11.03.2025
Buffalo Sabres 3 - 2 Edmonton Oilers
The Buffalo Sabres snapped a six-game losing streak with a 3-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers, thanks to Tage Thompson's two goals and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen's 32 saves. Alex Tuch also scored for Buffalo, while Darnell Nurse and Evan Bouchard found the back of the net for Edmonton. Notably, Leon Draisaitl extended his career-high point streak to 15 games, contributing two assists and reaching at least 50 assists for the seventh time in his NHL career, tying Mark Messier for fourth-most in Oilers history. Despite Edmonton's control in the offensive zone, coach Kris Knoblauch cited crucial turnovers as a significant factor in their loss. The Sabres' disciplined puck management and defensive efforts, combined with Josh Norris setting up Thompson for the game-winner in the third period, sealed the win.
Ottawa Senators 2 - 1 Detroit Red Wings
Linus Ullmark delivered a standout performance with a season-high 48 saves, including 27 in the second period, as the Ottawa Senators defeated the Detroit Red Wings 2-1, handing the Red Wings their sixth consecutive loss. Ullmark's effort made him only the sixth goalie in NHL history to make at least 27 saves in a period without conceding a goal. Dylan Cozens, newly acquired from the Sabres, scored the decisive goal for Ottawa, while Brady Tkachuk extended his point streak to six games. With this victory, the Senators moved one point ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets for the first wild card spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Despite outplaying Ottawa, Detroit couldn't capitalize due to Ullmark's heroics and now sits four points behind Columbus for the second wild card. The Senators also benefited from David Perron's power-play goal, emphasizing the importance of special teams as they boast the league's most home power-play goals.
Colorado Avalanche 3 - 0 Chicago Blackhawks
MacKinnon reaches 1,000 points, Avalanche blank Blackhawks for 6th win in row
DENVER --
MacKinnon’s 1,000th point came on the first goal of the game 31 seconds into the third period, a deflection by
“I think it's big. I think he'll downplay it, as he always does,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “But I think when it's all said and done for him, he'll remember these milestones and appreciate it more than he does now because he's so focused by the moment. It's not a big deal to him now, but I think when it's all done and he gets a little older and starts looking back on his career and other people look back on his career, they're going to be big moments.”
MacKinnon (362 goals, 639 assists) became the third player in Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques history to get 1,000 points, joining
“It's impressive, especially at the age he's at,” Chicago captain
“I'm liking what I'm seeing from our group. We had a little bit of everything in the game tonight, even though it was pretty sloppy,” Bednar said. “Coming out of the break here, [Wedgewood’s] been fantastic, and that's what we need. We got a goalie that can win every single night for us. They're giving us a chance to win every single night, and it gives you a better opportunity to win on nights like this when you're not perfect with the puck.”
“That's what [stinks],” Foligno said. “It's like you feel like you probably played one of your better games in a while, even though we've gotten points in the past few. We were dialed in. We were dominating some aspects of the game.”
“Step by step. Yeah, I was getting more confident, for sure,” Levshunov said. “Unfortunately, we lost, but yeah, I think we played hard.”
Necas appeared to score at 7:31 of the first period from the right post off a feed from MacKinnon, but the Blackhawks successfully challenged the play for offsides.
“Right when Marty scored, he thought it was offside. So, we're just kind of like, 'Yeah, I don't know if it's going to count,’” MacKinnon said. “I actually thought about that before the game, that that was going to happen, that they're going to call it back when everyone came on. So, it came true.”
Said Colorado defenseman
Lehkonen gave the Avalanche the 1-0 lead in the opening minute of the third period when he redirected
"Obviously, our team got a little boost from that, because we answered with a couple goals following that,” Bednar said. “But it was good to come out and finally put one in, because we had some really good chances too, even though they were a little fewer and farther between.”
Necas extended it to 2-0 at 3:27 with a wrist shot from the left hash marks over Knight’s glove.
Kiviranta scored into an empty net at 19:06 for the 3-0 final.
“If you can say that a loss is encouraging, I guess yeah, it was,” Chicago coach Anders Sorensen said. “I thought we did a lot of good things, and I thought both goalies were good. Ours was good too but came up a little short, unfortunately.”
NOTES: Selected by the Avalanche with the No. 1 pick in the 2013 NHL Draft, MacKinnon is the first player from his draft class to hit the 1,000-point mark and the 17th first overall pick to do so. … MacKinnon became the seventh player to record multiple home point streaks of at least 20 games, joining
Utah Hockey Club 3 - 4 Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs managed a 4-3 shootout victory against the Utah Hockey Club after squandering a three-goal lead at Delta Center in Salt Lake City. William Nylander, Calle Jarnkrok, and Simon Benoit scored for the Maple Leafs, while Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner secured the win by netting in the shootout. Joseph Woll made 29 crucial saves, helping Toronto break their three-game losing streak. For Utah, Barrett Hayton, Nick Schmaltz, and Michael Carcone scored to level the game, with Karel Vejmelka contributing 23 saves, although they have now lost three of their last four games. Notably, Jarnkrok's goal marked his first since January 6, 2024, and all of Utah's goals came in a rapid 3:57 span to force the shootout.