NHL March 24th 2013

Seven games today, beginning on...

Long Island, with the New York Islanders hosting the Florida Panthers. Jacob Markstrom and Evgeni Nabokov are given the starting nods. New York struck first in the first period as Andrew MacDonald scored his second of the season, a power play goal assisted by Frans Nielsen and Kyle Okposo. The Islanders added on in the third period with an empty net goal by John Tavares, his nineteenth of the year, fueled by Brad Boyes and Matt Moulson. New York iced it at 3-0 with another empty net goal, the fifth of the season by Casey Cizikas, with a lone assist from Matt Martin. Nabokov (26 save shutout), MacDonald, and Markstrom (34 for 35 in saves) receive the three stars.

Staying in the city, the New York Rangers host the Washington Capitals. Braden Holtby and Henrik Lundqvist guard the cages. Washington led off in the first period as Nicklas Backstrom scored his fifth of the season, a power play goal powered by Alex Ovechkin and John Carlson. The Capitals added on as Ovechkin netted his sixteenth of the year, with helpers provided by Steve Oleksy and Backstrom. New York got on the board as Arron Asham scored his second of the season, thanks to Kris Newbury. The Rangers tied it on a Derek Stepan goal, his ninth of the year coming on the power play from Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik.Washington won 3-2 in the shootout as tallies by Ovechkin and Backstrom overpowered Stepan's lone representative for New York. Holtby (30 for 32 in saves), Lundqvist (22 for 24 in saves), and Backstrom got the three stars, while Ovechkin and Stepan receive honorable mentions.

West to Pittsburgh, as the Penguins bring in the Philadelphia Flyers. Ilya Bryzgalov and Marc-Andre Fleury tend the twines. Philadelphia got going in the second period as Claude Giroux scored his tenth of the season, a power play goal, powered by Andrej Meszaros and Jakub Voracek. Pittsburgh tied it in the third period when Sidney Crosby scored his fourteenth of the year, a power play goal passed from Paul Martin and Beau Bennett. The Penguins won 2-1 in overtime on a goal by Tyler Kennedy, his fifth of the campaign, fueled by Matt Niskanen and Pascal Dupuis. Kennedy, Fleury (27 for 28 in saves), and Bryzgalov (33 for 35 in saves) were named the three stars.

Northwest to Winnipeg, as the Jets host the Tampa Bay Lightning. Cedrick Desjardins and Ondrej Pavelec play in the creases. Winnipeg started in the first period on a Bryan Little goal, his fifth of the season, made possible by Blake Wheeler. The Jets added on in the second period as Dustin Byfuglien scored a power play goal, his sixth of the year, set up by Wheeler and Little. Tampa Bay got on the board with a Steven Stamkos power play goal, his twenty-second of the season, powered by Martin St. Louis and Sami Salo. Winnipeg responded on a Tobias Enstrom goal, his third of the year, via Andrew Ladd and Little. The Lightning chipped back in the third period as Cory Conacher scored his ninth of the season, with a lone assist from Eric Brewer. This wasn't enough to avoid a 3-2 loss, with the three stars being Little, Pavelec (23 for 25 in saves), and St. Louis, while Wheeler gets an honorable mention.

Well to the southwest, the Anaheim Ducks host the Detroit Red Wings. Jimmy Howard and Jonas Hiller are the masked men. Detroit began in the first period as Daniel Cleary scored his seventh of the season, a power play goal powered by Jakub Kindl and Brendan Smith. The Red Wings extended the lead as Drew Miller notched his fourth of the year, with the help of Ian White and Cory Emmerton. Anaheim got on the board in the second period with a Ryan Getzlaf power play goal, his twelfth of the season, fueled by Saku Koivu and Corey Perry. This was as close as it got, with the final being 2-1, and the three stars were handed to Howard (33 for 34 in saves), Getzlaf, and Cam Fowler, while any point-earner can take the third slot.

Crossing into Canada again, the Calgary Flames host the St. Louis Blues. Jaroslav Halak and Miikka Kiprusoff are between the pipes. Calgary opened in the first period with a Roman Cervenka power play goal, his fourth of the season, powered by Dennis Wideman and T.J. Brodie. The Flames added on in the second period as Cervenka scored again, his second of the game and fifth of the year, via Jiri Hudler and Mikael Backlund. St. Louis got on the board as T.J. Oshie scored his seventh of the season, an unassisted goal. The Blues tied it on a third period Vladimir Sobotka goal, his eighth of the year, coming off of Andy McDonald and Oshie. Calgary took the lead as Jarome Iginla scored his ninth of the season, thanks to Alex Tanguay. This produced a 3-2 final score, with the three stars going to Kiprusoff (36 for 38 in saves), Cervenka, and Oshie.

Finally, in Colorado, the Avalanche welcome the Vancouver Canucks. Cory Schneider and Jean-Sebastien Giguere have the green light to start. Vancouver was first to score in the first period as Jason Garrison netted his fifth of the season, a power play goal, with a lone assist from Henrik Sedin. Colorado tied it on the fifth of the year by Jamie McGinn, courtesy of P.A. Parenteau and Ryan O'Reilly. The Canucks took the lead back in the second period with a Mason Raymond goal, his ninth of the season, helped along by Jordan Schroeder and Chris Tanev. Vancouver extended the lead as Alexandre Burrows scored his eighth of the year, guided in by Andrew Ebbett and Keith Ballard. The Avalanche got one back in the third period on a Parenteau power play goal, his fourteenth of the campaign, powered by O'Reilly and Matt Duchene. Raymond, Parenteau, and Burrows received the three stars, while O'Reilly gets an honorable mention.

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