The NHL delivered thrilling results across multiple arenas on Sunday night, featuring high-stakes games, impressive performances, and career milestones. The Calgary Flames, Dallas Stars, and Washington Capitals were some of the standout teams as they made headlines, prompted by remarkable individual achievements and intense team competition.
Starting off the night, the Calgary Flames edged out the San Jose Sharks 3-2. Joel Hanley scored his first goal of the season at 13:26 of the third period, leading the Flames to snap their three-game winless streak. Nazem Kadri and Kevin Rooney also contributed to Calgary's victory. This win places the Flames just one point behind Vancouver for the second wild-card playoff spot within the Western Conference.
The Flames’ rookie goalie, Dustin Wolf, made 27 saves, achieving his 20th victory of the season. This win came after he endured a challenging stretch, having gone winless in his last four starts. With this performance, Wolf improved his season record to 20-11-3. Conversely, the Sharks have now extended their winless streak to five games, suffering six consecutive losses on the road. Their goaltender, Alexander Georgiev, faced 33 shots, with this loss marking his sixth straight, leaving him with just one victory out of his last 13 outings.
With the game tied 1-1, it was Kevin Rooney who put the Flames back on top, scoring his first goal since December 10. Tyler Toffoli tied the game at two with 1:54 remaining in the third period but Hanley's late-game goal sealed the deal for the Flames.
Meanwhile, over at Madison Square Garden, the Dallas Stars managed to persist with their recent momentum, scoring 4-3 against the New York Islanders. Dallas’ Jason Robertson shone brightly, netting his third career hat trick and propelling the Stars to their third consecutive victory. Goalkeeper Jake Oettinger was on point for Dallas as he recorded 35 saves.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau appeared to have tied the game for New York late but was denied after the officials ruled interference on Oettinger. The Islanders have now faced adversity, returning from the break for the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, where they looked slower compared to their opponents. Despite goals from Kyle Palmieri and Anthony Duclair, the team’s struggles continued as they dropped their first game after the tournament.
Robertson secured his hat trick through two power-play goals, allowing Dallas to maintain their edge. He now stands as one of the league’s most promising forwards, shining brightly with his 24 goals this season.
Shifting gears to the nation's capital, Washington Capitals’ star Alex Ovechkin made history by scoring his 880th, 881st, and 882nd career goals against the Edmonton Oilers. His hat trick marks him as only 13 goals away from overtaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record. Ovechkin’s first goal came on a wrist shot set up by Dylan Strome, and he soon added to his tally with another on the power play.
Charlie Lindgren stood tall, making 22 saves for the Capitals, who also saw Tom Wilson and Connor McMichael shine, contributing to the dominant 7-3 victory over Edmonton. Despite Leon Draisaitl’s remarkable performance, leading the league with 42 goals this season, the Oilers fell short of turning the tide as they continued their struggle with three consecutive losses.
Elsewhere, the New Jersey Devils secured a resounding 5-0 victory against the Nashville Predators, with Nico Daws earning his first NHL shutout. Dougie Hamilton and Ondrej Palat were key players for New Jersey, both scoring and contributing significantly to the team's win, allowing the Devils to assert their dominance with consistent performances.
The Tampa Bay Lightning also showed their strength, defeating the Seattle Kraken 4-1, thanks to Andrei Vasilevskiy’s stellar 36 saves. Nikita Kucherov and Luke Glendening scored during the third period to seal the Tampa Bay victory.
Other results included the St. Louis Blues triumphing over the Colorado Avalanche 3-1, where Colton Parayko netted the go-ahead goal, demonstrating St. Louis's rising competitiveness this season. The Red Wings had a thriller against the Ducks, winning 5-4 with Patrick Kane notching the game-winner during overtime, ensuring Detroit's return to form.
With playoff spots hotly contested, today's NHL results signify the continued pursuit of success for these teams. The Flames, Stars, and Capitals exemplified this urgency with their notable wins as we edge closer to the playoff season.