Saturday, February 4, 2012

NHL Day 122 2011-2012

A fairly long slate of games today, beginning with 4 matinee matches, the first of which is in...

Boston, as the Bruins host the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury and Tim Thomas tend the twines. Pittsburgh opened the scoring with nine seconds remaining in the opening frame as Evgeni Malkin recorded his twenty-eighth of the season on the power play, powered by Chris Kunitz and James Neal. The Penguins added on in the third period with a Matt Cooke goal, his ninth of the year, courtesy of Dustin Jeffrey and Pascal Dupuis. Boston got one back when Joe Corvo sank his third of the season, with the help of Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. They never tied it, losing 2-1, with Fleury (28 for 29 in saves), Zdeno Chara, and Neal taking the three stars, and any point earner could slide into the second slot.

Also, the Philadelphia Flyers welcome the New Jersey Devils. Johan Hedberg and Sergei Bobrovsky get spot starts ahead of their usual mentors. Kurtis Foster got New Jersey ahead early with his third of the season, a power play goal powered by Patrik Elias and Ilya Kovalchuk. The Devils added on with a Kovalchuk shorthanded goal, his twenty-first of the year, with a lone assist by Dainius Zubrus. New Jersey rolled along with a Zubrus goal on the power play, his fourteenth of the season, made possible by Anton Volchenkov and Alexei Ponikarovsky. The Devils extended the lead with a second period Zach Parise goal, his nineteenth of the year coming on the power play from David Clarkson and Foster. Ponikarvosky kept New Jersey moving with his ninth of the season, fueled by Steve Bernier and Jacob Josefson. Foster added on again for the Devils with his second of the game and fourth of the year, coming off of Elias and Kovalchuk. This chased away Bobrovsky, and Ilya Bryzgalov came on in relief. Philadelphia finally scored in the third period as Wayne Simmonds netted his sixteenth of the season, thanks to Zac Rinaldo and Marc-Andre Bourdon. The Flyers got another back as Jaromir Jagr registered his thirteenth of the year, assisted by Matt Carle and Claude Giroux. After this, a fight between Philadelphia's Brayden Schenn and New Jersey's Kovalchuk broke out, resulting in a Kovalchuk Gordie Howe Hat Trick. Giroux kept Philadelphia's crazy charge up, notching his twentieth of the season on the power play, set up by Jagr and Jakub Voracek. The Flyers inched closer when Voracek scored his ninth of the year, guided in by Carle and Sean Couturier. The comeback ended when the score said 6-4, and the three stars went to Kovalchuk, Elias, and Jagr, while the numerous honorable mentions include Foster, Ponikarovsky, Zubrus, Giroux, Voracek, and Carle.

Up to Montreal, where the Canadiens host the Washington Capitals. Tomas Vokoun and Peter Budaj played in the blue paint. Dennis Wideman started the scoring in Washington's favor, with his tenth of the season, helped along by Brooks Laich. The Capitals added on in the third period with a Matt Hendricks goal, his third of the year, assisted by Laich and Alexander Semin. Semin iced it at 3-0 for Washington with his thirteenth of the campaign coming on a penalty shot. Vokoun (30 save shutout), Wideman, and Semin were the three stars, with honorable mention for Laich.

Out west a bit, the Colorado Avalanche end the matinee sessions with their hosting of the Vancouver Canucks. Roberto Luongo and Jean-Sebastien Giguere will get the starting nods. Vancouver opened as Ryan Kesler potted his sixteenth of the season, thanks to Alexander Edler and David Booth. Colorado tied it with a Ryan Jones goal, his tenth of the year coming on the power play from Paul Stastny and Ryan O'Reilly. The Avalanche gained the lead with Jay McClement's seventh of the season in the second period, set up by Daniel Winnik. The Canucks tied it with thirty-five seconds left in regulation on Kevin Bieksa's fifth of the year, with a lone helper by Henrik Sedin. The game required a shootout to determine the winner, which was Vancouver on a lone tally by Mason Raymond. The three stars of the 3-2 game were Giguere (27 for 29 in saves), Luongo (44 for 46 in saves), and Gabriel Landeskog, while any point earner or Raymond would be just as good to pick.

At a more normal time, the New York Islanders hosted the Buffalo Sabres. Ryan Miller and Al Montoya were wearing the pads. New York struck first as Frans Nielsen sank his eighth of the season, assisted by Michael Grabner. Nathan Gerbe answered for Buffalo by nailing his fifth of the year, with help from Drew Stafford. The Islanders took the lead back with a Josh Bailey goal, his sixth of the season, fueled by Nielsen. Nielsen added on for New York with his second of the game and ninth of the year, courtesy of Kyle Okposo and Mark Streit. The Sabres got one back in the second period when Derek Roy found twine with his tenth of the season, coming off of Ville Leino and Jason Pominville. Buffalo tied it in the third period with a Paul Gaustad goal, his sixth of the year, guided in by Tyler Myers and Brad Boyes. The game went to the shootout, where the Sabres used Boyes and Pominville goals to down the Islanders 4-3. The three stars were Nielsen, Gaustad, and Montoya (34 for 37 in saves).

Southward to Carolina, where the Hurricanes host the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Bernier and Cam Ward will be in the blue paint. Los Angeles led off with an Anze Kopitar goal, his sixteenth of the season coming on the power play, powered by Justin Williams and Jack Johnson. Carolina tied it in the second period on a Jiri Tlusty tally, his eleventh of the year, an unassisted goal. The Hurricanes gained a 2-1 lead they wouldn't let go in the third period as Jeff Skinner potted his fifteenth of the campaign, with helpers provided by Jussi Jokinen and Drayson Bowman. The three stars belonged to Skinner, Ward (24 for 25 in saves), and Tlusty.

Farther to the south, the battle of Florida is in the northern region of the state, where the Tampa Bay Lightning welcome the Florida Panthers. Scott Clemmensen and Mathieu Garon took care of the nets, but Clemmensen was removed from the net in the third period due to injury, and Brian Foster took over. Tampa Bay opened with a Nate Thompson goal, his seventh of the season, going in unassisted. Florida answered with a Tomas Fleischmann goal, his seventeenth of the year, courtesy of Kris Versteeg and Mike Weaver. The Lightning regained the lead in the second period when Vincent Lecavalier scored his twentieth of the campaign, another unassisted tally. Tampa Bay extended the lead with a Martin St. Louis goal, his fourteenth of the season, fueled by Ryan Shannon and Lecavalier. The Panthers got one back as Mikael Samuelsson notched his sixth of the year, with a helper from Sean Bergenheim. The Lightning answered when Steven Stamkos recorded his thirty-fourth of the campaign, via Steve Downie and Victor Hedman. St. Louis added on for Tampa Bay with his second of the game and fifteenth of the season, thanks to Lecavalier and Shannon. Bergenheim helped Florida claw one back with his ninth of the year, set up by Marcel Goc and Tyson Strachan. The Lightning iced it 6-3 in the third period as St. Louis finished off his hat trick with his sixteenth of the campaign, an empty net goal moved along by Stamkos and Lecavalier, the latter earning a sock trick. The three stars were St. Louis, Lecavalier, and Hedman, while Stamkos, Shannon, and Bergenheim earn honorable mentions.

Well to the north, the Ottawa Senators host the Toronto Maple Leafs. James Reimer and Craig Anderson took to the cages. Phil Kessel got Toronto going with his twenty-seventh of the season, thanks to Tyler Bozak and Jake Gardiner. The Maple Leafs added on with a Dion Phaneuf power play goal, his eighth of the year, powered by Kessel and Joffrey Lupul. Toronto extended the lead again in the second period with Bozak depositing his ninth of the campaign, with the help of Kessel and Cody Franson. The Maple Leafs rolled on in the third period as Luke Schenn sank his second of the season, courtesy of Lupul and Bozak. Toronto iced it at 5-0 with a power play goal by Franson, his fourth of the year, assisted by Mikhail Grabovski and Clarke MacArthur. The three stars went out to Reimer (49 save shutout), Kessel, and Bozak, with Franson and Lupul getting the honorable mentions.

