There were nine games played on Thursday. We'll jump right in with...
The Atlanta Thrashers hosting the Carolina Hurricanes. Chris Mason got a start for the Thrashers, while Cam Ward was in between the pipes for the Hurricanes. After a scoreless first period, Atlanta broke open the scoring with Evander Kane's tenth of the season, a power play goal assisted by Anthony Stewart and Johnny Oduya. Stewart extended the lead to 2-0 with his ninth of the season, from Kane and Dustin Byfuglien. Carolina started to answer with Brandon Sutter's seventh of the season early in the third period, assisted by Tuomo Ruutu and Jamie McBain. They tied it with Eric Staal's 13th of the year, from Joni Pitkanen. The tie lasted into the shootout, where Nik Antropov traded a barb with Jussi Jokinen, and the Hurricanes stole the game with Sergei Samsonov's goal. Samsonov earned the first star for the winner, followed by Evander Kane, who had a goal and an assist in the Thrasher loss, and Tuomo Ruutu, who tallied an assist. Atlanta's Ben Eager also scrapped with Troy Bodie.
Moving right along into the Big Apple, where the New York Rangers hosted the Phoenix Coyotes. The backups were out in full force, with Martin Biron guarding the Rangers net, and Jason LaBarbera protecting the cage for Phoenix. The Coyotes got started early with a power play goal by Taylor Pyatt, his seventh score of the season coming from Kyle Turris and Keith Yandle. Adrian Aucoin made it 2-0 with his first of the season, assisted by Vernon Fiddler and Lauri Korpikoski. Dan Girardi trimmed the lead down, scoring his third of the year, a power play goal with help from Ruslan Fedotenko and Marc Staal. Phoenix restored the two goal lead with a Martin Hanzal goal, his eighth of the year coming with the man advantage, and assisted by Shane Doan and Ray Whitney. The Rangers cut the lead back down with a Brandon Prust goal, his fifth, coming shorthanded after LaBarbera fumbled with the puck near his net, and the other assist coming from Girardi. LaBarbera did not get an assist on that statistically, but he did make it easier for Prust to put one past him. Derek Stepan tied it at 3 in the third period, scoring his eighth of the season, from Chris Drury and Sean Avery. The tie lasted into the shootout, with New York's Erik Christensen providing the deciding factor. Girardi earned the first star with his goal and assist, followed by Prust, who had a goal. Lastly in the third star spot, Christensen, who won the game.
Going into Canada, where the Montreal Canadiens hosted bitter rivals, the Boston Bruins. Carey Price started for the host Canadiens, while Tim Thomas was in the crease for the visiting Bruins. Michael Cammalleri struck early for Montreal, converting a penalty shot after he was hooked. Maxim Lapierre extended the lead with his fifth of the year, assisted by Mathieu Darche and Alexandre Picard. Blake Wheeler answered for Boston, scoring his seventh, from Mark Recchi and Patrice Bergeron. Max Pacioretty made it 3-1 Montreal with his first of the year, thanks to Scott Gomez and Jaroslav Spacek. Marc Savard responded with his first goal since returning from a concussion, assisted by Andrew Ference and Tyler Seguin, making it 3-2. Brian Gionta restored the two goal lead again with his eleventh of the season, with the helpers coming from Pacioretty and Gomez. Milan Lucic tried to get the Bruins into it with his 16th of the season, assisted by Bergeron and Savard on the power play, but it was too late, and Montreal held on for the 4-3 win. Pacioretty earned the first star with his goal and assist, followed by goal scorers Cammalleri and Gionta in the second and third star spots. David Krejci and Michael Cammalleri also had a fight in the second period.
