NHL roundup: Panthers win 13-goal thriller over Canucks, Ovechkin scores No. 903

Updated
Florida Panthers' Sam Bennett celebrates a goal against the Vancouver Canucks (2025)
Florida Panthers' Sam Bennett celebrates a goal against the Vancouver Canucks (2025)Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

The NHL hosted a six-game slate on November 17th that saw a 13-goal thriller between the Florida Panthers and Vancouver Canucks, while Alexander Ovechkin scored his 903rd goal in a Washington Capitals win over the Los Angeles Kings!

Panthers 8-5 Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks put up two goals (Drew O'Connor (6) and Jake DeBrusk (8)) on five shots in the first period, getting out to an early 2-0 lead.

But A.J. Greer (4) and Seth Jones (2) responded for the Panthers in the final two minutes of the period to tie it all up at two apiece. 

Florida would then open up the second period to take a 5-2 lead thanks to three straight goals from Luke Kunin (1), Evan Rodrigues (5), and Anton Lundell (5).

So how did the Canucks respond? With three goals of their own from Elias Pettersson (6) twice, his first coming at the end of the second, and Filip Hronek (1) to start the third period, tying it up 5-5. 

Then, like clockwork, the Panthers responded with another three of their own with goals from Sam Bennett (4), Jones again for his second, and Brad Marchand (13).

Florida outshot the Canucks 41-15 despite the close showdown. They never had below 10 shots in a period, while the Canucks couldn't reach the 10-shot mark in any period throughout. 

Florida improved to 10-8-1. Vancouver fell to 9-10-2.

Capitals 2-1 Kings

The Capitals played spoiler to the Kings who were on a four-game win streak. 

Matt Roy scored his first of the season for the Caps to give them a 1-0 lead in the first period. Ovechkin would put the Caps up 2-0 after being left unattended to in front of the for his sixth goal of the season and career No. 903. 

Anze Kopitar (3) scored on a power play for the Kings in the second period, but Caps goaltender Charlie Lindgren was a brick wall, making 31 saves. 

Washington improved to 9-8-2. Los Angeles fell to 10-6-4. 

Sabres 5-1 Oilers

The Oilers were held to one goal for just the second time this season as one of the league's top scoring team. 

Rookie goaltender Colton Ellis picked up his third win in the fourth start of his career, recording 31 saves, as his Sabres have now won back-to-back games, improving to 7-8-4. 

Teammate Noah Ostlund (3), who made his in NHL debut last season, recorded the first multi-goal game of his career as he put up a pair in the win. 

Bowen Byram (3), Beck Malenstyn (1), and Tage Thompson (9) would score the others for Buffalo, while Jack Roslovic (7) scored the lone goal for Edmonton, who fell to 9-8-4 on the year.

Hurricanes 3-1 Bruins

After a scoreless first, Jordan Staal (5) and Mark Jankowski (1) put the Canes up 2-0 heading into the third period, where Taylor Hall (5) added some insurance to give them a commanding 3-0 lead. 

Boston's Riley Tufte would score his first goal of the season, but with 10 seconds left in the game as the Bruins fell to 12-9-0 - still sitting atop the Atlantic Division. 

Carolina has now gone 7-2-1 in their last 10 games as they improved to 13-5-1. 

Blue Jackets 4-3 Canadiens

After the Blue Jackets got up to a 3-1 lead thanks to goals from Zach Werenski (5), Adam Fantilli (6), and Dmitri Voronkov (8), the Canadiens rallied back.

Josh Anderson (3) would cut the lead to 3-2 for the Habs in the third before teammate Lane Hutson (2) tied it all up with just over a minute left in the game. 

After a scoreless overtime, the Habs fell short despite a Cole Caufield goal during the shootout. 

Kent Johnson scored the first for Columbus and Kirill Marchenko sent home the game-winner as the Blue Jackets improved to 10-7-2.

Montreal has now lost four in a row and six of their eight games in November as they fell to 10-6-3. 

Mammoth 2-3 Ducks

Anaheim triumphed in overtime against Utah, with Olen Zellweger netting the decisive goal to improve the Ducks to 12-6-1.

As for Utah, they fall to 10-7-2.