The Vancouver “Canucks” represented by Blüger, with Kevin Lankinen in goal and Arturas Shilov in the reserve, defeated the Ottawa “Senators” 4:3 (1:0, 2:1, 1:2), the opponents suffered their fifth loss in a row.
Blügers scored his fourth goal of the season in the middle of the match, when the Latvian received the puck at the end of a counterattack and sent it into the net with a lightning flick of the wrist, making it 2:1 at that time. Blüger has four goals, six assists and a positive +1 efficiency in 19 matches this season.
Jake Debrask stood out for the Vancouverites with two goals and an assist. Lankinen saved 26 of 29 shots on goal for the Canucks.
On the other hand, the Florida “Panthers”, represented by Balinska, lost to the Colorado “Avalanche” in a productive match at home with the result 4:7 (2:1, 1:4, 1:2).
Less than two minutes before the end of regular time, Balinskis helped Atnon Lundell score the last goal of this match, the Latvian participating with the first pass from the blue lines. In this match, Balinskis scored once in 15 minutes and 37 seconds, used one power play, lost one puck and had a negative efficiency coefficient of -1, but throughout the season the Latvian defenseman has six assists in 21 matches and a negative efficiency of -9.
Johntan Druane, who played only his fifth game of the season, scored two goals for the Avalanche, Valery Nichushkin had a goal and two assists.
On the other hand, Merzlikin celebrated the victory with the Columbus ”Blue Jackets”, who defeated the Carolina “Hurricanes” at home with 5:4 (2:1, 1:3, 1:0, 0:0, 1:0) in a shootout series.
Merzlikin saved 32 shots, as well as three post-game shots. “Blue Jackets” have now won three matches in a row, which is the first time since March 2022.
This season, Merzlikin has won six victories in 12 games, four of them in a row. allowed an average of 3.08 innings and saved 89.4% of shots.
Kirill Marchenko scored two goals for the Blue Jackets, while Sean Monaghan scored the winning shot in the postgame series.
Tampa Bay “Lightning” experienced failure on Saturday, losing at home to Dallas ”Stars” 2:4 (2:2, 0:0, 0:2).
In nine minutes and seven seconds, Girgenson recorded three power plays, one blocked shot, the only shot lost and a negative +/-. In the whole season, he has no points scored in 19 matches and has accumulated a negative efficiency coefficient of -3.
Anthony Cirelli scored both goals for Tampa.
“Panthers” with 25 points in 21 games is sixth in the Eastern Conference, where “Lightning” is in ninth position with 22 points in 19 matches, and “Blue Jackets” is in 11th place with 20 points in 20 duels. “Canucks” 23 points in 19 matches give them ninth place in the Western Conference.
What strategies can the Ottawa Senators implement to end their losing streak?
Interview between Time.news Editor and Hockey Expert
Time.news Editor: Welcome to Time.news, where we discuss the latest in sports and beyond. Today, I have the pleasure of speaking with renowned hockey analyst, Mark Johnson, to delve into the thrilling recent NHL games. Mark, thank you for joining us!
Mark Johnson: Thank you for having me! There’s certainly a lot to talk about with the recent matches.
Time.news Editor: Let’s start with the Vancouver Canucks’ nail-biting 4-3 win over the Ottawa Senators. What impressed you most about their performance, particularly from players like Blüger and Lankinen?
Mark Johnson: It was a solid team effort, but Blüger really did stand out. Scoring his fourth goal of the season with that impressive wrist shot during a counterattack was crucial. He’s shown he can deliver under pressure, and with a total of four goals and six assists so far, he’s becoming a reliable guy for the Canucks. And let’s not forget Lankinen; saving 26 out of 29 shots is no small feat. It really kept Ottawa at bay, especially when the game tightened up toward the end.
Time.news Editor: Absolutely! Jake Debrask also had a fantastic game with two goals and an assist. What does this kind of performance mean for the Canucks moving forward?
Mark Johnson: Debrask’s performance is huge. Not only does it boost his confidence, but it also shows that Vancouver has multiple offensive weapons to rely on. If they can continue to get contributions from different players like Blüger and Debrask, it makes defending against them much more difficult for opposing teams. It’s a good sign for their push in the standings.
Time.news Editor: On the flip side, the Ottawa Senators are now on a five-game losing streak. What do you think needs to change for them to turn things around?
Mark Johnson: The Senators need to tighten their defense. Their inability to consistently stop the counterattack and give up key goals, like the one Blüger scored, is haunting them. They also need to be more efficient in converting their chances; even if they’re generating shots, it’s about quality over quantity. They need a game plan that emphasizes both solid defense and effective offense.
Time.news Editor: Meanwhile, the Florida Panthers, represented by Balinska, faced a tough loss against the Colorado Avalanche. What can you tell us about Balinska’s performance and his impact on the team?
Mark Johnson: Balinska had a mixed game. While he was able to assist on Lundell’s goal, his -1 efficiency rating reflects that it wasn’t his strongest outing defensively. Balinska has talent; he’s demonstrated skill with six assists this season, but he needs to make more of an impact on both sides of the puck. The Panthers are struggling, and they’d benefit from his ability to play a solid two-way game.
Time.news Editor: And then we have Merzlikins from the Columbus Blue Jackets, who had a standout game in their shootout victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. How significant is this win for them?
Mark Johnson: It’s immensely significant for the Jackets. Winning in a shootout can really build confidence, especially after a tight game like that. Merzlikins saving 32 shots, plus three in the shootout, shows he’s a player they can rely on. This performance can instill a sense of belief in the team and could be a catalyst for a turnaround as they look to gain ground in the standings.
Time.news Editor: Final thoughts, Mark? What should fans look out for as we move deeper into the season?
Mark Johnson: Fans should keep an eye on the momentum shifts—teams like the Canucks and Blue Jackets are riding a wave of confidence while the Senators and Panthers need to adapt quickly to reverse their fortunes. As the playoff picture starts to take shape, every game becomes increasingly important, and that makes for some exciting hockey ahead!
Time.news Editor: Thank you, Mark! Great insights as always. We look forward to seeing how the rest of the season unfolds.
Mark Johnson: Thank you! It’s an exciting time to be a hockey fan!