Heading back to New York, where the Islanders hosted the Anaheim Ducks. Rick DiPietro got the start for the Islanders, as did Curtis McElhinney for the Ducks. P.A. Parenteau got New York started with his fifth of the year, a power play goal assisted by John Tavares and James Wisniewski. Blake Comeau followed it up with his sixth of the year just twenty-eight seconds later, asssited by Rob Schremp and Jon Sim. Matt Moulson struck relatively close afterward, notching his eleventh of the year, unassisted. This goal was enough to scare Curtis McElhinney out of the net, and Jonas Hiller came on as his replacement. Joffery Lupul started Anaheim on the rebound trail with his third of the year, a power play goal from Saku Koivu and Jason Blake. Blake added his sixth of the year early in the third period, from Cam Fowler and Lupul. However, the Islanders would weather the rest of the period and win 3-2. Rick DiPietro earned the first star, going 30 for 32 in saves, followed by Andrew MacDonald, who did something, and Jason Blake, who had a goal and an assist in a losing effort. Dropping the gloves were Trevor Gillies of New York and Sheldon Brookbank of Anaheim in the first period, followed by Matt Martin and George "The Mustache" Parros in the second period.
Going along to St. Louis, where the Blues hosted the Los Angeles Kings. Ty Conklin got the nod for the Blues, while Jonathan Quick was in between the pipes for the Kings. Ryan Smyth started the scoring, giving Los Angeles a 1-0 lead with his ninth of the year, a power play goal from Jack Johnson and Dustin Brown. St. Louis tied it later in the first period with Jay McClement's fifth of the season, assisted by Brad Winchester and B.J. Crombeen. Anze Kopitar took the lead back with his 14th of the year, a power play goal made possible by Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson. St. Louis took the lead up to 4-2 with three straight, beginning with Vladimir Sobotka's third of the season from David Backes and Carlo Colaiacovo. They continued with a power play goal from Winchester and assisted by Colaiacovo and Sobotka, and finished the scoring stretch with Eric Brewer's fifth of the season, from Sobotka and Backes. Wayne Simmonds got Los Angeles back on track with his sixth of the year, assisted by Kyle Clifford and Michal Handzus. Dustin Brown tied it up at 4, with his eleventh of the season helped along by Rob Scuderi and Anze Kopitar. Alex Steen retook the lead for the Blues, scoring his ninth of the season courtesy of McClement and Crombeen. Backes iced the cake with an empty netter from Brad Boyes and Colaiacovo, good for his sixth of the season. The Blues cruised to 6-4 win over the Kings, with Steen's goal being the first star, followed by Sobotka, who had a goal and two assists. Kopitar earned the third star with his goal and assist in the loss, and honorable mentions are in place for Colaiacovo's sock trick. One fight broke out in the second period, between Kyle Clifford of Los Angeles and Tyson Strachan of St. Louis.
Heading to north to Minnesota, where the Wild hosted the Ottawa Senators. Jose Theodore got the nod for the Wild, while Pascal Leclaire was in goal for the Seantors. Kyle Brodziak opened the scoring, giving Minnesota a 1-0 lead with his fifth of the year, assisted by Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Martin Havlat. Daniel Alfredsson evened it in the second period with his tenth of the year, a power play goal from Mike Fisher and Erik Karlsson. Nick Foligno gave Ottawa a lead with his third of the year, also on the power play, assisted by Karlsson and Sergei Gonchar. Chris Kelly topped it off with his seventh of the season, assisted by Karlsson and Alfredsson into an empty net. The Senators would proceed to win 3-1 over the Wild. Pascal Leclaire was the first star with his 23 for 24 saves, followed by Karlsson's sock trick, and Havlat, who had an assist in the loss.
