Last Night in Canadian Hockey – Dec. 5: Sens, Leafs, Oilers & Flames
Some nights tell you everything you need to know about the state of Canadian hockey, and last night offered four different portraits. One team held its own in a tight loss, another looked like it found its stride, a third rediscovered its firepower, and a fourth returned home with a purpose.
If you want the complete game-by-game breakdowns, you’ll find links to each complete summary below these short capsules. But here’s the sweep of the night as it unfolded across the country.
Rangers 4, Senators 2
Ottawa played a solid game against a sharp Rangers team, but “solid” wasn’t quite enough. The Senators fell behind early and spent the rest of the night tugging themselves back into the fight. They pushed hard in the second half, even cutting the game to 3–2, but New York managed the middle of the ice and leaned on Igor Shesterkin at the right moments.
Still, nothing about Ottawa’s performance was deflating. Drake Batherson and Dylan Cozens carried the offense, Brady Tkachuk provided the late spark, and the group showed real structure once they settled in after a sloppy start. Losing Shane Pinto early didn’t help, and the ripple of that loss showed as matchups tightened—a competitive night, just not a complete one.
Rangers 4, Senators 2: Solid Ottawa Game Comes Up Short
Maple Leafs 5, Hurricanes 1
Some wins feel like they sneak up on you, and this one had a bit of Maple Leafs confidence that builds shift by shift. Toronto finished a long road swing looking like they’d packed a little extra belief into their bags. From Bobby McMann’s early bounce goal—53 seconds in—the Maple Leafs looked like the steadier team.
Matthew Knies’ second-period effort goal was the turning point, the kind of work-through-contact play that teaches a young player who he really is. Auston Matthews added the touch of class on a 2-on-1, and even losing Joseph Woll didn’t knock Toronto off stride. Hildeby’s calm third period was a bonus. Not a flashy win, but one of those “professional road games” that matter in March.
Maple Leafs 5, Hurricanes 1: Toronto Ends Road Trip Well
Oilers 9, Kraken 4
Every so often, a team needs a night to remind itself of its true identity. Edmonton got just that. The Oilers were coming off a frustrating 1–0 loss in which they were goalied, but everything tilted back in their favour here. Connor McDavid set the tone early, controlled the game’s rhythm, and finished with a hat trick and an assist—one of those “everyone follow me” nights.
What made the result sustainable was the support around him. Matt Savoie had a breakout performance, the depth chipped in at key moments, and the power play looked like the old version again. Calvin Pickard didn’t need to be heroic, just steady, and that calmness fed the bench. Edmonton skated downhill for much of the game, and it felt like a reset button was pushed.
Oilers 9, Kraken 4: A Game Where Everything for Edmonton Worked
Flames 4, Wild 1
Some home games arrive at precisely the right time for a team. After nearly two weeks on the road, the Flames walked into the Saddledome and played with purpose against a Wild team riding a 12-game point streak. Dustin Wolf was excellent early, surviving four Minnesota power plays and giving Calgary time to find its legs.
Once Jonathan Huberdeau broke his long drought with a needed backhand goal, the Flames’ energy changed. Coronato and Zary iced the game with quick third-period strikes, and Calgary controlled the final stretch with maturity. This was a simple, structured win—no frills, just good habits. If the Flames were looking for a game to reset their bearings, this was it.