DALLAS (AP) — In a thrilling overtime finish, Mikael Granlund scored his second goal of the game 2:32 into the extra period, earning his 600th career point and propelling the Dallas Stars to a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over the Anaheim Ducks on March 18, 2025. This victory marked a remarkable achievement for the Stars, as they celebrated their eighth consecutive home win for the first time since January-March 2006.
Defenseman Thomas Harley made significant contributions, netting a goal and adding two assists. Wyatt Johnston also added to the Stars' scoreline with a goal of his own. Jake Oettinger, the goaltender for the Stars, showcased his skills by making 22 saves throughout the game.
The Ducks, meanwhile, faced another setback, as they fell to a record of 2-5-1 in their last eight games. Leo Carlsson, a standout at just 20 years of age, netted two goals for the Ducks, including one on a penalty shot during a crucial moment in the game. Rookie Nikita Nesterenko also scored for Anaheim. Lukas Dostal held his ground well in goal despite the loss, stopping 27 shots.
A pivotal moment in the match came when Harley tied the game 3-3 at 4:37 of the third period. The Ducks originally took a 3-2 lead after Carlsson converted a penalty shot, awarded when Oskar Back was called for a slash on a breakaway, with just 39.1 seconds left in the second period. Earlier in the same frame, Carlsson had already tied the game 2-2, scoring with a mere seven seconds left in a five-on-three penalty that was initially disallowed for goaltender interference but was later reversed following the Ducks’ challenge.
Speaking of key acquisitions, Mikko Rantanen, who was brought in from Carolina on March 7, made his home debut at the American Airlines Center, registering two shots and winning both of his faceoffs.
Harley’s performance has been impressive, tallying six goals and 19 points in just 17 games since the injury sidelined standout blue-liner Miro Heiskanen on January 28 with a knee injury. As a result, the Stars improved to 3-17-2 when trailing after two periods, a statistic that highlights their tenacity in comeback situations. Conversely, the Ducks have maintained a strong record of 18-2-3 when leading after two periods.
Looking ahead, the Anaheim Ducks will conclude their three-game road trip against the Nashville Predators on March 20, 2025. The Stars are set to host the Tampa Bay Lightning on the same day.
In Vancouver, another exciting NHL matchup saw Brock Boeser shine as he scored twice and assisted on another goal, leading the Vancouver Canucks to a resounding 6-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on March 18, 2025. Boeser’s efforts were a key part of Vancouver clinching a tie for the final wildcard playoff spot in the Western Conference, an achievement that highlights the competitive nature of the NHL.
Pius Suter and Drew O’Connor each contributed two goals for the Canucks, with Nils Hoglander also finding the net. For the Jets, Nikolaj Ehlers and Alex Iafallo provided the only replies in a game that the Winnipeg Jets would ultimately rue. Winnipeg still sits comfortably at the top of the league’s Central Division with 98 points, despite the loss.
The Canucks struck first when O’Connor notched his ninth goal of the season at 4:55 of the first period. The Jets quickly responded ten minutes later when Ehlers leveled the score with a shot from the deep slot, showcasing the back-and-forth nature of the game. Boeser’s power play goal at 18:49 regained the lead for Vancouver, while Hoglander added another with just three seconds left in the opening frame to make it 4-2.
Iafallo narrowed the gap in the second period, scoring at the 7-minute mark, which revitalized the Jets’ hopes temporarily. However, Boeser’s 20th goal of the year and Suter’s 19th goal, scored less than a minute apart later in the period, put the game beyond reach for Winnipeg. Suter capped it off by scoring an empty-net goal with just four seconds remaining.
The Canucks have shown resilience as they prepare for a six-game road trip, starting with a crucial match against the St. Louis Blues on March 20, which promises to be a pivotal game for playoff implications.
In a matchup of the Washington Capitals against the Detroit Red Wings, Dylan Strome contributed a goal and an assist in the Capitals’ 4-1 victory. Pierre-Luc Dubois, Tom Wilson, and Connor McMichael also found the back of the net for a Capitals squad that has been on an impressive streak, winning seven of their last eight games as of March 18, 2025.
The lone goal for the Red Wings came from Dylan Larkin, who has been a consistent performer this season, reaching the 60-point mark for the fourth consecutive year.
Logan Thompson continued his impressive form, making 22 saves and achieving his fifth consecutive win, bringing his record to 30-4-5 on the season. He is closing in on Jose Theodore’s franchise record for the most wins in a rookie season.
Petr Mrazek made 22 saves for Detroit but fell to a record of 12-21-2 following the defeat. Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin did not score but did record an assist, leaving him eight goals shy of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL record.
This game highlighted the Capitals’ dominance in the third period, as they currently lead the league with 95 goals scored in that frame this season. Tom Wilson celebrated a personal milestone by hitting the 30-goal mark for the first time in his career, showing consistent scoring prowess.
As the Capitals prepare to host the Philadelphia Flyers on March 20, they are eager to maintain their momentum. Meanwhile, the Red Wings are aiming to rebound as they continue their battle for a playoff spot against the Vegas Golden Knights on March 22.
