Tuesday, January 24, 2012

NHL Day 111 2011-2012

Thirteen games going on tonight, beginning with...

The New Jersey Devils hosting the Buffalo Sabres. Ryan Miller and Martin Brodeur are all padded up. Buffalo opened with a Jordan Leopold goal, his eighth of the season, coming off of Nathan Gerbe and Matt Ellis. New Jersey tied it as Patrik Elias potted his eighteenth of the year, a power play goal, powered by Zach Parise and Kurtis Foster. The tie lasted to a shootout, where the Sabres used Jason Pominville and Gerbe to overpower the Devils' Ilya Kovalchuk goal for a 2-1 win. The three stars were Miller (27 for 28 in saves), Elias, and Leopold, with honorable mention for Gerbe.

Staying in the region, the New York Rangers host the Winnipeg Jets. Ondrej Pavelec and Henrik Lundqvist earned the starts. New York began as Ryan Callahan netted his seventeenth of the season, with the help of Anton Stralman and Brian Boyle. The Rangers extended the lead in the second period as John Mitchell scored his fifth of the year, thanks to Michael Del Zotto and Derek Stepan. New York iced it at 3-0 in the third period on a Brad Richards goal, his sixteenth of the campaign, fueled by Callahan. The three stars went to Lundqvist (22 save shutout), Callahan, and Mitchell.

Out to the island, as the New York Islanders welcome the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second half of their back-to-back. Jonas Gustavsson and Al Montoya pick up the starts. New York began as John Tavares netted his twentieth of the season, courtesy of Kyle Okposo and Dylan Reese. Josh Bailey added on for the Islanders in the second period as he scored his fifth of the year, a shorthanded goal passed by Matt Martin. Toronto got one back with a Clarke MacArthur goal, his thirteenth of the season, made possible by Mikhail Grabovski and Nikolai Kulemin. The Maple Leafs tied it in the third period as Jake Gardiner scored with help from Grabovski and MacArthur. Toronto took the lead as Grabovski's sixteenth of the year found twine, thanks to Kulemin and Gardiner. New York got the equalizer on a P.A. Parenteau goal, his tenth of the season, an unassisted goal. The Maple Leafs replied in the overtime period for a 4-3 win as MacArthur netted his second of the game and fourteenth of the year, and Grabovski had the lone assist. The three stars were MacArthur, Grabovski, and Parenteau, while Gardiner and Kulemin also played well.

To the capitals, as the Washington Capitals host the Boston Bruins. Tuukka Rask and Tomas Vokoun wear the masks tonight. Boston began with a Rich Peverley goal, his eighth of the season, fueled by Patrice Bergeron and Dennis Seidenberg. Washington answered in the second period on a Cody Eakin goal, his fourth of the year, coming off of Joel Ward and Jay Beagle. The Capitals took the lead forty-one seconds later as Mathieu Perreault netted his fifth of the season, thanks to Alexander Semin and Roman Hamrlik. The Bruins retied it again on a Tyler Seguin goal, his nineteenth of the year, set up by Steve Kampfer. Washington retook the lead as Perreault's second of the game and sixth of the season found twine, an unassisted goal. Boston got another equalizer with Brad Marchand potting his seventeenth of the year on the power play, powered by Seidenberg and Bergeron. The Capitals took the lead back in the third period as Perreault finished his hat trick with his seventh of the season, guided in by Hamrlik and Marcus Johansson. Washington iced it at 5-3 with a Dennis Wideman empty net goal, his ninth of the year, with assists from Troy Brouwer and Jeff Halpern. Perreault, Hamrlik, and Bergeron took the three stars, with honorable mention for Seidenberg.

Continuing southward to Tampa Bay, as the Lightning brought in the Columbus Blue Jackets. Curtis Sanford and Mathieu Garon were tasked with stopping the puck. Tampa Bay led off as Mike Angelidis scored an unassisted goal. Columbus answered with Brett Lebda's goal, coming off of Derick Brassard and R.J. Umberger. The Lightning took the lead back in the second period on a Vincent Lecavalier power play goal, his nineteenth of the season, powered by Bruno Gervais and Martin St. Louis. Tampa Bay extended the lead with St. Louis notching his twelfth of the year, courtesy of Lecavalier. The Blue Jackets pulled back with a third period Ryan Johansen goal, his ninth of the season, pushed through by Umberger. The Lightning took it back with a Nate Thompson goal, his fifth of the year, guided in by Dominic Moore and Trevor Smith. This was it, leaving the final at 4-2 and the three stars as Lecavalier, St. Louis, and Gervais, and the honorable mention went to Umberger.

Staying in the state, the Florida Panthers took on the Philadelphia Flyers from BankAtlantic Center. Sergei Bobrovsky and Scott Clemmensen did battle in goal as the backups-in-name get their shots. Florida struck first with a Mikael Samuelsson goal, his third of the season coming on the power play from Brian Campbell and Stephen Weiss. Philadelphia answered with Brayden Schenn putting his third of the year away, also a power play goal, powered by Andrej Meszaros and Matt Carle. Jakub Voracek gave the Flyers the lead on his eighth of the season, thanks to Tom Sestito and Kimmo Timonen. The Panthers tied it in the second period as Tomas Fleischmann sank his sixteenth of the year, guided in by Kris Versteeg and Weiss. Philadelphia won 3-2 in the shootout because of Claude Giroux's lone tally. The three stars belonged to Bobrovsky (23 for 25 in saves), Giroux, and Clemmensen (35 for 37 in saves), while Weiss gets honorable mention.

