Top 5: Michael Pezzetta throws down the gloves, but no one comes to Auston Matthews’ defense

Last night, almost all the teams were in action. 28 to be exact. Here are the results and highlights:

1. Michael Pezzetta drops the gloves in his first appearance with the Leafs Finally. For the first time this season, Michael Pezzetta was in the NHL, with the Toronto Maple Leafs. And in his first appearance on the ice, he dropped the gloves.

Pezzetta's parents stressfully watching on as their son fights in his debut for their hometown team https://t.co/zUQnD0bBqS pic.twitter.com/BC92YjnSnd
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) March 12, 2026
There was no shortage of action in Toronto, as the Leafs won 6-4. In fact, it was Craig Berube's team's first win since February 3. It was about time.

LEAFS WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWIN!@LGCanada | #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/gzOdtTtjyz — Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) March 13, 2026
Auston Matthews found the back of the net. His first goal since January 27. You read that right.

THE GOAL DROUGHT IS OVER! AUSTON MATTHEWS MAKES IT A ONE-GOAL GAME! pic.twitter.com/hwHNYPtErA — Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 13, 2026 But Matthews' game turned into a nightmare shortly after.
Radko Gudas kneed him. Both players' games were over. Gudas was ejected, of course.

Radko Gudas received a 5-minute major and a game misconduct for kneeing Auston Matthews. Matthews has since left the game pic.twitter.com/E8lc8MjvJh
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) March 13, 2026
A phone hearing is expected. Will he face the Habs in the coming days? You can see the Leafs lack leadership when teammates react like that after the hit…

I mean, the reaction from 53 and 88 is really something, and then 44 is like “I guess I should at least make it look like I might do something if no one else will.”
No team just watches its captain get shanked without any response.
Hideous hit, very ugly scene thereafter. https://t.co/4vRYKmC6GO
— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) March 13, 2026

2. Five consecutive catch-and-shoot attempts for Tage Thompson You've heard the saying: you miss 100% of the shots you don't take? Tage Thompson tried to put it into practice.

Last night, he took five straight one-timers. He has a 0% success rate, however.

The Sabres fed Tage Thompson for FIVE STRAIGHT ONE-TIMERS on the power play pic.twitter.com/wJb9kQ4kCC
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) March 12, 2026
Buffalo was on an eight-game winning streak. Unfortunately, that winning streak has come to an end. The Capitals won 2-1 thanks to a goal by Jacob Chychrun in the final moments of the game.

Jakob Chychrun with the LATE 3rd period goal as the CAPITALS end the Sabres' 8-game winning streak pic.twitter.com/86i6KPV1cG
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) March 13, 2026
Yet it was the home team that broke the deadlock. What a goal by Sam Carrick.

WHAT A PASS BY BECK MALENSTYN pic.twitter.com/cmabn13dd4 — NHL (@NHL) March 12, 2026 Ryan Leonard, however, quickly brought everyone back to square one.

Ryan Leonard with SPEED to get the @Capitals 83IpozTSkU — NHL (@NHL) March 13, 2026 With this loss, combined with those of the Wings, Bruins, and Blue Jackets, among others, the standings look like this in theEast. A great day for the Habs, even though they weren't playing.

– Sabres lose in regulation
– Red Wings lose in regulation (Lightning win)
– Bruins lose in regulation The Habs are in 3rd place in the Atlantic Division. pic.twitter.com/166DDRmDTk — /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) March 13, 2026

3. At least the Red Wings-Lightning game didn't go into overtime
One game we had to watch closely was the one between the Wings and the Lightning. We weren't hoping for a three-point game. And thanks to a 4-1 win by Tampa Bay, that didn't happen. A 40th win for Jon Cooper's squad.

The Bolts win their 40th of the season! pic.twitter.com/BHVEt1tg9y
— NHL (@NHL) March 13, 2026
With another 30-win season, Andrei Vasilevskiy joins the ranks of great goalies.
Yesterday, he stopped 24 of the 25 shots he faced.

VASI
Andrei Vasilevskiy finds himself in elite company with the ninth 30-win season of his already storied career! pic.twitter.com/XkOSAfTjuJ
— NHL (@NHL) March 13, 2026

With this win, the team is now just two points behind the Sabres and first place in the Atlantic Division. In the victory, Gage Goncalves and Jake Guentzel each scored two goals. Nikita Kucherov had another productive night, recording two assists. The same goes for Brayden Point.

