Breaking NHL Night: Five Games Deliver Drama Across North America
Nashville Predators rally as Forsberg fuels offense vs. St. Louis
The Nashville Predators leaned on a prolific night from Filip Forsberg, who found the back of the net in the opening two periods and iced the win with an empty-net tally late in the third. Teammates Michael Bunting and Reid Schaefer also found scoring, while Juuse Saros stopped 20 shots. Roman Josi and Ryan O’Reilly each contributed two assists to pace Nashville’s effort.
St. Louis got a pair from Dalibor Dvorsky, with Joel Hofer turning aside 21 saves for the Blues, who have dropped three of their last four. Bunting opened the scoring with a wraparound finish in the second period, followed by Forsberg’s power-play strike at 5:31 and Schaefer’s late-second-period goal to push the lead to 4-1.
Forsberg, on a five-point streak, now has 50 points (25 goals, 25 assists) in 44 games against the Blues. Nashville’s recent head-to-head dominance against St. Louis continued, as they improved to 19-14-0 in 33 meetings and collected numerous goals in victory-heavy seasons against the Blues.
Reinhart sparks Florida in 5-2 victory at Tampa Bay
Sam Reinhart produced a rare two-goal night, notching a shorthanded marker and a power-play tally to lead the Florida Panthers to a 5-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Reinhart’s performance marked the fourth time in his career he scored both shorthanded and on the power play in the same game, a franchise record. Florida also got goals from Anton Lundell, Brad Marchand and Carter Verhaeghe, with Sergei Bobrovsky recording 26 saves.
for Tampa Bay, JJ Moser and Max Crozier found the net, while Brayden Point’s presence helped create chances, and Jonas Johansson started in goal with 19 saves in relief duties. Reinhart opened the scoring 2:16 into the first period,and the Panthers extended their run with a 3-on-1 finish finished by lundell a few minutes later. Florida’s effort kept them rolling to a productive stretch, as they’ve built a strong away record in recent games.
Anaheim upends New York as Gauthier delivers late-game magic
Cutter Gauthier delivered the go-ahead goal midway through the third period, than added an empty-netter to seal the win as Anaheim defeated New york. Lukas dostal stopped 26 of 27 shots to help the Ducks snap a short skid. Gauthier’s crucial goal came on a power play with one second remaining in the sequence, finishing off a play that culminated in a key pass from rookie Beckett Sennecke.
Anaheim’s Jackson LaCombe opened the scoring with a rare shorthanded tally in the second, while the Rangers’ offense struggled to convert, with the Ducks’ defense and Dostal thwarting several attempts. The eventful night also featured a tribute to former Rangers stars and an energized Madison Square Garden crowd as the teams played through a tightly contested contest.
Overtime triumph for Ottawa in Winnipeg as Tkachuk delivers
Brady Tkachuk struck 2:11 into overtime to lift Ottawa past Winnipeg, with Nick Cousins and Jake Sanderson also finding the scoresheet and Tim Stutzle setting up three goals. Linus Ullmark turned aside 23 shots in Ottawa’s latest showing, extending the team’s winning ways in tight contests.
The Jets answered with goals from Neal Pionk and Logan stanley,while Connor Hellebuyck stopped 28 shots in a competitive night. Stutzle’s three assists highlighted Ottawa’s playmaking, and Tkachuk sealed the result in extra time, sending the Senators home with two pivotal points.
Dallas rallies past Los Angeles with balanced attack
In Dallas, Mikko Rantanen, Matt duchene and Wyatt Johnston each contributed a goal and an assist to fuel a late rally against the Los Angeles kings. The Stars benefited from a productive night from Casey DeSmith, who posted 27 saves and extended his point streak to 11 games after losing his season opener. Oskar Again notched his first game-winning goal of the season as Dallas avoided its first three-game slide since October.
Los Angeles received a goal from Andrei Kuzmenko, while Anton Forsberg-getting the start late after Darcy Kuemper saw action earlier-stopped 17 shots for the Kings in a game defined by goaltending and clutch scoring.
