For decades, he existed beyond comparison. As he turns 50, even golf’s most dominant figure confronts the one opponent he could never overpower
Talk to any golfer who played against Tiger Woods and there is sure to be at least one story about one shot so sublime they were certain it could not be hit by them or anyone else.
He was just different. Better.
Continue reading...Syla Swords had 18 points and seven rebounds as No. 6 Michigan outlasted Oregon 92-87 in double overtime Monday night.
Three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic suffered a "gut-wrenching" knee injury as the Denver Nuggets lost 147-123 at the Miami Heat.
Jokic was hurt late in the first half in an accidental coming together with team-mate Spencer Jones.
Jones stepped on the foot of Jokic who immediately collapsed to the ground clutching his knee.
The 30-year-old will have an MRI scan on Tuesday to determine the seriousness of the problem.
"Immediately, he knew something was wrong," said Nuggets head coach David Adelman.
"This is part of the NBA. Anyone who gets hurt, it's gut-wrenching, especially somebody as special as he is. We'll find out more tomorrow.
"We'll move on as a team. Obviously, right now, I'm more concerned just about him as a person and the disappointment of going through something like that."
Jokic, who leads the NBA season in rebounds and assists, had 21 points and eight assists in the game before suffering the injury.
LAS VEGAS -- The Golden Knights fell behind 2-0 after one period and 5-0 less than seven minutes into the second period on Monday night, as the Minnesota Wild skated to a 5-2 road win inside T-Mobile Arena.
Vegas, which dropped to 1-1-1 during its current four-game homestand, has now lost five of its last six.
The Golden Knights (45) sit one point behind the Pacific Division-leading Edmonton Oilers and are just one point in front of the third-place Anaheim Ducks, who also lost at home Monday, 5-4 to the San Jose Sharks.
Marcus Johansson put the Wild on the board first, just 26 seconds into the game, while Matt Boldy made it 2-0 later in the period.
Again, this time 26 seconds into the second stanza, the Wild struck when Jared Spurgeon made it 3-0. Brock Faber and Joel Eriksson Ek tacked on two more to essentially put the game out of reach.
Brayden McNabb scored late in the second and captain Mark Stone scored early in the third to provide the final margin.
Vegas goalie Carter Hart allowed five goals during the 12 shots he faced before turning the net over to Akira Schmid, who stopped all 15 shots he faced.
Just 2:13 into the game, the Golden Knights lost center Tomas Hertl when he was ejected for a game misconduct after being called for a major boarding penalty on Minnesota's Ryan Hartman. With centers Jack Eichel and William Karlsson already missing with injuries, losing Hertl was less than ideal.
"You're down your three centers, but you can't make the excuses," Vegas captain Mark Stone said. "That's when you got to kind of play a little more together, play more as a five-man group, offensively, defensively, all over the ice. You got to support each other a little bit better than what we did in the first 40 (minutes).
Tomas Hertl receives a 5-minute major and a game misconduct for this hit on Ryan Hartman 😳 pic.twitter.com/vOmZ48z6nE
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) December 30, 2025
16 - Vegas' 16 shots on goal were a season low, one less than the previous low of 17, back on Oct. 25 during a 3-0 loss at Florida. From Oct. 28 through Sunday, Vegas ranked third with 30.4 shots per game. After Monday's loss, the Knights rank fifth with 29.9 shots per game since then.
Though the damage was done, Schmid might have been Vegas' player all night. Coming off the bench cold to stop every shot he faced was a perfect warm-up performance before Wednesday's scheduled start against Nashville. Schmid is 11-3-4 and ranks sixth in the league with a 2.40 goals-against average among goalies who have played in 19 games played. He also has .900 save percentage.
The Golden Knights conclude their four-game homestand by hosting the Nashville Predators on Wednesday in a New Year's Eve matinee.
PHOTO CAPTION: Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart (79) is pulled in favor of goaltender Akira Schmid (40) after surrendering 5 goals to the Minnesota Wild during the second period at T-Mobile Arena.
