Saturday, December 13, 2014

NHL December 13th, 2014

Thirteen games on for a remarkably busy day, beginning in...

Boston, as the Bruins host the Ottawa Senators in the first of two matinees. Robin Lehner and Tuukka Rask will play goal. Boston struck first in the first period on a Craig Cunningham shorthanded goal, set up by Zdeno Chara. Ottawa tied it in the second period with a Mika Zibanejad goal, his eighth of the season, courtesy of Mike Hoffman. The Bruins retook the lead as Loui Eriksson scored his fifth of the year, thanks to Kevan Miller and Carl Soderberg. The Senators tied it again in the third period on a David Legwand power play goal, his sixth of the campaign, powered by Mark Stone and Kyle Turris. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Zibanejad and Bobby Ryan scored to top a lone tally by Brad Marchand for a 3-2 Ottawa win. The three stars went to Zibanejad, Lehner (29 for 31 in saves), and Rask (29 for 31 in saves).

Over in Philadelphia, the Flyers welcome the Carolina Hurricanes. Anton Khudobin and Steve Mason are the goalies. Philadelphia began in the first period on a Sean Couturier goal, his seventh of the season, via R.J. Umberger and Matt Read. The Flyers added on as Wayne Simmonds scored his thirteenth of the year, thanks to Brayden Schenn and Scott Laughton. Carolina got on the board in the second period with an Eric Staal power play goal, his seventh of the season, powered by Jeff Skinner and John-Michael Liles. Philadelphia answered with a Jakub Voracek power play goal, his eleventh of the year, passed from Simmonds and Claude Giroux. The Flyers extended the lead on a Laughton goal, guided in by Schenn and Braydon Coburn. Philadelphia padded the lead as Michael Raffl netted his eighth of the campaign, with the help of Giroux and Voracek. This produced the eventual 5-1 final, with the three stars going to Simmonds, Laughton, and Voracek, while Schenn and Giroux get the honorable mentions.

At the normal time, the Buffalo Sabres bring in the Florida Panthers. Al Montoya and Jhonas Enroth are the little-known goalies. Buffalo was first to score in the first period on a Cody Hodgson goal, his second of the season, assisted by Patrick Kaleta and Nikita Zadorov. The Sabres added on with a Marcus Foligno goal, his fourth of the year, fueled by Nicolas Deslauriers and Drew Stafford. Florida got on the board in the second period as Sean Bergenheim scored his fifth of the season, thanks to Brad Boyes. The Panthers tied it on a Jimmy Hayes goal, his seventh of the year, guided in by Bergenheim and Dmitry Kulikov. Florida pulled ahead in the third period on a Jussi Jokinen goal, his third of the season, with a lone assist by Dave Bolland. Buffalo tied it again with a Brian Gionta goal, his fourth of the year, coming off of Tyler Myers and Andre Benoit. The Sabres won 4-3 in overtime on a Zadorov goal, with assists provided by Tyler Ennis and Zemgus Girgensons. The three stars went to Zadorov, Bergenheim, and Gionta.

Down on Long Island, the New York Islanders host the Chicago Blackhawks. Scott Darling is mismatched with Jaroslav Halak in goal. Chicago got going in the second period with a Daniel Carcillo goal, his fourth of the season, made possible by Johnny Oduya and Niklas Hjalmarsson. New York tied it six seconds later on an unassisted Cal Clutterbuck goal, his fourth of the year. The Blackhawks took the lead in the third period with a Patrick Kane goal, his fourteenth of the season, courtesy of Brandon Saad. The Islanders retied it on a Kyle Okposo power play goal, his seventh of the year, powered by John Tavares and Nick Leddy. New York took the lead on a Lubomir Visnovsky goal, his second of the season, via Ryan Strome and Matt Martin. This made it 3-2, the final, with the three stars going to Visnovsky, Clutterbuck, and Okposo.

