The Los Angeles Kings beat the Detroit Red Wings 3-1, with Anton Forsberg stopping 26 shots. The victory coincided with Detroit winger Patrick Kane tying Mike Modano for the highest career points by an American-born NHL player, reaching 1,374 points, after providing an assist on Alex DeBrincat’s goal in the third period. Kane, who has accumulated 500 goals and 874 assists over 1,341 games, achieved this milestone just months past his 37th birthday, whereas Modano reached his 1,374th goal at age 40. The Kings’ goals were scored by Samuel Helenius, Andrei Kuzmenko, and Corey Perry, and they have now won three games in a row. Detroit’s goalie John Gibson made 19 saves but conceded two goals, ending his eight-game winning streak. The Kings have now earned points in six consecutive matches, while the Red Wings have lost two of their last six.
In Winnipeg, Mark Scheifele scored his 26th goal as the Jets defeated the New Jersey Devils 4-3 to snap a two-game skid. Connor Hellebuyck made 26 saves amid praise for his potential Olympic performance, progressing from a tough loss to Detroit. The Devils, after winning three straight, lost back-to-back games following a trade of veteran winger Ondrej Palat to the Islanders. Scheifele’s goal early in the game helped the Jets secure their second win in five games. New Jersey rallied late with goals from rookies Leni Hamenaho and Jesper Bratt, and Captain Nico Isier but couldn’t overcome their earlier mistakes.
In Boston, the Bruins edged Nashville 3-2 in overtime, with David Pastrnak scoring just 15 seconds into the extra period. Pastrnak matched his season-high with his 22nd goal and extended his point streak to eight games. The Predators erased a 2-0 deficit to push the game into overtime, where Pastrnak’s goal led to Boston’s victory. Morgan Geekie scored his 30th goal, and Hampus Lindholm added one for Boston. The Predators’ Roman Josi and Nick Blankenburg scored to send the game to OT.
Montreal beat Las Vegas 3-2 in overtime, with Jake Evans scoring the game-winner just under four minutes into the extra period. Cole Caufield and Phillip Danault also contributed goals for the Canadiens, ending a two-game losing streak. Goalie Jakub Dobes, in his first start against Vegas, made 32 saves, while the Golden Knights’ Pavel Dorofeev scored twice. Vegas lost their third straight game against Montreal.
In Florida, the Mammoth secured a 4-3 win over the Panthers, with Mikhail Sergachev scoring a crucial third-period goal to ensure Utah’s victory. Other goal scorers included Nick Schmaltz, Sean Darge, and Barrett Hayton, despite missing leading scorer Dylan Gunter due to injury. Vitek Vanecek made 25 saves for Utah. Florida’s goals came from Sandis Virmanis, Cole Schwindt, and Carter Verhaeghe, but their winning streak ended at three. Sergachev’s late goal and an empty-netter by Hayton sealed the win for Utah, though Verhaeghe scored in the final seconds to make it close.
Buffalo defeated Toronto 7-4, highlighted by Rasmus Dahlin’s first NHL hat trick, along with two assists. Tage Thompson celebrated his 500th game with a goal and assist, and Buffalo extended their winning streak to four games. Toronto’s Auston Matthews and Max Domi each scored twice, but the Maple Leafs’ five-game losing skid continues, despite a brief resurgence after their road trip.
In St. Louis, Dallas edged the Blues 4-3 with a late goal from Thomas Hurley. Matt Duchene led the scoring for Dallas with two goals in his first multi-goal game since February, while Lupe Hintz also scored. The Blues mounted a comeback with two goals from Brayden Schenn and one from Robbie Fabbri but fell short as Jake Oettinger made 23 saves. Dallas has posted a strong 10-2-1 record since last November’s game against St. Louis.
Minnesota overcame an early 3-0 deficit to beat Chicago 4-3 in a shootout, with Kirill Kaprizov scoring the winning goal. Wild goalie Jesper Wallstedt saved all three shootout attempts and made 29 saves. Chicago jumped ahead early with goals from Teravainen, Donato, and Mikheyev but couldn’t hold the lead as Minnesota staged their comeback in the final period.
Fan Take: These games showcase the evolving talents and intense rivalries that make hockey exciting, and Kane’s milestone highlights the historic significance of American players in the sport’s history. As teams chase playoff spots, these close contests and remarkable performances keep fans on the edge of their seats, promising an exhilarating stretch run and highlighting hockey’s ongoing growth and competitive spirit.