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To all the people who said Calvin Pickard should get traded, how does it feel to be wrong?
How does it feel to think trading a backup could fix the Oilers goaltending problems?
And how does it feel to not see the value in accepting that a career backup could be just that? A backup, not a star, not the solution, but a relief player when guys get injured, or things go sideways.
Monday nights 4-1 win over the Jets never went sideways, but Pickard played his best game of the season.
He made a season-high 41 saves in his hometown. Max Jones, Jack Roslovic, and Zach Hyman scored for Edmonton. Adam Lowry scored for the Jets.
But this was Pickard's night.
"Calvin was our best player," Kris Knoblauch said afterward. "Unfortunately for Picks, we've played some of our worst hockey when he's been in there, and that's been reflective in his stats. It hasn't looked that good, but we just haven't been that good in front of him."
The Oilers have played poorly in front of Pickard for most of this season. His numbers have looked bad because the team in front of him has been bad. Monday night in Winnipeg, he got the support he needed.
NHL Rumors: Oilers Urged To Target Sabres Star ForwardShould the Oilers make a big push for Sabres forward Alex Tuch? "Obviously, there's some time between starts here, and you want to get into it, but I felt good," Pickard said. "I felt good in practice, and I'm confident. This is my third year here. I'm confident behind the group and just trying to do my job."
He's not trying to be the starter. He's not trying to steal anyone's job. He's a backup goalie who understands his role and does it without complaining about playing time or demanding more starts.
Monday night was exactly what you want out of a hometown showing. Pickard grew up in Winnipeg. His family and friends were in the building. Canada Life Centre is where he watched Jets games growing up. Making 41 saves and winning in front of that crowd meant something.
Oilers Active Noah Philp, Then Place Forward On WaiversOilers activate Noah Philp from LTIR, then place him on waivers. Will another team claim the big, right-shot center?"Honestly, I felt pretty good the last month or so," Pickard said. "It's hard to get traction. I thought I played pretty decent in Montreal, pretty decent in Minnesota, but I just didn't get rewarded for it. I got some bounces tonight, and I got rewarded, so I like where my game's at. I want to keep that going."
The difference Monday night was Edmonton played better in front of him. They blocked shots. They kept Winnipeg to the outside. They did all the things teams are supposed to do when their goalie is standing on his head.
"There were no lulls in the game," Pickard said. "They kept shooting, they kept coming, and we did a pretty good job of keeping them to the outside."
Cole Hutson (Quinn Hutson’s Brother) Rejoins Team USA After Scary InjuryAfter a scary puck incident, Cole Hutson (brother of Oilers' Quinn Hutson) is out of the hospital and back with Team USA, bringing welcome relief and good news.Pickard made key saves on the penalty kill in the first period to keep it scoreless. He stopped 15 shots in the third period alone when Winnipeg was pressing after cutting the lead to 2-1.
"Their power play got some looks, I had to make some saves there, but it was just one of those games," Pickard said. "They were great, and you have to give them credit. They played well, and I needed to be good, and we defended well."
This is exactly why we should all be grateful Calvin Pickard stuck around. The Oilers have gone through goaltending chaos this season. Stuart Skinner was traded to Pittsburgh. Tristan Jarry came in, got injured, and is on IR. Connor Ingram made his NHL return from the Player Assistance Program and has started three straight games.
It's The Best Time Of Year For Hockey FansIf you're a hockey fan, this is the best time of year. Period.
Through all of it, Pickard has been there. Not complaining. Not demanding trades. Just waiting for his turn and being ready when called upon.
Monday night was his turn. In his hometown. Against a Winnipeg team that had relentless pressure and should feel good about holding back two of the best players in the NHL. And he delivered exactly what the Oilers needed— a win and a reminder that backup goalies matter when they're good at their job.
"I like where my game's at," Pickard said. "I want to keep that going."
