Eleven games on the last day before the holiday break. We begin with the...
New York Islanders hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs. James Reimer and Evgeni Nabokov are in between the pipes. Toronto led off with the tenth of the season for Clarke MacArthur, assisted by Tim Connolly and Dion Phaneuf. The Maple Leafs extended the lead on Nazem Kadri's second of the year, a power play goal set up by Mikhail Grabovski and Jake Gardiner. Toronto kept going with a Carl Gunnarsson goal, fueled by Connolly and MacArthur. New York got on the board with Kyle Okposo netting his sixth of the season, via Mike Mottau and Josh Bailey. The Islanders pulled closer in the second period with a Frans Nielsen power play goal, his fifth of the year powered by Matt Moulson and P.A. Parenteau. The Maple Leafs pushed back with a shorthanded Joey Crabb goal, his sixth of the season, set up by Tyler Bozak. New York answered with John Tavares pushing his eleventh of the year over the goal line, thanks to Parenteau and Travis Hamonic. Toronto iced it at 5-3 with an empty net goal by Joffrey Lupul, his sixteenth of the campaign, with a lone helper from Phil Kessel. The three stars went to MacArthur, Tavares, and Connolly, while Parenteau earns an honorable mention.
Staying in the region, the New Jersey Devils welcome the Washington Capitals. Michal Neuvirth and Martin Brodeur got the starting nods. New Jersey opened the scoring in the second period with Ilya Kovalchuk on the power play, his eleventh of the season, courtesy of Kurtis Foster and Patrik Elias. The Devils added on with an Alexander Urbom goal, made possible by Travis Zajac and Kovalchuk. New Jersey kept up the attack with Adam Henrique registering his ninth of the year, thanks to Matt Taormina and Zach Parise. Washington got on the board in the third period with a Brooks Laich goal, his eighth of the season, fueled by Dennis Wideman and Alex Ovechkin. The Capitals pulled even closer with the twelfth of the year for Jason Chimera, assisted by Alexander Semin. Washington tied it with Chimera sinking his second of the game and thirteenth of the season, guided in by Laich and Semin. The Devils went on to win 4-3 via the shootout, where Kovalchuk and Elias tallied to down the Capitals. Earning the three stars were Kovalchuk, Chimera, and Laich, while Elias and Semin earn honorable mentions.
Over to Boston, where the Bruins welcome in the Florida Panthers. Jose Theodore and Tuukka Rask will be in the nets. Boston struck first on a Brad Marchnd goal, his thirteenth of the season, a shorthanded goal coming from Patrice Bergeron and Dennis Seidenberg. The Bruins added on with a power play goal by Milan Lucic, his twelfth of the year, courtesy of Bergeron and Nathan Horton. Boston extended the lead with Benoit Pouliot sinking his seventh of the season, with the help of Chris Kelly. The Bruins were relentless when Seidenberg scored, thanks to Joe Corvo and Marchand. At the end of the period, Scott Clemmensen came on in relief of Theodore. Boston stayed strong in the second period on a Gregory Campbell goal, his third of the year, made possible by Marchand and Andrew Ference. The Bruins continued the blitz with Bergeron scoring a power play goal, his seventh of the season, powered by Zdeno Chara and David Krejci. Boston made it 7-0 when Marchand potted his second of the game and fourteenth of the year, as Chara and Tyler Seguin provided assists. The Bruins doled out more punishment as Marchand finished his hat trick with his fifteenth of the season, and the helpers came from Seguin and Adam McQuaid. The final was 8-0, with Marchand, Rask (30 save shutout), and Bergeron earning the three stars, while Seidenberg, Chara, and Seguin earn honorable mentions.
South to Carolina, with the Hurricanes hosting the Ottawa Senators. Craig Anderson and Cam Ward put on the goalie pads. Carolina led off with Andreas Nodl scoring his second of the campaign, thanks to Riley Nash and Jamie McBain. Ottawa replied with Filip Kuba potting his third of the season, with help from Nick Foligno and Kyle Turris. The Hurricanes would take the game 2-1 in overtime on a Tuomo Ruutu goal, his twelfth of the year, made possible by Jay Harrison and Jussi Jokinen. The three stars were Ruutu, Nodl, and Ward (22 for 23 in saves).
A Winter Classic Preview is next, as the New York Rangers host the Philadelphia Flyers. Philosopher Ilya Bryzgalov takes on the fashionable Henrik Lundqvist in net. New York was first on the board in the second period as Derek Stepan recorded his eighth of the season, with a lone assist by Stu Bickel. The Rangers extended their lead when Ruslan Fedotenko sank his fifth of the year, via Bickel and Brandon Dubinsky. New York kept scoring in the third period as Marian Gaborik netted his twenty-first of the season, thanks to Anton Stralman and Michael Del Zotto. Philadelphia got on the board with Andrej Meszaros registering his fifth of the year, with the help of Matt Carle and Scott Hartnell on the power play. The Rangers answered promptly to make it 4-1 as Ryan Callahan deposited his thirteenth of the season, a power play goal powered by Dan Girardi and Del Zotto. The Flyers made it 4-2 on a James van Riemsdyk goal, his ninth of the year, set up by Meszaros and Matt Read. This was a final, where the three stars were given out to Lundqvist (28 for 30 in saves), Bickel, and Dubinsky, while Meszaros and Del Zotto also played well.