Out to the west, where the Phoenix Coyotes host the San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi and Mike Smith play in the creases. San Jose opened everything up in the second period with a Logan Couture goal, his twenty-second of the season, assisted by Ryane Clowe and Patrick Marleau. Phoenix tied it with a Raffi Torres goal, his eighth of the year, courtesy of Michal Rozsival and Daymond Langkow. The Coyotes gained the lead with a Lauri Korpikoski goal, his twelfth of the season, made possible by Shane Doan and Boyd Gordon. The Sharks retied it with a Jamie McGinn power play goal, his eleventh of the year, powered by Brent Burnsand Clowe. Phoenix stole the lead back with Martin Hanzal's sixth of the season, set up by Ray Whitney and Radim Vrbata. The Coyotes added some space in the third period with another Korpikoski goal, his second of the game and thirteenth of the year, helped along by Gordon and Doan. San Jose got one back as Marleau made his twentieth of the season, with assists provided by Clowe for a sock trick and Joe Thornton. Phoenix iced it at 5-3 with an empty netter by Vrbata, his twenty-fourth of the year, passed through by Whitney and Hanzal. The three stars were given to Korpikoski, Smith (32 for 35 in saves), and Doan, while honorable mentions include Clowe, Marleau, Hanzal, Vrbata, Whitney, and Gordon.

Backtracking east a bit, as the Dallas Stars hosted the Minnesota Wild. Niklas Backstrom and Kari Lehtonen guarded the cages. Dallas opened the scoring in the second period with a Mike Ribeiro power play goal, his eleventh of the season, powered by Alex Goligoski and Stephane Robidas. Minnesota tied it in the third period with a Kyle Brodziak goal, his fifteenth of the year, with a lone assist from Nick Johnson. The game was decided in favor of the Stars as Loui Eriksson and Jamie Benn overpowered Matt Cullen in the shootout. The three stars were Lehtonen (33 for 34 in saves), Ribeiro, and Dany Heatley, while any other poing earners or Backstrom (25 for 26 in saves) get honorable mentions.

A little to northeast, as the Nashville Predators welcome the St. Louis Blues. Jaroslav Halak and Pekka Rinne were sent out to stop the puck. Nashville led off with a Martin Erat power play goal, his twelfth of the season, powered by Patric Hornqvist and Ryan Suter. The Predators added on with a Mike Fisher goal, his fifteenth of the year, assisted by Sergei Kostitsyn and Erat. St. Louis got on the board in the third period with an unassisted Chris Porter goal, his third of the season. Nashville iced it at 3-1 with an empty net goal by Kostitsyn, his thirteenth of the year, guided in by David Legwand and Erat. Rinne (42 for 43 in saves), Erat, and Halak (34 for 36 in saves) were the three stars, while Kostitsyn earns an honorable mention.

Finally, the Edmonton Oilers host the Detroit Red Wings. Ty Conklin and Devan Dubnyk were between the pipes, but Joey MacDonald replaced Conklin after one period of play. Edmonton led off with a Sam Gagner goal, his tenth of the season coming on the power play from Ryan Whitney and Ales Hemsky. The Oilers added on with a Jordan Eberle goal, fueled by Gagner as his twenty-first of the year. Detroit got one back with a Valtteri Filppula shorthanded goal, his sixteenth of the season, set up by Henrik Zetterberg. Edmonton took it away when Gagner struck again, his second of the game and eleventh of the year, another power play goal, assisted by Ryan Smyth and Whitney. The Red Wings took one back in the third period as Todd Brtuzzi scored his eleventh of the season, with the help of Zetterberg and Johan Franzen. Detroit tied it on a Drew Miller goal, his tenth of the year, courtesy of Darren Helm and Danny Cleary. The Red Wings gained the lead with another Bertuzzi goal, his second of the game and twelfth of the season, guided in by Ian White. The Oilers got a late equalizer with Eberle notching his second of the game and twenty-second of the year, with assists by Hemsky and Smyth (and no Gagner). The game was decided in the shootout after Gagner and Bertuzzi matched goals, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored to give Edmonton the 5-4 win over Detroit. The three stars were Gagner, Zetterberg, and Eberle, while Smyth, Hemsky, Bertuzzi, and Whitney get honorable mentions.

New Lyrics link and update

Well, the last time I posted a lyrics link, it had 16 songs (and 1 later) and those never got off the ground sadly enough. My collaborators dropped the ball there, and I have since moved on to a new project with a much closer friend of mine. These 22 songs that will soon follow in the post had titles that were pulled from songs that I really like, using catchy lines and morphing them as needed to create my own flavor. I wrote this set for approximately 4-6 weeks, and I'm currently on a follow up set as well. So far these have been met with positive feedback, and anything you can put in the comments below will also help. Here goes the set.


Album 2: Dreams


1)    The Price of Evil
Chorus: Brainwashed and I lay dying/A bad dream leaves me crying/The price of evil I can’t pay/The words of evil I can’t say//I don’t know the answer/I could not have saved her/I didn’t mean to crush it/But I couldn’t save it anyway/Face down in the earth/regretting my own birth/I hope I didn’t lose it/But I couldn’t save it anyway//Brainwashed and I lay dying/A bad dream leaves me crying/The price of evil I can’t pay/The words of evil I can’t say//Who is it that tells us/who we need to be and why/how do they control us/and leave us high and dry/I don’t know the ones that guide me/and I’m unsure of what they hide/but if we all remain alive/our spirits and dreams won’t die//Brainwashed and I lay dying/A bad dream leaves me crying/The price of evil I can’t pay/The words of evil I can’t say//We fell for the trick/impure evils made it sick/I didn’t want this for you/But you’re too far gone to save//Brainwashed and I lay dying/A bad dream leaves me crying/The price of evil I can’t pay/The words of evil I can’t say/Brainwashed and I lay dying/A bad dream leaves me crying/The price of evil I can’t pay/The words of evil I can’t say

2)    Can’t Win
We have no chances/we have no drive/all that they have told us/has all been a lie/we’re the ones who suffer/under an unbearable weight/ensnared with a feeling of dread/we cannot shake the feeling/and now it’s all that’s left//chorus: This is not a game/not a game that we can win/we have no competition/but we are soaked in sin/the end is nearing/before we can begin/we can never catch them/and we just can’t win//We’ve been left abandoned/left with scars from slander/we still rise to stand/but we are unforgiven/what’s the price of dying /when we are barely living?/we have nothing left/and we still can’t win//This is not a game/not a game that we can win/we have no competition/but we are soaked in sin/the end is nearing/before we can begin/we can never catch them/and we just can’t win//what do we think we’re doing/we’re not even moving/to our questions they have no answer/no knowledge of the truth/so on and on we’ll go/keep pushing until the end/in this game that we’ve been playing/this game we’ll never win//This is not a game/not a game that we can win/we have no competition/but we are soaked in sin/the end is nearing/before we can begin/we can never catch them/and we just can’t win


3)    Guilty of a Heartfelt Crime (Sweet Dreams)
Wake up in the morning/Look out through the cold steel bars/I can’t believe it ended this way/Now I left everyone so far/Go to the gym and run a bit/The former feeling feels so free/But I’m stuck in here so far away/And it’s freedom that I’ll never see//Sweet Dreams are just Morning’s Torture/Sweet Dreams are just a lie/I didn’t mean for all this to happen/But now I’m guilty of a heartfelt crime//She looks out her window/Elbow supporting the heaviest of hearts/She didn’t think she could have caused this for him/As she gets up, there falls another star/but her life is now so broken/Left in pieces by a blind rage/Who’d have ever thought she’d be sitting here alone now/As she watches the passage of the days//Her dreams are her morning’s torture/She thinks her dreams are now just lies/She didn’t think it would happen this way/But she’s the victim of a heartfelt crime//I wish I could see her face/I’d love to make her laugh again/But I’m stuck here with the things I’ve done/And all my thoughts and pain and shame/She’d love to have the chance to/to forgive him for his crime/But he took everything away and left her in the cold/And no longer will he see sunshine//We wish it could have been different/Morning’s torture robbed us of our pride/but now we’ve gone and we’ve hurt each other/And we’re the suspects in a heartfelt crime//A crime we never would have done/if we thought it void of love/And as we both lay down on cold pillows crying/We know we’re both guilty of our heartfelt crimes

4)    Time to Listen
Watching the world go rushing by/A panicked, hurried frenzy all in one/Nobody takes the time nowadays/To ask a question or take a name/Everything just flies through the air/Unknown when we’re looking at the ground/The only chance we have now is to pray/That someday we’ll all listen to the sound//chorus: I think for us it’s time to listen/Before these messages get mixed/how can two people love each other/when the noise between them makes them sick?//I only hope the message breaks through/before it’s too late to save us/In a world now built on tough business/If we take a step back, we can trust/That someone there will pick us up/If we stumble and we fall/and if there’s nothing in our hearts/then how are we expected to love at all?//I think for us it’s time to listen/Before these messages get mixed/how can two people love each other/when the noise between them makes them sick?//Passion and love can triumph/if we let them in our hearts/ugliness from death and mourning fades/with love becoming vibrant art/if we allow this, we are free/free from the restraints of the modern day/let us raise our hands and forget our fears/love is what has the final say//I think for us it’s time to listen/Before these messages get mixed/how can two people love each other/when the noise between them makes them sick?

