NHL March 29th 2013

Four games to go with tonight, beginning in...

Tampa Bay, as the Lightning welcome the New Jersey Devils. Martin Brodeur and Mathieu Garon are in the creases. New Jersey got going in the second period with an Andrei Loktionov goal, his seventh of the season, coming off of Matt D'Agostini and Andy Greene. The Devils added on as Tom Kostopoulos scored an unassisted goal. Tampa Bay got on the board with a Steven Stamkos goal, his twenty-fourth of the year, guided in by Martin St. Louis and Keith Aulie. The Lightning tied it with a Nate Thompson goal, his seventh of the season, passed from New Jersey regained the lead with a Greene power play goal, his third of the year, powered by D'Agostini and Marek Zidlicky. The Devils extended the lead in the third period with a shorthanded goal by Ryan Carter, his fourth of the season, going in unassisted. Tampa Bay got one back as Stamkos scored his second of the game and twenty-fifth of the year, fueled by Alex Killorn. The Lightning tied it late on a Killorn goal, his fifth of the season, pushed through by Stamkos and Matt Carle. Tampa Bay won it in the shootout as Teddy Purcell and Victor Hedman each scored to secure the 5-4 victory. The three stars went to Stamkos, Greene, and Killorn, while D'Agostini gets an honorable mention.

Northwest to Chicago, as the Blackhawks host the Anaheim Ducks. Jonas Hiller and Ray Emery are given the starting nods. Anaheim led off in the second period with a Corey Perry goal, his eleventh of the season, via Bobby Ryan and Francois Beauchemin. Chicago tied it in the third period on a Patrick Kane power play goal, his eighteenth of the year, powered by Duncan Keith and Marcus Kruger. The Ducks took the lead back on a Sheldon Souray goal, his seventh of the campaign, assisted by Ryan Getzlaf and Beauchemin. This made it 2-1, a final, with the three stars going to Souray, Kane, and Emery (22 for 24 in saves), while Hiller (25 for 26 in saves), and Beauchemin got the honorable mentions.

Down in Dallas, the Stars bring in the Minnesota Wild. Matt Hackett and Kari Lehtonen draw the starts. Dallas started with a first period Ray Whitney goal, his sixth of the season coming on the power play from Jamie Benn. The Stars added on as Tomas Vincour scored his second of the year, thanks to Reilly Smith and Aaron Rome. Minnesota got on the board with a Devin Setoguchi goal, his twelfth of the season, guided in by Matt Cullen. The Wild tied it in the second period as Jared Spurgeon scored a power play goal, his fifth of the year, powered by Kyle Brodziak and Mikko Koivu. Dallas took the lead in the third period on an Erik Cole goal, his sixth of the season, assisted by Philip Larsen and Cody Eakin. The Stars padded the lead as Jamie Benn scored his seventh of the year, a power play goal set up by Whitney and Jaromir Jagr. Dallas extended the lead on an Eakin power play goal, his sixth of the season, fueled by Derek Roy and Trevor Daley. Minnesota got one back as Torrey Mitchell notched his fourth of the year, with assists provided by Dany Heatley and Cal Clutterbuck. Jagr, Jamie Benn, and Whitney received the three stars, while Eakin gets an honorable mention.

Finally, in Calgary, the Post-Jarome Iginla begins with the Flames hosting the Columbus Blue Jackets. Steve Mason and Miikka Kiprusoff guard the cages. Columbus began with a first period shorthanded goal by Mark Letestu, his eighth of the season, going in unassisted. Calgary tied it in the second period with a Brian McGrattan goal, with a lone assist from Michael Cammalleri. The Blue Jackets took the lead on a Vinny Prospal goal, his tenth of the year, fueled by R.J. Umberger and Nikita Nikitin. Columbus extended the lead with a Matt Calvert goal, his sixth of the season, assisted by Cam Atkinson and Artem Anisimov. The Flames shot back on a Mikael Backlund goal, his fifth of the year, set up by Mark Giordano and Dennis Wideman. The Blue Jackets padded the lead with a Derick Brassard goal, his sixth of the season, coming off of Letestu and Prospal. Calgary chipped back with a Wideman power play goal, his fourth of the year, powered by Jiri Hudler and Roman Cervenka. Columbus answered with a Ryan Johansen goal, his second of the season, an unassisted goal. Joey MacDonald relieved Kiprusoff for the third period. The Flames got one back in the third period on a Curtis Glencross goal, his fourteenth of the year, with a lone assist from Matt Stajan. The Blue Jackets iced it at 6-4 with an empty net goal by Umberger, his seventh of the campaign, helped along by Anisimov and James Wisniewski. The three stars were awarded to Prospal, Wideman, and Giordano, while Anisimov, Letestu, and Umberger receive the honorable mentions.

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