It was a one or another kinda night in the NHL as games were either one goal games or blowouts as teams look to get back into a groove again.
NHL News and Notes from Friday, December 29th, 2023
News
- Former Washington Capital and Quebec Nordique Reggie Savage passed away.
- Savage was a former first round pick of the Capitals in the 1988 NHL Draft.
- Savage played for the Capitals organization from 1990-93, and famously scored his first career NHL goal on a penalty shot.
Washington Capitals statement on the passing of club alum Reggie Savage: pic.twitter.com/kF9PDZNSuT
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 29, 2023
Game Recaps
Toronto Maple Leafs v. Columbus Blue Jackets – 7p ET
- In Columbus we would have a barn burner as the Blue Jackets would take on the Toronto Maple Leafs, and in the first period Cole Sillinger would score for the Jackets, but goals from Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews would give the Leafs the 2-1 lead. Then in the third period both teams would get three goals each as Brendan Gaunce, Dmitri Voronkov, and Kent Johnson would score for the Jackets, and Nick Roberston, William Nylander, and John Tavares would score for the Leafs to keep their one goal lead. In the third period Adam Fantilli would score his tenth of the season to tie the game at five for the Jackets to force overtime. Then in the extra frame Johnny Gaudreau would score to give the Blue Jackets the 6-5 overtime victory over the Maple Leafs.
Nashville Predators v. Detroit Red Wings – 7p ET
- In Detroit we’d have another high scoring affair as the Red Wings would take on the Nashville Predators, and in the first period Filip Forsberg would score for the Preds, but goals from Dylan Larkin and Jake Walman would give the Wings the 2-1 lead. In the second period Gustav Nyquist would score and Forsberg would net his second of the game to give the Preds the 3-2 lead. Then in the third period Alex DeBrincat would score and Walman would record his second of the game for the Wings, but Nyquist’s second of the game would tie the game at 4 and send the game to overtime for the Preds. In the extra frame Lucas Raymond would score to give the Red Wings the 5-4 overtime victory over the Predators.
New York Rangers v. Florida Panthers – 7p ET
- Down in Florida we’d have our third one goal game as the Panthers hosted the New York Rangers, and in the first period Evan Rodrigues would score for the Panthers to take the 1-0 lead. In the second period Artemi Panarin and Will Cuylle would score for the Rangers, but a pair of goals from Sam Reinhart would give keep the Panthers ahead by one. Then in the third period Mika Zibanejad would score to tie the game at three, but Carter Verhaeghe would score to give the Panthers the 4-3 victory over the Rangers.
New Jersey Devils v. Ottawa Senators – 7p ET
- In Ottawa the Senators would take on the New Jersey Devils, and in the first period Drake Batherson would score for the Sens, but goals from Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt would give the Devils the 2-1 lead. In the second period Dawson Mercer and Tyler Toffoli would score to grow the Devils lead to three. Then in the third period Jacob Bernard-Docker would score for the Sens, but goals from Brendan Smith and Luke Hughes would give the Devils the 6-2 victory over the Senators.
Washington Capitals v. New York Islanders – 730p ET
- On Long Island the Washington Capitals woes would continue as they visit the New York Islanders, and after a scoreless first period Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Noah Dobson would score to give the Isles the 2-0 lead. Then in the third period Nicolas Aube-Kubel would get a fluky goal for the Caps, but Julien Gauthier would net a pair of goals 18 seconds apart and Pageau would net his second of the game to give the Islanders the 5-1 victory over the Capitals.
Chicago Blackhawks v. Dallas Stars – 8p ET
- In Dallas the Stars would faceoff with the Chicago Blackhawks, and in the first period Tyler Johnson and Cole Guttman would score to give the Blackhawks the 2-0 lead, but Roope Hintz would score to get the Stars back within one. In the second period Joe Pavelski would score and Hintz would net his second of the game to give the Stars the 3-2 lead. Then in the third period Jamie Benn would score to grow the Stars lead to two, but goals from Jason Dickinson and Johnson would tie the game at four for the Blackhawks to force overtime. In the extra frame Hintz would complete the hat trick to give the Stars the 5-4 victory over the Blackhawks.
Colorado Avalanche v. St. Louis Blues – 8p ET
- In St. Louis the Blues would battle the Colorado Avalanche, and in the first period Ryan Johansen would open the scoring for the Avs, but Robert Thomas would score to tie the game at one for the Blues. Then after a scoreless second period Devon Toews would score to give the Avalanche the 2-1 victory over the Blues.
Late Games
- Arizona Coyotes v. Anaheim Ducks – 10p ET
- Philadelphia Flyers v. Seattle Kraken – 10p ET
Today’s Games
- MIN v. WIN – 2p ET
- CLB v. BUF – 5p ET
- NJ v. BOS – 7p ET
- MON v. FLA – 7p ET
- STL v. PIT – 7p ET
- NYR v. TB – 7p ET
- CAR v. TOR – 7p ET
- NAS v. WAS – 7p ET
- EDM v. LA – 10p ET
Noteworthy in Hockey
- 32 Thoughts Podcast: Holiday Freeze Headlines (SportsNet)
- Savage, former NHL forward for Capitals, Nordiques, dies at 53 (NHL)
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