Whole lot of games on tonight, eleven in total, beginning with the New York Islanders hosting the Montreal Canadiens. Peter Budaj and Evgeni Nabokov got the starts, but Nabokov was pulled after an injury, and replaced by the glass goaltender Rick DiPietro. New York got started in the second period with the third of the season from P.A. Parenteau, an unassisted goal. The Islanders added on with Jay Pandolfo striking, and he was helped by Josh Bailey and Matt Martin. New York kept strong with Mark Streit depositing his second of the year, courtesy of Martin. Montreal got one back on a Max Pacioretty tally, his ninth of the season, and Lars Eller had the only assist. The Canadiens kept on the offensive with Erik Cole recording his fifth of the year, off of Raphael Diaz and Tomas Plekanec. The Islanders put the attack down with Matt Moulson scoring his sixth of the season, made possible by John Tavares and the goalie DiPietro. Montreal got one back again late in the third period, as Brian Gionta's fifth of the year made it 4-3, thanks to Michael Cammalleri and Plekanec. This was a final, and the three stars were Pandolfo, DiPietro (24 for 27 in saves in relief), and Streit, while Martin and Plekanec grab honorable mention.
Heading toward Pennsylvania, where the Philadelphia Flyers welcome the Phoenix Coyotes. Mike Smith opposes former Phoenix goalie Ilya Bryzgalov in the nets. The scoring began with Philadelphia's James van Riemsdyk in the second period, as he netted his seventh of the season with the help of Claude Giroux and Scott Hartnell. Phoenix tied it in the third period when Mikkel Boedker put away his third of the year, thanks to Boyd Gordon and Lauri Korpikoski. The Flyers stole it late on a Matt Read goal with nineteen seconds remaining, his sixth of the campaign, assisted by Max Talbot and Jakub Voracek's tenth helper. The three stars were Bryzgalov (30 for 31 in saves), Read, and Smith (40 for 42 in saves).
Back to the coast, as the Boston Bruins host the Columbus Blue Jackets. Backups Curtis Sanford and Tuukka Rask will be stopping the pucks. The scoring began with Columbus in the second period on a Derek MacKenzie goal, his third of the season, fueled by Nikita Nikitin and Grant Clitsome on the power play. Boston replied with Adam McQuaid registering an unassisted goal. The tie lasted into a shootout, where the Bruins' Rich Peverley and David Krejci outweighed the Blue Jackets' Mark Letestu for a 2-1 win. The three stars are McQuaid, Krejci, and Rask (30 for 31 in saves).
Down to Tampa Bay, where the Lightning are hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury and Dwayne Roloson tend the twines. Tampa Bay was first to score as Vincent Lecavalier put away his seventh of the season, an unassisted goal. The Lightning extended the lead in the second period when Brett Connolly sank his fourth of the year, a power play goal powered by Dominic Moore and Marc-Andre Bergeron. Tampa Bay kept on the offensive as Steve Downie found a home for his second of the season, via Eric Brewer and Steven Stamkos on the power play. The Lightning all but secured victory with an unassisted empty net goal for Lecavalier, his second tally of the night and eighth of the year. Pittsburgh decided they'd show up a bit late instead of not showing up at all, as Tyler Kennedy netted his second of the campaign from Paul Martin and Jordan Staal. The final was 4-1, and the three stars were Roloson (33 for 34 in saves), Victor Hedman, and Lecavalier. Honorable mentions for Downie, Connolly, and Kennedy.
Northward to Minnesota, as the Wild welcome the Colorado Avalanche. Jean-Sebastien Giguere and Niklas Backstrom will be in the blue paint. The scoring began late in the third period with Minnesota's Devin Setoguchi recording his sixth of the campaign, assisted by Dany Heatley and the tenth assist from Mikko Koivu. The final was 1-0, with Backstrom (27 save shutout), Setoguchi, and Nick Schultz receiving the three stars in the defensive battle.
To the Music City, where the Nashville Predators host the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ben Scrivens takes on Pekka Rinne in net. Nashville began with a Martin Erat goal, his fourth of the season, made possible by Mike Fisher and Sergei Kostitsyn. Toronto answered with a John-Michael Liles goal, his third of the year, a power play goal powered by Joffrey Lupul and Tyler Bozak. The Predators took the lead back with Ryan Suter registering his fourth of the season, and Kostitsyn and Shea Weber had the helper. Erat struck again in the third period with his second of the game and fifth of the year, assisted by Fisher and sock trick Kostitsyn. The Predators finished it at 4-1 with the fifth of the campaign by Matt Halischuk, an empty net goal set up by Suter. The three stars were awarded to Erat, Kostitsyn, and Fisher, while Rinne (38 for 39 in saves) gets an honorable mention.