5)    I Need You to Know
Here I stand/Alone with an expressionless face/how did I get so far behind/in what we call the human race/I’m left to walk here/with no one by my side/the darkest densest shadows/are still no place to hide//chorus: I need you to know/my heart is on my sleeve/and it’ll break in a billion pieces/if I have to see you leave/I gave you all that I could/let wisdom and my senses go/and as I spill my heart onto this page/that’s what I need you to know//The way they all see through me/it makes me feel like a ghost/Even if I’ve had my chances/I already made the most/I’ve seen it happen this way/watched hearts plunge to the floor/but this time I ask the question/is it still worth fighting for?//I need you to know/my heart is on my sleeve/and it’ll break in a billion pieces/if I have to see you leave/I gave you all that I could/let wisdom and my senses go/and as I spill my heart onto this page/that’s what I need you to know//I’m sorry I couldn’t be better/be all you ever wanted/but can we clear the dirty waters/because our ghost has got me haunted/I can’t blame you for your choice/I can’t hate you for your mind/but it hurts me still to see you/Even if I’d never leave you behind//I need you to know/my heart is on my sleeve/and it’ll break in a billion pieces/if I have to see you leave/I gave you all that I could/let wisdom and my senses go/and as I spill my heart onto this page/that’s what I need you to know

6)    Alone
A few more days/just to make it look good/then I can leave/never to return/I’ve been around/for far too long/just a couple days longer/before I disappear//chorus: Now I can be Alone/I’m the only one/no one can reach me now/I am so alone/As I walk along this road/you’ll just leave me alone//Exited from/everything I knew/everything that’s true/truly wants me gone/left in the cold/where I bend, break, and fold/the pressure they apply/has crushed me//Now I can be Alone/I’m the only one/no one can reach me now/I am so alone/As I walk along this road/you’ll just leave me alone//If I could reach out/to a friendly face/to a helping hand to guide me/I’d call out/you know that I would shout/to anyone that listens/anyone to steal me/from this loneliness/a savior for my broken heart/to save me from being alone//Now I can be Alone/I’m the only one/no one can reach me now/I am so alone/As I walk along this road/you’ll just leave me alone


7)    Things That I Won’t Do
I will never give up/I will never let you down/There are so many feelings/That I have when I’m with you/But of all the things I’d do for you/There’s still a few things that I won’t do//chorus: I will never push you to your limits/because I don’t want to make you mad/And if I ever did/how my heart would be so sad/I will treat you with respect/the best that I can do/Never will I scare you/Another thing that I won’t do//I would fight to protect you/lay my life down by your side/in the faces of your dangers/I would never run and hide/because you’re the one that’s in my heart/the one I can’t forget/never fear, ‘cause I am here/on me you can always bet//I will never push you to your limits/because I don’t want to make you mad/And if I ever did/how my heart would be so sad/I will treat you with respect/the best that I can do/Never will I scare you/Another thing that I won’t do//Don’t Worry about me/I do this because I care/you will never wrong me/with you everything is fair//I will never push you to your limits/because I don’t want to make you mad/And if I ever did/how my heart would be so sad/I will treat you with respect/the best that I can do/Never will I scare you/Another thing that I won’t do

8)    The Things You Want to Hear
Where would you be/without the love of another/how do you sleep/without the love of another/there are some things you want/like the wisdom of a mother/and other things you really need/like a love yet to be discovered//chorus: I would tell you anything/anything to make you happy/the things you want to hear/I could push away the sadness/make the world you live in happy/rid of all the things you fear/I will tell you all/the things you want to hear//Why is it that you/ignore the wise advice/but turn around and listen/to a man whose heart is ice/I’m the one/who tells you what you want/yeah I’m the one/but in your eyes I am not//I would tell you anything/anything to make you happy/the things you want to hear/I could push away the sadness/make the world you live in happy/rid of all the things you fear/I will tell you all/the things you want to hear//Remember me for what I’ve said/not my misguided actions/remember the things I told you/and hold them in your heart//I would tell you anything/anything to make you happy/the things you want to hear/I could push away the sadness/make the world you live in happy/rid of all the things you fear/I will tell you all/the things you want to hear

9)    You Have to Be Perfect
Chorus: She says that I don’t stand a chance/She says I’m not her man/She says I’m not worth it/She says “You have to be perfect”//She wastes her time/thinking of another guy/and I waste mine/looking around and being shy/she’s thought too long/if he can rock her world/but to him/she’s just another girl/and I’m still here/as she talks about how they fought/screaming on the inside/”Why don’t you give me a shot?”//She says that I don’t stand a chance/She says I’m not her man/She says I’m not worth it/She says “You have to be perfect”//When she goes home/she takes a seat on the floor/wondering once again/why he called her a whore/she picks up her phone/and I’m the one she calls/I’m already her everything/but she won’t give me her all// She says that I don’t stand a chance/She says I’m not her man/She says I’m not worth it/She says “You have to be perfect”//I’m not perfect/but nobody else is/you’ve set your sights too high/give me a chance/maybe I’m better than he is/you never know until you try//She says that I don’t stand a chance/She says I’m not her man/She says I’m not worth it/She says “You have to be perfect”

10)                       Choke
Panic strikes me once again/I wonder if it ever ends/Why didn’t I say what I wanted/The attacks will soon begin/I’m left out in the cold/Moved around, bought and sold/but my stock is worthless in their eyes/The cowards have no power to the bold//chorus: In the time it took me/to make it to the top/the plans they had assembled/tore me down, gave me a shock/If only I’d been quicker/got serious and didn’t joke/They wouldn’t have defeated me/I wouldn’t have choked//They knew that I was doing something/something out of the blue/the work of an outsider/something I shouldn’t do/I was blind to all the warnings/the caution in me was gone/then they took water to my candle/and never turned the lights on//In the time it took me/to make it to the top/the plans they had assembled/tore me down, gave me a shock/If only I’d been quicker/got serious and didn’t joke/They wouldn’t have defeated me/I wouldn’t have choked//My one chance/to be like all the others/wasted, misplayed, thrown away/unraveled in a stutter/always remember that/when you’re not watching your back/is the moment they will use/it’s the time that they attack//In the time it took me/to make it to the top/the plans they had assembled/tore me down, gave me a shock/If only I’d been quicker/got serious and didn’t joke/They wouldn’t have defeated me/I wouldn’t have choked

11)                       The End is All the Same
Chorus: Maybe this is the end/but the ends are all the same/always somebody winning and somebody losing/always someone burdened by the blame/but if this is the end/and the fire’s soon to fade/don’t you pick up that bucket/and douse my inner flame//Time is running out for me/though it’s never been on my side/what I thought was friendly sympathy/was really egotistical pride/Now I’ve gone and ruined everything/tore the whole world to the ground/the end is in plain sight/looks like I’ve gone hell bound//Maybe this is the end/but the ends are all the same/always somebody winning and somebody losing/always someone burdened by the blame/but if this is the end/and the fire’s soon to fade/don’t you pick up that bucket/and douse my inner flame//What have I done/besides hurt her once again/living life under the gun/proves to be a mortal sin/I gave her everything I had/maybe too much for her liking/but I didn’t know any better/you can’t kill a man for trying//Maybe this is the end/but the ends are all the same/always somebody winning and somebody losing/always someone burdened by the blame/but if this is the end/and the fire’s soon to fade/don’t you pick up that bucket/and douse my inner flame//I know when I’ve gone too far/but I know that quitters never win/still living life like a falling star/failure brings me back to earth again//Maybe this is the end/but the ends are all the same/always somebody winning and somebody losing/always someone burdened by the blame/but if this is the end/and the fire’s soon to fade/don’t you pick up that bucket/and douse my inner flame

