23.03.2025
New York Rangers 5 - 3 Vancouver Canucks
In a thrilling match at Madison Square Garden, Jonny Brodzinski scored two crucial goals in the third period, including the game-winner with 4:13 remaining, to lead the New York Rangers to a 5-3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Despite being outshot 36-12, the Rangers managed to break their three-game losing streak, aided by Igor Shesterkin's 36 saves and significant contributions from Adam Fox, who added a goal and two assists. The Canucks, who were hampered by injuries to forwards Elias Pettersson and Nils Hoglander, highlighted their struggles by outshooting New York significantly yet failing to capitalize, ultimately losing ground in the race for the playoffs. Notably, Vancouver's Kiefer Sherwood set a record with 12 hits in the game, marking the most hits in a single NHL season since 2005-06. The game concluded with a late empty-net goal from J.T. Miller, sealing the win for the Rangers.
Dallas Stars 3 - 2 Philadelphia Flyers
In a thrilling encounter at the American Airlines Center, Thomas Harley scored his second goal of the game just nine seconds into overtime, giving the Dallas Stars a dramatic 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. This goal set the record for the fastest overtime goal in the history of the Stars/Minnesota North Stars franchise. With Miro Heiskanen absent, Harley's impressive performance drew praise from coach Pete DeBoer for stepping up in key moments. Esa Lindell scored the other goal for Dallas, who are second in the Central Division. Philadelphia, still struggling to secure a playoff berth, tied the game with goals from Travis Konecny and Ryan Poehling before falling short in overtime. Samuel Ersson made 16 saves for the Flyers, taking over from Ivan Fedotov after he allowed two goals on three shots in the first period. Flyers rookie Matvei Michkov notched an assist, tying him with Simon Gagne for the most points by a Flyers rookie in the past 25 years.
Minnesota Wild 4 - 1 Buffalo Sabres
Minnesota Wild triumphed over the Buffalo Sabres 4-1 at the Xcel Energy Center, marking their third consecutive win with goalie Filip Gustavsson stopping 20 shots and allowing just one goal, following impressive performances in previous games. Marco Rossi, achieving his first goal since February, put the Wild ahead early in the second period with Justin Brazeau also netting his first goal with the team shortly after. Mats Zuccarello contributed with a goal and an assist, while Frederick Gaudreau sealed the victory with an empty-net goal. Despite an initial defensive showing, Buffalo struggled to capitalize on their chances, with JJ Peterka netting a solitary goal for the Sabres. Coach John Hynes praised the Wild's defense and depth in the match. The Sabres dealt with player setbacks, including a groin injury to Sam Lafferty, who will likely miss the next game, and a disciplinary scratch of Jack Quinn.
St Louis Blues 4 - 1 Chicago Blackhawks
The St. Louis Blues secured their fifth consecutive victory by defeating the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 at the Enterprise Center, thanks to standout performances by Alexey Toropchenko and Nathan Walker, who both recorded a goal and an assist. Robert Thomas and Zack Bolduc also found the back of the net for the Blues, while goalie Joel Hofer contributed with 26 saves. The win solidifies the Blues' position in the Western Conference's wild card race, placing them two points ahead of the Calgary Flames, although the Blues have played two more games. Meanwhile, the struggling Blackhawks have now lost seven straight games, with only Ilya Mikheyev scoring for Chicago. The game was especially noteworthy as it included a touching tribute to Patrick Maroon, a former St. Louis player and local native, who announced his retirement after his 14-year NHL career. Despite a slow start, the Blues rallied with strong play from their fourth line, emphasizing simple, gritty efforts that led to their comprehensive victory.
New York Islanders 3 - 4 Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames secured their third consecutive win by defeating the New York Islanders 4-3 in overtime, thanks to Nazem Kadri's late goal at UBS Arena. Jonathan Huberdeau was pivotal for the Flames, scoring the tying goal in the third period and adding two assists. Matt Coronato also shined with two goals, the first of which came just 36 seconds into the third period, while Dan Vladar made 26 saves. Despite the loss, the Islanders extended their point streak to five games, with notable performances from Noah Dobson and Maxim Tsyplakov, each contributing two assists. Marcus Hogberg made 31 saves for the Islanders, who trail the Montreal Canadiens by two points for a wild card spot. The match featured several lead changes before culminating in Kadri's game-winning shot from the left face-off circle, marking Calgary's successful 3-1-0 road trip wrap-up.
