Wednesday, February 1, 2012

NHL Day 119 2011-2012

Five games running tonight as we begin the month of the trade deadline. First off...

The Toronto Maple Leafs host their hosts from last night, the Pittsburgh Penguins. Brent Johnson and James Reimer will relieve their teammates in goal. Toronto got things going in the third period on a Clarke MacArthur goal, his sixteenth of the season, assisted by Mikhail Grabovski and Nikolai Kulemin. The Maple Leafs hung on to this goal for a 1-0 win, and the three stars were Reimer (25 save shutout), MacArthur, and Johnson (23 for 24 in saves).

Crossing into Buffalo, where the Sabres welcome the New York Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist and Ryan Miller tend the twines. The game was scoreless through 65 minutes, resulting in a shootout, where Buffalo's Jason Pominville tallied, answered by New York's Marian Gaborik, before the Rangers toppled the Sabres for good on a Ryan Callahan goal. The three stars were Lundqvist (34 save shutout), Miller (29 save "shutout"/shootout loss), and Callahan.

Southward to Florida, as the Panthers host the Washington Capitals. Michal Neuvirth and Scott Clemmensen will start. Florida led off with a second period Mikael Samuelsson goal, his fourth of the season, assisted by Tyson Strachan and Sean Bergenheim. Washington tied it on a Brooks Laich goal, his tenth of the year, fueled by Karl Alzner and Jason Chimera. The Panthers retook the lead in the third period with another Samuelsson goal, his second of the game and fifth of the season, a power play goal powered by Brian Campbell and Tomas Fleischmann. Florida added on with a Stephen Weiss goal, his thirteenth of the year, courtesy of Tomas Kopecky and Fleischmann. The Capitals got one back as John Carlson netted his sixth of the season, unassisted. The Panthers iced it at 4-2 when Shawn Matthias registered his ninth of the year, an empty net goal, going down unassisted. Samuelsson, Weiss, and Clemmensen (26 for 28 in saves) took the three stars, while Fleischmann deserves a look as well.

Out west, the Los Angeles Kings hosted the Columbus Blue Jackets. Curtis Sanford and Jonathan Quick guarded the cages. Los Angeles struck first on a Justin Williams power play goal, his tenth of the season, powered by Drew Doughty. Columbus tied it in the second period when Derek Dorsett sank his ninth of the year, assisted by Derick Brassard and Vinny Prospal. The Kings took the lead back on a Dustin Penner goal, his fourth of the season, an unassisted goal.The Blue Jackets tied it again in the third period when Colton Gillies scored, coming off of Antoine Vermette and John Moore. Los Angeles would end up winning 3-2 with a controversial last second Doughty power play, his fourth of the year fueled by Jack Johnson and Anze Kopitar, although it is unclear if it should have counted due to clock problems. The three stars were Doughty, Williams, and Vermette.

In the same metro area, the Anaheim Ducks host the Dallas Stars. Kari Lehtonen and Jonas Hiller were between the pipes. Anaheim led off with a Matt Beleskey goal, his third of the season, fueled by Sheldon Brookbank. Dallas tied when Eric Nystrom potted his fifteenth of the year, courtesy of Alex Goligoski and Philip Larsen. The Stars gained the lead with a Vernon Fiddler goal, his seventh of the season, an unassisted tally. Dallas extended the lead with Jamie Benn's fourteenth of the year, assisted by Steve Ott and Michael Ryder. The Stars added on in the second period when Stephane Robidas recorded his third of the season, a power play goal coming off of Mike Ribeiro and Goligoski. The Ducks finally answered when Luca Sbisa registered his third of the year, thanks to Teemu Selanne. Dallas stayed on the attack in the third period as Sheldon Souray put away his fifth of the season, via Ryder and Benn. The Stars iced it off at 6-2 with a Ryder goal, his eighteenth of the year, set up by Ott and Benn. The three stars were Benn, Andrew Cogliano, and Souray, while Ryder, Ott, and Goligoski get honorable mentions.

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