NHL March 21st 2013

There's nine games on tonight, beginning in...

Raleigh, as the Carolina Hurricanes host the New Jersey Devils. Martin Brodeur and Dan Ellis are in the creases. New Jersey began in the first period as the goalie Brodeur scored an unassisted power play goal after Jordan Staal's clearing attempt on a delayed penalty call Ellis' vacated net. The Devils added on in the second period with an Adam Henrique goal, his tenth of the season, assisted by Ilya Kovalchuk and Adam Larsson. New Jersey extended the lead as Peter Harrold scored his second of the year, with the help of Patrik Elias and Travis Zajac. Carolina got on the board in the third period with a Jeff Skinner power play goal, his tenth of the season, powered by Eric Staal. The Devils shot back with a power play goal by Andrei Loktionov, his fifth of the year, guided in by Steve Bernier and Zajac. This made it 4-1, a final, with the three stars being Brodeur (17 for 18 in saves, and the honor of scoring as many as he gave up tonight), Henrique, and Zajac.

Up to New York City, with the Rangers hosting the Florida Panthers. Jacob Markstrom is mismatched with Henrik Lundqvist in goal. Florida was first to score in the first period as Brian Campbell netted his seventh of the season, a power play goal powered by T.J. Brennan and Jonathan Huberdeau. The Panthers added on in the second period as Scottie Upshall scored his second of the year, via Jack Skille and Shawn Matthias. New York got going in the third period with a Marian Gaborik goal, his ninth of the season, assisted by Rick Nash and Michael Del Zotto. The Panthers iced it at 3-1 with an empty net goal by Tomas Kopecky, his twelfth of the year, going in unassisted. The three stars went to Markstrom (44 for 45 in saves), Campbell, and Upshall.

Out on Long Island, the New York Islanders bring in the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and Kevin Poulin receive the starting nods. Montreal struck first in the first period on a Michael Ryder power play goal, his ninth of the season, made possible by Andrei Markov and Tomas Plekanec. New York tied it on the eighteenth of the year by John Tavares, with a lone assist from Matt Moulson. The Islanders took the lead in the second period with a Lubomir Visnovsky goal, his third of the season, courtesy of Moulson and Brad Boyes. The Canadiens pulled even with a P.K. Subban power play goal, his eighth of the year, powered by Plekanec. Montreal gained the lead in the third period on a Brian Gionta goal, his tenth of the season, passed from David Desharnais. The Canadiens added on as Brendan Gallagher scored his ninth of the year, with assists provided by Max Pacioretty and Subban. Montreal extended the lead with another Gallagher goal, his second of the game and tenth of the season, helped along by Pacioretty and Desharnais. This produced a 5-2 final, with the three stars being awarded to Gallagher, Subban, and Gionta, while Desharnais, Plekanec, Pacioretty, and Moulson all get honorable mentions.

Staying in the state, the Buffalo Sabres host the Toronto Maple Leafs. James Reimer and Ryan Miller have the green light to start. Toronto opened in the first period as Tyler Bozak scored his ninth of the season, a power play goal, thanks to Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf. The Maple Leafs added on as Nazem Kadri scored his twelfth of the year, set up by Nikolai Kulemin and Clarke MacArthur. Buffalo got on the board with a goal by Tyler Ennis, his ninth of the season, coming off of Steve Ott and Christian Ehrhoff. Toronto responded in the third period with a Mikhail Grabovski goal, his seventh of the year, passed from Jake Gardiner and Kadri. The Sabres pulled back on a Marcus Foligno goal, his fourth of the season, coming from Kevin Porter and Ehrhoff. Buffalo tied it as Jason Pominville scored his tenth of the year, with a lone assist from Cody Hodgson. The Sabres took the lead in the third period as Ehrhoff scored his third of the season, a power play goal powered by Hodgson and Ennis. The Maple Leafs tied it on a Kadri power play goal, his thirteenth of the year, courtesy of Cody Franson and Kessel. The game went to a shootout, where Buffalo won 5-4 as Drew Stafford matched a Bozak tally, allowing Ott to pot the winner. Ehrhoff, Kadri, and Ennis received the three stars, while Hodgson and Kessel get the honorable mentions.

