NHL scores: Eric Staal steals show in Carolina, Rangers blister Lightning

Thursday night was one heck of a hockey night.

Mar 1, 2013, 1:00 PM UTC

USA TODAY Sports

For fans watching the NHL last night, there was barely any time to catch your breath. Thursday featured eleven games and each one was just as thrilling as the next. Don’t worry. You can breathe now as we get you caught up on all of the night’s action.

All The NHL Scores

Here’s a quick glance at the full night of action:

1. Will the Chicago Blackhawks extend their point-streak to 21 games?

Yes. But it wasn’t easy. The Blue Jackets played their best game of the season and took the ‘Hawks to overtime, but weren’t able to seal the deal. Luckily for Chicago, they would’ve earned a point whether the Blue Jackets tied the game late in the third or not.

2. Will Ray Emery remain unbeaten this season?

Yep. Emery improved his record to 9-0-0 this season with a 19 save effort. He wasn’t tested nearly as much as the guy at the other end of the rink, but he came up big when his team needed him to.

3. Will the Anaheim Ducks extend their seven-game winning streak at home?

4. Will the Minnesota Wild pull even with the Vancouver Canucks?

5. Will the St. Louis Blues continue their four-game point-streak against the Northwest Division?

The Blues got off to a slow start against Edmonton but finished strong to earn a 4-2 victory. The key? A stifling defensive game that kept the Oilers from scoring almost whole periods at a time. Edmonton only managed 17 shots on Jaroslav Halak all night.

Five Answers

Prior to last night’s games, we presented five burning questions regarding the night’s action. Here are your cool, soothing answers.

1. Will the Chicago Blackhawks extend their point-streak?

The Blackhawks extended their points-streak to 20 games with a 3-0 win over the Blues. And they even got to breathe a little easier this time. Their previous six games had all been decided by one goal. Even the broadcasters were in a good mood:

2. How will Jordan Staal fare in his first game against the Pittsburgh Penguins?

Actually, it was the other Staal brother with the huge game. Eric Staal was a menace all night and ended up with a goal and two assists. Jordan, on the other hand, didn't make it on the scorecard and even lost the opening faceoff to the guy he was traded for.

3. Whose winning streak will still be intact on Friday morning? The Boston Bruins or Ottawa Senators?

The Bruins’ win streak is intact, but it took overtime to keep it alive. The most impressive streak for the Bruins was actually their run of successful penalty kills, but the Senators ended that at 27 when they tied the game in the second period. Thanks to the overtime wins by Toronto and Boston, the top four teams in the Northeast are all separated by just one point.

4. Will the Edmonton Oilers hold the Dallas Stars to less than three goals?

The Oilers just wore down Dallas with a barrage of goals and the Stars only managed a single tally in the 5-1 beating. It was a miserable night for Dallas all around. The Stars were undisciplined again, racking up 38 penalty minutes and giving Edmonton nine power plays. Oh, and they probably just lost Jamie Benn to a suspension for this ill-advised cross check on Ryan Jones:

5. Will Rick Nash play on Thursday night?

He did, and boy, did he play well. You could tell just how much he missed being on the ice, because Nash played like a bull in a china shop all game long. The Rangers had 42 shots. Rick Nash had 12 of them. (Twelve!)

Impact Moment

What moment from last night’s games will be making headlines in the coming days?

Undoubtedly the biggest moment of the night was the Ryan O’Reilly saga. First, the Flames signed him to an offer sheet. Then, the Avalanche matched it. And then the Avs slapped the Flames in the face with a thrilling comeback in Colorado.

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