Okay, big day in hockey, with twelve games played and all of them being moderate to high in scoring. Buckle up for a long reading, beginning in the cold, park-less environment of...
Winnipeg (Bryzgalov pronunciation of Vinny-Peg), as the Jets host the Philadelphia Flyers. Sergei Bobrovsky and Ondrej Pavelec attempt to stop the puck. Winnipeg opened the scoring on a pair of Bryan Little goals, his third and fourth of the season, and the first was a power play goal. Assists went to Blake Wheeler twice, and Dustin Byfuglien and Evander Kane once each. The Jets added on with a power play goal from Andrew Ladd, his sixth of the year, via Kyle Wellwood and Byfuglien. Philadelphia got on the board with a Scott Hartnell power play goal, his seventh of the season, powered by Chris Pronger and Claude Giroux. Winnipeg went and got going again in the second period with a shorthanded and unassisted Jim Slater goal, his sixth of the year. The Jets stayed strong as Byfuglien potted his fourth of the season, another power play goal, fueled by Ladd and Wellwood. The Flyers got one back as Hartnell put away his second of the game and eighth of the year, with the help of Danny Briere and Pronger on the power play. Philadelphia pulled within one as Matt Read sank two in a row his seventh and eighth of the season, courtesy of Giroux twice (a sock trick total on the night), and Hartnell and Matt Carle once each. The final was 6-4 Winnipeg after an unassisted empty net goal by Nik Antropov, his fourth of the year. Byfuglien, Little, and Hartnell were the three stars, and honorable mentions go to Giroux, Read, Pronger, Ladd, Wheeler, and Wellwood.
To the west coast, where the Los Angeles Kings host the Detroit Red Wings. Jimmy Howard and Jonathan Quick will pick up the starts. Los Angeles opened the scoring with Mike Richards scoring shorthanded and unassisted for his eighth of the season. Detroit tied it with a Pavel Datsyuk goal, his third of the campaign, a power play goal, powered by Tomas Holmstrom and Nicklas Lidstrom. The Red Wings took the lead in the second period with a Niklas Kronwall goal, his sixth of the year, also on the power play and guided in by Holmstorm and Johan Franzen. Detroit extended the lead on a Justin Abdelkader goal, his second of the season, assisted by Brendan Smtih and Jonathan Ericsson. The Red Wings made it a 4-1 final as Datsyuk put away his second of the game and fourth of the year, while Franzen picked up the lone assist. The three stars were awarded to Datsyuk, Kronwall, and Richards, while Franzen and Holmstrom also had good games.
Heading east again, as the Buffalo Sabres host the Phoenix Coyotes. Mike Smith and Jhonas Enroth were in the blue paint. Phoenix opened up with a Shane Doan goal, his sixth of the season, courtesy of Keith Yandle and Derek Morris. Buffalo answered on a Luke Adam goal, also his sixth of the year, via Jordan Leopold and Nathan Gerbe. The Sabres took the lead as Patrick Kaleta scored in the second period, his second of the season, fueled by Paul Gaustad and Leopold. Radim Vrbata retied it for the Coyotes on his seventh of the year, made possible by Rostislav Klesla and David Schlemko. Phoenix took the lead as Twitter superstar Paul Bissonnette scored, and he got his help from Kyle Chipchura and Adrian Aucoin. Vrbata iced it in the third period with his eighth of the campaign, an empty net goal, with Yandle and Morris providing the helpers. The three stars were Smith (43 for 45 in saves), Vrbata, and Adam, while Morris, Yandle, and Leopold were the honorable mentions.
Staying in the state of New York as the Islanders host the Boston Bruins. Tim Thomas and Rick DiPietro collected the starts, but the latter was replaced by Anders Nilsson after the first period. For those of you keeping count, the Islanders have now exercised use of four goaltenders this season. Boston opened on a Patrice Bergeron goal, his fourth of the season, assisted by Tyler Seguin and Brad Marchand. The Bruins added on with an unassisted power play goal by Nathan Horton, his sixth of the year. Chris Kelly also recorded his sixth of the season for Boston, and he did this in the unassisted fashion. The game was steady until the third period, as the Bruins got back to work when Andrew Ference scored, and he received the puck from Joe Corvo and Kelly. Boston kept strong on another Kelly goal, his seventh of the campaign, guided in by Milan Lucic and Horton. The Bruins finished the game ahead 6-0 with Zdeno Chara's goal being the last to go in, his second of the year, made possible by Marchand and Gregory Campbell. The three stars were Kelly, Thomas (23 save shutout), and Horton. Marchand earns honorable mention.