North to Toronto, where the Maple Leafs welcome the Detroit Red Wings. Petr Mrazek and Jonathan Bernier draw the starts. Detroit opened in the first period on a Niklas Kronwall power play goal, his fifth of the season, powered by Johan Franzen and Gustav Nyquist. Toronto tied it on a James van Riemsdyk power play goal, his twelfth of the year, assisted by Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf. The Maple Leafs took the lead in the second period on a Richard Panik goal, his sixth of the season, made possible by Korbinian Holzer. Toronto added on in the third period as Morgan Rielly scored his fourth of the year, via Daniel Winnik. The Maple Leafs iced it at 4-1 with a Nazem Kadri empty net goal, his eighth of the campaign, set up by Winnik and Mike Santorelli. The three stars went to Bernier (27 for 28 in saves), Winnik, and Panik.

Back stateside, the Washington Capitals bring in the Tampa Bay Lightning. Ben Bishop and Braden Holtby are the young goalies. Washington dented the scoreboard in the second period with a Nicklas Backstrom goal, his sixth of the season, via Tom Wilson and Nate Schmidt. The Capitals added on as Backstrom scored his second of the game and seventh of the year, with the help of Alex Ovechkin and Wilson. Washington extended the lead in the third period on Backstrom's eighth of the season, a natural hat trick clinching goal set up by Ovechkin. Tampa Bay got on the board with a Tyler Johnson goal, his ninth of the year, courtesy of Matthew Carle and Nikita Kucherov. The Lightning pulled closer on a Carle goal, his third of the season, coming off of Steven Stamkos and Jason Garrison. The Capitals finished it at 4-2 with an empty net goal from Eric Fehr, his sixth of the year, with a lone assist by John Carlson. The three stars were given to Backstrom, Ovechkin, and Wilson, while Carle gets an honorable mention.

Into Canada again, where the Winnipeg Jets host the Anaheim Ducks. Frederik Andersen and Michael Hutchinson protect the nets. Winnipeg led off in the first period on a Bryan Little power play goal, his twelfth of the season, powered by Mathieu Perreault and Dustin Byfuglien. Anaheim tied it in the second period on a Jakob Silfverberg power play goal, his fourth of the year, guided in by Hampus Lindholm and Rickard Rakell. The Ducks took the lead with a Ryan Getzlaf goal, his tenth of the season, passed from Patrick Maroon and Tim Jackman. Anaheim added on with a shorthanded Nate Thompson goal, his third of the year, set up by Getzlaf. The Ducks iced it at 4-1 with a shorthanded empty net goal by Andrew Cogliano, his fourth of the campaign, coming off of Ben Lovejoy. The three stars belonged to Getzlaf, Thompson, and Andersen (27 for 28 in saves).

South to Columbus, where the Blue Jackets welcome the Pittsburgh Penguins. Thomas Greiss and Sergei Bobrovsky are in the creases. Columbus started in the first period on a Nick Foligno power play goal, his fourteenth of the season, powered by Boone Jenner and David Savard. Pittsburgh tied it in the second period on a Blake Comeau goal, his tenth of the year, guided in by Paul Martin and Rob Klinkhammer. The Penguins gained the lead in the third period on a Kris Letang shorthanded goal, his sixth of the season, set up by Craig Adams and Marcel Goc. The Blue Jackets retied it on a Jenner penalty shot goal, his sixth of the year, after he was held by Simon Despres. Columbus took the lead on a Jack Johnson goal, his second of the season, via Brandon Dubinsky and Savard. Pittsburgh tied it on another Letang goal, his second of the game and seventh of the year, passed from Christian Ehrhoff and Evgeni Malkin. In the shootout, the Blue Jackets got goals from Cam Atkinson and Ryan Johansen to top a Letang tally for a 4-3 win. The three stars went to Letang, Jenner, and Savard.

