Thursday, January 23, 2014

NHL Day 115 2013-2014

Ten games on tonight, beginning in...

New York, as the Rangers host the St. Louis Blues. Jaroslav Halak and Henrik Lundqvist guard the cages. St. Louis began on a first period goal by Alexander Steen, his twenty-sixth of the season, via Jaden Schwartz and David Backes. New York got on the board in the second period with a Rick Nash goal, his seventeenth of the year, coming off of Derek Stepan and Ryan McDonagh. The Blues took the lead back in the third period on a Kevin Shattenkirk power play goal, his eighth of the campaign, powered by Alex Pietrangelo and Backes. This held up for a 2-1 win, with the three stars going to Halak (34 for 35 in saves), Shattenkirk, and Backes.

West to Columbus, as the Blue Jackets welcome the Philadelphia Flyers. Ray Emery faces former Flyer Sergei Bobrovsky in goal. Columbus led off in the first period with an unassisted Jack Johnson goal, his third of the season. Philadelphia tied it on a second period Brayden Schenn goal, his fourteenth of the year, going in unassisted. The Flyers took the lead on a Vincent Lecavalier power play goal, his eleventh of the season, powered by Mark Streit and Andrej Meszaros. The Blue Jackets tied it on a Derek MacKenzie goal, his third of the year, via Artem Anisimov and Corey Tropp. Columbus gained the lead on a power play goal by Matt Calvert, his sixth of the season, coming off of James Wisniewski and Brandon Dubinsky. The Blue Jackets added on with a Dubinsky goal in the third period, his eleventh of the year, fueled by Calvert and Fedor Tyutin. Columbus extended the lead with a Nathan Horton goal, his fourth of the campaign, with a lone helper from Ryan Murray. This was good for a 5-3 win, with the three stars being Calvert, Dubinsky, and Horton.

Back east to Buffalo, as the Sabres host the Carolina Hurricanes. Anton Khudobin and Jhonas Enroth draw the starts. Buffalo was first to score in the first period on a Cody Hodgson goal, his eleventh of the season, with a lone assist by Steve Ott. Carolina tied it on a Jeff Skinner goal, his twenty-second of the year, going in unassisted. The Sabres took the lead back in the second period with a Brian Flynn goal, his fourth of the season, made possible by Phil Varone and Marcus Foligno. The Hurricanes tied it on an Alexander Semin goal, his eleventh of the year, courtesy of Andrej Sekera and Justin Faulk. Buffalo took the lead back in the third period on a Tyler Ennis goal, his eleventh of the season, coming off of Drew Stafford and Zenon Konopka. Carolina retied it again with another Semin goal, his second of the game and twelfth of the year, passed from Eric Staal and Jiri Tlusty. The Hurricanes took the lead with a Sekera goal, his eighth of the season, assisted by Tuomo Ruutu and Mike Komisarek. Carolina finished it at 5-3 with a Tlusty empty net goal, his eighth of the year, set up by Sekera. The three stars were given to Semin, Sekera, and Tlusty.

Down in Tampa Bay, the Lightning bring in the Ottawa Senators. Craig Anderson opposes former Senator Ben Bishop in goal. Tampa Bay opened on a shorthanded Tyler Johnson goal, his thirteenth of the season, set up by Victor Hedman. Ottawa tied it on a power play goal by Erik Karlsson, his twelfth of the year, powered by Clarke MacArthur and Jason Spezza. The Lightning retook the lead in the second period on a B.J. Crombeen goal, his second of the season, courtesy of Hedman and Valtteri Filppula. The Senators retied it with a MacArthur power play goal, his eighteenth of the year, assisted by Spezza and Bobby Ryan. Tampa Bay retook the lead in the third period on an Ondrej Palat goal, his eleventh of the season, guided in by Martin St. Louis and Hedman, the latter getting a sock trick. Ottawa tied it again with a Chris Neil goal, his sixth of the year, with assists provided by Zack Smith and Karlsson. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Nikita Kucherov's lone tally gave the Lightning a 4-3 win. The three stars were given to Hedman, MacArthur, and Karlsson, while Spezza gets an honorable mention.

