2015 NHL scores: Predators spoil Barry Trotz return, Kyle Okposo scores four in Islanders win

We're more than halfway through the 2014-15 NHL season, and the New York Islanders and Nashville Predators sit atop their respective conferences.

Just like everyone predicted, right?

With wins on Friday, both the Preds and Isles solidified their grasp on their conferences and titles of biggest surprises of the season. And they did it with the national spotlight shining brightly on them.

New York hosted the Pittsburgh Penguins in a marquee matchup to decide who would reign over the Eastern Conference heading into the weekend. A close game blew wide open in the final frame, as Kyle Okposo scored four goals and Jaroslav Halak continued to prove his worth as an All-Star.

Attention was also focused on the Predators, though mostly for nostalgic reasons as former coach Barry Trotz came to town. Three hours later, he left Nashville again with a loss. The Predators continue to score at a pace that many didn't expect from them, which should dash any rival's hopes they'd fade without Pekka Rinne for the next few weeks.

The midpoint of the season is typically where we see early surprises start to fade. The Isles and Preds look like they're going to buck that trend.

All the NHL Scores

Islanders 6, Penguins 3

Canucks 3, Hurricanes 0

Rangers 2, Blue Jackets 1

Predators 4, Capitals 3

Jets 4, Blackhawks 2

Ducks 5, Devils 1

1. Kyle Okposo had a monster night. The Islanders winger put on one heck of a show with his mentor, Bryan Trottier, in the building on Friday. Okposo scored four goals on six shots, including a natural hat trick in the third period. The effort was good enough to vault the 26-year-old into the top 15 in NHL points.

2. Barry Trotz's return was spoiled. On one hand, it was a great night for Nashville. They got to see their old coach of 15 years again while earning an all-important two points against the Capitals. But you just knew Trotz wanted to get a win in the city he called home for so long. Instead, he had to settle for a touching video tribute.

3. Bo Horvat is already extremely comfortable in the NHL.

How do we know the Vancouver Canucks rookie is all settled in to the pros? He pranked a TV reporter for about a minute during pregame.

Just hours after the NHL suspended Brad Marchand for a reckless play, Chicago's Daniel Carcillo made an equally dangerous decision against Winnipeg.

Mathieu Perreault -- who has been the Jets' best player this season -- never returned to the game after the incident. Expect the NHL to make a decision on whether to punish Carcillo later on Saturday.

Kyle Okposo is the third NHL player with a four-goal game and second in three days.

— Jon Lane (@JonLaneNHL) January 17, 2015

• Brandon Saad has a slick backhand shot.
• Carcillo also cursed in front of a little kid on Friday. What a night!