* The Canadiens jumped back into a Wild Card position by earning a comeback win over the Senators which saw them score five goals in the third period.
* Logan Thompson recorded his first career 30-win season and helped the Capitals retake first place in the NHL standings.
* Wednesday’s star-studded NHL on TNT doubleheader pits the Avalanche against the Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena as well as the Kraken versus the Wild at Xcel Energy Center.
CANADIENS CLIP SENATORS TO GRAB WILD CARD SPOT; Other clubs keep pace
The Eastern Conference’s Wild Card race will look slightly different following Tuesday’s action as the Canadiens (33-27-7, 73 points) and Islanders (31-28-8, 70 points) picked up comeback wins, while the Canucks (32-25-11, 75 points) earned a victory over the Jets to keep a hold of the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.
* Nick Suzuki scored one of Montreal’s five third-period goals as the Canadiens snapped the Senators’ six-game winning streak and leapfrogged the Rangers (33-30-6, 72 points) for the Eastern Conference’s final Wild Card spot. Montreal occupies a playoff position for the first time since entering play on Jan. 22.
* The Islanders witnessed déjà vu Tuesday as they skated to a multi-goal, third-period comeback victory for the second straight contest and remained three points back of Montreal. New York earned consecutive multi-goal, third-period comeback victories for the fourth time in franchise history, following Nov. 7-8, 2022, Nov. 16-19, 2019 as well as Dec. 31, 1985 to Jan. 2, 1986 (all 2 GP).
* Brock Boeser (2-1—3) buried two goals to reach 20 for the sixth time in his career and help the Canucks clip the Jets, who occupied first place in the NHL entering Tuesday. Boeser became the 11th player in franchise history with six 20-goal seasons.
* Dylan Holloway had two of his three assists on goals scored by Jordan Kyrou as St. Louis kept pace with Vancouver. The Blues also maintained their two-point lead on the Flames (31-25-11, 73 points), who defeated the Rangers at Madison Square Garden.
WILSON, THOMPSON HIT 30 AS CAPITALS CLIMB INTO LEAGUE LEAD IN NHL STANDINGS
Tom Wilson scored his 30th goal of the season and Logan Thompson became the fourth goaltender to reach the 30-win mark as the Capitals (45-15-8, 98 points) leapfrogged the Jets (47-18-4, 98 points) for first place in the NHL and moved within two points of 100 standings points. Washington can match the second-fewest games in franchise history to hit the century mark in a season (69 GP in 2009-10) and would trail 2015-16 (65 GP) – their next contest will be their 69th and another opportunity for Alex Ovechkin to continue The Gr8 Chase.
* Wilson became the third Capitals player to record their first 30-goal season at age 30 or older, joining Chris Clark (30 in 2006-07) and T.J. Oshie (33 in 2016-17). He also become the third player in NHL history to play in 800 career games prior to recording his first career 30-goal campaign (821 GP), behind Mike Sillinger (829 GP) and Alex Delvecchio (951 GP).
Johnston, McDavid help STARS, OILERS SKATE TO VICTORIES
The Stars and Oilers both skated to victories during Tuesday’s slate thanks in part to offensive performances from Wyatt Johnston and Connor McDavid, and bolstered their lead on second place in their respective divisions.
* Johnston scored the opening goal during the overtime win and extended his home point streak to 15 games while the Stars lengthened their home winning streak to eight contests – matching the second-longest run in franchise history – and built a four-point cushion over the Avalanche (41-24-3, 85 points) for second in the Central. Johnston’s home point streak (21 years, 308 days) is the longest run by a player before the age of 22 since Patrice Bergeron (15 GP in 2006-07).
* Edmonton (40-24-4, 84 points) became the first team in the Pacific Division to earn 40 wins this season as they potted seven goals versus Utah and moved two points back of idle Vegas (39-20-8, 86 points) for first in the division. McDavid (1-2—3), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (1-2—3), Zach Hyman (2-1—3) and Mattias Ekholm (1-2—3) all posted three points on the night, marking the first time the team has featured four players with a three-point outing since March 18, 2023.
Crosby passing, approaching Gretzky featured in #NHLStats: Live Updates
Tuesday’s edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates featured more notes from the nine-game slate, including Sidney Crosby collecting his 1,670th career point to pass Wayne Gretzky (1,669 w/ EDM) for the fourth most with one franchise in NHL history. Crosby needs six points to guarantee his 20th career point-per-game season, which would move him past Gretzky (19) for the most in League history.
* The NHL, NHLPA and Live Nation announced that the 2025 NHL Global Series Sweden presented by Fastenal will pit Crosby and the Penguins against the Predators during a two-game set at Avicii Arena in Stockholm from Nov. 14-16. Click here to read more.
QUICK CLICKS
* NHL ‘on the right track’ with goalie interference video reviews, GMs say
* Penguins returning to Stockholm to face Predators in 2025 Global Series
* Avalanche ‘better suited’ for playoffs after retooling roster
* NHL EDGE stats: Reasons Devils can still make playoffs despite injuries
* #NHLStats Ahead of First-Ever “Hockey Day in Sweden”
NYLANDER EYES 40 GOALS, MAKAR CHASES 80 POINTS DURING DOUBLEHEADER
A doubleheader on TNT, Max and TVA Sports opens with William Nylander and the Maple Leafs (40-24-3, 83 points) hosting Cale Makar and the Avalanche (41-24-3, 85 points) at Scotiabank Arena – also simulcast on Sportsnet – and concludes with the Kraken (29-34-5, 63 points) visiting the Wild (38-25-5, 81 points) at Xcel Energy Center. Toronto and Colorado are each looking to gain ground on second place in their respective divisions while Minnesota, which currently holds the first Wild Card position in the West, attempts to close the gap between themselves and the Avalanche in the Central.
* Nylander (38-33—71 in 67 GP) enters Wednesday two goals back of becoming the seventh active skater to register at least three straight 40-goal seasons. He would join Alex Ovechkin (3x, longest: 5 from 2005-06 – 2009-10), Auston Matthews (5 from 2019-20 – 2023-24), Leon Draisaitl (4 from 2021-22 – 2024-25), David Pastrnak (4 from 2021-22 – 2023-24), Kirill Kaprizov (3 from 2021-22 – 2023-24) and Steven Stamkos (3 from 2009-10 – 2011-12).
* Makar (25-53—78 in 68 GP) leads all defensemen in goals, assists and points in 2024-25 and can reach the 80-point mark for the third time in his career (also 90 in 2023-24 & 86 in 2021-22). Makar can become eighth defenseman in NHL history to reach the plateau in three or more seasons and the eighth player in Avalanche/Nordiques history, following Joe Sakic (12), Peter Stastny (8), Nathan MacKinnon (7), Michel Goulet (7), Peter Forsberg (6), Mikko Rantanen (5) and Anton Stastny (3).