Northwest of here, the St. Louis Blues welcome the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury and Brian Elliott play between the pipes. Pittsburgh led off with a James Neal power play goal, his twenty-seventh of the season coming in the second period from Paul Martin and Chris Kunitz. The Penguins added on with a Steve Sullivan goal, his ninth of the year, courtesy of Deryk Engelland and Matt Cooke. St. Louis got one back when Patrik Berglund deposited his eleventh of the season, with the help of Chris Stewart and Jamie Langenbrunner. The Blues tied it in the third period with another Berglund goal, his second of the game and twelfth of the year coming as a penalty shot. The game was decided in the shootout as Pittsburgh utilized Evgeni Malkin and Kunitz to overpower T.J. Oshie and St. Louis for a 3-2 win. The three stars were Fleury (32 for 34 in saves), Berglund, and Malkin, with honorable mention to Kunitz.

Back south again, as the Dallas Stars host the Anaheim Ducks. Jonas Hiller and Kari Lehtonen got the green light to play goal. Dallas was first on the board as Alex Goligoski netted his sixth of the season, with guidance from Mike Ribeiro and Loui Eriksson. This held up throughout the rest of the game, resulting in a 1-0 final with three stars as Lehtonen (27 save shutout), Goligoski, and Hiller (15 for 16 in saves).

Into the Midwest again, as the Chicago Blackhawks host the Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne and Corey Crawford play from the creases. Nashville struck first with a Craig Smith goal, his eleventh of the season, helped along by Matt Halischuk. The Predators added on with a Mike Fisher goal, his twelfth of the year, courtesy of Patric Hornqvist. Chicago got on the board in the third period with a Dave Bolland power play goal, his fifteenth of the season, powered by Marian Hossa and Nick Leddy. Nashville iced it at 3-1 with an empty netter by Colin Wilson, his tenth of the year, assisted by David Legwand and Ryan Suter. The three stars went to Rinne (24 for 25 in saves), Bolland, and Fisher.

Westward to Colorado, where the Avalanche welcome the Minnesota Wild. Niklas Backstrom and Jean-Sebastien Giguere play in the blue paint. Colorado drew first blood with a T.J. Galiardi goal, his eighth of the season, assisted by Milan Hejduk and Gabriel Landeskog. Minnesota answered on a Justin Falk power play goal, set up by Devin Setoguchi and Matt Cullen. The Wild took the lead on a Dany Heatley goal, his fifteenth of the year, made possible by Kyle Brodziak and Greg Zanon. The Avalanche retied it as Chuck Kobasew put away his seventh of the season, guided in by Daniel Winnik and Jay McClement. Minnesota shot back with Carson McMillan's third period goal from Brodziak. There was no more scoring from here, resulting in a 3-2 final, and the three stars were McMillan, Brodziak, and Giguere (31 for 34 in saves), with honorable mention for Falk.

Crossing into Canada, the Calgary Flames host the San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi and Miikka Kiprusoff are the Finnish goalies. San Jose opened things in the third period on a Benn Ferriero goal, his sixth of the season, fueled by Logan Couture and Dan Boyle. This would be the only goal in the 1-0, and the three stars were Niemi (25 save shutout), Kiprusoff (26 for 27 in saves), and Boyle, with respect to Ferriero.

Well to the south, the Phoenix Coyotes bring in the Ottawa Senators. Craig Anderson and Mike Smith guard the goalmouths. Phoenix was first on the board with a Gilbert Brule goal, his third of the season, assisted by Mikkel Boedker and Keith Yandle. The Coyotes added on in the second period as Shane Doan sank his fifteenth of the year, via Lauri Korpikoski and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Ottawa replied with a Daniel Alfredsson goal, his seventeenth of the season, fueled by Nick Foligno and Chris Phillips. Phoenix shot back in the third period as Radim Vrbata nailed his twenty-third of the year, helped along by Ray Whitney and Michal Rozsival. Fourteen seconds later, the Senators got back on Chris Neil's ninth of the season, with assists from Erik Condra and Zack Smith. Ottawa never tied it, losing 3-2, with the three stars awarded to Smith (32 for 34 in saves), Doan, and Korpikoski.

Finally, up in Vancouver, the Canucks hosted the Edmonton Oilers. Devan Dubnyk and Roberto Luongo tended the twines. Vancouver led off with a Daniel Sedin goal, his twenty-first of the season, thanks to Alexandre Burrows and Dan Hamhuis. Edmonton tied it in the second period as Shawn Horcoff netted his ninth of the year, courtesy of Taylor Hall and Ales Hemsky. The Canucks regained the lead in the third period as David Booth made his eighth of the season, with the help of Ryan Kesler and Chris Higgins. The Oilers tied the game on a Hall power play goal, his sixteenth of the year, powered by Corey Potter and Hemsky. In the shootout, Alexander Edler and Cody Hodgson lifted Vancouver over Edmonton by a 3-2 score when they overpowered a Hemsky tally. The three stars were Kevin Bieksa, Hall, and Hamhuis, while it should include two of Hemsky, Hodgson, or Edler.

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