Fantilli’s Hat Trick Powers Blue Jackets Past Rangers in 7-3 Win
Blue Jackets Dominate Rangers as Fantilli Nets Hat Trick
The Columbus Blue Jackets surged into the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with a commanding 7-3 victory over the New York Rangers on Sunday night. Adam Fantilli was the star of the show, recording his second career hat trick to help Columbus secure a crucial two points. The win puts the Blue Jackets at 70 points, one ahead of the Ottawa Senators.
Fantilli wasted no time making an impact, scoring twice in a 26-second span to ignite a four-goal second period for Columbus. He sealed his hat trick in the third period, capitalizing on an open net with 8:09 remaining. With this performance, he becomes the fifth Blue Jackets player to reach 20 goals this season. Meanwhile, Mathieu Olivier and Dante Fabbro both chipped in with a goal and an assist, and the Rangers suffered their third consecutive loss.
Artemi Panarin scored for New York, tying his career-high with a goal in a fifth straight game. However, the Rangers now sit at 68 points, just two ahead of the chasing Red Wings, Canadiens, and Bruins. The home crowd’s frustration boiled over, as loud boos filled the arena in the final minutes.
Ovechkin Moves Closer to Record as Capitals Beat Kraken
The Washington Capitals extended their winning streak to four games with a 4-2 victory over the Seattle Kraken. Connor McMichael’s clutch goal with just over four minutes left broke a deadlock, and Alex Ovechkin inched closer to history, scoring an empty-net goal that moved him within nine goals of Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record.
Ovechkin’s tally was also his 1,600th career point, further solidifying his legacy. Charlie Lindgren made 30 saves, while Dylan Strome and defenseman Martin Fehervary also found the net for Washington.
Seattle, struggling to gain traction in the playoff race, got goals from Shane Wright and captain Jordan Eberle. Goalie Joey Daccord stopped 20 shots, but the Kraken couldn’t hold off the Capitals’ late push.
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Devils Snap Losing Streak with Win Over Flyers
New Jersey ended a three-game skid with a 3-1 victory against the Flyers in Philadelphia. Cody Glass, making his debut for the Devils after being acquired at the trade deadline, scored the opening goal, and Erik Haula broke a 28-game goal drought with a second-period tally.
Jamie Drysdale scored late for Philadelphia, but the Flyers, who have now lost four straight games, were unable to generate enough offense. Jake Allen made 23 saves in net for New Jersey. With boos echoing from the home crowd, Philadelphia’s playoff hopes continue to slip.
Penguins Spoil Fleury’s Last Game Against Former Team
In a 3-1 win over the Minnesota Wild, Sidney Crosby scored twice, helping the Penguins snap their recent struggles. The victory was bittersweet, as it marked Marc-Andre Fleury’s final start against Pittsburgh—the franchise where he spent his first 13 seasons and won three Stanley Cups.
Despite making 19 saves, the 40-year-old Fleury couldn’t hold off his former team. Evgeni Malkin also scored for Pittsburgh, while Tristan Jarry made 29 stops to secure his first NHL win since December. Minnesota’s Ryan Hartman was the lone goal scorer for the Wild, who have now lost five of their last seven games.
Jankowski Shines as Hurricanes Extend Winning Streak
Mark Jankowski scored twice in his Carolina Hurricanes debut, leading the team to a 4-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. Fellow newcomer Logan Stankoven also scored, helping the Canes win their fourth straight game.
The Jets made a late push, with Alex Iafallo and Adam Lowry scoring late goals, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Frederik Andersen’s 23-save performance. The loss is just Winnipeg’s fourth in its last 17 games, but they will look to rebound after falling short against Carolina’s revamped lineup.
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Kings Outlast Golden Knights in 6-5 Thriller
A wild six-goal second period set the stage for a Kings’ 6-5 victory over Vegas. Anze Kopitar, Adrian Kempe, Warren Foegele, and Brandt Clarke each tallied a goal and an assist, helping Los Angeles hold off a late push from the Golden Knights.
Tomas Hertl recorded a hat trick for Vegas, but it wasn’t enough to extend the team’s four-game winning streak, which ended with the close loss.
Stars Stay Hot with 4-1 Win Over Canucks
Dallas continued its strong form with a 4-1 win in Vancouver, led by Mikael Granlund’s tiebreaking goal late in the second period. The Stars have now won five of their last six games, further solidifying their hold on the Central Division’s second-place spot.
Thomas Harley, Jason Robertson, and Mikko Rantanen also scored for Dallas, while Casey DeSmith stopped 22 shots to secure the victory.
Vancouver, which saw its modest two-game winning streak snapped, remains one point behind Calgary for the final Western Conference wild-card spot.
Ducks Take Down Islanders, Hurt Their Playoff Chances
Anaheim’s Sam Colangelo scored twice to lift the Ducks to a 4-1 win over the New York Islanders. Mason McTavish chipped in a goal and an assist, and Lukas Dostal stopped 31 shots, nearly securing a shutout before Tony DeAngelo’s late goal for New York.
With the loss, the Islanders missed an opportunity to climb into the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot, instead remaining four points behind in the race.
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Final Thoughts
Sunday’s NHL action had huge playoff implications, with Columbus surging into a wild-card spot, Carolina continuing its dominant run, and the Capitals keeping pace with a key win. Meanwhile, teams like the Flyers and Islanders saw their playoff hopes take a hit. As the season nears its climax, every game is becoming a must-win battle for teams still in the hunt.
