Programming note: the KHL (obviously everyone's favorite league considering the reduction in view count this past week and a half) comes back tomorrow and will play every other day thru Sunday before the playoffs begin. The NHL rolls today with ten games, beginning in...
New Jersey, as the Devils host the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward and Martin Brodeur man the creases. New Jersey opened in the first period as Ilya Kovalchuk scored his fifth of the season, assisted by Marek Zidlicky and Patrik Elias on the power play. Carolina tied it in the second period with a Jussi Jokinen power play goal, powered by Joe Corvo and Joni Pitkanen. The Hurricanes took the lead on a Patrick Dwyer goal, his fourth of the year, made possible by Jay Harrison and Justin Faulk. The Devils tied it again as Ryan Carter scored his second of the season, an unassisted goal. Carolina gained the lead back as Jiri Tlusty potted his fourth of the year, courtesy of Eric Staal. The Hurricanes iced it at 4-2 with a Tlusty empty net goal, his second of the game and fifth of the campaign, set up by Eric Staal and Faulk. Tlusty, Ward (26 for 28 in saves), and Kovalchuk picked up the three stars, while Eric Staal and Faulk get the honorable mentions.
Down in Florida, the Panthers bring in the Washington Capitals. Braden Holtby and Scott Clemmensen are given the starting nods. Washington was first to score in the first period as Mike Ribeiro recorded his fifth of the season, a power play goal helped along by Tomas Kundratek. Florida tied it on a Tomas Fleischmann goal, his fourth of the year, via Filip Kuba. The Panthers took the lead as Shawn Matthias scored a power play goal, his second of the season, powered by Marcel Goc and Dmitry Kulikov. The Capitals tied it in the second period with a shorthanded goal by Karl Alzner, set up by Eric Fehr and Joel Ward. Florida took the lead back as Jonathan Huberdeau scored his fourth of the year, passed from Peter Mueller and Erik Gudbranson. Washington replied as Matt Hendricks put away his third of the season, a shorthanded goal guided in by Alex Ovechkin and Ribeiro. The Panthers regained the lead as Jonathan Huberdeau scored his fifth of the year, courtesy of Mueller and Drew Shore. Florida extended the lead as Shore scored in the third period, with the help of Jack Skille. The Capitals chipped away as Fehr scored, with a lone helper from Mike Green. Washington tied it on an Ovechkin power play goal, his fifth of the season, powered by Ribeiro and Nicklas Backstrom. The Capitals completed the comeback in overtime as Troy Brouwer scored his sixth of the year, coming off of Backstrom. This made it a 6-5 final, with Backstrom, Huberdeau, and Ovechkin getting the three stars, while Ribeiro, Fehr, Mueller, and Shore get the honorable mentions.
North a touch to Tampa Bay, as the Lightning host the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and Anders Lindback protect the nets. Montreal led off in the first period with a Brian Gionta power play goal, his third of the season, powered by Tomas Plekanec and P.K. Subban. The Canadiens extended the lead in the second period as Subban scored his third of the year, with a lone assist from Lars Eller. Montreal padded the lead as Travis Moen scored, via Eller and Colby Armstrong. Tampa Bay got on the board in the third period with a Victor Hedman, his third of the season, made possible by Tom Pyatt and Benoit Pouliot. The Lightning got closer with another Hedman goal, his second of the game and fourth of the year, passed from Teddy Purcell and Sami Salo. Tampa Bay tied it with a Salo power play goal, powered by Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis. The Canadiens saved face in the shootout with a lone tally by David Desharnais lifting them to a 4-3 win, with the three stars belonging to Hedman, Lindback (31 for 34 in saves), and Subban, while Salo and Eller get the honorable mentions.
Further north, the Boston Bruins host the New York Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist and Tuukka Rask guard the cages. New York began with a first period goal by Carl Hagelin, his fourth of the season, assisted by Rick Nash and Dan Girardi. The Rangers added on as Derek Stepan scored his second of the year, an unassisted goal. New York padded the lead in the third period as Anton Stralman put away an unassisted goal. Boston got on the board as David Krejci scored his fourth of the season, via Milan Lucic and Dennis Seidenberg. The Bruins pulled closer on a Nathan Horton goal, his fourth of the year, coming off of Lucic and Andrew Ference. Boston tied it on a Brad Marchand, his seventh of the season, set up by Patrice Bergeron and Seidenberg. The game required a shootout, where the Rangers got redemption as Nash and Marchand traded goals before a Ryan Callahan tally lifted the Rangers to a 4-3 win. The three stars were Nash, Krejci, and Girardi, while Marchand, Seidenberg, and Lucic get the honorable mentions.