Into Missouri, where the St. Louis Blues welcome the Florida Panthers. Jose Theodore and Jaroslav Halak participate in a game of former Montreal goaltenders. St. Louis opened with the fifth of the season by David Backes, an unassisted goal. Florida replied with the third of the year off the tape of Mike Santorelli, and that was also unassisted. The Blues retook the lead on a Chris Porter, goal, yet another without help. St. Louis made it 3-1 on a Kris Russell goal, his fourth of the campaign, produced with effort from Vladimir Sobotka and Jamie Langenbrunner. The final was 4-1 after Backes netted a second goal, his sixth of the year, an empty net goal requiring no assistance. The three stars went to Backes, Sobotka, and Porter.
Crossing into Canada, where the Winnipeg Jets host the Washington Capitals. Michal Neuvirth and Ondrej Pavelec will wear the goalie masks. Washington began the scoring on an Alexander Semin goal, his fourth of the season, via Jason Chimera and Brooks Laich. Winnipeg replied with Evander Kane potting his seventh of the year, courtesy of Alex Burmistrov. Kane put the Jets out front with his second of the game and eighth of the season, made possible by Kyle Wellwood. Winnipeg extended the lead with Blake Wheeler tallying on the power play, helped along by Bryan Little. The Jets remained tough to contain as Wellwood notched his sixth of the year on the power play, powered by Andrew Ladd and Tim Stapleton. The final stayed at 4-1, with Kane, Pavelec (31 for 31 in saves), and Dustin Byfuglien taking the three stars, and honorable mention to all point-getters.
Westward to Edmonton, where the Oilers host the Ottawa Senators. Craig Anderson and Nikolai Khabibulin will be in front of the cages. Ottawa struck first on a Colin Greening goal, his fifth of the season, made possible by Milan Michalek and Jason Spezza. Nine seconds later, the Senators added on with Kaspars Daugavins netting his second of the year, thanks to Zack Smith and Erik Karlsson. Ottawa made it 3-0 with a Michalek goal, his twelfth of the season, courtesy of Spezza. Edmonton got on the board in the second period with an Anton Lander goal, assisted by Lennart Petrell. The Senators answered on a Jesse Winchester goal, guided in by Bobby Butler. Ottawa stayed strong in the third period with Zenon Konopka scoring his second of the year, via Sergei Gonchar. The Oilers cut it to 4-2, and would lose by this margin, after a power play goal by Ryan Jones, his fourth of the campaign, aided by Eric Belanger and Ryan Smyth. Spezza, Michalek, and Lander were the three stars.
The second night of a back-to-back in the Battle of California, as the Anaheim Ducks take their turn hosting the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick goes against Dan Ellis in the nets. Los Angeles struck first in the second period on a Mike Richards goal, his sixth of the season, fueled by Andrei Loktionov and Slava Voynov. Anaheim tied it up with the third of the year by Andrew Cogliano, guided in by Saku Koivu and Teemu Selanne. The Kings took the lead back with Simon Gagne scoring shorthanded, his seventh of the season, an unassisted goal. Los Angeles extended the lead in the third period with a power play goal by Voynov, powered by Gagne and Dustin Brown as his third of the year. The Ducks replied as Corey Perry found a place for his seventh of the season, thanks to Ryan Getzlaf and Kurtis Foster on the power play. Cogliano tied it for Anaheim with his second of the game and fourth of the year, made possible by Luca Sbisa and Selanne. The Kings regained the lead as the ninth of the season for Anze Kopitar found twine, coming through Justin Williams and Rob Scuderi. Los Angeles wrapped it up 5-3 with Richards' second of the game and seventh of the year, an empty net goal pushed through by Kopitar. The three stars were Cogliano, Kopitar, and Selanne, while Richards, Gagne, Voynov, are the honorable mentions.
Finally, in Northern California, the San Jose Sharks host their semi-close rivals, the Detroit Red Wings. Jimmy Howard and Antti Niemi play between the pipes. Niklas Kronwall put Detroit up first with a power play goal, his fifth of the season, powered by Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom. San Jose tied it with a shorthanded goal, the tenth tally of the year by Joe Pavelski, set up by the tenth assist from Joe Thornton and a Marc-Edouard Vlasic helper. The Sharks took the lead in the second period on Thornton's fifth of the season, courtesy of Logan Couture and Vlasic. San Jose extended the lead with Vlasic notching his second of the year, helped along by Andrew Desjardins and Brad Winchester. The Sharks made it 4-1 with the second of the season by Torrey Mitchell, assisted by Vlasic for a sock trick and Jamie McGinn. Howard was pulled in favor of Ty Conklin for the third period. San Jose took this in stride, as Winchester scored in the third period with the help of Andrew Murray. The Red Wings finished the scoring at 5-2 with Danny Cleary on the power play, his third of the year, guided in by Valtteri Filppula and Henrik Zetterberg. The three stars were Vlasic, Thornton, and Winchester.
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