12.03.2025
Boston Bruins 3 - 2 Florida Panthers
In an impressive comeback, the Boston Bruins overturned a two-goal deficit with three goals in a span of just under eight minutes during the third period to defeat the Florida Panthers 3-2 at TD Garden, ending the Panthers' six-game winning streak. David Pastrnak, pivotal in the comeback with a goal and an assist, engineered a power play by drawing a penalty on Seth Jones and capitalized on it, marking the first power-play goal the Panthers had conceded in seven games. Following Pastrnak's lead, Mason Lohrei tied the game, and Pavel Zacha sealed the victory with a decisive goal, maintaining Boston's momentum with their second consecutive win. Notably, Pastrnak's performance placed him alongside Bruins legends Rick Middleton and Bobby Orr for the third-most 80-point seasons in team history. The Panthers played without Aaron Ekblad, suspended for violating the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program, and their struggle in the third period highlighted the importance of maintaining composure for potential playoff scenarios.
New Jersey Devils 5 - 3 Columbus Blue Jackets
In a thrilling matchup, Jesper Bratt led the New Jersey Devils to a 5-3 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Prudential Center with a standout performance, registering a goal and two assists. Newcomer Cody Glass, acquired just days ago, impressed with two assists, contributing to New Jersey's back-to-back wins for the first time since January. Luke Hughes also shined with a goal and an assist, while Jacob Markstrom made 17 saves to secure the victory. Despite a strong effort from Columbus' Mathieu Olivier, who scored twice, the Devils maintained their lead, with significant contributions from Nico Hischier and Timo Meier. The victory is a critical boost for the Devils in their playoff pursuit, while Columbus struggles with recent form, having won just once in their last four games.
Philadelphia Flyers 2 - 5 Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators secured their fourth straight win with a 5-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center, extending their point streak to six games. Brady Tkachuk opened the scoring just 24 seconds into the game, marking his 400th NHL point and passing Marian Hossa for fourth all-time in goals for the Senators. Tyler Kleven, Michael Amadio, Dylan Cozens, and Shane Pinto also found the net, with Cozens scoring his 200th NHL point since being acquired from the Buffalo Sabres. The Flyers, on a five-game losing streak, struggled to build momentum despite goals from Jamie Drysdale and Rodrigo Abols. Notably, Drysdale scored in consecutive games for the first time in his career. The Senators were bolstered by Anton Forsberg’s 20 saves in his first game back since February 6, while Ivan Fedotov made 19 saves for Philadelphia. The loss marked the Flyers' fifth consecutive home defeat, equaling the second-longest home losing streak in franchise history.
Pittsburgh Penguins 3 - 2 Vegas Golden Knights
In a thrilling overtime victory, Erik Karlsson's wrist shot just 49 seconds into the extra period secured a 3-2 win for the Pittsburgh Penguins over the Vegas Golden Knights. The Penguins were propelled by Sidney Crosby, who continued his scoring streak with two goals, leading to his 105th career multigoal game. Rickard Rakell provided two crucial assists, and Tristan Jarry was a standout in goal with 35 saves. Despite Noah Hanifin's last-minute equalizer for Vegas and an assist from Jack Eichel that tied the Golden Knights' record for points in a season, Pittsburgh held firm. Notably, Crosby's performance places him second among active players for multigoal games, highlighting his consistent high-level play throughout his 20 NHL seasons. The Golden Knights faced disappointment despite outshooting Pittsburgh 19-4 in the third period, with Jarry's formidable goalkeeping proving decisive. Crosby's effort included scoring twice on just six shots and maintaining his place as a key player in the NHL history books.
Carolina Hurricanes 4 - 1 Tampa Bay Lightning
The Carolina Hurricanes secured their fifth consecutive win with a 4-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning, highlighted by Seth Jarvis scoring in his third straight game with a crucial short-handed goal. The Hurricanes dominated at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, with Jordan Martinook, Jack Roslovic, and Sean Walker also contributing goals. Pyotr Kochetkov shined in goal with 23 saves, significantly impacting the game, as noted by coach Rod Brind’Amour. Despite Tampa Bay's early efforts, their game crumbled after a second goal by Martinook, and they struggled to maintain momentum, as acknowledged by coach Jon Cooper. A significant moment was Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov leaving the game after the second period, a worry for the team given his third-place standing in NHL points this season. The game saw several entertaining plays, including Roslovic's 100th NHL goal, emphasizing the Hurricanes' capitalizing on their opportunities and the Lightning struggling to keep up.