Down to Dallas, where the Stars welcome the Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne and Richard Bachman are in the blue paint. Dallas opened on a Vernon Fiddler goal, his fourth of the season, with helpers provided by Radek Dvorak and Sheldon Souray. The Stars added on with Loui Eriksson potting his twelfth of the year, courtesy of Trevor Daley and Michael Ryder. Dallas chased Rinne when Steve Ott nailed his sixth of the season, coming off of Daley and Mike Ribeiro. Anders Lindback came on in relief. Nashville got on the board in the second period with a Matt Halischuk goal, his seventh of the year, thanks to Blake Geoffrion and Jerred Smithson. The Predators pulled closer with the eighth of the season off the tape of Martin Erat, pushed through by Ryan Suter and Shea Weber on the power play. The Stars got one back when Ribeiro netted his fifth of the year, via Brenden Morrow and Ott. In the third period, Nashville pulled back a little closer with a David Legwand power play goal, his tenth of the season, made possible by Colin Wilson and Craig Smith. Dallas quickly tallied back with Jamie Benn making his ninth of the year, guided in by Eriksson and Ryder. The Stars iced it at 6-3 with Ryder notching his thirteenth of the campaign, an unassisted goal. The three stars were awarded to Ribeiro, Eriksson, and Ryder, while Daley and Ott also played well.
Way to the north, the Winnipeg Jets host the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury and Ondrej Pavelec guard the cages. Pittsburgh struck first with a Joe Vitale goal, his second of the season, with a lone helper by Alexandre Picard. Winnipeg tied it on an Alex Burmistrov goal, his eighth of the year, assisted by Blake Wheeler and Evander Kane. The Penguins grabbed the lead in the third period on a James Neal goal, his twentieth of the season, fueled by Evgeni Malkin and Chris Kunitz. Pittsburgh extended the lead with the thirteenth of the year for Jordan Staal, a power play goal powered by Kunitz and Steve Sullivan. The Penguins kept the blitz going with Pascal Dupuis recording his tenth of the season, via Tyler Kennedy. The final stood at 4-1 with the three stars being Kunitz, Neal, and Zbynek Michalek, while point earners have an argument to make.
Back to the south, as the Phoenix Coyotes host the St. Louis Blues. Brian Elliott and Jason LaBarbera will make the starts. Alex Steen got St. Louis on the board first in the second period with his twelfth of the season, and a lone helper was provided by Alex Pietrangelo. Phoenix quickly tied it on a Shane Doan goal, his ninth of the year, and Michal Rozsival had the lone assist. The Blues regained the lead late in the frame on a Matt D'Agostini goal, his seventh of the season, fueled by Roman Polak and Evgeny Grachev. St. Louis extended the lead on a Jason Arnott goal, his seventh of the year, courtesy of Kris Russell and Grachev. The Coyotes got one back when Keith Yandle potted his fifth of the season, with the help of Raffi Torres and Cal O'Reilly. They failed to get an equalizer, leaving the final at 3-2. The three stars went to D'Agostini, Steen, and Doan, with Grachev as an honorable mention.
A little to the north, the Colorado Avalanche host the Tampa Bay Lightning. Mathieu Garon and fellow French-Canadian Jean-Sebastien Giguere are under the goalie masks. Tampa Bay was first to score as Pavel Kubina put his second of the season in the mesh, and Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis had the assists. Colorado tied it in the second period with Ryan O'Reilly potting his eighth of the year, courtesy of Shane O'Brien and Milan Hejduk. The Avalanche went on to win 2-1 in overtime on a Matt Duchene goal, his twelfth of the campaign, made possible by Stefan Elliott and Gabriel Landeskog. Duchene, O'Reilly, and Kubina were the three stars.
Northwest of that, the Vancouver Canucks hosted the Calgary Flames. Leland Irving and Roberto Luongo got the starting nods. Calgary got on the board with a third period Curtis Glencross goal, his fourteenth of the season, with assists from Jarome Iginla and Jay Bouwmeester. The Flames added on with the third of the year for Mikael Backlund, and the lone helper was provided by Lee Stempniak. Vancouver got on the board when Dan Hamhuis deposited his third of the campaign, thanks to Kevin Bieksa and Cody Hodgson. Calgary iced it with Olli Jokinen scoring his twelfth of the year into the empty net with assistance from Iginla and Glencross for a 3-1 win. The three stars were Irving (29 for 30 in saves), Alexandre Burrows, and Glencross, with Iginla for honorable mention.
Finally, the Battle of California continues when the San Jose Sharks welcome the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick and Antti Niemi guard the cages. San Jose got things started in the second period with Logan Couture netting his fifteenth of the season, thanks to Ryane Clowe and Patrick Marleau. Los Angeles tied it with the thirteenth of the year by Mike Richards, courtesy of Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty on the power play. The game went to a shootout, where the Sharks topped the Kings on a lone tally by Clowe. The three stars were awarded to Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Niemi (28 for 29 in saves), and Quick (34 for 35 in saves), while Clowe should be named MVP.
Happy holidays to everybody out there. Football will be posted a day late, as the games are on Saturday. I will have them out on Sunday. Hockey is off until Monday, so enjoy the break if there's nothing on for you.
No comments :
Post a Comment