Tonight we will roll with seven games of hockey. First up...
The New Jersey Devils host the Washington Capitals. Tomas Vokoun and Martin Brodeur get the starting nods. New Jersey struck first with Adam Larsson's goal, made possible by Dainius Zubrus and Patrik Elias. Washington tied it in the second period on the seventh of the season by Alex Ovechkin, coming off of Dennis Wideman and Nicklas Backstrom. The Capitals took the lead on the fifth of the year by Jason Chimera, a shorthanded goal via Troy Brouwer and John Erskine. Washington made it 3-1 as Marcus Johansson netted his sixth of the season, and Karl Alzner had the lone assist. This was the final score, and the three stars belonged to Chimera, Larsson, and Vokoun (32 for 33 in saves).
Into Pittsburgh, where the Penguins host the Dallas Stars as the top two teams in the league face off. Kari Lehtonen and Marc-Andre Fleury are in between the pipes. Dallas opened on an Eric Nystrom goal, his fifth of the season, with helpers provided by Radek Dvorak and Vernon Fiddler. Pittsburgh tied it late in the second period with the tenth of the year for James Neal, a power play goal powered by Chris Kunitz and Steve Sullivan. The Penguins grabbed the lead in the third period with a Neal power play goal, his eleventh of the season, assisted by Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang. Pittsburgh made it 3-1 with the fifth of the year by Matt Cooke, a successful penalty shot, the product of Trevor Daley tripping him on a breakaway. This was the final, and the three stars were Neal, Cooke, and Kunitz.
Back tracking to the Big Apple, with the New York Rangers hosting the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward and Henrik Lundqvist played in the blue paint. Sean Avery put New York in the lead first with a goal, and the lone assist belonged to Jeff Woywitka. Carolina answered in the second period on the third of the season by Alexei Ponikarovsky, assisted by Zach Boychuk and Jamie McBain. The Rangers retook the lead with a Dan Girardi power play goal in the third period, his third of the year powered by Brad Richards and Ryan McDonagh. New York extended their lead with a Brandon Dubinsky, coming off of Ryan Callahan and Brian Boyle. Callahan kept the Rangers surge up with his seventh of the season, from Mike Sauer and Dubinsky. New York put it away with Richards notching his fifth of the year, an unassisted goal, for a 5-1 score. The three stars were Girardi, Avery, and Dubinsky, and the honorable mentions include Callahan, Richards, and Lundqvist (34 for 35 in saves). Avery's star was not for his goal, but for his glasses.
Westward to Detroit, as the Red Wings welcome the Edmonton Oilers. Nikolai Khabibulin and Jimmy Howard will play in goal. Detroit "drew" first blood as Drew Miller netted a goal set up by Patrick Eaves. The Red Wings extended the lead with a Niklas Kronwall second period goal, his third of the season, assisted by Jiri Hudler and Justin Abdelkader. Detroit added on in the third period with the third of the year by Valtteri Filppula, and Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen helped out here. The final was 3-0 and the three stars were Howard (24 save shutout), Miller, and Abdelkader.
Into New York state again, as the Buffalo Sabres are hosting the Ottawa Senators. Craig Anderson and Jhonas Enroth picked up the starts, but Anderson was soon replaced by Alex Auld. Buffalo opened with a Derek Roy goal, his fifth of the season, thanks to Drew Stafford and Christian Ehrhoff. The Sabres chased Anderson just sixteen seconds later as Matt Ellis scored, with the help of Corey Tropp and Cody McCormick. Ottawa got on the board with Sergei Gonchar's power play goal, powered by Erik Karlsson and Jason Spezza. Buffalo made it a two-goal game again with the third of the year by Jordan Leopold, and Stafford and Roy had the assists. The Sabres added on again in the third period as Luke Adam potted his fifth of the season, and he received the puck from Thomas Vanek and Jason Pominville. Buffalo made it 5-1 with Ville Leino sinking his second of the year, fueled by Stafford, who got a sock trick, and Roy. This was a final, and the three stars were Roy, Enroth (36 for 37 in saves), and Stafford.
To the Midwest, where the Chicago Blackhawks host the Calgary Flames. Miikka Kiprusoff stands 200 feet away from Ray Emery. Chicago opened with a Duncan Keith goal, made possible by Dan Carcillo and Patrick Sharp. The Blackhawks extended the lead in the second period with a power play goal by Brent Seabrook, powered by Marian Hossa and Sharp. Calgary got on the board with Olli Jokinen scoring his fourth of the season, via Mark Giordano. Chicago replied and made it 3-1 with the fourth of the year for Viktor Stalberg, and Hossa and Jonathan Toews provided the helpers. The Blackhawks iced it at 4-1 with an empty net goal by Patrick Kane, his sixth of the campaign, assisted by Sharp for a sock trick, and Carcillo. Keith, Sharp, and Jokinen got the three stars, with honorable mention to Hossa and Carcillo.
Out to southern California, with the Anaheim Ducks welcoming the Vancouver Canucks. Roberto Luongo and Jonas Hiller tend the twine. Anaheim opened the scoring in the second period with Saku Koivu's second of the season, and Andrew Cogliano picked up the helper. The Ducks added on as Cogliano sank his second of the year, and was helped out by Bobby Ryan and the goalie Hiller on the power play tally. Corey Perry also scored for Anaheim on the power play, his sixth of the season, assisted by Ryan Getzlaf and Teemu Selanne (tenth assist). The Ducks kept it up with Derek Holland's goal, and Toni Lydman had the lone assist here. Vancouver got on the board in the third period as Kevin Bieksa sent home a power play goal, via David Booth and Dan Hamhuis. The Canucks made it 4-3 (but were unable to tie) as Jannik Hansen scored twice in a row, his third and fourth of the year, and assists were doled out to Daniel Sedin twice, and Bieksa and Sami Salo once each. This was the final, and the three stars were Perry, Cogliano, and Hansen, with honorable mentions for Bieksa and Daniel.
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