We begin a full slate of games (this sounds repetitive to the baseball fans around here) as all the teams are in action for the last day of the season. This is the busiest day of blogging ever for me, so let me warn you there may be some errors, more than usual if you've ever seen any. With that, let's begin with a huge Central Division rivalry match...
As the Detroit Red Wings host the Chicago Blackhawks. Corey Crawford and Jimmy Howard guard the cages. Chicago led off with Viktor Stalberg's twenty-second of the season, assisted by Patrick Sharp and Marcus Kruger. The Blackhawks extended the lead with an Andrew Shaw goal, his twelfth of the year, courtesy of Sharp and Patrick Kane. Detroit got one back in the third period as Johan Franzen scored his twenty-ninth of the season, an unassisted goal. The Red Wings tied the game late with a Pavel Datsyuk goal, his nineteenth of the year, made possible by Tomas Holmstrom and Henrik Zetterberg. Chicago took the game in the shootout with a lone Kane tally for a 3-2 win over Detroit. The three stars were given to
East to New Jersey, where the Devils welcome the Ottawa Senators. Craig Anderson and Martin Brodeur are in the creases. Ottawa was first on the board as Matt Gilroy scored his third of the season, with the help of Kyle Turris and Nick Foligno. New Jersey tied it when Ilya Kovalchuk potted his thirty-sixth of the year, a power play goal powered by Patrik Elias and Peter Harrold. The Senators retook the lead when Jim O'Brien registered his third of the season in the second period via Erik Condra and Gilroy. The Devils retied it on a Petr Sykora goal, his twenty-first of the year, a power play goal coming off of Adam Henrique and Dainius Zubrus. New Jersey got the lead back late with a Stephen Gionta goal, passed from Alexei Ponikarovsky and Steve Bernier. The Devils iced it at 4-2 with another Kovalchuk goal, his second of the game and thirty-seventh of the campaign, fueled by Zach Parise. Gionta, Kovalchuk, and Gilroy got the three stars.
Next up, the Boston Bruins host the Buffalo Sabres. Jhonas Enroth and Tim Thomas will be in goal. Boston got things going in the second period as Tyler Seguin netted his twenty-eighth of the season, via Patrice Bergeron. Buffalo tied it with a Brad Boyes goal, his seventh of the year, coming off of Brayden McNabb and Thomas Vanek. The Sabres took the lead in the third period with the second Boyes goal of the game, his eighth of the season, set up by Derek Roy and Vanek. Jason Pominville extended the Buffalo lead on his thirtieth of the year, guided in by Nathan Gerbe and McNabb. Seguin got one back for the Bruins with his second of the game and twenty-ninth of the season, powered by Bergeron and Rich Peverley on the power play. Boston tied it when Brad Marchand notched his twenty-eighth of the year, thanks to Bergeron, who got a sock trick. The game went to a shootout, with Bergeron's lone tally lifting the Bruins to a 4-3 victory over the Sabres. The three stars were awarded to Bergeron, Seguin, and Boyes, while McNabb and Vanek get the honorable mentions.
Out west the Calgary Flames welcome the Anaheim Ducks. Jonas Hiller and Henrik Karlsson will protect the nets. Calgary was first to score as Akim Aliu potted the puck with a helper provided by Michael Cammalleri. Anaheim tied the game when Bobby Ryan scored his thirtieth of the season on the power play in the second period, powered by Ryan Getzlaf and Saku Koivu. The Flames took the lead again as Jay Bouwmeester scored his fifth of the year, via Blake Comeau and Tom Kostopoulos. Twenty-five seconds later, Anton Babchuk rifled his second of the season into the cage, with Jarome Iginla picking up the assist. Aliu added on for the Flames in the third period with his second of the game, guided in by Bouwmeester and Matt Stajan. Calgary added on with a Lee Stempniak goal, his fourteenth of the year, thanks to Blair Jones and Cory Sarich. The Ducks got one back a bit late with Ryan's second of the game and thirty-first of the campaign, set up by Niklas Hagman. The final was 5-2, and the three stars went to Aliu, Bouwmeester, and Karlsson (23 for 25 in saves). Ryan gets an honorable mention.