Determined McDavid: "We’re Hungry... We’re Not Going Anywhere" Connor McDavid is driving the Oilers' relentless pursuit of a Stanley Cup, refusing to quit and demanding more.The Oilers should be grateful he does. Because on nights like Monday in Winnipeg, when your starter needs a break and you're facing 42 shots in a building where your backup grew up, you need someone who can step in and steal a game.
Calvin Pickard did exactly that. It's exactly what he's paid to do. And it's exactly why everyone who wanted to trade him was wrong.
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Regarded as one of the fiercest rivalries in college football history, the Trojans and Irish have played 96 times since first meeting in 1926.
LOS ANGELES — The Miami Marlins acquired outfielder Esteury Ruiz from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night in a trade for minor league right-hander Adriano Marrero.
The speedy Ruiz led the American League with 67 stolen bases for the Athletics in 2023. He is a career .241 hitter during four major league seasons with four teams, but excels as a baserunner and a defender.
The Dodgers acquired Ruiz from the A’s last April, and he was a little-used reserve when he was in the majors for the back-to-back World Series champions. Ruiz batted .190 in 19 games for Los Angeles, largely playing as a defensive replacement or a pinch runner.
The Marlins designated infielder Eric Wagaman for assignment to make room on their 40-man roster for Ruiz. The trade opened a spot on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster.
As a capable backup outfielder, Ruiz could be the Marlins’ replacement for Dane Myers, who was traded to Cincinnati last weekend.
The Calgary Flames leaned on patience, goaltending, and timely execution to earn a 2–1 overtime win against the Boston Bruins on Monday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
The opening period lacked pace until Boston earned a power play midway through the frame. Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf was sharp early, making a pair of key saves to keep the game scoreless. Late in the period, Bruins defenceman Andrew Peeke drove toward the net and made contact with Wolf after losing the puck, as it slipped through Wolf and into the net. Calgary challenged for goaltender interference, but the goal stood, giving Boston a 1–0 lead at the 18:06 mark and putting the Flames shorthanded to close the period.
The second period remained tight-checking and low-event until Calgary finally broke through. At 13:33, sustained pressure in the offensive zone paid off as Mikael Backlund found Blake Coleman in the slot. Coleman snapped a quick shot through Bruins netminder Jeremy Swayman to tie the game 1–1, marking his team-leading 12th goal of the season.
The third period stayed scoreless despite Boston holding an 8–1 edge in shots. As regulation expired, Bruins defenceman Jonathan Aspirot was assessed a high-sticking penalty, sending the Flames to overtime with a carryover power play.
Calgary nearly saw the advantage backfire when Pavel Zacha sprung loose for a shorthanded breakaway early in overtime. Wolf came up with a clutch stop and turned aside the rebound attempt from Nikita Zadorov. Moments later, the Flames capitalized. Yegor Sharangovich fired a shot through traffic, and Connor Zary got a piece of the rebound in front, as the puck found its way past Swayman to secure the 2–1 overtime victory.
1. Blake Coleman continues to set the tone
Coleman delivered exactly what the Flames needed — offence, physical play, and composure in big moments. His second-period goal provided the spark, he finished checks throughout the night, and he drew the penalty that set up the overtime winner. His consistency has made him one of Calgary’s most reliable drivers this season.
2. Dustin Wolf was calm and composed
Wolf turned aside 24 shots, including two high-danger chances in overtime, earning his 50th win of the season. He remained poised under pressure, tracked pucks well through traffic, and made the saves Calgary needed when momentum tilted Boston’s way.
3. The power play found a way when it mattered most
Calgary went 0-for-4 with the man advantage in regulation, struggling to generate rhythm. But the unit stayed patient, and the carryover power play in overtime finally delivered, proving decisive in a tightly contested game.
Coleman on the effort:
“They play a pretty similar game to us and you’ve got to earn your ice and your space. Felt like one of those games that one goal was going to be the difference late in the game and, not pretty, but we got the job done.”
