Czech players leave their mark across NHL despite mixed team results

Ondřej Palát scored his second goal of the season, but it was not enough to save New Jersey from a 5–3 home loss to Columbus. The Czech forward struck early after intercepting a misplayed puck, giving the Devils a 2–0 lead before the Blue Jackets turned the game around. Radko Gudas contributed an assist in Anaheim’s 4–1 win over St. Louis, firing the shot that Leo Carlsson deflected into the net. The Czech defenceman also delivered four hits and blocked three shots. In goal, Daniel Vladař stopped 22 of 27 shots in Philadelphia’s 5–1 defeat to Pittsburgh. Meanwhile, Utah rotated both its Czech goaltenders: Karel Vejmelka conceded three goals on nine shots before Vítek Vaněček allowed three more in a 6–3 loss to San Jose.