Back east, the Battle of Pennsylvania/tune-up for a great playoff matchup features the Pittsburgh Penguins hosting the Philadelphia Flyers. Sergei Bobrovsky opposes Marc-Andre Fleury in goal. Pittsburgh started with a Pascal Dupusi tally, his twenty-fifth of the season, assisted by Arron Asham and Jordan Staal. Philadelphia tied it as Brayden Schenn recorded his twelfth of the year, helped along by Harry Zolnierczyk and Braydon Coburn. The Penguins retook the lead in the second period as Chris Kunitz shelved his twenty-sixth of the season, courtesy of Evgeni Malkin. Brent Johnson relieved Fleury at this time. The Flyers replied with a Jaromir Jagr power play goal, his nineteenth of the year, powered by Max Talbot and Schenn. Pittsburgh took the lead again with a Sidney Crosby power play goal, his eighth of the season, fueled by Kunitz and Staal. The Penguins extended the lead with Malkin's fiftieth of the year, set up by Kris Letang and Crosby.The third period featured no goals, so the final was 4-2, with the three stars being Malkin, Crosby, and Staal, while Kunitz gets an honorable mention.
Into New York City, with the Rangers hosting the Washington Capitals. Braden Holtby and Henrik Lundqvist were between the pipes. Washington opened the scoring just thirty-two seconds in, as Alex Ovechkin recorded his thirty-eighth of the season with a lone Brooks Laich assist. The Capitals added on rapidly with a Mathieu Perreault goal, his sixteenth of the year, coming off of Roman Hamrlik and Keith Aucoin. Washington extended the lead with a John Carlson power play goal, his ninth of the season, powered by Nicklas Backstrom and Marcus Johansson. The Capitals stayed strong in the second period with a Backstrom goal, his fourteenth of the year, via Alexander Semin and Hamrlik. Brian Boyle got New York on the board with his eleventh of the season, assisted by Stu Bickel and Brandon Dubinsky. The third period had no scoring, leaving Washington on top 4-1, with the three stars going to Holtby (35 for 36 in saves), Backstrom, and Hamrlik.
Northwest of there, the Winnipeg Jets hosted the Tampa Bay Lightning. Dwayne Roloson and Ondrej Pavelec received the starting nods. Tampa Bay was first to score with the twenty-second of the season by Teddy Purcell, assisted by Vincent Lecavalier. The Lightning added on in the second period when Purcell put away his second of the game and twenty-third of the year, with the help of Lecavalier and J.T. Brown. Winnipeg got on the board with a Nik Antropov goal, his fifteenth of the season, guided in by Antti Miettinen and Evander Kane. Tampa Bay re-extended the lead in the third period with the sixtieth of the year by Steven Stamkos, courtesy of Martin St. Louis and Brian Lee. The Jets shot back with a Jim Slater goal, his twelfth of the season, via Grant Clitsome and Tobias Enstrom. Winnipeg tied it late with Slater's second of the game and thirteenth of the year, coming off of Blake Wheeler and Andrew Ladd. The Lightning ended it in overtime, as Purcell finished his hat trick with his twenty-fourth of the campaign, set up by Victor Hedman. The three stars of the 4-3 game were Purcell, Slater, and Stamkos, with an honorable mention for Lecavalier.
Backtracking east a bit, the Montreal Canadiens take on their rivals from Ontario, the Toronto Maple Leafs. Backups Ben Scrivens and Peter Budaj start in place of injured starters. Montreal dented the scoreboard first with a Tomas Plekanec goal, his seventeenth of the season coming shorthanded and unassisted. The Canadiens added on in the second period with a Max Pacioretty goal, coming off of Josh Gorges as his thirty-third of the year. Toronto got on the board with Dion Phaneuf's twelfth of the season in the third period, made possible by Mikhail Grabovski and Clarke MacArthur. Montreal answered with Erik Cole's thirty-fifth of the year, thanks to Pacioretty. The Canadiens iced it at 4-1 with a Brad Staubitz empty net goal, going in unassisted. The three stars were given to Pacioretty, Cole, and Budaj (30 for 31 in saves).