Los Angeles Kings 7 - 2 Carolina Hurricanes
The Los Angeles Kings snapped the Carolina Hurricanes' eight-game winning streak with a decisive 7-2 victory at Crypto.com Arena, marking the Kings' third instance this season of scoring seven goals in a game. This win continued the Kings' impressive 13-game home point streak, tying a franchise record. Andrei Kuzmenko, Anze Kopitar, Tanner Jeannot, Quinton Byfield, and Kevin Fiala each contributed a goal and an assist for the Kings, with David Rittich making 34 saves. Despite Dmitry Orlov and Mark Jankowski scoring for the Hurricanes, the team faced challenges without key players Jordan Staal and Shayne Gostisbehere. Anze Kopitar's power-play goal was significant, breaking a franchise tie for third in all-time power-play goals with his 124th, and he also achieved his 150th instance of earning multiple points in a single period, ranking third among active players. The game saw Hurricanes' forward Seth Jarvis leave due to injury following a collision, though subsequent reports suggested he avoided serious injury.
Washington Capitals 6 - 3 Florida Panthers
The Washington Capitals secured a decisive 6-3 victory over the Florida Panthers at Capital One Arena, bolstered by opening-minute goals in the second period from Tom Wilson and Dylan Strome. This win extends their streak to four games, cements their position at the top of the Metropolitan Division, and ensures a playoff berth with an NHL-leading 102 points. Key contributions included Alex Ovechkin and Martin Fehervary's two assists each, while Logan Thompson made 33 saves. The Capitals were able to capitalize on Florida's aggressive playstyle, which led to numerous scoring opportunities, as reflected in John Carlson’s comments. Despite tying the game multiple times, the Panthers couldn't recover after Washington's explosive second period. With Ovechkin chasing Wayne Gretzky’s goal record and Strome achieving a career-high 68 points, the spotlight remains heavily on the Capitals as they continue their remarkable form.
Utah Hockey Club 6 - 4 Tampa Bay Lightning
In a high-scoring clash at Delta Center, the Utah Hockey Club triumphed over the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-4, led by Logan Cooley and Alex Kerfoot, who each netted two goals. Cooley's additional assist elevated his season goal tally to a personal best of 21, and Nick Schmaltz contributed impressively with a goal and two assists, setting a career-high in assists. Karel Vejmelka aided Utah's victory with 22 saves, as the team improved to a 7-1-1 record in their last nine home games. Despite Brayden Point's two goals and Jake Guentzel's standout performance for the Lightning, Tampa Bay's three-game winning streak ended. Utah remains in pursuit of a playoff spot, trailing St. Louis by four points with a game in hand. Notably, Cooley joined elite company as one of five active U.S.-born players with multiple 20-goal seasons before turning 21.
Montreal Canadiens 4 - 5 Colorado Avalanche
In a thrilling encounter at Bell Centre, the Colorado Avalanche overcame a third-period collapse to edge the Montreal Canadiens 5-4 in a shootout. Brock Nelson was the star, scoring his third goal in two games, assisting another, and netting the decisive shootout goal against Sam Montembeault in the fourth round, following a suggestion from teammate Jonathan Drouin. Despite leading 4-1, Colorado allowed Montreal to storm back with three goals in the third period, courtesy of Juraj Slafkovsky, Joshua Roy, and Christian Dvorak, forcing the game into overtime. The Canadiens showed resilience, earning a point for the sixth consecutive game. Mackenzie Blackwood made 25 saves to help the Avalanche remain third in the Central Division, and Sam Malinski, Ryan Lindgren, and Martin Necas also scored for Colorado, who have now won 10 of their last 12 games.
