Washington Capitals 2-5 New York Rangers
The Capitals faced a crucial setback on their path to the Stanley Cup playoffs after a loss to the Rangers. New York kept pressure on the New Jersey Devils as the Devils sat at 104 points and the Rangers at 101. Securing a strong result matters for the Rangers to firmly lock home-ice advantage in the first round against their cross-town rivals.
Artemi Panarin opened the scoring in the first period with an assist from defender K’Andre Miller, a connection that counted as Panarin’s 60th assist of the season and a sign of what was to come in the game.
Early in the second period Alexis Lafrenière extended the visitors’ lead, and Kaapo Kakko added another shortly after, making it 3-0. The Capitals then found a moment of life as they challenged Igor Shesterkin and created chances, shifting to a more compact defensive posture and launching counterattacks.
Washington’s surge began when a mid-ice sequence saw Alexander Ovechkin distribute to a charging Dylan Strome. Strome moved with purpose, cut to the inside, and curled a shot from a difficult angle that slipped past the goalie for 3-1. The attempt showed the Capitals had not given up, even as the Rangers pressed on.
The momentum did not swing in Washington’s favor for long. A sustained push by the Russian contingent on the ice produced another scoring sequence as Panarin drove the play and Vladimir Tarasenko finished from the left side near the crease, pushing the lead back to four goals at 4-1.
Belarusian forward Aleksey Protas kept Washington in the hunt by trimming the deficit to 4-2. The Capitals rallied again when Mika Zibanejad converted on a power play, rebuilding the rhythm of the game and establishing the final tally at 5-2. Panarin added another assist in the sequence, earning him a standout performance in the match with 87 points on the season in 77 games.
Moments after the action heated up, a scuffle erupted as Alexander Ovechkin engaged Barclay Goodrow. The altercation escalated, drawing a multi-piece melee that led to Ovechkin receiving a 2 plus 10 penalty and exiting the ice early. The incident underscored the intensity of the bench area and the high stakes of the season run for both teams.
With the win, the Rangers reached the 100-point mark, placing them three points behind New Jersey in the standings. Washington remained within reach of important points but found the remaining schedule formidable, with the wild-card chase still alive and Pittsburgh just ahead in the battle for a playoff berth.
Pittsburgh Penguins 4-2 Philadelphia Flyers
For Pittsburgh, the matchup with Philadelphia carried significance beyond a standard league game. The Penguins continued their push for a Stanley Cup berth while the Flyers faced the task of regrouping in a tough division rivalry. The intensity was high as the two teams met on familiar ground known for its hard-nosed, emotionally charged play.
From the drop of the puck, Pittsburgh showed the measure of control that mattered. They opened the scoring with two first-period goals and added another in the second. Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby each contributed assists, setting the tone for a strong collective performance that kept the team in front as the game progressed.
Chris Letang marked the occasion by appearing in his thousandth regular-season game for the franchise, becoming part of a historic trio alongside Crosby and Malkin who have now played in a thousand games together for the team. Crosby and Malkin reached the milestone slightly earlier, illustrating the long-term loyalty and impact of the core duo.
Brian Rust delivered the decisive moment with a late goal that sealed the advantage and preserved Pittsburgh’s lead, despite a late push from the Flyers that produced two goals in the third period. The final outcome underscored how the Penguins balanced offense and defense when it counted most.
Late in the game, Malkin drew a roughing penalty that extended into major penalties, an incident that amplified penalties assigned during the session. The accumulated penalty minutes for Malkin stood out as a personal statistic and reflected the aggressive nature of the contest. He also sits atop the team’s discipline chart with a high total of minutes in penalties across his career, a mark echoing through the franchise’s record books.
The Penguins’ penalty leadership and on-ice impact highlighted the broader narrative surrounding the team’s season, with the locker room focusing on sustained discipline and the offensive rhythm needed to secure a playoff position.
Other matches
Louis Blues – Boston Bruins – 3:4 B
Carolina Hurricanes 2-1 New York Islanders
Columbus Blue Jackets – Ottawa Senators – 4:3 Overtime
Winnipeg Jets 6-1 New Jersey Devils
Toronto Maple Leafs 2-5 Detroit Red Wings
Vancouver Canucks 1-4 Los Angeles Kings
Calgary Flames 5-4 Anaheim Ducks
Kirill Marchenko delivered the decisive overtime shot to push Columbus over Ottawa, strengthening his club’s standing among newcomers and highlighting the ongoing progress of players who have yet to be fully tested in the NHL’s top tier. Marchenko’s season now features 21 shots on target and growing confidence as the campaign advances.
Nikita Zadora stepped forward with his tenth goal of the season, fueling Calgary’s victory over Anaheim as the Ducks battle to extend their playoff chances. The result added another layer to the competitive depth visible across the league as teams chase postseason berths in a tightly packed standings landscape.