In a thrilling matchup, the Washington Capitals triumphed over the Toronto Maple Leafs with a convincing 5-2 victory, highlighted by Alex Ovechkin's return to the ice after a significant injury layoff. Ovechkin, who had been sidelined since fracturing his left fibula on November 18, marked his comeback by scoring an empty-net goal, bringing his career total to 869 goals. Alongside Ovechkin, teammates Andrew Mangiapane, Jakob Chychrun, Nic Dowd, and Tom Wilson also contributed to the scoreboard, while John Tavares and Bobby McMann found the net for Toronto.

In another exciting game, the Montreal Canadiens secured a 4-0 victory over the Florida Panthers, with Jakub Dobes making a stellar debut as a goaltender, stopping 34 shots and achieving a shutout. Kirby Dach shone with two goals, while Cole Caufield and Jake Evans added to the Canadiens' tally. The Panthers faced their second consecutive shutout, struggling to find their offensive rhythm.

The Philadelphia Flyers overcame the Anaheim Ducks 3-1, thanks to Noah Cates' ongoing goal streak and a crucial third-period goal from Morgan Frost. Meanwhile, the Seattle Kraken staged a remarkable comeback against the Vancouver Canucks, winning 5-4 in overtime, with Vince Dunn sealing the game with a second goal in the extra period. The Los Angeles Kings also claimed a victory over the Edmonton Oilers, with Quinton Byfield scoring the decisive goal in overtime.

In other notable games, the Boston Bruins secured a dominating 4-0 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets, while the Carolina Hurricanes triumphed 5-2 over the New Jersey Devils. The Tampa Bay Lightning continued their strong form with a 6-2 victory against the New York Rangers, where Brayden Point starred with two goals. The Winnipeg Jets maintained their lead in the league with a 4-2 win over the Ottawa Senators, and the New York Islanders defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-3, showcasing a strong offensive performance.