Calgary Flames 6-2 Washington Capitals
Every new game for Alexander Ovechkin in the NHL adds another chapter to his storied career. The matchup against Calgary, however, was memorable for different reasons. While Ovechkin’s night did not go as hoped, the game carried significance for the Capitals and the league as a whole.
For Ovechkin, the contest marked his 1,300th NHL appearance, a milestone usually reached only by players who joined the league during earlier eras. Before him, only a handful of players shared a similar longevity, with Mike Modano’s long run standing as a benchmark for a single organization across both the Minnesota North Stars and the Dallas Stars after the franchise relocation.
With that many games under his belt, Ovechkin sits among a small group whose veteran status is matched by their enduring impact. Yet Calgary’s performance on this night was decisive. The Flames outpaced Washington with a 6-2 scoreline, and Ovechkin did not find the rhythm he expected. He managed a single shot on goal, registered three solid body checks, and blocked a couple of shots. In a birthday-like moment for Calgary, the team found three goals in a one-goal swing during the middle period to widen the margin and close the game with a strong finish.
Washington also faced injuries that altered the game’s dynamics. Defender Martin Feherváry sustained an injury, as did the Capitals’ starting goaltender, Darcy Kuemper, adding to the late-season strain the team has faced. For Calgary, the home side closed strong, and Calgary fans felt the night vindicate the long, patient buildup that led to a win against a high-profile opponent.
On the ice, Evgeny Kuznetsov contributed with an assist but could not convert on offense, ending the night with a modest plus-minus. Defender Andrei Alekseev accumulated two penalty minutes and finished with a neutral plus-minus. The game illustrated how depth players and timely scoring can tilt a matchup, even when a team has its marquee star limited by the game’s flow.
Pittsburgh Penguins 6-2 St. Louis Blues
Pittsburgh’s lineup featured Evgeni Malkin and a supporting cast including Vladimir Tarasenko, Pavel Buchnevich, Ivan Barbashev, and Alexei Toropchenko, though Toropchenko did not suit up for the clash. The contest unfolded as a high-energy affair with the Penguins grabbing the momentum early and riding it through the night.
The opening stanza saw Kasperi Kapanen put Pittsburgh ahead, with Brian Rust following to push the lead. Buchnevich answered with a sharp strike to get St. Louis back into the game briefly, but Kapanen answered again with a second tally, producing a decisive early advantage for the home team. Malkin’s vision and playmaking were evident, as he factored into several scoring sequences, helping the Penguins extend their advantage as the game wore on.
As the game progressed, the Blues faced controversy in the first period when goaltender Jordan Binnington tangled with Jason Zucker behind the net. Although the incident drew attention, officials chose not to penalize Binnington on that occasion. The tension carried into the second period when Zucker scored again, prompting Binnington to argue his case from the bench and earning him a momentary surge of ire from the visitors’ bench. The sequence culminated with Binnington being assessed a ten-minute suspension, and Craig Berube brought in Thomas Greiss to finish the game.
With Binnington out, Vladimir Tarasenko tried to rally his team, but Kapanen secured a hat trick in the late stages to seal the victory. Sidney Crosby added the final marker, capping a dominant night for Pittsburgh and giving the Penguins a convincing 6-2 win over the Blues.
Tampa Bay Lightning – Toronto Maple Leafs – 4:3 OT
The Sunshine State clash between Tampa Bay and Toronto carried playoff-like intensity, echoing a thrilling series from the previous season. In this meeting, the Lightning and the Maple Leafs continued their tight, high-octane rivalry with a dramatic finish in overtime.
Corey Perry, a veteran of many NHL campaigns, joined the milestone club by playing his 1,200th game, contributing two assists to the night’s proceedings. Toronto’s Mitch Marner delivered a standout performance, piling up goals and assists that pushed his team into the lead on multiple occasions. He extended a personal scoring streak and reached a new personal milestone as Toronto pressed for a late-game advantage.
Marner racked up 26 points in 19 games, a stat line that underscored his ongoing impact. He opened the scoring against Tampa and later converted a pivotal moment during the third period to keep the Maple Leafs in the mix. The game saw both teams trading chances as the clock wound down, with Namestnikov creating an early turning point for the Lightning by reclaiming a loose puck and firing his first shot of the season on goal.
In the late stages, Nikita Kucherov delivered a precise and crafty strike to tilt the balance in the Lightning’s favor. The team mirrored a broader club record of sustained pressure by repeatedly pushing play into the attacking zone. After a lengthy exchange, Alex Killorn’s goal off a kickoff drive sealed the result in overtime, highlighting Andrey Vasilevskiy’s resilience in goal, as he repelled 36 shots to secure the win for Tampa Bay.
Other matches
Minnesota Wild – Anaheim Ducks – 5:4
Edmonton Oilers – Montreal Canadiens – 5:3
Boston Bruins 5-1 Colorado Avalanche
Philadelphia Flyers 2-3 New Jersey Devils
Ottawa Senators – San Jose Sharks – 5:2
Detroit Red Wings 1-4 Vegas Golden Knights
New York Rangers 2-5 Chicago Blackhawks
Seattle Kraken – Florida Panthers – 1:5
Los Angeles Kings 2-4 Carolina Hurricanes
Vancouver Canucks – Arizona Coyotes – 3:2 OT
Kirill Kaprizov of Minnesota delivered another strong performance, firing five shots on goal and forcing play in the enemy zone, a reminder of his all-around influence even in a high-scoring contest. Artemi Panarin contributed two assists for the Rangers, though the New York squad fell to Chicago, with Igor Shesterkin watching from the bench. And Andrei Svechnikov added the 15th goal of the season for the Hurricanes, gifting their goalie Peter Kochetkov 31 saves and a victory that night.