Down to Florida, where the Tampa bay Lightning host the New Jersey Devils. Martin Brodeur and Dwayne Roloson put on the goalie masks. The scoring began in the second period with a Dainius Zubrus goal, his fifth of the season, from Ryan Carter. Patrik Elias extended the lead for the Devils with his eighth of the year, a power play goal, set up by David Clarkson and Adam Larsson. Clarkson pushed New jersey further ahead with his power play goal, good for his seventh of the season, powered by Zach Parise and Adam Henrique. Tampa Bay got going in the third period with a Martin St. Louis goal, his fifth of the year, thanks to Ryan Shannon and Pavel Kubina. The Lightning got within one as Shannon potted a goal off of Steve Downie and Eric Brewer. The Devils would win 4-2 with Carter sinking his second of the campaign, an unassisted goal. The three stars were Zubrus, Parise, and Shannon, while honorable mentions go to Carter and Clarkson.
Crossing into Canada, as the Toronto Maple Leafs host the Washington Capitals. Tomas Vokoun took on Jonas Gustavsson in goal, although Vokoun was well in over his head and replaced by Michal Neuvirth in the second period. Toronto led off with a Tim Connolly goal, his second of the season, assisted by Joffrey Lupul. Washington replied with a Brooks Laich goal, his third of the year, fueled by Jason Chimera and John Carlson. The Maple Leafs took the lead back before the period was over on a Matt Frattin goal made possible by Joe Colborne and Cody Franson. Toronto struck again in the second period with a power play goal from Tyler Bozak, his second of the season, thanks to Lupul and Dion Phaneuf. The Maple Leafs chased Vokoun on Phil Kessel's fourteenth of the year, and Bozak and Lupul had the helpers, the latter finishing a sock trick. Toronto kept rolling with Lupul scoring his tenth of the season, courtesy of Phaneuf and Kessel on the power play. The Maple Leafs were unstoppable as Franson netted a power play goal, powered by Connolly. The final would sit at 7-1 after a third period shorthanded goal by Dave Steckel, his fourth of the year, and Nikolai Kulemin was responsible for the assist. The three stars were Lupul, Gustavsson (40 for 41 in saves), and Frattin. The long list of honorable mentions includes Franson, Bozak, Connolly, Phaneuf, and Kessel.
Staying north of the border, as the Montreal Canadiens host the New York Rangers. Martin Biron and Carey Price took to the cages. Montreal dented the scoreboard first on an Erik Cole goal, his sixth of the season, a power play goal, powered by Yannick Weber and Tomas Plekanec. The Canadiens extended the lead in the second period on Brian Gionta's sixth of the year, assisted by Scott Gomez and Raphael Diaz. Montreal kept rolling with Plekanec's third period goal, his fifth of the season, set up by Cole and Max Pacioretty on the power play. Gionta finished it at 4-0 with his second of the game and seventh of the year, fueled by Gomez and Michael Cammalleri. Gionta, Cole, and Price (17 save shutout) were the three stars, while Plekanec and Gomez earn honorable mention.
Back down to Florida, as the Panthers host the Pittsburgh Penguins. Brent Johnson and Jose Theodore got the starting nods. Pittsburgh opened on a Chris Kunitz goal, his seventh of the season, made possible by Pascal Dupuis. Florida tied it with the second of the year by Brian Campbell, assisted by Kris Versteeg and Stephen Weiss. The Panthers took the lead on the eighth of the season by Tomas Fleischmann, courtesy of Weiss and Dmitry Kulikov on the power play. The Penguins retied it when Jordan Staal registered his tenth of the campaign, and the assists were recorded by Dupuis and Matt Niskanen. Florida would take the game 3-2 in the third period with a Weiss power play goal, his seventh of the year, powered by Versteeg and Fleischmann. Weiss, Fleischmann, and Versteeg were the three stars, while Dupuis gets the honorable mention.
