NHL morning recap November 20 2025: Hat tricks and comeback heroes highlight 8-game slate

The NHL delivered another thrilling evening of hockey on November 19, 2025, with eight games featuring everything from overtime drama to historic teenage milestones. William Nylander ended Toronto’s five-game skid with a spectacular OT winner, while Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini both completed hat tricks on the same night—joining an elite group of teenagers in league history. From Detroit’s young guns shining bright to the Islanders mounting a third-period comeback, here’s everything you need to know from last night’s action.

Nylander’s overtime magic lifts Maple Leafs past Blues 3-2

The Toronto Maple Leafs finally found their way back into the win column, and they have William Nylander to thank for it. With 54 seconds remaining in overtime, Nylander deked around Dylan Holloway and tucked the puck past Jordan Binnington’s outstretched pad, securing a 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues at Scotiabank Arena.

The win snapped a five-game losing streak for Toronto and extended Nylander’s personal point streak to an impressive 14 games (23 points; eight goals, 15 assists). His overtime winner marked the 14th of his career, tying him with Auston Matthews and Mats Sundin for the most in Maple Leafs history.

“I think it was a nice win after the tough stretch we’ve had,” Nylander said after the game. “Just battling and competing to grind out a win, it was nice. I think that’s what is needed to be a good team and to be able to win those kind of games.”

The Maple Leafs faced significant adversity, playing without Matthews, Matthew Knies, Scott Laughton, Nicolas Roy, Brandon Carlo, Chris Tanev, and Anthony Stolarz due to various injuries. Despite the depleted roster, Joseph Woll made 28 saves for his first win of the season, while Jake McCabe and Steven Lorentz provided the regulation goals.

St. Louis opened scoring just 1:50 into the first period when Nathan Walker’s shot created a loose puck that Nylander inadvertently knocked into his own net. The defenseman McCabe tied it at 5:36 of the first, and Lorentz gave Toronto a 2-1 lead in the second period before Dalibor Dvorsky’s power-play goal tied it once more.

The Blues have now gone winless in their last three (0-1-2) and sit at 6-9-5 on the season. Defenseman Justin Faulk played his 1,000th NHL game in the loss, finishing with two shots and three blocked shots in nearly 22 minutes of ice time.

Bedard and Celebrini: Teenage phenoms make history

In a rare night of synchronicity, two of hockey’s brightest young stars both completed hat tricks, joining an exclusive club of teenage legends. Connor Bedard’s second hat trick in ten games powered the Chicago Blackhawks to a 5-2 victory over the Calgary Flames, while Macklin Celebrini’s overtime hat trick lifted the San Jose Sharks past the Utah Mammoth 3-2.

Bedard, playing with an “A” on his sweater for the first time as alternate captain, wore the leadership role perfectly. The 20-year-old opened his scoring in the second period by outracing Flames defenseman Yan Kuznetsov to a loose puck and poking it through Dustin Wolf’s five-hole. He added two more in the third period, including an empty-netter to complete the hat trick.

“I’ve been so fortunate to learn from guys like Foligno, Dickinson, Murphy, all those guys that have been leaders in our room,” Bedard said about his new role. “Obviously, the Blackhawks jersey in general is such a special thing. There have been a lot of great players who have a letter on their chest, and it’s a great honor and something I don’t take lightly.”

The performance pushed Bedard to 13 goals and 29 points in 19 games, placing him just one goal behind Nathan MacKinnon for the league lead and third in overall scoring behind MacKinnon (33) and Connor McDavid (30).

Meanwhile, in San Jose, Celebrini’s hat trick gave him 30 points (13 goals, 17 assists) in just 20 games, making him only the fourth teenager in NHL history to reach that mark through 20 contests. He joins Sidney Crosby (32 points in 2006-07), Wayne Gretzky (31 in 1980-81; 30 in 1979-80), and Mario Lemieux (30 in 1984-85) in that exclusive group.

“He’s really good,” Utah coach Andre Tourigny said of Celebrini. “He works really hard. I like that about him. His work ethic and passion for the game, you can see it. He’s playing really well.”

Celebrini scored twice in regulation before completing his hat trick 2:52 into overtime with a power-play wrist shot over Vitek Vanecek’s blocker. His performance helped the Sharks snap a two-game losing streak and improved them to 9-8-3 on the season.

Lightning strike with Guentzel’s dominant hat trick

The Tampa Bay Lightning offense roared to life in a 5-1 rout of the New Jersey Devils, with Jake Guentzel recording a natural hat trick that showcased his elite scoring touch. Guentzel opened the scoring 11:40 into the first period with an unassisted goal, then added two more in the third to complete the trifecta.

Nikita Kucherov also found the back of the net, adding a goal and an assist, while Anthony Cirelli contributed two helpers. The Lightning’s offensive explosion came at the expense of a Devils team that has struggled to find consistency this season.

Nico Hischier scored the lone goal for New Jersey, which has now dropped two straight and sits at 7-10-2 on the year. The Devils’ young forward Arseny Gritsyuk picked up an assist, continuing to show promise in his rookie campaign.

For Tampa Bay, the victory pushed them to 11-7-3 and demonstrated their ability to dominate when their top players are clicking. Guentzel now has 11 goals on the season, while Kucherov’s nine goals and nine assists put him on pace for another 90-plus point campaign.

Danielson’s debut sparks Red Wings victory

Detroit Red Wings fans had something special to celebrate as Nate Danielson scored his first NHL goal in a 4-2 win over the Seattle Kraken. The 2023 first-round pick (9th overall) made his moment count, beating Kraken goaltender Joey Daccord at 2:04 of the second period to give Detroit a 2-1 lead they would never relinquish.

