Sunday, December 1, 2013

NHL Day 61 2013-2014

Eleven games on today, beginning with the...

New York Rangers hosting the Vancouver Canucks. Roberto Luongo faces a lesser foe in Cam Talbot in goal. New York struck first in the first period as Chris Kreider scored his fourth of the season, fueled by Rick Nash and Derek Stepan. The Rangers added on as Kreider scored his second of the game and fifth of the year, a power play goal powered by Ryan McDonagh and Brad Richards. New York extended the lead in the second period as Nash scored his fourth of the season, set up by Stepan and Dan Girardi. Eddie Lack replaced Luongo. The Rangers padded the lead on a Michael Del Zotto power play goal, his second of the year, via Mats Zuccarello and Derick Brassard. Vancouver got on the board as David Booth scored his third of the season, thanks to Mike Santorelli and Dale Weise. New York replied in the third period as Kreider finished his hat trick with his sixth of the campaign, guided in by Anton Stralman and Nash. The Canucks pulled back on a Daniel Sedin power play goal, his tenth of the year, assisted by Ryan Kesler and Alexander Edler. This only made it 5-2, with Kreider, Nash, and Stepan getting the three stars.

Up in Boston, the Bruins welcome the Columbus Blue Jackets. Curtis McElhinney and Chad Johnson are the backups making spot starts. Boston led off in the first period with a Patrice Bergeron goal, his eighth of the season, assisted by Dougie Hamilton and Brad Marchand. The Bruins added on as Milan Lucic scored his tenth of the year, a power play goal powered by Torey Krug and David Krejci. Boston extended the lead in the third period as Lucic scored his second of the game and eleventh of the season, coming off of Krejci and Jarome Iginla. Columbus got on the board with a Ryan Johansen goal, his tenth of the year, a power play goal made possible by R.J. Umberger and Fedor Tyutin. This produced a 3-1 final, with Lucic, Krejci, and Bergeron getting the three stars.

North to Montreal, where the Canadiens bring in the Toronto Maple Leafs. Jonathan Bernier and Carey Price are the masked men. Montreal was first to score in the first period with a Max Pacioretty goal, his eighth of the season, a power play goal powered by P.K. Subban and the goalie Price. The Canadiens added on as Subban scored his fourth of the year, thanks to Pacioretty and David Desharnais. Montreal extended the lead in the second period as Tomas Plekanec scored his ninth of the season, fueled by Daniel Briere and Brian Gionta. The Canadiens padded the lead as Pacioretty scored his second of the game and ninth of the year, a shorthanded goal set up by Lars Eller. Toronto got on the board with a James van Riemsdyk goal, his twelfth of the season, passed from Tyler Bozak and Phil Kessel. The Maple Leafs pulled closer when Mason Raymond put away his ninth of the year, with a lone assist by Paul Ranger. This was as close as it got, with the final being 4-2, and the three stars were Pacioretty, Subban, and Price (34 for 36 in saves with an assist).

Way to the south, the Florida Panthers host the Pittsburgh Penguins. Jeff Zatkoff is mismatched with Tim Thomas in goal. Pittsburgh began in the first period with a Chris Kunitz goal, his fourteenth of the season coming on the power play with the help of James Neal and Evgeni Malkin. The Penguins added on as Joe Vitale scored, with helpers provided by Jayson Megna and Deryk Engelland. Pittsburgh extended the lead in the second period with a Malkin goal, his seventh of the year, guided in by Olli Maatta and Kris Letang. Florida got on the board as Scottie Upshall scored his sixth of the season, a power play goal powered by Jonathan Huberdeau and Brian Campbell. The Penguins responded with a Neal goal, his eighth of the year, helped along by Malkin. Scott Clemmensen relieved Thomas for the third period. Pittsburgh padded the lead in the third period as Jussi Jokinen scored his ninth of the campaign, and Malkin had the lone assist to complete his sock trick. The final stood at 5-1, with Malkin, Zatkoff (39 for 40 in saves), and Neal getting the three stars.

Back north to New Jersey, as the Devils welcome the Buffalo Sabres. Jhonas Enroth and Cory Schneider are in the blue paint. New Jersey won it 1-0 in overtime as Steve Bernier scored his second of the season, assisted by Andy Greene and Adam Henrique. The three stars were Schneider (15 save shutout), Bernier, and Enroth (23 for 24 in saves).