Into Canada, where the Ottawa Senators host the Boston Bruins. Anton Khudobin and Robin Lehner protect the nets. Ottawa got going in the second period as Kaspars Daugavins scored, thanks to Mika Zibanejad and Sergei Gonchar. Boston tied it with a Daniel Paille goal, his sixth of the season, guided in by Johnny Boychuk and Gregory Campbell. The Bruins took the lead as Dennis Seidenberg scored, with the help of Zdeno Chara and Patrice Bergeron. This made it 2-1, a final, with the three stars going to Bergeron, Khudobin (27 for 28 in saves), and Lehner (27 for 29 in saves).

Over in the west, the Winnipeg Jets host the Washington Capitals. Braden Holtby and Ondrej Pavelec guard the cages. Washington led off in the first period as Troy Brouwer scored his eleventh of the season, with a lone assist from Brooks Laich. The Capitals added on as Marcus Johansson scored his fourth of the year, coming off of Alex Ovechkin. Washington extended the lead in the third period as Ovechkin scored his thirteenth of the season, a power play goal powered by Nicklas Backstrom and John Carlson. The Capitals padded the lead as Backstrom scored his fourth of the year, via Ovechkin and Johansson. This was it for the scoring, with the final being 4-0, and Holtby (19 save shutout), Ovechkin, and Brouwer got the three stars, while Backstrom and Johansson were the honorable mentions.

Back stateside, the Nashville Predators welcome the Calgary Flames. Miikka Kiprusoff and Pekka Rinne are the Finnish goalies. Calgary started in the first period with a Mark Giordano shorthanded goal, his third of the season, set up by Lee Stempniak. Nashville tied it with a power play goal by Martin Erat, his fourth of the year, powered by Roman Josi and Bobby Butler. The Flames took the lead back with another shorthanded goal, this time Blake Comeau's fourth of the season, made possible by Giordano and Jay Bouwmeester. The Predators tied it again as Mike Fisher netted his eighth of the year, with a lone assist by Erat. Nashville took the lead in the second period as Fisher scored his second of the game and ninth of the season, passed from Josi and Erat. The Predators padded the lead with a Nick Spaling goal, his sixth of the year, guided in by Victor Bartley and Kevin Klein. Nashville extended the lead on a Brandon Yip goal, his third of the season, with assists coming from Klein and Richard Clune. Calgary got one back with a Jarome Iginla power play goal, his eighth of the year, fueled by Curtis Glencross and Alex Tanguay. This only made it 5-3, a final, with Fisher, Erat, and Klein getting the three stars, while Josi gets an honorable mention.

Southwest to Phoenix, as the Coyotes host the Vancouver Canucks. Cory Schneider and Mike Smith are between the pipes. Vancouver struck first in the first period on a Chris Tanev goal, his second of the season, coming off of Mason Raymond. Phoenix tied it in the third period as Antoine Vermette scored his seventh of the year, a power play goal powered by Radim Vrbata and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The Canucks took the lead back as Jordan Schroeder scored his third of the season, with the help of Jannik Hansen and Alexander Edler. This produced a 2-1 final score, with the three stars being Schneider (33 for 34 in saves), Ekman-Larsson, and Schroeder.

Finally, in Los Angeles, the Kings host the Dallas Stars. Kari Lehtonen and Jonathan Quick tend the twines. Dallas got going in the third period with a Jaromir Jagr goal, his twelfth of the season, assisted by Jamie Benn. The Stars added on as Ray Whitney notched his fifth of the year, guided in by Alex Goligoski and Loui Eriksson. This made it 2-0, a final, with the three stars being Lehtonen (40 save shutout), Goligoski, and Quick (19 for 21 in saves).

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