NHL April 26th 2013

It's the third to last day of the season, and we have four games on, beginning in...

Buffalo, as the Sabres host their cross-state rivals, the New York Islanders. Evgeni Nabokov and Ryan Miller are given the starting nods. Buffalo got going in the second period on a Brian Flynn goal, his sixth of the season, with a lone assist by Thomas Vanek. New York tied it in the third period with a Keith Aucoin goal, his sixth of the year, set up by Andrew MacDonald. The Sabres won 2-1 in the shootout on a lone tally by Vanek. The three stars were Miller (30 for 31 in saves), Flynn, and Mikhail Grigorenko, while Vanek deserves the third slot.

West to Minnesota, as the Wild host the Edmonton Oilers. Nikolai Khabibulin and Niklas Backstrom are in the creases. Edmonton led off with a Corey Potter goal in the first period, his second of the season, assisted by Ryan Smyth and Jordan Eberle. The Oilers added on as Taylor Hall scored his sixteenth of the year, an unassisted goal. Edmonton extended the lead as Potter scored his second of the game and third of the season, with the help of Eberle and Sam Gagner. Josh Harding relieved Backstrom at this time. The Oilers padded the lead in the second period as Eberle scored his fourteenth of the year, thanks to Smyth and Gagner. Edmonton struck again as Nail Yakupov recorded his thirteenth of the season, coming off of Hall. The Oilers kept going on another Yakupov goal, his second of the game and fourteenth of the year, pushed through by Hall. Minnesota got on the board in the third period as Mikko Koivu put away his eleventh of the season, with an assist provided by Charlie Coyle. This made it 6-1, the final, with Eberle, Hall, and Potter getting the three stars, while Yakupov, Smyth, and Gagner get the honorable mentions.

Down in Chicago, the Blackhawks welcome the Calgary Flames. Joey MacDonald and Corey Crawford are the masked men. Chicago opened in the first period with a Patrick Kane goal, his twenty-third of the season, fueled by Patrick Sharp and Duncan Keith. The Blackhawks extended the lead as Jonathan Toews notched his twenty-third of the year, guided in by Brandon Saad and Marian Hossa. Calgary got on the board in the second period with a goal by Chris Butler, coming shorthanded from Lee Stempniak and Ben Street. Chicago answered with a Marcus Kruger goal, his fourth of the season, an unassisted goal. This was good for a 3-1 win, with the three stars belonging to Crawford (25 for 26 in saves), Kane, and Toews.

Finally, we end in Phoenix, as the Coyotes bring in the Colorado Avalanche. Jean-Sebastien Giguere and Mike Smith protect the nets. Phoenix began with a David Schlemko first period goal, thanks to Kyle Chipchura and Paul Bissonnette. The Coyotes added on with an Antoine Vermette goal, his eleventh of the season, guided in by Keith Yandle and Mikkel Boedker. Colorado got on the board as Stefan Elliot scored via Matt Duchene and P.A. Parenteau. The Avalanche tied it on a Parenteau power play goal, his eighteenth of the year, powered by John Mitchell and Paul Stastny. Colorado gained the lead as Patrick Bordeleau notched his second of the season, with helpers from Duchene and Tomas Vincour. Phoenix tied it in the second period with a Rob Klinkhammer power play goal, his fifth of the year, courtesy of Boyd Gordon and Yandle. The Avalanche retook the lead as Ryan O'Reilly scored his fifth of the season, a power play goal passed from Tyson Barrie and Duchene, the latter getting a sock trick. The Coyotes got an equalizer in the third period as Vermette scored his second of the game and twelfth of the year, made possible by Michael Stone and Yandle, the latter getting a sock trick. With approximately five minutes left in regulation, Semyon Varlamov relieved Giguere. Colorado won 5-4 in the shootout as Duchene and Parenteau tallied goals. The three stars were awarded to Yandle, Vermette, and Duchene, while Parenteau gets the honorable mention.

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