NHL March 9th 2013

Ten games to go with today, beginning in...

New York, as the Islanders host the Washington Capitals. Philipp Grubauer and Evgeni Nabokov play goal. New York was first to score as Josh Bailey scored his second of the season in the first period, with assists from Frans Nielsen and Mark Streit. Washington tied it on a second period power play goal by Mathieu Perreaul, his fourth of the year, powered by tJoel Ward and John Carlson. The Islanders retook the lead as Casey Cizikas scored his third of the season, thanks to Matt Martin and Colin McDonald. The Capitals tied it in the third period as Nicklas Backstrom put away his third of the year, coming off of Eric Fehr and Karl Alzner. New York retook the lead as John Tavares scored a power play goal, his fifteenth of the season, set up by Brad Boyes and Lubomir Visnovsky. The Islanders extended the lead as Tavares scored his second of the game and sixteenth of the year, another power play goal, guided in by Matt Moulson and Boyes. New York iced it at 5-2 with a shorthanded goal by Nielsen, his third of the campaign, made possible by Travis Hamonic and Bailey. The three stars went to Tavares, Nielsen, and Cizikas, while Boyes gets an honorable mention.

Over in Boston, the Bruins host the Philadelphia Flyers. Ilya Bryzgalov and Tuukka Rask protect the nets. Boston led off in the first period with a Tyler Seguin power play goal, his eighth of the season, powered by Milan Lucic and David Krejci. The Bruins added on as Chris Kelly scored his second of the year, via Jordan Caron and Rich Peverley. Boston extended the lead as Daniel Paille scored his fourth of the season, with the help of Gregory Campbell and Shawn Thornton. This was it for the scoring, resulting in a 3-0 final score, with the three stars being Rask (23 save shutout), Kelly, and Dennis Seidenberg, while any point-earner can take the third slot.

West to Columbus, as the Blue Jackets welcome the Detroit Red Wings. Jonas Gustavsson and Sergei Bobrovsky are called on to start. Columbus began in the first period as Cam Atkinson scored his third of the season, fueled by Matt Calvert. The Blue Jackets added on in the second period when Jack Johnson scored his third of the year, a power play goal powered by Derick Brassard and R.J. Umberger. Columbus padded the lead on a Nick Foligno goal, his third of the season, courtesy of Ryan Johansen. This held for a 3-0 win, with Bobrovsky (30 save shutout), Foligno, and Brassard getting the three stars.

Out in California, the San Jose Sharks host the St. Louis Blues. Jake Allen and Antti Niemi are given the starting nods. St. Louis opened in the first period with a Vladimir Sobotka goal, his fifth of the season, assisted by Kevin Shattenkirk and Wade Redden. San Jose tied it on a Logan Couture goal, his ninth of the year, passed from Tommy Wingels and Matt Irwin. The Sharks added on in the second period as Scott Gomez scored his second of the season, via Ryane Clowe and James Sheppard. San Jose padded the lead as Irwin scored his second of the year, a power play goal powered by Justin Braun and Gomez. The Blues got one back in the third period as Sobotka scored his second of the game and sixth of the season, fueled by Kris Russell and Roman Polak. St. Louis tied it as Sobotka finished his hat trick with a power play goal, his seventh of the year, set up by Chris Stewart and Shattenkirk. Niemi was replaced by Alex Stalock at this time. St. Louis won 4-3 on an overtime goal by Patrik Berglund, his twelfth of the campaign, made possible by Barret Jackman and Alex Pietrangelo. The three stars were handed to Sobotka, Jackman, and Gomez, while Shattenkirk and Irwin get the honorable mentions.

Back in the east, the Carolina Hurricanes host the New Jersey Devils. Johan Hedberg and Dan Ellis stand in the blue paint. Carolina struck first in the first period as Alexander Semin scored his seventh of the season, a power play goal, coming off of Joe Corvo and Jiri Tlusty. The Hurricanes added on as Jay Harrison scored his third of the year, assisted by Jeff Skinner and Jordan Staal. New Jersey got on the board when Ilya Kovalchuk scored his eighth of the season, going in shorthanded and unassisted. Carolina replied in the second period as Tlusty potted his twelfth of the year, via Semin and the goalie Ellis. The Hurricanes extended the lead as Chris Terry scored, with the help of Eric Staal and Bobby Sanguinetti. Carolina padded the lead when Skinner scored his ninth of the season, guided in by Jordan Staal and Tim Gleason. Jeff Frazee relieved Hedberg in the third period. The Devils got one back as Kovalchuk scored his second of the game and ninth of the year, with helpers from Mark Fayne and Andy Greene. New Jersey got closer as Patrik Elias scored his eighth of the season, pushed through by Marek Zidlicky and Anton Volchenkov. The Hurricanes iced it at 6-3 as Tlusty scored his second of the game and thirteenth of the year into an empty net, passed from Semin and Eric Staal. The three stars were given to Semin, Ellis (31 for 34 in saves), and Tlusty, while Skinner, Eric Staal, and Jordan Staal get the honorable mentions.

