NHL April 6th 2013

Ten games on today, beginning in...

Winnipeg, as the Jets host the Philadelphia Flyers. Ilya Bryzgalov and Ondrej Pavelec make the starts. Philadelphia struck first in the first period with a Ruslan Fedotenko goal, his fourth of the season, assisted by Kent Huskins and Simon Gagne. Winnipeg tied it as Grant Clitsome scored his third of the year in the second period, a power play goal set up by Bryan Little and Blake Wheeler. The Jets took the lead with a power play goal by Kyle Wellwood, his third of the season, powered by Evander Kane and Olli Jokinen. Winnipeg extended the lead as Kane scored his fourteenth of the year, thanks to Mike Santorelli and Alex Burmistrov. The Jets padded the lead with a Little goal, his sixth of the season, coming off of Wheeler and Andrew Ladd. Steve Mason relieved Bryzgalov for the third period. This was all for the scoring, resulting in a 4-1 final, with the three stars being Kane, Little, and Pavelec (30 for 31 in saves), while Wheeler got an honorable mention.

Down in Nashville, the Predators bring in the Chicago Blackhawks. Ray Emery and Pekka Rinne are in the blue paint. Chicago opened in the first period on a Bryan Bickell goal, his seventh of the season, fueled by Michal Handzus and Marcus Kruger. This was the game's only goal, with the final being 1-0, and the three stars were Bickell, Rinne (29 for 30 in saves), and Emery (20 save shutout).

Out in Los Angeles, the Kings host the Edmonton Oilers. Devan Dubnyk and Jonathan Quick are between the pipes. Los Angeles began quickly in the first period as Mike Richards notched his ninth of the season, with a lone assist from Jeff Carter. The Kings added on as Carter scored his twenty-second of the year, a power play goal powered by Dustin Brown and Anze Kopitar. Edmonton got on the board in the second period with a Magnus Paajarvi power play goal, his eighth of the season, pushed through by Nail Yakupov and Sam Gagner. Los Angeles shot back on a Slava Voynov goal, his fifth of the year, a power play goal set up by Justin Williams and Jarret Stoll. The Kings iced it at 4-1 with an empty net goal by Drew Doughty, his second of the campaign, going in unassisted. The three stars were given to Carter, Quick (23 for 24 in saves), and Richards.

Back east, the New Jersey Devils welcome the Toronto Maple Leafs. James Reimer and Martin Brodeur are called on to start. Toronto was first to score in the first period with the second of the season by Leo Komarav, assisted by Mark Fraser and Cody Franson. The Maple Leafs added on in the third period when Tyler Bozak scored his eleventh of the year, thanks to Phil Kessel and James van Riemsdyk. New Jersey got on the board with a David Clarkson goal, his thirteenth of the season, made possible by Marek Zidlicky. They failed to get an equalizer, falling 2-1, with the three stars being given to Reimer (27 for 28 in saves), Bozak, and Clarkson.

Up in Montreal, the Canadiens host the Boston Bruins. Tuukka Rask and Carey Price tend the twines. Montreal led off in the first period with an Alex Galchenyuk goal, his fifth of the season, fueled by Brandon Prust and P.K. Subban. The Canadiens added on in the second period as Michael Ryder scored his sixteenth of the year, a power play goal powered by Subban and Tomas Plekanec. Boston got on the board with a Daniel Paille goal, his seventh of the season, with a lone assist from Johnny Boychuk. They couldn't find the tying goal, losing 2-1, with the three stars awarded to Galchenyuk, Price (26 for 27 in saves), and Ryder, while Subban gets an honorable mention.

Back in the south, the Carolina Hurricanes host the New York Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist faces a lesser foe in Dan Ellis in goal. New York got going in the second period on a Derek Stepan power play goal, his thirteenth of the season, powered by Brad Richards and Ryane Clowe. The Rangers added on with a Ryan Callahan goal, his eleventh of the year, courtesy of Rick Nash and Stepan. New York extended the lead as Nash potted his fifteenth of the season, a power play goal made possible by Mats Zuccarello and Michael Del Zotto. Justin Peters relieved Ellis for the third period. Carolina got on the board in the third period when Zac Dalpe scored, via Jeff Skinner and Eric Staal. The Rangers finished it with a Brian Boyle empty net goal, his second of the year, going in unassisted. This made it a 4-1 final score, with the three stars belonging to Lundqvist (48 for 49 in saves), Nash, and Skinner, while Stepan gets an honorable mention.

