Nemec Scores, Devils Triumph: NHL Roundup
New Jersey Devils defenseman Šimon Nemec scored a key goal as his team defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 5-3 on Monday night. The game was part of a busy night of NHL action that also saw contributions from fellow Slovak players Juraj Slafkovský and Erik Černák, as well as a second goal in as many games for Adam Sýkora.
Nemec’s 11th of the Season
Nemec’s 11th goal of the season came at the 36-minute mark, tying the game at 2-2. The Devils had established sustained pressure in the offensive zone, and after a scramble in front of the net, the puck deflected to the right faceoff circle where the 22-year-vintage defenseman unleashed a quick shot that beat Blackhawks goaltender Spencer Knight.
Nemec played a total of 16 minutes and 55 seconds, finishing with a minus-one rating, three shots on goal, and two blocked shots. Through 59 games this season, he has accumulated 26 points (11 goals and 15 assists). Chicago appears to be a favorable matchup for Nemec, as he has recorded five goals and one assist in four career games against the Blackhawks. In November, he even registered a hat trick against Chicago, completing the performance with the game-winning goal in overtime. Jake Hughes, who had a two-goal, two-assist performance in that game, remarked after Monday’s contest, “We dominated the entire second period. In the third, we knew it was coming. We just stuck to our game, pushed hard, but didn’t do anything crazy. We did a good job with that today.”
Slafkovský Assists as Canadiens Win
Juraj Slafkovský contributed an assist in Montreal’s 3-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. The 22-year-old winger delivered a precise cross-ice pass during a power play, finding Nick Suzuki for the Canadiens’ third goal of the night, earning Slafkovský his 64th point of the season (28 goals and 36 assists) in 73 games. He logged 19 minutes and 49 seconds of ice time, finishing with two pluses, two shots on goal, one hit, and two blocked shots.
Suzuki scored two goals and added an assist, while Cole Caufield had a goal and an assist. Lane Hutson recorded two assists for Montreal. The Canadiens have now won their fifth consecutive game and their third straight against Carolina this season, climbing to fourth place in the Eastern Conference. The Hurricanes, with the loss, relinquished first place in the conference to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Černák’s Night Cut Short
The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Nashville Predators 3-2, with Erik Černák playing a role in the opening goal for the Predators. Černák inadvertently directed a puck into the net while battling with Nashville’s Joakim Kemell, giving Kemell his first NHL goal. Černák received a minor penalty for roughing late in the game and a subsequent 10-minute misconduct for protesting the call. He finished with 15 minutes and 49 seconds of ice time, a minus-one rating, one shot on goal, two hits, and one blocked shot.
Adam Sýkora continued his impressive start to his NHL career, scoring his second goal in as many games as the New York Rangers defeated the Florida Panthers 3-1. Sýkora opened the scoring in the 46th minute, tipping in a shot from Adam Fox. He had previously registered his first NHL goal and point in a 6-1 win over Chicago on Saturday, earning him second-star honors in that game. Against Florida, Sýkora also received a five-minute major penalty for fighting in the first period. He played 10 minutes and 3 seconds, finishing with a plus-one rating, one shot, and two hits.
The Rangers sealed the victory with goals from Conor Sheary (on the power play) and Fox (into an empty net). Igor Šesťorkin, the Rangers’ goaltender, was nearly perfect, losing his shutout bid with just 40.2 seconds remaining when Mackie Samoskevich scored for the Panthers. Sýkora skated on the second line with Vincent Trocheck and Will Cuylle.
NHL Results – Monday, March 30
New York Rangers – Florida Panthers 3:1 (0:0, 0:0, 3:1)
Goals: 46. SÝKORA (Fox, Laba), 52. Sheary (Miller), 57. Fox (Borgen) – 60. Samoskevich (Boqvist, Benning)
Goalies: Šesťorkin – Bobrovskij, shots on goal: 21:28
Carolina Hurricanes – Montreal Canadiens 1:3 (1:0, 0:3, 0:0)
Goals: 9. Svečnikov (Jarvis, Aho) – 27. Suzuki (Caufield, Hutson), 38. Caufield (Suzuki, Hutson), 40. Suzuki (SLAFKOVSKÝ, Demidov)
Goalies: Andersen – Dobeš, shots on goal: 35:18
Tampa Bay Lightning – Nashville Predators 3:2 (0:0, 1:1, 2:1)
Goals: 34. Guentzel (Raddysh, D’Astous), 45. Hagel (Guentzel), 47. Perry (Guentzel, Lilleberg) – 29. Kemell (Forsberg, Barron), 45. Forsberg (Svečkov, Wilsby)
Goalies: Johansson – Annunen, shots on goal: 28:31
Columbus Blue Jackets – Boston Bruins 3:4 PP & SO (3:0, 0:0, 0:3 – 0:0, 0:1)
Goals: 7. Jenner (Garland), 8. Marchment (Provorov, Marčenko), 20. Coyle (Marčenko, Marchment) – 47. McAvoy (Zacha, Arvidsson), 49. Zacha (McAvoy, Arvidsson), 60. Zacha (Arvidsson), shootout winner Arvidsson
Goalies: Greaves – Swayman, shots on goal: 24:38
Philadelphia Flyers – Dallas Stars 2:1 PP (0:0, 1:1, 0:0 – 1:0)
Goals: 30. Konecny (Mičkov, Ristolainen), 64. Zegras (York, Ersson) – 38. Hyry
Goalies: Ersson – DeSmith, shots on goal: 30:18
New Jersey Devils – Chicago Blackhawks 5:3 (1:2, 1:0, 3:1)
Goals: 12. Brown (L. Hughes, J. Hughes), 36. NEMEC (Mercer, Hirschier), 55. Hamilton (J. Hughes, Meier), 55. J. Hughes (Bratt, Siegenthaler), 60. J. Hughes (Hischier, Kovacevic) – 5. Michejev (Frondell, Crevier), 14. Nazar (Donato, Burakovsky), 51. Nazar (Bedard, Frondell).
Goalies: Allen – Knight, shots on goal: 40:31
The NHL season continues to heat up as teams battle for playoff positioning. Fans can follow their favorite teams and players for the latest updates and results on the official NHL website.
