NHL scores 2015: Price brilliant in Boston again, Hossa lifts Blackhawks

The Habs and Hawks brought down their rivals on the road on Sunday.

Feb 9, 2015, 2:00 PM UTC

Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

So Carey Price is winning the Vezina Trophy, right? We've all come to the same conclusion?

Good. We’re all on the same page. At this point it’s getting pretty difficult to deny the Montreal Canadiens netminder’s claim to the prize, especially after another brilliant effort in Boston on Sunday. Without Price, the Canadiens aren’t sniffing the position they’re in right now.

Only two teams in the NHL sit in a playoff spot and also rank in the lower third in the league in Corsi-for percentage: the Calgary Flames and Canadiens. There's more to Montreal's success than just netminding, but Price's stats can't be ignored. He's tied for second in the league in wins (29), leads the league in save percentage (.931) and trails only Pekka Rinne in goals against average (2.06).

Rinne’s season has been impressive as well, but Price’s success behind a poor-possession team should give him the upper hand unless things change. Plus, how can you deny his greatness this season when he does things like this?

Scores

Chicago Blackhawks 4, St. Louis Blues 2

Philadelphia Flyers 3, Washington Capitals 1

Nashville Predators 3, Florida Panthers 2 (SO)

Dallas Stars 3, New York Rangers 2 (OT)

New York Islanders 3, Buffalo Sabres 2

Tampa Bay Lightning 5, Anaheim Ducks 3

Winnipeg Jets 5, Colorado Avalanche 3

Montreal Canadiens 3, Boston Bruins1

Three things we learned

1. The Blues and Blackhawks are still evenly matched.

The two perennial Central Division heavyweights play just as tight against each other now as they did last spring when their playoff series went seven games. It wasn't any surprise that their game on Sunday went into the final frame tied at two goals apiece, just like it wasn't surprising that great scoring chances had to be fought for. If it weren't for the timeless Marian Hossa, the game could have easily gone to overtime. You have to love watching the Blues and Blackhawks play.

2. Anaheim is leaking goals, and now they might have lost their goalie.

The Ducks' 5-3 loss in Tampa Bay on Sunday was just the latest blowout in a growing trend of them. The Ducks are averaging four goals allowed over their last six games while going 2-4-0 in that stretch. Anaheim can score in bunches, but at some point it has to stop the bleeding in its own end. That might be even tougher now that Frederik Andersen suffered a head injury against the Lightning. Can Ilya Bryzgalov help shore things up? Don't bet on it.

3. The race out West can’t get harder to predict.

Trying to figure out which bubble team will show up to play on any given night is a nigh-impossible task these days. Just one day after losing in Buffalo, the Stars go out and steal two points at Madison Square Garden. Colorado surged up the standings over the last month but suddenly can’t be bothered to put in any effort against a Jets team that had lost six straight. If you’re waiting for one of the Western Conference bubble teams to go on a playoffs-solidifying run over the next few months, I hope you brought a sleeping bag.