Wolf on the overtime breakaway saves:
“Saw the first one, got snowed on the second one, so thankfully (the puck) hit me.”
Zary on the goaltending:
“At the end of day I think we just know (Wolf’s) got our back and he’s going to make big saves all the time and keep us in games… whether they’re on a 2-on-1 or have a breakaway you have confidence that Wolf is just going to make the save.”
The Los Angeles Kings (16-13-9) delivered a competitive, physical performance against the NHL's elite team. Still, costly turnovers and late-game execution issues proved decisive in their 5-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche (29-2-7) on Monday night.
Despite the Kings keeping pace for much of the game and generating consistent man-to-man pressure that was giving the Avs trouble early on, LA was unable to match Colorado's finishing touches, especially in the final minutes of regulation.
Final from Denver. #GoKingsGopic.twitter.com/A29PaP048W
— LA Kings (@LAKings) December 30, 2025
The first period played like a playoff atmosphere in the Mile High City, with both teams finishing checks and pushing the pace from the opening whistle. The Kings showed up early with their physicality, throwing hits from Adrian Kempe, Warren Foegele, and Alex Laferriere while generating quality looks.
However, Colorado struck first. Center Ross Colton forced a turnover on the forecheck and fed Jack Drury in the slot, who beat goaltender Anton Forsberg for a 1-0 Avalanche lead.
Los Angeles continued to put pressure on the Avs, but Mackenzie Blackwood was sharp under the net, turning aside multiple Kings chances to break Colorado's lead.
The Kings tied the game midway through the second period thanks to Corey Perry's veteran play this season. Perry found soft ice near the crease and finished off a Kevin Fiala feed, beating Blackwood to knot the game at 1-1.
Despite the Kings' goal, the Avs never let them stay comfortable, and the momentum didn't last long.
Colorado responded with relentless pressure. Forward Martin Necas restored the Avs' lead after a dominant shift that should've been a penalty on the Kings, but Necas still sustained the puck to score in traffic around the net.
Later in the period, center Brock Nelson made it 3-1 after another Kings turnover, giving Colorado breathing room heading into the third.
Los Angeles made one final push in the third. Armia delivered a highlight of the night with a dazzling shorthanded goal, now leading the NHL with four shorthanded goals. But Colorado closed the door on the Kings' inability to convert when they had so many chances to tie the game.
The Avalanche scored two goals in the final minute of regulation, with an empty-netter coming seconds later to seal the victory 5-2.
The Kings finished shots to Colorado's 26 and won 50 percent of its faceoffs, but 18 giveaways, several of them led to the Avs directly scoring and giving them several chances, which proved to be costly for Los Angeles.
While Los Angeles proved today that it can skate and compete physically with Colorado, the Avalanche still exposed the Kings' mistakes that have been punishing them all season.
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DENVER — Nathan MacKinnon and Brock Nelson each recorded a goal and an assist as the Colorado Avalanche extended their winning streak to eight games with a 5–2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings at Ball Arena on Monday night.
Jack Drury, Martin Nečas, and Cale Makar also found the back of the net for Colorado (29-2-7), which has now won 14 straight games on home ice and is 10-0-1 over its last 11 contests. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 23 shots in the win, making several timely, highlight-reel saves to help seal the victory.
Corey Perry and Joel Armia scored for Los Angeles (16-13-9), while Anton Forsberg made 21 saves. The Kings have dropped seven of their last nine games and have lost five of their last six meetings with the Avalanche.
Brent Burns turned the puck over at center ice early, allowing Alex Turcotte to break in alone, but Blackwood stood tall and turned aside the chance.
Just over nine minutes into the period, Colorado had managed only one shot on goal, though its defense was doing its part. Josh Manson set a physical tone by knocking Quinton Byfield off the puck during one sequence.
At the 9:24 mark, the Avalanche doubled their shot total in emphatic fashion. Drury fired a shot that deflected off Darcy Kuemper’s blocker and into the net to give Colorado a 1–0 lead. The play developed after Ross Colton intercepted a pass, surveyed the ice, and found Drury streaking down the middle for the finish.
