Jonas Siegenthaler’s second goal of the season and Timo Meier’s fourteenth, which allowed the Devils to return to 2-2 after the Ducks’ first two successes, were not enough to tip the scales. Ryan Strome scored the decisive 3-2 for the Californians in the 37th minute before a scoreless final third.
Roman Josi and Nashville gave in to Minnesota (5-3) while leading 2-1 after the first 20 minutes. Three goals conceded in the middle third were fatal to the Predators, beaten for the third time in a row (27 defeats in 38 matches now).
Still leader of the Central division, Winnipeg lost to Colorado (5-2) despite an assist from Nino Niederreiter – his 10th of the year – on the Jets’ 2-2 shortly before the second siren. The Manitoba team then conceded the decisive goal in the 47th minute (Mittelstadt) before the Avalanche scored two additional successes in the empty cage.
With a “mute” Pius Suter, the Vancouver Canucks returned empty-handed from their trip through the Rockies to Calgary (3-1 defeat). As for Philipp Kurashev, he did not take part in the “Winter Classic” organized in the Chicago Cubs baseball stadium against St. Louis (the Blackhawks lost 6-2).
Finally, Dallas won well in front of its home crowd against Buffalo (4-2), but Lian Bichsel did not take part in the celebration. After 8 NHL matches (2 goals), the Solothurn defender was sent back to the AHL with the Texas Stars farm team.
