Last Night in Canadian Hockey - Dec. 21: Sens, Oilers, Habs, Leafs, Canucks & Flames
Saturday night across the NHL offered a familiar Canadian split-screen: optimism in pockets, warning signs elsewhere, and minimal margin separating momentum from malaise. Some teams found ways to bend games back in their favour. Others played well enough to feel competitive — but not well enough to control outcomes.
If there was a common thread, it was this: structure mattered. Teams that protected key moments got rewarded. Teams that leaked at the wrong time were left explaining the process instead of the results. Here’s how the night unfolded, one Canadian team at a time.
Senators Beat Blackhawks 6-4: Third-Period Push That Actually Meant Something
Ottawa’s 6–4 win over Chicago wasn’t just about scoring three times in the third — it was about finally asserting control in a game they had flirted with losing. Against a struggling Blackhawks team, the Senators didn’t overwhelm early, but they stayed patient and made their push count.
Tim Stützle was the engine. He put up a short-handed goal based more upon awareness than speed alone. The defining moment came after a chaotic coach’s challenge sequence that could have rattled a younger team. Instead, Stützle turned a neutral-zone turnover into separation.
For Ottawa, this was a reminder that their best hockey still shows up when they simplify. They don’t need to be perfect, and they don’t even need to be dominant. But the Senators do need to be purposeful — and increasingly reliable when it matters most.
Oilers Lose to Hot Wild 5-2: Minnesota’s Structure Exposes Edmonton Problems
Edmonton didn’t lose because Connor McDavid wasn’t brilliant — he scored and pushed play as usual. They failed because Minnesota dictated the terms. The Wild’s 5–2 win was less about offence and more about suffocation.
Matt Boldy was the difference-maker, scoring twice and constantly forcing Edmonton’s defence to retreat. The turning point came when Vladimir Tarasenko poked home a loose puck midway through the third, ending any illusion that Edmonton could flip the script late.
For the Oilers, this loss underlined a recurring issue: when space disappears, they struggle to manufacture answers. Against disciplined teams, skill alone doesn’t always close the gap.
Canadiens Shut Out Penguins 4-0: Young Goalie Changes the Game
Montreal’s 4–0 win over Pittsburgh mattered less for the opponent’s losing streak and more for what it revealed internally. Jacob Fowler’s first NHL shutout didn’t just stop pucks — it changed how the Canadiens played in front of him.
Josh Anderson’s short-handed breakaway goal was the defining moment, stretching a one-goal game into something Pittsburgh never recovered from. Fowler’s calm allowed Montreal to stay aggressive without fear.
For a team still finding its identity, this was a reminder that confidence at the back can accelerate growth everywhere else.
Maple Leafs Lose to Predators 5-3: Better Process, Same Old Story
Toronto’s 5–3 loss in Nashville felt uncomfortably familiar. The Maple Leafs played with more structure, more puck support, and better flow through the neutral zone — but they still lost control at precisely the wrong moments.
Luke Evangelista’s third-period rush goal, walking around Morgan Rielly, was the pivot point. One mistake. One gap. One goal that flipped the game.
Bobby McMann stood out again, but the larger takeaway remains unresolved: improved habits mean little until they hold under pressure. Toronto is closer — but still not close enough.
Canucks Beat Bruins 5-4 in Shootout: Resilience Pushes Vancouver’s Win
Vancouver’s 5–4 shootout win over Boston extended a winning streak, but it was built on survival more than command. Kevin Lankinen was the story early, stopping 38 shots and keeping the Canucks upright long enough to find their footing.
Liam Ohgren’s shootout winner capped it, but the defining moment was earlier — Max Sasson snapping a game-tying goal after Vancouver had been thoroughly outplayed.
This team is learning how to hang in games. The next step is learning how to dictate them.
Flames Beat Golden Knights 6-3: Depth and Discipline Paying Dividends
Calgary’s 6–3 win over Vegas was one of the night’s most complete Canadian performances. Mikael Backlund’s two goals set the tone, but this was about layers — scoring throughout the lineup and commitment away from the puck.
Joel Farabee’s short-handed goal was the moment that broke Vegas’ resistance. Calgary didn’t chase offence. They let it come to them.
For a team often questioned for its ceiling, the Flames are quietly banking points through structure and buy-in.
Bottom Line for Canadian Teams: The Margin Remains the Story
Saturday reinforced a truth Canadian teams know well: the gap between winning and explaining is thin. Structure, goaltending, and moment management decided outcomes — not highlight plays.
Some teams leaned into that reality. Others are still learning how unforgiving it can be. And in December, that learning curve shows up fast in the standings.