The Montreal Canadiens and St. Louis Blues went back-and-forth at the Bell Centre, with the guests able to pull off a 4-3 win. Brayden Schenn got the game going with a goal 8:57 in via a power play. It was his fifth goal on the year, putting the Blues in front.
However, it would be the Habs who went into the first intermission with the lead. First, Lane Hutson made the most of his chance, beating Jordan Binnington in the St. Louis goal. Then, Cole Caufield gave the hosts their only lead of the contest with less than a minute to go in the period.
It took the Blues just 65 seconds after the restart to change the outcome of the game, as Dylan Holloway and Pavel Buchnevich scored 39 seconds apart to give the road team the lead once more.
Schenn then netted his second of the night midway through the third, with his marker proving to be the difference-maker. Although Noah Dobson got one back for Montreal, they were unable to level the score, instead falling to a 10 regulation time defeat on the season.
The Blues now sit two points out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference with their second win in as many days.
Earlier in the day, the San Jose Sharks found their way past the Carolina Hurricanes 4-1 on the road thanks in large part to a pair of second period goals. It was the same score at the Amerant Bank Arena, where the Florida Panthers beat the New York Islanders.
In Dallas, the Stars came from behind twice to top the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 in a shootout. Connor Dewar and Thomas Novak had put the guests in front, only for Jamie Benn and Miro Heiskanen to respond. The Finnish international levelled with 1:49 left in the game to force overtime and, subsequently, a shootout.
Miiko Rantanen was the only player to score in the shootout, which lasted three rounds. Jake Oettinger stood firm for the Stars, keeping out all three attempts from the Penguins to secure a key win. Dallas have now prevailed in their last three, as they stay second in the West.
Avs top Flyers in Philadelphia
The Colorado Avalance, who lead the league in points, held off the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 for a 19th regulation time victory this season. They were made to work for it though, as Sean Couturier put the home team in front two minutes and change in.
It took six minutes for the Avs to tie things up via Brent Burns, before Brock Nelson finished off a power play scenario to put them in front. Valeri Nichushkin made it 3-1 up a few moments into the second frame, as the winger put further daylight between the two teams.
Travis Konecny reduced the deficit to one later on in the period, but even though the Flyers had more than half of the game to equalize, they failed to do so. Trevor Zegras had a penalty attempt in the third, but he could not find a way past Mackenzie Blackwood.
The Avalanche, who lead the league in goals scored (115), have won 14 of their last 16, losing just one game in regulation in across their last 20 contests.
Elsewhere, a goal from Tomas Hertl with 52 second left in regulation proved to be pivotal for the Vegas Golden Knights, who went on to beat the New York Rangers 3-2 in overtime. The hosts had taken the lead with two goals in four minutes and 23 seconds during the second frame, but could not hold on. Jack Eichel grabbed the winner with just eight seconds left in the extra period.
It was the Rangers' second consecutive loss in overtime, having fallen to the Avalanche two days prior by the same score.
Jakob Chychrun and Alexei Protas got the goals for the Washington Capitals, who topped the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-0 at home to extend their lead at the top of the Eastern Conference.
As for the Anaheim Ducks, they handed the Chicago Blackhawks a 7-1 beating, where Leo Carlsson scored twice for the hosts. A four-goal haul in the second period put the game out of sight for Anaheim, who stay third in the West.