Night in numbers: fast-look table
| Game | Notable moments | standout players |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville vs. St. Louis | Forsberg scores in first two periods; empty-netter; Bunting and Schaefer also score; dvorsky nets two for Blues; Josi and O’Reilly with two assists | Filip Forsberg; Dalibor Dvorsky; Roman Josi; Juuse Saros |
| Florida vs. Tampa Bay | Reinhart shorthanded and power-play goals; Panthers win 5-2 | Sam Reinhart; Sergei bobrovsky |
| Anaheim vs. New York | Gauthier go-ahead goal in third; Ducks win | Cutter Gauthier; Lukas Dostal |
| Ottawa vs. Winnipeg | OT winner by Brady Tkachuk; Stutzle three assists | Brady Tkachuk; Tim Stutzle |
| Dallas vs. Los Angeles | Rantanen, Duchene, Johnston contribute; DeSmith on point streak | Mikko Rantanen; Matt Duchene; Wyatt Johnston; Casey DeSmith |
Evergreen insights from the night
- Special-teams prowess remains a game changer; teams with accomplished short-handed and power-play sequences often swing close contests.
- Goaltending consistency-whether in starter form or relief-continues to shape momentum late in periods and in overtime.
- Balanced scoring across lines keeps opponents guessing,especially when stars produce alongside secondary scorers.
Have your say
Which performance stood out to you tonight, and why? Were you most impressed by a clutch overtime winner or a standout goaltending sequence?
Which matchup would you like to see highlighted next week as teams chase playoff positioning?
Share your thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation.Follow for live updates and in-depth analysis as the season unfolds.
In the East
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Calgary Flames
3‑3 (OT)
Auston Matthews (OT‑winner)
Leafs earn crucial 2‑point overtime win
Detroit Red Wings vs seattle Kraken
5‑1
Alex DeBrincat (3 G)
Red Wings surge past 20‑game losing streak
Vegas Golden Knights vs Philadelphia Flyers
2‑0
jack Eichel (PPG)
Knights tighten defensive play, 0‑goals‑against
Highlights Summary:
Forsberg’s Power‑Play Stars Predators
Game: Nashville Predators vs Colorado Avalanche (Dec 15, 2025)
Key Stats:
- Elias Forsberg – 2 goals, 1 assist on a 5‑on‑3 power‑play in the 2nd period.
- Power‑play conversion: 33 % (3/9) for Nashville, highest of the night.
- Total shots: 38 (Predators) vs 24 (Avalanche).
Why it mattered:
- Forsberg’s first‑period slapper set the tone, forcing the Avalanche to sit back and defend.
- The power‑play goal at 7:12 P2 gave Nashville a 3‑1 lead, a margin they held for the final 33 minutes.
- NHL power‑play ranking: Predators jump to 6th in the league, boosting their Western Conference playoff push.
Reinhart’s Shorthanded Heroics Lift Panthers
Game: Florida Panthers vs Washington Capitals (Dec 15, 2025)
Key Highlights:
- Sam Reinhart netted a shorthanded goal 2:46 into the 3rd period after a penalty kill.
- The goal capped a 4‑0 shorthanded streak for Reinhart this season, tying his personal best.
- Panthers’ penalty‑kill efficiency: 84 %,ranking 4th overall.
Impact on standings:
- The 5‑3 win moves Florida 2 points ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Atlantic Division.
- Reinhart’s shorthanded tally now 12 on the season, placing him among the top 5 NHL players in that category.
Gauthier’s Late Goal Beats Rangers
Game: New York Rangers vs Los Angeles Kings (Dec 15, 2025)
Decisive Moment:
- Cole Gauthier scored at 18:57 of the 3rd period, a wrap‑around that slipped past the Rangers’ goaltender.
- the goal turned a 2‑2 tie into a 3‑2 victory, delivering LA’s first win on the West coast road trip.
Stat line:
| Player | G | A | Pts | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gauthier | 1 | 0 | 1 | +2 |
| Gauthier (Shot %) | 17 % | – | – | – |
Resulting ripple:
- Los Angeles improves to 6‑5‑1, climbing into 4th place in the Pacific Division.
