Top-2: Furious fight involving Quebecer Mathieu Olivier and Tyler Tucker

Last night, there were only two games in the NHL.

Let’s hope you’re fans of defensive games, because that’s what happened.

Here are the results and highlights:

1. Violent brawl involving a Quebecer

The first game of the evening pitted the Columbus Blue Jackets against the St. Louis Blues, and despite the low score, there was plenty of action.

First, Quebecers Mathieu Olivier and Tyler Tucker got into a fierce battle.

The NHL is funny cause 90% of players are on a beach in Cancun or the Bahamas right now while two teams are dropping the gloves in fucking Missouri https://t.co/VDpSdbGx3y

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) January 31, 2024

“A battle in Missouri while 90% of NHL players are down south…” I thought it was a good one.

What you need to know is that Olivier had been looking for Tucker all evening. Earlier in the game, he’d missed a check that would have made a real impact.

In a game stolen by Elvis Merzlikins (21 saves), Dmitri Voronkov scored the game’s only goal.

Dmitri Voronkov breaks the ice! pic.twitter.com/SvxLgtlxyX

– NHL (@NHL) January 31, 2024

For Merzlikins, it was his first shutout in two years, his 10th career shutout.

He made the save to preserve it :

WHAT A SAVE BY ELVIS MERZLIKINS!!! pic.twitter.com/1gsZH0KG07

– TVA Sports (@TVASports) January 31, 2024

2. Winning goals in Sharks history: Marc-Édouard Vlasic climbs the ladder

In the game later in the evening, the Sharks welcomed the Kraken.

And like the previous game, it too ended in a shutout.

It was Mackenzie Blackwood who blanked the opposition with a 32-save performance.

Mackenzie Blackwood picks up the ninth @pepsi shutout of his career with a 32-save performance! pic.twitter.com/zpagNvMPp3

– NHL (@NHL) January 31, 2024

Midway through the third period, San Jose finally hit the target.

Marc-Édouard Vlasic scored what turned out to be the winning goal, his 13th of his career. He’s doing well these days, that one. In his last eight games, he has four goals.

And that makes Frédérique Guay very happy.

4th goal in 8 games…

https://t.co/fnmTSnsuvq

– Frédérique Guay (@frederiqueguay) January 31, 2024

The Quebecer continues to climb the ladder in the team’s history (among defensemen) in this regard.

He ranks second, 14 goals behind Brent Burns.

Extension

– Last night’s top scorers.

– Another quiet night.