12)                       Overcome (Is It Fiction?)
Chorus: This feels like a twisted storybook life/is it fiction or is it real?/is it something we can overcome/will it give us a chance to heal?/I can’t let it break me down/and the story still goes on/so flip to the next page/before the whole story is gone//I never knew how hard life could be/how cold the souls of people get/But I’ve seen the way they treat people like us/with an unimagined cruelty/I know it isn’t fair/I know it isn’t right/This isn’t a story or a lullaby/that they’re worthy to read tonight//This feels like a twisted storybook life/is it fiction or is it real?/is it something we can overcome/will it give us a chance to heal?/I can’t let it break me down/and the story still goes on/so flip to the next page/before the whole story is gone//Where is their compassion/has love become extinct?/so much hate for fellow neighbors/it’s now a harsh reality/so sad to see the script of life/has turned so dark so quick/maybe we can turn it around/before the hatred sticks//This feels like a twisted storybook life/is it fiction or is it real?/is it something we can overcome/will it give us a chance to heal?/I can’t let it break me down/and the story still goes on/so flip to the next page/before the whole story is gone//I can overcome this now/if you stay by my side/hold me when the world falls/it’s not fiction if we try/try so much harder/to bring love to the world/but I can’t do it without you/I hope that’s understood//This feels like a twisted storybook life/is it fiction or is it real?/is it something we can overcome/will it give us a chance to heal?/I can’t let it break me down/and the story still goes on/so flip to the next page/before the whole story is gone

13)                       Taking My Life Back
I have never/Never had control/never even known/the power that I hold/I’ve wasted it/waiting for a time/Waiting for her heart/to open and let me in//chorus: Now it is the time/for me to take my life back/so long to my defenses/I’m going on attack/no longer will they bind me/no longer will I listen/my freedom is my hope/from long cold ashes I have risen//Their time here/it is done/they no longer/have the power to control me/it’s my life again/all my own, unbound/this time I will rise/high above the sound//Now it is the time/for me to take my life back/so long to my defenses/I’m going on attack/no longer will they bind me/no longer will I listen/my freedom is my hope/from long cold ashes I have risen//freedom is a word/a feeling undescribed/it lets me feel alive/to all of those who doubt me/to those who kicked me down/it’s time for them to cry//Now it is the time/for me to take my life back/so long to my defenses/I’m going on attack/no longer will they bind me/no longer will I listen/my freedom is my hope/from long cold ashes I have risen//[my life now taken/I’ve taken my life back] repeat 2x

14)                       Escape
(whisper) Catch me if you can…//chorus: I’m making an escape/never to be found/there is nothing here for me/I’ve worn out my welcome/turned everyone away/this isn’t a place for me//on the road and on the run/no longer under the barrel of the gun/the fear in me now fading/but never gone, I’m praying//I’m making an escape/never to be found/there is nothing here for me/I’ve worn out my welcome/turned everyone away/this isn’t a place for me//No sight of the mob/two days out of town/when I have escaped/maybe I can settle down/Maybe I am free now/maybe I’m afraid/but if I can pull this off/my infamy won’t fade//I’m making an escape/never to be found/there is nothing here for me/I’ve worn out my welcome/turned everyone away/this isn’t a place for me//Don’t forget me/don’t let them escape/they have no kindness or compassion/they are so full of hate/but now I am beyond them/beyond the wide, wide world/but the one thing that I’ve lost/is the love of a forgotten girl//I’m making an escape/never to be found/there is nothing here for me/I’ve worn out my welcome/turned everyone away/this isn’t a place for me







15)                       Meeting Place
Quickly/don’t tell anyone/and run across/the open field/I will be there/just behind the old cedar tree/an unbelievable time/a place that’s so surreal//chorus: Come away to our place/where we can meet in peace/we don’t have much time/before it will be broken/so go to our meeting place/so I can see you one more time/and hold you in my arms/before we have to part//I look back on/all our memories/all the times I got/to be right here with you/but my time is over/no more am I to be/I’m sorry I must leave now/but there’s nothing left to do//Come away to our place/where we can meet in peace/we don’t have much time/before it will be broken/so go to our meeting place/so I can see you one more time/and hold you in my arms/before we have to part//goodbye now/I’ll miss you/no more can/I kiss you/hold you in my arms/and look into your eyes/my ride is out there waiting/destination is the sky/please never forget me/let my memory live on/I may have loved and left you/but never am I gone//Come away to our place/where we can meet in peace/we don’t have much time/before it will be broken/so go to our meeting place/so I can see you one more time/and hold you in my arms/before we have to part

16)                       Ambition
There is a feeling in my heart/pushing me to the edge/The hopes I have are so strong/my love for her will never rest//chorus: I will never leave her/never let her be alone/she may not even like me/but I’m needed and it shows/like a guardian of her life/I am always at her side/maybe I get no farther/but you can’t say I never tried//I don’t understand her motives/her logic still escapes me/she keeps her heart to herself/but I know I’ll never be/never be the one she wanted/but I’ll be her closest friend/my duty’s never over/but my purpose is at its end//I will never leave her/never let her be alone/she may not even like me/but I’m needed and it shows/like a guardian of her life/I am always at her side/maybe I get no farther/but you can’t say I never tried//You know I’ve always loved you/You know I wouldn’t lie/You know how bad I’ve been hurt/But I’ll never lose my drive//I will never leave her/never let her be alone/she may not even like me/but I’m needed and it shows/like a guardian of her life/I am always at her side/maybe I get no farther/but you can’t say I never tried

17)                       Burning with the Truth
I don’t know where I’m going/Don’t know where life is taking me/pained by the knowing/the one who can set me free/is the one that doesn’t want to/the one of a different heart/so here I am, and I’ll stay here/how will I know when it’s gone too far?//chorus: My love is like a fire/it sets her mind ablaze/the smoke engulfs her body/in a silent, gray-black haze/I’ve never meant to hurt her/never meant to burn her down/but she’s burning with the truth/and we’re lighting up the town//She deserves more than this/more than falling by selfish hands/I would go anywhere to find her/to faraway and distant lands/But I won’t need to do this/for she is close but also far/and she could take me in and save me/because by now, I’ve tried too hard//My love is like a fire/it sets her mind ablaze/the smoke engulfs her body/in a silent, gray-black haze/I’ve never meant to hurt her/never meant to burn her down/but she’s burning with the truth/and we’re lighting up the town//This is a wild fire/my need for her is very dire/I’ve worked so hard, and she inspires/but to work this hard makes me a liar/I’d never go where I’m not wanted/Never walk on hostile ground/But I don’t know where I’m going/I’m lost in her until I’m found//My love is like a fire/it sets her mind ablaze/the smoke engulfs her body/in a silent, gray-black haze/I’ve never meant to hurt her/never meant to burn her down/but she’s burning with the truth/and we’re lighting up the town

18)                       Edge of the Earth
Push me and I push back/Push me away and I’ll attack/Bend me, I’ll make you crack/go away and don’t come back//chorus: Pushed me to the edge of the earth/pushed me too far/used to be a nicer person/but now my heart is hard/the wounds you placed on me/they have left me scarred/the fire that will swallow you/will leave you burnt and charred//I’m not the person who wants to be like this/But I’m the one who feels this way/I don’t need you around me/now’s my time to have my say/I’d suggest you find a lamp/and wait for that genie to pop out/one way or another you’ll need three wishes/because you’re dead to me without a doubt//Pushed me to the edge of the earth/pushed me too far/used to be a nicer person/but now my heart is hard/the wounds you placed on me/they have left me scarred/the fire that will swallow you/will leave you burnt and charred//watch out, now you’ve done it/you can’t believe I wasn’t f***ing around/you really did it now/you’ve really hurt my confidence/but I’m taking a stand/I’m getting off this fence/get out of my face/and drown slowly in your lies and pain//Pushed me to the edge of the earth/pushed me too far/used to be a nicer person/but now my heart is hard/the wounds you placed on me/they have left me scarred/the fire that will swallow you/will leave you burnt and charred//Pushed me to the edge of the earth/pushed me too far/used to be a nicer person/but now my heart is hard/the wounds you placed on me/they have left me scarred/the fire that will swallow you/will leave you burnt and charred