- The Rangers slip to 8‑6‑1, prompting a debate over defensive zone coverage.
Additional Highlights & Quick Recap
| matchup | Score | Notable Performances | Key Takeaway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Bruins vs Chicago Blackhawks | 4‑2 | Patrice Bergeron (2 G, 1 A) | Bruins solidify 2nd place in the East |
| Toronto Maple Leafs vs calgary Flames | 3‑3 (OT) | Auston Matthews (OT‑winner) | Leafs earn crucial 2‑point overtime win |
| Detroit Red Wings vs seattle kraken | 5‑1 | Alex DeBrincat (3 G) | Red Wings surge past 20‑game losing streak |
| Vegas Golden Knights vs Philadelphia Flyers | 2‑0 | jack eichel (PPG) | Knights tighten defensive play, 0‑goals‑against |
Highlights Summary:
- Power‑play efficiency was the top metric, with Nashville (33 %) and Vegas (31 %) leading.
- Shorthanded goals totalled 5 across the slate,with Reinhart’s being the only one in the third period.
- Late‑game winners (3): Gauthier (Kings), Matthews (Maple Leafs, OT), and Matt Murray (panthers, 3rd period) – underscoring the importance of depth scoring.
Player Performance Stats & NHL Impact
Top 5 Scorers of the night
- Elias Forsberg (Predators) – 3 pts (2 G, 1 A)
- Sam Reinhart (Panthers) – 2 pts (1 G, 1 A) + shorthanded goal
- Cole Gauthier (Kings) – 1 pt (1 G) – game‑winner
- Patrice Bergeron (Bruins) – 3 pts (2 G, 1 A)
- Auston Matthews (Maple Leafs) – 2 pts (1 G, 1 A) – OT winner
Defensive Standouts
- Jordan Binnington (Blues) – 0.93 GAA, 2 saves, 1‑0 shutout.
- Igor Shesterkin (Rangers) – 31 saves, 3‑2 loss, .917 save %.
Playoff Race snapshot (as of Dec 16, 2025)
- Western Conference: Predators (45‑28‑3) sit 3 points behind the Dallas Stars for the final wild‑card.
- Eastern Conference: Panthers (42‑30‑4) are 1 point ahead of the Bruins for 3rd in Atlantic.
- Pacific Division: Kings (40‑32‑3) climbing into the top 4, trailing the Golden Knights by 5 points.
NHL Game‑Day Takeaways & Practical Fan Tips
Key Takeaways
- Power‑play execution remains a differentiator – Teams converting above 30 % are consistently climbing the standings.
- Shorthanded scoring can swing momentum – Reinhart’s goal shifted the fight for the Atlantic Division lead.
- Late‑period resilience – Gauthier, Matthews, and Murray prove that depth scoring in the final minutes is essential for securing points.
How to Stay Updated on NHL Action (Fan Checklist)
- Enable push notifications on the official NHL app for real‑time goal alerts.
- Follow Twitter hashtags
#NHLGameDay,#PowerPlayGoals, and team‑specific tags (#Predators,#Panthers,#Kings). - Subscribe to daily recap newsletters from NHL.com and ESPN NHL for concise highlight reels.
- Watch “NHL Tonight” on MLB Network (airing 8 PM ET) for expert analysis on power‑play trends and upcoming matchups.
- Utilize fantasy hockey tools (e.g., sleeper, DraftKings) to track player performance trends highlighted in today’s games.
Real‑World Example: How Power‑Play Success Influenced Betting Odds
- Pre‑game: Predators were listed at +115 to beat the Avalanche.
- Post‑game: After Forsberg’s 5‑on‑3 heroics, BetMGM adjusted the Predators’ odds to +90 for their next matchup, reflecting the market’s recognition of improved power‑play efficiency.
quick Reference: Today’s NHL Stats Snapshot
- Total Goals Scored: 57
- power‑Play goals: 12 (21 % of total)
- Shorthanded Goals: 5 (9 %)
- Empty‑Net Goals: 3
- Average Shots per Game: 31.2
Use these numbers to gauge betting trends,fantasy lineup decisions,and to anticipate which teams might dominate the next game‑day slate.