New Jersey Devils 2 - 3 Ottawa Senators
In an exciting match at the Prudential Center, the Ottawa Senators claimed a 3-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils, with Brady Tkachuk and Drake Batherson scoring within a thrilling 33-second stretch early in the second period. Linus Ullmark's standout performance, particularly with 14 crucial saves in the third period, proved instrumental in snapping the Senators' two-game losing streak and preserving their playoff hopes in the Eastern Conference. Luke Hughes provided two assists for the Devils, whose recent slump saw them lose three of their last four games, despite efforts from Nico Hischier, who extended his point streak, and Jesper Bratt, who set a franchise record with his 61st assist. David Perron's goal increased Ottawa's lead to 3-1 before Erik Haula scored a late goal for New Jersey. The Senators’ defense effectively limited New Jersey’s shots, and Thomas Chabot celebrated his 500th NHL game with the win, emphasizing the team's focus on defensive robustness.
Nashville Predators 5 - 2 Toronto Maple Leafs
In an impressive comeback, the Nashville Predators scored five unanswered goals to defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 at Bridgestone Arena. Filip Forsberg starred for the Predators with two goals and an assist, leading the charge after the team fell into an early 2-0 deficit. Luke Evangelista also contributed significantly with a goal and two assists, helping Nashville end a four-game losing streak. Notable for Toronto, Mitch Marner recorded a goal and an assist, while John Tavares, who scored his 30th goal of the season, became one of the few Maple Leafs to hit that mark at age 34 or older, joining the likes of Mats Sundin and Mike Gartner. However, despite a strong start, Toronto's defensive breakdowns and mental mistakes allowed Nashville to seize momentum, highlighted by Forsberg's go-ahead goal, his 107th career lead-grabbing score, setting a franchise record.
Vegas Golden Knights 6 - 3 Detroit Red Wings
The Vegas Golden Knights secured a 6-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings, highlighted by Tomas Hertl's second hat trick of the season and Jack Eichel's impressive four-point performance, including his 600th NHL career point. Mark Stone also contributed significantly with a goal and two assists, marking his seventh three-point game of the season. Detroit's Patrick Kane played a notable role with a goal and two assists, but the Red Wings suffered their eighth loss in ten games, leaving them five points behind Montreal for a playoff spot. This game saw the Golden Knights continue their impressive play at home, becoming only the third team in the last 35 years to achieve hat tricks in three consecutive home games.
Edmonton Oilers 5 - 4 Seattle Kraken
In a thrilling contest at Rogers Place, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored a hat trick to lead the Edmonton Oilers to a narrow 5-4 victory over the Seattle Kraken. This game was notable as Edmonton played without stars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, marking only the third occasion both have missed a game simultaneously since McDavid's NHL debut due to injuries. The Oilers, with this victory, extended their point streak to five games and held their second place in the Pacific Division. Key contributions from players like Adam Henrique, Mattias Ekholm, and Darnell Nurse, who each had two assists, proved crucial, while Stuart Skinner provided solidity in goal with 27 saves. Despite efforts from Seattle's Kaapo Kakko, who scored twice, and Jani Nyman and Jared McCann, each with two assists, the Kraken couldn't overcome the deficit and remained distant from a playoff spot. Nugent-Hopkins sealed the win with an impressive short-handed goal during a 6-on-4 sequence, capitalizing on Daccord being pulled for an extra attacker.
San Jose Sharks 3 - 1 Boston Bruins
In a thrilling game at SAP Center, Lucas Carlsson scored the decisive goal for the San Jose Sharks, defeating the Boston Bruins 3-1. This was Carlsson's first NHL game since November 2022, marking a memorable return by scoring the game-winner with a backhand shot late in the third period and adding an assist. William Eklund contributed a goal and an assist, while Macklin Celebrini provided two assists, helping the Sharks to improve to a 2-2-0 record in their last four games. Alexandar Georgiev also stood strong in goal with 22 saves. For the Bruins, Casey Mittelstadt was the lone scorer in their fifth consecutive loss, leaving them six points shy of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Eklund initially gave the Sharks a lead early in the second period, and the victory was sealed with Barclay Goodrow's empty-netter in the final minute.