31.03.2025
Florida Panthers 2 - 4 Montreal Canadiens
In a crucial matchup, the Montreal Canadiens secured a 4-2 victory over the Florida Panthers, breaking a five-game losing streak and tying with the New York Rangers for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. Nick Suzuki was a standout, scoring the decisive goal in the third period and contributing two assists, while Juraj Slafkovsky celebrated his 21st birthday with a goal and an assist. Lane Hutson also impressed with three assists, bringing his rookie season tally to 59 points, the highest among NHL rookies. Montreal capitalized on the power play with two goals, a significant factor according to Panthers coach Paul Maurice, whose team struggled with blocked shots and missed opportunities. Despite strong performances from Panthers players like Aleksander Barkov, who notched two assists in his 800th NHL game, and Sam Reinhart and Seth Jones scoring, the Canadiens prevailed and will face Florida again in their next encounter.
Washington Capitals 5 - 8 Buffalo Sabres
In a thrilling matchup at Capital One Arena, Alex Ovechkin scored his 890th NHL goal, inching closer to Wayne Gretzky’s record, as the Washington Capitals fell 8-5 to the Buffalo Sabres. Ovechkin's goal came as he deflected a shot into the net, and he also contributed two assists during the game, showcasing his offensive prowess. Despite the loss, the Capitals remain on top of the Metropolitan Division, though they face a three-game losing streak. Alex Tuch was pivotal for the Sabres, contributing two goals and an assist, while Tage Thompson and Jack Quinn also played crucial roles. The Sabres demonstrated resilience, overcoming mistakes and capitalizing on opportunities to outmaneuver the Capitals. Notably, Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin played his 500th NHL game, and the Sabres continue to build momentum as their playoff chances remain distant but alive.
Winnipeg Jets 3 - 1 Vancouver Canucks
In a thrilling matchup, the Winnipeg Jets secured their third consecutive victory by defeating the Vancouver Canucks 3-1 at Canada Life Centre, bolstered by standout performances from Kyle Connor and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. Connor contributed with a goal and an assist, while Mason Appleton and Cole Perfetti also found the back of the net. Hellebuyck, who is having an outstanding season and leads the NHL in wins and other key statistics, made 23 crucial saves to keep the Jets at the top of the NHL standings with a three-point lead over the Washington Capitals. Despite Pius Suter's early goal for the Canucks, they couldn't maintain their lead, slipping further behind in the playoff race. Perfetti's impressive individual effort, scoring a high wrist shot while falling, was a highlight and showcased the skill level within the Jets lineup. Winnipeg's dominance at home continued as they increased their franchise-record home point streak, while the Canucks wrapped up their challenging road trip.
Chicago Blackhawks 2 - 5 Utah Hockey Club
The Utah Hockey Club snapped a three-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks, thanks to Alexander Kerfoot's standout performance with a goal and two assists. Utah's Mikhail Sergachev and Kailer Yamamoto contributed significantly, adding a goal and an assist each, while goaltender Karel Vejmelka made 27 saves. Despite a challenging 8-0 loss to Tampa Bay earlier, Kerfoot acknowledged the team's efforts to turn things around on their road trip, with Utah remaining nine points behind the Western Conference wild-card slot contenders. In a highlight for the Blackhawks, rookies Oliver Moore and Sam Rinzel made their NHL debuts, with Rinzel impressing both his coach and teammates with four shots on goal. Utah head coach Andre Tourigny praised the team for creating effective traffic in front of the net, which had been lacking in their previous meeting with Chicago. Notably, it was Ian Cole's 900th NHL game for Utah, while John Marino and Lawson Crouse each reached career milestones with their assists.
Pittsburgh Penguins 1 - 0 Ottawa Senators
Crosby, Penguins edge Senators in OT
PITTSBURGH --
“I thought we had some good [chances],” Crosby said. “You always want to try to get more bodies and pucks to the net. There’s always games where you look back after the fact and you think about, maybe, opportunities you could have just put there. Maybe there were a couple of those. But I thought for the most part, we did a pretty good job of generating chances.” The shutout was Jarry’s first this season and 20th in the NHL. He was pulled in each of the previous two games, allowing a combined eight goals on 19 shots.
