Friday, January 2, 2015

NHL January 2nd, 2015

Eight games tonight, beginning in...

Buffalo, as the Sabres host the Florida Panthers. Roberto Luongo faces a lesser foe in Michal Neuvirth in goal. Florida started in the first period on a Brad Boyes goal, his seventh of the season, courtesy of Aleksander Barkov and Sean Bergenheim. The Panthers added on with a Nick Bjugstad goal, his fourteenth of the year, coming on the power play from Jimmy Hayes and Aaron Ekblad. This was all they needed for a 2-0 win, with the three stars going to Luongo (24 save shutout), Boyes, and Bjugstad.

Down in Carolina, the Hurricanes welcome the Philadelphia Flyers. Steve Mason and Cam Ward draw the starts. Carolina was first to score in the first period with a Brad Malone goal, made possible by Zach Boychuk. The Hurricanes added on with an Eric Staal goal in the second period, his tenth of the season, coming off of Jordan Staal and Justin Faulk. Philadelphia got on the board with a Chris VandeVelde goal in the third period, his second of the year, helped along by Vincent Lecavalier and Mark Streit. This only made it 2-1, the final, with the three stars going to Ward (17 for 18 in saves), Eric Staal, and Malone.

North again to New Jersey, as the Devils host the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and Keith Kinkaid receive the starting nods. Montreal dented the scoreboard in the second period with a Michael Bournival goal, assisted by Sergei Gonchar and Nathan Beaulieu. The Canadiens added on with a Max Pacioretty goal, his fifteenth of season, a power play goal powered by P.K. Subban and Alex Galchenyuk. Montreal extended the lead in the third period on Bournival's second of the game, via Dale Weise and Subban. New Jersey got on the board with a Michael Ryder goal, his fifth of the year, going in unassisted. The Devils pulled closer on a Michael Cammalleri goal, his twelfth of the season, courtesy of Jaromir Jagr and Scott Gomez. The Canadiens iced it at 4-2 with a Tomas Plekanec empty net goal, his eleventh of the year, set up by Brendan Gallagher and Subban, the latter getting a sock trick. The three stars went to Bournival, Subban, and Pacioretty.

West to Pittsburgh, where the Penguins bring in the Tampa Bay Lightning. Ben Bishop and Thomas Greiss are set to start. Pittsburgh opened in the first period on a Chris Kunitz power play goal, his twelfth of the season, powered by Kris Letang and Sidney Crosby. The Penguins added on with an Andrew Ebbett goal, via Evgeni Malkin and Simon Despres. Pittsburgh extended the lead as Malkin scored his seventeenth of the year, thanks to Ebbett and Bryan Rust. Evgeni Nabokov replaced Bishop. Tampa Bay got on the board with a Brian Boyle goal, his seventh of the season, made possible by Ondrej Palat and Matthew Carle. The Lightning pulled closer in the second period as Victor Hedman scored his fourth of the year, with the help of Tyler Johnson and Palat. The Penguins replied on a Christian Ehrhoff goal, his third of the season, coming off of Beau Bennett and Crosby. Tampa Bay shot back again with an Alex Killorn goal, his ninth of the year, with assists provided by Anton Stralman and Hedman. Pittsburgh countered on a Steve Downie goal, his sixth of the season, guided in by Crosby, who got a sock trick, and Nick Spaling. The Penguins iced it at 6-3 with a Downie empty net goal, his second of the game and seventh of the year, set up by Letang and Crosby. The three stars were Crosby, Downie, and Malkin, while Ebbett, Letang, Palat, and Hedman get the honorable mentions.

Over in Minnesota, the Wild host the Toronto Maple Leafs. Jonathan Bernier and Darcy Kuemper are the young goalies. Minnesota got going in the second period on a Kyle Brodziak goal, his fifth of the season, passed from Charlie Coyle and Nino Niederreiter. Toronto tied it in the third period on a Cody Franson power play goal, his sixth of the year, powered by Dion Phaneuf and James van Riemsdyk. The Wild took the lead back with a Jared Spurgeon goal, his fourth of the season, helped along by Coyle and Mikko Koivu. Minnesota added on with a Koivu power play goal, his sixth of the year, assisted by Thomas Vanek and Jason Pominville. This produced the 3-1 final, with the three stars going Kuemper (34 for 35 in saves), Koivu, and Coyle.

Into Canada, where the Calgary Flames welcome the New York Islanders. Jaroslav Halak and Jonas Hiller are in goal. New York struck first in the first period on a John Tavares power play goal, his sixteenth of the season, powered by Ryan Strome and Kyle Okposo. The Islanders added on in the third period with another Tavares goal, his second of the game and seventeenth of the year, fueled by Okposo and Calvin de Haan. Calgary got on the board with a Johnny Gaudreau goal, his thirteenth of the campaign, helped along by Jiri Hudler and Kris Russell. This only made it 2-1, the final, with the three stars being Tavares, Halak (22 for 23 in saves), and Okposo.

Back south, the Colorado Avalanche host the Edmonton Oilers. Ben Scrivens and Semyon Varlamov are given the green light in goal. Colorado led off in the second period on a Daniel Briere goal, his seventh of the season, coming off of Matt Duchene and Tyson Barrie. Edmonton tied it on a third period power play goal by Benoit Pouliot, his fourth of the year, powered by Justin Schultz and Jordan Eberle. The Avalanche won with shootout goals by Duchene and Alex Tanguay. The three stars of the 2-1 game were Varlamov (27 for 28 in saves), Scrivens (27 for 28 in saves), and Duchene.

Finally, the Anaheim Ducks bring in the St. Louis Blues. Martin Brodeur and Frederik Andersen are in the creases. Anaheim began in the first period with a Ryan Getzlaf goal, his thirteenth of the season, a power play goal powered by Patrick Maroon and Sami Vatanen. St. Louis tied it on a T.J. Oshie goal, his seventh of the year, coming off of Alexander Steen and David Backes. The Ducks took the lead with a Kyle Palmieri goal, his sixth of the season, helped along by Ryan Kesler and Matt Beleskey. The Blues tied it again as Kevin Shattenkirk scored his sixth of the year, thanks to Paul Stastny and Jori Lehtera. Anaheim took the lead on an Andrew Cogliano goal, his fifth of the season, assisted by Nate Thompson and Ben Lovejoy. St. Louis pulled even with a Steen goal, his ninth of the year, coming on the power play from Vladimir Tarasenko and Shattenkirk. The Ducks took the lead on a Beleskey goal in the third period, his sixteenth of the season, passed from Vatanen and Kesler. This made it 4-3, the final, with the three stars given to Beleskey, Steen, and Shattenkirk, while Vatanen and Kesler are the honorable mentions.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

No comments :

Post a Comment