NHL March 3rd 2013

Another nine games today, beginning in...

Detroit, as the Red Wings host their heated rivals, the Chicago Blackhawks. Corey Crawford and Jimmy Howard tend the twines. Detroit got going in the third period as Tomas Tatar scored his fourth of the season, helped along by Joakim Andersson and Patrick Eaves. Chicago tied it as Patrick Kane scored his eleventh of the year, a power play goal powered by Viktor Stalberg. The Blackhawks took the game 2-1 in the shootout as Kane recorded the only tally. Crawford (32 for 33 in saves), Howard (32 for 33 in saves), and Kane received the three stars.

Back east, the New York Islanders host the Ottawa Senators. Robin Lehner and Evgeni Nabokov receive the starting nods. New York was first to score in the first period with a Brad Boyes goal, his fifth of the season, made possible by Matt Moulson and Mark Streit. Ottawa tied it in the second period as Mika Zibanejad scored his fourth of the year, courtesy of Chris Neil. The Islanders took the lead back in the third period with a Michael Grabner goal, his eighth of the season, going in unassisted. The Senators tied it again as Patrick Wiercioch scored a power play goal, thanks to Kyle Turris and Sergei Gonchar. New York won 3-2 with shootout tallies from Frans Nielsen and John Tavares. The three stars belonged to Grabner, Zibanejad, and Boyes.

West again to Columbus, as the Blue Jackets bring in the Colorado Avalanche. Semyon Varlamov and Sergei Bobrovsky are the Russian goalies. Colorado started in the second period as P.A. Parenteau scored his ninth of the season, fueled by Shane O'Brien and Tyson Barrie. Columbus tied it in the third period on a Vinny Prospal power play goal, his eighth of the year, powered by Fedor Tyutin and Nick Foligno. The Blue Jackets won it 2-1 in overtime as Artem Anisimov notched his sixth of the campaign on the power play, set up by Tim Erixon and Mark Letestu. Anisimov, Prospal, and Varlamov (32 for 34 in saves) were given the three stars.

South to Dallas, where the Stars host the St. Louis Blues. Brian Elliott and Kari Lehtonen are between the pipes. St. Louis opened with a David Perron goal, his seventh of the season, passed from David Backes and Kevin Shattenkirk. Dallas tied it as Erik Cole scored his fourth of the year, fueled by Antoine Roussel and Derek Roy. The Stars took the lead on an unassisted Roy goal, his third of the season. Dallas padded the lead in the third period on a Loui Eriksson goal, his seventh of the year, via Jordie Benn and Cody Eakin. The Stars iced it at 4-1 with a Jaromir Jagr power play goal, his seventh of the campaign, powered by Roy and Eriksson. The three stars were given to Roy, Eriksson, and Brenden Dillon.

East to Florida, as the Panthers host the Carolina Huricanes. Cam Ward and Scott Clemmensen occupy the blue paint. Carolina led off in the first period as Justin Faulk scored his third of the season, going in unassisted. The Hurricanes added on as Alexander Semin scored his eighth of the year, thanks to Jiri Tlusty and Eric Staal. Carolina extended the lead in the second period as Jordan Staal scored his fifth of the season, made possible by Jeff Skinner and Jamie McBain. Dan Ellis replaced an injured Ward just after this goal. Florida got on the board with a Jonathan Huberdeau goal, his ninth of the year, courtesy of Peter Mueller. The Panthers pulled closer in the third period as Huberdeau scored again, his second of the game and tenth of the campaign, coming off of Mueller and Brian Campbell. This only made it 3-2, a final, with the three stars going to Faulk, Eric Staal, and Huberdeau, while Mueller picks up an honorable mention.

North again to Boston, as the Bruins host the Montreal Canadiens. Peter Budaj and Tuukka Rask have the green light to start in goal. Montreal began in the first period on a Tomas Plekanec power play goal, his ninth of the season, powered by Michael Ryder and P.K. Subban. Boston tied it as Tyler Seguin scored his fifth of the year, courtesy of Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. The Canadiens gained the lead with an unassisted David Desharnais goal, his sixth of the season. The Bruins tied it again in the second period as Bergeron notched his fifth of the year, passed from Seguin and Marchand. Boston took the lead with a Dougie Hamilton goal, his second of the season, assisted by Marchand, who got a sock trick, and Bergeron. Montreal pulled even as Max Pacioretty sank his eighth of the year, via Alexei Emelin and Brendan Gallagher. The Canadiens took the lead as Desharnais scored his second of the game and seventh of the season, with helpers from Pacioretty and Gallagher. This stood for a 4-3 win, with the three stars being handed to Desharnais, Bergeron, and Seguin, while Marchand, Pacioretty, and Gallagher receive the honorable mentions.

Into New York City, as the Rangers host the Buffalo Sabres. Ryan Miller and Henrik Lundqvist tend the twines. Buffalo struck first in the second period on a Drew Stafford goal, his second of the season, with a lone assist from Mikhail Grigorenko. New York tied it with a Derek Stepan power play goal, his fifth of the year, guided in by Rick Nash and Marian Gaborik. The Rangers took the lead with a Nash power play goal, his fifth of the season, powered by Gaborik and Michael Del Zotto. The Sabres tied it on a Nathan Gerbe shorthanded goal, his third of the year, set up by Steve Ott. New York won 3-2 in the shootout on tallies by Nash and Ryan Callahan. The three stars went to Nash, J.T. Miller, and Gerbe, while Gaborik could take the second star.

Northwest to Minnesota, as the Wild host the Edmonton Oilers. Devan Dubnyk and Niklas Backstrom man the creases. Minnesota started with a first period Jared Spurgeon goal, his second of the season, made possible by Devin Setoguchi and Matt Cullen. Edmonton tied it as Magnus Paajarvi scored his third of the year, thanks to Jordan Eberle and Jeff Petry. The Wild took the lead in the third period on a Mikko Koivu goal, his fourth of the season, passed from Charlie Coyle and Spurgeon. Minnesota added on as Coyle scored his second of the year, with the help of Zach Parise and Koivu. The Oilers got one back as Sam Gagner scored his seventh of the season, an unassisted goal. The Wild shot back with a Dany Heatley power play goal, his eighth of the year, powered by Koivu and Ryan Suter. This produced the 4-2 final score, with the three stars awarded to Spurgeon, Koivu and Coyle.

Finally, in Calgary, the Flames welcome the Vancouver Canucks. Roberto Luongo and Danny Taylor are the masked men. Vancouver opened in the first period with a Chris Higgins goal, his sixth of the season, fueled by Jannik Hansen. Calgary tied it as Michael Cammalleri scored his seventh of the year, with a lone assist from Jiri Hudler. The Canucks took the lead back as Hansen scored his fifth of the season, via Cam Barker. The Flames retied it as Lee Stempniak scored his sixth of the year, coming off of Matt Stajan and Derek Smith. Calgary gained the lead in the third period on a Jarome Iginla goal, his sixth of the season, assisted by Mark Giordano and Hudler. The Flames iced it at 4-2 with Cammalleri's second of the game and eighth of the year, an empty net goal set up by Stempniak and Curtis Glencross. Hudler, Taylor (29 for 31 in saves), and Hansen received the three stars, while Cammalleri gets an honorable mention.

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