19)                       Let Yourself Go
Sitting on the beach with a summer breeze/warm air and bright sunlight/the water rolls in getting closer every minute/but she still sits there, unaware/looking out at the horizon/trying to find meaning in the clouds/a few more moments ‘til she’s free/and the waves keep rolling in//chorus: Now hey there/don’t be scared/the nighttime is your friend/just let yourself go/and then you’ll know/it’ll be there ‘til the end//The sun falls under the water/choked, and the ocean stains red/like a tiny bloody spot on the skin/of her personal universe/a little poke of a needle/a little colder than it was before/and the faraway lights of the city/shine bright but they’ve got nothing on you, baby//Now hey there/don’t be scared/the nighttime is your friend/just let yourself go/and then you’ll know/it’ll be there ‘til the end//the water turns a shiny silver/under the cloudless moonlit sky/it’s like a cool companion/a friend to be there when you’re alone/and her body is painted/a little paler than not long ago/and doesn’t she look so beautiful/when she’s out there among the stars//Now hey there/don’t be scared/the nighttime is your friend/just let yourself go/and then you’ll know/it’ll be there ‘til the end//The night goes on so silently/as she sleeps on the grainy mattress of the earth/kissed softly by the tide/like she longs for someone real to do/and then she will awaken/as pink sunlight fingers touch her face/and she’ll leave the beach for now/but by night we’ll see her here again//Now hey there/don’t be scared/the nighttime is your friend/just let yourself go/and then you’ll know/it’ll be there ‘til the end

20)                       Worthy of Fame
This is what we’ve earned/this is what we’ve fought for/sitting on top of the world/who could ever want more/so maybe Rebecca was right/we gotta get down tonight//chorus: This is why we’re worthy of fame/in this life there is no shame/everyone’s looking for someone to blame/but in the end, life is just a game//who cares if they hate us/who really cares what they think/if we’re all ships on the ocean/we’ll float on and they will sink/they’ve got nothing on us/they’ve got nothing at all/because when we stand together/is when they take the fall/Let’s go out this Friday night/under the white hot city lights//This is why we’re worthy of fame/in this life there is no shame/everyone’s looking for someone to blame/but in the end, life is just a game//Wake up and pack your bags/I heard Hollywood’s calling/we don’t have much time/so could you please quit stalling/this is the break we waited for/a chance we’ve never had before/get up and get yourself moving/the more time you wait, the more time we’re losing/Maybe she was right/the fame is worth the fight/we’re leaving this town tonight/heading for Cali’s bright lights//This is why we’re worthy of fame/in this life there is no shame/everyone’s looking for someone to blame/but in the end, life is just a game//This is why we’re worthy of fame/in this life there is no shame/everyone’s looking for someone to blame/but in the end, life is just a game

21)                       Dream
Wake me from a sleep/a dream so sweet as honey/a speech of love to wake me/to put me in a trance/to keep me as your own/you are the one/I want to dream with forever//chorus: When I go to sleep/you are the one I dream of/when I close my eyes/You are the one I see/We can live here/and we can stay forever/we can be together/as long as we can dream//the light through the window/covers us in pale orange light/it’s time to face the day/but not forgetting the night/there’s nothing here to be afraid of/no need for us to scream/I’ve got you and you’ve got me/and both of us have dreams//When I go to sleep/you are the one I dream of/when I close my eyes/You are the one I see/We can live here/and we can stay forever/we can be together/as long as we can dream//Maybe dreams are just morning’s torture/maybe dreams are just a lie/but if there’s one thing I’m certain of/it’s when I’m with you, I can fly//When I go to sleep/you are the one I dream of/when I close my eyes/You are the one I see/We can live here/and we can stay forever/we can be together/as long as we can dream

22)                       Wherever You Go
She is beautiful to me/she is all that is right/she brings a smile to my face/she is the everything girl//chorus: Wherever you go/I’ll ask to go there with you/Whenever you need a friend/I’ll be the one that’s there/whatever you want me to do/I’d do just to please you/If you ever want me to/I’ll go wherever you go//What does it take to be the one?/What does it mean to love?/What is she waiting for?/Why can’t it be me?//Wherever you go/I’ll ask to go there with you/Whenever you need a friend/I’ll be the one that’s there/whatever you want me to do/I’d do just to please you/If you ever want me to/I’ll go wherever you go//Give me a chance/to prove my worth/give me the chance/to be the one you think of/A chance is all I ask of you/A chance is all I want/A chance is what I’ve yearned for/yearned for so long but never got//Wherever you go/I’ll ask to go there with you/Whenever you need a friend/I’ll be the one that’s there/whatever you want me to do/I’d do just to please you/If you ever want me to/I’ll go wherever you go//Wherever you go/let me go with you/wherever you go/let me be by your side/Wherever you go/let me go with you/wherever you go/let me be by your side/She is beautiful to me/She is all that’s right

There it is. For those of you following this link from the email, you know what you need to do with the highlighted parts. For my foreign viewership, in the simplest terms, if it's highlighted, I want your opinion on it. Criticize, advise, assist, etc. in the comments or email me at radianteclipse94@live.com with your opinions. Here's to great music and going somewhere with it.

Friday, February 3, 2012

NHL Day 121 2011-2012

Five game for Friday Night Hockey. First up...

The Ottawa Senators host the New York Islanders. Evgeni Nabokov and Craig Anderson play goal. Ottawa got on the board first last in the second period as Zack Smith recorded his thirteenth of the season, a shorthanded goal, passed through Erik Condra and Sergei Gonchar. New York evened the ledger with a Matt Martin goal in the third period, made possible by P.A. Parenteau as his sixth of the year. The Islanders would win it 2-1 in the overtime, with a Mark Eaton goal, courtesy of Milan Jurcina and Parenteau. The three stars were John Tavares, Anderson (30 for 32 in saves), and Eaton, while Parenteau gets an honorable mention.

Southward to Florida, as the Panthers host the Winnipeg Jets. Chris Mason and Scott Clemmensen took to the creases. Florida led off with a Kris Versteeg goal, his twentieth of the season, a power play goal powered by Mikael Samuelsson and Brian Campbell. Winnipeg answered in the second period on a Bryan Little goal, his twelfth of the year, coming off of Andrew Ladd. The Panthers regained the lead as Sean Bergenheim notched his eighth of the season, with the help of Marcel Goc and Jason Garrison. The scoring ceased from here, and Florida won 2-1, where the three stars were Versteeg, Clemmensen (20 for 21 in saves), and Bergenheim.

North and west to St. Louis, as the Blues welcome the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick and Jaroslav Halak received the starting nods. St. Louis got things going in the second period on a Jamie Langenbrunner goal, his fourth of the season, guided in by Matt D'Agostini and Alex Pietrangelo. This was the game's only goal, with the Blues holding on for a 1-0 win. The three stars were awarded to Halak (22 save shutout), Langenbrunner, and Quick (32 for 33 in saves).

Following a similar linear path, we arrive in Calgary, with the Flames hosting the Chicago Blackhawks. Ray Emery and Miikka Kiprusoff tend the twines. Calgary began with an Olli Jokinen goal, his thirteenth of the season, set up by Jarome Iginla and Alex Tanguay. Chicago tied it on a Brent Seabrook goal, his fourth of the year, courtesy of Patrick Kane and Patrick Sharp. The Flames regained the lead late in the second period as Jay Bouwmeester notched his fourth of the season, a power play goal powered by Blair Jones and Mikael Backlund. Calgary extended the lead in the third period when Iginla scored his nineteenth of the year, thanks to Tanguay and Chris Butler. This made it 3-1, the eventual final, where the three stars were awarded to Jokinen, Iginla, and Kiprusoff (26 for 27 in saves), with honorable mention for Tanguay.

Finally, in Anaheim, the Ducks host the Columbus Blue Jackets. Curtis Sanford and Jonas Hiller are the masked men. Anaheim led off quickly with a Teemu Selanne goal, his seventeenth of the season, assisted by Lubomir Visnovsky and Luca Sbisa. Columbus tied it in the second period when Derick Brassard recorded his eighth of the year, with the help of Rick Nash and John Moore. The Ducks took the lead back as Selanne struck again, his second of the game and eighteenth of the season, fueled by Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf on the power play. The Blue Jackets got a third period equalizer as Jeff Carter made his eleventh of the year on the power play, via Antoine Vermette and Vinny Prospal. Columbus would go on to a 3-2 win in overtime as Brassard potted his second of the game and ninth of the campaign, an unassisted goal. The three stars were Selanne, Brassard, and Carter.