North again to New York, where the Islanders host the Pittsburgh Penguins. Jeff Zatkoff and Kevin Poulin are the backups making spot starts. New York struck first in the first period on a Michael Grabner goal, his eighth of the season, courtesy of Thomas Hickey. The Islanders added on as Brock Nelson scored his ninth of the year, thanks to Grabner. Pittsburgh got on the board with a Chris Kunitz goal, his twenty-fifth of the season, passed from Sidney Crosby and Olli Maatta. The Penguins tied it as Crosby scored his twenty-seventh of the year, assisted by Kunitz and Matt Niskanen. Pittsburgh took the lead on a second period Maatta goal, his fifth of the season, coming off of Kunitz and Niskanen. The Penguins extended the lead on a Kris Letang goal, his tenth of the year, a power play goal powered by Crosby and James Neal. New York pulled back in the third period with a Josh Bailey goal, his fifth of the season, via Peter Regin and Frans Nielsen. Pittsburgh shot back on an Evgeni Malkin goal, his fourteenth of the year, with a lone assist by Neal. The Islanders chipped back on a Kyle Okposo goal, his twenty-first of the season, guided in by John Tavares and Matt Donovan. The Penguins iced it at 6-4 with a Brandon Sutter empty net goal, his ninth of the year, going in unassisted. The three stars were Crosby, Maatta, and Kunitz, while Niskanen, Grabner, and Neal get the honorable mentions.

Out west, the Minnesota, the Wild host the Chicago Blackhawks. Antti Raanta and Darcy Kuemper are the little-known goalies. Minnesota started in the first period with a Jason Pominville goal, his twentieth of the season, coming off of Mikael Granlund and Dany Heatley. The Wild added on with a Matt Cooke goal, his seventh of the year, via Justin Fontaine and Kyle Brodziak. Chicago got on the board in the third period with a Patrick Kane goal, his twenty-fourth of the campaign, assisted by Nick Leddy and Patrick Sharp. This only made it 2-1, the final, with the three stars being Kuemper (33 for 34 in saves), Cooke, and Pominville.

Well south to Dallas, where the Stars welcome the Toronto Maple Leafs. Jonathan Bernier and Kari Lehtonen protect the nets. Dallas was first to score in the first period with a Jamie Benn goal, his eighteenth of the season, courtesy of Tyler Seguin. Toronto tied it on a Nikolai Kulemin goal, his seventh of the year, passed from Carl Gunnarsson and Nazem Kadri. The Stars retook the lead on a Cody Eakin goal, his twelfth of the season, made possible by Alex Goligoski. Dallas added on in the second period with a Valeri Nichushkin goal, his tenth of the year, guided in by Jamie Benn and Sergei Gonchar. The Stars extended the lead on a power play goal by Shawn Horcoff, his sixth of the season, powered by Gonchar and the goalie Lehtonen. Dallas padded the lead as Rich Peverley scored a shorthanded goal, his sixth of the year, set up by Jamie Benn and Jordie Benn. The Stars got another with a Trevor Daley goal, his third of the season, assisted by Goligoski and Eakin. Dallas struck again in the third period as Nichushkin potted his second of the game and eleventh of the year, with the help of Seguin and Jamie Benn, the latter getting a sock trick. This produced the 7-1 final, with the three stars awarded to Jamie Benn, Nichushkin, and Eakin, while Gonchar, Goligoski, and Seguin pick up the honorable mentions.

Way northwest to Vancouver, as the Canucks host the Nashville Predators. Carter Hutton and Roberto Luongo are set to start. Vancouver got going in the second period with a Chris Higgins goal, his thirteenth of the season, coming off of Dale Weise and Christopher Tanev. Nashville tied it in the third period on a Craig Smith goal, his sixteenth of the year, via Nick Spaling. The Predators took the lead with a Seth Jones power play goal, his fifth of the season, powered by Matt Cullen and Ryan Ellis. This was all they needed for a 2-1 win, and the three stars were handed to Hutton (33 for 34 in saves), Jones, and Smith.

Southward to Anaheim, as the Ducks bring in the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick faces a lesser foe in Frederik Andersen in goal. Los Angeles struck first in the first period on an Anze Kopitar goal, his fourteenth of the season, assisted by Trevor Lewis and Dwight King. Anaheim tied it in the second period on a Dustin Penner power play goal, his twelfth of the year, powered by Corey Perry and Nick Bonino. The Ducks took the lead with a Pat Maroon goal, his fourth of the season, with a lone assist by Mark Fistric. This produced a 2-1 final score, with the three stars going to Andersen (30 for 31 in saves), Maroon, and Penner.

Finally, in San Jose, the Sharks host the Winnipeg Jets. Ondrej Pavelec and Alex Stalock have the green light to start. San Jose dented the scoreboard in the third period on a Joe Pavelski goal, his twenty-eighth of the season, coming off of Justin Braun. This was the only goal in the game, so the Sharks won 1-0. The three stars were given to Stalock (20 save shutout), Pavelski, and Pavelec (31 for 32 in saves).

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