Staying in the region, the New York Islanders bring in the Washington Capitals. Braden Holtby and Anders Nilsson are given the green light to start. Washington dented the scoreboard in the second period as Aaron Volpatti scored his second of the season, thanks to Tom Wilson and Martin Erat. New York tied it in the third period with a shorthanded Cal Clutterbuck goal, his third of the year, set up by Andrew MacDonald and Casey Cizikas. The Islanders took the lead with a Thomas Vanek goal, his eighth of the season, fueled by John Tavares and Kyle Okposo. The Capitals retied it as Nicklas Backstrom scored his sixth of the year, a shorthanded goal coming off of Jason Chimera and Karl Alzner. Washington won 3-2 in overtime with an Alex Ovechkin goal, his twenty-first of the campaign, assisted by Mikhail Grabovski and Nate Schmidt. The three stars were Ovechkin, Backstrom, and Holtby (37 for 39 in saves).

Southwest to Nashville, as the Predators host the Philadelphia Flyers. Steve Mason and Marek Mazanec occupy the creases. Philadelphia opened in the first period as Claude Giroux scored his fourth of the season, an unassisted goal. Nashville tied it on a Mike Fisher goal, his sixth of the year, with a lone assist by Patric Hornqvist. The Predators took the lead in the third period on a Colin Wilson goal, his fourth of the season, fueled by Gabriel Bourque and Ryan Ellis. The Flyers tied it again as Sean Couturier scored his third of the year, thanks to Andrej Meszaros and Steve Downie. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Vincent Lecavalier's goal gave Philadelphia the 3-2 win. The three stars were handed to Lecavalier, Mason (34 for 36 in saves), and Couturier.

Further along, the Phoenix Coyotes welcome the Chicago Blackhawks. Antti Raanta and Mike Smith will play goal. Chicago started in the first period with a Patrick Kane goal, his sixteenth of the season, coming on the power play via Marian Hossa and Duncan Keith. The Blackhawks added on with an Andrew Shaw goal, his eighth of the year, fueled by Brent Seabrook and Keith. Chicago extended the lead as Niklas Hjalmarsson scored his third of the season, with the help of Kane and Michal Handzus. Phoenix got on the board in the second period as Rob Klinkhammer scored his fifth of the year, guided in by Michael Stone and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The Coyotes pulled closer with a Martin Hanzal power play goal, his eighth of the season, powered by Radim Vrbata and Mike Ribeiro. The Blackhawks answered in the third period on a Brandon Bollig goal, his third of the year, made possible by Marcus Kruger and Ben Smith. Chicago iced it at 5-2 with a Hossa empty net goal, his eleventh of the campaign, set up by Jonathan Toews and Seabrook. The three stars were Kane, Hossa, and Keith, while Seabrook gets an honorable mention.

To the north, the Colorado Avalanche bring in the Minnesota Wild. Josh Harding and Semyon Varlamov protect the nets. Colorado struck first in the first period with a Gabriel Landeskog goal, his ninth of the season, fueled by John Mitchell. The Avalanche added on in the second period as Nathan MacKinnon scored his fifth of the year, coming off of Mitchell and Ryan O'Reilly. Minnesota got on the board in the third period as Matt Cooke scored his fourth of the season, via Torrey Mitchell and Kyle Brodziak. The Wild evened the score as Mikko Koivu scored his sixth of the year, thanks to Zach Parise and Jason Pominville. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Colorado won 3-2 with a lone tally by O'Reilly. The three stars were O'Reilly, Mitchell, and Varlamov (35 for 37 in saves).

Southwest again to Los Angeles, as the Kings host the Calgary Flames. Karri Ramo and Ben Scrivens are in front of the nets. Calgary got going in the second period on a Blair Jones shorthanded goal, his second of the season, set up by Paul Byron and T.J. Brodie. Los Angeles tied it in the third period as Justin Williams scored his tenth of the year, thanks to Jake Muzzin and Anze Kopitar. The Flames retook the lead on a Michael Cammalleri goal, his tenth of the campaign, assisted by Mikael Backlund and Lee Stempniak. This held up for a 2-1 win, with the three stars being Cammalleri, Ramo (21 for 22 in saves), and Jones.

Finally, in San Jose, the Sharks welcome the Anaheim Ducks to a Battle of California. Jonas Hiller and Antti Niemi tend the twines. Anaheim was first to score in the first period on a Corey Perry goal, his fifteenth of the season, assisted by Ryan Getzlaf and Dustin Penner. San Jose tied it in the second period on a Logan Couture goal, his ninth of the year, fueled by Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Patrick Marleau. The Sharks took the lead as Marleau scored a shorthanded goal, his twelfth of the season, set up by Joe Thornton. San Jose added on as Martin Havlat potted his second of the year with the help of Mike Brown and Scott Hannan. The Ducks got one back in the third period as Alex Grant scored, thanks to Nick Bonino and Cam Fowler. Anaheim tied it on a Ben Lovejoy goal, with a lone assist by Bonino. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Joe Pavelski's tally gave the Sharks a 4-3 win. The three stars were Marleau, Bonino, and Pavelski.

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