Minnesota Wild 2 - 1 Colorado Avalanche
The Minnesota Wild snapped the Colorado Avalanche's six-game winning streak with a 2-1 victory in a shootout at the Xcel Energy Center. Filip Gustavsson was instrumental for the Wild, making 27 saves and stopping two attempts in the shootout. Mats Zuccarello, who scored in both regulation and the shootout, and Matt Boldy were pivotal in the victory. Despite a goal from Joel Kiviranta, who extended his goal streak to four games, and 22 saves by Mackenzie Blackwood, the Avalanche couldn't secure a seventh consecutive win. Both teams showcased a strong defensive effort, with notable plays including Boldy’s interception that set up Zuccarello’s scoring wrist shot. The game was intense, with Avalanche coach Jared Bednar acknowledging the tight play and efforts on both sides, while Nathan MacKinnon noted the challenge of playing back-to-back games.
Winnipeg Jets 2 - 1 New York Rangers
In a tightly contested match, the Winnipeg Jets defeated the New York Rangers 2-1 at Canada Life Centre, with Gabriel Vilardi and Vladislav Namestnikov scoring the decisive goals. Winnipeg, who recently struggled with a 2-3-1 record, benefited from Cole Perfetti's two assists and Connor Hellebuyck's 21 saves. The game was marked by strong special teams play, with Vilardi's power-play goal proving pivotal after a second-period filled with penalties. Luke Schenn made an impressive debut for Winnipeg with game-highs in hits and blocked shots, following a trade from the Pittsburgh Penguins. Mika Zibanejad scored the lone goal for the Rangers on a power play, equaling Brian Leetch's franchise record for power-play goals. Meanwhile, Winnipeg's defense was bolstered by the milestone games of Haydn Fleury and Dylan Samberg, playing in their 300th and 200th NHL games, respectively.
Vancouver Canucks 2 - 4 Montreal Canadiens
In a thrilling matchup at Rogers Arena, Juraj Slafkovsky spearheaded the Montreal Canadiens' 4-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks, contributing significantly with a goal and two assists. Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield were also pivotal, each tallying a goal and an assist, as Sam Montembeault guarded the net with 29 saves, enhancing the Canadiens' recent strong run to 8-1-1 in their last ten games. Despite efforts from Filip Hronek and Elias Pettersson, who both scored in the third period for the Canucks, Vancouver continued their struggles, having lost their second consecutive game and six out of their last nine. The game featured dynamic plays, including Suzuki's early breakaway goal and Caufield's precise snap shot, while Slafkovsky's impressive solo effort underscored his strong performance, making him a standout in Montreal's determined win.
Anaheim Ducks 4 - 7 Washington Capitals
Aliaksei Protas secured a hat trick as the Washington Capitals triumphed over the Anaheim Ducks 7-4 at the Honda Center, marking their fifth consecutive victory. Pierre-Luc Dubois contributed a goal and two assists, while Alex Ovechkin added three assists. Logan Thompson was stellar with 26 saves for the Capitals, who now stand at 43-14-8. The Capitals frequently exchanged leads with the Ducks until Nic Dowd's rebound goal at 13:23 in the third period gave Washington a decisive 5-4 advantage. Recent trade acquisition Anthony Beauvillier scored on a breakaway to extend the lead, and Protas sealed the win with an empty-net goal. Notable for Anaheim, Pavel Mintyukov and Frank Vatrano registered a goal and assist each, while Jacob Trouba scored his first in 95 games. Despite Anaheim's early lead and tying the game multiple times, they succumbed to a team that capitalized on offensive chances and solid goaltending.
Los Angeles Kings 4 - 1 New York Islanders
The Los Angeles Kings ended the New York Islanders' six-game winning streak with a decisive 3-0 victory at Crypto.com Arena, marking David Rittich's second shutout of the season and sixth overall in the NHL. Trevor Moore contributed significantly with a goal and an assist, while Adrian Kempe scored his 20th goal of the season, continuing his streak of scoring at least 20 goals for three consecutive seasons. Phillip Danault netted the team's second goal with a deflection in the third period, and Moore sealed the win with an empty-netter. Although Ilya Sorokin made 22 saves for the Islanders, they were unable to capitalize on their power plays, going 0-for-5, including a 5-on-3 advantage. Returning from injury, Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson played solidly, and Drew Doughty surpassed Butch Goring to become eighth in points in Kings history. Meanwhile, Islanders forward Matt Martin was out with a lower-body injury, highlighting the team's challenging night.
San Jose Sharks 2 - 3 Nashville Predators
Filip Forsberg led the Nashville Predators to a 3-2 victory against the San Jose Sharks by contributing a goal and an assist, marking their fourth consecutive win. The game was tense, with Kieffer Bellows scoring the decisive goal early in the third period, while Steven Stamkos also found the net for Nashville. Juuse Saros was solid in goal, making 24 saves. For the Sharks, both Patrick Giles, who netted his first NHL goal, and Collin Graf scored in a dramatic third period that initially tied the game 2-2. However, Forsberg's setup allowed Bellows to score the game-winner, his first since March 2023. Both teams showed flashes of brilliance, but Nashville’s power play and Forsberg’s performance were pivotal in sealing the win at SAP Center.