As usual, even a light schedule in the NHL didn’t disappoint those who decided to stay home and watch hockey on Friday. The entertainment was there if you made the commitment.
NHL scores 2015: Ducks take NHL points lead, Lightning edge past Red Wings
Corey Perry’s overtime winner sent the Ducks to the top of the NHL standings.
Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
It took particular commitment to get through watching the New Jersey Devils beat the Buffalo Sabres. Neither team is known for its offensive excitement, and both squads are in the race to win the NHL draft lottery. So, as you might expect, the crowd was silent and the game was slow-paced at times. But that played right into New Jersey's hands, as the notoriously methodical Devils came away with a 3-1 win in Buffalo.
Meanwhile, an entirely different game was underway in Tampa Bay between the Lightning and the Detroit Red Wings. Detroit fought hard, but its recent run of form came to bite the team again as the Lightning squeezed out another win. The victory added to Tampa Bay's already-impressive resume against the Eastern Conference.
Friday night finished up on the West Coast, as the Anaheim Ducks hosted the Colorado Avalanche. Much like the two games before it, this final matchup began slowly, but picked up steam as it went along. Colorado fought tremendously, but lost in overtime thanks to a goal by Corey Perry.
Scores
New Jersey Devils 3, Buffalo Sabres 1
Tampa Bay Lightning 3, Detroit Red Wings 1
Anaheim Ducks 3, Colorado Avalanche 2 (OT)
3 things we learned
1. The Sabres cure all ills.
The Devils haven't exactly been tearing up the league lately. Steve Bernier, in particular, has had a rough go of things with zero goals in his last fourteen games. But as we've learned this season, the Buffalo Sabres are the NHL's version of chicken noodle soup and rest: they'll cure any malady plaguing an opponent. That proved true again on Friday, as Bernier broke out of his slump with two goals and the key to New Jersey's win.
2. Hockey players are gross.
Okay, maybe we knew that already. But we didn’t know hockey players just pop their mouthguards back in right after they drop them on the ice.
3. We might have gotten a first-round playoffs preview in Tampa Bay.
If the standings remain the same as they are right now, the Red Wings and Lightning will square off when the playoffs begin in a few weeks. And if Friday night's matchup was any indication, it would be a first-round matchup well worth watching. Jimmy Howard and Ben Bishop were competitive in net as both squads exchanged a bevy of scoring chances. Tampa Bay's offensive depth and prowess ultimately won out, which could indicate how such a playoff series would unfold.
Impact Moment
Every point is huge for Colorado right now as they make a late push for the playoffs. So Ryan O’Reilly’s game-tying shorthanded goal in the third period to ensure they made it to overtime could have big implications going forward.
Stat of the Night
Jack Eichel's 11-gm pt streak includes seven goals, 23 points. He needs 3 pts to become BU's all-time leader for pts by a fresh. He has 63.
— Mike Morreale (@mikemorrealeNHL) March 21, 2015
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