Into Canada, as the Ottawa Senators welcome the Buffalo Sabres. Ryan Miller and Craig Anderson will be between the pipes. Ottawa got going in the second period as Erik Karlsson scored his sixth of the season, a shorthanded goal set up by Milan Michalek. The Senators added on with an Erik Condra goal, his second of the year, fueled by Kyle Turris and Sergei Gonchar. This stood for a 2-0 win, with the three stars being Anderson (42 save shutout), Karlsson, and Condra.
South to Nashville, as the Predators host the San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi and Pekka Rinne are the Finnish goalies. Nashville started and ended the scoring in overtime on the fourth of the campaign by Colin Wilson, assisted by Ryan Ellis and David Legwand. This produced the 1-0 final, with the three stars awarded to Rinne (25 save shutout), Wilson, and Niemi (24 for 25 in saves).
Back up in Canada, the Winnipeg Jets host the Philadelphia Flyers. Ilya Bryzgalov and Al Montoya are set to start. Philadelphia struck first with a first period Brayden Schenn goal, his third of the season, assisted by Jakub Voracek and Braydon Coburn. Winnipeg tied it as Andrew Ladd scored his fifth of the year, thanks to Blake Wheeler. The Flyers retook the lead as Kimmo Timonen scored a power play goal, his second of the season, powered by Claude Giroux and Wayne Simmonds. Ondrej Pavelec relieved Montoya for the third period. Philadelphia padded the lead as Tye McGinn scored his third of the year in the third period, coming off of Voracek. The Jets took one back on a Ladd goal, his second of the game and sixth of the campaign, fueled by Evander Kane and Wheeler. This only made it 3-2, a final, with the three stars being Voracek, Ladd, and Bryzgalov (24 for 26 in saves), while Wheeler picks up an honorable mention.
Stateside again, with the Chicago Blackhawks hosting the Anaheim Ducks. Viktor Fasth and Corey Crawford will be in the blue paint. Anaheim opened in the second period with a Ryan Getzlaf power play goal, his fourth of the season, powered by Nick Bonino and Ben Lovejoy. Chicago tied it on a Nick Leddy power play goal, his second of the year, guided in by Patrick Sharp and Patrick Kane. The Blackhawks took the lead as Brandon Saad scored his second of the season, thanks to Jonathan Toews. The Ducks tied it on a third period Andrew Cogliano goal, coming off of Francois Beauchemin and Lovejoy. Anaheim took the game in the shootout as Bonino and Corey Perry scored to top a lone Chicago tally from Toews. The three stars of the 3-2 game were Crawford (29 for 31 in saves), Saad, and Marcus Kruger, while Bonino or Lovejoy could more readily fill the third star selection.
Northwest to Edmonton, as the Oilers bring in the Dallas Stars. Kari Lehtonen and Devan Dubnyk are the masked men. Edmonton led off in the first period as Taylor Hall scored his third of the season, with the help of Jordan Eberle. Dallas tied it in the second period on a Brenden Dillon goal, his second of the year, fueled by Stephane Robidas and Derek Roy. The Stars took the lead in the third period as Eric Nystrom scored, with a lone assist from Vernon Fiddler. Dallas added on as Jaromir Jagr scored his fourth of the season, assisted by Trevor Daley and Jamie Benn. The Stars extended the lead on the second of the year from Ryan Garbutt, via Fiddler. Lehtonen (35 for 36 in saves), Hall, and Dillon got the three stars, while Fiddler gets an honorable mention in the 4-1 game.
Finally, we end in Vancouver, as the Canucks welcome the Minnesota Wild. Darcy Kuemper is mismatched with Roberto Luongo in goal. Vancouver struck first in the first period as Kevin Bieksa scored his third of the season, a power play goal powered by Zack Kassian and Dan Hamhuis. The Canucks added on in the second period as Jannik Hansen scored his third of the year, assisted by Keith Ballard and Mason Raymond. Minnesota got on the board in the second period with a Devin Setoguchi power play goal, his second of the season, passed from Matt Cullen and Mikael Granlund.
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