Six games on tonight, mostly being played early. We begin with an intracity battle...
As the New York Rangers host the New York Islanders. Evgeni Nabokov and Martin Biron are in the creases. The Rangers opened in the first period as Dan Girardi scored, with the help of Carl Hagelin and Rick Nash. The Rangers added on with a Marian Gaborik goal, his seventh of the season, fueled by Brad Richards and Ryan Callahan. The Islanders got on the board in the second period with a Colin McDonald goal, his second of the year, coming off of Casey Cizikas. The Islanders tied it as John Tavares scored his eighth of the season, an unassisted goal. The Islanders took the lead with Brad Boyes potting his fourth of the year, via Lubomir Visnovsky and Brian Strait. The Rangers pulled even with a Hagelin power play goal, his fifth of the season, powered by Gaborik and Marc Staal. The Islanders took the game in the shootout as Frans Nielsen and Tavares both scored, resulting in a 4-3 win. The three stars belonged to Tavares, Gaborik, and Hagelin.
Down in Raleigh, the Carolina Hurricanes welcome the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ben Scrivens and Dan Ellis are the backup level goalies. Carolina got going in the second period with a Joe Corvo goal, his second of the season, assisted by Eric Staal. Toronto tied it on a Nazem Kadri power play goal, his fourth of the year, powered by Dion Phaneuf and Mikhail Grabovski. The Hurricanes retook the lead on a Jussi Jokinen power play goal, his second of the season, made possible by Jeff Skinner and Corvo. Carolina added on as Jordan Staal scored his second of the year, thanks to Skinner and Jamie McBain. This made it 3-1, a final, with the three stars going to Corvo, Skinner, and Jordan Staal.
Further south, the Florida Panthers host the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and Jose Theodore receive the starting nods. Montreal began and ceased the scoring in overtime as Rene Bourque scored his fourth of the season, with a lone assist by Alex Galchenyuk. In the 1-0 game, the three stars were Price (26 save shutout), Bourque, and Theodore (31 for 32 in saves).
Staying in the state, the Tampa Bay Lightning host the Washington Capitals. Braden Holtby and Mathieu Garon will wear the pads. Washington led off with a first period Troy Brouwer power play goal, his seventh of the season, powered by Mathieu Perreault and Nicklas Backstrom. Tampa Bay tied it with the fourth of the year by Martin St. Louis, set up by Benoit Pouliot and Vincent Lecavalier. The Capitals took the lead back in the second period on Eric Fehr's second of the season, coming off of Perreault and Joel Ward. Washington added on in the third period as Fehr scored his second of the game and third of the year, courtesy of Perreault, who got a sock trick, and John Carlson. The Capitals got another on a Jay Beagle goal, fueled by Jeff Schultz and Tomas Kundratek. The Lightning got one back as Teddy Purcell scored his third of the season, made possible by Steven Stamkos. Tampa Bay pulled closer as Nate Thompson put away his third of the year, with a helper from St. Louis. They failed to tie the game, losing 4-3, with the three stars going to Fehr, Perreault, and Thompson, while St. Louis gets an honorable mention.
Northwest to Minnesota, as the Wild bring in the Colorado Avalanche. Jean-Sebastien Giguere and Niklas Backstrom protect the nets. Colorado struck first in the second period as Aaron Palushaj scored, with assists provided by David Jones and Paul Stastny. Minnesota tied it as Zach Parise scored his seventh of the season, assisted by Mikko Koivu and Dany Heatley. The Avalanche retook the lead as Milan Hejduk notched his second of the year, via Jamie McGinn and Tyson Barrie. The Wild tied it again in the third period when Michael Rupp scored, with the help of Mikael Granlund. Minnesota gained the lead as Koivu recorded his third of the season, coming off of Heatley and Ryan Suter. Colorado tied it with a Matt Duchene goal, his fourth of the year, passed from P.A. Parenteau and Shane O'Brien. The Avalanche won 4-3 in the shootout as Hejduk and Duchene each tallied a goal. The three stars were Duchene, Koivu, and Rupp, while Hejduk and Heatley get the honorable mentions.
Backtracking to Nashville, where we end the day with the Predators hosting the Phoenix Coyotes. Mike Smith and Pekka Rinne tend the twines. Nashville started in the third period on a Gabriel Bourque goal, his third of the season, assisted by Martin Erat and Shea Weber on the power play. The Predators extended the lead as Nick Spaling scored his third of the year, thanks to Matt Halischuk and Colin Wilson. Nashville padded the lead as Mike Fisher scored his second of the campaign, fueled by Ryan Ellis and Erat. This made it 3-0, with the three stars being Rinne (19 save shutout), Ellis, and Fisher, while Erat gets an honorable mention.
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