Bruins End Road Skid, Avalanche Fall as Nečas Scores in Loss

WASHINGTON & WINNIPEG – The Boston Bruins finally broke a seven-game losing streak on the road, securing a 3-2 shootout victory over the Washington Capitals on Sunday, while the Colorado Avalanche suffered an unexpected defeat at the hands of the Winnipeg Jets. Czech players were key contributors in both contests, with David Pastrňák and Pavel Zacha assisting on goals for Boston and Martin Nečas scoring for Colorado.

Bruins Prevail in Shootout After Back-and-Forth Battle

At Capital One Arena, the Bruins and Capitals battled to a 2-2 tie through regulation and overtime before Fraser Minten scored the decisive goal in the ninth round of the shootout. The win moves Boston to fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings.

Washington opened the scoring at 22:00 of the first period with a goal from Matt Roy. Boston responded ten minutes later when Charlie McAvoy leveled the score, assisted by Pastrňák. McAvoy struck again at 51:00, this time deflecting a shot from Pavel Zacha, giving the Bruins a 2-1 lead. Though, Rasmus Sandin quickly answered for the Capitals at 44:00, tying the game once more.

The shootout proved to be a marathon, with a total of seventeen shooters failing to convert before Minten finally found the back of the net. Both Pastrňák and Zacha were among those unable to score in the shootout.

Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman was crucial in the victory, saving nine shots in the shootout. The win marked a significant turnaround for Boston, who had been struggling on the road.

David Kämpf, a Czech forward recently traded to the Capitals from Vancouver, remains unavailable as he awaits a work permit in the United States.

Avalanche Stumble Against Jets, Nečas Finds the Back of the Net

Meanwhile, in Winnipeg, the Colorado Avalanche, the top team in the league, were upset by the Jets, falling 3-1. Despite the loss, Martin Nečas managed to score his 31st goal of the season for Colorado.

The Jets took control of the game early, scoring twice in the second period through Connor and Iafallo. Nečas provided a late spark for the Avalanche, scoring a power-play goal at 58:44 to cut the deficit to 2-1. However, any hopes of a comeback were dashed just thirty seconds later when Cole Perfetti scored into an empty net, sealing the victory for Winnipeg.

The Jets’ victory was a notable upset, as they currently hold the twelfth position in the Western Conference. The Avalanche, despite the loss, remain at the top of the Western Conference standings.

NHL Scores from Sunday, March 15, 2026

• Ottawa Senators 2 – 0 Anaheim Ducks: Ullmark, Pinto, and Spence were named the stars of the game.
• Washington Capitals 2 – 3 (SO) Boston Bruins: Roy and Sandin scored for Washington, while McAvoy (twice, assisted by Pastrňák and Zacha) scored for Boston. Minten scored the shootout winner.
• Winnipeg Jets 3 – 1 Colorado Avalanche: Connor, Iafallo, and Perfetti scored for Winnipeg, while Nečas scored for Colorado.

The NHL season continues to deliver compelling storylines as teams battle for playoff positioning. The Bruins’ victory provides a much-needed boost, while the Avalanche will look to rebound from their surprising loss. The performance of Czech players like Pastrňák, Zacha, and Nečas continues to be a significant factor in their respective teams’ success.

Next up for the Boston Bruins is a home game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 18th. The Colorado Avalanche will look to receive back on track with a home game against the St. Louis Blues on March 19th.

What did you think of these games? Share your thoughts in the comments below!