Southwest to Arizona, as the Coyotes bring in the Minnesota Wild. Niklas Backstrom and Devan Dubnyk receive the starting nods. Minnesota began in the first period on a Nino Niederreiter power play goal, his thirteenth of the season, coming off of Ryan Suter and Thomas Vanek. Arizona tied it on an Oliver Ekman-Larsson power play goal, his sixth of the year, powered by Mikkel Boedker and Antoine Vermette. The Coyotes took the lead in the second period on a Vermette goal, his eighth of the season, assisted by Ekman-Larsson and Boedker. The Wild tied it on a Jason Zucker goal, his eleventh of the year, passed from Jason Pominville and Mikko Koivu. Arizona took the lead back with a Lauri Korpikoski goal, his third of the season, made possible by Kyle Chipchura. Minnesota retied it on a third period Zach Parise power play goal, his eleventh of the year, guided in by Pominville and Suter. In the shootout, the Wild won 4-3 with tallies from Parise and Koivu to top a Vermette goal for the Coyotes. The three stars went to Parise, Vermette, and Ekman-Larsson,while Suter, Boedker, Pominville, and Koivu get the honorable mentions.

Back east, the Dallas Stars host the New Jersey Devils. Kari Lehtonen and Cory Schneider guard the cages. Dallas opened in the first period with a Tyler Seguin goal, his twenty-third of the season, coming off of Erik Cole and Jason Spezza. The Stars added on with a Spezza goal, his sixth of the year, made possible by Seguin and Antoine Roussel. New Jersey got on the board in the second period with a Jon Merrill power play goal, his second of the season, powered by Adam Henrique and Marek Zidlicky. The Devils tied it on an Eric Gelinas goal, his fourth of the year, helped along by Jacob Josefson and Steve Bernier. Dallas took the lead back with a Trevor Daley goal, his sixth of the season, courtesy of Roussel and Ales Hemsky. The Stars extended the lead as Shawn Horcoff scored his fourth of the year, thanks to Vernon Fiddler and Colton Sceviour. Keith Kinkaid replaced Schneider in the third period. New Jersey got one back in the third period on a Scott Gomez goal, passed from Henrique and Jaromir Jagr. This produced the 4-3 final, with the three stars given to Seguin, Spezza, and Roussel, while Henrique gets an honorable mention.

Northwest to Colorado, where the Avalanches welcome the St. Louis Blues. Jake Allen and Calvin Pickard man the nets. Colorado started in the first period on an Erik Johnson power play goal, his fifth of the season, powered by Nick Holden and Gabriel Landeskog. St. Louis tied it on a Kevin Shattenkirk goal, his fourth of the year, coming on the power play from Vladimir Tarasenko and Jori Lehtera. The Blues took the lead in the second period on a David Backes goal, his eighth of the season, guided in by Alex Pietrangelo. The Avalanche tied it on another Johnson goal, his second of the game and sixth of the year, via Nathan MacKinnon and Landeskog. St. Louis won 3-2 in overtime on a T.J. Oshie goal, his fifth of the campaign, assisted by Barret Jackman and Shattenkirk. The three stars went to Johnson, Shattenkirk, and Landeskog.

Into Canada again, as the Vancouver Canucks bring in the New York Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist and Ryan Miller tend the twines. New York led off in the first period with a Ryan McDonagh goal, assisted by Jesper Fast and Dominic Moore. The Rangers added on as J.T. Miller scored his third of the season, with the help of Derek Stepan and Martin St. Louis. New York extended the lead with a Mats Zuccarello goal, his fifth of the year, courtesy of Rick Nash and Derick Brassard. The Rangers padded the lead in the second period on a Marc Staal goal, via Kevin Hayes and Lee Stempniak. New York continued with another Zuccarello goal, his second of the game and sixth of the season, guided in by Brassard and Nash. Vancouver got on the board in the third period with a Nick Bonino goal, his eighth of the year, coming off of Jannik Hansen and Alexandre Burrows. This made it 5-1, the final, with the three stars going to Zuccarello, Brassard, and Nash.

Finally, the San Jose Sharks host the Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne and Antti Niemi are the Finnish goalies. San Jose struck first in the first period on a Tomas Hertl goal, his seventh of the season, guided in by Joe Pavelski and Joe Thornton. The Sharks added on in the third period with an empty net goal by Thornton, his eighth of the year, set up by Logan Couture and Tommy Wingels. This made it 2-0, the final, with the three stars going to Niemi (29 save shutout), Thornton, and Hertl.

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