Down in Tampa Bay, the Lightning host the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price faces a lesser foe in Cedrick Desjardins in goal. Tampa Bay got going in the second period as Steven Stamkos scored his nineteenth of the season, assisted by Martin St. Louis and Victor Hedman. Montreal tied it on a Tomas Plekanec goal, his eleventh of the year, with a lone assist from Andrei Markov. The Lightning took the lead back as Sami Salo scored his second of the season, made possible by B.J. Crombeen and Nate Thompson. Tampa Bay added on with a Ryan Malone power play goal, his fifth of the year, powered by Stamkos and St. Louis. The Canadiens got one back in the third period on a Brian Gionta power play goal, his eighth of the season, fueled by Michael Ryder and Francis Bouillon. Montreal tied it on an Alexei Emelin goal, his second of the year, guided in by Gionta and Ryder. The Canadiens took the lead with a Brendan Gallagher goal, his seventh of the season, coming off of Max Pacioretty. This produced a 4-3 final score, with the three stars belonging to Ryder, Plekanec, and Salo, while Stamkos, St. Louis, and Gionta get the honorable mentions.

North again to Canada, as the Toronto Maple Leafs bring in the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury and James Reimer guard the cages. Pittsburgh started in the first period as James Neal recorded his sixteenth of the season, assisted by Matt Niskanen and Kris Letang. Toronto tied it on a James van Riemsdyk power play goal, his fourteenth of the year, powered by Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf. The Penguins took the lead back when Sidney Crosby notched his twelfth of the season, coming off of Letang and Beau Bennett. Pittsburgh padded the lead with a Paul Martin goal, his fifth of the year, guided in by Neal and Evgeni Malkin. The Maple Leafs got one back in the second period as Cody Franson scored his second of the season, a power play goal set up by Kessel and Phaneuf. The Penguins replied with a Pascal Dupuis goal, his ninth of the year, passed from Martin and Brooks Orpik. Toronto shot back on a Clarke MacArthur goal, his seventh of the season, with helpers provided by Phaneuf, who got a sock trick, and Matt Frattin. The Maple Leafs tied it in the third period as Kessel scored his seventh of the year, via Mark Fraser and MacArthur. Pittsburgh won 5-4 in the shootout with tallies by Neal and Crosby. The three stars were awarded to Crosby, Kessel, and Phaneuf, while Neal, Letang, Martin, and MacArthur get the honorable mentions.

Way southwest to Phoenix, with the Coyotes hosting the Dallas Stars. Kari Lehtonen and Mike Smith tend the twines. Phoenix began with a first period goal by Shane Doan, his eighth of the season, guided in by Antoine Vermette and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The Coyotes added on in the second period as Rob Klinkhammer scored, via Boyd Gordon and David Moss. Dallas got on the board as Jaromir Jagr scored his tenth of the year, a power play goal powered by Loui Eriksson. They failed to tie the game, losing 2-1, with the three stars being handed to Klinkhammer, Smith (20 for 21 in saves), and Zbynek Michalek (eight blocked shots), while any point-earner could take a chance at the third slot.

Back northeast a touch to Nashville, where the Predators host the Minnesota Wild. Niklas Backstrom and Pekka Rinne are the masked men. Minnesota led off in the second period with a Zach Parise power play goal, his ninth of the season, powered by Ryan Suter and Mikko Koivu. Nashville tied it in the third period on a David Legwand power play goal, his fifth of the year, coming off of Sergei Kostitsyn and Shea Weber. The Wild won in the shootout by a 2-1 margin, as Koivu and Matt Cullen's tallies overpowered the one goal by Craig Smith. The three stars were given to Backstrom (24 for 25 in saves), Legwand, and Parise, while Koivu gets an honorable mention.

Finally, in Los Angeles, the Kings host the Calgary Flames. Miikka Kiprusoff and Jonathan Quick are between the pipes. Los Angeles opened with a first period Jeff Carter power play goal, his seventeenth of the season, powered by Dustin Brown and Slava Voynov. Calgary tied it as Michael Cammalleri potted his ninth of the year, a power play goal, set up by Dennis Wideman and Jarome Iginla. The Kings took the lead back as Jake Muzzin scored his fifth of the season, guided in by Colin Fraser and Justin Williams. Los Angeles padded the lead as Trevor Lewis scored his fourth of the year, passed from Voynov. The Flames got one back on an Alex Tanguay goal, his seventh of the season, fueled by Mark Giordano and Matt Stajan. The Kings answered in the second period as Williams notched his third of the year, with helpers from Voynov, who got a sock trick, and Anze Kopitar. Los Angeles extended the lead in the third period as Kopitar put away his eighth of the season, via Williams. The Kings kept going with a Colin Fraser goal, his second of the year, assisted by Jordan Nolan and Dustin Penner. Joey MacDonald relieved Kiprusoff at this time. This produced a 6-2 final, with Voynov, Kopitar, and Williams getting the three stars, while Fraser gets an honorable mention.

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