NHL February 7th 2013

Huge slate of games today, with twelve games starting within two hours of each other. We begin in...

Pittsburgh, where the Penguins host the Washington Capitals. Michal Neuvirth and Marc-Andre Fleury are given the starting nods. Washington led off in the first period as Mike Ribeiro scored his fourth of the season, assisted by Tomas Kundratek and Alex Ovechkin. Pittsburgh tied it in the second period on an Evgeni Malkin power play goal, his third of the year, powered by Sidney Crosby and Paul Martin. The Penguins took the lead as Pascal Dupuis scored his fourth of the season, thanks to Crosby and Chris Kunitz. Braden Hotlby relieved Neuvirth at this time. Pittsburgh padded the lead as James Neal scored his seventh of the year, a power play goal, coming off of Kunitz and Malkin. The Penguins extended the lead when Matt Cooke netted his second of the season, with a lone assist by Brandon Sutter. Pittsburgh struck again as Crosby put away his fifth of the year, a power play goal passed from Malkin and Neal. The Capitals shot back in the third period with the third of the season by Ovechkin, a power play goal guided in by Ribeiro and Mike Green. This only made it 5-2, the final, with the three stars awarded to Malkin, Crosby, and Neal, while Ovechkin, Ribeiro, and Kunitz receive the honorable mentions.

Moving east to New Jersey, as the Devils host the Tampa Bay Lightning. Anders Lindback and Martin Brodeur will be in the creases. New Jersey got going in the second period as Adam Henrique scored his third of the season, thanks to Anton Volchenkov and Patrik Elias. Tampa Bay tied it with a Nate Thompson goal, his second of the year, made possible by Martin St. Louis. The Devils retook the lead as Ilya Kovalchuk scored his third of the season, a shorthanded goal going in unassisted. New Jersey extended the lead in the third period on an Andy Greene power play goal, his second of the year, powered by David Clarkson and Elias. The Devils quickly padded the lead as Elias sank his third of the season, a power play goal coming off of Kovalchuk and Greene. The Lightning replied as Matt Carle potted his second of the year, with a lone St. Louis assist. This only made it 4-2, which was the margin of victory for New Jersey, and the three stars went to Kovalchuk, Elias, and Greene, while St. Louis gets the honorable mention.

Into New York City, with the New York Rangers hosting the New York Islanders. Evgeni Nabokov and Henrik Lundqvist are the veteran goalies. The Rangers struck first in the first period as J.T. Miller scored, with the help of Chris Kreider and Marc Staal. The Rangers added on as Marian Gaborik recorded his sixth of the season, assisted by Staal and Brad Richards. The Islanders got one back in the second period as John Tavares scored his fifth of the year, courtesy of Matt Moulson and Joe Finley. The Rangers answered on a Miller power play goal, his second of the game, powered by Ryan McDonagh. The Rangers iced it at 4-1 as McDonagh put the puck in the empty net with no assists. The three stars went to Miller, Lundqvist (27 for 28 in saves), and McDonagh, while Staal gets an honorable mention.

West to Columbus, with the Blue Jackets welcoming the Calgary Flames. Leland Irving and Sergei Bovrovsky are the young goalies. Calgary was first to score in the first period as Roman Cervenka scored, with assists provided by Dennis Wideman and Jiri Hudler. Columbus tied it when Matt Calvert found twine, courtesy of Vinny Prospal and Tim Erixon. The Blue Jackets took the lead as Mark Letestu potted his fourth of the season, a power play goal powered by Derick Brassard and Jack Johnson. The Flames tied it on a Mikael Backlund goal, his third of the year, made possible by T.J. Brodie and Hudler. Calgary took the lead in the third period with a Lee Stempniak power play goal, his fourth of the season, guided in by Jay Bouwmeester and the goalie Irving. Columbus retied it on a Prospal goal, his third of the year, pushed through by Letestu. The Flames won 4-3 in overtime on an Alex Tanguay goal, his fourth of the campaign, fueled by Jarome Iginla and Brodie. Tanguay, Letestu, and Hudler picked up the three stars while Brodie and Prospal receive the honorable mentions.

Back in Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia Flyers host the Florida Panthers. Jose Theodore and Ilya Bryzgalov have the green light to start. Florida started in the first period with a Jack Skille goal, fueled by Dmitry Kulikov and Mike Weaver. Philadelphia tied it as Jakub Voracek notched his second of the season, a power play goal set up by Kimmo Timonen and Claude Giroux. The Flyers took the lead in the second period as Matt Read put away his fourth of the year, courtesy of Mike Knuble and Sean Couturier. The Panthers tied it in the third period with a Stephen Weiss power play goal, powered by Tomas Fleischmann and Kulikov. Florida took the game 3-2 in the shootout with goals by Jonathan Huberdeau and Peter Mueller. The three stars were Theodore (30 for 32 in saves), Knuble, and Weiss, while Kulikov gets the honorable mention.

Moving along to Buffalo, where the Sabres host the Montreal Canadiens. Peter Budaj is mismatched with Ryan Miller in goal. Montreal began with a first period Tomas Plekanec goal, his fifth of the season, assisted by Rene Bourque and Alexei Emelin. Buffalo tied it as Steve Ott scored his second of the year, thanks to Jochen Hecht. The Canadiens regained the lead in the second period with a Brendan Gallagher goal, his fourth of the season, coming off of Brandon Prust and Raphael Diaz. The Sabres retied it as Tyler Ennis scored his fourth of the year, made possible by Marcus Foligno. Montreal took the lead back on an P.K. Subban power play goal, his second of the season, powered by Andrei Markov and Max Pacioretty. The Canadiens padded the lead in the third period as Plekanec scored his second of the game and sixth of the year, courtesy of Brian Gionta and Bourque. Buffalo chipped away as Thomas Vanek sank his ninth of the season, a power play goal helped along by Ennis and Foligno. The Sabres tied it with two seconds left as Vanek scored his second of the game and tenth of the year, with helpers provided by Ott and Ennis. The game was decided in a shootout, as Vanek and Jason Pominville lifted Buffalo 5-4 over a lone Alex Galchenyuk tally. The three stars were given to Vanek, Ennis, and Foligno, while Ott, Plekanec, and Bourque receive the honorable mentions.

