This week delivered exactly what hockey fans crave: high-scoring affairs, superstar returns and a scoring race that's turning into an all-timer. If you like offense, this was your week. If you're a goaltender, maybe look away.
The Week in One Breath
Connor Bedard returned to Chicago's lineup after a 12-game absence, J.T. Miller came off injured reserve for the Rangers, Carolina hung six on Dallas to extend the Stars' losing streak, and the MacKinnon-McDavid scoring duel tightened to a single point at the halfway mark.
Goals, Goals and More Goals
Offense dominated the week across the league. Multiple games saw combined goal totals pushing double digits, and goaltenders around the NHL had a rough stretch.
Hurricanes Bury Dallas
Carolina dismantled the Stars 6-3 on Monday, with K'Andre Miller potting two goals and adding an assist. Andrei Svechnikov dished out four assists while Nikolaj Ehlers contributed three helpers. The loss extended Dallas's losing streak to six games (0-3-3), a stunning slide for a team that entered December as a Stanley Cup favorite.
Jason Robertson and Mikko Rantanen each had a goal and an assist in the loss, but it wasn't nearly enough against Carolina's balanced attack.
High-Scoring Nights Across the League
The offensive fireworks weren't limited to Carolina. Los Angeles edged Edmonton 4-3 in a shootout as the Oilers continue to give up more than they'd like. Vegas topped St. Louis 4-2, and Chicago blanked Nashville 3-0 in one of the week's few defensive gems.
Four teams are tied for the most goals in a single game this season with nine: the Islanders (this week), Oilers (December 4), and Sabres (November 21). That stat says everything about the league's offensive surge.
Superstar Returns
Connor Bedard Back for Chicago
The 20-year-old phenom returned to Chicago's lineup on Thursday after missing 12 games with a separated right shoulder injury. Bedard got hurt in a 3-2 loss at St. Louis on December 12 when Brayden Schenn drove through him to prevent a last-second shot.
His return was spoiled by the Capitals, who handed Chicago a 5-1 loss to snap the Blackhawks' season-high four-game winning streak. Bedard recorded four shots on goal in the loss.
He's now at 44 points (19 goals, 25 assists) in 32 games and trails only Eddie Olczyk for the most goals and points in Hawks history before turning 21.
J.T. Miller Returns to Rangers
The Rangers activated captain J.T. Miller from injured reserve Thursday after he missed seven games with an upper-body injury. The 32-year-old sustained the injury December 21 in a shootout win over Philadelphia.
Miller has 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists) in 35 games this season, a pedestrian pace by his standards. His return should help stabilize New York's top six and power-play units as they push for playoff positioning.
The injury won't impact his availability for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The Scoring Race
At the season's midpoint, the MacKinnon-McDavid duel for the Art Ross Trophy is as tight as it gets.
Connor McDavid (Oilers): 75 points (28 goals, 47 assists) in 43 games. Currently on an 18-game point streak with 39 points during the run, including a hat trick against Nashville. He's already surpassed his entire goal total from last season.
Nathan MacKinnon (Avalanche): 74 points (35 goals, 39 assists) in 42 games. Leads the league in goals and even-strength goals (28) while averaging 1.76 points per game.
One point separates them at the halfway mark. This is appointment viewing for the second half.
Hot Teams, Cold Teams
Trending Up
Carolina Hurricanes: The six-goal outburst against Dallas showed they can bury teams when the offense clicks.
Los Angeles Kings: The shootout win over Edmonton continues their solid home form.
Minnesota Wild: Quietly posting wins and sitting comfortably in playoff position.
Trending Down
Dallas Stars: Six straight losses. The swagger from early season is gone, and questions are mounting.
Edmonton Oilers: Despite McDavid's brilliance, defensive issues persist. Giving up four to LA in regulation isn't the recipe.
Chicago Blackhawks: The 5-1 loss to Washington snapped a nice streak and reminded everyone this is still a rebuilding team, Bedard or not.
Notable Performances
K'Andre Miller (Hurricanes): Two goals and an assist in the 6-3 win over Dallas.
Andrei Svechnikov (Hurricanes): Four assists against the Stars, running the offense from the wing.
Connor McDavid (Oilers): Extended his point streak to 18 games with 39 points during the run.
Nathan MacKinnon (Avalanche): Continues to lead the league in goals with 35 at the midpoint.
Deep Dive: The Numbers Behind the Headlines
- McDavid's 18-game point streak is the longest in the NHL this season—and the longest by an Oiler since the Gretzky era. Only Wayne Gretzky (51 games, 1983-84) and Paul Coffey (28 games, 1985-86) have produced longer point streaks in Edmonton history. If McDavid adds two more games, it'll be the franchise's first 20-game streak since 1986.
- Connor Bedard's 44 points in 32 games has him chasing ghosts. He trails only Eddie Olczyk for the most goals (65) and points (180) in Blackhawks history before turning 21. Bedard turns 21 on July 17 and currently has 64 goals and 172 career points.
- MacKinnon leads the league in goals (35) and even-strength goals (28) at the midpoint. His 1.76 points per game pace would translate to 144 points over a full 82-game season—a mark only Gretzky, Lemieux, and a handful of others have ever reached.
- Dallas's 0-3-3 skid in one-goal games is the worst in the league. The Stars entered December as Stanley Cup favorites. Their inability to close tight games has turned a promising season into a crisis.
- Carolina's 6-goal explosion came on just 28 shots—a 21.4% shooting percentage. That kind of efficiency is unsustainable, but it shows what the Hurricanes can do when they're clicking.
What to Watch Next Week
Can Dallas stop the bleeding? Six straight losses for a contender demands answers. The trade deadline chatter will get loud if this continues.
Bedard's ramp-up: How quickly does Chicago integrate him back to full workload?
Miller's impact: Can the Rangers captain spark a push in a crowded Metro Division?
The scoring race: MacKinnon vs. McDavid might be the best individual battle in hockey right now.
