Boston Bruins' 3-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. During this streak, Pastrnak has amassed 33 points with 15 goals and 18 assists, matching Ray Bourque's 17-game streak for the eighth longest in Bruins history, while also surpassing the previous record for a Czechia-born player. Despite losing Brad Marchand to an early injury, the Bruins ended a five-game winless streak with Pavel Zacha assisting and Mason Lohrei and Charlie Coyle scoring key goals. The Penguins struggled with early defensive issues, surrendering a goal on the first shot for the 13th time this season and were unable to capitalize on the power play, going 1-for-7. Sidney Crosby notched an assist, tying Adam Oates for eighth in all-time home assists. Despite a spirited rally led by Anthony Beauvillier and Rickard Rakell, the Penguins couldn't overcome their early deficits.
Buffalo Sabres 2 - 4 Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens secured a 4-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center, marking their longest winning streak of the season with four consecutive wins. Cole Caufield, Josh Anderson, Alex Newhook, and Jake Evans scored for Montreal, and Jakub Dobes made 23 saves. Buffalo's Alex Tuch and Jiri Kulich contributed goals in a game where Montreal's defensive strategy was pivotal, blocking around 25 to 30 shots, according to Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff. Newhook's 4-on-4 late second-period goal, assisted by Mike Matheson, was a turning point, securing the lead for Montreal. Lane Hutson made history for the Canadiens with two assists, earning him 45 points and tying Tom Kurvers for second-most by a rookie defenseman in a season. He also matched Guy Lapointe for second-most multipoint games by a rookie defenseman in Canadiens history. Meanwhile, Kulich's goal placed him among the top rookie scorers in the NHL, and Tuch extended his goal streak to three games.
Ottawa Senators 5 - 3 San Jose Sharks
The Ottawa Senators, spurred by Tim Stutzle's ongoing 11-game point streak, snapped a five-game losing streak with a thrilling 5-3 comeback victory over the San Jose Sharks. Stutzle contributed significantly with a goal and an assist, marking 16 points overall during his streak, and tying the franchise record for the longest assist streak at ten games. The Senators exploded in the third period, capitalizing with four goals to overturn a 2-1 deficit. Brady Tkachuk and Shane Pinto both returned from injury to score, with Ridly Greig assisting twice. Linus Ullmark delivered a standout performance with 34 saves. Despite San Jose’s power-play goals from Tyler Toffoli and Timothy Liljegren, and Will Smith's late effort, they couldn’t stop their winless run from extending to eight games. Notably, Vitek Vanecek's attempt to halt his losing streak fell short, as he has not secured a win since November 29. Meanwhile, Tkachuk's power-play prowess reached a milestone, surpassing Marian Hossa for fifth in franchise history. Players like David Perron and Michael Amadio ensured Ottawa's victory was firmly cemented.
Carolina Hurricanes 1 - 3 Edmonton Oilers
Calvin Pickard's impressive performance, with 35 saves, propelled the Edmonton Oilers to a 3-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes, snapping a five-game losing streak. Leon Draisaitl extended his point streak to 11 games by assisting on goals from Adam Henrique and Corey Perry. Despite a strong start, the Hurricanes were unable to capitalize on power-play opportunities, going 0-for-3 in the first period and conceding a short-handed goal. Sebastian Aho scored for the Hurricanes, but Pickard, with key saves in the third period, ensured the Oilers' win. Connor McDavid also reached a milestone, becoming the third-fastest player in NHL history to achieve 700 assists.
Winnipeg Jets 1 - 2 Philadelphia Flyers
In a tightly contested game, Ivan Fedotov's performance was pivotal as the Philadelphia Flyers edged out the Winnipeg Jets 2-1 in a shootout at Canada Life Centre. Fedotov made 29 saves during regulation and was flawless in the shootout, where Matvei Michkov scored the decisive goal. The Flyers extended their point streak to five games, marking a successful 4-0-1 run, while the Jets, who had previously won 11 straight games, suffered their second consecutive loss. Jamie Drysdale equalized for the Flyers in the second period after Mark Scheifele had given the Jets an early lead. Philadelphia's Noah Cates lauded the team's effort against a tough opponent, and Winnipeg coach Scott Arniel highlighted his team's struggle to convert opportunities as a recurring theme. Notably, Flyers coach John Tortorella moved into a tie for sixth place in NHL history with his 1,607th game. Despite the loss, Winnipeg boasts an impressive home record this season, leading the league with 23 home victories.
St Louis Blues 4 - 1 Los Angeles Kings
The St. Louis Blues secured their fourth consecutive win by defeating the Los Angeles Kings 4-1 at the Enterprise Center, with notable performances from Dylan Holloway, who contributed both a goal and an assist. This victory extended the Blues' strong run to 5-0-1 in their last six games, with goalie Jordan Binnington making 25 saves. Colton Parayko, Pavel Buchnevich, and Zack Bolduc also scored for the Blues, while Robert Thomas extended his point and assist streak to nine games. The Kings' Kevin Fiala provided the lone goal for his team, marking their third straight defeat following a strong previous stretch. A remarkable historical note from the game saw Kings' Drew Doughty and Anze Kopitar tying for the third-most goal collaborations between a forward and defenseman duo in NHL history, matching the record of legends Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito.
Utah Hockey Club 1 - 3 New Jersey Devils
In an exciting match at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, the New Jersey Devils emerged victorious over the Utah Hockey Club with a 3-1 win, thanks to a strong third-period performance. Timo Meier delivered a decisive goal just 14 seconds into the third period, breaking a 1-1 tie with a swift wrist shot that eluded Utah's goalie, Karel Vejmelka. Curtis Lazar later secured the victory with another goal, also beating Vejmelka on the blocker side. Nico Hischier contributed to the win with a first-period goal, marking his 400th career point, while Nico Daws stood strong in the net, making 24 saves. The Devils improved their record to 33-22-6, winning three of their last five games, while the Utah Hockey Club, who had been on a three-game winning streak, fell to 27-25-9 despite a goal from Mikhail Sergachev.
Anaheim Ducks - - - Chicago Blackhawks
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Seattle Kraken 6 - 3 Vancouver Canucks
In an exciting match at Climate Pledge Arena, the Seattle Kraken emerged victorious against the Vancouver Canucks with a 6-3 scoreline, propelled by Eeli Tolvanen's two-goal performance. Seattle's other goals came from Brandon Montour, Andre Burakovsky, Oliver Bjorkstrand, and Matty Beniers, snapping their two-game losing streak. Goalie Joey Daccord was pivotal, making 28 saves. On the other side, the Canucks, struggling with four losses in their last five games, saw goals from Pius Suter, Filip Chytil, and Dakota Joshua. Notable moments included Burakovsky opening the scoring with a skillful one-timer, and Matty Beniers' impressive face-off win leading directly to a goal. Tolvanen's second goal came as an empty-netter, sealing the game for Seattle.