Thursday, February 2, 2012

NHL Day 120 2011-2012

Eight games for your viewing pleasure tonight. We begin in...

Boston, where the Bruins welcome the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward and Tuukka Rask will be in goal. Carolina opened with an Eric Staal goal, his twelfth of the season, assisted by Jiri Tlusty and Jaroslav Spacek. The Hurricanes added on in the second period as Tuomo Ruutu made his sixteenth of the year, coming off of Brandon Sutter and Anthony Stewart. Carolina extended the lead in the third period when Sutter's twelfth of the season found twine, and Andreas Nodl had the lone assist. This was all in the scoring, resulting in a 3-0 final, where Ward (47 save shutout), Sutter, and Rask (28 for 31 in saves) got the three stars.

Down a bit to New Jersey, as the Devils welcome the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and Martin Brodeur get the starting nods. Montreal started the scoring with a David Desharnais goal, his tenth of the season, courtesy of Rene Bourque and Max Pacioretty. The Canadiens added on with a Andrei Kostitsyn goal, his twelfth of the year, pushed through by Yannick Weber and Louis Leblanc. New Jersey got one back with a Zach Parise goal, his seventeenth of the season, guided in by Dainius Zubrus and Ilya Kovalchuk. Montreal replied in the second period as Mathieu Darche sank his third of the year, a shorthanded goal set up by Tomas Plekanec. The Devils answered back with a David Clarkson power play goal, his eighteenth of the season, powered by Kovalchuk and Mark Fayne. New Jersey evened it in the third period as Zubrus made his thirteenth of the year, with the help of Alexei Ponikarovsky and Clarkson. The Devils gained the lead with another Parise goal, his second of the game and eighteenth of the season, fueled by Kovalchuk for a sock trick and Patrik Elias. New Jersey iced it at 5-3 with a Clarkson empty net goal, his second of the game and nineteenth of the year, via Ponikarovsky and Zubrus. The three stars were awarded to Parise, Kovalchuk, and Brodeur (27 for 30 in saves), while Zubrus, Ponikarovsky, and Clarkson get the honorable mentions. 

Keeping with a theme of short travel, the Philadelphia Flyers welcomed the Nashville Predators. Anders Lindback and Ilya Bryzgalov wear the pads. Philadelphia led off with a Wayne Simmonds goal, his fourteenth of the season, fueled by Brayden Schenn and Zac Rinaldo. The Flyers added on in the second period as Matt Read potted his sixteenth of the year, an unassisted goal. Nashville got one back in the third period when Ryan Suter recorded his sixth of the season, thanks to Craig Smith and Matt Halischuk. Philadelphia got it back with another Simmonds goal, his second of the game and fifteenth of the year coming on the power play from Claude Giroux and Kimmo Timonen. The Flyers iced it with an empty netted by Giroux, his nineteenth of the campaign, powered by Jaromir Jagr and Timonen. The three stars belonged to Read, Simmonds, and Schenn, while Giroux and Timonen earn honorable mentions.

In the south, the Tampa Bay Lightning host the Winnipeg Jets. Ondrej Pavelec and Mathieu Garon play in the blue paint. The scoring began with Blake Wheeler of Winnipeg in the second period, as his tenth of the season crossed the goal line after getting previous passes from Jim Slater and Andrew Ladd. Tampa Bay tied it in the third period as Victor Hedman recorded his third of the year, thanks to Martin St. Louis and Steven Stamkos. The game was decided in overtime as the Jets used Kyle Wellwood's tenth of the campaign to win 2-1 over the Lightning, and the assists came from Wheeler and Dustin Byfuglien. The three stars went out to Wellwood, Hedman, and Byfuglien, with honorable mention for Wheeler. 

Northwest of here, the Colorado Avalanche hosted the Minnesota Wild. Niklas Backstrom and Jean-Sebastien Giguere took to the cages this game. Minnesota opened with a Greg Zanon goal, his second of the season, made possible by Dany Heatley and Kyle Brodziak. This held up throughout the rest of game for a 1-0 Wild win, and the three stars were Backstrom (37 save shutout), Zanon, and Giguere (20 for 21 in saves).

Northward, the Edmonton Oilers host the Chicago Blackhawks. Corey Crawford and Devan Dubnyk will try to stop the puck. Chicago opened with a Jamal Mayers goal, his fifth of the season, assisted by Niklas Hjalmarsson and Marcus Kruger. The Blackhawks added on in the early second period as Patrick Sharp deposited his twenty-first of the year, and Patrick Kane had the only assist. Taylor Hall answered for Edmonton with his eighteenth of the season, via Sam Gagner. Gagner put up the equalizer for the Oilers in the form of his sixth of the year, courtesy of Jordan Eberle and Andy Sutton. Edmonton gained the lead as Ryan Whitney scored a power play goal, powered by Gagner. Chicago retied it with another Sharp goal, this one coming shorthanded as his second of the game and twenty-second of the season, guided in by Jonathan Toews and Hjalmarsson. The Oilers took the lead again in the third period as Gagner continued his strong game with his second goal of the night and seventh of the year, set up by Whitney and Eberle. Edmonton rolled on as Cam Barker put away his second of the season, thanks to Sutton and Gagner, the latter with a sock trick, chasing Crawford in favor of Ray Emery. The Blackhawks earned one back as Dave Bolland recorded his sixteenth of the year, pushed through by Kruger and Andrew Shaw. The Oilers took it away with Gagner finishing off a hat trick with his eighth of the season, where Hall and Corey Potter gain the assists. Edmonton kept going as Gagner got his fourth of the night and ninth of the year, helped along by Eberle for a sock trick, and Hall. The Oilers proved unstoppable when Eberle notched his twentieth of the campaign, and Gagner and Hall provided the assistance, with the latter earning a sock trick. The final was 8-4, with Gagner, Hall, and Eberle as the three stars. Honorable mentions go to Sharp, Sutton, Whitney, Hjalmarsson, and Kruger, with a special honorable mention for Gagner, who recorded the first 8 point game in nearly 23 years. All of these are unofficial, but rather obvious as well.

Westward a tad, the Vancouver Canucks host the Detroit Red Wings. Jimmy Howard and Roberto Luongo tend the twines. Danny Cleary started the scoring in Detroit's favor, with his eleventh of the season getting a lone helper from Darren Helm. Vancouver tied it on a Ryan Kesler goal, his fifteenth of the year, made possible by David Booth and Kevin Bieksa. The Red Wings took the lead back when Jiri Hudler converted his seventeenth of the season, thanks to Valtteri Filppula and Brad Stuart. The Canucks retied it in the third period as Alexandre Burrows nailed his nineteenth of the year, courtesy of Maxim Lapierre. Detroit regained the lead with a Drew Miller goal, his ninth of the season, assisted by Cleary and Stuart. Vancouver got another equalizer with Mason Raymond depositing his sixth of the year, with the help of Sami Salo and Henrik Sedin. The game was decided by Pavel Datsyuk and Hudler shootout tallies, with the Red Wings soaring to 4-3 victory over the Canucks. The three stars were Cleary, Booth, and Luongo (40 for 43 in saves), while Stuart and Hudler earn the honorable mentions.

Finally, in Northern California, the San Jose Sharks bring in the Dallas Stars. Backups Richard Bachman and Thomas Greiss guard the nets. San Jose opened as Michal Handzus knocked in his fifth of the season, with help from Brent Burns and Jamie McGinn. The Sharks added on with a Joe Pavelski goal, his nineteenth of the year, coming on the power play from Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau. Dallas got on the board in the second period with Steve Ott making his eighth of the season, an unassisted power play goal. San Jose got it back with Logan Couture recording his twenty-second of the year, a power play goal powered by Burns and Marleau. Thornton extended the Sharks lead on his eleventh of the season, with a lone assist by Pavelski. The Stars replied in the third period as Jamie Benn recorded his fifteenth of the campaign, courtesy of Philip Larsen and Ott. San Jose iced it at 5-2 with a Ryane Clowe goal, his tenth of the year, set up by Couture and Burns, the latter earning a sock trick. The three stars were Pavelski, Couture, and Burns, while Thornton, Marleau, and Ott earned the honorable mentions.

