Tuesday, February 17, 2015

NHL February 17th, 2015

Seven games on tonight, beginning with...

The Carolina Hurricanes hosting the New York Islanders. Chad Johnson and Anton Khudobin are the backups in goal. New York was first to score in the first period on an Anders Lee power play goal, his nineteenth of the season, powered by Frans Nielsen and John Tavares. The Islanders added on with a Brock Nelson goal in the second period, his sixteenth of the year, made possible by Matt Martin and Colin McDonald. New York extended the lead in the third period as Michael Grabner scored his sixth of the season, thanks to Thomas Hickey and Nielsen. Carolina got on the board with a Jiri Tlusty goal, his thirteenth of the year, coming off of Eric Staal and Jordan Staal. The Islanders iced it at 4-1 with a Tavares empty net goal, his twenty-eighth of the campaign, going in unassisted. The three stars went to Johnson (37 for 38 in saves), Nielsen, and Tavares.

North to Philadelphia, where the Flyers welcome the Columbus Blue Jackets. Curtis McElhinney and Ray Emery are the career backups in goal. Columbus began in the first period on a James Wisniewski power play goal, his seventh of the season, powered by Alexander Wennberg and Scott Hartnell. The Blue Jackets added on with a Ryan Johansen goal, his twenty-first of the year, courtesy of Corey Tropp and David Savard. Philadelphia got on the board in the second period with a Wayne Simmonds goal, his twenty-second of the season, guided in by Michael Del Zotto and Luke Schenn. The Flyers tied it with a Del Zotto goal, his sixth of the year, assisted by R.J. Umberger and Ryan White. Columbus regained the lead in the third period on a Matt Calvert goal, his eighth of the season, helped along by Cam Atkinson and Brandon Dubinsky. The Blue Jackets extended the lead on a Dubinsky goal, his sixth of the year, fueled by Hartnell. Columbus finished it at 5-2 with an empty net goal by Calvert, his second of the game and ninth of the campaign, set up by Wennberg and Johansen. The three stars were given to Calvert, Dubinsky, and Johansen, while Hartnell, Wennberg, and Del Zotto receive the honorable mentions.

Across Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh Penguins bring in the Washington Capitals. Braden Holtby and Marc-Andre Fleury tend the twines. Washington started in the first period on an Alex Ovechkin goal, his thirty-seventh of the season, assisted by Joel Ward and Mike Green on the power play. Pittsburgh tied it in the second period on a Steve Downie goal, his tenth of the year, passed from Craig Adams and Kris Letang. The Capitals retook the lead in the third period on a Ward power play goal, his thirteenth of the season, powered by Nicklas Backstrom and Ovechkin. Washington wrapped it up at 3-1 on an empty net goal by John Carlson, his eighth of the year, going in shorthanded and unassisted. The three stars belonged to Ward, Holtby (32 for 33 in saves), and Ovechkin.

Back to New Jersey, where the Devils host the Buffalo Sabres. Michal Neuvirth is mismatched with Cory Schneider in goal. New Jersey struck first in the first period on a Patrik Elias power play goal, his ninth of the season, powered by Marek Zidlicky and Adam Henrique. Buffalo tied it in the third period as Tyler Ennis scored his fourteenth of the year, with a lone helper by Zemgus Girgensons. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Scott Gomez and Jacob Josefson lifted the Devils to a 2-1 victory. The three stars were Neuvirth (34 for 35 in saves), Elias, and Schneider (24 for 25 in saves).

Crossing into Canada, where the Toronto Maple Leafs bring in the Florida Panthers. Roberto Luongo and Jonathan Bernier are the reliable goalies. Toronto led off in the first period on a Tyler Bozak power play goal, his sixteenth of the season, assisted by James van Riemsdyk and Nazem Kadri. Florida tied it on a Jussi Jokinen power play goal, his fifth of the year, courtesy of Brad Boyes and Brian Campbell. The Panthers took the lead in the second period as Nick Bjugstad scored his twenty-first of the season, a power play goal powered by Tomas Fleischmann and Dave Bolland. Florida added on with a Jimmy Hayes goal, his seventeenth of the year, helped along by Campbell and Jokinen. The Maple Leafs got one back in the third period on a Phil Kessel power play goal, his twenty-second of the campaign, guided in by Kadri and Morgan Rielly. This only made it 3-2, with the three stars being Jokinen, Campbell, and Kadri.

Back stateside, the St. Louis Blues welcome the Dallas Stars. Kari Lehtonen and Brian Elliott are the average goalies. Dallas opened in the first period on a Jamie Benn goal, his twentieth of the season, fueled by John Klingberg and Jason Spezza. The Stars added on with another Benn goal, his second of the game and twenty-first of the year, coming off of Spezza and Erik Cole. Dallas extended the lead as Cody Eakin scored his eleventh of the season, thanks to Ryan Garbutt and Jyrki Jokipakka. Jake Allen relieved Elliott. The Stars padded the lead in the second period when Benn finished his hat trick on his twenty-second of the year, made possible by Spezza, who got a sock trick, and Jason Demers. St. Louis got on the board in the third period with a Patrik Berglund goal, his seventh of the campaign, with a lone assist by Paul Stastny. This produced the 4-1 final, with the three stars given to Benn, Spezza, and Lehtonen (27 for 28 in saves).

Finally, the Nashville Predators host the San Jose Sharks. Alex Stalock and Pekka Rinne are in the creases. San Jose dented the scoreboard in the first period on a Matt Irwin goal, his fifth of the season, guided in by Melker Karlsson and Joe Pavelski. Nashville tied it on a Shea Weber goal, his fourteenth of the year, assisted by Mike Fisher. The Predators took the lead on a Craig Smith goal, his sixteenth of the season, fueled by Mattias Ekholm and Mike Ribeiro. Nashville added on with a Smith power play goal in the second period, his second of the game and seventeenth of the year, powered by Colin Wilson and Seth Jones. The Predators extended the lead on a Paul Gaustad goal, his second of the season, passed from Gabriel Bourque and Weber. Nashville padded the lead on a James Neal goal, his twentieth of the year, with a lone assist by Ribeiro. This held up for a 5-1 win, with the three stars given to Smith, Rinne (42 for 43 in saves), and Weber.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

No comments :

Post a Comment