With nearly four minutes remaining, Colorado went to the power play after Andrei Kuzmenko was whistled for interference following a collision with Gavin Brindley off the draw. The man advantage came up empty, and the teams returned to even strength.
After one period, the Avalanche held a 1–0 lead despite Los Angeles owning a 10–8 edge in shots.
Parker Kelly was penalized for holding early in the frame, and with just four seconds left on the kill, Colorado surrendered the equalizer when Perry deflected a pass from Kevin Fiala past Blackwood to tie the game.
A few minutes later, Brian Dumoulin was sent off for interference on Drury. Dumoulin vehemently disagreed with the call and argued with the officials before heading to the box. After Colorado failed to convert on its second power play, Colton was assessed an interference penalty.
Nečas restored the lead with 6:39 remaining on a scramble in front. Gabe Landeskog and MacKinnon each took swings at a loose puck, and after Forsberg failed to smother it, the rebound trickled free to Nečas at the doorstep for an easy tap-in.
Los Angeles was penalized again when Brandt Clarke cross-checked Artturi Lehkonen in the back. The power play struggled once more, and Kempe nearly made Colorado pay with a shorthanded breakaway, but Blackwood came up with a massive save.
Nelson made it 3–1 with 2:30 left in the period, ripping a wrist shot over Forsberg’s glove after taking a perfectly placed saucer feed from Kiviranta.
Nearly four minutes into the final frame, Clarke was sent to the box again—this time for tripping Kiviranta and sending him crashing into the boards.
The Kings, however, refused to fold. Armia struck shorthanded to pull Los Angeles within a goal, skating the length of the ice before toe-dragging around Cale Makar to give himself additional real estate and time before snapping a wrist shot from the high slot that slipped through Blackwood five-hole.
As the clock approached the midway point of the period, Drury was whistled for hooking on what appeared to be a questionable call, but the penalty kill stood firm and snuffed out the threat.
MacKinnon only had two shots on net, and the final one was a goal as he shot the puck into an empty net at 18:23 to make it 4-2, and Makar scored on a rebound with 45 seconds left to complete the 5-2 victory.
As the Avalanche have shown all season, they have exhibited grit and the ability to suffocate their opposition in the championship rounds.
The Avalanche will square off against the struggling St. Louis Blues on New Year’s Eve to close out 2025. Coverage begins at 7 p.m., with a fireworks show scheduled to follow the game.
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ST. LOUIS – Colten Ellis is not mad. The former St. Louis Blues farmhand is nowhere near upset.
In fact, the goalie is grateful for his time, and the belief the Blues had in him and the time they devoted to develop him.
So when the Blues had to make the decision, one general manager Doug Armstrong has said he did not want to make but ultimately felt he had no other choice, of putting the 25-year-old on waivers hoping to pass their No. 3 goalie on the depth chart through to assign him to Springfield of the American Hockey League, only to have the Buffalo Sabres – in need of goaltending due to injury issues at the time – jump in and snatch him on Oct. 5.
The Blues were left scrambling. The Sabres were banking on someone they felt, just like the Blues did, have promise.
But bottom line, it was going to be really difficult for the Whycocomagh, Nova Scotia native to push his way through the barrier in St. Louis with Jordan Binnington and Joel Hofer ahead of him.
“When they told me I was going on waivers, I know that’s a process, I really didn’t know what to expect,” Ellis told The Hockey news on Monday morning. “It was my first year going through this process. I was actually back in Springfield moving into my apartment. I was there when I got the call from Doug. It’s a crazy business, you never know what’s going to happen. You’ve kind of got to be ready for everything. Thinking in the back of my mind, I knew there was a possibility, but didn’t necessarily think something was going to transpire like that.”
Ellis got that call from Armstrong, one he said was comforting for both and one he appreciated.
