NHL February 19th 2013

Eight games tonight, beginning in...

New York City, as the Rangers host the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and Henrik Lundqvist tend the twines. New York began in the second period on an Anton Stralman goal, his second of the season, made possible by Derek Stepan and Carl Hagelin. Montreal tied it on a Max Pacioretty goal, his second of the year, guided in by Josh Gorges and David Desharnais. The Canadiens took the lead in the third period as Alex Galchenyuk scored his second of the season, courtesy of Brandon Prust and Lars Eller. Montreal iced it at 3-1 with a Raphael Diaz empty net goal, going in unassisted. The three stars were given to Galchenyuk, Price (24 for 25 in saves), and Hagelin.

To the west, the Buffalo Sabres host the Winnipeg Jets. Ondrej Pavelec and Ryan Miller are in the creases. Winnipeg opened with a first period goal by Bryan Little, his third of the season, coming off of Evander Kane and James Wright. The Jets added on in the second period as Andrew Ladd scored his eighth of the year, via Ron Hainsey. Buffalo got on the board when Jason Pominville scored his seventh of the season, with a lone assist from Cody Hodgson. This was as close as it got, and Winnipeg won 2-1 after a scoreless third period. The three stars were Little, Pominville, and Ladd.

Up in Canada, the Ottawa Senators host the New York Islanders. Rick DiPietro and Craig Anderson receive the starting nods. Ottawa got going with a second period Colin Greening power play goal, his second of the season, powered by Stephane Da Costa and Daniel Alfredsson. The Senators added on with an Andre Benoit goal, fueled by Jakob Silfverberg. New York got on the board in the third period when Travis Hamonic scored his second of the year, courtesy of Marty Reasoner and Kyle Okposo. Ottawa iced it at 3-1 when Dave Dziurzynski scored, thanks to Zack Smith and Eric Gryba. The three stars were handed to Anderson (37 for 38 in saves), Gryba, and John Tavares, while any point-earner could take the third slot.

Down in Tampa Bay, the Lightning welcome the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ben Scrivens and Anders Lindback will protect the nets. Tampa Bay was first to score in the first period as Vincent Lecavalier scored his sixth of the season, assisted by Benoit Pouliot and Martin St. Louis. Toronto tied it on a Mikhail Grabovski goal, his fourth of the year, fueled by Nikolai Kulemin and Clarke MacArthur. The Lightning retook the lead in the second period on a Steven Stamkos goal, his tenth of the season, made possible by Cory Conacher and Pouliot. Tampa Bay padded the lead in the third period on an Alex Killorn goal, his second of the year, with a lone assist by B.J. Crombeen. The Lightning extended the lead as Matt Carle scored his third of the season, a power play goal powered by Pouliot, who got a sock trick, and Victor Hedman. Scrivens was relieved by Jussi Rynnas in goal at this time. The Maple Leafs got one back late as James van Riemsdyk scored his ninth of the year, via Phil Kessel and Tyler Bozak. The final stood at 4-2, with the three stars going to Lecavalier, Pouliot, and Carle,

Northwest to St. Louis, with the Blues hosting the San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi and Jake Allen are the masked men. St. Louis started in the first period with a Patrik Berglund goal, his ninth of the season, assisted by Vladimir Sobotka and Chris Stewart. San Jose tied it as Joe Thornton scored his fourth of the year in the second period, passed from Dan Boyle and Patrick Marleau. The Sharks took the lead in the third period as Tim Kennedy scored his second of the season, courtesy of Tommy Wingels and Justin Braun. This stood for a 2-1 win, with the three stars awarded to Niemi (25 for 26 in saves), Allen (23 for 25 in saves), and Sobotka.

East to Nashville, with the Predators hosting the Detroit Red Wings. Jimmy Howard and Pekka Rinne guard the cages. Nashville led off in the first period as Craig Smith scored a power play goal, passed from Colin Wilson and Shea Weber. The Predators extended the lead as Gabriel Bourque scored his fourth of the season, via Scott Hannan and Mike Fisher. Jonas Gustavsson replaced Howard in goal at this time. Detroit got on the board as Danny Cleary scored his second of the year, a shorthanded goal set up by Pavel Datsyuk. The Red Wings tied it on a Jordin Tootoo goal, fueled by Henrik Zetterberg and Jakub Kindl. Nashville regained the lead as Roman Josi scored an unassisted goal. Detroit tied it again as Datsyuk scored his eighth of the season, assisted by Cleary and the goalie Gustavsson. The Predators won 4-3 in overtime as Weber scored his third of the year, with the help of Wilson and Sergei Kostitsyn. Weber, Datsyuk, and Bourque were named the three stars, while Cleary and Wilson get the honorable mentions.

Over in Chicago, the Blackhawks bring in the Vancouver Canucks. Cory Schneider and Ray Emery are the backups making spot starts. Vancouver struck first in the first period on a Daniel Sedin goal, his fifth of the season, made possible by Dan Hamhuis. Chicago tied it on a second period Patrick Sharp goal, his fourth of the year, fueled by Patrick Kane and Michal Rozsival. The Blackhawks took the lead with a Marian Hossa goal, his seventh of the season, coming on the power play via Johnny Oduya. Chicago extended the lead with an unassisted Hossa, his second of the game and eighth of the year. The Canucks got one back in the third period on an Alexander Edler power play goal, his fourth of the season, powered by Henrik Sedin and David Booth. Vancouver tied it when Kevin Bieksa scored his fourth of the year, courtesy of Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin. The Blackhawks won in the shootout with tallies by Kane and Andrew Shaw toppling a lone Canucks tally by Chris Higgins. Hossa, Sharp, and Emery (29 for 32 in saves) got the three stars in the 4-3 game, while Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin get the honorable mentions.

Finally, in Edmonton, the Oilers welcome the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick and Nikolai Khabibulin are between the pipes. Los Angeles began in the second period with a Colin Fraser goal, assisted by Trevor Lewis and Jordan Nolan. Edmonton tied it when Sam Gagner scored his fifth of the season, a power play goal powered by Taylor Hall and Justin Schultz. The Kings took the lead in the third period with a Jeff Carter goal, his seventh of the year, made possible by Lewis and Davis Drewiske. Los Angeles iced it at 3-1 with Jarret Stoll putting his third of the campaign into the empty net, with the help of Dwight King and Drew Doughty. The three stars were given to Quick (23 for 24 in saves), Khabibulin (35 for 37 in saves), and Carter, while Lewis gets the honorable mention.

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