In a thrilling Winter Classic matchup at Wrigley Field, Cam Fowler celebrated his 1,000th NHL game by scoring twice, leading the St. Louis Blues to a decisive 6-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. The Blues showcased their offensive prowess, with Justin Faulk contributing a goal and two assists, while Jordan Kyrou, Dylan Holloway, and Alexandre Texier also found the net. This win marked St. Louis' third victory in four games, while Chicago's struggles continued, suffering their fifth consecutive loss and being outscored 27-12 during this stretch.
The game began with an early advantage for St. Louis, capitalizing on a power play opportunity just 48 seconds into the first period after Chicago's Louis Crevier was penalized for delay of game. Fowler opened the scoring, marking his second goal in nine games since joining the team from Anaheim. Faulk extended the lead with a shot from the point in the second period, and Fowler further solidified their dominance with another goal before the end of the period.
In other NHL action, the Montreal Canadiens ended the Vegas Golden Knights' six-game winning streak with a 3-2 comeback victory, highlighted by Kirby Dach's decisive goal. Montreal rallied from a 2-0 deficit, showcasing resilience with three unanswered goals. Meanwhile, the Washington Capitals defeated the Boston Bruins 3-1, thanks to Jakob Chychrun's standout performance and Aliaksei Protas's two goals, including a late empty-netter. The Toronto Maple Leafs also continued their strong form, beating the New York Islanders 3-1, with notable contributions from David Kampf, Steven Lorentz, and John Tavares.