NHL Scores: Jets take down Maple Leafs, Lightning keep winning, and more

Anthony Scultore |

Mar 10, 2021

The Jets (16-8-1) were able to beat the Maple Leafs (18-7-2) despite the fact that Auston Matthews scored two goals. The Leafs center hadn’t scored since his return and admitted his wrist was affecting his game, but he is now up to 20 goals on the season and a favorite to win the Rocket Richard Trophy.

NHL Scores: Jets beat Leafs to close gap

Toronto is still comfortably in first place over Winnipeg by 5 points, but the Jets have two games in hand and the Leafs have now lost three straight. Kyle Connor added his 12th goal of the season but the story was Connor Hellebuyck who made 36 saves in the game in the 4-3 win.

“We all believed in our game and we stuck to it tonight. We had a good practice on Monday, and you could tell guys were hungry for tonight,” Hellebuyck who got shelled against the Canadiens in his last game said. “I used that loss for energy. I didn’t let it weigh on me. Sometimes the puck just doesn’t bounce your way, and after that game I was just straight focused on this one to show I’m better than that.”

NHL Scores: Lightning keep rolling, division stays tight

Mar 9, 2021; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak (81) is congratulated by teammates after scoring in the third period against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Last night, as happens most nights, the top three teams in the Central Division won. Here’s a quick look at the standings.

Lightning 38 points (24 games)
Hurricanes 37 points (25 games)
Panthers 36 points (25 games)

The Lightning (18-4-2) got a goal from Blake Coleman in OT to defeat the Red Wings (7-16-4) 4-3. For Tampa their point streak is now at nine games. “I don’t think there was ever a doubt in our minds that we were going to make a push,” Coleman said about Tampa heading into the third down by one. They needed the win to stay on top too.

Sergei Bobrovsky stymied his old team with 38 saves and led the Panthers (16-5-4) over the Blue Jackets (10-12-5) 4-2. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes (18-6-1) overcame a 2-0 deficit to pick up a 3-2 shootout win over the Predators (11-14-1). And the Blackhawks (13-9-5) need to thank Florida as they didn’t lost ground to Columbus after they lost to the Stars (8-8-5) 6-1.

Patrick Kane (32 years, 110 days) is the youngest player at the time of his 1,000th regular-season game with the @NHLBlackhawks, eclipsing Brent Seabrook (32 years, 343 days) who reached the milestone on March 29, 2018. #1Kane #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/We6AKTdPaY
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) March 10, 2021

NHL Scores: East Beasts, Penguins leap frog into third

Five teams in the East are battling for four playoff spots in the toughest division in hockey. Outside of the Sabres, the 7 remaining teams are all tough opponents and each game is usually a fight.

Two titans went at it and both managed a point. The Islanders (16-6-4) outlasted the Bruins (13-6-4) 2-1 in a shootout victory. It keeps the Isles in first by two points over the Capitals (15-6-4) who survived a three goal third period comeback by the Devils (8-11-3). Jakub Vrana got his second of the game in OT for the 5-4 win.

Finally both Pennsylvania teams came up winners last night. The Flyers (13-7-3) actually were down 3-1 and 4-2 against the Sabres (6-14-4) before winning in a shootout 5-4. And the Penguins (15-9-1) used two late period goals to sweep the Rangers (10-11-3) by a 4-2 score. The Penguins three straight win have allowed them to jump from fifth to third.