There are 60 minutes in a regulation NHL game. Tuesday night proved that teams have to be alert for every last second.<\/p>\n
Four of the league\u2019s 10 games saw the tying goal scored in the final 15 seconds of regulation. If you\u2019re wondering, that doubles the previous high mark of two from March 18, 2023.<\/p>\n
The Anaheim Ducks started the drama Tuesday night in Pittsburgh against the Penguins. Winger Beckett Sennecke made his own bit of history by becoming the first rookie to score a tying goal in the final second while his team was shorthanded. Sennecke beat the buzzer at PPG Paints Arena after entering the offensive zone and stickhandling his way through traffic.<\/p>\n
The goal was a beauty, although as senior Penguins writer Josh Yohe observed<\/a>, perhaps Penguins\u2019 rookie coach Dan Muse erred in having a couple of offensive-minded defenseman on the ice while protecting a late lead.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s watch that again! \ud83e\udd86 https:\/\/t.co\/htfTh10b7J<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/qP65cSWLM8<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NHL (@NHL) December 10, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n For those scoring at home, the Ducks defeated their winged brethren 4-3 in the shootout.<\/p>\n A shootout was also needed in UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y., although the home team, the New York Islanders, won that one 5-4. In defeat, however, Vegas Golden Knights winger Pavel Dorofeyev snagged his team a point by scoring with 14 seconds remaining in regulation.<\/p>\n Though not as nifty as Sennecke\u2019s tying goal in Pittsburgh, Dorofeyev deserves credit for his Johnny-on-the-spot instincts.<\/p>\n IF THERE\u2019S A WILL, THERE\u2019S A WAY pic.twitter.com\/h9gC2K4cD5<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) December 10, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Oilers captain Connor McDavid did Connor McDavid things at Rogers Place in Edmonton. He scored two of his team\u2019s three goals in the third period to help the Oilers get a needed point in an overtime 4-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.<\/p>\n Yes, we\u2019re going to ignore the Oilers falling behind big at home and needing a comeback to earn a loser\u2019s point against the lowly Sabres<\/a>.<\/p>\n Why? The Oilers reached the Stanley Cup Final in the last two seasons. Also, McDavid\u2019s second goal Tuesday is the reason they are the Western Conference\u2019s first wild-card team as of Wednesday. There were two seconds left to play when McDavid put on his cape against the Sabres and sent the game to overtime.<\/p>\n McDavid magic \ud83e\ude84 #LetsGoOilers<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/juPDJGxTqG<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) December 10, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n From one Conn Smythe winner to another, Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar had some breathing room, at least compared to the tying goal by McDavid in Edmonton, when he scored one of his own Tuesday. Eight seconds remained on the videoboard clock in Nashville\u2019s Bridgestone Arena when Makar fired the puck into the net.<\/p>\n Pay attention to Makar\u2019s head fake. A mere hockey mortal might have gripped and ripped, but Makar was like, nah.<\/p>\n Filthy.<\/p>\n 8 WITH 8 SECONDS TO GO\ud83e\udd6c pic.twitter.com\/iiKIgWeFQ2<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) December 10, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Alas, the Avalanche fell to the Predators 4-3 in the shootout. That means only the Ducks won while becoming part of NHL history.<\/p>\n Perhaps the takeaway is it\u2019s better to be the team that\u2019s ahead late in a game, even if the final seconds are when some wild stuff can happen.<\/p>\n\n
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