The Penguins (30-34-11) had lost three in a row (0-2-1). They are six points behind the Montreal Canadiens, who have two games in hand, and the New York Rangers, who have one game in hand, for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.
“I thought our team did a better job at limiting some of the high, high-quality looks that [Jarry] has been faced with the prior couple of games,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. “I thought our group, as a whole, did a better job working to limit not only the quality, but also the quantity of the looks. So, I’m sure that helped him, but he still made a few big saves.”
“I think it was obvious we didn’t have a lot of juice,” Ottawa coach Travis Green said. “You could see our game wasn’t as sharp as it was last night. We found a way to get a big point.”
Jarry made 16 saves in the first period.
“I honestly think it helps, being able to get quite a few shots like that just to start the game,” Jarry said. “I think it kind of gets you into the game quick and it kind of gets you feeling the puck. It’s the same for both ways. I think when we’re putting pucks on the net early and, I think, crashing the net and getting the puck back, kind of low to high, I think that kind of gets our team into it. I think it’s the same for a goalie, being able to get some shots early.”
“Not to use it as an excuse, but coming in late last night, 5 o’clock tonight, it’s a tough back-to-back,” Ottawa defenseman
“It could’ve gone either way,” Forsberg said. “You could tell we were a little tired tonight, but we battled it out and we got a point, a point that’s going to be super important in the end. Obviously, we would’ve loved the two points, but right now, we should be happy about getting one point and moving forward. All points are going to matter in the end.”
NOTES: Crosby scored his 97th game-winning goal, passing
Carolina Hurricanes 6 - 4 New York Islanders
In a thrilling 6-4 victory over the New York Islanders, the Carolina Hurricanes maintained their strong form with standout performances from Seth Jarvis and Sebastian Aho. Jarvis scored twice, including a crucial short-handed goal, matching a franchise record for such goals in a season, and contributed to the team's success by capitalizing on key opportunities. Aho played a pivotal role, registering a goal and two assists, marking his fourth career 40-assist season. Despite a spirited effort from Pierre Engvall, who netted two goals for the Islanders, they fell short and extended their losing streak to five games. With this win, the Hurricanes remain firmly in second place in the Metropolitan Division, extending their lead over the New Jersey Devils. This matchup was characterized by individual brilliance and strategic play, as highlighted by Aho’s crucial assists and Dmitry Orlov’s decisive slap shot. The Islanders are now in a tight race for a wild card spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, trailing the Canadiens and Rangers.
Anaheim Ducks 2 - 3 Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs narrowly defeated the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 at the Honda Center, further solidifying their lead in the Atlantic Division. Key performances from Max Domi, Mitch Marner, and Steven Lorentz, who scored the decisive goal on a deflection in the third period, highlighted Toronto's victory. Joseph Woll's 29 saves were crucial, as the Maple Leafs, feeling the fatigue of back-to-back games, managed to hold their structure and patience for the win. Despite Anaheim's efforts, with goals from Leo Carlsson and Sam Colangelo, who has been impactful since his recall from the AHL, the Ducks fell short. Mitch Marner's defensive play leading to a breakaway goal and the team's overall defensive blocks were pivotal in the win. Notably, John Tavares' five-game goal streak was snapped, and the game had a contentious moment when a potential goal was disallowed due to a missed high stick call. The Ducks faced setbacks with Troy Terry's late-game injury and Jacob Trouba's absence, leaving coach Greg Cronin focused on refining details like face-offs for future success.
Los Angeles Kings - - - San Jose Sharks
It appears there is no detailed information or recap available for the game you are inquiring about. Without specific details, it's challenging to provide a summary or highlight interesting facts. If you have any other topics or need information on a different subject, feel free to ask!