Recent NHL games have seen several notable outcomes. The Columbus Blue Jackets secured a 5-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, with center Adam Fantilli scoring his first NHL hat trick. This win places the Blue Jackets in the first Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 53 points. The Toronto Maple Leafs, despite the loss, hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 62 points but suffered injuries to winger Matthew Knies and placed Max Pacioretty on injured reserve.

The Winnipeg Jets edged the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 in overtime, thanks to a goal by Neal Pionk. The Jets, leading the Western Conference with 67 points, moved within two points of the league-leading Washington Capitals. The Avalanche, holding the first Western Conference wild-card spot with 58 points, are 1-2-1 in their last four games and face setbacks with winger Valeri Nichushkin's lower-body injury and the loss of linesman Jonny Murray during the game.

The New Jersey Devils defeated the Boston Bruins 5-1, with captain Nico Hischier leading the way with a goal and two assists. However, the Devils suffered a significant loss as goaltender Jacob Markstrom left the game with an injured left leg, which could keep him out for some time. The Bruins, with 52 points, sit outside the final Eastern wild-card spot.

In other news, the Los Angeles Kings narrowly beat the Florida Panthers 2-1, with forward Adrian Kempe scoring the decisive goal in the third period. The Kings hold third place in the Pacific Division with 57 points, while the Panthers remain three points behind the Leafs in the Atlantic Division with 59 points.

Looking ahead, the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, an international tournament featuring NHL players from the US, Canada, Finland, and Sweden, is set to take place from February 12-20, 2025, in Montreal and Boston. This event will include 23 NHL players from each country, selected by their respective national associations, and will follow NHL rules.

On the trade front, the Pittsburgh Penguins are reportedly interested in some of the Buffalo Sabres' younger, NHL-ready prospects. The Colorado Avalanche and forward Mikko Rantanen are in stalled contract talks, with the March 7 trade deadline looming as a potential deadline for a new deal. The Carolina Hurricanes are considered active and ready to make moves in the trade market.

In predictions for the 2025 season, NHL.com writers have made bold forecasts, including the Winnipeg Jets winning the Stanley Cup and Alex Ovechkin potentially surpassing Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal-scoring record. ESPN has also released its top 100 player rankings for the 2024-25 season, with Connor McDavid topping the list once again.