Date: 4 March 2026
By IceHockeyMan Newsroom
Final Scores
Boston Bruins 2 - Pittsburgh Penguins 1
Buffalo Sabres 3 - Vegas Golden Knights 2
Columbus Blue Jackets 3 - Nashville Predators 2
New Jersey Devils 5 - Florida Panthers 1
Washington Capitals 2 – Utah Mammoth 3
Winnipeg Jets 3 - Chicago Blackhawks 2 (OT)
Calgary Flames 1 – Dallas Stars 6
Edmonton Oilers 5 - Ottawa Senators 4 (OT)
Minnesota Wild 5 - Tampa Bay Lightning 1
Anaheim Ducks 1 – Colorado Avalanche 5
San Jose Sharks 7 - Montreal Canadiens 5
Game-by-Game Breakdown
Boston Bruins vs Pittsburgh Penguins
Boston controlled the defensive side of the game, blocking a large number of attempts and relying on strong goaltending to secure a narrow victory.
- Shots on Goal: BOS 28 - PIT 35
- Shooting %: BOS 7.14% - PIT 2.86%
- Blocked Shots: BOS 23 - PIT 12
- Goalkeeper Saves: BOS 34 - PIT 26
- Save %: BOS 97.14% - PIT 92.86%
- Penalties: BOS 4 - PIT 3
- PIM: BOS 8 - PIT 6
Buffalo Sabres vs Vegas Golden Knights
Buffalo converted their chances slightly more efficiently while the goaltending edge helped them secure the one-goal win.
- Shots on Goal: BUF 28 - VGK 29
- Shooting %: BUF 10.71% - VGK 6.9%
- Blocked Shots: BUF 10 - VGK 10
- Goalkeeper Saves: BUF 27 - VGK 25
- Save %: BUF 93.1% - VGK 89.29%
- Penalties: BUF 1 - VGK 1
- PIM: BUF 2 - VGK 2
Columbus Blue Jackets vs Nashville Predators
Columbus produced slightly more offensive pressure and finished their chances better to hold off Nashville.
- Shots on Goal: CBJ 27 - NSH 24
- Shooting %: CBJ 11.11% - NSH 8.33%
- Blocked Shots: CBJ 16 - NSH 16
- Goalkeeper Saves: CBJ 22 - NSH 24
- Save %: CBJ 91.67% - NSH 88.89%
- Penalties: CBJ 2 - NSH 4
- PIM: CBJ 4 - NSH 8
New Jersey Devils vs Florida Panthers
The Devils dominated offensively and defensively, outshooting Florida and converting chances at a far higher rate.
- Shots on Goal: NJD 33 - FLA 21
- Shooting %: NJD 15.15% - FLA 4.76%
- Blocked Shots: NJD 9 - FLA 10
- Goalkeeper Saves: NJD 20 - FLA 28
- Save %: NJD 95.24% - FLA 90.32%
- Penalties: NJD 5 - FLA 5
- PIM: NJD 10 - FLA 10
Washington Capitals vs Utah Mammoth
Utah finished their opportunities more effectively despite being outshot slightly by Washington.
- Shots on Goal: WSH 25 - UTA 23
- Shooting %: WSH 8% - UTA 13.04%
- Blocked Shots: WSH 15 - UTA 36
- Goalkeeper Saves: WSH 20 - UTA 23
- Save %: WSH 86.96% - UTA 92%
- Penalties: WSH 2 - UTA 2
- PIM: WSH 4 - UTA 4
Winnipeg Jets vs Chicago Blackhawks (OT)
Winnipeg controlled puck possession and generated more scoring opportunities before securing the overtime win.
- Shots on Goal: WPG 32 - CHI 20
- Shooting %: WPG 9.38% - CHI 10%
- Blocked Shots: WPG 18 - CHI 11
- Goalkeeper Saves: WPG 18 - CHI 29
- Save %: WPG 90% - CHI 90.63%
- Penalties: WPG 2 - CHI 2
- PIM: WPG 6 - CHI 4
Calgary Flames vs Dallas Stars
Dallas overwhelmed Calgary offensively, scoring six goals while maintaining strong defensive structure.