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.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

NHL Day 118 2011-2012

The All-Star game is over and hockey returns to normal with a thirteen game slate. First off, the captains of the most recent game do battle again in...

Boston, as the Bruins welcome the Ottawa Senators. In goal we have Craig Anderson and Tim Thomas. Boston led off with a Zdeno Chara goal, his eighth of the season coming on the power play from David Krejci and Milan Lucic. Ottawa tied it as Colin Greening potted his twelfth of the year, with the help of Milan Michalek and Filip Kuba. The Senators gained the lead on a Kyle Turris goal, his fifth of the season, with a lone assist from Daniel Alfredsson. Ottawa added on with an Erik Karlsson goal, his eighth of the year, guided in by Chris Neil and Kuba. The Bruins got one back with a Lucic goal, his eighteenth of the season, set up by Rich Peverley and Chara. Boston got an equalizer with Brad Marchand sinking his eighteenth of the year on the power play, powered by Joe Corvo and Dennis Seidenberg. The Bruins stormed ahead with a Seidenberg goal, his third of the season, with helpers provided by Corvo. This was all they needed to win 4-3, and the three stars were Marchand, Lucic, and Alfredsson, while Kuba, Chara, Corvo, and Seidenberg all get honorable mentions.

Down to New Jersey, as the Devils welcome the New York Rangers. Playing in net will be a battle of the Martins, as Biron opposes Brodeur. New York was first to score as Anton Stralman sank his second of the season, courtesy of Marian Gaborik and Carl Hagelin. New Jersey evened the game on a Zach Parise goal, his sixteenth of the year, set up by Dainius Zubrus. The Rangers regained the lead in the third period as the fourth of the season from Brian Boyle found twine, thanks to Stu Bickel and Brandon Prust. The Devils retied it with an Ilya Kovalchuk power play goal, his twentieth of the year, powered by Patrik Elias and David Clarkson. New York broke the tie as Michael Del Zotto shelved his sixth of the season, with the help of Gaborik and Hagelin. New Jersey got another equalizer with Clarkson's seventeenth of the year, assisted by Andy Greene and Adam Larsson. The Devils beat the Rangers in the shootout with a lone Kovalchuk tally. The three stars were awarded to Clarkson, Parise, and Del Zotto, while Kovalchuk, Gaborik, and Hagelin earn honorable mention.

Crossing the river to Philadelphia, as the Flyers welcome the Winnipeg Jets. In the blue paint areas are Ondrej Pavelec and Ilya Bryzgalov. Brayden Schenn opened things up for Philadelphia with a power play goal, his fourth of the season, powered by Matt Carle and Jaromir Jagr. Winnipeg tied it with a Chris Thorburn goal, made possible by Nik Antropov and Ron Hainsey. The Jets would take this game in the shootout after a long stretch of scorelessness, on a lone Bryan Little tally. The three stars were Little, Pavelec (27 for 28 in saves), and Schenn.

Also in Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh Penguins play host to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Guarding the nets are Jonas Gustavsson and Marc-Andre Fleury. Toronto began with a second period Mikhail Grabovski goal, his seventeenth of the season, fueled by Dion Phaneuf and Nikolai Kulemin. The Maple Leafs extended the lead on another Grabovski goal, his second of the game and eighteenth of the year, going down with the help of Clarke MacArthur and Luke Schenn. Pittsburgh got one back as Matt Cooke put away his eighth of the season, via Paul Martin and Richard Park. Toronto added back on to their lead in the third period with a Tyler Bozak goal, his eighth of the year, with Jake Gardiner and Carl Gunnarsson assists. Nineteen seconds later, the Maple Leafs struck again as MacArthur put his fifteenth of the season in the cage, thanks to Grabovski and Kulemin. The Penguins responded with a Steve Sullivan goal, his tenth of the year going in unassisted. Pittsburgh continued the unlikely comeback with a Joe Vitale goal, his third of the season, assisted by Pascal Dupuis and Tyler Kennedy. The Penguins got the unlikely equalizer when Evgeni Malkin put away his twenty-seventh of the year as seven seconds hung on the clock, and James Neal and Sullivan helped him do it. Pittsburgh iced it at 5-4 in the shootout with a lone Malkin tally to complete the unbelievable stunner against Toronto. The three stars went to Fleury (35 for 39 in saves), Malkin, and Grabovski, while honorable mentions include MacArthur, Kulemin, and Sullivan.

Farther to the south, the Carolina Hurricanes host the New York Islanders. The masked men are Kevin Poulin and Cam Ward. New York led off with a power play goal by P.A. Parenteau, his eleventh of the season, powered by John Tavares and Mark Streit. The Islanders added on in the second period with a Matt Moulson goal, his twenty-third of the year, fueled by Streit and Parenteau on the power play. Carolina got on the board in the third period with a Brandon Sutter goal, his eleventh of the season, coming off of Tim Gleason. The Hurricanes tied it on a power play goal by Tim Brent, his seventh of the year, set up by Jeff Skinner and Eric Staal. New York regained the lead as Tavares potted his twenty-first of the season, assisted by Moulson and Steve Staios. The Islanders added on with a Kyle Okposo goal, his twelfth of the year going into the empty net after being passed from Tavares. New York would win 5-2 due to a Tavares empty netter, his second of the game and twenty-second of the campaign, passed through Okposo and Moulson. The three stars were Tavares, Moulson, and Poulin (21 for 23 in saves), while Okposo, Parenteau, and Streit get honorable mentions.

Continuing south, the Tampa Bay Lightning are hosting the Washington Capitals. In between the pipes are Tomas Vokoun and Mathieu Garon. Washington led off with a Matt Hendricks goal, his second of the season, thanks to Brooks Laich. Tampa Bay tied it on a Teddy Purcell goal, his thirteenth of the year, guided in by Steve Downie and Steven Stamkos. The Lightning took the lead with a second period Martin St. Louis tally, his thirteenth of the season, helped along by Brett Clark and Tom Pyatt. Tampa Bay added on with a Nate Thompson goal, his sixth of the year, assisted by Dominic Moore and J.T. Wyman. The Capitals got one back as Mathieu Perreault sank his eighth of the season unassisted. Washington tied it in the third period as Troy Brouwer netted his fifteenth of the year, an unassisted goal. The Lightning came out on top thanks to a Stamkos goal in overtime, his thirty-third of the campaign, courtesy of St. Louis and the goalie Garon. Stamkos, Hendricks, and Pavel Kubina gathered up the three stars, while St. Louis deserves an honorable mention or even an inclusion.

Northward to Canada, as the Montreal Canadiens host the Buffalo Sabres. Ryan Miller and Carey Price are in the creases. Montreal led off as Max Pacioretty made his eighteenth of the season, with a lone assist from Josh Gorges. Ville Leino tied it in the second period for Buffalo on his fourth of the year, courtesy of Paul Gaustad and Christian Ehrhoff. The Sabres gained the lead in the third period on a Gaustad goal, his fifth of the season, guided in by Brad Boyes. Buffalo iced it at 3-1 with a Patrick Kaleta empty net goal, fueled by Ehrhoff and Gaustad as his fourth of the year. The three stars belonged to Price (37 for 39 in saves), Erik Cole, and Gaustad, while Ehrhoff can debate that Cole selection.

Westward, the Minnesota Wild host the Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne and Josh Harding received the starting nods. Minnesota struck first as Dany Heatley notched his sixteenth of the season and Nick Johnson picked up the lone assist. Heatley added on for the Wild with a power play goal, his second of the game and seventeenth of the year, powered by Matt Cullen. Minnesota rolled on in the second period as Cal Clutterbuck sank his thirteenth of the season, with assists provided by Cullen and Justin Falk. Nashville got on the board as Matt Halischuk scored his twelfth of the year, thanks to Kevin Klein and Brandon Yip. The Wild quickly got to work in the third period with Kyle Brodziak ripping his fourteenth of the season into the cage, helped along by Johnson and Heatley. The Predators answered again as Yip scored, guided in by Halischuk and Craig Smith. Nashville got another back as Patric Hornqvist recorded his fifteenth of the year, courtesy of Sergei Kostitsyn and Shea Weber. The Predators pulled off an improbable equalizer with Mike Fisher scoring twenty-one seconds later, his thirteenth of the season, assisted by Colin Wilson and Martin Erat. Nashville made it 5-4 late with another Fisher goal, his second of the game and fourteenth of the year, with no assists. They held on to win by this margin, and the three stars of the thriller were Heatley, Fisher, and Clutterbuck, with honorable mention to Yip, Halischuk, Johnson, and Cullen.

