NHL Roundup: Ovechkin Inches Closer to History, Maple Leafs Soar
January 4, 2025 – The NHL saw a flurry of action on Saturday, with several teams making significant strides and others facing setbacks.
Capitals Edge Rangers in High-Scoring Affair
The Washington Capitals secured a 7-4 victory over the New York Rangers, fueled by a strong performance from Dylan Strome, who tallied a goal and two assists. The spotlight, however, remained on Alex Ovechkin, who notched his 872nd career goal, bringing him within 22 goals of Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL record. Logan Thompson stood strong in net for the Capitals, making 29 saves. Despite twice closing the gap to a single goal in the third period, the rangers couldn’t find the equalizer, extending their losing streak to 5-16-0 as November 21st. Jonathan Fast made 21 saves in the loss.
Knies Shines as Maple Leafs Down Bruins
The Toronto Maple Leafs continued their winning streak, defeating the Boston Bruins 6-4. Rookie Matthew Knies delivered a memorable performance, recording his first career hat trick and adding two assists. Mitch Marner also had a stellar night, contributing an empty-net goal and four assists. Auston Matthews, returning from a six-game absence due to an upper-body injury, made an immediate impact with an empty-net goal and two assists. David Pastrnak led the Bruins with two goals.
Predators Secure Road Win Against Flames
The Nashville Predators earned a crucial road victory, defeating the Calgary Flames 4-1. Ryan O’Reilly led the charge with his sixth career hat trick. Fedor Svechkov added a goal and an assist, while Filip Forsberg chipped in with two assists. Justus Annunen was exceptional in goal, making 31 saves, including 11 in a dominant first period by the Flames. Mikael Backlund scored the lone goal for Calgary,who have now lost three of their last four games.
Red Wings Topple Jets, End Winnipeg’s Reign Atop Standings
The Detroit Red Wings upset the winnipeg Jets 4-2, ending Winnipeg’s reign at the top of the NHL standings. Dylan Larkin led the Red Wings with two goals, while Lucas raymond contributed a goal and two assists. Alex DeBrincat also found the back of the net for Detroit, who have now won four straight games under new coach Todd McLellan. Josh morrissey and Nikolaj Ehlers scored for the Jets, who were outshot 29-23. This loss marked the third consecutive defeat for Winnipeg, allowing the Vegas Golden Knights to take over the league lead after their victory over Buffalo later that evening.
Blue jackets Outlast Blues in Offensive Battle
The Columbus Blue Jackets emerged victorious in a high-scoring affair against the St. Louis Blues, winning 6-4. Dmitri voronkov led the Blue Jackets with two goals, while Sean Monahan and Ivan Provorov each recorded three assists. Elvis Merzlikins made 29 saves for Columbus, who have now won five of their last eight games. Jordan Kyrou led the Blues with a goal and two assists,while Brayden Schenn and Cam Fowler each contributed a goal and an assist.
NHL Roundup: Golden Knights Surge to League Lead, Sharks Snap Losing Streak
The NHL saw a flurry of action on Tuesday night, with several teams making significant moves in the standings. The Vegas Golden Knights ascended to the top spot in the league, while the San Jose Sharks snapped a frustrating losing streak.
Golden Knights Dominate at Home,Claim League Lead
Vegas continued its dominance at T-Mobile Arena,defeating the Buffalo Sabres 3-1. Jack Eichel led the charge with a goal and an assist, while Adin Hill turned aside 23 shots to secure the victory. The Golden Knights, boasting an remarkable 17-4-0 home record, now hold a one-point lead over the Winnipeg Jets for the league’s top spot.
Sharks edge Devils in Thrilling Finish
In a nail-biting contest, the San Jose Sharks emerged victorious over the New Jersey Devils, 3-2. Cody Ceci’s clutch goal with just 25 seconds remaining sealed the win for the Sharks, marking their second consecutive victory after a grueling eight-game losing streak. Nikolai Kovalenko and Macklin Celebrini also found the back of the net for San Jose, while Yaroslav Askarov made 28 saves.
