If you woke up wondering who won the hockey game last night, you probably noticed the NHL schedule was absolutely packed. Saturday nights in mid-January usually are. It is that weird point in the season where the standings start to actually matter, and the "it's early" excuses have officially expired. We saw some massive upsets, a few blowouts that were honestly hard to watch, and some goaltending performances that defied the laws of physics.
The biggest story of the night had to be the clash in Toronto. The Maple Leafs hosted the Montreal Canadiens in a game that felt way more like a playoff matchup than a regular-season Saturday. Toronto ended up taking it 4-2, but the score doesn't really tell the whole story. Montreal's young core looked dangerous for about forty minutes before the Leafs' depth eventually wore them down. Auston Matthews didn't find the back of the net, which is rare, but his playmaking was on another level. He’s evolving. It’s fun to watch.
The Big Winners and Losers from Last Night
Out West, things got weird. The Vegas Golden Knights continued their dominant stretch by dismantling the Calgary Flames. It wasn't even close. Calgary looks like a team searching for an identity, while Vegas just looks like a machine. If you're betting on the Cup right now, it's hard to look away from Nevada.
Then there’s the Florida Panthers. They visited the New Jersey Devils and came away with a gritty 3-1 win. Florida plays a style of hockey that is basically a car crash on ice—heavy, fast, and miserable for the opponent. Paul Maurice has these guys buying into a system that just suffocates creativity. New Jersey’s speed was neutralized early, and they never really recovered.
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Scores from around the league:
- Toronto Maple Leafs 4, Montreal Canadiens 2
- Vegas Golden Knights 5, Calgary Flames 1
- Florida Panthers 3, New Jersey Devils 1
- Colorado Avalanche 6, St. Louis Blues 4
- Boston Bruins 2, Philadelphia Flyers 0
The Bruins game was a classic. Jeremy Swayman is basically a brick wall at this point. Philadelphia put up 35 shots, and not a single one got past him. It’s frustrating for the Flyers, sure, but for Boston fans, it’s just another Saturday at the office.
Why the Standings are Shifting Fast
Usually, people don't panic about the standings until after the All-Star break. But this year is different. The Eastern Conference wildcard race is already a bloodbath. When you look at who won the hockey game last night, you have to look at the "four-point games." These are the matchups between divisional rivals where a win doesn't just give you points—it keeps them away from the person chasing you.
The Colorado victory over St. Louis was huge for this reason. Colorado has been dealing with injuries all season, and Nathan MacKinnon is basically carrying the team on his back. He had three points last night. Three. The guy is playing a different sport than everyone else. St. Louis fought back hard in the third period, but when you give a team like the Avalanche a power play in the final five minutes, you're asking for trouble.
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It’s interesting to see how much parity there is right now. Honestly, on any given night, the last-place team can beat the first-place team. We saw a bit of that with the Blackhawks putting up a massive fight against the Rangers, even if they didn't get the "W" in the end. The talent gap is shrinking, and it makes for much better TV.
Goaltending Masterclasses and Defensive Collapses
If you're a fan of high-scoring games, last night was your Christmas. We had multiple games with over seven total goals. But if you’re a goalie coach? You’re probably having a heart attack.
The Edmonton Oilers game was a perfect example. We know they can score. We know McDavid and Draisaitl are going to do something that ends up on a highlight reel. But their defensive zone coverage is still... questionable. They won, but it was a 5-4 nail-biter that probably shouldn't have been that close. Stuart Skinner made some saves late, but the volume of high-danger chances he's facing is unsustainable. You can't outrun your problems forever, even if you’re the fastest skater in the world.
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Key Individual Performances
- Nathan MacKinnon (COL): 1 Goal, 2 Assists. Absolute dominance.
- Jeremy Swayman (BOS): 35-save shutout. He's making a case for the Vezina.
- Mitch Marner (TOR): Controlled the pace of the game against Montreal. His vision is elite.
- Jack Eichel (VGK): Two goals. He looks healthy and dangerous.
People forget how much travel impacts these Saturday games. A lot of these teams were playing the second half of a back-to-back. You could see the fatigue in the third period of the Detroit game. Their legs just went. It's a brutal schedule, and the teams with the best "bottom six" forwards are the ones that end up winning those late-night battles.
Looking Ahead: What This Means for Your Team
So, who won the hockey game last night and does it actually matter? In the grand scheme, yes. We are approaching the trade deadline. General Managers are watching these games with a magnifying glass. If a team like Calgary keeps sliding, expect them to be "sellers." They’ll be looking to offload veteran contracts for draft picks and prospects.
On the flip side, teams like Toronto and Florida are firmly in "buyer" territory. They don't need much, but a depth defenseman or a gritty fourth-line winger could be the difference between a first-round exit and a deep run. Last night's games gave those GMs a lot of film to study.
If you’re tracking your fantasy team, hopefully, you had some Colorado or Vegas players in your lineup. The offensive output from those two squads was off the charts.
Actionable Steps for Hockey Fans:
- Check the Injury Reports: Several key players left games early last night, including a scare for a top defenseman in Vancouver. Keep an eye on the morning skate reports tomorrow.
- Watch the Waiver Wire: In fantasy leagues, look for the backup goalies who stepped up last night. If a starter is struggling, a change might be coming sooner than you think.
- Review the Condensed Replays: If you missed the games, the NHL’s official YouTube channel drops 8-minute recaps that are way better than just looking at a box score. You get a feel for the momentum shifts.
- Monitor Trade Rumors: Now that we’re past the mid-way point, the "insider" reports are going to start heating up. Follow guys like Elliotte Friedman or Chris Johnston for the most accurate info.
The season is a marathon, not a sprint. But last night felt like a very fast mile in the middle of that race. The intensity is ramping up, the hits are getting harder, and the margin for error is getting smaller. Whether your team won or lost, the league is in a great spot right now. The talent level has never been higher.