Back into Canada again, as the Calgary Flames welcome the Detroit Red Wings. Jimmy Howard and Miikka Kiprusoff are wearing the pads. Detroit began when Cory Emmerton notched his fifth of the season, assisted by Justin Abdelkader and Jan Mursak. Calgary tied it in the second period as Michael Cammalleri nailed his eleventh of the year on the power play, powered by Alex Tanguay and Olli Jokinen. The Red Wings gained the lead in the third period on a Jiri Hudler goal, his sixteenth of the season, guided in by Valtteri Filppula. Detroit made it 3-1 with a Drew Miller goal, his eighth of the year, courtesy of Danny Cleary and Darren Helm. This was a final, and the three stars went to Pavel Datsyuk, Cammalleri, and Filppula, while point earners and Howard (28 for 29 in saves) are also logical choices.

South to the desert, as the Phoenix Coyotes bring in the Anaheim Ducks. Jonas Hiller and Mike Smith are tending the twines. Phoenix opened on a Ray Whitney goal, his sixteenth of the season, assisted by Radim Vrbata and Martin Hanzal. Anaheim tied it on a second period Andrew Cogliano goal, his ninth of the year, thanks to Matt Beleskey and Toni Lydman. Cogliano put the Ducks in the lead with his second of the game and tenth of the season, guided in by Nick Bonino. Anaheim extended the lead with Cogliano completing his natural hat trick on his eleventh of the year, fueled by Bonino and Visnovsky. The Ducks iced it at 4-1 with a Teemu Selanne empty net goal in the third period, his sixteenth of the campaign, pushed through by Saku Koivu and Luca Sbisa. The three stars of the game were Cogliano, Bonino, and Whitney.

Backtracking to Alberta again, where the Edmonton Oilers take on the Colorado Avalanche. Semyon Varlamov and Devan Dubnyk are playing in front of the twines. Edmonton opened with a Jordan Eberle goal, his nineteenth of the season, courtesy of Sam Gagner and Philippe Cornet. The Oilers extended the lead as Eric Belanger potted his second of the year, a power play goal coming off of Ryan Whitney and Ryan Jones. Colorado got on the board in the second period when Peter Mueller notched his fourth of the season, via Chuck Kobasew and Paul Stastny. Edmonton got it back in the third period with Taylor Hall recording his seventeenth of the year, thanks to Ales Hemsky and Shawn Horcoff. The Avalanche pulled back on a Gabriel Landeskog goal, his eleventh of the season, made possible by Milan Hejduk and Ryan O'Reilly. They never got the equalizer, losing 3-2, with the three stars being Dubnyk (31 for 33 in saves), Hall, and Landeksog.

To the west coast, as the Vancouver Canucks get to host the Chicago Blackhawks. Corey Crawford and -e Cory Schneider are the puck stoppers. Vancouver led off as Ryan Kesler sank his fourteenth of the season, via Alexander Edler. Chicago tied it with a Jamal Mayers goal, his fourth of the year, courtesy of Steve Montador and Brent Seabrook. The Blackhawks took the lead in the third period on a Viktor Stalberg goal, his fifteenth of the season, with Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews helpers. The Canucks evened the score again on a Cody Hodgson goal, his fourteenth of the year, made possible by Jannik Hansen and Dan Hamhuis. The game would tip in favor of Vancouver during overtime, as Daniel Sedin paced his team to 3-2 win with his twenty-second of the campaign, guided in by Henrik Sedin and Edler. The three stars were Schneider (37 for 39 in saves), Stalberg, and Edler.

Finally, we end in San Jose when the Sharks host the Columbus Blue Jackets. Guarding the cages we have Steve Mason and Antti Niemi. San Jose opened on a Patrick Marleau goal, his eighteenth of the season, assisted by Justin Braun and Logan Couture. The Sharks added on with a Joe Thornton goal, his ninth of the year, an unassisted goal. San Jose kept going in the second period as Joe Pavelski made his eighteenth of the season on the power play, powered by Couture and Thornton. The Sharks extended the lead again as Jamie McGinn notched his tenth of the year, fueled by Douglas Murray and Michal Handzus. San Jose rolled on in the third period when Handzus sank his fourth of the season, guided in by McGinn. The Sharks iced it at 6-0 with another Thornton goal, his second of the game and tenth of the year, made possible by Pavelski and Andrew Desjardins. The three stars were Thornton, Couture, and Niemi (30 save shutout), while Pavelski, Handzus, and McGinn earn the honorable mentions.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

NHL Day 116 2011-2012: The All-Star Game

After a few days full of festivities in Ottawa, the game will finally occur. Team Alfredsson is hosting Team Chara, with the goalies being Henrik Lundqvist for the Alfies and Jimmy Howard for the Big Z's in the first period. Team Chara led off with a Marian Gaborik goal, with a lone assist by Pavel Datsyuk. The Big Z's added on as Evgeni Malkin scored with the help of Jarome Iginla. Team Chara followed it up on another Gaborik goal, via Marian Hossa and Ryan Suter. Team Alfredsson got one back with a Jason Spezza goal, fueled by Dan Girardi and Milan Michalek. The Alfies pulled within one as Henrik Sedin sank a goal from Scott Hartnell and Kris Letang. Team Alfredsson tied it at 3 with a John Tavares goal, coming off of Jason Pominville and Keith Yandle, and that's where the score sat at the first intermission. The goalies in the second period were Carey Price for the Big Z's and Jonathan Quick for the Alfies. The Big Z's got the lead again with Gaborik completing his hat trick thanks to Hossa and Datsyuk. Team Chara extended the lead on a Joffrey Lupul goal, with a lone helper by Phil Kessel. The Alfies struck back on a Jason Pominville goal, powered by James Neal and Steven Stamkos. Team Alfredsson tied it up on Daniel Alfredsson's goal, an unassisted goal. Alfredsson helped the Alfies take a lead when his second of the game found twine from his twin countrymen Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin. The game would again be tied at intermission when the Big Z's got an equalizer off the tape of Patrick Kane, set up by Jordan Eberle. Tending the twines in the third period were Tim Thomas for the Big Z's and Brian Elliott for the Alfies. Team Chara regained the lead again on a Kessel goal, courtesy of Brian Campbell. Team Alfredsson retied it as Michalek netted the puck thanks to Tavares and Jason Spezza. The Big Z's answered with an Iginla goal off of Malkin and Corey Perry. Claude Giroux shot back for the Alfies with helpers provided by Hartnell and Logan Couture. Team Chara again took the lead as Hossa scored, passed through by Datsyuk for a sock trick. The Big Z's added some separation when Chara blasted a puck in, and the only assist belonged to Gaborik. Perry kept Team Chara strong with a goal of his own, guided in by Iginla and Dennis Wideman. Team Alfredsson attempted to key a comeback on a Daniel Sedin goal made possible by Henrik Sedin and Alfredsson. The Big Z's would ice it at 12-9 with another Lupul goal, coming from the tape of Tyler Seguin and Kessel previously. Without the official three stars, I would like to recognize the following players for their contributions: Gaborik of Team Chara with four points; Datsyuk, Hossa, Iginla, and Kessel of Team Chara and Alfredsson and Henrik Sedin of Team Alfredsson with three points each; Lupul, Malkin, and Perry of the Big Z's and Hartnell, Michalek, Pominville, Daniel Sedin, Spezza, and Tavares of the Alfies with two points each; Campbell, Chara, Eberle, Kane, Seguin, Suter, and Wideman of Team Chara and Couture, Girardi, Giroux, Letang, Neal, Stamkos, and Yandle of Team Alfredsson with a point each; and special thanks to the unrewarded heroes of the game with no points: Jamie Benn, Dion Phaneuf, and Kimmo Timonen of the Big Z's and Alexander Edler, Erik Karlsson, and Shea Weber of the Alfies. Also, special thanks to the goalies Lundqvist, Howard, Thomas, Elliott, Price, and Quick for their taking of the abuse during this game. Next post will be on Tuesday with the resumption of regular season NHL action. Until then, thank you all for your continued support.