The Red Wings got contributions throughout their lineup, with Lucas Raymond, Emmitt Finnie, and Dylan Larkin also finding the back of the net. Larkin’s empty-net goal with 30 seconds remaining sealed the victory and gave him his team-leading 12th goal of the season.

Seattle’s Jordan Eberle opened the scoring late in the first period, and Ryker Evans added another in the second, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Detroit’s balanced attack. The win pushed the Red Wings to 10-6-4, solidifying their position in the competitive Atlantic Division.

“Just exposing them with speed was the key,” Danielson said of his line’s approach. “I think just good plays before that and just trying to get it in.”

Islanders mount third-period comeback against Stars

The New York Islanders showcased their resilience with a 3-2 victory over the Dallas Stars, scoring twice in the third period to erase a 2-1 deficit. The win improved New York to 11-7-2 and demonstrated their ability to win tight, low-scoring affairs.

Islanders captain Bo Horvat tied the game 2-2 just 3:12 into the third period, converting a feed from Kyle Palmieri. Palmieri then scored the go-ahead goal himself just over four minutes later, his sixth of the season proving to be the game-winner.

Dallas got both of their goals from Jason Robertson, who continues to pace the Stars offense with 11 goals on the season. Tyler Seguin and Miro Heiskanen each picked up assists, but Dallas couldn’t hold onto their third-period lead.

The loss dropped the Stars to 9-8-4 and highlighted their ongoing struggles with closing out games. Dallas has now lost four of their last five when leading after two periods, a trend they’ll need to reverse if they hope to climb the Central Division standings.

Jets continue hot streak against Blue Jackets

The Winnipeg Jets extended their winning ways with a 5-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets, marking their second consecutive win and sixth in their last eight games. The Jets’ balanced scoring attack saw five different players find the back of the net, with Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele each contributing a goal and two assists.

Connor’s 11th goal of the season came early in the third period and proved to be the game-winner, while Scheifele’s three-point night pushed him to 16 assists on the year. Josh Morrissey, Adam Lowry, Neal Pionk, and Logan Stanley rounded out the scoring for Winnipeg.

Columbus got goals from Miles Wood and Zach Werenski, but their offense couldn’t keep pace with the high-flying Jets. The loss dropped the Blue Jackets to 6-11-3, leaving them near the bottom of the Metropolitan Division standings.

With the win, Winnipeg improved to 13-5-2 and solidified their position atop the Central Division. Their 28 points trail only the Vegas Golden Knights and Nashville Predators for the most in the Western Conference.

Golden Knights edge Rangers in tight contest

The Vegas Golden Knights continued their strong season with a 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers at T-Mobile Arena. The win pushed Vegas to 14-4-3 and maintained their hold on first place in the Pacific Division.

Braeden Bowman opened the scoring for Vegas, with Ben Hutton and Shea Theodore adding insurance goals in the second and third periods. The Golden Knights’ defense did just enough to contain a Rangers team that has struggled to find consistency this season.

New York got goals from Jonny Brodzinski and Vincent Trocheck, with Trocheck’s late third-period marker making it a one-goal game with under three minutes remaining. Artemi Panarin and J.T. Miller each picked up assists, but the Rangers couldn’t find the equalizer.

The loss dropped New York to 8-9-3 and extended their losing streak to three games. The Rangers sit fourth in the Metropolitan Division, but their .475 points percentage has them closer to the playoff bubble than they’d like.

What it means for the playoff picture

Tuesday night’s results shook up the playoff picture in both conferences. In the East, the Maple Leafs’ victory temporarily stabilized their season, keeping them within striking distance of a wild-card spot despite their injury woes. The Lightning’s dominant win reinforced their status as legitimate contenders, while the Islanders’ comeback victory demonstrated the kind of resilience that serves teams well in postseason play.

In the West, the Golden Knights continue to set the pace, but the Sharks’ overtime win behind Celebrini’s heroics showed that the Pacific Division race may be tighter than expected. The Blackhawks’ victory, powered by Bedard’s continued excellence, marked their sixth straight game with a point and pushed them into serious playoff contention.

The Jets’ performance suggests they’re ready to challenge Nashville and Vegas for Western Conference supremacy, while the Red Wings’ balanced attack could make them a dangerous team come springtime.

Key takeaways from the eight-game slate

• Teenage brilliance: Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini became the first teenagers to record hat tricks on the same night since 2020, joining an elite group that includes Crosby, Gretzky, and Lemieux.

• Maple Leafs survival mode: Despite missing seven regulars, Toronto found a way to win, potentially turning their season around with Nylander leading the charge.

• Lightning offense awakens: Tampa Bay’s five-goal outburst was their highest scoring total in two weeks, suggesting their early-season offensive struggles may be behind them.

• Pacific Division heating up: With San Jose’s win and Vegas holding serve, the Pacific Division race is shaping up to be one of the league’s most competitive.

• Central Division dominance: Winnipeg’s victory further established the Central as the NHL’s strongest division, with four teams currently sitting above .600 points percentage.

For more on the Maple Leafs’ dramatic win, check out our October 23 recap when they began their winning streak. And for additional context on Nylander’s heroics, see our November 2 morning recap that featured other overtime thrillers.

The NHL action continues tonight with 11 games on the schedule, including a heavyweight matchup between the Boston Bruins and Colorado Avalanche. Wednesday’s slate also features the Edmonton Oilers hosting the Calgary Flames in the Battle of Alberta, while the Pittsburgh Penguins visit the Washington Capitals for another chapter in their storied rivalry.