Washington Capitals 7-4 New York Rangers
The Capitals and Rangers put on a show in DC, but when the dust settled, the hosts came out on top 7-4.
It would be Chris Kreider who would put the away side in front seven minutes in, setting the tone early. But, just before the end of the opening frame, Dylan Strome made the most of a power play to draw the Caps level.
Washington would then take the lead 2:29 into the second through Lars Eller, before Andrew Mangiapane doubled their advantage midway through the period. Despite getting a goal disallowed, the Rangers would not give up, and grabbed one to make it 2-1 via Sam Carrick. It would not last long, as Connor McMichael restored the Capitals' two-goal cushion close to the end of the period.
Filip Chytil brought New York back to within one 8:32 into the third, but once again, the home team would strike back. This time, it was through their lead Alexander Ovechkin, notching his 19th of the season.
With a little less than seven minutes to play, the Rangers struck through Mika Zibanejad. That made it 5-4. However, that would be the closest they would get, as Alex Protas scored a minute later before Tom Wilson added an empty netter near the end to seal the Caps' victory.
Washington go to 55 points, as they still lead the Eastern Conference. The Rangers are still third from bottom, but are only five points out of a playoff spot.
Toronto Maple Leafs 6-4 Boston Bruins
The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Boston Bruins 6-4 in a back-and-forth game in Toronto.
The Leafs got the only goal of the opening frame as Jake McCabe put them in front three and a half minutes in. Matthew Knies doubled their advantage early in the second before the Bruins finally got on the board 12 seconds later via Morgan Geekie.
Trent Frederic would add Boston's second as the middle period came to a close, and just like that, it was 2-2. Within the first five and a half minutes of the final period, there would be three goals. Knies got his second at the 3:43 mark, though David Pastrnak tied things up 34 seconds later. Knies would not stop there, ultimately grabbing his hat-trick to make it 4-3 for Toronto.
Mitch Marner scored an empty net goal to put the Leafs up 5-3, but the drama would not stop there, as Pastrnak added his second 15 seconds after Marner's marker to bring the Bruins back to within one. However, with 31 seconds left in regulation, Auston Matthews grabbed an insurance goal to give the hosts the victory.
The Leafs jump ahead of the New Jersey Devils into second spot in the East, as they have now won their last three. Boston, who have now lost their last three outings, stay in sixth spot.
Columbus Blue Jackets 6-4 St. Louis Blues
In what might be one of the most thrilling games of the regular season, the Columbus Blue Jackets had to show some serious mental strength to outlast the St. Louis Blues at home.
Dmitri Voronkov put the hosts in front with a minute to play in the first, before Kirill Marchenko doubled the lead in the opening minutes of the second period.
The third period, however, was pure chaos. After Mikhail Pyyhtia put Columbus up 3-0 early in the frame, the Blues finally came to life. Jordan Kyrou got his goal, and that began the back-and-forth drama that was the final period. Adam Fantilli put the Blue Jackets back up by three a mere 32 seconds later, only for Cam Fowler to respond for St. Louis 90 seconds from that.
Voronkov got his second of the game to put the Blue Jackets up by three once more, and that ended the scoring... for now. Colton Parayko then got another one back for the Blues with seven minutes left. Three and a half minutes later, Brayden Schenn reduced the deficit to one.
However, the home team would hold firm from there, with Mathieu Olivier adding an empty net goal at the end to secure the victory.
Both teams sit in 10th spot within their respective conferences. The Blues are two points back of the Vancouver Canucks for the final spot in the West, while the Blue Jackets are level on points with the Ottawa Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins for the last spot in the East.