Sport

NHL Highlights: Key Player Injuries, Suspensions, and Standout Performances – March 14 Recap

2025-03-14

Author: Noah

In the latest NHL action, injury woes continue to plague the New Jersey Devils as defenseman Dougie Hamilton has been officially ruled out for the remainder of the regular season due to a lower-body injury. The confirmation of Hamilton's absence adds to the already significant injuries the team is facing, including Jonas Siegenthaler and star forward Jack Hughes. However, fans remain hopeful for a speedy recovery in time for the playoffs.

In a thrilling game Thursday night, the shorthanded Devils managed to pull off a commendable 3-2 win against the Edmonton Oilers. Notably, Jesper Bratt showcased incredible momentum by scoring his 19th goal of the season, and he also contributed assists on the other two goals scored by Simon Nemec and Brett Pesce. Bratt’s outstanding performance marked his second consecutive game with three points, pushing his record to a career-high 57 assists this season.

On the Oilers’ side, superstar Connor McDavid continued to impress by assisting both of Edmonton’s goals, thereby notching his 60th assist for the ninth straight season. For the goalkeeping duties, Jake Allen shone brightly, stopping 31 of 33 shots, while Edmonton’s Stuart Skinner struggled, yielding three goals on just 21 shots.

In another controversial moment, Calgary Flames forward Connor Zary received a two-game suspension for elbowing Elias Pettersson during a game. Despite the lack of a major penalty at the time, the league's Department of Player Safety decided on the suspension, sidelining Zary for crucial upcoming matches against Colorado and Toronto.

Updates regarding player injuries continued with the New York Rangers seeing Adam Fox participate in practice while holding out hope for Arthur Kaliyev’s recovery. In Dallas, concerns arose as Roope Hintz was absent from practice, raising doubts about his potential return.

Meanwhile, the Minnesota Wild are closely monitoring the situations of Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek as the postseason approaches, hoping both players can make their long-awaited comebacks.

In a noteworthy game for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Yegor Chinakhov was a healthy scratch, as the team fell to the Vegas Golden Knights 4-0. Brandon Saad scored for Vegas, marking his fifth goal in 13 games since joining the team.

The Ottawa Senators showcased an offensive explosion in a home matchup against the Boston Bruins, crushing them 6-3 with Drake Batherson leading the charge with two goals. Notably, Batherson has elevated his game, collecting a total of 13 points in the last 14 games.

Over in Philadelphia, Bobby Brink recorded an impressive three-point night with a pair of goals, leading the Flyers to a thrilling 4-3 shootout victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Brink's performance helped him surpass the 30-point mark for the first time in his career.

Additionally, the New York Rangers achieved a significant 3-2 overtime victory against the Minnesota Wild, with Braden Schneider sealing the win in extra time. This win positions the Rangers favorably as they continue their playoff push.

As the playoffs draw near, every game predicts great excitement and the potential for unexpected outcomes! Stay tuned for more updates in the coming days as teams jostle for playoff positioning.