NHL Day 106 2011-2012

Coming at you all with ten games tonight, beginning in...

New Jersey, as the Devils host the Boston Bruins. Tim Thomas faces fellow senior citizen Martin Brodeur in net. First of all, a fight, between Gregory Campbell and Brad Mills. New Jersey led off with a Petr Sykora goal, his twelfth of the season, coming off of Dainius Zubrus and Patrik Elias. Boston tied it early in the third period as Andrew Ference notched his third of the year, with the help of Shawn Thornton and Campbell. The Bruins took the lead with a Nathan Horton power play goal, his seventeenth of the season, powered by David Krejci and Rich Peverley. Thirty-five seconds later, Boston added on as Campbell's fifth of the year found twine, resulting in a Gordie Howe Hat Trick, thanks to Thornton and Daniel Paille. The Bruins iced at 4-1 with a Chris Kelly empty net goal, his fourteenth of the campaign requiring no assistance to go in. The three stars went to Thornton, Campbell, and Thomas (30 for 31 in saves), with honorable mention for

Crossing the border to Philadelphia, where the Flyers host the New York Islanders. Russians Evgeni Nabokov and Sergei Bobrovsky take to the creases. New York was first on the board with a Matt Moulson goal, his twenty-second of the season coming in the second period via John Tavares and Kyle Okposo. The Islanders extended the lead with a Josh Bailey shorthanded goal, his fourth of the year, passed through by Matt Martin. New York added on with a third period power play goal for Mark Streit, his third of the season, powered by Tavares and P.A. Parenteau. Philadelphia got on the board with a Matt Read goal, his fourteenth of the year, assisted by Sean Couturier and Andrej Meszaros. The Islanders iced it at 4-1 with a Michael Grabner empty net goal, his fourteenth of the campaign, fueled by Parenteau. Tavares, Moulson, and Nabokov (40 for 41 in saves) were the official three stars, with honorable mention to Parenteau.

Back to New York City, where the Rangers welcome the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury and Henrik Lundqvist tend the twines. Pittsburgh struck first as Chris Kunitz recorded his fourteenth of the season, assisted by Paul Martin and James Neal. New York tied it in the second period as Carl Hagelin netted his eighth of the year, with the help of Marian Gaborik and Ryan McDonagh. The Penguins regained the lead as Richard Park put his fourth of the season away, thanks to Deryk Engelland and Matt Cooke. Pittsburgh extended the lead on an Evgeni Malkin goal, his twenty-third of the year, made possible by Kris Letang. The Penguins iced it at 4-1 on another Malkin goal, his twenty-fourth of the campaign finding the empty cage with guidance from Neal and Kunitz. The three stars went to Malkin, Fleury (30 for 31 in saves), and Letang, with honorable mentions in store for Neal and Kunitz.

A little out west, the Columbus Blue Jackets host the Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne and Steve Mason get the starting nods. Nashville got things started in the second period with a Martin Erat goal, his eleventh of the season, with a lone assist from Sergei Kostitsyn. The Predators added on with a Mike Fisher power play goal, his ninth of the year, powered by Erat and Roman Josi. Nashville wrapped it up with an empty net goal by Shea Weber, his tenth of the campaign resulting in a 3-0 victory, thanks to Jerred Smithson. Rinne (38 save shutout), Erat, and Antoine Vermette were named three stars, while other point earners can argue the third star award.

Up to Canada, as the Toronto Maple Leafs welcome in the Minnesota Wild. Niklas Backstrom and Jonas Gustavsson are in front of the goalmouths. Toronto opened on a Nazem Kadri goal, his fourth of the season, made possible by Joffrey Lupul. The Maple Leafs extended the lead with a Joey Crabb goal, his eighth of the year, courtesy of Dave Steckel. Toronto added on with a second period power play goal from the stick of Phil Kessel, his twenty-fifth of the season, powered by Lupul and Tim Connolly. The Maple Leafs rolled on in the third period as Mikhail Grabovski sank his fifteenth of the year, assisted by Lupul for a sock trick and Jake Gardiner. Minnesota made it 4-1 late, which would be a final on a Nick Johnson goal, his sixth of the campaign going in unassisted. The three stars were Lupul, Gustavsson (20 for 21 in saves), and Kadri.