“I had a really good conversation with him when he told me the news,” Ellis said. “He just wished me all the best. It was nice to kind of have that conversation with him. I’ve known him for however many years I was in the organization, right? It was cool to kind of talk to him about it and wish me the best and all that.”
And Ellis was off to Buffalo. For however long, nobody really knew, since Ukko Pekka-Luukkonen was on the mend at the time. But to the surprise of many, the Sabres have decided to keep three goalies rostered. They’ve liked Ellis that much.
Unfortunately, for the time being anyway, Ellis is recovering from a concussion sustained Dec. 9, when the Sabres’ eight-game winning streak began prior to facing the St. Louis Blues, against the Edmonton Oilers.
“He’s played well,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said of Ellis. “It’s unfortunate what happened in the Edmonton game where he got knocked out of the game and went into the concussion protocol process. I think he’s given us that ability when we’ve had other goalies hurt or on the sideline. He’s given us that backup when needed to step up and win games.
“You’ve got to give our scouting staff and our management a lot of credit. I think they must have had him on the radar and I think that’s what good teams do. They identify those guys that get on waivers and when you need a guy like that, whether it’s a forward, a defenseman, your pro scouts, your management staff’s the ones that see these players all the time. They bank information on him.”
And for Ellis, who is 4-3-0 with a 3.25 goals-against average and .985 save percentage this season, this is where he wants to be; he wants to be in the NHL, and as much as he said he loved being in Springfield with great people and great teammates, this is every player’s ultimate goal, and if it wasn’t going to come here, he’s glad it has come somewhere.
“A hundred percent,” he said. “Whenever someone kind of takes a chance on you like that, I’m obviously super grateful to have the opportunity to be here. For them to show an interest in me and pick me up, it means a lot. Obviously this is where I want to be for sure.
“I think the last couple years in Springfield really grew my game. Now I have a great foundation that I’m really confident in and really working closely with the goalie development guys and the goalie coaches in St. Louis really helped me get to this point. I did a lot of figuring out myself too and figuring out what makes me who I am as a goalie. I had a couple years in Springfield to figure that out and just keep building on things because you’re never done.”
Ellis made his NHL debut on Oct. 22 against the Detroit Red Wings, and he stopped 29 shots in a 4-2 win and won three of his first four starts.
It was a whirlwind of emotions but ones he was glad to experience.
“Yeah, absolutely. Not really knowing what to expect,” Ellis said. ‘I was never up in St. Louis during the regular season. I was up for one last year during the playoffs, but you’re not really a part of it. I didn’t really know what to expect, but everything here has been great. A really good group of guys around the room and everybody’s been really helpful to me being my first time going through all this. It’s been awesome.
“Before the game, we were maybe a little emotional kind of just talking about it with my family and my fiance and all the people that helped me get to this point. It’s something I’ve always dreamed about and to be able to kind of live it and go through that whole experience. I had so many people here I got to share that with. It was amazing.”
Suter Sidelined At Least Four Weeks With Ankle InjuryBlues center was hurt in third period of 3-2 win against Predators on Saturday despite returning to game
Another St. Louisan To Play Meaningful Game In Hometown For Sabres, Josh Dunne Joins Prestigious ListSabres forward hails from O'Fallon, Mo., has played here in past but only in preseason games
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Peat had 19 points and a career-high 14 rebounds, Bradley had 13 points and a career-best 10 assists and Krivas went for 13 points and 11 rebounds as Arizona won by at least 20 for the eighth consecutive game, tying a school record set in 1928-29. Arizona had six players in double figures for the third time this season. Kalen Garry had 20 points and Jaden Jackson scored 18 for South Dakota State, which fell to 1-23 against ranked opponents.
In light of the trade bringing forward Yegor Chinakhov from the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Pittsburgh Penguins will need to clear out a roster spot in order to make room for him to join the team.
And it appears that said move is in the works.
