Hold onto your hockey helmets, because the NHL just served up a slate of games that will leave you breathless! From jaw-dropping comebacks to record-breaking performances, this roundup is a must-read for any hockey fan. But here's where it gets really exciting: Leon Draisaitl's hat trick and Connor McDavid's five assists weren't just impressive—they were historic, tying them for the second-most five-assist games in Edmonton Oilers history. And this is the part most people miss: while the Oilers celebrated, the Calgary Flames were left reeling, their defense seemingly no match for Edmonton's dynamic duo. Controversial take alert: Is it time to start calling McDavid and Draisaitl the most dominant duo in the NHL today? Let's dive into the details.
Edmonton Oilers 5, Calgary Flames 1
Leon Draisaitl’s hat trick and Connor McDavid’s five assists powered the Edmonton Oilers to a commanding 5-1 victory over the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman also lit the lamp, while goalie Connor Ingram stood tall with 18 saves. McDavid’s performance marked his second career five-assist game, tying him with Draisaitl and Paul Coffey for the second-most in franchise history—only Wayne Gretzky’s 12 games surpass them. For the Flames, MacKenzie Weegar scored, and Dustin Wolf made 34 saves in a tough outing. The Oilers improved to 8-2-1 overall and in their last 11 meetings with Calgary, solidifying their dominance in this rivalry.
Buffalo Sabres 3, Ottawa Senators 2 (OT)
Bowen Byram emerged as the overtime hero, scoring just 31 seconds into the extra frame to extend the Buffalo Sabres’ winning streak to seven games. Byram’s one-timer from Ryan McLeod sealed the deal, adding to his earlier goal and assist. Noah Ostlund also scored, and Alex Lyon made 24 saves for the Sabres. Ridly Greig and Tim Stutzle found the net for the Senators, but Linus Ullmark’s 22 saves weren’t enough to prevent Ottawa’s four-game winning streak from coming to an end. Thought-provoking question: Can the Sabres sustain this momentum and become a serious playoff contender?
Nashville Predators 3, Minnesota Wild 2 (OT)
Steven Stamkos played the role of overtime hero, scoring 53 seconds into the extra period to lift the Nashville Predators to their first three-game winning streak of the season. Stamkos and Ryan O’Reilly each had a goal and an assist, while Roman Josi also scored. Juuse Saros was stellar, stopping 30 of 32 shots. For the Wild, Brock Faber and Joel Eriksson Ek scored, but Filip Gustavsson’s three goals allowed on 29 shots weren’t enough. Despite the loss, Minnesota remains strong at 7-1-1 in their last nine games. Controversial interpretation: Are the Predators finally finding their stride, or is this just a fleeting hot streak?
Detroit Red Wings 4, Dallas Stars 3 (OT)
Dylan Larkin’s late-game heroics—tying the game in the third period and scoring 34 seconds into overtime—gave the Detroit Red Wings a thrilling win over the Dallas Stars. James van Riemsdyk added a goal and an assist, and John Gibson made 19 saves as the Red Wings improved to 9-2-1 in December. The Stars, who saw their four-game winning streak snapped, got goals from Wyatt Johnston, Jamie Benn, and Roope Hintz, with Mikko Rantanen logging two assists. Casey DeSmith stopped 21 shots. Discussion starter: Is Dylan Larkin the most underrated player in the NHL right now?
Vegas Golden Knights 7, San Jose Sharks 2
The Vegas Golden Knights exploded for five goals in the first period, setting a team record and crushing the San Jose Sharks 7-2. Mitch Marner scored twice, while Reilly Smith and Mark Stone each had a goal and an assist. Brett Howden, Colton Sissons, and Tomas Hertl also scored, and Carter Hart’s 21 saves earned him his 100th career win. Thirteen Golden Knights players recorded a point in the first period alone, showcasing their depth. For the Sharks, Macklin Celebrini and Collin Graf scored, but Tyler Toffoli’s two assists weren’t enough to prevent their third straight loss. Bold statement: This Golden Knights team is starting to look like a Stanley Cup contender again.
New York Islanders 2, New Jersey Devils 1
Adam Pelech’s late goal with 1:15 remaining lifted the New York Islanders to a 2-1 win over the New Jersey Devils. Simon Holmstrom’s assist set up the winner, and David Rittich made 31 saves in place of the injured Ilya Sorokin. Brett Pesce scored for the Devils, but Jacob Markstrom’s 23 saves couldn’t prevent their loss. The Islanders snapped a three-game losing streak, while the Devils’ struggles continued. Question for the audience: Is this Islanders team capable of making a deep playoff run with their current goaltending situation?