Heading to Texas, where the former Minnesota franchise moved, which would be Dallas, with the Stars hosting the San Jose Sharks. Kari Lethonen was assigned to netminding duties for Dallas, while Antero Niittymaki got the start for San Jose. Devin Setoguchi opened the scoring for the Sharks, potting his third of the year, with assistance from Joe Pavelski and Justin Braun. Brenden Morrow evened it for the Stars late in the first period, with his tenth of the year, assisted by Loui Eriksson and Stephane Robidas on the power play. Eriksson added his own power play goal in the second period, his 13th of the year, with Brad Richards and Robidas picking up the helpers. Torrey Mitchell tied it up again for San Jose, with his fourth of the year, courtesy of Dany Heatley and Kent Huskins. Setoguchi gave San Jose the lead back with his second of the night and fourth of the year, with Pavelski and Niclas Wallin assisting this goal. Tom Wandell gave Dallas a tie game again, scoring third of the year with help from Steve Ott. The 3-3 tie lasted until overtime, where Logan Couture potted his 15th of the year on the power play, giving the Sharks a 4-3 win over the Stars. Dan Boyle had the lone assist on the winner. Setoguchi got the first star with two goals, followed by Loui Eriksson, who had one goal and one assist in his team's loss, and lastly, Pavelski, who had two assists.
Heading into Canada again, where the Calgary Flames hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs. Miikka Kiprusoff tended the Flames twine, while Jean-Sebastien Giguere proceeded with goaltending duties for the Maple Leafs. Nikolai Kulemin got Toronto up first, with his tenth of the year, receiving help from Clarke MacArthur and Francois Beauchemin. Calgary evened it with the fourth goal of the year for Mikael Backlund, assisted by Brendan Morrison. Alex Tanguay gave the Flames a lead in the second period with his ninth of the year, assisted by Matt Stajan and Jarome Iginla. Extending the lead even farther was Olli Jokinen, whose power play goal from Anton Babchuk and Niklas Hagman made it 3-1. It was Jokinen's fifth of the season, coming thirty-three seconds after Tanguay's goal, and following it twenty-four seconds later was Rene Bourque's 13th of the year, with Jokinen picking up the assist. Bourque's goal was enough for Toronto to replace Giguere with Jonas Gustavsson. Hagman made it 5-1 Calgary with his eighth of the year in the third period, a power play goal assisted by Jokinen and Babchuk. Mikhail Grabovski tried to rally the Maple Leafs back with his tenth of the year from Kris Versteeg, but it was too late. The Flames downed the Maple Leafs 5-2. Jokinen got the first star with a goal and two assists, followed by Hagman, who had a goal and an assist, and Tanguay, who had one goal.
Lastly, we stay in Alberta, where the Edmonton Oilers hosted the Columbus Blue Jackets. Nikolai Khabibulin was again in net for the Oilers, while Steve Mason got another start for the Blue Jackets. Linus Omark struck early for Edmonton, scoring his first NHL goal, obviously his first of the season, from Ryan Whitney. Kristian Huselius answered later in the first period with his fourth of the year and first since returning from injury, assisted by Rostislav Klesla and R.J. Umberger. Jordan Eberle gave the Oilers the lead again, scoring his eighth of the season, from Taylor Hall and Sam Gagner. Huselius answered again for the Blue Jackets, tying it at 2 with his second of the night and fifth of the season, assisted this time by Umberger and Rick Nash on the power play. Edmonton took a 3-2 lead with Dustin Penner's power play goal, his tenth of the year comnig from Omark and Magnus Paajarvi. Eberle extended the lead in the second period with his second of the night and ninth of the season, thanks to contributions from Whitney and Hall. Paajarvi extended the lead farther with his fourth of the year, assisted by Ryan O'Marra and Omark. Sam Gagner made it 6-2 with his ninth of the year, assisted by Hall. Huselius completed his hat trick late in the third period, his sixth of the year, coming from Antoine Vertmette. Edmonton would hold on to defeat Columbus 6-3. Omark's goal and two assists earned him the first star, and Eberle's two goals were good for the second star, followed by third star Hall, who had a three-assist sock trick. Honorable mentions go to Paajarvi, who had a goal, an assist, and a generally awesome name, and Huselius, for his hat trick in the return from his injury.
That's all there is for now, check back tomorrow for a recap of Friday's four games.
No comments :
Post a Comment