Honestly, if you missed the NHL action last night, you missed one of those rare evenings where the scriptwriters seemed to be showing off. It wasn’t just about the wins and losses. We saw a legendary jersey retirement, a massive hat trick, and some standings shakeups that make the playoff race look like a total crazer.
The big story was in Boston, but the scoreboard was lit up all across North America. From the Utah Mammoth continuing their tear to a high-scoring barnburner in Vegas, here is the breakdown of who won in hockey last night and why these specific games actually mattered.
Tage Thompson Is Just Unfair Right Now
If you’re wondering who won in hockey last night in the most dominant fashion, look no further than Buffalo. The Sabres took down the Montreal Canadiens 5-3, and Tage Thompson basically decided he wasn't going to let them stay in it.
Thompson notched his ninth career hat trick. Think about that for a second. He also added two assists, finishing the night with a casual five points. He’s currently playing like a guy who’s figured out a cheat code, leading Buffalo to their 15th win in the last 17 games. They are the hottest team in the Atlantic right now, and it isn't particularly close.
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Montreal kept it competitive early with goals from Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki, but they just couldn't contain Thompson's reach and release. Buffalo has officially jumped into a Wild Card spot, which is a massive deal for a franchise that has been staring at the postseason from the outside for way too long.
A Night for Big Zee in Boston
The atmosphere at TD Garden was electric before the puck even dropped. The Bruins retired Zdeno Chara’s No. 33, and the ceremony was a tear-jerker with Bobby Orr and Cam Neely in the building.
Sometimes these "tribute nights" lead to a bit of a letdown because the energy is so focused on the past. Not this time. The Bruins beat the Seattle Kraken 4-2, fueled by that pre-game emotion. Jeremy Swayman was solid with 26 saves, and Viktor Arvidsson got things moving early.
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Seattle tried to play spoiler, with Chandler Stephenson and Eeli Tolvanen finding the net, but Boston’s structure was too much. They’ve now swept a five-game homestand for the first time in seven years. If you’re a Bruins fan, you’ve gotta be feeling pretty good about the momentum they’re carrying into the mid-season.
The Mammoth Are Actually For Real
There was a lot of skepticism about how hockey would work in Salt Lake City, but the Utah Mammoth are silenced the critics. They beat the Dallas Stars 2-1 last night in a game that was much tighter than the score suggests.
Karel Vejmelka is the real deal. He made 26 saves and picked up his 22nd win of the season, which currently leads the entire NHL. That’s not a typo. The guy is a wall. The winning goal came from John Marino on a weird bounce off Jake Oettinger’s mask, proving that sometimes you just need a little luck when you’re on a heater. Utah has now earned at least a point in six straight games.
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Quick Hits: Last Night’s Scoreboard
It was a busy 10-game slate. Here is a quick look at the other winners who cleared the ice with two points:
- Vegas Golden Knights 6, Toronto Maple Leafs 5 (OT): A total disaster for defensive coaches, but a dream for fans. Mark Stone won it in overtime.
- New York Islanders 1, Edmonton Oilers 0: Ilya Sorokin was superhuman, stopping 35 shots to shut out McDavid and Draisaitl.
- Columbus Blue Jackets 4, Vancouver Canucks 1: Rick Bowness has this team playing hard. Elvis Merzlikins looked like his old self with 30 saves.
- Calgary Flames 3, Chicago Blackhawks 1: Connor Bedard was held quiet while Mikael Backlund led the way for the Flames.
- Pittsburgh Penguins 6, Philadelphia Flyers 3: Sidney Crosby had two points in a classic rivalry win.
- San Jose Sharks 3, Washington Capitals 2: A huge second period for the Sharks was enough to hold off an Ovechkin-led rally.
- Winnipeg Jets 6, Minnesota Wild 2: Mark Scheifele went off for four points. The Jets are just physically punishing teams right now.
Why These Results Change the Outlook
The Sabres moving into a playoff position is the "stat of the night." For years, Buffalo has been the "maybe next year" team. Seeing them eclipse the 56-point mark this early suggests the culture has finally shifted under the current leadership.
Meanwhile, the Dallas Stars are in a bit of a funk. They’ve only won twice in their last 11 games. In a Western Conference that is getting more crowded by the day—especially with Utah and Vegas playing high-level hockey—Dallas needs to find their scoring touch again before they slide too far down the Central Division standings.
If you are tracking your fantasy team or just betting on the Hart Trophy race, keep an eye on Tage Thompson and Nathan MacKinnon. Thompson’s five-point night puts him right back in the conversation for the league's most valuable player.
To keep your edge on the season, watch the injury reports for the New York Rangers. They dropped a high-scoring game to Ottawa earlier in the week and are clearly struggling without Igor Shesterkin in net. The Metropolitan Division is too tight to survive a long stretch of shaky goaltending. Check the waiver wire for backup options if you're in a deep fantasy league, as several starters are looking shaky heading into the weekend.