NHL February 25th 2013

Five games to cover tonight, beginning in...

Philadelphia, as the Flyers host the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ben Scrivens and Ilya Bryzgalov receive the starting nods. Toronto started with a Phil Kessel goal, his fourth of the season, assisted by Tyler Bozak and Carl Gunnarsson. The Maple Leafs added on in the second period as Nikolai Kulemin scored his second of the year, via Nazem Kadri and Gunnarsson. Philadelphia got on the board as Scott Hartnell scored, with the help of Jakub Voracek and Claude Giroux. Toronto extended the lead in the third period with a Mikhail Grabovski goal, his sixth of the season, made possible by Clarke MacArthur and Kadri. The Flyers tied it on a Voracek power play goal, his eighth of the year, powered by Kimmo Timonen and Giroux. The Maple Leafs iced it at 4-2 with Jay McClement's second of the campaign, going into the empty net with a lone assist from Kulemin. The three stars went to Grabovski, Voracek, and Giroux, while Kulemin and Gunnarsson get the honorable mentions.

Up in Ottawa, the Senators host the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and Ben Bishop man the creases. Ottawa got going in the second period as Dave Dziurzynski scored his second of the season, thanks to Chris Neil and Chris Phillips. Montreal tied it with a power play goal by Andrei Markov, his fifth of the year, powered by Raphael Diaz and Max Pacioretty. The game required a shootout to be decided, and it was here that the Senators prevailed 2-1 on goals by Jakob Silfverberg and Peter Regin, outpacing a lone Canadiens tally from David Desharnais. Bishop (44 for 45 in saves), Regin, and Tomas Plekanec got the three stars.

Back south, the Nashville Predators welcome the Dallas Stars. Christopher Nilstorp and Pekka Rinne are the masked men. Nashville led off with a first period Craig Smith goal, his second of the season, coming off of Richard Clune and Sergei Kostitsyn. Dallas tied it in the second period with a goal by Matt Fraser, guided in by Loui Eriksson and Jordie Benn. The Stars quickly gained the lead as Reilly Smith scored his third of the year, thanks to Michael Ryder and Cody Eakin. The Predators tied it back up with a Roman Josi goal, his second of the season, made possible by  David Legwand and Patric Hornqvist. Dallas shot back on a Vernon Fiddler power play goal, powered by Jamie Benn and Ryder. The Stars extended the lead as Eriksson scored his fifth of the year, a power play goal set up by Ryder, who got a sock trick, and Stephane Robidas. Nashville replied as Hornqvist scored his second of the season, a power play goal coming from Martin Erat and Josi. The Predators tied it in the third period as Mike Fisher scored his fourth of the year, via Colin Wilson and Josi. Nashville won it 5-4 in overtime as Josi scored his second of the game and third of the campaign, assisted by Kostitsyn and Shea Weber. The three stars were awarded to Josi, Ryder, and Hornqvist, while Eriksson and Kostitsyn earn the honorable mentions.

Over in Chicago, the Blackhawks host the Edmonton Oilers. Nikolai Khabibulin and Ray Emery are between the pipes. Edmonton opened in the first period with a shorthanded goal by Jeff Petry, made possible by Lennart Petrell. Chicago tied it when Patrick Kane scored his tenth of the season, a power play goal powered by Marcus Kruger and Nick Leddy. The Oilers took the lead back in the second period with a Nail Yakupov power play goal, his sixth of the year, fueled by Sam Gagner and Justin Schultz. The Blackhawks tied it in the third period with a Viktor Stalberg goal, his fifth of the season, with a lone assist from Michal Rozsival. Chicago won 3-2 in overtime as Marian Hossa potted his ninth of the year, courtesy of Patrick Sharp. The three stars belonged to Hossa, Kane, and Yakupov.

Finally, we end with the Los Angeles Kings bringing in the Anaheim Ducks. Viktor Fasth and Jonathan Quick tend the twines. Anaheim began in the second period as Andrew Cogliano scored his fifth of the season, courtesy of Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. Los Angeles tied it as Dustin Penner scored, with the help of Jarret Stoll and Dwight King. The Ducks took the lead back on a Saku Koivu power play goal, his fifth of the year, powered by Francois Beauchemin and Ben Lovejoy. The Kings retied it as Dustin Brown notched his sixth of the season, via Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams. Los Angeles took the lead in the third period with a Slava Voynov goal, his third of the year, coming off of Kopitar and Brown. The Kings extended the lead on a Jake Muzzin goal, his second of the season, assisted by Kopitar, who got a sock trick, and Voynov. Los Angeles iced it at 5-2 when Jeff Carter put his tenth of the year in the empty net, set up by Mike Richards and Drew Doughty. The three stars were given to Kopitar, Voynov, and Penner, while Brown gets an honorable mention.

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