NHL March 1st 2013

Only three games on tonight, the first of which comes from...

St. Louis, as the Blues host the Edmonton Oilers. Devan Dubnyk and Jaroslav Halak are between the pipes. Edmonton started in the first period as Taylor Hall scored his fourth of the season, courtesy of Jordan Eberle and Justin Schultz. The Oilers added on with a Ryan Whitney goal twenty-three seconds later, fueled by Ryan Smyth and Nail Yakupov. St. Louis got on the board in the second period as Jaden Schwartz scored his second of the year, via T.J. Oshie and David Backes. The Blues tied it as Kevin Shattenkirk netted his second of the season, a power play goal powered by Vladimir Sobotka and Chris Stewart. St. Louis took the lead in the third period as Sobotka scored his second of the year, assisted by Adam Cracknell and Chris Porter. The Blues iced it at 4-2 with a Backes goal, his third of the campaign, set up by Oshie and Schwartz. The three stars were Schwartz, Sobotka, and Cracknell, while Backes and Oshie receive the honorable mentions.

Up in Chicago, the Blackhawks welcome the Columbus Blue Jackets. Steve Mason and Ray Emery are the backups making spot starts. Columbus quickly led off in the first period as Vinny Prospal recorded his seventh of the season, thanks to Derek Dorsett and Mark Letestu. Chicago tied it on a Viktor Stalberg goal, his sixth of the year, made possible by Brandon Saad and Patrick Kane. The Blue Jackets took the lead back in the second period as Artem Anisimov scored his fifth of the season, via Cam Atkinson. The Blackhawks retied it as Patrick Sharp scored his fifth of the year, coming off of Duncan Keith. Chicago gained the lead on a Bryan Bickell goal, his third of the season, going in unassisted. Columbus tied it as Ryan Johansen scored, with helpers provided by Nick Foligno and R.J. Umberger. The Blackhawks won 4-3 in overtime as Brent Seabrook recorded his third of the year, passed from Jonathan Toews and Stalberg. The three stars were given to Bickell, Prospal, and Emery (19 for 22 in saves), while Stalberg deserves the third slot.

Finally, we end in Anaheim, with the Ducks hosting the Minnesota Wild. Darcy Kuemper and Jonas Hiller receive the starting nods. Anaheim opened in the first period as Ryan Getzlaf scored his seventh of the season, thanks to Corey Perry and Kyle Palmieri. The Ducks extended the lead as Teemu Selanne scored his sixth of the year, with the help of Luca Sbisa and Bobby Ryan. Anaheim added on in the second period as Matt Beleskey goal, his fourth of the season, made possible by Daniel Winnik and Andrew Cogliano. Minnesota got on the board in the third period as Kyle Brodziak scored his second of the year, going in unassisted. The Wild pulled closer as Devin Setoguchi scored his fourth of the season, assisted by Mike Rupp and Ryan Suter. They failed to tie the game, falling 3-2, with the three stars going to Getzlaf, Hiller (31 for 33 in saves), and Beleskey.

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