NHL RECAP MARCH 22, 2025 – SIX teams in Wild Card races record victories during 14-game Saturday

Two clubs occupying a Wild Card spot and four teams within four points of one earned wins Saturday:

• Mats Zuccarello (1-1—2) factored two of Minnesota’s four goals to help the Wild earn their third straight victory and match the third-fewest games in a season to 40 wins (also 2022-23). The only campaigns they did so faster was 2016-17 (60 GP) and 2021-22 (64 GP). Meanwhile, Zuccarello passed Zach Parise (79) for sole possession of the fourth most multi-point games in franchise history behind Mikko Koivu (153), Marian Gaborik (114) and Kirill Kaprizov (106).
• Tim Stützle factored on Ottawa’s opening goal during its 3-2 win over New Jersey and tied the franchise benchmark for most consecutive 50-assist seasons, matching Erik Karlsson (3 from 2015-16 – 2017-18) and Jason Spezza (3 from 2005-06 – 2007-08). The victory helped the Senators build a four-point cushion over the Canadiens, who rallied from three goals down in the third period to salvage a point in a shootout loss versus the Avalanche.
• Jordan Kyrou (0-1—1) factored on a highlight-reel goal to record his fourth straight 60-point campaign and become just the third Blues skater in the past 30 years to post a run of that length, following Vladimir Tarasenko (5 from 2014-15 – 2018-19) and Pierre Turgeon (5 from 1996-97 – 2000-01). St. Louis extended its home point streak to eight games (7-0-1), marking the club’s longest run since Nov. 18, 2021 to Jan. 13, 2022 (12-0-1).
• Rasmus Andersson (0-3—3) factored on three of four Calgary goals, including Nazem Kadri’s overtime winner, to record his seventh career three-point game and tie Noah Hanifin for eighth most by a Flames defenseman. The Flames earned their third straight comeback win dating to March 18 – their longest streak since another three-game run from Dec 5-9, 2019.
• Logan Cooley (2-1—3) scored twice to eclipse the 20-goal mark and help Utah match its season-high for goals in a game (6). Cooley became the fifth active U.S.-born skater to record multiple 20-goal campaigns before age 21, following Brady Tkachuk (2019-20 & 2018-19), Auston Matthews (2017-18 & 2016-17), Jack Eichel (2016-17 & 2015-16) and Patrick Kane (2008-09 & 2007-08).
• After entering the final frame tied 1-1, the Rangers and Canucks combined for a six-goal third period that saw New York net three go-ahead tallies to move within one point of Montreal. The Rangers scored three third-period, go-ahead goals in a game for the fourth time since the expansion era (1967-68), which is also tied for their most in a contest (also March 26, 2024, March 12, 1999 & Dec. 5, 1982).

CAPITALS CONTINUING TO ROLL, OTHER CLUBS KEEPING PACE
Saturday, the Capitals (47-15-8, 102 points) opened a two-point lead atop the League standings as well as the Stars (44-21-4, 92 points), Golden Knights (41-20-8, 90 points), Avalanche (43-25-3, 89 points), Oilers (41-24-5, 87 points) and Kings (38-21-9, 85 points) improved their chances of joining Washington in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Some highlights include:

• Tom Wilson (1-1—2) and Dylan Strome scored goals in the opening minute of the second period to help the Capitals clip the reigning Stanley Cup champions. Alex Ovechkin assisted on the tallies by Strome and Andrew Mangiapane, with Vitek Vanecek becoming the 197th different goaltender that Ovechkin has recorded at least one point against.
• Tomas Hertl had his second hat trick in a seven-game span to reach the 30-goal mark for the third time in his career. The Golden Knights, who maintained their three-point lead on the Oilers atop the Pacific Division, have had a player score a hat trick in each of their last three home games (also Pavel Dorofeyev on March 20 & Hertl on March 9).
• Quinton Byfield (1-1—2) scored the Kings’ 13th consecutive goal at Crypto.com Arena dating to March 11 before the Hurricanes got on the board as Los Angeles kept pace with Vegas and Edmonton. Byfield became the first Kings player with a six-game home goal streak since Jeff Carter (7 GP from Feb. 23 to March 9, 2013).

FLYERS, BLACKHAWKS TAKE CENTER STAGE ON NHL NETWORK SHOWCASE

A seven-game Sunday begins with an NHL Network Showcase game between the Flyers and Blackhawks, where Connor Bedard will have the opportunity to push his goal streak at United Center to four games. Only six other active players have posted a home run of that length as a teenager: Steven Stamkos (6 GP in 2009-10), Sidney Crosby (4 GP twice in 2006-07), Filip Chytil (4 GP in 2018-19), Jesperi Kotkaniemi (4 GP in 2018-19), Alex DeBrincat (4 GP in 2017-18) and Matt Duchene (5 GP in 2010-11).

RED WINGS ASSIGN BROGAN RAFFERTY TO GRAND RAPIDS

The Detroit Red Wings have assigned defenseman Brogan Rafferty to the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins.

Rafferty, 29, has recorded 19 points (6-13-19) and 17 penalty minutes in 50 games with the Griffins during the 2024-25 season. The 6-foot, 200-pound blueliner spent the 2023-24 campaign with Grand Rapids, notching 29 points (4-25-29), a plus-three rating and eight penalty minutes in 62 regular-season games. Rafferty also picked up four assists, a plus-six rating and four penalty minutes in nine Calder Cup Playoff games, helping the Griffins reach the Central Division Finals. Originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Vancouver Canucks on April 1, 2019, Rafferty picked up one assist in three appearances with the club in 2018-19 and 2020-21. Rafferty has also totaled 168 points (30-138-168), a plus-41 rating and 115 penalty minutes in 306 AHL games with the Utica Comets, San Diego Gulls, Coachella Valley Firebirds and Griffins, representing Utica at the 2020 AHL All-Star Classic. He was named to the AHL’s Second All-Star Team in 2022-23 and 2019-20, in addition to earning a spot on the league’s All-Rookie Team in 2019-20 after leading all first-year players with 38 assists.