NHL April 24th 2013

Only four games on tonight, beginning in...

Tampa Bay, as the Lightning host the Toronto Maple Leafs. James Reimer and Ben Bishop receive the starting nods. Toronto led off in the first period with a Phil Kessel goal, his seventeenth of the season, assisted by Tyler Bozak. Tampa Bay tied it in the second period with a Steven Stamkos goal, his twenty-ninth of the year, courtesy of Nate Thompson and Matt Carle. The Lightning took the lead with a Martin St. Louis goal, his fourteenth of the season, with a lone assist by Thompson. The Maple Leafs retied it as Joffrey Lupul scored his eleventh of the year, via Clarke MacArthur and Cody Franson. Tampa Bay retook the lead in the third period on a Radko Gudas goal, his second of the season, coming off of Teddy Purcell and Stamkos. The Lightning padded the lead as St. Louis scored his second of the game and fifteenth of the year, guided in by Keith Aulie and Dana Tyrell. Tampa Bay iced it at 5-2 when St. Louis finished his hat trick on an empty net goal, his sixteenth of the campaign, made possible by Vincent Lecavalier. St. Louis, Stamkos, and Thompson were awarded the three stars.

Up in Detroit, the Red Wings host the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick and Jimmy Howard tend the twines. Los Angeles got going in the second period with a Kyle Clifford goal, his sixth of the season, fueled by Trevor Lewis and Jarret Stoll. Detroit tied it as Pavel Datsyuk scored his fourteenth of the year, with the help of Jonathan Ericsson and Henrik Zetterberg. The Red Wings took the lead in the third period on a Jordin Tootoo goal, his third of the season, passed from Patrick Eaves and Brendan Smith. Detroit added on as Johan Franzen scored his thirteenth of the year, a power play goal powered by Zetterberg and Datsyuk. This held up for a 3-1 win, with the three stars belonging to Eaves, Datsyuk, and Gustav Nyquist, while Zetterberg could take the third slot.

Northwest to Edmonton, as the Oilers welcome the Chicago Blackhawks. Ray Emery and Devan Dubnyk are in the creases. Chicago began in the first period with a Jonathan Toews goal, his twenty-second of the season, assisted by Brandon Saad and Marian Hossa. Edmonton tied it on a Nail Yakupov goal, his twelfth of the year, courtesy of Mark Fistric and Shawn Horcoff. The Blackhawks took the lead back as Patrick Kane netted his twenty-second of the season, with assists provided by Michal Handzus and Michal Rozsival. Corey Crawford relieved Emery a little over halfway through the first period, with Emery leaving due to injury. Chicago extended the lead in the third period on a Johnny Oduya goal, his third of the year, passed from Kane and Handzus. The Blackhawks wrapped it up as Patrick Sharp scored his sixth of the campaign, an empty net goal set up by Kane. The three stars of the 4-1 game were Kane, Handzus, and Dubnyk (26 for 29 in saves), while any point earner could take the third slot.

Finally, in Phoenix, the Coyotes bring in the San Jose Sharks. Thomas Greiss and Mike Smith are the masked men. Phoenix was first to score in the first period on a Michael Stone goal, his fifth of the season, thanks to Radim Vrbata and Shane Doan. The Coyotes added on as Keith Yandle scored his tenth of the year, a power play goal powered by Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Doan. San Jose got on the board in the second period with a Brent Burns goal, his ninth of the season, an unassisted goal. They couldn't get the equalizer, falling 2-1, with the three stars going to Stone, Doan, and Smith (33 for 34 in saves).

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