NHL Recap: Toronto, Detroit, and Dallas Continue Winning Ways

The Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, and Dallas Stars all extended their winning streaks to five games in Tuesday's NHL action.

Tuesday's NHL action saw three teams extend their winning streaks to five games, with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, and Dallas Stars all emerging victorious. The Maple Leafs, who improved to 27-13-2 on the season, faced off against the Philadelphia Flyers in a tightly contested matchup. The two teams traded goals in the first and second periods, with the score tied 2-2 heading into the final frame.

Travis Konecny scored both goals for the Flyers, with John Tavares and Auston Matthews responding for the Maple Leafs. However, it was Matthew Knies who proved to be the hero for Toronto, scoring the decisive goal in the third period to secure a 3-2 win. The victory allowed the Maple Leafs to maintain their lead atop the Atlantic Division, as they continue to build momentum with their fifth consecutive win.

The Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators engaged in a back-and-forth affair, with the two teams trading goals to send the game into overtime tied 2-2. Dylan Larkin and Joe Veleno scored for the Red Wings, while Thomas Chabot and Brady Tkachuk found the back of the net for the Senators.

Veteran forward Patrick Kane played the hero for Detroit, scoring the game-winning goal in overtime to give the Red Wings their fifth consecutive victory. Both teams finished with 32 shots on goal, but Kane's precision shooting proved to be the difference-maker. The win improved the Red Wings' record to 18-18-4, while the Senators fell to 19-17-3.

The Dallas Stars and New York Rangers engaged in a back-and-forth affair, with the Rangers scoring three consecutive goals to take an early lead. However, the Stars responded with three straight goals of their own, tying the game and setting the stage for a thrilling finish.

The two teams exchanged goals in the third period, sending the game into overtime. Jamie Benn played the hero for the Stars, scoring the game-winning goal in overtime to secure a 5-4 victory. Alexis Lafrenière scored twice for the Rangers, while Vincent Trocheck added two goals of his own. The Stars' balanced attack saw Matt Duchene, Evgenii Dadonov, Jason Robertson, and Thomas Harley all find the back of the net.

The Edmonton Oilers continued their winning ways, shutting out the Boston Bruins 4-0 to extend their winning streak to four games. Adam Henrique led the charge, scoring two goals (his 4th and 5th of the season) to pace the Oilers' offense.

LEAFS WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWIN!@LGCanada | #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/Iw5IwQOoJh

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) January 8, 2025

In a tightly contested matchup, the Columbus Blue Jackets emerged victorious, defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 in a shootout. Kirill Marchenko scored the decisive goal in the shootout, securing the win for the Blue Jackets.

In other league action, the Tampa Bay Lightning edged the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2, while the Minnesota Wild scored four unanswered goals to overcome the St. Louis Blues 6-4. Meanwhile, the Winnipeg Jets continued their dominance, downing the Nashville Predators 5-2 to maintain their winning momentum.