NHL roundup: Devils reclaim Metro top spot, Stars earn first win without Seguin

The New Jersey Devils have successfully reclaimed the top position in the Metropolitan Division following a decisive victory against the New York Rangers, while the Dallas Stars achieved their first win without their star player, Tyler Seguin.

In a commanding performance, the Devils triumphed over their rivals, the Rangers, with a score of 5-1, elevating their record to 17-9-2 and securing first place in both the Metropolitan Division and the Eastern Conference. Jack Hughes contributed significantly with two goals, while Jesper Bratt provided three assists, and goaltender Jacob Markstrom made an impressive 38 saves.

Conversely, the Rangers' record now stands at 13-10-1, having lost six of their last ten games, bringing their recent performance to 4-6. Chris Kreider netted the Rangers' only goal during a power play in the second period.

In another matchup, the Toronto Maple Leafs maintained their lead in the Atlantic Division with a 4-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. This win improved Toronto's record to 15-7-2, while Chicago now holds the worst record in the NHL at 8-15-2.

The Maple Leafs saw contributions from Auston Matthews, John Tavares, Fraser Minten, and Matthew Knies, each scoring a goal, while Lukas Reichel scored the sole goal for the Blackhawks early in the third period.

In the game between the Dallas Stars and the Utah Hockey Club, the Stars secured a 2-1 victory, marking their first win since Tyler Seguin was placed on injured reserve. This victory brings Dallas's record to 16-8-0, while Utah's record falls to 10-11-4.

Evgenii Dadonov opened the scoring for the Stars with a power play goal in the second period, followed by another goal from Jamie Benn. Despite Nick Schmaltz's goal and goaltender Casey DeSmith's 34 saves, Utah was unable to mount a successful comeback.