Toronto Maple Leafs 1-3 Washington Capitals
Led by a Nic Dowd (8) goal and assist, the Washington Capitals (18-6-2) got past the Toronto Maple Leafs (16-8-2) 3-1 on the road to commence the action. The game's first goal came a minute into the second period through Dowd to put the Capitals in front. The lead would last for almost 10 and a half minutes before John Tavares (12) drew the Leafs level.
Midway through the final period, the guests retook the lead, and this time, it was for good. Connor McMichael (15) made the most of a disastrous giveaway in the Leafs' crease to nod the Capitals back in front. The home team, desperate for an equaliser, pulled their goaltender in the final moments. Tried as they may, however, none of their 10 third-period shots managed to go in.
With less than a minute to play, Alexei Protas (9) added an empty-net goal to seal the deal for Washington, who are still without captain Alex Ovechkin.
The Caps still lead the NHL with 38 points from 26 games, with the result in Toronto being fourth of their last five. As for the Leafs, they stay fourth in the Eastern Conference, with the defeat putting an end to their three-game winning streak.
New York Rangers 4-2 Pittsburgh Penguins
The New York Rangers (14-10-1) also came out on top as they defeated the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins (11-13-4) by a 4-2 scoreline. New York had to play from behind, as Blake Lizotte put the away side in front at Madison Square Garden. The goal was Lizotte's fifth of the year.
The lead only lasted for 1:09 for Pittsburgh, as Artemi Panarin (15) responded with his marker. The Russian then added a second with two seconds left in the second period to allow the Rangers to head into the second intermission with the lead. Philip Tomasino (3) drew the Penguins level at the 11:31 mark of the third period, but as was the case with the first goal, Washington responded very quickly, this time, through Riley Smith (4).
Vincent Trocheck (7) rounded out the scoring with 1:38 left to give the Rangers the victory. In what is their sixth win over the Pens in their last seven head-to-heads New York jumped ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning into seventh spot. The Penguins stay 11th in the Eastern Conference, with their four-game winning streak coming to an end.
New Jersey Devils 3-2 Seattle Kraken
In New Jersey, the Devils (18-9-2) edged the Seattle Kraken (13-14-1) by a 3-2 scoreline. This is despite the Kraken twice taking the lead, which has to be seen as a massive disappointment for them. Andre Burakovsky (2) put his side in front 10:16 into the first period, only for Luke Hughes to tie things up a couple of minutes later, with the goal being his first of the year.
Shane Wright (6) put Seattle ahead again early in the second period on the power play, and while they held onto the lead for longer, the Devils responded through Jesper Bratt (13) eight minutes in. New Jersey would take the lead less than a minute into the third period as Timo Meier (9) found the breakthrough to put his side ahead for the first time that night.
Although the Kraken had virtually the whole third period to grab an equaliser, they were unable to in the end, as they failed to make it three wins on the spin. The Devils, now winners of back-to-back games, maintain second spot in the East. Seattle have some catching up to do, as they are currently three points out from a playoff spot in the Western Conference.