Speaking of New York, we head there next as the Islanders host the Tampa Bay Lightning. Ben Bishop and Evgeni Nabokov man the creases. New York started in the first period as Michael Grabner scored his twelfth of the season, via John Tavares. Tampa Bay tied it in the second period on a Richard Panik goal, his second of the year, coming off of Vincent Lecavalier and Matt Carle. The Islanders took the lead back with a Josh Bailey goal, his seventh of the season, passed from Kyle Okposo and Frans Nielsen. The Lightning tied it in the third period as Carle scored his fourth of the year, with the help of Steven Stamkos and Benoit Pouliot. New York reclaimed the lead with a Matt Martin goal, his third of the season, made possible by Anders Lee and Mark Streit. The Islanders iced it at 4-2 with an empty net goal by Andrew MacDonald, his third of the year, with a lone helper from Bailey. The three stars were handed to Martin, Bailey, and Carle.

Moving along to Florida, as the Panthers bring in the Washington Capitals. Braden Holtby and Jacob Markstrom are the excellent young goalies. Washington opened in the first period on an Alex Ovechkin power play goal, his twenty-first of the season, assisted by Mike Ribeiro and Nicklas Backstrom. The Capitals added on in the second period with a Ribeiro power play goal, his twelfth of the year, with assists provided by Mike Green and Ovechkin. Washington padded the lead as Ovechkin scored his second of the game and twenty-second of the season, with the help of Backstrom and Marcus Johansson.  The Capitals extended the lead as Ovechkin completed his hat trick with his twenty-third of the year, another power play goal, powered by Johansson and Backstrom, the latter getting a sock trick. Florida got on the board in the third period as Tomas Kopecky scored his fourteenth of the season, courtesy of Tomas Fleischmann and T.J. Brennan. The Panthers pulled closer as Peter Mueller scored his eighth of the year, a power play goal with helpers from Shawn Matthias and Jonathan Huberdeau. Florida chipped away with another Kopecky goal, his second of the game and fifteenth of the campaign, helped along by Matthias. It wasn't enough to avoid a 4-3 loss, with the three stars being Ovechkin, Ribeiro, and Kopecky, while Backstrom, Johansson, and Matthias get the honorable mentions.

Way to the west, the Phoenix Coyotes welcome the Colorado Avalanche. Semyon Varlamov and Mike Smith protect the nets. Phoenix quickly began with a first period Mikkel Boedker goal, his seventh of the season, coming off of Martin Hanzal and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The Coyotes added on in the second period with a Hanzal power play goal, his eleventh of the year, powered by Shane Doan and Radim Vrbata. Phoenix padded the lead with a Boyd Gordon goal, his third of the season, courtesy of David Moss. The Coyotes extended the lead when Doan notched his thirteenth of the year, via Vrbata and Ekman-Larsson. This was it for the scoring, resulting in a 4-0 final, with Smith (24 save shutout), Ekman-Larsson, and Hanzal getting the three stars, while Doan and Vrbata receive the honorable mentions.

Finally, in Vancouver, the Canucks host the Calgary Flames. Miikka Kiprusoff and Cory Schneider are the redheaded goalies. Vancouver led off with a Dan Hamhuis goal, his third of the season, via Alexandre Burrows and Daniel Sedin. The Canucks extended the lead as Jason Garrison scored his sixth of the year, with the help of Maxim Lapierre and Dale Weise. Calgary got on the board with a Dennis Wideman goal, his fifth of the season, courtesy of Matt Stajan and Mark Giordano. Vancouver answered in the second period on a Burrows goal, his eleventh of the year, fueled by Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin. The Canucks padded the lead with an Alexander Edler power play goal, his sixth of the season, powered by Daniel Sedin, who got a sock trick, and Henrik Sedin. The Flames got one back in the third period on an Alex Tanguay goal, his tenth of the year, assisted by Matt Stajan and Lee Stempniak.