NHL Recap: Canadiens Stun Rangers, Senators Edge Devils, and Stars Dominate Red Wings

Get the latest NHL roundup, featuring the Montreal Canadiens' thrilling overtime win against the New York Rangers, the Ottawa Senators' narrow victory over the New Jersey Devils, and the Dallas Stars' dominant performance against the Detroit Red Wings.

Sunday's NHL action saw only three matches take place, but they didn't disappoint. The most thrilling matchup was undoubtedly the Original Six game between the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers, which the Canadiens won 5-4 in overtime.

The Canadiens' victory was a hard-fought one, with the Rangers pushing them to the limit. In the end, Montreal's determination paid off, as they outlasted their opponents to secure the win. This matchup was a classic example of the intense rivalries that make the NHL so exciting.

In other NHL action, the Ottawa Senators and Dallas Stars also emerged victorious. The Senators edged out the New Jersey Devils in a closely contested matchup, while the Stars secured a win against their opponents ¹. These victories will undoubtedly provide a boost to both teams as they continue to battle for supremacy in the NHL.

Montreal Canadiens Edge New York Rangers in Overtime Thriller

The Montreal Canadiens secured a thrilling 5-4 overtime victory against the New York Rangers on Sunday. Despite taking the lead four times, the Rangers ultimately left Canada with a loss. The visitors initially took the lead midway through the opening period, courtesy of Alexis Lafreniere's goal.

The Canadiens responded quickly, with Brendan Gallagher leveling the score less than three minutes later. However, the Rangers regained the lead shortly after, thanks to Will Cuylle's goal. The back-and-forth nature of the game continued, with Christian Dvorak bringing Montreal back to parity five minutes into the second period.

The Rangers continued to push, and Mika Zibanejad scored from a power play to put New York back in front. Nick Suzuki responded for the Canadiens, tying the game once more with just under five minutes to play in the frame. Chris Kreider then scored the Rangers' fourth goal, retaking the lead. However, the Canadiens dominated the third period, outshooting the Rangers 22-11 and eventually tying the game through Juraj Slafkovsky's goal with 7:08 remaining.

The game ultimately required overtime, and Patrik Laine scored the winner 3:20 into the extra period, securing an incredible victory for the Canadiens. The win moves the Habs to within a point of the Columbus Blue Jackets for the final playoff spot and sees them leapfrog the Rangers in the standings, who now trail by two points.

Other NHL Action: Senators and Stars Secure Wins

In Sunday's other NHL matchups, the Ottawa Senators edged the New Jersey Devils 2-1, while the Dallas Stars dominated the Detroit Red Wings 4-1. The Senators' win was a hard-fought one, with Zack Ostapchuk scoring midway through the second period to put the visitors in front. Despite being outshot 24-4 in the opening frame, the Senators held on to their lead until Tomas Tatar equalized for the Devils a minute later.

NOT TODAY SATAN, #SENS WIN!!!#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/njPuJd5Y1k

— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) January 19, 2025

The Senators ultimately secured the win thanks to Artyom Zub's go-ahead goal within three minutes of the final period. The Devils were unable to respond, mustering only six shots in the third period as they succumbed to their fourth consecutive loss. In contrast, the Senators celebrated their fifth win in their last six games. Meanwhile, the Dallas Stars got off to a flying start against the Detroit Red Wings, scoring three times in the opening period to set up a 4-1 victory.

Matej Blumel opened the scoring for the Stars just over five minutes into the game, with Jason Robertson doubling the advantage with 6:55 left in the period. Mavrik Bourque added a third goal a minute later, putting the Stars in a commanding position. Despite a scoreless second period, the Red Wings eventually found the back of the net through Simon Edvinsson with eight minutes remaining. However, Wyatt Johnston sealed the win for the Stars with a fourth goal, capping the scoring.