Sunday, March 23, 2014

NHL Day 174 2013-2014

Seven games this Sunday, beginning in...

New York, as the Islanders host the Columbus Blue Jackets. Sergei Bobrovsky and Evgeni Nabokov are the Russian goalies. New York began in the first period with a Cal Clutterbuck goal, his tenth of the season, via Frans Nielsen and Johan Sundstrom. The Islanders added on in the second period with a Travis Hamonic power play goal, his second of the year, powered by Calvin de Haan. This was it for the scoring, with the final being 2-0. The three stars went to Nabokov (41 save shutout), Clutterbuck, and Hamonic.

Over in Pittsburgh, the Penguins welcome the St. Louis Blues. Brian Elliott and Marc-Andre Fleury are set to start. St. Louis dented the scoreboard in the third period with a David Backes goal, his twenty-fourth of the season, passed from Alexander Steen and Alex Pietrangelo. This held up for a 1-0 win. The three stars belonged to Elliott (33 save shutout), Backes, and Fleury (26 for 27 in saves).

Back east to New Jersey, as the Devils bring in the Toronto Maple Leafs. James Reimer and Cory Schneider draw the starts. New Jersey started in the first period with a Damien Brunner goal, his eleventh of the season, courtesy of Adam Henrique and Marek Zidlicky. The Devils added on in the second period with a Patrik Elias goal, his seventeenth of the year, with a lone assist by Jon Merrill. New Jersey extended the lead on a Merrill goal, his second of the season, coming off of Ryane Clowe and Peter Harrold. Drew MacIntyre relieved Reimer at this time. Toronto got on the board with a Tyler Bozak power play goal, his seventeenth of the year, powered by Morgan Rielly and Jake Gardiner. The Maple Leafs pulled closer in the third period on a Phil Kessel goal, his thirty-sixth of the campaign, helped along by Dion Phaneuf. This only made it 3-2, with the three stars being Merrill, Elias, and Brunner.

Out west, the Chicago Blackhawks host the Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne and Corey Crawford protect the nets. Nashville opened in the first period on a Mike Fisher goal, his eighteenth of the season, assisted by Ryan Ellis and Mattias Ekholm. The Predators added on in the second period with a Gabriel Bourque goal, his seventh of the year, helped along by Calle Jarnkrok. This was good for a 2-0 win, with the three stars going to Rinne (29 save shutout), Fisher, and Bourque.

Up in Detroit, the Red Wings bring in the Minnesota Wild. Ilya Bryzgalov and Jimmy Howard are the veteran goalies. Detroit led off in the first period with a Gustav Nyquist goal, his twenty-second of the season, assisted by Niklas Kronwall and Daniel Alfredsson on the power play. The Red Wings added on with Nyquist's second of the game and twenty-third of the year, made possible by Tomas Tatar. Minnesota got on the board in the second period with a Jason Pominville power play goal, his twenty-seventh of the season, powered by Ryan Suter and Mikko Koivu. The Wild tied it in the third period with a Charlie Coyle goal, his ninth of the year, via Matt Moulson and Koivu. Minnesota took the lead on a Zach Parise goal, his twenty-fourth of the season, guided in by Mikael Granlund and Jared Spurgeon. Detroit retied it with a Tatar goal, his sixteenth of the year, fueled by Brendan Smith. The Wild won 4-3 in overtime with a Moulson goal, his twenty-first of the campaign, with assists provided by Jonas Brodin and Coyle. The three stars were Moulson, Coyle, and Nyquist, while Tatar and Koivu got the honorable mentions.

Northwest to Vancouver, where the Canucks welcome the Buffalo Sabres. Nathan Lieuwen and Eddie Lack are the relatively unknown goalies. Buffalo was first to score in the first period on a Tyler Ennis goal, his nineteenth of the season, passed from Marcus Foligno and Christian Ehrhoff. The Sabres added on as Jamie McBain scored his fourth of the year, thanks to Brian Flynn and Matt D'Agostini. Vancouver got on the board with a Brad Richardson goal, his ninth of the season, fueled by Zack Kassian and Shawn Matthias. The Canucks tied it on a Matthias goal, his eleventh of the year, assisted by Kassian and Richardson. Vancouver took the lead in the second period as Yannick Weber potted his fourth of the season, via Kassian, who got a sock trick, and Matthias. The Canucks extended the lead in the third period as David Booth notched his sixth of the year, with the help of Kassian. This produced a 4-2 final, with Kassian, Matthias, and Richardson getting the three stars.

Finally, in Anaheim, the Ducks host the Florida Panthers. Dan Ellis faces former mentor Jonas Hiller in goal. Anaheim struck first in the first period on a Pat Maroon power play goal, his seventh of the season, powered by Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. The Ducks added on in the second period with a Teemu Selanne goal, his ninth of the year, via Perry and Getzlaf. Anaheim extended the lead with a shorthanded and unassisted Jakob Silfverberg goal, his eighth of the season. Florida got on the board as Jimmy Hayes scored his tenth of the year, thanks to Krys Barch and Dmitry Kulikov. The Panthers pulled closer on a Tomas Fleischmann goal, his eighth of the season, with a lone assist by Vincent Trocheck. The Ducks shot back on a Kyle Palmieri goal, his twelfth of the year, helped along by Mathieu Perreault and Maroon. Anaheim padded the lead on a Perry goal, his thirty-seventh of the season, assisted by Sami Vatanen and Bryan Allen. The Ducks finished it at 6-2 with a third period goal by Getzlaf, his thirtieth of the year, coming off of Selanne and Stephane Robidas. The three stars were Perry, Getzlaf, and Maroon, while Selanne gets an honorable mention.

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