Big day today, as thirteen games are on. We begin in...
New York, as the Islanders host the Winnipeg Jets. Al Montoya and Kevin Poulin are the little-known goalies. Winnipeg got going in the second period with a Mark Stuart goal, with a lone assist by James Wright. The Jets added on as Andrew Ladd scored his seventh of the season, passed from Blake Wheeler and Bryan Little. Winnipeg extended the lead as Devin Setoguchi scored his sixth of the year, thanks to Keaton Ellerby and Mark Scheifele. New York got on the board as Andrew MacDonald scored his second of the season, a power play goal powered by Thomas Vanek and John Tavares. The Islanders pulled closer in the third period as Tavares netted his eleventh of the year, via Matt Carkner and Brock Nelson. This only made it 3-2, with the three stars being Setoguchi, Tavares, and Ladd.
To the west, the Columbus Blue Jackets welcome the Nashville Predators. Marek Mazanec is mismatched with Sergei Bobrovsky in goal. Nashville opened in the first period on a Matt Cullen goal, his fifth of the season, fueled by Ryan Ellis and Nick Spaling. The Predators added on in the second period as Mike Fisher scored his fifth of the year, a power play goal powered by Gabriel Bourque and Roman Josi. Nashville extended the lead with a David Legwand goal, his fifth of the season, assisted by Viktor Stalberg and Bourque. Spaling padded the Predators lead in the third period with his fourth of the year, made possible by Cullen and Ellis. This resulted in a 4-0 win, with the three stars being Mazanec (19 save shutout), Cullen, and Spaling, while Ellis and Bourque get the honorable mentions.
Back east, the Washington Capitals bring in the Ottawa Senators. Craig Anderson and Braden Holtby are in the creases. Washington began in the first period with an Eric Fehr goal, his second of the season, fueled by Michael Latta. Ottawa tied it with a Bobby Ryan goal, his twelfth of the year, a power play goal powered by Patrick Wiercioch and Clarke MacArthur. The Capitals took the lead back as Marcus Johansson scored his third of the season, a power play goal coming off of Troy Brouwer and Alex Ovechkin. Washington added on as Brooks Laich scored his fourth of the year, via Joel Ward and Jason Chimera. The Senators responded in the second period with a Chris Phillips power play goal, with assists provided by Kyle Turris and Erik Karlsson. Ottawa tied it with a Colin Greening goal, guided in by Marc Methot and Karlsson. The Senators gained the lead in the third period on a power play goal by Mika Zibanejad, his sixth of the season, helped along by Jason Spezza and Phillips. The Capitals retied it as John Carlson scored his sixth of the year, made possible by Ward. Ottawa retook the lead on a Zack Smith goal, his fourth of the season, with a lone helper by Chris Neil. The Senators iced it at 6-4 with another Ryan goal, his second of the game and thirteenth of the year, going into the empty net unassisted. The three stars belonged to Ryan, Phillips, and Karlsson, while Ward gets an honorable mention.
Over in New Jersey, the Devils host the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward and Martin Brodeur are the veteran goalies. Carolina was first to score in the first period as Justin Faulk scored, assisted by Jiri Tlusty and Manny Malhotra. The Hurricanes added on in the second period with a Tuomo Ruutu goal, his third of the season, passed from Eric Staal and Andrej Sekera. New Jersey got on the board with a Travis Zajac goal, his fourth of the year, coming off of Dainius Zubrus and Andy Greene. Carolina replied as Ron Hainsey scored his third of the season, with the help of Radek Dvorak and Sekera. The Hurricanes extended the lead with a shorthanded and unassisted goal by Patrick Dwyer, his fourth of the year. The Devils got one back in the third period as Greene scored his third of the season, guided in by Patrik Elias. new Jersey got closer with a Jaromir Jagr goal, his tenth of the year, with helpers from Eric Gelinas and Elias. This only made it 4-3, the final, with Greene, Sekera, and Elias getting the three stars.
