Another day with eight games to be played. First off, the rivalry of the decade continues with the Washington Capitals hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury and Tomas Vokoun will be in goal. Pittsburgh opened on a Craig Adams goal, his second of the season, thanks to Arron Asham and Richard Park. Washington tied it on a Jason Chimera goal, his tenth of the year, made possible by Joel Ward and Brooks Laich. The Penguins grabbed the lead back in the third period with Chris Kunitz netting his ninth of the season, via Tyler Kennedy and Simon Despres. This held up for a 2-1 final, and the three stars were Paul Martin, Chimera, and Alex Ovechkin, although anyone who got a point would have fit too.
Down to Carolina, where the Hurricanes will host the New York Rangers. Carolina struck early with Jiri Tlusty's fifth of the season, while Brandon Sutter had the lone assist. New York replied with a power play goal by Ryan Callahan, his tenth of the year, powered by Brad Richards and Michael Del Zotto. The Hurricanes took the lead again late in the period on a Jeff Skinner goal, his eleventh of the season, fueled by Joni Pitkanen and Eric Staal. The Rangers retied it on the fourth of the year from Ryan McDonagh, coming off of Brandon Dubinsky and Dan Girardi. New York grabbed the lead with the twelfth of the season for Marian Gaborik, assisted by Artem Anisimov and Jeff Woywitka. Sean Avery extended the lead for the Rangers on his third of the year, and the helpers were handed out to Gaborik and Derek Stepan. Carolina cut into the deficit with a Derek Joslin goal, via Staal and Tuomo Ruutu. New York took it back in the third period with a Mike Sauer goal, courtesy of Brian Boyle and Carl Hagelin. This was good for a 5-3 final, and the three stars were awarded to Gaborik, Skinner, and McDonagh. Staal gets honorable mention.
Next up, the new Winnipeg Jets host the old Winnipeg Jets, the Phoenix Coyotes, in the homecoming of Shane Doan. Mike Smith and Ondrej Pavelec have the goaltending honors. Winnipeg was first to score with a Bryan Little goal, his seventh of the season, made possible by Evander Kane and Blake Wheeler. This held up as the only goal for a 1-0 Jets win. The three stars were Pavelec (33 save shutout), Little, and Smith (30 for 31 in saves).
Down deep in the south, the Dallas Stars host the Ottawa Senators. Craig Anderson and Andrew Raycroft take their places in the creases. Ottawa was first to score with the third of the season by Erik Condra, and the lone assist went to Jared Cowen. Dallas tied it with a power play goal off Steve Ott's tape, his fifth of the year, powered by Toby Petersen and Stephane Robidas. The Senators took the lead in the third period on a Milan Michalek goal, his fifteenth of the season, assisted by Daniel Alfredsson and Nick Foligno. The Stars retied it with a Radek Dvorak tally, his third of the year, thanks to Mike Ribeiro and Tomas Vincour. Dallas took the game 3-2 with an Eric Nystrom goal, his ninth of the campaign, guided in by Vernon Fiddler and Dvorak. The three stars were Nystrom, Ribeiro, and Michalek, although Dvorak has a good case.
To the north again, as the Calgary Flames host the Columbus Blue Jackets. Curtis Sanford and Miikka Kiprusoff will be in front of the cages. Columbus led off with an Antoine Vermette goal, his third of the season, with help from Nikita Nikitin and Samuel Pahlsson. Calgary tied it with a Lee Stempniak goal, his sixth of the year, assisted by Jay Bouwmeester and Blake Comeau. The Flames took a late second period lead with the seventh of the season for Rene Bourque, courtesy of Alex Tanguay and Chris Butler. Calgary extended the lead in the third period with Comeau's unassisted goal. The Blue Jackets got one back as Nikitin netted the puck, with the help of Vinny Prospal and Derek MacKenzie. Columbus tied it with the eighth of the year by Rick Nash, guided in by Nikitin and James Wisniewski. The Blue Jackets finished the comeback in the shootout with the lone tally by Nash to beat the Flames 4-3. The three stars go to Comeau, Bourque, and Nikitin, while Nash gets honorable mention.
Westward to Vancouver, where the Canucks host the Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne will oppose Cory Schneider in the nets. Nashville opened with a power play goal by David Legwand, his sixth of the season, powered by Colin Wilson and Craig Smith. The Predators extended their lead with a Mike Fisher goal, his fourth of the year, assisted by Martin Erat and Shea Weber. Vancouver got on the board when Cody Hodgson recorded his fifth of the season, a power play goal set up by Chris Higgins and Kevin Bieksa. Nashville got it back with Weber striking on the power play, his fifth of the year, fueled by Wilson and Smith. Roberto Luongo took over for Schneider in the second period onward. The Canucks got one back in the second period when the eighth of the season by Daniel Sedin found twine, and helpers on this power play goal went to Henrik Sedin and Alexander Edler. Aaron Volpatti tied it for the Canucks with a goal, via Maxim Lapierre and Andrew Alberts. Vancouver took the lead on the ninth of the year for Alexandre Burrows, and helping him along were Henrik and Daniel. Vancouver extended the lead with the sixth of the season by Jannik Hansen, with passes going through Dan Hamhuis and Bieksa. Anders Lindback relieved Rinne after this goal. The Predators struck back with the third of the year for Jordin Tootoo, pushed through by Matt Halischuk and Nick Spaling. Nashville tied it on a Wilson power play goal, his sixth of the season, received from David Legwand and Smith, the latter wrapping up a sock trick. The Predators took it 6-5 with a third period goal by Fisher, his second of the game and fifth of the year, coming off the tape of Erat and Ryan Suter. The three stars were Fisher, Henrik, and Daniel. Honorable mentions include Wilson, Legwand, Weber, Erat, Bieksa, and Smith.
Down to San Jose with the Sharks hosting the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and Antti Niemi were given the starting nods. Montreal struck first with a Michael Cammalleri goal, his sixth of the season, via David Desharnais and P.K. Subban. San Jose replied quickly with a Jamie McGinn goal, his third of the year, made possible by Michal Handzus and Jason Demers. The Canadiens grabbed the lead with Desharnais registering his fourth of the season, assisted by Erik Cole. The Sharks retied the score on the eighth of the year for Logan Couture, thanks to Ryane Clowe and Marc-Edouard Vlasic. Montreal edged ahead with Cole sinking his eighth of the season, courtesy of Desharnais and Cammalleri. Clowe saved the game for San Jose late in the third period with his fifth of the year, fueled by Couture and Martin Havlat. In the shootout, it took Havlat, Handzus, and Joe Pavelski of the Sharks to defeat Brian Gionta and Desharnais of the Canadiens by a 4-3 score. The three stars were Clowe, Desharnais, and Couture, while Cole and Cammalleri earn the honorable mention.
Southward farther to Los Angeles, with the Kings hosting the Florida Panthers. In goal we have Jose Theodore and Jonathan Quick. Los Angeles led off with the fifth of the season by Jack Johnson, coming off of Matt Greene and Anze Kopitar. The Kings extended the lead with the fifth of the year by Dustin Brown, a power play goal powered by Slava Voynov and the goalie Quick. Florida answered with a Sean Bergenheim goal, his third of the season, thanks to Erik Gudbranson and Tomas Kopecky. The third period was silent, resulting in a 2-1 game. The three stars were awarded to Quick (41 for 42 in saves), Rob Scuderi, and Bergenheim. Other point earners are welcome to make a case.
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