Friday, February 13, 2015

NHL February 13th, 2015

Five games on tonight, with the first from...

Columbus, as the Blue Jackets host the Philadelphia Flyers. Ray Emery and Curtis McElhinney make the starts for injured starters. Philadelphia opened in the first period on a Wayne Simmonds goal, his twentieth of the season, courtesy of Matt Read. Columbus tied it on a second period goal by Brandon Dubinsky, his fourth of the year, made possible by Kevin Connauton. The Flyers retook the lead as Sean Couturier scored his twelfth of the season, with the help of Simmonds. Philadelphia added on in the third period with a Simmonds power play goal, his second of the game and twenty-first of the year, powered by Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek. The Blue Jackets got one back with a Jared Boll goal, helped along by Corey Tropp and Mark Letestu. Columbus tied it on a Cam Atkinson goal, his twelfth of the season, assisted by Scott Hartnell and Dubinsky. The Blue Jackets won 4-3 in overtime with an Artem Anisimov goal, his third of the year, set up by James Wisniewski and Connauton. The three stars were Simmonds, Dubinsky, and Connauton.

Over in Chicago, the Blackhawks welcome the New Jersey Devils. Cory Schneider and Corey Crawford protect the nets. New Jersey began in the first period on a Peter Harrold goal, his second of the season, via Scott Gomez and Jon Merrill. Chicago tied it in the third period on a Marian Hossa power play goal, his seventeenth of the year, powered by Brandon Saad and Brent Seabrook. The Blackhawks added on with a Jonathan Toews goal, his sixteenth of the season, coming off of Hossa and Seabrook. Chicago iced it at 3-1 with a Kris Versteeg empty net goal, his tenth of the year, set up by Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith. The three stars were awarded to Hossa, Crawford (25 for 26 in saves), and Seabrook.

Down in Dallas, the Stars host the Florida Panthers. Al Montoya is mismatched with Kari Lehtonen in goal. Dallas started in the first period on a Jamie Benn goal, his nineteenth of the season, a shorthanded goal set up by Vernon Fiddler. The Stars added on as Jason Spezza scored his eleventh of the year, thanks to Erik Cole and Jason Demers. This was all they needed for a 2-0 win, with the three stars given to Lehtonen (37 save shutout), Benn, and Spezza.

Westward to Arizona, where the Coyotes bring the San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi and Mike Smith are the veteran goalies. Arizona led off in the first period with a Mark Arcobello goal, his ninth of the season, guided in by Michael Stone. The Coyotes added on with a Martin Erat power play goal, his eighth of the year, powered by Sam Gagner and Keith Yandle. San Jose got on the board with a Joe Pavelski goal in the second period, his twenty-ninth of the season, passed from Joe Thornton and Scott Hannan. The Sharks tied it with another Pavelski goal, his second of the game and thirtieth of the year, a power play goal made possible by Logan Couture and Thornton. San Jose took the lead on a third period goal by Barclay Goodrow, his fourth of the season, coming off of Brent Burns and the goalie Niemi. The Sharks ended it at 4-2 with a Pavelski empty net goal, securing his hat trick on his thirty-first of the year, set up by Thornton, who got a sock trick. The three stars were handed to Pavelski, Thornton, and Niemi (32 for 34 in saves).

Finally, the Vancouver Canucks host the Boston Bruins. Tuukka Rask and Ryan Miller tend the twines. Vancouver struck first in the first period with a Shawn Matthias goal, his eleventh of the season, assisted by Zack Kassian and Derek Dorsett. The Canucks added on with another Matthias goal, his second of the game and twelfth of the year, going in unassisted. Boston got on the board with a Patrice Bergeron goal, his sixteenth of the season, an unassisted goal. Vancouver shot back in the second period as Radim Vrbata scored his twenty-first of the year, thanks to Chris Higgins and Linden Vey. The Bruins got one back on a Chris Kelly goal, his seventh of the season, an unassisted goal. The Canucks replied as Matthias finished his hat trick on his thirteenth of the year, helped along by Kassian. Vancouver iced it at 5-2 with an empty net goal by Jannik Hansen, his eleventh of the campaign, set up by Bo Horvat and Christopher Tanev. The three stars were Matthias, Kassian, and Vrbata.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

No comments :

Post a Comment