NHL February 17th 2013

Seven games today for Hockey Day in America, beginning with...

The Buffalo Sabres hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury and Ryan Miller tend the twines. Pittsburgh opened with a first period Pascal Dupuis goal, his sixth of the season, assisted by Brooks Orpik and Chris Kunitz. The Penguins added on as Sidney Crosby scored his seventh of the year, an unassisted power play goal. Buffalo got on the board as Cody Hodgson scored his seventh of the season, via Christian Ehrhoff and Thomas Vanek. The Sabres tied it in the second period with a Vanek power play goal, his twelfth of the year, powered by Ehrhoff and Tyler Ennis. Buffalo took the lead in the third period as Steve Ott scored his third of the season, thanks to Nathan Gerbe and Jochen Hecht. Pittsburgh retied it as Dupuis scored his second of the game and seventh of the year, made possible by Kris Letang and Crosby. The Penguins took the lead with a Paul Martin goal, his second of the campaign, fueled by Crosby Dupuis. This held for a 4-3 win, with the three stars being Dupuis, Vanek, and Martin, while Crosby and Ehrhoff get the honorable mentions.

West to Chicago, where the Blackhawks host the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick and Ray Emery receive the starting nods. Chicago led off in the first period as Brent Seabrook scored his second of the season, courtesy of Duncan Keith and Michael Frolik. The Blackhawks added on with a Jonathan Toews goal, his seventh of the year coming on the power play from Keith and Seabrook. Chicago padded the lead in the second period when Patrick Sharp scored his third of the season, assisted by Toews and Johnny Oduya. Los Angeles got on the board in the third period as Mike Richards scored his third of the year, a power play goal powered by Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty. The Kings pulled closer as Richards scored his second of the game and fourth of the season, another power play goal set up by Doughty and Justin Williams. They failed to tie the game, falling 3-2, with Seabrook, Toews, and Keith receiving the three stars, while Richards and Doughty got the honorable mentions.

Back east, the New York Rangers host the Washington Capitals. Braden Holtby and Henrik Lundqvist guard the cages. Washington began with a first period John Carlson goal, his second of the season, made possible by Mike Ribeiro and Eric Fehr. New York tied it in the second period as Carl Hagelin scored his sixth of the year, coming off of Ryan McDonagh and Rick Nash. The Rangers took the lead in the third period on a Derek Stepan power play goal, his third of the season, powered by Michael Del Zotto and Brad Richards. This was all they needed to win 2-1, with Hagelin, Nash, and Holtby (38 for 40 in saves) getting the three stars, while Lundqvist (27 for 28 in saves) receives an honorable mention.

Northwest to Minnesota, with the Wild welcoming the Detroit Red Wings. Petr Mrazek and Darcy Kuemper are the young goalies. Detroit started in the first period as Damien Brunner scored his seventh of the season, thanks to Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg. The Red Wings added on in the second period with a Datsyuk goal, his seventh of the year, courtesy of Zetterberg and Brian Lashoff. Minnesota got on the board with a Dany Heatley goal, his fifth of the season, made possible by Mikko Koivu and Zach Parise. The Wild tied it with a Jason Zucker unassisted goal. Minnesota took the lead with a Torrey Mitchell goal, coming off of Mikael Granlund. This stood for a 3-2 win, with the three stars being Zucker, Kuemper (29 for 31 in saves), and Mitchell, while Datsyuk and Zetterberg got the honorable mentions.

South to Dallas, where the Stars bring in the Calgary Flames. Joey MacDonald and Richard Bachman are the backups relieving injured starters. Calgary struck first in the first period as Michael Cammalleri scored his fourth of the season, a power play goal powered by Alex Tanguay and Dennis Wideman. Dallas tied it in the second period as Cody Eakin scored his third of the year, made possible by Michael Ryder. The Stars took the lead with a Reilly Smith goal, his second of the season, passed from Derek Roy and Loui Eriksson. Dallas added on as Ryan Garbutt scored his third of the year, thanks to Stephane Robidas. The Flames pulled back in the third period with a Roman Horak goal, set up by Jay Bouwmeester and Roman Cervenka. Calgary tied it with a Matt Stajan goal, assisted by Lee Stempniak and Curtis Glencross. The Flames took the lead as Steve Begin scored, with the help of Chris Butler and Blake Comeau. They weathered a late storm to hold onto the 4-3 win, with the three stars being Stajan, Garbutt, and Bouwmeester.

North again to Winnipeg, with the Jets hosting the Boston Bruins. Tuukka Rask and Ondrej Pavelec are between the pipes. Winnipeg got going in the second period as Alex Burmistrov scored his second of the season, via Zach Bogosian and Zach Redmond. Boston tied it on the third of the year by Tyler Seguin, courtesy of Zdeno Chara and Patrice Bergeron. The Jets got the lead back when Evander Kane scored his fourth of the season, made possible by Nik Antropov and Burmistrov. The Bruins tied it again quickly with a Daniel Paille goal, his second of the year, guided in by Johnny Boychuk and Chris Kelly. Boston took the lead in the third period with a Brad Marchand power play goal, his eighth of the season, powered by Bergeron and Chris Bourque. This held up for a 3-2 win, with the three stars going to Burmistrov, Marchand, and Kane, while Bergeron picks up the honorable mention.

Finally, in Vancouver, the Canucks host the St. Louis Blues. Jake Allen and Roberto Luongo protect the nets. Vancouver was first to score in the first period as Ryan Kesler scored a power play goal, powered by Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin. St. Louis tied on a T.J. Oshie goal, his fifth of the season, assisted by David Backes and David Perron. The Canucks took the lead back on a Henrik Sedin goal, fueled by Alexandre Burrows and Alexander Edler. The Blues tied it on an Andy McDonald goal, his third of the year, coming off of Vladimir Tarasenko and Barret Jackman. St. Louis took the lead in the third period as Vladimir Sobotka scored his second of the season, via Chris Stewart and Patrik Berglund. Vancouver tied it again on a Mason Raymond power play goal, his fifth of the year, an unassisted goal. The Blues won 4-3 in overtime as Oshie and McDonald scored to topple the Canucks. The three stars were given to Henrik Sedin, Oshie, and Raymond.

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