There will be eight games played tonight, and we begin with an intrastate game over in...
New York, as the Buffalo Sabres host the New York Islanders. Taking their places in front of the goalmouths were Al Montoya and Jhonas Enroth. New York was first to score on a Matt Moulson power play goal, his eighth of the season, powered by Mark Streit and P.A. Parenteau. Buffalo tied it in the third period with Joche Hecht notching his second of the year, with the help of Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek. The Islanders took the lead back with Brian Rolston scoring his third of the season, thanks to David Ullstrom and Josh Bailey. This would hold for a 2-1 final, and the three stars went to Montoya (30 for 31 in saves), Rolston, and Hecht.
Down to Washington, where the Capitals welcome the St. Louis Blues. Jaroslav Halak and Tomas Vokoun answer the call to start. Washington led off with a Nicklas Backstrom goal, his eighth of the season, fueled by Alex Ovechkin and the goalie Vokoun. St. Louis replied with T.J. Oshie scoring his seventh of the year, assisted by Alex Steen and David Backes. The Blues took the lead in the second period with the sixth of the season by Matt D'Agostini, with helpers provided by Patrik Berglund and Chris Stewart. This made it 2-1, the eventual final, and the three stars were D'Agostini, Backes, and Backstrom.
Farther south, the Carolina Hurricanes welcome the Florida Panthers. Jose Theodore and Cam Ward got the starting nods. The scoring began with Florida in the second period on a Tomas Fleischmann goal, his eleventh of the season, made possible by Brian Campbell and Stephen Weiss on the power play. Carolina quickly replied with a Jeff Skinner goal, his tenth of the year, thanks to Eric Staal and Joni Pitkanen. The Panthers took the lead in the third period with the fourth and fifth of the campaign by Shawn Matthias, assisted by Tomas Kopecky on the first and no one on the last empty net goal. This was good for a 3-1 final, and the three stars went to Matthias, Theodore (26 for 27 in saves), and Skinner.
Back up to New York, as the Rangers host the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury and Henrik Lundqvist will tend the twines. Pittsburgh drew first blood with James Neal potting his fourteenth of the season on the power play, powered by Sidney Crosby and Paul Martin. New York answered in the second period with a power play goal by Ryan Callahan, his ninth of the year, made possible by Marian Gaborik and Brad Richards. The Rangers added on with John Mitchell scoring via Carl Hagelin and Brian Boyle. New York extended the lead with Richards putting his ninth of the season in the net, and he was helped by Ruslan Fedotenko and Callahan. The Rangers kept rolling with the eleventh of the campaign by Gaborik, a power play goal set up by Michael Del Zotto and Richards. The Penguins cut it to 4-2 after Evgeni Malkin scored his ninth of the year, from Neal and Steve Sullivan. Pittsburgh pulled closer with the seventh of the season by Pascal Dupuis, guided in by Crosby and Deryk Engelland. New York managed to hold on for a 4-3 win, and the three stars were awarded to Gaborik, Richards, and Malkin, while Neal, Crosby, and Callahan had worthy efforts.
Northwest to Winnipeg, where the Jets host the Ottawa Senators. Craig Anderson and Ondrej Pavelec put on the goalie masks. Ottawa was first to score, with a Milan Michalek goal, his thirteenth of the season, assisted by Daniel Alfresson and Nick Foligno. Winnipeg tied it with a Blake Wheeler goal, his second of the year, courtesy of Bryan Little and Dustin Byfuglien. The Jets grabbed the lead with the fifth of the season from Alex Burmistrov, with the help of Tanner Glass and Eric Fehr. The Senators quickly retied it on Zack Smith's fifth of the year, set up by Erik Condra. Ottawa regained the lead with another Michalek goal, his second of the game and fourteenth of the season, via Chris Phillips and Condra. Winnipeg took the lead back with two Evander Kane goals, his eleventh and twelfth of the year, and the assists went out to Zach Bogosian on the first, and Mark Flood and Little on the second, power play goal. The Senators tied it up again with Jason Spezza netting his ninth of the season, guided in by Erik Karlsson and Phillips. Ottawa took the lead yet again in the back and forth game with the second on the night by Smith, pushed through by Sergei Gonchar and Kaspars Daugavins on the power play. The Senators made it 6-4, a final, with a Foligno empty net goal, his seventh of the year, finding twine with assistance from Jesse Winchester and Colin Greening.
Down in the states, the Chicago Blackhawks host the Phoenix Coyotes. The goalies are Mike Smith and Corey Crawford. Phoenix opened with Daymond Langkow registering his fourth of the season, with the help of Ray Whitney and Shane Doan. The Coyotes added on in the second period with a Doan goal, his seventh of the year, guided in by Langkow and Mikkel Boedker. Phoenix extended the lead in the third period with Radim Vrbata notching his twelfth of the season, coming off of Whitney. Whitney made it 4-0 Coyotes with his eighth of the year, assisted by Martin Hanzal and Vrbata. Crawford was pulled in favor of Ray Emery at this time. Chicago got on the board late with the eleventh of the campaign by Patrick Sharp, making it 4-1 with the help of Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa. The three stars go to Vrbata, Langkow, and Doan, while Whitney earns honorable mention.
Back into Canada and a bit west to Calgary, with the Flames set to host the Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne and Miikka Kiprusoff play between the pipes. Derek Smith got Calgary going, and his goal was helped in by T.J. Brodie and Jarome Iginla. This goal held up as the only one in the game, for a Flames victory, and Kiprusoff (26 save shutout), Rinne (28 for 29 in saves), and Smith got the three stars.
Lastly, the Vancouver Canucks will host the Columbus Blue Jackets. Curtis Sanford and Cory Schneider will stop the puck tonight. Vancouver led off with the seventh of the season by Daniel Sedin, assisted by Alexander Edler and Sami Salo. The Canucks added on with the fourth of the year by David Booth, coming off of Chris Higgins and Dan Hamhuis. Columbus got on the board with a shorthanded Samuel Pahlsson goal from Fedor Tyutin and Antoine Vermette. Vancouver replied with a Ryan Kesler goal, his fifth of the season, via Alexandre Burrows and Daniel. The Canucks wrapped it up at 4-1 with Burrows recording an empty net goal, his eighth of the year, made possible by Kesler and Kevin Bieksa. The three stars were Schneider (47 for 48 in saves), Kesler, and Ryan Johansen, although Daniel and Burrows also played well.
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