Washington Capitals 7-4 Edmonton Oilers
The Washington Capitals were on point in their game at home to the Edmonton Oilers, prevailing 7-4. The first period saw quite a few goals, with Alexei Protas and Alex Ovechkin getting on the board in the first six minutes and change. The latter scored for the 904th time in his NHL career, continuing to increase his goalscoring record.
Darnell Nurse then got his name on the scoresheet twice in the frame, sandwiching Ryan Leonard's marker as the Caps took a 3-2 lead into the first intermission. Leonard netted his second midway through the second frame, making it 4-2.
The Oilers, who reached last season's Stanley Cup finals, made a game of it in the third. David Tomasek reduced the deficit back to one, only for Anthony Beauvillier to respond for Washington. Just 70 seconds later, Leon Draisaitl hit back as the game became back-and-forth.
Unfortunately for Edmonton, despite pushing for a leveller, they could not get another. Tom Wilson iced the game with a pair of empty net goals in the final 90 seconds to give the Capitals the victory.
It is consecutive victories for the Caps, who go to 22 points with the win. They head to Montreal on Thursday to face the Habs.
The Oilers are also on 22 points, as they sit on two defeats in a row. They are also on the road on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Buffalo Sabres 2-6 Calgary Flames
It was a dramatic game in Buffalo, where the visiting Calgary Flames topped the Buffalo Sabres 6-2. In the first period, where the guests dominated proceedings, they made the most of their chances. Rasmus Andersson opened the scoring six minutes in. Joel Farabee doubled the Flames' advantage later on in the frame, as the score read 2-0 after 20 minutes.
The Sabres came to life in the second. Mattias Samuelsson halved the deficit at the midpoint of the period, before Tage Thompson wiped Calgary's advantage. Just like that, it was 2-2, with plenty of the game left.
That was where the Flames found their form again. In the final period, they scored four times to put the game out of reach. Morgan Frost got the go-ahead goal 2:02 in. Mikael Backlund restored a two-goal advantage from earlier in the game.
By the time Farabee grabbed his second of the night, Buffalo found themselves in a difficult spot. None of their 18 shots could beat Devin Cooley as the Flames were able to hold onto their lead. Matt Coronato added a sixth closer towards the end.
Both teams are bottom of their respective conferences. It was just the fifth time the Flames managed a regulation-time win. As for the Sabres, their two-game winning streak came to a close with the reverse.
Also in action on Wednesday night, the Minnesota Wild host the Carolina Hurricanes and the Anaheim Ducks battle the Boston Bruins.