Keeping with the dismal teams scheduled in at this hour, the Columbus Blue Jackets host the New York Islanders. Al Montoya and Steve Mason are all padded up. Rick Nash put Columbus up first with his thirtieth of the season, fueled by Mark Letestu and Vinny Prospal. The Blue Jackets extended the lead in the second period with a Cam Atkinson goal, his sixth of the year, going in unassisted. New York found the scoreboard with a Milan Jurcina goal, his third of the season, made possible by Frans Nielsen and Michael Grabner. Columbus got it back with an R.J. Umberger goal, his twentieth of the year, courtesy of Atkinson and Derick Brassard. The Islanders replied as Kyle Okposo deposited his twenty-fourth of the season, assisted by Jurcina. The Blue Jackets answered back with a James Wisniewski power play goal, his sixth of the year, powered by Prospal and Jack Johnson. Columbus padded the lead with an Atkinson power play goal, his seventh of the season, guided in by Derek Dorsett and Wisniewski. The Blue Jackets kept going with a Johnson marker, his twelfth of the year, passed off of Wisniewski and Brassard. Columbus extended the lead again with a Prospal goal, his sixteenth of the season, helped along by Nikita Nikitin. New York cut it to 7-3 with a Grabner goal, his twentieth of the year, pushed through by Mark Streit and Dylan Reese. This was a final, with the three stars being Atkinson, Wisniewski, and Johnson, with honorable mentions for Prospal, Jurcina, Brassard, and Grabner.
Down in Florida, the Panthers welcome the Carolina Hurricanes. Tending the twines are backups Brian Boucher and Scott Clemmensen. Florida began on a Marcel Goc goal, his eleventh of the season, coming off of Dmitry Kulikov and Mikael Samuelsson. The Panthers added on as John Madden made his third of the year, with the help of Tomas Kopecky and Ed Jovanovski. Florida extended their lead with a second period power play goal from Stephen Weiss, his twentieth of the season, powered by Samuelsson and Kris Versteeg. Carolina got one back in the third period as Joni Pitkanen notched his fifth of the year, a power play goal with a lone Eric Staal assist. The Panthers iced it at 4-1 with an empty netter by Samuelsson, his fourteenth of the campaign, passed from Jason Garrison and Goc. The three stars were handed out to Weiss, Clemmensen (34 for 35 in saves), and Samuelsson, while Goc gets an honorable mention.
Up in Minnesota, the Wild host the Phoenix Coyotes. Mike Smith and Niklas Backstrom are in the blue paint. Phoenix was first on the board with a Mikkel Boedker goal, his eleventh of the season, fueled by Shane Doan. The Coyotes added on with a Taylor Pyatt tally, his eighth of the year, via Boyd Gordon and Michal Rozsival. Minnesota got one back when Dany Heatley netted his twenty-fourth of the season, courtesy of Mikko Koivu and Chay Genoway. Phoenix took it back with Pyatt's second of the night and ninth of the year, helped along by Lauri Korpikoski and Rozsival. Radim Vrbata padded the Coyotes lead with his thirty-fifth of the season in the third period, guided in by Ray Whitney and the goalie Smith. The final held at 4-1, with the three stars being Pyatt, Genoway, and Smith (23 for 24 in saves), while Rozsival gets an honorable mention.
Southward to Dallas with the Stars hosting the St. Louis Blues. Jaroslav Halak opposes Richard Bachman from in front of the nets. St. Louis was first to score with a Kris Russell second period goal, his sixth of the season, via Chris Stewart and Jamie Langenbrunner. The Blues added on in the third period with an Alex Steen power play goal, his fifteenth of the year, powered by Kevin Shattenkirk and Alex Pietrangelo. Dallas got one back with Ryan Garbutt netting his second of the season, with the help of Loui Eriksson and Jamie Benn. St. Louis took it back as David Perron recorded his twenty-first of the year, another power play goal, fueled by T.J. Oshie. The Stars got as close as 3-2 but failed to score again after Philip Larsen put down his third of the campaign, assisted by Alex Goligoski and Tomas Vincour. This was a final, with the three stars named as Perron, Bachman (32 for 35 in saves), and Garbutt.
