Minnesota Wild 5-3 Washington Capitals
Even without Minnesota captain Kirill Kaprizov, who remains out with an injury, Washington could not steal momentum on the road against the Wild. The Capitals still chase a playoff spot, despite a string of roster moves hinting at a possible rebuild as the season approaches a crossroads.
Peter Laviolette’s squad faces a familiar issue: when they surge in the middle frames, they tend to slip back in the opening period. This game followed that script as Minnesota struck early and continued to press.
Matt Baldy opened the scoring for the Wild just 50 seconds in, giving Minnesota a 1-0 lead.
Less than four minutes later, after a Washington turnover, he fired again, pushing the tally to 2-0. The Swedish forward who had just moved to Minnesota from the Capitals at the trade deadline capitalized on the moment, finishing the top-line exchange with a goal that capped the opening frame.
The Capitals answered in the second period as captain Alexander Ovechkin anchored a push from the left circle for a power-play strike, cutting the deficit to 2-1. A little over seven minutes into the third period, Ovechkin struck again, threading a shot through traffic to pull the Capitals within a single goal and keep Washington’s hopes alive despite the mounting challenge.
By the time the dust settled, Ovechkin had reached 39 goals for the season and looked poised to inch toward the 40-goal mark, a milestone that would reaffirm his elite scoring prowess in a season marked by high expectations and veteran leadership. He also added an assist on a subsequent play that produced Dylan Strome’s tally, though the Capitals could not complete the comeback. Minnesota’s offense remained too strong, ultimately securing a 5-3 victory. Baldy added a hat trick, sealing the night for the Wild as Strome tallied late in the contest.
After the game, Ovechkin spoke to reporters about the character of his team. He emphasized that Washington will not quit, vowing to keep the fight alive in every remaining game, a stance that mirrors the steady resolve fans have come to expect from a franchise built on resilience. The Capitals sit tenth in the East, five points behind the wild-card threshold, with Pittsburgh holding a similar position and holding games in hand. An injury to Evgeny Kuznetsov after a collision in the first period added to the mounting challenges around Washington’s lineup.
Meanwhile, the Wild moved a step closer to the top of their division. Minnesota remained within striking distance of the conference leaders as the season progressed, aided by a deep rotation that allowed them to weather the absence of Kaprizov and still produce a win that reinforced their playoff aspirations. The result left the Capitals with work to do as they navigate a tight race toward the postseason.
New York Rangers 7-0 Nashville Predators
Yevgeny Traikh however is working hard in the West to help Nashville climb toward the playoff picture. The game against the Rangers, who rode momentum to a fourth straight win, may be one the Predators prefer to forget quickly.
The early onslaught in Madison Square Garden began in the first period when Nashville found themselves overwhelmed as the Rangers found their footing. Goaltender Jusse Saros faced a barrage of shots and was pulled early after allowing several goals. The night showcased a standout performance from Artemi Panarin, who registered a goal and two assists in the period, while Vladimir Tarasenko could not find the scoresheet.
Defensively, K’Andre Miller emerged as a standout, becoming the first defenseman in the franchise’s history to record four points in a single period. The Rangers pressed their advantage, extending a streak that solidified their position in the upper tier of the division standings, and leaving Nashville to regroup in hopes of a better outcome in the next outing.
Panarin extended his point streak to four games with six points in those efforts, helping New York to a commanding lead as the season wore on. The Predators, meanwhile, found themselves in a challenging spot, sitting in the lower half of the Western Conference standings with a handful of games remaining to sharpen their playoff push. Nashville faced a steep climb with several teams ahead of them and limited opportunities to make up ground as the schedule wound down.
Nashville remains in the mix but in a tougher position, as the West battles for seeding and playoff positioning. A team with the talent to turn things around still has time, yet the coming weeks will demand sharper execution and more consistent performances across all lines.
Tampa Bay Lightning 2-5 New Jersey Devils
The Lightning’s home date with the Devils did not go as hoped, ending in a defeat that halted a brief string of recent success against New Jersey. The early mentality was positive as Nikita Kucherov connected on a clever finish in the first period following a strong setup with Steven Stamkos, marking a milestone in Kucherov’s season and equating to a notable tally in his career.
That early burst came as a reminder of the talent on Tampa Bay’s roster and the high expectations that come with contending for a championship. New Jersey answered back, and Jasper Bratt completed his first NHL hat trick, shifting momentum in favor of the visitors and delivering a decisive performance that tilted the game in the Devils’ direction.
The Devils rode a strong push in the middle frame into a convincing victory, underscoring their role as a formidable challenger within a tightly contested league. The Lightning will look to rebound against strong opposition as the season presses on, aiming to regain the pacing that has defined their recent success and prove they can handle adversity when it matters most.
Other matches
Buffalo Sabers 0-7 Boston Bruins
Vegas Golden Knights 7-2 Columbus Blue Jackets
St Louis Blues 3-0 Winnipeg Jets
Anaheim Ducks 1-2 Vancouver Canucks
Pavel Dorofeyev and Kirill Marchenko, two rising forwards for Vegas and Columbus, each logged a goal and an assist in a competitive showdown as the Golden Knights continued their strong campaign.