- Shots on Goal: CGY 21 - DAL 35
- Shooting %: CGY 4.76% - DAL 17.14%
- Blocked Shots: CGY 11 - DAL 20
- Goalkeeper Saves: CGY 29 - DAL 20
- Save %: CGY 82.86% - DAL 95.24%
- Penalties: CGY 6 - DAL 4
- PIM: CGY 12 - DAL 8
Edmonton Oilers vs Ottawa Senators (OT)
Edmonton generated significantly more shots while Ottawa relied on high finishing efficiency to stay in the game before overtime.
- Shots on Goal: EDM 37 - OTT 21
- Shooting %: EDM 13.51% - OTT 19.05%
- Blocked Shots: EDM 9 - OTT 14
- Goalkeeper Saves: EDM 17 - OTT 32
- Save %: EDM 80.95% - OTT 86.49%
- Penalties: EDM 4 - OTT 4
- PIM: EDM 11 - OTT 11
Minnesota Wild vs Tampa Bay Lightning
Minnesota capitalized on their scoring chances with excellent finishing while strong goaltending limited Tampa Bay.
- Shots on Goal: MIN 22 - TBL 26
- Shooting %: MIN 22.73% - TBL 3.85%
- Blocked Shots: MIN 14 - TBL 14
- Goalkeeper Saves: MIN 25 - TBL 17
- Save %: MIN 96.15% - TBL 80.95%
- Penalties: MIN 4 - TBL 6
- PIM: MIN 8 - TBL 20
Anaheim Ducks vs Colorado Avalanche
Colorado’s finishing ability proved decisive as the Avalanche converted nearly 20 percent of their shots.
- Shots on Goal: ANA 28 - COL 26
- Shooting %: ANA 3.57% - COL 19.23%
- Blocked Shots: ANA 11 - COL 10
- Goalkeeper Saves: ANA 21 - COL 27
- Save %: ANA 80.77% - COL 96.43%
- Penalties: ANA 3 - COL 3
- PIM: ANA 6 - COL 6
San Jose Sharks vs Montreal Canadiens
A high-scoring game where San Jose’s shooting efficiency made the difference despite being outshot.
- Shots on Goal: SJS 28 - MTL 35
- Shooting %: SJS 25% - MTL 14.29%
- Blocked Shots: SJS 18 - MTL 10
- Goalkeeper Saves: SJS 30 - MTL 21
- Save %: SJS 85.71% - MTL 77.78%
- Penalties: SJS 7 - MTL 6
- PIM: SJS 14 - MTL 12
Coach Mark Comment
This slate of games highlights how shooting efficiency and defensive structure often decide NHL outcomes. Teams like Minnesota and Colorado converted their chances at elite rates, while Dallas dominated with both shot volume and defensive pressure. At the same time, overtime games such as Winnipeg vs Chicago and Edmonton vs Ottawa demonstrate how a single transition moment or breakdown can determine the final result. Consistency in defensive coverage and disciplined puck management remain critical factors when teams push games beyond regulation.
Q&A
Why do teams sometimes win despite being outshot?
High shooting efficiency, better shot quality, and stronger goaltending can allow teams to win even when they generate fewer total shots.
What role does shooting percentage play in NHL games?
Shooting percentage measures scoring efficiency. Teams that convert a higher percentage of their shots often win close games.
Why are overtime games common in the NHL?
Modern NHL parity means many games remain tied after regulation, leading to 3-on-3 overtime where speed and puck possession become decisive.
How important are blocked shots in defensive play?
Blocked shots reduce scoring chances and are often a sign of strong defensive commitment and structure.
Why does goaltending often decide close games?
A goaltender with a high save percentage can neutralize offensive pressure and give their team time to capitalize on limited chances.