Four games on today, beginning in...
Canada, as the Ottawa Senators host the Montreal Canadiens. Peter Budaj and Craig Anderson receive the starting nods. Montreal opened with a first period Tomas Plekanec goal, his fourth of the season coming on the power play from Andrei Markov and Raphael Diaz. Ottawa tied it with Jim O'Brien scoring his third of the year, thanks to Erik Karlsson and Erik Condra. The Senators took the lead in the second period on a Daniel Alfredsson power play goal, powered by Patrick Wiercioch and Kyle Turris. Ottawa kept going as Mika Zibanejad scored, with the help of Colin Greening and Andre Benoit on the power play. The Senators padded the lead with a Chris Phillips goal, his second of the season, coming off of Zack Smith and Greening. Ottawa got another in the third period as Chris Neil potted his second of the year, courtesy of Benoit and Smith. This produced the 5-1 final score, with the three stars being Anderson (31 for 32 in saves), Zibanejad, and Phillips, while Greening, Benoit, and Smith getting the honorable mentions.
Over in Minnesota, the Wild host the Chicago Blackhawks. Corey Crawford and Josh Harding will play goal. Minnesota quickly began in the first period with a Matt Cullen goal, assisted by Devin Setoguchi and Mikael Granlund. Chicago tied it on an Andrew Shaw goal, fueled by Bryan Bickell and Patrick Kane. The Blackhawks took the lead as Jonathan Toews scored his fourth of the season, courtesy of Marian Hossa. Niklas Backstrom relieved Harding after this. The Wild tied it with a Cal Clutterbuck goal in the second period, and Tom Gilbert picked up the only assist. The game required a shootout to be decided, and it was there that Zach Parise and Cullen lifted Minnesota to a 3-2 win over a lone Toews tally for Chicago. The three stars were Backstrom (28 for 28 in saves in relief), Clutterbuck, and Cullen, while Toews gets an honorable mention.
Southwest to Phoenix, where the Coyotes welcome the Edmonton Oilers. Devan Dubnyk and Chad Johnson are in the creases. Edmonton led off with a first period goal by Lennart Petrell, assisted by Ryan Smyth and Sam Gagner. Phoenix tied it late in the third period as Nick Johnson scored his second of the year, a power play goal powered by David Moss and Radim Vrbata. The Oilers won 2-1 in overtime on a power play goal by Nail Yakupov, his fourth of the year, passed from Ryan Whitney and Taylor Hall. Dubnyk (27 for 28 in saves), Chad Johnson (19 for 21 in saves), and Yakupov get the three stars.
North to Vancouver, as we end the day with the Canucks hosting the Colorado Avalanche. Semyon Varlamov and Roberto Luongo protect the nets. Vancouver started in the first period as Jason Garrison scored an unassisted goal. The Canucks added on in the second period as Maxim Lapierre scored an unassisted goal. Vancouver extended the lead in the third period with the fifth of the season by Zack Kassian, a power play goal powered by Dan Hamhuis and Alexander Edler. This was good for a 3-0 win, with the three stars being Luongo (24 save shutout), Alexandre Burrows, and Garrison, while Lapierre or Kassian deserve the second slot.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
No comments :
Post a Comment