North to Buffalo, as the Sabres welcome the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and Ryan Miller protect the nets. Montreal struck first in the first period as Alex Galchenyuk scored his sixth of the season, assisted by Andrei Markov and Lars Eller. The Canadiens added on in the second period as David Desharnais scored his second of the year, a power play goal powered by P.K. Subban and Markov. Buffalo got on the board as Matt Moulson scored his ninth of the season, with a lone assist by Drew Stafford. Montreal answered in the third period with a power play goal by Brendan Gallagher in the third period, his ninth of the year, coming off of Desharnais and Markov, the latter getting a sock trick. This held up to a 3-1 final, with the three stars going to Price (24 for 25 in saves), Desharnais, and Markov.
West to Detroit, as the Red Wings bring in the Boston Bruins. Tuukka Rask faces a lesser foe in Jonas Gustavsson in goal. Detroit started in the first period with a Justin Abdelkader goal, his third of the season, guided in by Johan Franzen. The Red Wings added on in the second period as Tomas Tatar scored his third of the year, thanks to Brian Lashoff and Joakim Andersson. Detroit extended the lead as Henrik Zetterberg scored his eleventh of the season, via Gustav Nyquist and Niklas Kronwall. The Red Wings padded the lead as Kronwall scored his third of the year, a power play goal powered by Franzen and Zetterberg. Detroit kept going in the third period with the second of the season for Drew Miller, passed from Andersson and Tatar. The Red Wings struck again as Nyquist scored his third of the year, with assists provided by Franzen, who got a sock trick, and Jonathan Ericsson. Boston got on the board with a Jarome Iginla goal, his fifth of the campaign, assisted by Matt Bartkowski and Reilly Smith. This produced the 6-1 final, with the three stars being Kronwall, Zetterberg, and Tatar, while Nyquist, Franzen, and Andersson get the honorable mentions.
Way south to Florida, as the Panthers host the New York Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist and Tim Thomas are the masked men. New York dented the scoreboard in the first period with a Derick Brassard power play goal, his fifth of the season, powered by Mats Zuccarello and Derek Stepan. The Rangers added on in the second period as Brad Richards scored his seventh of the year, an unassisted goal. New York extended the lead as Rick Nash scored his second of the season in the third period, going in unassisted. Florida got on the board as Scottie Upshall scored his fifth of the year, thanks to Brad Boyes. The Panthers got closer with a Nick Bjugstad goal, his third of the season, going in unassisted. The Rangers replied as Zuccarello scored his third of the year, a power play goal coming off of Chris Kreider and John Moore. New York wrappedi t up at 5-2 with an empty net goal by Carl Hagelin, his fifth of the campaign, set up by Ryan McDonagh. The three stars were Zuccarello, Lundqvist (31 for 33 in saves), and Nash.
Back up in Pittsburgh, the Penguins welcome the Toronto Maple Leafs. Jonathan Bernier and Marc-Andre Fleury are in the blue paint. Pittsburgh led off with a Chris Conner goal, assisted by Andrew Ebbett and Brandon Sutter. Toronto tied it with a James van Riemsdyk power play goal, his tenth of the season, guided in by Dion Phaneuf and Cody Franson. The Maple Leafs took the lead as Nazem Kadri scored his seventh of the year, pushed through by Mark Fraser. Toronto added on in the second period with another van Riemsdyk goal, his second of the game and eleventh of the campaign, going in unassisted. Fleury was pulled for Jeff Zatkoff at this time. The Maple Leafs extended the lead on a Phil Kessel goal, his thirteenth of the season, with a lone assist by Tyler Bozak. The Penguins answered with an Evgeni Malkin power play goal, his fifth of the year, powered by Kris Letang and Sidney Crosby. Pittsburgh pulled closer as Letang scored his fifth of the campaign, a power play goal helped along by James Neal and Chris Kunitz. Toronto padded the lead on a Bozak goal, his fourth of the season, with a lone helper from van Riemsdyk. The Penguins chipped back in the third period as Neal notched his seventh of the year, a power play goal fueled by Malkin and Letang. Pittsburgh tied it with a Malkin goal, his sixth of the campaign, set up by Crosby and Kunitz. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Crosby and Malkin scored to complete the comeback and give the Penguins a 6-5 win. The three stars were Malkin, van Riemsdyk, and Letang, while Crosby, Neal, Bozak, and Kunitz get the honorable mentions.
