NHL February 13th 2013

Unlike their Russian counterparts, the NHL is going with a low number of games today. The first of three is in...

Pittsburgh, as the Penguins welcome the Ottawa Senators. Craig Anderson and Marc-Andre Fleury tend the twines. Pittsburgh was first to score in the first period as Pascal Dupuis potted his fifth of the season, assisted by Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz. Ottawa tied it in the second period with a goal from Stephane Da Costa, courtesy of Daniel Alfredsson and Sergei Gonchar. Twenty-four seconds later, Jim O'Brien notched his fourth of the year, via Erik Condra. The Penguins tied it with a James Neal power play goal, his ninth of the season, powered by Crosby and Paul Martin. Pittsburgh took the lead in the third period on another Neal goal, his second of the game and tenth of the year, fueled by Matt Cooke and Deryk Engelland. The Penguins padded the lead with Crosby's sixth of the season, coming off of Martin and Neal. This made it 4-2, a final, with the three stars belonging to Neal, Crosby, and Martin.

Over in Detroit, the Red Wings host the St. Louis Blues. Jake Allen and Jimmy Howard occupy the creases. Detroit struck first in the first period on a Tomas Tatar goal, fueled by Patrick Eaves. The Red Wings added on with a Drew Miller goal, assisted by Jordin Tootoo and Jakub Kindl. St. Louis got on the board as Patrik Berglund recorded his sixth of the season, a shorthanded goal made possible by T.J. Oshie. The Blues tied it in the second period with a Vladimir Tarasenko power play goal, his sixth of the year, powered by Chris Stewart and Andy McDonald. St. Louis took the lead as Stewart scored his sixth of the season, via Alex Pietrangelo. Detroit tied it with a Pavel Datsyuk goal, his sixth of the year (seems to be the number of the night), passed from Valtteri Filppula and Jonathan Ericsson. The Blues won 4-3 in overtime as Alex Steen notched his third of the campaign, courtesy of Barret Jackman and David Backes. The three stars were awarded to Steen, Stewart, and Datsyuk.

Northwest to Calgary, where we end with the Flames hosting the Dallas Stars. Richard Bachman and Leland Irving draw the starts. Calgary began with a first period Jay Bouwmeester goal, his third of the season, assisted by Michael Cammalleri and Lee Stempniak. The Flames added on as Jiri Hudler scored his fourth of the year, a power play goal powered by Alex Tanguay and Dennis Wideman. Calgary padded the lead as Cammalleri scored a power play goal, via Jarome Iginla and Roman Cervenka. Dallas got on the board as Eric Nystrom potted his second of the season, with the help of Vernon Fiddler and Ryan Garbutt. The Flames replied with a Cervenka goal, his second of the year, made possible by Tanguay and T.J. Brodie. The Stars answered in the second period on the second of the season by Brenden Morrow, coming off of Jaromir Jagr and Jamie Benn on the power play. Calgary shot back as Cammalleri scored his second of the game, with the help of Stempniak and Mark Giordano. Dallas pulled back on another Morrow goal, his second of the game and third of the year, guided in by Jamie Oleksiak and Jagr. The Flames responded as Curtis Glencross notched his fifth of the season, pushed through by Iginla and Blair Jones. The Stars chipped away in the third period on a Cody Eakin power play goal, set up by Michael Ryder and Alex Goligoski. Calgary iced it at 7-4 as Cammalleri finished his hat trick with an unassisted empty net goal. The three stars were handed to Cammalleri, Bouwmeester, and Morrow, while Cervenka, Iginla, Tanguay, Jagr, and Stempniak get the honorable mentions.

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