New Jersey Devils 7-3 Washington Capitals
Three-goal periods in both the first and third for the New Jersey Devils saw them past the Washington Capitals 7-3 at home.
Cody Glass and Dawson Mercer put the Devils up by two early in the game as they looked keep their slim hopes of qualifying for the playoffs. But, before the midway mark of the period, the Caps already levelled the score. Cole Huston and Pierre Luc Dubois were the scorers as things already started off in a quick manner.
New Jersey would regain the lead before intermission through Dougie Hamilton before Jack Hughes added a fourth just before the midpoint of the second frame.
Down 4-2 heading into the final period, Washington knew they had to go for broke as they needed the win to keep the pressure for the last playoff berth. Things started badly for them, with Hughes doubling his tally for the night. Tom Wilson got one back with 10:27 left in regulation, but that was the closest the Capitals came. Jesper Bratt and Mercer iced the game with late goals to give the Devils the win.
The Devils are now eight points behind the Detroit Red Wings with their win, though they are running out of time to make up the ground. Washington, meanwhile, saw their three-game winning streak come to an end, with the gap between them and eighth spot in the East now at three points.
Tampa Bay Lightning 6-3 Pittsburgh Penguins
The Tampa Bay Lightning became the latest to join the 100-point club on the season thanks to their 6-3 defeat of the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins.
Anthony Cirelli got the scoring going five minutes in for the Bolts, who are still chasing the number one seed in the East. The Penguins had a response though, with Rickard Rakell levelling things before Yigor Chinakhov gave them the lead towards the end of the opening frame.
The second period was where things completely changed. Cirelli got his second despite being down a man, then Brayden Point and Zemgus Girgensons put the Lightning back ahead.
Penalties were the theme at the start of the third, with both teams sending three players each to the penalty box. When things calmed down, Tampa went back to scoring. Nikita Kucherov made it 5-2, before Cirelli completed his hat-trick with an empty net goal. Chinakhov's second of the night was a mere consolation for the Penguins, scoring seconds before the game's completion.
It was a third win in four for Tampa, who are two points behind the Carolina Hurricanes for first spot. As for the Penguins, they are in sixth place in the East, only four points ahead of three teams who are tied for eighth place.
Other results
Carolina Hurricanes 5-1 Columbus Blue Jackets
Florida Panthers 2-1 Boston Bruins
New York Rangers 2-3 Montreal Canadiens
Ottawa Senators 4-1 Buffalo Sabres
Philadelphia Flyers 2-4 Detroit Red Wings
Dallas Stars 3-0 Winnipeg Jets
Minnesota Wild 5-2 Vancouver Canucks
Edmonton Oilers 3-1 Chicago Blackhawks
San Jose Sharks - Toronto Maple Leafs
Vegas Golden Knights - Calgary Flames
Los Angeles Kings - Nashville Predators
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