Again to Florida, as the Tampa Bay Lightning bring in the Philadelphia Flyers. Ray Emery and Anders Lindback are the backups making spot starts. Tampa Bay got going in the second period with a Victor Hedman goal, his fifth of the season, assisted by Nate Thompson and Tyler Johnson. The Lightning added on as Ondrej Palat scored his fourth of the year, a shorthanded goal set up by Hedman and Andrej Sustr. Tampa Bay extended the lead in the third period as Hedman scored his second of the game and sixth of the season, a power play goal powered by Teddy Purcell and Valtteri Filppula. Philadelphia got on the board as Vincent Lecavalier scored his ninth of the year, a power play goal guided in by Brayden Schenn and Mark Streit. The Flyers pulled closer as Streit scored, with a lone assist by Claude Giroux. The Lightning iced it at 4-2 as Johnson scored an unassisted empty net goal, his sixth of the campaign. The three stars went to Hedman, Johnson, and Streit.
Northwest to Minnesota, as the Wild host the Phoenix Coyotes. Thomas Greiss and Niklas Backstrom will occupy the creases. Phoenix opened in the first period as Mikkel Boedker scored his sixth of the season, thanks to Shane Doan and Derek Morris. The Coyotes added on in the second period with a Radim Vrbata goal, his seventh of the year, guided in by Tim Kennedy and David Schlemko. Minnesota got on the board in the third period with the fifth of the season by Dany Heatley, assisted by Nino Neiderreiter and Kyle Brodziak. Phoenix iced it at 3-1 with an empty net goal by Vrbata, his second of the game and eighth of the year, set up by Martin Hanzal and Antoine Vermette. The three stars were handed to Vrbata, Greiss (28 for 29 in saves), and Boedker.
Down in Colorado, the Avalanche welcome the St. Louis Blues. Jaroslav Halak and Semyon Varlamov guard the cages. St. Louis began in the first period on a David Backes goal, his eleventh of the season, assisted by T.J. Oshie and Jay Bouwmeester. The Blues added on with an Alexander Steen goal, his twentieth of the year, passed from Backes and Derek Roy on the power play. Colorado got on the board with a Patrick Bordeleau goal, his third of the season, fueled by Jan Hejda and Brad Malone. St. Louis answered as Jaden Schwartz scored his fifth of the year, a shorthanded and unassisted goal. The Blues extended the lead in the third period on a Chris Stewart empty net goal, his fifth of the campaign, set up by Roy and Patrik Berglund. The three stars were awarded to Backes, Halak (25 for 26 in saves), and Roy.
North to Calgary, as the Flames bring in the Chicago Blackhawks. Antti Raanta and Reto Berra are the unknown goalies. Calgary dented the scoreboard in the second period on a Matt Stajan goal, his fourth of the season, assisted by Jiri Hudler and Lance Bouma. The Flames added on in the third period as Sean Monahan scored his ninth of the year, passed from Hudler and Kris Russell. Chicago got on the board as Patrick Kane scored his fourteenth of the campaign, via Brandon Saad and Duncan Keith. The Blackhawks tied it as Patrick Sharp netted his ninth of the season, coming off of Marian Hossa and Niklas Hjalmarsson. Chicago took the lead late as Kane scored his second of the game and fifteenth of the year, with a lone assist by Hjalmarsson. This was good for a 3-2 win, with the three stars being given to Kane, Hjalmarsson, and Hudler.
Finally, we end in San Jose, as the Sharks host the Los Angeles Kings for a Battle of California. Ben Scrivens and Antti Niemi get the starting nods. Los Angeles quickly started in the first period on a Jeff Carter goal, his sixth of the season, guided in by Dwight King and Mike Richards. San Jose tied it in the second period on a Joe Pavelski goal, his ninth of the year, passed from Tyler Kennedy and Martin Havlat. The Sharks added on as Joe Thornton potted his third of the season, with a lone assist by Tomas Hertl. The Kings tied it again in the third period as Drew Doughty scored his fifth of the year, and the goalie Scrivens had the lone helper. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Anze Kopitar and Pavelski traded goals, followed by the same act form Hertl and Justin Williams as well as Dan Boyle and Dustin Brown, before winning on a Thornton goal. The three stars went to Thornton, Pavelski, and Hertl.
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