The NHL scores last night and the streaks that finally snapped

Last night was one of those weird, chaotic Tuesdays where the NHL standings basically got put into a blender. If you were looking for predictable outcomes, you definitely didn't find them. We had a massive point streak end in Salt Lake City, a franchise record tied in Pittsburgh, and a coaching debut in Calgary that actually went according to plan for once.

Honestly, the biggest headline has to be the NHL scores last night showing a 6-1 blowout where the Toronto Maple Leafs finally hit a wall. They had a 10-game point streak going into Utah. Then the Mammoth just dismantled them. Dylan Guenther is becoming a genuine problem for the rest of the league, and his two goals last night proved it.

Winners, Losers, and the McDavid Milestone

It’s getting hard to find new ways to describe Connor McDavid. The guy is just relentless. Even though the Edmonton Oilers lost 4-3 in overtime to the Nashville Predators, McDavid’s two assists pushed his point streak to 20 games. 20 games. That’s nearly a quarter of a season without a single "off" night.

But Nashville didn't care about the milestone. Roman Josi played like a man possessed, netting two goals including the overtime winner.

Over in Pittsburgh, the Tampa Bay Lightning are officially the hottest team in hockey. They edged out the Penguins 2-1 in a shootout, which sounds like a boring scoreline until you realize it’s their 11th straight win. That ties a franchise record. Without Brayden Point, who’s currently week-to-week, Nikita Kucherov and Gage Goncalves stepped up in the shootout to keep the train rolling.

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Why the Atlantic Division is a Nightmare

The Boston Bruins are quietly terrifying again. They shut out the Detroit Red Wings 3-0, and Jeremy Swayman looked unbeatable with 24 saves. It’s their fourth win in a row. Detroit, on the other hand, had a huge emotional high on Monday retiring Sergei Fedorov’s number 91, but they looked completely gassed by the second period last night.

The Bowness Effect in Columbus

Rick Bowness is back behind a bench, and apparently, that was all the Columbus Blue Jackets needed. They beat the Calgary Flames 5-3. It was a weird game. Dante Fabbro and Charlie Coyle jumped out to an early lead, and while Calgary tried to claw back, Columbus actually held on. Usually, they’d crumble in the third, but the "new coach smell" seemed to provide some structural integrity.

Full Breakdown of NHL Scores Last Night

If you missed the ticker, here is how the rest of the league shook out.

• Utah Mammoth 6, Toronto Maple Leafs 1: Guenther was the star, but Jack McBain also had a massive three-point night.
• St. Louis Blues 3, Carolina Hurricanes 0: Joel Hofer earned a 33-save shutout. Carolina has been dominant lately, so seeing them get blanked was a shocker.
• Washington Capitals 3, Montreal Canadiens 2 (OT): Ethen Frank is making a name for himself. He scored twice in the third period to force OT, and Connor McMichael finished it off.
• Ottawa Senators 2, Vancouver Canucks 1: Ottawa scored twice in 15 seconds in the first period and then just sat on the lead. It worked.
• Winnipeg Jets 5, New York Islanders 4: A high-scoring mess. Kyle Connor and Adam Lowry each had two points to help Winnipeg survive a late Islanders push.
• Anaheim Ducks 3, Dallas Stars 1: Lukas Dostal made 24 saves to end Anaheim's miserable nine-game losing streak.

Goaltending Stole the Show

We talk a lot about the skaters, but the NHL scores last night were dictated by the guys in the crease. Joel Hofer’s performance against Carolina was a clinic in positioning. Carolina usually generates a high volume of shots, but Hofer didn't give them any second-chance opportunities.

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Then you have Lukas Dostal. Ending a nine-game slide is mostly psychological. When a team loses that much, they start waiting for the "bad thing" to happen. Dostal didn't let the bad thing happen. He held firm when Dallas pressed in the third, and Chris Kreider’s goal provided just enough breathing room.

What This Means for the Standings

The Lightning are now breathing down the necks of the top seeds in the East. With 61 points, they’ve moved into a tie for the most points in the Atlantic with Detroit, though the Red Wings have a game in hand.

In the West, the Utah Mammoth are proving they aren't just a flash in the pan. Beating Toronto 6-1 is a statement. They’ve moved into fourth in the Central Division, sitting just behind Minnesota.

If you're a Canucks fan, it’s getting a little grim. That 2-1 loss to Ottawa was their eighth loss in a row. They’ve fallen to the bottom of the Pacific Division, and the gap between them and a wild-card spot is starting to look like a canyon.

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Actionable Insights for Fans

If you're tracking these games for fantasy or just to stay informed, here’s what you should be watching over the next few days:

1. Ride the Lightning: Until Tampa Bay actually loses a game, don't bet against them. Their defensive structure during this 11-game streak has been elite.
2. Monitor the Canucks' Roster: With an eight-game losing streak, expect some roster movement or trade rumors to heat up in Vancouver.
3. McDavid’s Pursuit: He’s at 20 games. The all-time record is 51 (Gretzky, obviously), but getting to 25 or 30 is becoming a very real possibility.
4. The Bowness Factor: Watch if Columbus can maintain the defensive discipline they showed last night. If they do, they might actually play spoiler for some playoff contenders.

The league is back in action tonight with a smaller four-game slate, including a huge matchup between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Los Angeles Kings.

To keep your finger on the pulse, keep an eye on the injury reports for the Lightning regarding Brayden Point, as his absence will eventually test their depth during this historic run. Also, check the waiver wire in fantasy leagues for Ethen Frank; the kid is starting to find the back of the net with surprising regularity.