The Colorado Avalanche wrapped up 2025 in impressive fashion, scoring six in a 6-1 beating of the St. Louis Blues. The runaway President's Trophy leaders dominated the opening proceedings, scoring four times in the first five minutes of the contest. It practically left the game done before it truly started.
Valeri Nichushkin and Nathan MacKinnon scored twice each in that four-goal haul, the latter reaching 400 goals in his NHL career when he put his team up 2-0.
Brock Nelson added a fifth midway through the second, with MacKinnon adding an assist to what was already a big night for him.
There was little hope for the Blues from the opening moments of the game. They did, however, get on the scoreboard in the third thanks to Dalibor Dvorsky. It was a mere consolation though, with the Avs scoring a sixth near the end as Nichushkin completed his hat-trick. Both he and MacKinnon ended the night with four points each in a resounding victory, their ninth in a row.
The Avalanche are now 10 points back of their nearest challengers, the Dallas Stars, at the top of the Western Conference. It was their 30th win of the year in 39 matches, having won 27 of them in regulation. Colorado's 159 goals scored and 88 conceded are league-best numbers in what has been a stunning year for them.
Speaking of the Stars, they were beaten by an in-form Buffalo Sabres, who prevailed 4-1 away. Despite going down a goal in the first, the Sabres fought back in the second and third, scoring twice in each period to come away victorious.
Tage Thompson netted twice for the visitors while also picking up an assist in the win. Buffalo have now won their 10th in a row, allowing for them to jump ahead of the Florida Panthers and into a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Dallas are on a three-game losing skid after their latest reverse.
Stamkos scores 600th goal in Predators win
MacKinnon was not the only one celebrating a landmark goal on Wednesday night. Steven Stamkos managed his 600th NHL goal in the Nashville Predators' 4-2 defeat of the Vegas Golden Knights.
Down 2-0 within the first 10 minutes of the opening period, the Preds bounced back with Nick Perbix getting them on the board before Stamkos' leveller via a power play.
Things got even better for the away team, who added a third before the end of the frame. Reid Schaefer found the back of the net with what proved to be the winning goal.
Michael Bunting added a fourth in the middle of the second to complete the scoring and leave Nashville just one point back of the Los Angeles Kings for the last postseason berth in the West. Vegas, now sitting five points ahead of their opponents, have lost their last three.
Elsewhere on Wednesday, Tom Wilson scored twice and an assist in the Washington Capitals' 6-3 success over the New York Rangers. The Caps never trailed in the contest, scoring in each period to hold off a Rangers team who are three points back of Buffalo for eighth in the East.
The Detroit Red Wings edged the Winnipeg Jets 2-1 in their game, while the New Jersey Devils overcame a two-goal deficit to beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2. The Blue Jackets completed their comeback in the space of a minute and 56 seconds in the final frame.
A shootout was requried in San Jose, where the Sharks held off the visiting Minnesota Wild 4-3. It was the same final score in Anaheim, where the Tampa Bay Lightning prevailed in overtime against the Ducks. Darren Raddysh scored the winner midway through the extra period to make it five wins in a row.
In the late matches, the Calgary Flames were 5-1 winners over Philadelphia thanks to goals from five different players. The Boston Bruins got two goals from Hampus Lindholm and David Pastrnak in a 6-2 success against the Edmonton Oilers.