Florida Panthers 5, Carolina Hurricanes 2
The Florida Panthers stormed back with five unanswered goals to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-2, their second comeback win against Carolina in five days. Sam Reinhart had three assists, while Niko Mikkola, Luke Kunin, Anton Lundell, Sam Bennett, and Seth Jones scored. Sergei Bobrovsky’s 17 saves earned him his 445th career win, tying Terry Sawchuk for eighth all-time. Eric Robinson and Andrei Svechnikov scored for the Hurricanes, but Frederik Andersen’s five goals allowed on 22 shots were costly. Controversial take: Are the Panthers the team to beat in the Eastern Conference?
New York Rangers 7, Washington Capitals 3
The New York Rangers erupted for five goals in the third period, led by Vincent Trocheck’s two goals, to end their four-game losing streak against the Washington Capitals. Former Capital Taylor Raddysh also scored twice and added an assist, while Alexis Lafreniere’s 100th career goal broke a tie. Igor Shesterkin made 29 saves as the Rangers handed the Capitals their sixth loss in seven games. Aliaksei Protas, John Carlson, and Dylan Strome scored for Washington, but it wasn’t enough. Discussion starter: Can the Capitals turn their season around, or is this team in need of a major overhaul?
Toronto Maple Leafs 6, Pittsburgh Penguins 3
Max Domi’s go-ahead goal in the third period propelled the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 6-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, snapping a three-game losing streak. William Nylander scored twice, including an empty-netter, and added two assists. Matias Maccelli, Steven Lorentz, and Bobby McMann also scored, while Joseph Woll made 29 saves. Bryan Rust, Rutger McGroarty, and Anthony Mantha scored for the Penguins, who have lost nine of their last 10 games. Stuart Skinner stopped 25 shots. Thought-provoking question: Is this the beginning of the end for the Penguins’ current core?
Montreal Canadiens 6, Boston Bruins 2
The Montreal Canadiens broke a tie with four unanswered goals in the third period, cruising to a 6-2 win over the Boston Bruins. Zack Bolduc’s goal at 7:04 sparked the rally, and Nick Suzuki, Ivan Demidov, and Juraj Slafkovsky each had a goal and an assist. Noah Dobson and Lane Hutson dished out three assists apiece, and Jacob Fowler made 26 saves. Marat Khusnutdinov and Alex Steeves scored for the Bruins, who extended their winless streak to four games (0-3-1). Controversial interpretation: Are the Bruins’ struggles a temporary slump or a sign of deeper issues?
Philadelphia Flyers 3, Chicago Blackhawks 1
Travis Konecny’s goal and 300th career assist led the Philadelphia Flyers to a 3-1 win over the struggling Chicago Blackhawks. Noah Cates and Carl Grundstrom also scored, and Sean Couturier added two assists. Samuel Ersson made 20 saves as the Flyers earned at least a point for the eighth time in nine games (4-1-4). Ryan Donato scored for the Blackhawks, who lost their sixth straight game and fell to 2-8-1 in December. Spencer Knight stopped 23 shots. Question for the audience: Can the Blackhawks turn their season around, or is this a lost cause?
Colorado Avalanche 1, Utah Mammoth 0
Scott Wedgewood’s 32-save shutout led the Colorado Avalanche to a 1-0 win over the Utah Mammoth, extending their home winning streak to 13 games. Samuel Girard scored the lone goal, and the Avalanche improved to 15-0-2 at home this season. Colorado’s 27-2-7 record ties them for the second-most wins before the holiday break since 1972-73. Mammoth goalie Karel Vejmelka was a late scratch with an injury, and Vitek Vanecek made 25 saves in relief. Bold statement: The Avalanche are the team to beat in the Western Conference.
Seattle Kraken 3, Los Angeles Kings 2
Jordan Eberle and Frederick Gaudreau each scored for the second straight night as the Seattle Kraken defeated the Los Angeles Kings 3-2. Ben Meyers also scored, and Eeli Tolvanen added two assists. Joey Daccord made 35 saves as the Kraken swept the three California teams on their road trip. Kevin Fiala and Andrei Kuzmenko scored for the Kings, who lost their sixth game in seven (1-4-2). Pheonix Copley stopped 25 of 28 shots. Discussion starter: Are the Kraken finally turning a corner after their slow start?
What’s your take on these games? Which team impressed you the most, and which player do you think is having a breakout season? Let’s debate in the comments!