Northwest to Colorado, as the Avalanche host the Nashville Predators. Anders Lindback and Jean-Sebastien Giguere are the masked men. Nashville was first to score as David Legwand potted his nineteenth of the season, courtesy of Gabriel Bourque and Alexander Radulov. Colorado tied it with a Matt Duchene goal, his fourteenth of the year, coming off of Chuck Kobasew and Cody McLeod. The Predators shot back with Craig Smith scoring his fourteenth of the season, assisted by Matt Halischuk and Colin Wilson. Nashville extended the lead on a Patric Hornqvist goal, his twenty-seventh of the year, via Kevin Klein and Andrei Kostitsyn. The Predators sank another one in the second period as Roman Josi scored his fifth of the season, with the help of Smith and Klein. Nashville kept going with a Brandon Yip goal, his third of the year, helped along by Nick Spaling. Pekka Rinne relieved Lindback shortly after this. The Predators struck again on a Halischuk goal, his fifteenth of the season, pushed through by Smith. The final stuck at 6-1, with the three stars going to Lindback (34 for 35 in saves before being rattled), Smith, and Halischuk, with honorable mention for Klein.
Following the same general direction, we land in Vancouver, with the Canucks hosting the Edmonton Oilers. Devan Dubnyk and Roberto Luongo tend the twines. Vancouver finally opened the scoring late in the second period as Henrik Sedin made his fourteenth of the season, with the help of Alexandre Burrows and Ryan Kesler, a power play goal. The Canucks extended their lead in the third period on a Samuel Pahlsson goal, his fourth of the year, courtesy of Jannik Hansen. Vancouver added on again with a David Booth power play goal, his sixteenth of the season, powered by Kevin Bieksa and the goalie Luongo. This was it for the scoring, with the three stars going to Sedin, Alexander Edler, and Dubnyk (39 for 42 in saves), while Luongo (17 save shutout) gets an honorable mention.
Finally, the last game of the season is a vicious Battle of California special, with the San Jose Sharks hosting the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick and Antti Niemi stand 200 feet apart in goal. Los Angeles drew first blood with a Justin Williams power play goal, his twenty-second of the season, powered by Jarret Stoll and Alec Martinez. The Kings added on late in the second period with a Mike Richards power play goal, his eighteenth of the year, courtesy of Williams and Willie Mitchell. San Jose got one back in the third period with a Dan Boyle goal, his eighth of the season, set up by Martin Havlat and Logan Couture. The Sharks tied it with Patrick Marleau recording his thirtieth of the year, a power play goal coming off of Joe Pavelski and Couture. San Jose won it in overtime as Boyle put away his second of the game and ninth of the campaign, assisted by Havlat for a 3-2 win. The three stars were Boyle, Marleau, and Williams, with honorable mention for Couture and Havlat.
Thanks everybody, it has been my pleasure to cover every NHL game the league has had to offer us this season, and I hope you enjoyed reading the recaps. En Español: Gracias a todos, ha sido un placer para cubrir todos los partidos de la liga NHL ha tenido que nos ofrecen en esta temporada, y espero que haya disfrutado de la lectura de los resúmenes. На русском языке: все спасибо, это было мое удовольствие, чтобы охватить все игры NHL лигу должен был предложить нам в этом сезоне, и я надеюсь, вам понравилось читать составы команд. Deutsch: Vielen Dank an alle, es war mir ein Vergnügen, jedem NHL-Spiel die Liga zu bieten hatte uns in dieser Saison hat sich decken, und ich hoffe, Sie hatten Spass die Rückblicke. Melayu: Terima kasih semua orang, telah berbesar hati untuk meliputi setiap permainan NHL liga itu telah menawarkan kami musim ini, dan saya berharap anda seronok membaca ringkasan. Para o Brasil: Obrigado a todos, tem sido o meu prazer de cobrir todos os jogos da liga NHL teve para nos oferecer nesta temporada, e espero que tenha gostado de ler as repescagens. भारत के लिए: धन्यवाद सब लोग, यह मेरी खुशी के लिए हर NHL खेल लीग के लिए हमें इस मौसम की पेशकश करने के लिए किया गया है को कवर किया गया है, और मुझे आशा है कि आप recaps पढ़ने का आनंद लिया. I apologize if any of these translations are tough to read, as I ran them through Google Translate and am not actually fluent in any of the languages above. Playoffs begin Wednesday and the posts will not be by day, but by series, so remember to check the same posts consistently for the information. Also, I will be blogging baseball this season, if any of you would like to check that out. As always, follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
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