Crossing into Canada, with the Ottawa Senators bringing in the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward and Craig Anderson protect the nets. Ottawa opened in the first period as Erik Karlsson scored his fifth of the season, via Jakob Silfverberg and Zack Smith. Carolina tied it in the second period with a Chad LaRose goal, coming off of Drayson Bowman and Jay Harrison. The Senators took the lead back as Daniel Alfredsson potted his third of the year, assisted by Kyle Turris and Sergei Gonchar. The Hurricanes tied it in the third period as Alexander Semin scored his second of the season, a power play goal, powered by Eric Staal and Tim Brent. Carolina won 3-2 in overtime as Harrison potted his second of the year, courtesy of Jordan Staal and Jeff Skinner. Ward (45 for 47 in saves), Alfredsson, and Harrison got the three stars.

Back in the states, the St. Louis Blues host the Detroit Red Wings. Petr Mrazek and Brian Elliott will make the starts. Detroit was first to score in the first period as Daniel Cleary scored, thanks to Tomas Tatar and Justin Abdelkader. The Red Wings extended the lead with a Jakub Kindl goal, set up by Cory Emmerton and Drew Miller. St. Louis got on the board in the second period as Alex Pietrangelo scored his third of the season, a power play goal powered by David Backes and Kevin Shattenkirk. Detroit shot back as Emmerton scored, courtesy of Jordin Tootoo and Miller. The Red Wings added on with a Damien Brunner goal, his fifth of the year, assisted by Jonathan Ericsson and Henrik Zetterberg. Detroit finished the scoring at with a third period goal by Valtteri Filppula, his third of the season, going in unassisted. This produced the 5-1 final, with the three stars being Emmerton, Mrazek (26 for 27 in saves), and Miller.

Back north, the Winnipeg Jets host the Toronto Maple Leafs. James Reimer and Ondrej Pavelec are the well-hyped goalies. Winnipeg got going in the second period with a Zach Redmond shorthanded goal, set up by Bryan Little and Tobias Enstrom. Toronto tied it on a shorthanded goal by Tyler Bozak, going in unassisted. The Jets took the lead in the third period on a Grant Clitsome goal, his second of the year, made possible by Little. The Maple Leafs retied it with a Matt Frattin goal, his sixth of the season, fueled by Cody Franson and Nazem Kadri. Toronto took the lead on a Phil Kessel goal, passed from Bozak on the power play. This held up for a 3-2 win, with the three stars being Bozak, Little, and Dion Phaneuf, while Reimer (23 for 25 in saves) or anyone who had a point could best Phaneuf.

Slightly to the south, the Minnesota Wild host the Vancouver Canucks. Cory Schneider and Niklas Backstrom are in the blue paint. Vancouver led off in the first period as Daniel Sedin scored his third of the season, with assists provided by Alexandre Burrows and Dan Hamhuis. The Canucks added on as Chris Higgins scored a power play goal, powered by Maxim Lapierre and Jason Garrison. Vancouver extended the lead in the second period as Mason Raymond scored his fourth of the year, an unassisted power play goal. The Canucks struck again with a Jannik Hansen goal, his second of the season, fueled by Raymond and Alexander Edler. Minnesota got on the board in the third period as Tom Gilbert scored his third of the year,  power play goal, set up by Jonas Brodin and Matt Cullen. The three stars went to Raymond, Edler, and Brodin,

To the southeast, the Nashville Predators host the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick and Pekka Rinne tend the twines. Nashville struck first in the first period with a Gabriel Bourque goal, his second of the season, passed from David Legwand and Kevin Klein. The Predators struck again in the second period with a Colin Wilson goal, his second of the year, via Klein and Brandon Yip. Nashville extended the lead with another Wilson goal, his second of the game and third of the season, coming on the power play from Shea Weber and Mike Fisher. This was all they needed to win 3-0, with the three stars being Rinne (32 save shutout), Wilson, and Bourque, while Klein picks up an honorable mention.

Finally, we end in Phoenix, as the Coyotes host the Chicago Blackhawks. Ray Emery and Mike Smith guard the cages. Chicago started in the first period with a Viktor Stalberg goal, his third of the season, assisted by Andrew Shaw and Bryan Bickell. The Blackhawks added on as Patrick Kane notched his seventh of the year, a power play goal powered by Jonathan Toews and Patrick Sharp. Chicago padded the lead as Dave Bolland put away his fourth of the season, thanks to Kane and Sharp. The Blackhawks extended the lead with another Kane goal, his second of the game and eighth of the year, coming on the power play via Sharp, who got a natural sock trick, and Duncan Keith. Phoenix got on the board in the second period with a Martin Hanzal power play goal, his fifth of the season, fueled by Radim Vrbata and Mikkel Boedker. Chicago responded with a Toews goal, his fifth of the year, guided in by Marian Hossa. The Blackhawks kept going as Bickell notched his second of the season, with a lone assist from Stalberg. Jason LaBarbera relieved Smith at this time. The Coyotes got one back in the third period as Raffi Torres scored, with the help of Kyle Chipchura. This only made it 6-2, the final, with Kane, Sharp, and Emery (22 for 24 in saves) getting the three stars, and Toews, Bickell, and Stalberg got the honorable mentions.

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