Another seven games on tonight, beginning with the New Jersey Devils hosting the New York Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist and Martin Brodeur have control of the cages. New Jersey opened on a Travis Zajac goal, fueled by Dainius Zubrus and Petr Sykora. New York answered in the second period as Artem Anisimov netted his seventh of the season, thanks to Derek Stepan and Marian Gaborik. The Rangers took the lead in the third period with Gaborik scoring his eighteenth of the year, with assists from Anisimov and Stepan. New York added on with a shorthanded Carl Hagelin goal, his fourth of the season, with the lone helper by Stu Bickel. The Rangers iced it 4-1 with Gaborik's second of the game, an empty net goal going in unassisted. The three stars were Lundqvist (30 for 31 in saves), Anisimov, and Hagelin, while Stepan and Gaborik make good choices as well.
Into Washington, where the Capitals welcome the Nashville Predators. Anders Lindback and Michal Neuvirth get the starting nods. Washington led off when the eleventh of the season by Alex Ovechkin went into the net, assisted by Karl Alzner and John Carlson. Nicklas Backstrom extended the Capitals lead on his twelfth of the year, with a lone assist by Roman Hamrlik. Sergei Kostitsyn put Nashville on the board in the third period with his fifth of the season, made possible by Shea Weber. Washington answered with Alexander Semin finding a place for his seventh of the year, thanks to Marcus Johansson and Backstrom. The Capitals added on again with Troy Brouwer recording his ninth of the campaign, a power play goal powered by Dennis Wideman and Johansson. The final was 4-1, and Backstrom, Ovechkin, and Johansson took home the three stars.
Up to Pittsburgh, where the Penguins host the Chicago Blackhawks. Ray Emery and Marc-Andre Fleury will tend the twines. Chris Kunitz got things going for Pittsburgh by scoring his twelfth of the season, via Evgeni Malkin and Matt Niskanen on the power play. In the second period, the Penguins extended their lead with James Neal potting his nineteenth of the year, and Malkin and Niskanen picked up the helpers again. Pittsburgh added on with the fourth of the season for Tyler Kennedy, assisted by Ben Lovejoy and Malkin, the latter getting a sock trick. Chicago got on the board in the third period with a Jonathan Toews goal, his nineteenth of the year, guided in by Viktor Stalberg. The Blackhawks pulled closer on a Stalberg goal, his sixth of the season, pushed through by Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa. The comeback attempt fell short, leaving the Penguins to a 3-2 victory, with the three stars as Malkin, Fleury (36 for 38 in saves), and Stalberg, while Niskanen also played well.
Southward to Florida, where the Panthers welcome the Phoenix Coyotes. Mike Smith and Jose Theodore have the green light to play goal. Phoenix struck first when Ray Whitney netted a power play goal, his eleventh of the season, powered by Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Radim Vrbata. The Coyotes extended the lead on Vrbata goal, his sixteenth of the year, with Keith Yandle and Whitney getting the helpers on the power play. Florida got on the board with Brian Campbell making his third of the season, guided in by Kris Versteeg and Jason Garrison. This 2-1 score lasted through the third period to the end, although during this frame, Jason LaBarbera had to relieve an injured Smith in net. The three stars belonged to Whitney, Campbell, and Shawn Matthias, although Vrbata also played well.
Crossing to Canada in the north, where the Ottawa Senators host the Buffalo Sabres. Ryan Miller and Craig Anderson are in between the pipes. Ottawa opened on the ninth of the season by Zack Smith, assisted by Chris Neil and Matt Carkner. Buffalo tied it in the second period on the power play, as Jordan Leopold potted his sixth of the year, powered by Christian Ehrhoff and Thomas Vanek. The Senators took the lead back in the third period on an Erik Condra goal, his fifth of the season, with a lone assist from Kyle Turris. Ottawa extended the lead on Erik Karlsson's third of the year, a power play goal fueled by Daniel Alfredsson and Jason Spezza. The Senators tied it with another Condra goal, his second of the game and sixth of the campaign finding the empty net with assistance from Karlsson only. Condra, Anderson (22 for 23 in saves), and Miller (35 for 38 in saves) earned the three stars.
To the west, the Winnipeg Jets host the New York Islanders. Al Montoya and Ondrej Pavelec are playing goal. New York opened with the fifth of the season by P.A. Parenteau, helped along by Matt Moulson and John Tavares. Winnipeg tied it as Nik Antropov made his fifth of the year, coming off of Johnny Oduya. The Islanders regained control with the tenth of the season by Michael Grabner, made possible by Travis Hamonic and Andrew MacDonald. The Jets tied it on Andrew Ladd registering his eleventh of the year with Antrpov and Kyle Wellwood's assistance. Evgeni Nabokov relieved Montoya late in the second period. The tie lasted into a shootout, where New York beat Winnipeg as Parenteau and Frans Nielsen tallied. The three stars were awarded to Antropov, Tavares, and Pavelec (31 for 33 in saves), while Parenteau has a good case.
Westward again to today's finale, with the Calgary Flames hosting the Minnesota Wild. Josh Harding and Miikka Kiprusoff man the nets. Curtis Glencross put Calgary on the board early with his eleventh of the season, assisted by Jarome Iginla and Chris Butler. Minnesota tied it with a Pierre-Marc Bouchard goal, his sixth of the year, courtesy of Jared Spurgeon and Matt Cullen. Iginla put the Flames back in the lead in the second period with his thirteenth of the season, fueled by Derek Smith and Olli Jokinen. The score held up at 2-1 for a Calgary win, with Iginla, Mikael Backlund, and Kiprusoff (29 for 30 in saves) as the three stars.
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