What happened: Captain Brady Tkachuk dropped the gloves one second into Thursday's game against the New York Islanders and delivered the game-winning goal with 11 seconds left in regulation for a 3-2 Ottawa victory. The Senators rallied from behind in a must-win matchup. Tkachuk became the first NHL player with a fighting major in the first minute and a GWG in the last minute of regulation.

Why it matters: The victory moves Ottawa (79 points) four points behind the Islanders for the East's final wild-card spot, with a game in hand and tiebreaker advantage. It caps a 12-3-2 run in 17 games amid a tight race involving Detroit, Montreal, Boston, and Columbus.

What to watch: Watch Senators vs. Maple Leafs on Saturday; track wild-card standings as rivals like Columbus and Montreal face key tests.