Northwest to Minnesota, as the Wild welcome the St. Louis Blues. Jaroslav Halak stood 200 feet from josh Harding. St. Louis began with David Backes netting his seventh of the season, fueled by T.J. Oshie and Alex Steen. Minnesota tied it in the second period with an unasssited and shorthanded Mikko Koivu goal, his second of the year. The Blues regained the lead in the third period with an Oshie goal, his sixth of the season, made possible by Steen and Backes. Koivu tied it again for the Wild on his second of the game and third of the year, a power play goal powered by Jared Spurgeon and Cal Clutterbuck. The tie lasted into a shootout, where Koivu and Matt Cullen lifted Minnesota over the lone tally by Oshie for St. Louis. The three stars in the 3-2 game were Koivu, Cullen, and Halak (30 for 32 in saves). The Oshie-Backes-Steen line gets the honorable mention.
Backtracking to Nashville, with the Predators hosting the Columbus Blue Jackets. Curtis Sanford and Pekka Rinne will be in goal. Nashville led off with a Colin Wilson power play goal, his fifth of the season, assisted by David Legwand and Craig Smith. Columbus replied in the second period on a Jeff Carter goal, and Rick Nash had the lone assist. The Predators reclaimed the lead with a power play goal by Mike Fisher, his third of the year, fueled by Shea Weber and Ryan Suter. The Blue Jackets tied it again on a power play goal by Vinny Prospal, his sixth of the campaign, powered by Nash and Fedor Tyutin. Columbus took the lead on an R.J. Umberger goal, his second of the season, a power play goal set up by Ryan Johansen and James Wisniewski. Nashville got the equalizer as the second of the year by Nick Spaling found twine, thanks to Weber and Suter. The tie lasted into overtime, where the Blue Jackets won 4-3 over the Predators on a Wisniewski goal, made possible by Antoine Vermette. Wisniewski, Spaling, and Weber were the three stars, while Suter and Nash had honorable mentions for performance.
Down to Texas, where the Dallas Stars hosted the San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi went up against Andrew Raycroft in goal. San Jose struck first with a Brent Burns power play goal, his fourth of the season, powered by Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau. The Sharks kept it up in the second period with another power play goal, the seventh of the year by Logan Couture, and Thornton and Marleau had the helpers again. San Jose extended the lead with Brad Winchester netting his second of the season, via Andrew Desjardins. The Sharks kept rolling with a third period goal from Jamie McGinn, his second of the campaign, courtesy of Michal Handzus and Martin Havlat. Dallas made it 4-1, the eventual final, with Mike Ribeiro sinking his second of the year off of Loui Eriksson. The three stars were Couture, Thornton, and Marleau, while Niemi's 30 for 31 performance in saves was also good.
Finally, in Edmonton, the Oilers host the Chicago Blackhawks. Both Ray Emery and Corey Crawford suffered against Nikolai Khabibulin's team. Edmonton struck first with an Ales Hemsky goal, made possible by Jeff Petry. Chicago tied it on a Patrick Sharp power play goal, his seventh of the season, thanks to Marian Hossa and Patrick Kane. The Oilers took it back with Ryan Jones notching his fifth of the year, with the help of Shawn Horcoff and Tom Gilbert. Edmonton continued with the eleventh of the season for Ryan Smyth, courtesy of Jordan Eberle and Petry. The Oilers continued to attack with the fourth of the year by Taylor Hall, a power play goal guided in by Horcoff and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Eberle pushed Edmonton further ahead with his fifth of the season, and Nugent-Hopkins and Petry got the assists, the latter finishing a sock trick in one period. The Oilers pushed on in the second period with a power play goal by Gilbert, his third of the year, and Nugent-Hopkins collected the natural sock trick while the other helper was credited to Eberle. Edmonton stayed relentless when Hall drained his second of the game and fifth of the season, and Gilbert and Nugent-Hopkins again had assists. The Blackhawks finally replied with a power play goal by Dave Bolland, his sixth of the year, fueled by Nick Leddy and Steve Montador. Horcoff got the Oilers back on track with yet another power play goal, his fourth of the season, powered by Eberle and Gilbert, who both completed sock tricks. Edmonton made it 9-2 as Hall finished off a hat trick in the third period, his sixth of the year, and Nugent-Hopkins tallied his fifth assist of the game here. The three stars were Hall, Nugent-Hopkins, and Gilbert, while Eberle, Petry, and Horcoff all had three or more points.
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