4. Connor McDavid loses his cool Things are going badly in Edmonton.
Things are so bad that yesterday, the Oilers lost 7-2 to the Dallas Stars. Connor McDavid even lost his cool.

CONNOR MCDAVID FOUGHT JUSTIN HRYCKOWIAN pic.twitter.com/Wjx1KB8gIM
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) March 13, 2026
After that, fans started booing him every time he touched the puck. It's rare to see that.

Stars fans are currently booing McDavid every time he touches the puck pic.twitter.com/1O3dMiE88U
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) March 13, 2026
Let's just say that at 6-2, Edmonton was looking for a little spark.

Things are getting HEATED between the Stars and Oilers pic.twitter.com/x2NxdKJpkK — Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) March 13, 2026
It was Matt Duchene who found that spark. What a goal!

HOW IN THE WORLD DID MATT DUCHENE PULL THIS OFF?! pic.twitter.com/6ep8GYhLO7 — NHL (@NHL) March 13, 2026 Stan Bowman thought he had made a great acquisition in Tristan Jarry.
In the end, it turned out to be a bust.

Lowest single-season save percentage – Goalie with the #Oilers franchise (minimum of 15 games played):
.855- Tristan Jarry (2025-26)
.856- Ron Low (1980-81)
.865- Gary Edwards (1980-81)
.867- Eddie Mio (1980-81)
.867- Grant Fuhr (1982-83)
.868- Mio (1979-80)
.868- Fuhr (1989-90) pic.twitter.com/5s6u1mJJAi
— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) March 13, 2026

5. First goal for Nazem Kadri with the Avalanche Nothing can stop the Colorado Avalanche.
Just yesterday, they beat the Seattle Kraken 5-1. In the win, Martin Necas reached the 30-goal mark.

Martin Necas scores his 30th goal of the season, and his eighth in his last nine games! #NHLStats: https://t.co/JgTaGKNzP7 pic.twitter.com/FNXtx4FQtm
— NHL (@NHL) March 13, 2026
Then, Nathan MacKinnon scored his 44th of the season. He finished the game with three assists as well.

Nate Dogg nets his 44th of the season pic.twitter.com/m8rsFdmtkj — Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 13, 2026 One of the NHL's iron men, Brent Burns, played in his 989th consecutive game.
He is tied with Keith Yandle for second place in the league for most consecutive games played. He is 75 games behind Phil Kessel.

Brent Burns is skating in his 989th straight game, matching Keith Yandle for the second-longest “Ironman” streak in @NHL history. #NHLStats
Tune in : https://t.co/dT34F4MhkC pic.twitter.com/urZRKMGvd9
— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) March 13, 2026
Nazem Kadri did just as well. He finished the game with his first goal for the Avalanche in 2025-2026.

NAZEM KADRI SCORES HIS FIRST GOAL SINCE RETURNING TO THE AVALANCHE pic.twitter.com/VL31A5bWpQ
— NHL (@NHL) March 13, 2026 Here is an overview of the standings in the West.

Overtime– Wow.

Benoit-Olivier Groulx scores his first NHL goal in almost FIVE YEARS pic.twitter.com/zdzZBch5S4
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) March 13, 2026
— What a goal!

MARNER MAGIC
WHAT A PLAY BY MITCH MARNER FOR HIS 19TH OF THE SEASON pic.twitter.com/5n9vueXYTz — Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 13, 2026 — The Panthers' game-winning goal against the Jackets.

LET'S GO HOME Sam Reinhart scores the Subway Canada OT winner against the Blue Jackets. pic.twitter.com/YMnIfp8qQf — Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 13, 2026 – He's on a hot streak.

It keeps coming! Alexis Lafrenière's 9th goal in his last 10 games. pic.twitter.com/SCevMqMTlV
— TVA Sports (@TVASports) March 13, 2026
— What a goal!

WILLIAM EKLUND, ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? pic.twitter.com/UTlKU7FgFj
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 13, 2026 A win courtesy of Connor Bedard.

CONNOR BEDARD WINS IT IN @ENERGIZER OVERTIME pic.twitter.com/k1jc22d6Pw
— NHL (@NHL) March 13, 2026

– Only four teams in action tonight.