On Monday, the Penguins designated defenseman Ryan Graves as non-roster with the intent to place him on waivers Tuesday. The move would clear the necessary space for Chinakhov to join the NHL roster prior to Pittsburgh's game against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday.
It will mark the second time this season that Graves was sent to waivers, as he was waived on Oct. 4 following Penguins' training camp.
The Penguins acquired Chinakhov from Columbus in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 third-round pick, and forward Danton Heinen, who was designated non-roster for the purpose of waivers prior to the Penguins' tilt against the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday. Chinakhov, 24, has recorded three goals and six points in 29 games for the Blue Jackets this season.
Graves, 30, is in the third year of a six-year contract that pays him $4.5 million per season, and he was recalled from the AHL on Nov. 4. In 17 games for Pittsburgh this season, he has one goal and is a minus-4.
BREAKING: Penguins Acquire Chinakhov From Blue Jackets For Heinen, Two Draft PicksThe Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired Yegor Chinakhov from the Columbus Blue Jackets. Koa Peat, Jaden Bradley and Motiejus Krivas each had a double-double as No. 1 Arizona continued its string of blowout victories in a 99-71 win over South Dakota State on Monday night. It is the fourth time they've started a season with at least 13 consecutive victories. Peat had 19 points and a career-high 14 rebounds, Bradley had 13 points and a career-best 10 assists and Krivas went for 13 points and 11 rebounds as Arizona won by at least 20 for the eighth consecutive game, tying a school record set in 1928-29.
The Florida Panthers picked up an exhilarating comeback win on Monday night in the Sunrise hockey barn.
Falling behind early in the third period, Florida battled back thanks to standout performances from several veterans, taking down the visiting Washington Capitals by a final score of 5-3.
Washington’s top goal scorer got things started, but it’s probably not who you think.
Tom Wilson (not Alex Ovechkin) scored his team-leading 18th goal off a tough rebound after Martin Fehervary’s shot caught Sergei Bobrovsky up high at the 3:53 mark.
It didn’t take long for Florida to tie things up.
A turnover by the Capitals in their zone that came directly off a Sam Reinhart forecheck saw the puck picked up by a wide-open Jeff Petry at the point.
He skated toward the net and wound up for a slapshot, but instead noticed Anton Lundell at the back post and sent a slap-pass to the Finnish forward, who tapped the puck into a wide-open net behind a surprised Logan Thompson to knot the score at one just 42 seconds after Wilson’s goal.
Washington was called for back-to-back penalties midway through the period, and the second one would bite them in the behind.
With Ethen Frank in the box for slashing against Niko Mikkola, Reinhart walked into the right circle and wired a shot that went off the skate of Trevor van Riemsdyk and over Thompson’s shoulder, giving Florida a 2-1 lead with 7:15 to go in the period.
Unfortunately for the Cats, another goal by Wilson in the final seconds of the period would keep Florida from taking a lead into the locker room.
The score remained tied at two until early in the final frame, when a long wrist shot by Dylan Strome got past a screened Bobrovsky to give the Capitals a 3-2 lead with 16:49 on the clock.
Just over a minute after Washington scored, Ovechkin took a penalty for interfering with Aaron Ekblad, and while Florida didn’t cash in on the man advantage, they did score quite literally a moment later.
After Thompson stopped a Sam Bennett one-timer, Brad Marchand got a stick on the fluttering rebound in midair to knot the score back up at three.
Florida continued to control much of the possession and eventually went back in front thanks to a goal off the stick of Aaron Ekblad.
A laser of a pass out of the corner from Reinhart found an open Ekblad in the high slot, and his quick clapper went right over Thompson’s glove and into the back of the net with 6:48 on the clock.
Reinhart’s second of the game and 21st of the season went into a vacated Capitals net, cementing a solid home victory for Florida.
On to the Canadiens.
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Photo caption: Dec 29, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad (5) and center Anton Lundell (15) celebrate his goal against the Washington Capitals during the third period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Jeff Romance-Imagn Images)