Wild Silence Hurricanes with Shutout Victory
The Minnesota Wild blanked the Carolina Hurricanes 4-0 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Mats Zuccarello led the offensive onslaught with two goals, including an empty-netter, while Filip Gustavsson recorded his third shutout of the season. Marco Rossi had a career night, dishing out four assists to bring his season total to an impressive 22.
Canadiens Triumph in Shootout Thriller
The Montreal canadiens capped off a successful six-game road trip with a 2-1 shootout victory over the Colorado Avalanche in Denver. Cole Caufield and Kirby Dach delivered the decisive goals in the shootout, while Caufield also tallied Montreal’s lone goal in regulation. Jakub Dobes stood tall in net, making 22 saves through overtime and two more in the shootout.
Kings Extend home Winning Streak
The los Angeles Kings continued their reign over their home ice, defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1. Adrian Kempe’s team-leading 19th goal proved to be the game-winner, extending his point streak to a season-high five games. The Kings have now won nine consecutive games at home, showcasing their dominance on their own turf.
Oilers Extend Winning Streak Against Kraken
the Edmonton Oilers secured their seventh consecutive victory against the Seattle Kraken, winning 4-2. Leon Draisaitl led the Oilers with a goal and an assist,while Viktor Arvidsson contributed two assists. The Oilers continue to be a force to be reckoned with in the Pacific Division.
NHL Roundup: Stars Shine in Overtime thriller, Kraken’s Streak Ends
The Dallas Stars continued their dominant run, securing a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory against the Utah Hockey Club. This marked their third consecutive win against their divisional rivals this season, extending their overall winning streak to four games.
Thomas Harley emerged as the hero, netting the game-winner just over three minutes into overtime. He capitalized on a precise pass from Matt Duchene, beating Karel Vejmelka to seal the victory for Dallas.
Jamie Benn and Oskar Back also contributed goals for the Stars, while Duchene and Wyatt Johnston each recorded two assists. Goaltender Jake Oettinger delivered a solid performance, making 33 saves to improve his record to an impressive 19-9-1 this season.
Meanwhile, the Utah Hockey Club’s struggles continued, as they suffered their fourth loss in their last seven games (1-4-2). Matias Maccelli provided a spark for Utah with two goals, but Vejmelka’s 26 saves weren’t enough to overcome the Stars’ offensive firepower. This marked Vejmelka’s third loss against Dallas this season.
In another matchup, the Seattle Kraken saw their three-game point streak come to an end with a 4-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. Chandler Stephenson and Jaden Schwartz found the back of the net for Seattle,but colorado’s offensive prowess proved too much to handle.
Philipp Grubauer, starting his fourth consecutive game in place of the injured Joey Daccord, made 28 saves for Seattle. However, Colorado’s Calvin Pickard stood tall in net, making 15 saves to secure the win for his team.
Welcome back hockey fans! It’s been another unbelievable night of NHL action with some truly standout performances and some major shifts in the standings.
First off, let’s talk about alex Ovechkin, the goal-scoring machine who continues to close in on Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record. ([1])
he added another to his tally against the Rangers, bringing him within 22 goals of history! Can he do it this season? It’s certainly looking close, folks.
Meanwhile, in Toronto, the Maple Leafs are firing on all cylinders.
Matthew Knies put on a show,a hat trick AND two assists! ([1]) that’s a debut for the history books!
Add in Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews having stellar nights and the Leafs are looking unstoppable right now.
Speaking of unstoppable, how about the Detroit Red Wings dethroning the Winnipeg Jets?
They’re making a real push under Todd McLellan.([1]) Where do you think they’ll finish this season? Maybe a playoff run?
out in Vegas, the Golden Knights are looking like the team to beat.
Dominating at home and grabbing the league led from the Jets. ([2]) They’re a seriously well-rounded team, are they Stanley Cup contenders in your book?
And kudos to the san Jose Sharks for breaking their losing streak! ([2]) Cody Ceci with the clutch goal at the buzzer! What a thrilling finish.
What a backdrop for our discussion. Let’s open the floor.
What are your thoughts on tonight’s action? Who surprised you, who disappointed you, and what are your predictions for the rest of the season?
