The NHL didn’t roar into the All-Star Break with a finale of offensive fireworks as the final two games before the unofficial halfway mark of the season were low-scoring affairs won by teams thinking more about their long-term future than a date with the Stanley Cup. First up, Elvis Merzlikins, who might be auditioning for a deadline move to a contender, posted 21 saves in Columbus’ 1-0 win over the St. Louis Blues. In the night cap, it was MacKenzie Blackwood’s 32 saves that led the San Jose Shark to a rare win this season as they blanked the Seattle Kraken, 2-0.
The Lightning at the break
