On Sunday, Brock Nelson scored two goals in just over a minute early in the first period, including an empty-netter, completing his fifth career hat trick, as the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-1. Jack Drury also scored for the Avalanche, who improved to 35-6-9 under the stellar goaltending of Mackenzie Blackwood, who made 32 saves. Colorado made NHL history by becoming only the fourth team to lose six or fewer games in the first 50 contests of a season, joining the 1979-80 Flyers, the 1943-44 Canadiens, and the 1975-76 Canadiens. The last team to amass at least 77 points through 50 games was the 2022-23 Boston Bruins, who went on to set a record with 65 wins in a season.
For Toronto, Max Domi scored a late power-play goal, and Joseph Wall made 33 saves, though the Leafs now hold a record of 24 wins, 19 losses, and 9 draws. Despite a recent 4-3 overtime win against Denver, they’ve struggled recently with a record of 1-4-2 over their last seven games and have started their current homestand poorly, going 0-3-1.
In Calgary, rookie Beckett Sennecke scored his first NHL hat trick in overtime at 2:54, helping Anaheim rally past the Flames 4-3. Sennecke’s decisive shot on a 2-on-1 broke a 3-3 tie, and Chris Kreider also scored for the Ducks, who extended their winning streak to seven games and moved within one point of the second-place Oilers in the Pacific Division, with one game in hand. Mackenzie Blackwood’s 32 saves contributed to Anaheim’s victory, with Sennecke reaching 18 points this season. The Ducks will face Edmonton next, hoping to continue their push for higher standing.
Seattle took down New Jersey 4-2, with Matty Beniers and Barkley Catton scoring 18 seconds apart late in the third period. Joey Daccord made 27 saves, and Beniers played his 300th NHL game. Dougie Hamilton and Jack Hughes scored for the Devils, who ended their four-game road trip with a 3-1-0 record in the Pacific Division, while Seattle improved their recent form.
Ottawa routed Las Vegas 7-1, with Stephen Halliday tallying two goals and an assist in his rookie season. Dylan Cozens also scored twice in this dominant performance, with Sogard making 19 saves. Rasmus Andersson scored a late goal for Vegas, which was their sixth loss in seven games.
In Vancouver, rookie Ben Kindel scored twice in the second period to lead Pittsburgh to a 3-2 win. Kindel’s performance marked his second multi-goal game, and Evgeni Malkin added another for the Penguins, who are riding a seven-win streak, while Stuart Skinner made 19 saves. The Canucks, led by Jake DeBrusk and Teddy Blueger’s goals, suffered their second consecutive loss.
Florida defeated Chicago 5-1, with Tobias Bjornfot scoring his first two goals of the season—only his third and fourth NHL goals amid seven seasons—helping the Panthers continue their winning streak to three games. Mackie Samoskevic, Carter Verhaeghe, and an empty-netter by Sam Reinhart contributed to the victory, as Florida moved over .500 early in the season. For Chicago, Tyler Bertuzzi scored his 25th goal, and Spencer Knight stopped 20 shots. Both teams struggled early, but Florida ultimately came out ahead.
Fan Take: These games showcase the depth and excitement spread across the league, highlighting emerging stars and historic achievements that make hockey more thrilling for fans. As teams jostle for playoff positioning, the intense competition keeps fans engaged and eager to see what happens next in this unpredictable season.
