NHL Day 28 2011-2012

There are only three games on tonight. First off, the New Jersey Devils host the Toronto Maple Leafs. Jonas Gustavsson and Martin Brodeur play between the pipes. Toronto opened with a Joey Crabb goal, assisted by Matthew Lombardi and John-Michael Liles. New Jersey replied with a Dainius Zubrus goal, his third of the season coming on the power play from Adam Henrique. The Maple Leafs regained the lead with Mikhail Grabovski potting his fifth of the year, courtesy of Jake Gardiner and the goalie Gustavsson. The Devils got another equalizer in the second period with Patrik Elias potting his fifth of the season, a power play goal powered by Adam Larsson and Ilya Kovalchuk. Toronto again took the lead back as Joffrey Lupul netted his sixth of the year, with help from Mike Komisarek and Gardiner. New Jersey tied it again as the third of the season by David Clarkson found twine, and he was aided by Nick Palmieri and Brad Mills. The Maple leafs made it 5-3 as Lupul notched two more goals for a hat trick, his seventh and eighth of the year helped along by Phil Kessel both times, and Tim Connolly and Grabovski for the other assists. This was a final, leaving the three stars for Lupul, Kessel, and Elias, and honrable mention to Grabovski and Connolly.

Also, the Buffalo Sabres host the Philadelphia Flyers. Ilya Bryzgalov and Ryan Miller were called on for the starts, but Miller was soon relieved by Jhonas Enroth. Sean Couturier opened for Philadelphia with his third of the season, courtesy of Andreas Lilja and Jakub Voracek. The Flyers added on thirteen seconds later as James van Riemsdyk notched his fifth of the year, thanks to Zac Rinaldo. Philadelphia put Miller out of his misery on Scott Hartnell's fifth of the season, coming off of Claude Giroux and Jaromir Jagr. Buffalo got to work in the second period on an Andrej Sekera goal, made possible by Jordan Leopold and Luke Adam. Adam made it 3-2 in the third period, notching his fourth of the year for the Sabres, with the help of Thomas Vanek and Json Pominville. This was a final, and the three stars were awarded to van Riemsdyk, Adam, and Jagr, although any other goal scorers would fit fine here.

Finally, the Colorado Avalanche hosted the Phoenix Coyotes. Mike Smith opposed Semyon Varlamov in the twines. Phoenix opened on a Taylor Pyatt goal, his second of the season assisted by Derek Morris and Boyd Gordon. The Coyotes extended the lead in the second period on the fourth of the year by Radim Vrbata, courtesy of Martin Hanzal and Ray Whitney. Colorado got it back quickly with the second of the season for Ryan O'Reilly, via Daniel Winnik and Ryan O'Byrne. Phoenix replied in the third period on a Lauri Korpikoski goal, his third of the campaign, with helpers provided by David Schlemko and Rostislav Klesla. The Coyotes iced it at 4-1 with the second of the game and fifth of the year for Vrbata, an empty net goal made possible by Whitney and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. This was a final score, and the three stars went to Smith (39 for 40 in saves), O'Reilly, and Vrbata, with honors to Whitney.