Monday, March 23, 2015

NHL March 23rd, 2015

Seven games on tonight, beginning with...

The Carolina Hurricanes hosting the Chicago Blackhawks. Corey Crawford and Anton Khudobin are the goalies. Chicago opened in the first period on an Andrew Shaw goal, his eleventh of the season, coming off of Marcus Kruger and Patrick Sharp. The Blackhawks added on with a Sharp goal, his thirteenth of the year, fueled by Marian Hossa and Niklas Hjalmarsson. Carolina got on the board in the second period on a Victor Rask goal, his eleventh of the season, assisted by Eric Staal and John-Michael Liles. Chicago iced it at 3-1 on a Shaw empty net goal, his second of the game and twelfth of the year, set up by Joakim Nordstrom and Jonathan Toews in the third period. The three stars went to Crawford (43 for 44 in saves), Shaw, and Sharp.

Up in New Jersey, the Devils welcome the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick and Cory Schneider protect the nets. Los Angeles began in the first period on an Andrej Sekera goal, his third of the season, made possible by Anze Kopitar and Marian Gaborik. The Kings added on with a Tyler Toffoli power play goal, his twenty-first of the year, powered by Gaborik and Kopitar. New Jersey got on the board in the second period on a Scott Gomez goal, his seventh of the season, via Eric Gelinas and Damon Severson. Los Angeles answered on a Kopitar goal in the third period, his fifteenth of the year, coming off of Jake Muzzin and Justin Williams. This produced the 3-1 final, with the three stars given to Kopitar, Gaborik, and Quick (19 for 20 in saves).

North to Ottawa, where the Senators bring in the San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi and Andrew Hammond receive the starting nods. Ottawa started in the first period with a Mika Zibanejad goal, his eighteenth of the season, courtesy of Mike Hoffman and Bobby Ryan. San Jose tied it in the second period on a Joe Pavelski power play goal, his thirty-fifth of the year, powered by Brent Burns and Patrick Marleau. The Sharks took the lead on a Chris Tierney goal, his third of the season, made possible by Tommy Wingels and Matthew Nieto. The Senators retied it in the third period as Zibanejad scored his second of the game and nineteenth of the year, thanks to Ryan and Hoffman. Ottawa took the lead on an Alex Chiasson goal, his eleventh of the season, helped along by Mark Stone and Cody Ceci. The Senators added on with a Jean-Gabriel Pageau goal, his sixth of the year, passed from Erik Karlsson. Ottawa wrapped it up at 5-2 on an empty net goal by Hoffman, his twenty-sixth of the campaign, set up by David Legwand and Ryan, the latter earning a sock trick. The three stars were handed to Zibanejad, Hoffman, and Ryan.

Across Ontario, the Toronto Maple Leafs host the Minnesota Wild. Devan Dubnyk and Jonathan Bernier are in the creases. Minnesota led off in the first period on a Charlie Coyle goal, his eleventh of the season, guided in by Thomas Vanek. The Wild added on in the third period on a Vanek goal, his nineteenth of the year, assisted by Ryan Suter and Justin Fontaine. Toronto got on the board with a Jake Gardiner goal, his fourth of the campaign, with a lone assist from Joffrey Lupul. This produced the 2-1 final, with the three stars awarded to Dubnyk (35 for 36 in saves), Vanek, and Coyle.

Down in Dallas, the Stars bring in the Buffalo Sabres. Anders Lindback faces his former mentor, Kari Lehtonen, in goal. Buffalo struck first in the first period on a Brian Gionta goal, his eighth of the season, guided in by Marcus Foligno and Mikhail Grigorenko. Dallas tied it on a Jamie Benn goal, his twenty-fifth of the year, passed from Patrick Eaves and Patrik Nemeth. The Sabres regained the lead in the second period on a Gionta power play goal, his second of the game and ninth of the season, powered by Matt Moulson and Johan Larsson. The Stars retied it in the third period on Benn's second of the game and twenty-sixth of the year, a power play goal with a lone assist from Alex Goligoski. Buffalo edged ahead again with a Moulson goal, his twelfth of the season, fueled by Tyler Ennis. Dallas evened the score on an Eaves goal, his tenth of the year, dished from Tyler Seguin and Benn. The Stars took the lead on a Cody Eakin goal, his seventeenth of the campaign, helped along by John Klingberg and Ales Hemsky. This held up for a 4-3 win, with the three stars going to Benn, Gionta, and Eaves, while Moulson gets an honorable mention.

North to Alberta, as the Calgary Flames welcome the Colorado Avalanche. Semyon Varlamov and Karri Ramo are between the pipes. Calgary was first to score in the first period on a David Jones goal, his thirteenth of the season, passed from Lance Bouma and Markus Granlund. Colorado tied it on an Alex Tanguay goal, his twentieth of the year, assisted by Gabriel Landeskog and Ryan O'Reilly. The Flames retook the lead with a Jiri Hudler goal, his twenty-seventh of the season, fueled by Dennis Wideman and Sean Monahan. Calgary added on in the third period with a Bouma goal, his fourteenth of the year, made possible by T.J. Brodie and Jones. The Avalanche got one back with a Landeskog goal, his twenty-first of the campaign, coming off of O'Reilly and Zach Redmond. This only made it 3-2, the final, with the three stars given to Bouma, Jones, and Landeskog, while O'Reilly gets an honorable mention.

Finally, we end in Alberta with the Edmonton Oilers hosting the Winnipeg Jets. Ondrej Pavelec and Ben Scrivens are the mediocre goalies. Winnipeg dented the scoreboard in the first period with a Drew Stafford goal, his sixteenth of the season, going in unassisted. The Jets added on in the second period with a Lee Stempniak goal, his eleventh of the year, via Jim Slater and Jiri Tlusty. Winnipeg extended the lead as Tyler Myers scored his seventh of the season, a power play goal powered by Toby Enstrom. Edmonton got on the board in the third period with a Ryan Nugent-Hopkins goal, his twenty-third of the year, coming from Taylor Hall and Oscar Klefbom. The Jets iced it at 4-1 on a Michael Frolik goal, his seventeenth of the campaign, a power play goal with helpers provided by Andrew Ladd and Jay Harrison. The final stood at 4-1, with the three stars going to Pavelec (33 for 34 in saves), Stempniak, and Myers.

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