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Top-5: after Connor Bedard, Trevor Zegras scores a Michigan goal on the same night

It was the last day of hockey before the three-day holiday break in the National Hockey League, and let’s just say we were spoiled.

With no games on the 24th, 25th and 26th, here’s what we learned from the last day of hockey before Christmas.

There were 14 games on the program.

1. Trevor Zegras scores Michigan’s first comeback goal

After missing the Anaheim Ducks’ last 20 games with a lower-body injury, Trevor Zegras was finally back in action last night, and let’s just say he wasted no time in making his mark.

Zegras scored a goal on his return to action, but not just any goal.

He scored a magnificent Michigan goal with his backhand.

Zegras refreshed everyone’s memory of his undeniable talent.

This is the third time Zegras has scored such a goal in the NHL.

Connor Bedard also scored a Michigan goal on the night.

It’s the first time in NHL history that two Michigan goals have been scored on the same night.

The greatest hockey player of all time was also quick to praise Bedard’s goal, one he wouldn’t have been able to achieve himself.

2. Stars score two goals in the last 15 seconds of the match

Usually, when a team leads by a goal with 15 seconds left in the game, they’re reassured that, in the worst-case scenario, they’ll get a point if the opposing team manages to equalize.

Well, yesterday, in such circumstances, the Nashville Predators got no point at all, while the Dallas Stars scored two goals in 15 seconds to run away with the two points without leaving any to the Preds, who are in the thick of the playoff race.

It’s a dramatic end to a game we rarely get to see.

In fact, the Dallas Stars became the first team in NHL history to win a game by scoring two goals in the final 15 seconds.

3. Jacques Martin’s first win at the helm of the Ottawa Senators since 2004

The Ottawa Senators have won their first game since D.J. Smith was fired and Jacques Martin took over as interim head coach.

It’s Jacques Martin’s first win at the Senators’ helm in 7204 days, and therefore since April 3, 2004.

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Yes, it’s been a long time.

The Sens once again let several leads slip away in the game, but this time they managed to get the win against the Pittsburgh Penguins anyway.

4. The last two Stanley Cup finalists are on a roll

Yesterday marked the first time since the Stanley Cup Final that the Florida Panthers and Vegas Golden Knights faced off again.

On this occasion, it was the Panthers who hosted the Golden Knights, and let’s just say it was quite a game, as a big rivalry clearly developed between the two teams.

In fact, it was a very robust game, with lots of big checks and a few skirmishes.

In the end, it was the Panthers who came out on top.

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Here’s Carter Verhaeghe’s winning goal.

5. Both Sebastian Aho score in the same match

For the first time in NHL history, two players with exactly the same name each scored a goal in the same game.

As the New York Islanders visited the Carolina Hurricanes, both Sebastian Aho scored.

Islanders defenseman Sebastian Aho scored the first goal of the game (his first of the season, by the way), while Hurricanes star Sebastian Aho scored the fifth goal of the game, his 13ᵉ of the season.

It’s a rather unusual situation, one that’s been mixing poolers for years, and one that makes for some pretty funny moments when someone accidentally catches Islanders defenseman Sebastian Aho.

Note that this important divisional clash was won 5-4 by the Islanders.


Prolongation

– Evgeny Kuznetsov’s slow-motion classic strikes again in the shootout.

– The St. Louis Blues score five goals in the third period to run away with the win.

– Two more goals for Auston Matthews, who now has 28 in 30 games.

– Our thoughts are with Sean Kuraly, whose condition is stable at last report.

– Here are yesterday’s results.

– Here are yesterday’s top scorers.

(Credit: NHL.com)

– On the agenda today: Christmas Eve!

The entire DLC team wishes you a Merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday season.

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