Today we have twice as many games as yesterday, with six on the slate. We begin with a pair of NHL Premiere Games.
In Helsinki, Finland, the Buffalo Sabres "hosted" the Anaheim Ducks. Jonas Hiller and Ryan Miller got the starts. Buffalo led off with a Thomas Vanek goal, coming on the power play via Luke Adam and Jason Pominville. Te Sabres extended their lead later with Ville Leino's goal, made possible by Andrej Sekera and Brad Boyes. Anaheim got on the board in the second period with a Nate Guenin goal, helped along by Maxime Macenauer. Buffalo wasted little time in restoring a 2 goal lead, as Pominville had rubber meet twine, and Vanek and Adam grabbed the assists. The Sabres made it 4-1 as Vanek slipped another goal in on the power play, fueled by Christian Ehrhoff and Pominville. This would conclude the scoring as the third period proved to be silent, and the three stars were rightfully awarded to Vanek, Pominville, and Miller (29 for 30 in saves).
Also in Europe, the Los Angeles Kings welcomed the New York Rangers to a home away from home in Stockholm, Sweden. Hometown hero Henrik Lundqvist and American Jonathan Quick tended the twines. Los Angeles was the first to strike in this game, as Anze Kopitar scored in the first period from a Justin Williams pass. New York evened the score as Ryan Callahan potted a goal, with assistance from Artem Anisimov and Ruslan Fedotenko. The teams failed to score in the second period, but got back to it as the Rangers took a third period lead on Marian Gaborik's goal. Tallying the helpers here were Brandon Dubinsky and Brad Richards. The Kings would not die, however, tying the game at 2 with Mike Richards' goal from Brad Richardson and Dustin Brown. The tie would last into overtime, where Los Angeles stole the game 3-2 on a Jack Johnson goal, a power play tally from Mike Richards and Kopitar, on the minor penalty by Ryan McDonagh. Kopitar, Lundqvist (27 for 30 in saves), and Callahan were the three stars, although also playing worthy games were Mike Richards or the hero Jack Johnson.
Moving into Detroit, the Red Wings opened their season against the Ottawa Senators. Craig Anderson and Jimmy Howard were the designated starters. Detroit opened the scoring with a Todd Bertuzzi goal, assisted on by Darren Helm and Jakub Kindl. The Red Wings padded their lead in the second period with an unassisted goal by Nicklas Lidstrom. Detroit made it 3-0 with Cody Emmerton's first NHL goal, made possible by Drew Miller. The Red Wings continued a brutal period as Jiri Hudler saucered one past Anderson, thanks to Pavel Datsyuk and Jonathan Ericsson. Detroit also scored with an Ian White goal in the third period, fueled by Emmerton. Ottawa finally got on the board with Milan Michalek's goal, guided in by Jason Spezza and Nikita Filatov. The Senators picked up another goal on the power, again from Michalek, and with assists by Spezza and Erik Karlsson. Ottawa made a furious run to the end, with Filip Kuba's goal making it 5-3, the power play marker assisted on by Daniel Alfredsson and Mika Zibanejad. This would be the final, with the three stars going to Emmerton, Lidstrom, and Michalek.
Down to Ohio, with the Columbus Blue Jackets hosting the Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne and Steve Mason opposed each other in goal. The first period was quiet, and the scoring was opened by Nashville in the second frame with a Ryan Suter power play goal, powered by Sergei Kostitsyn and David Legwand. Columbus answered with Vinny Prospal recording a goal, with Jeff Carter and Rick Nash supplying the help. The Predators soon took the lead back on a Craig Smith goal, guided in by Shea Weber and Suter. Nashville extended the lead with a Matt Halischuk goal, with help provided by Cal O'Reilly. The Blue Jackets pulled within 1 on a Nash goal, coming off of Prospal and Carter, but failed to get an equalizer, falling 3-2. The three stars of the game were Rinne (32 for 34 in saves), Carter, and Nash, with only Suter as a logical alternative.
Into Raleigh, with the Carolina Hurricanes welcoming the Tampa Bay Lightning. Dwayne Roloson and Cam Ward were in the blue paint. Carolina opened the scoring in the first period with a Jeff Skinner goal from Tim Gleason and Tuomo Ruutu. Tampa Bay answered in the second period with a Martin St. Louis goal, with the lone assist by Steven Stamkos. The Lightning took the lead on Vincent Lecavalier's goal, a power play tally courtesy of Stamkos and St. Louis. Tampa Bay extended the lead with a Steve Downie power play goal, thanks to Marc-Andre Bergeron and Ryan Shannon. Ten seconds later, the Lightning led 4-1 as Adam Hall notched a goal, with assists by Nate Thompson and Victor Hedman. Tampa Bay put the nail in the coffin by making it 5-1 on Ryan Malone's goal, made possible by Teddy Purcell and Eric Brewer. This was a final, and the three stars were given out to St. Louis, Stamkos, and Skinner.
Lastly, the Dallas Stars host the Chicago Blackhawks. Corey Crawford and Kari Lehtonen were given the nod to start. Dallas opened the scoring in the second period after a quiet first, as Alex Goligoski netted a shot, with assist-machine Mike Ribeiro grabbing the lone helper. The Stars extended their lead with a Jamie Benn goal, courtesy of Sheldon Souray and Trevor Daley. Chicago got on the board late with a Nick Leddy goal, with assistance by Patrick Kane and Brandon Pirri, but they still fell 2-1. The game's three stars were Lehtonen (37 for 38 in saves), Benn, and Goligoski.
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