Wednesday, December 28, 2011

NHL Day 84 2011-2012

Even less games on tonight, with only six on the slate, beginning in...

New Jersey, as the Devils host the Buffalo Sabres. Ryan Miller and Martin Brodeur play in the blue paint. New Jersey struck first with a Petr Sykora goal, his ninth of the season, made possible by Patrik Elias and the goalie Brodeur. Sykora added on for the Devils in the second period with his second of the game and tenth of the year, courtesy of Elias and Anton Volchenkov. Zach Parise kept New Jersey in control with his twelfth of the season, with helpers provided by Mark Fayne and Adam Henrique. Buffalo got on the board with a Thomas Vanek goal, his eighteenth of the year, coming on the power play from Jordan Leopold and Drew Stafford. The third period was silent, leaving the score at 3-1, and allowing Sykora, Elias, and Adam Larsson to be rewarded with the three stars.

Into Washington, where the Capitals welcome the New York Rangers. Martin Biron and Tomas Vokoun will be in front of the cages. Marcus Johansson put Washington on the board first with his seventh of the season, with a lone assist from Jeff Halpern. New York replied with the third of the year by Brandon Dubinsky, thanks to Ryan Callahan. The Capitals took the lead back in the second period when Troy Brouwer potted his tenth of the season, courtesy of John Carlson. Washington extended the lead on an Alexander Semin goal, his eighth of the year, assisted by Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin. Semin gave the Capitals a 4-1 lead in the third period on his second of the game and ninth of the campaign, with Ovechkin picking up the only helper. This was a final, where Semin, Ovechkin, and Brouwer had the three stars.

Down to the south and west with the Nashville Predators hosting the Minnesota Wild. Josh Harding and Pekka Rinne get the starting nods. The scoring opened in the third period on a Nashville goal, specifically the sixth of the season for Jordin Tootoo, assisted by Jonathon Blum and Francis Bouillon. Minnesota tied it on a Dany Heatley goal, his eleventh of the year, courtesy of Nate Prosser and Mikko Koivu. The Predators took the game in the shootout on a lone Wilson tally, topping the Wild 2-1. The three stars went to Rinne (34 for 35 in saves), Harding (24 for 25 in saves), and Blum.

Staying in the Midwest, the Chicago Blackhawks host the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick and Corey Crawford will tend the twines. Los Angeles was first on the board with a second period goal by Trent Hunter, his second of the season, helped along by Kyle Clifford and Colin Fraser. The Kings extended the lead in the third period on a Jarret Stoll goal, his fourth of the year, guided in by Justin Williams and Drew Doughty. The 2-0 score lasted throughout the rest of the game to be finalized, with Quick (38 save shutout), Hunter, and Crawford (36 for 38 in saves).

Heading southwest again to Phoenix, as the Coyotes host the Boston Bruins. Tuukka Rask opposes Jason LaBarbera in goal. Boston drew first blood when David Krejci registered his seventh of the season, coming off of Nathan Horton and Brad Marchand. Phoenix tied it on a Ray Whitney goal, his thirteenth of the year, with help from Daymond Langkow and David Schlemko. The tie lasted all the way into overtime, where Dennis Seidenberg made his second of the campaign for the Bruins, and helping him were Benoit Pouliot and Chris Kelly for the 2-1 victory over the Coyotes. The three stars were LaBarbera (27 for 29 in saves), Whitney, and Schlemko.

Finally, the San Jose Sharks host the Vancouver Canucks. Roberto Luongo and Antti Niemi are guarding the nets. Vancouver opened with a Daniel Sedin goal, his fifteenth of the season, and Henrik Sedin and Alexander Edler picked up the assists. The Canucks added on with a second period power play goal by Ryan Kesler, his tenth of the year, powered by Edler and Kevin Bieksa. San Jose got on the board when Logan Couture scored his sixteenth of the season, guided in by Patrick Marleau. The Sharks tied it when Joe Thornton potted his seventh of the year, an unassisted power play goal. The tie lasted to overtime, where Andrew Ebbett secured a 3-2 Vancouver victory with his fourth of the campaign, fueled by Bieksa and Jannik Hansen. The three stars were given to Luongo (33 for 35 in saves), Ebbett, and Marleau, while Bieksa and Edler both played well.

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