Table of Contents
Draisaitl’s Return Sparks Oilers in OT Win
Leon Draisaitl returned from a four-game injury absence and scored twice, including the overtime winner, as the Edmonton Oilers rallied past the Calgary Flames 3-2. Draisaitl, the first player to hit 50 goals this season, tallied his 51st to complete a three-point night.
Calvin Pickard made 26 saves for Edmonton, which now sits even in points with the Los Angeles Kings for second in the Pacific. The Flames, despite goals from Yegor Sharangovich and Brayden Pachal, remain seven points out of a playoff spot.
Stars 5, Kraken 1 – Dallas Clinches Playoff Berth
Mikko Rantanen posted a goal and two assists and Jason Robertson added a goal and helper as the Dallas Stars rolled past the Seattle Kraken 5-1 and secured a postseason berth. Jake Oettinger stopped 35 shots, and Dallas picked up its fourth straight win.
Eeli Tolvanen scored the lone goal for Seattle, which has lost four of five.
Golden Knights Extend Streak to Six
Reilly Smith scored the go-ahead goal in the third period, and Vegas earned its sixth straight win with a 3-1 road victory over Nashville. Adin Hill made 23 saves for the Pacific-leading Golden Knights.
Ryan O’Reilly had the lone goal for the Predators, who have now dropped seven of nine and have been officially eliminated from playoff contention.
Panarin Powers Rangers Past Sharks
Artemi Panarin and Adam Fox each scored twice as the New York Rangers routed the San Jose Sharks 6-1. Jonathan Quick carried a shutout into the third and made 21 saves as New York won for just the second time in seven games.
Rookie Cam Lund scored his first NHL goal for the Sharks, who saw their modest two-game win streak snapped.
Kucherov, Lightning Overwhelm Islanders
Nikita Kucherov recorded a four-point night with a goal and three assists as Tampa Bay defeated the slumping New York Islanders 5-3. Brayden Point scored twice, and Jonas Johansson made 35 saves for the Lightning.
The Islanders have dropped four straight and now trail the Rangers by three points for the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot.
Blues Outlast Avalanche, Win 9th Straight
Pavel Buchnevich’s third-period goal lifted the red-hot St. Louis Blues to a 2-1 road victory over the Colorado Avalanche. Jordan Binnington stopped 28 shots as the Blues pushed their win streak to nine, the NHL’s longest active run.
Nathan MacKinnon scored the lone goal for Colorado, extending his home point streak to 24 games.
Tavares Sparks Leafs in Comeback Win
John Tavares scored twice in the third period as the Toronto Maple Leafs rallied for a 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings. Auston Matthews added a goal and an assist, and Anthony Stolarz made 35 saves for Toronto.
Alex Laferriere scored for LA, which has dropped two straight.
Hischier’s Hat Trick Lifts Devils
Nico Hischier netted a hat trick to lead the New Jersey Devils to a 5-2 win over the Minnesota Wild. Paul Cotter and Tomas Tatar also scored, and Jacob Markstrom made 22 saves for New Jersey.
Marcus Foligno had a goal and assist for the Wild, who have lost three of four.
Senators Stay Hot, Edge Blue Jackets
Jake Sanderson scored the go-ahead goal as the Ottawa Senators held off Columbus 3-2 for their ninth win in 12 games. Ridly Greig and Drake Batherson also scored for Ottawa.
Boone Jenner and Kirill Marchenko scored for the Blue Jackets, who have lost nine of their last 12.
Flyers Explode Past Sabres
Ryan Poehling and Matvei Michkov each scored twice, and the Flyers scored seven times to down the Buffalo Sabres 7-4. Noah Cates added a goal and two assists, helping Philadelphia win its second straight under interim coach Brad Shaw.
Jack Quinn had two goals and an assist for Buffalo in the loss.
Red Wings Edge Bruins in Defensive Battle
Marco Kasper and Lucas Raymond each scored, and Cam Talbot made 20 saves to lift the Detroit Red Wings past the Boston Bruins 2-1. Detroit picked up just its fourth win in 15 games.
Boston’s skid hit eight games, its longest since 2009-10.
