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Sabres Snap Losing Streak with Dominant Win Over Islanders
The Buffalo Sabres ended a 13-game losing streak with a commanding 7-1 victory over the New York Islanders. Beck Malenstyn scored just 2:07 into the game, setting the tone for Buffalo’s first win since November 23. Jiri Kulich recorded his first career two-goal game, and Rasmus Dahlin tallied a career-high four assists. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 27 saves in the victory, helping Buffalo post its most lopsided win since February 2023.
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Lightning Shut Out Panthers in Fiery Clash
Nikita Kucherov scored the game-winning goal before being ejected for kneeing Matthew Tkachuk, as the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Florida Panthers 4-0. Backup goaltender Jonas Johansson made 36 saves for his first shutout of the season. Tampa Bay secured a split in the home-and-home series, while Florida saw its four-game win streak end.
Canucks Edge Sharks as Demko Stays Perfect Against San Jose
Elias Pettersson scored twice and Thatcher Demko made 26 saves to remain undefeated against the Sharks, leading the Vancouver Canucks to a 4-3 win. Vancouver snapped a three-game skid and improved to 12-0-0 with Demko in net against San Jose. The Sharks, despite two assists from rookie Macklin Celebrini, lost their fifth straight game.
Golden Knights Complete Sweep of Ducks
Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy became the winningest coach in franchise history as the Golden Knights beat the Anaheim Ducks 3-1. Tomas Hertl scored the game-winning goal, while Adin Hill made 31 saves for his 50th career win. The Golden Knights extended their dominance over Anaheim with a four-game regular-season sweep.
Wild Hold Off Blackhawks for Narrow Victory
Brock Faber’s third-period goal lifted the Minnesota Wild to a 4-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Minnesota snapped a four-game losing streak, with Kirill Kaprizov, Jared Spurgeon, and Marcus Foligno also scoring. The Blackhawks’ Connor Bedard notched his 15th goal of the season, but Chicago fell short for the second consecutive game.
Stars Halt Utah Hockey Club’s Point Streak
Casey DeSmith made 24 saves to lead the Dallas Stars to a 3-2 victory over the Utah Hockey Club in Salt Lake City. Colin Blackwell, Roope Hintz, and Jamie Benn scored for Dallas, snapping Utah’s eight-game point streak. Kevin Stenlund and Barrett Hayton tallied for Utah, which fell short despite a strong performance from goalie Karel Vejmelka.
Penguins Dominate Flyers as Crosby Matches Franchise Record
Sidney Crosby matched Mario Lemieux’s Penguins record of 1,033 career assists in Pittsburgh’s 7-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Crosby also scored and added three assists, while Michael Bunting netted two goals. Evgeni Malkin and Erik Karlsson each recorded two assists. The Flyers suffered their fifth loss in six games.
Devils Crush Rangers in Power-Play Showcase
Jack Hughes scored twice and added an assist as the New Jersey Devils blanked the New York Rangers 5-0. The Devils scored three power-play goals, extending the Rangers’ struggles to 4-13-0 over their last 17 games. Goaltender Jonathan Quick allowed all five goals, as New York’s playoff hopes dimmed further.
Bruins Rally Past Capitals with Late Surge
Brad Marchand led the Boston Bruins with two goals and an assist as they defeated the Washington Capitals 4-1. Elias Lindholm and Charlie Coyle scored pivotal third-period goals, helping Boston extend its point streak to five games. The Capitals’ Jakub Vrana scored in his third consecutive game, but Washington couldn’t overcome Boston’s late-game pressure.
Blues Shut Out Red Wings in Holloway’s Hat Trick
Dylan Holloway recorded his first career hat trick as the St. Louis Blues blanked the Detroit Red Wings 4-0. Jordan Binnington made 19 saves for his 17th career shutout, while Cam Talbot stopped 17 shots for Detroit. The Red Wings suffered their third straight loss, continuing a rough December.
Jets Sink Maple Leafs Behind Scheifele’s Hat Trick
Mark Scheifele tallied three goals and an assist as the Winnipeg Jets defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2. Kyle Connor added two goals and two assists, while John Tavares scored both of Toronto’s goals, including his 200th as a Maple Leaf. Winnipeg solidified its position in the Central Division with the win.
Blue Jackets Outlast Canadiens in Shootout
Kirill Marchenko scored the game-winning goal and added two assists as the Columbus Blue Jackets edged the Montreal Canadiens 5-4. Dmitri Voronkov scored twice for Columbus, while Sean Monahan notched three assists. Montreal’s Patrik Laine exited early with an upper-body injury, dampening the Canadiens’ effort.
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Predators Down Hurricanes with Marchessault’s Big Night
Jonathan Marchessault scored twice and added an assist in the Nashville Predators’ 5-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. Filip Forsberg contributed three assists, and Juuse Saros made 25 saves as Nashville notched back-to-back wins for the first time since October. The Hurricanes, led by goals from Jordan Staal and Sebastian Aho, lost their second game in three outings.