Back to the Midwest, as the St. Louis Blues host the Edmonton Oilers. Nikolai Khabibulin and Jaroslav Halak play from the blue paint. St. Louis got on the board in the third period, as the eighth of the campaign for Alex Pietrangelo made it 1-0, assisted by David Backes and Carlo Colaiacovo. The three stars were Pietrangelo, Khabibulin (38 for 39 in saves), and Halak (15 save shutout).

Continuing with the zigzag pattern, we're back in Canada as the Winnipeg Jets host the Buffalo Sabres. Ryan Miller and Ondrej Pavelec will wear the masks. Winnipeg scored first as Andrew Ladd registered his sixteenth of the season, and Ron Hainsey and Kyle Wellwood had the assists. Buffalo tied it in the second period on Drew Stafford's eighth of the year, thanks to Nathan Gerbe. The Jets regained the lead as Tobias Enstrom potted his fourth of the season on the power play, powered by Bryan Little and Blake Wheeler. Winnipeg extended their lead in the third period, when Tim Stapleton made his seventh of the year, fueled by Nik Antropov and Ladd on the power play. Antropov iced it at 4-1 for the Jets with his sixth of the campaign, set up by Wellwood and Johnny Oduya. The three stars were Enstrom, Ladd, and Wheeler, with honorable mentions for Wellwood and Antropov.

Way to the southwest, the Phoenix Coyotes bring in the Detroit Red Wings and a whole lot of ticket sales revenue. Jimmy Howard and Mike Smith will be between the pipes. Phoenix led off when Raffi Torres scored his seventh of the season, with assists by Kyle Chipchura and Chris Summers. Detroit tied it with an Ian White goal, his sixth of the year, courtesy of Johan Franzen and Pavel Datsyuk. The Red Wings took the lead with Todd Bertuzzi recording his tenth of the season, thanks to Franzen and Datsyuk. The Coyotes retied it with Gilbert Brule sinking his second of the year, helped along by Chipchura. Detroit would take the game in the shootout with a lone tally by Niklas Kronwall for a 3-2 win over Phoenix. The three stars were given to

Northwest to San Jose, as the Sharks host the Ottawa Senators. Craig Anderson and Antti Niemi got the green light to play goal. San Jose opened on a Brad Winchester goal, his sixth of the season, coming off of Andrew Desjardins and Dan Boyle. Ottawa evened the score on a Kyle Turris goal, his fourth of the year, made possible by Sergei Gonchar and Daniel Alfredsson. The Senators took the lead in the second period as Erik Karlsson put away his seventh of the season, with the help of Turris and Nick Foligno. Ottawa extended the lead with a Colin Greening goal, his tenth of the year, a power play goal, powered by Filip Kuba and Jason Spezza. The Senators iced it at *gasp* 4-1 with Greening's second of the game and eleventh of the campaign in the third period, guided in by Spezza and Jared Cowen. The three stars were Greening, Anderson (36 for 37 in saves), and Turris, with honorable mention for Spezza.

Finally, the Los Angeles Kings welcome the Calgary Flames in another edition of the Sutter Cup. Miikka Kiprusoff and Jonathan Quick guard the cages. Los Angeles led off with a Dustin Brown goal, his thirteenth of the season, assisted by Justin Williams and Willie Mitchell. Calgary tied it in the second period as Jarome Iginla potted his eighteenth of the year, a power play goal, powered by Olli Jokinen and T.J. Brodie. The game went to the shootout, where the Flames' Jokinen and Michael Cammalleri overpowered the Kings' Williams for a 2-1 win. The three stars were Brown, Kiprusoff (31 for 32 in saves), and Quick (24 for 25 in saves), with Jokinen earning the honorable mention.