Six games on in the NHL today. If that sounds familiar, the KHL had that many as well. Here, we begin in...
Buffalo, as the Sabres host the Philadelphia Flyers. Ilya Bryzgalov and Ryan Miller are in the creases. Buffalo started with a first period Steve Ott power play goal, made possible by Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek. Philadelphia tied it in the second period on a Sean Couturier goal, passed from Kurtis Foster and Jakub Voracek. The Flyers took the lead as Claude Giroux scored a power play goal, assisted by Kimmo Timonen and Wayne Simmonds. The Sabres tied it again on a Vanek power play goal, powered by Drew Stafford and Pominville. Buffalo edged ahead with a Tyler Myers power play goal, via Tyler Ennis and Vanek. The Sabres padded the lead with a Cody Hodgson goal, guided in by Vanek, who got a sock trick, and Andrej Sekera. Buffalo iced it at 5-2 with an empty net goal by Vanek, set up by Pominville, who got a sock trick for his efforts. The three stars were Vanek, Pominville, and Ott.
Later, the Calgary Flames welcome the San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi and Miikka Kiprusoff tend the twines. Calgary opened with a Lee Stempniak power play goal, powered by Jay Bouwmeester and Mikael Backlund. San Jose took the lead as Patrick Marleau scored a power play goal, coming off of Joe Thornton and Logan Couture. The Sharks took the lead on a Martin Havlat goal, via Marc-Eduard Vlasic and Ryane Clowe. San Jose extended the lead as Marleau scored his second of the game, with the help of Dan Boyle and Joe Pavelski. The Sharks finished it at 4-1 with a Boyle power play goal, set up by Thornton and Pavelski. The three stars were given to Marleau, Stempniak, and Niemi (31 for 32 in saves), while Boyle, Thornton, and Pavelski get the honorable mentions.
Back in the east, the New York Rangers host the Pittsburgh Penguins. Tomas Vokoun and Henrik Lundqvist will be in the blue paint. Pittsburgh led off with James Neal's second goal of the season, made possible by Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang on the power play. New York tied the game as Ryan Callahan scored, thanks to Brad Richards and Derek Stepan on the power play. The Penguins regained the lead on the second of the year by Tyler Kennedy, courtesy of Joe Vitale and Simon Despres. Pittsburgh added on with a Matt Niskanen goal, coming off of Sidney Crosby. The Penguins chased Lundqvist in the second period when Pascal Dupuis potted a power play goal, passed from Malkin and Chris Kunitz. Martin Biron came on in relief. Pittsburgh extended the lead as Neal scored his second of the game and third of the season with helpers provided by Malkin, who got a sock trick, and Paul Martin. The Rangers got one back as Taylor Pyatt found twine, with the help of Michael Del Zotto and Richards. New York chipped away with a Rick Nash shorthanded goal, with a line helper by Stepan. The Penguins finished it at 6-3 with an unassisted empty net goal by Letang. Neal, Malkin, and Letang get the three stars, while Richards and Stepan get the honorable mentions.
Back west a bit, the Minnesota Wild host the Dallas Stars. Christopher Nihlstorp and Josh Harding are the backup goalies getting spot starts. Minnesota began with a first period Zach Parise goal, assisted by Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Dany Heatley. This was the only goal of the game, resulting in a 1-0 final. The three stars went to Harding (24 save shutout), Parise, and Cal Clutterbuck (five hits), while Nihlstorp (31 for 32 in saves) deserves an honorable mention for a strong debut.
Farther west, the Vancouver Canucks host the Edmonton Oilers. Devan Dubnyk and Roberto Luongo will protect the nets. Vancouver struck first in the first period with an unassisted Alexander Edler goal, his second of the season. The Canucks added on in the second period as Zack Kassian potted the puck, with help from Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin. Edmonton got on the board when Jordan Eberle scored, thanks to Taylor Hall. The Oilers tied it in the third period as Ales Hemsky put away a power play goal, powered by Sam Gagner and Ryan Whitney. Edmonton would take the game in the shootout by a 3-2 final score after tallies from both Gagner and Hemsky. The three stars were handed to Kassian, Eberle, and Justin Schultz (for being an over-hyped rookie, presumably), while better choice could include either Gagner or Hemsky.
Finally, we end in Glendale, with the Phoenix Coyotes hosting the Chicago Blackhawks. Ray Emery and Mike Smith will wear the masks. Phoenix was first to score in the first period on a David Moss goal, going in unassisted. Chicago tied it with a power play goal by Dave Bolland, set up by Patrick Kane and Nick Leddy. The Coyotes took the lead in the second period with an Antoine Vermette goal, assisted by Shane Doan and David Schlemko. The Blackhawks retied it as Patrick Sharp scored, with helpers provided by Bolland and Johnny Oduya. Chicago took the lead with a Marian Hossa goal, his third of the season, via Michal Rozsival and Kane. The Blackhawks added on as Viktor Stalberg found twine, thanks to Bryan Bickell and Andrew Shaw. Chicago extended the lead in the third period with Hossa's second of the night and fourth of the year, going down unassisted. Phoenix got one back as Vermette scored his second of the game, courtesy of Mikkel Boedker. The Coyotes chipped away with a Doan goal, helped along by Keith Yandle and Schlemko. The Blackhawks responded with Bolland's second goal of the game, pushed through by Sharp and Niklas Hjalmarsson. This was it for the scoring, with the final standing at 6-4. The three stars were handed to Hossa, Doan, and Bolland, while Sharp, Kane, Rozsival, and Schlemko get the honorable mentions.
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