NHL February 11th 2013

Six games tonight, beginning in...

Toronto, as the Maple Leafs host the Philadelphia Flyers. Ilya Bryzgalov and James Reimer are the often-inconsistent goalies. Philadelphia started in the first period as Wayne Simmonds scored his third of the season, assisted by Danny Briere and Luke Schenn. Toronto tied it on a Dion Phaneuf goal, his second of the year, fueled by Leo Komarov and Nikolai Kulemin. The Maple Leafs took the lead in the second period as Colton Orr scored, with the help of Frazer McLaren and Cody Franson. Toronto added on as Matt Frattin recorded his seventh of the season, courtesy of Nazem Kadri and Franson. Reimer left shortly after due to injury, and was replaced by Ben Scrivens. The Maple Leafs struck again with a Clarke MacArthur goal, his second of the year, guided in by Kadri and Frattin. Bryzgalov was pulled in favor of Brian Boucher at this time. Toronto padded the lead in the third period as James van Riemsdyk put away his eighth of the season, coming off of Phil Kessel and Tyler Bozak. The Flyers got as close as 5-2 with a Tye McGinn goal, his second of the year, via Kurtis Foster and Ruslan Fedotenko. Scrivens (32 for 33 in saves in relief), Orr, and Mark Fraser got the three stars, while Frattin, Franson, or Kadri are much more deserving of the third star.

South to Columbus, with the Blue Jackets hosting the San Jose Sharks. Thomas Greiss and Steve Mason will draw the starts. Columbus quickly struck first in the first period as Brandon Dubinsky scored, with the help of Matt Calvert and Fedor Tyutin. The Blue Jackets added on in the second period as James Wisniewski scored a power play goal, his third of the season, powered by Derick Brassard and R.J. Umberger. Columbus extended the lead as Cody Goloubef scored a goal, made possible by Derek MacKenzie and Nick Foligno. San Jose got on the board thirteen seconds later with the tenth of the year by Patrick Marleau, assisted by Logan Couture and Douglas Murray. The Blue Jackets shot back in the third period as Nikita Nikitin scored, with assists provided by Calvert and Dubinsky. Columbus padded the lead as Vinny Prospal netted his fourth of the season, a power play goal set up by Foligno and Jack Johnson. The Blue Jackets quickly got another as Mark Letestu scored his fifth of the year just eight seconds later, with a lone assist by Artem Anisimov. The Sharks got one back late on a Joe Pavelski goal, his sixth of the campaign coming on the power play from Dan Boyle and Joe Thornton. This made it 6-2, a final, with the three stars being Dubinsky, Foligno, and Calvert.

Back east, the New York Islanders host the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward and Rick DiPietro will be between the pipes. New York began with a first period power play goal by Frans Nielsen, powered by Josh Bailey and Travis Hamonic. Carolina tied it on a Tim Wallace goal, set up by Jamie McBain and Andreas Nodl. The Islanders reclaimed the lead in the second period as John Tavares scored a power play goal, his seventh of the season, assisted by Matt Moulson and Lubomir Visnovsky. The Hurricanes tied it as Jeff Skinner recoded his seventh of the year, via Jordan Staal. New York regained the lead with a Moulson power play goal, his fifth of the season, coming off of Brad Boyes and Tavares. Carolina pulled even again in the third period on a Jiri Tlusty goal, his second of the year, made possible by Alexander Semin and Eric Staal. The Hurricanes took the lead as Semin scored his third of the season, with a lone assist by Tlusty. Carolina extended the lead as Eric Staal scored his eighth of the year, courtesy of Tlusty and Jay Harrison. The Islanders replied as Visnovsky scored a power play goal, passed from Boyes and Mark Streit. The Hurricanes iced it at 6-4 as Tlusty put his second of the game and third of the campaign into the empty, with assists provided by Semin and Justin Faulk. The three stars were awarded to Tlusty, Semin, and Tavares, while Eric Staal, Visnovsky, Moulson, and Boyes receive the honorable mentions.

Westward to St. Louis, as the Blues host the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Bernier and Brian Elliott are the backups making spot starts. Los Angeles was first to score in the first period as Jeff Carter notched his fifth of the season, assisted by Slava Voynov and Mike Richards. The Kings added on in the second period as Carter scored his second of the game and sixth of the year, coming off of Keaton Ellerby. Los Angeles padded the lead with a Davis Drewiske power play goal, powered by Dustin Brown and Anze Kopitar. St. Louis got on the board as Alex Steen scored his second of the season, a power play goal set up by Kevin Shattenkirk and Andy McDonald. The Kings replied in the third period as Jarret Stoll put down his second of the year, via Voynov and Dustin Penner. This made it 4-1, the final, with Carter, Voynov, and Bernier (21 for 22 in saves) picking up the three stars.

Out in Colorado, the Avalanche welcome the Phoenix Coyotes. Mike Smith and Semyon Varlamov tend the twines. Phoenix opened with a first period goal by Shane Doan, his third of the season, coming off of Kyle Chipchura. Colorado tied it in the second period as Mark Olver scored, thanks to Milan Hejduk and Ryan O'Byrne. The Avalanche took the lead with a Matt Duchene goal, his third of the year, made possible by P.A. Parenteau. The Coyotes tied it again in the third period as Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored his third of the season, with the help of Lauri Korpikoski and Doan. Phoenix won it in overtime on Doan's second of the game and fourth of the year, set up by Chipchura. This made it 3-2, with the three stars going to Doan, Duchene, and Ekman-Larsson, while Chipchura gets an honorable mention.

Finally, we end in Calgary, as the Flames host the Minnesota Wild. Niklas Backstrom and Leland Irving have the green light to start. Minnesota got going in the second period on a Kyle Brodziak goal, fueled by Devin Setoguchi and Ryan Suter. Calgary tied it in the third period as Jiri Hudler scored his third of the season, assisted by Roman Cervenka. The game went to a shootout, where the Wild got goals from Zach Parise and Mikko Koivu to earn a 2-1 win, beating a lone tally by Hudler for the Flames. The three stars were Dennis Wideman, Hudler, and Koivu, while Parise, Brodziak, Backstrom (23 for 24 in saves), or Irving (23 for 24 in saves) could take the first slot.

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