There are seven games being played tonight. We begin with the Washington Capitals hosting the Phoenix Coyotes. Jason LaBarbera opposes Tomas Vokoun in goal. Phoenix opened on a shorthanded and unassisted Radim Vrbata goal, his ninth of the season. The Coyotes added on in the second period with a penalty shot by Lauri Korpikoski, good as his fourth of the year. Washington got on the board with a John Carlson goal, his third of the season, going down unassisted. The Capitals tied it with Cody Eakin potting his second of the year, and Jeff Schultz had the lone assist. Washington took the lead in the third period when Nicklas Backstrom scored his sixth of the season off of Joel Ward and Alex Ovechkin. The Capitals extended the lead on a power play goal by Brooks Laich, his fourth of the year, with help from Backstrom. Phoenix got one back when Korpikoski netted his second of the night and fifth of the season, guided in by Ray Whitney and Boyd Gordon. They couldn't get the equalizer, and lost 4-3. The three stars were awarded to Backstrom, Korpikoski, and Ward.
Next up, the Columbus Blue Jackets host the Calgary Flames. Backups Henrik Karlsson and Curtis Sanford will play goal. Jeff Carter got Columbus going first with his second of the season, via Vinny Prospal and Nikita Nikitin. The Blue Jackets kept it up with an Antoine Vermette goal, his second of the year, made possible by Derek Dorsett and Fedor Tyutin. Columbus extended the lead again in the second period on Carter's second of the game and third of the season, thanks to Prospal and James Wisniewski on the power play. Calgary got on the board with a Mark Giordano power play goal, his third of the year, powered by Alex Tanguay and Rene Bourque. The Blue Jackets iced it on an empty net goal by Rick Nash, his fifth of the campaign, and Prospal got the lone helper to clinch a sock trick. The three stars were Carter, Sanford (27 for 28 in saves), and Prospal.
And now, the moment you've all been waiting for... The Pittsburgh Penguins hosting the New York Islanders. Anders Nilsson and Marc-Andre Fleury are in goal. Pittsburgh opened with a goal by Sidney Crosby, his first of the season, assisted by Pascal Dupuis and Deryk Engelland. The Penguins added on with a Brooks Orpik goal, his second of the year, fueled by Crosby and Dupuis. Pittsburgh kept on the attack with an Evgeni Malkin power play goal in the second period, his sixth of the season, powered by Kris Letang and Crosby. The Penguins stayed relentless as Steve Sullivan drained his second of the year, with the help of Malkin and James Neal. Pittsburgh went back to work in the third period, as Crosby potted his second of the night and the year, thanks to Dupuis, who got a sock trick, and Zbynek Michalek. The final was 5-0, and the three stars were Crosby, Dupuis, and Fleury (29 save shutout) while Malkin earns an honorable mention.
Staying in Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia Flyers hosted the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward and Ilya Bryzgalov got the starting nods. Carolina opened with Alexei Ponikarovsky sinking his fourth of the season, with the help of Chad LaRose and Jussi Jokinen on the power play. The Hurricanes added on with a Jeff Skinner goal, his ninth of the year, thanks to Tuomo Ruutu and Jay Harrison. Philadelphia got on the board with an unassisted James van Riemsdyk goal, his eighth of the season. Carolina replied on a LaRose goal, his sixth of the year, fueled by Tomas Kaberle and Ponikarovsky. The Flyers answered back on a Matt Read power play goal, his ninth of the season, powered by van Riemsdyk and Kimmo Timonen. The Hurricanes got it back on the power play when Ponikarovsky's second of the night and fifth of the year found twine, coming off of LaRose and Jokinen. The third period was silent, leaving a 4-2 final on the board, and the three stars were Ponikarovsky, LaRose, and van Riesmdyk, while Jokinen gets the honorable mention.
Up to Montreal, where the Canadiens host the Boston Bruins. Tim Thomas and Carey Price tend the twines. Boston led off on an Andrew Ference goal, his second of the season, made possible by Rich Peverley and Chris Kelly. This held up to the end, for a 1-0 final in the Bruins favor. Thomas (33 save shutout), Price (17 for 18 in saves), and Alexei Emelin were the official three stars, although Ference probably has a good case.
Down to Florida, where the Panthers host the New Jersey Devils. Martin Brodeur and Jose Theodore will be stopping the puck tonight. New Jersey was first to score on the fourth of the season by Ilya Kovalchuk, assisted by Henrik Tallinder and Andy Greene. The Devils added on with Petr Sykora recording his fourth of the year, thanks to Adam Larsson and Greene. New Jersey surged further ahead when Dainius Zubrus sent his sixth of the season into the twine, helped along by Patrik Elias and the goalie Brodeur. Florida pulled within one in the second period on two consecutive Kris Versteeg goals, his tenth and eleventh of the year, and the assists were spread amongst Stephen Weiss, Dmitry Kulikov, and Jason Garrison. The Panthers tied it in the third period with a Stephen Weiss shorthanded goal, his eighth of the season guided in by Garrison and Mike Weaver. Florida took the lead late at 4-3 when Tomas Fleischmann netted his ninth of the year, with assists provided by Weiss and Versteeg. This was a final, and the three stars were given to Weiss, Fleischmann, and Versteeg, while Garrison and Greene had good games too.
Lastly, the Dallas Stars welcome the Edmonton Oilers. Nikolai Khabibulin and Kari Lehtonen will be in the blue paint. Dallas led off when Toby Petersen scored off of Tom Wandell and Eric Nystrom. The Stars extended the lead in the second period with a Steve Ott goal, his third of the season, thanks to Mike Ribeiro and Brenden Morrow. Edmonton got on the board with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins putting his eighth of the year into the cage, courtesy of Jordan Eberle and Ryan Smyth. Dallas got it back with Michael Ryder notching his seventh of the season, guided in by Nicklas Grossman and Loui Eriksson. The Stars wrapped it up 4-1 with Radek Dvorak netting an empty netter, helped along by Vernon Fiddler. This was a final, with Ott, Jamie Benn, and Petersen collecting the three stars and all point earners getting honorable mention.
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