Saturday, February 20, 2016

2015-16 NHL Season - Day 127

Five games on today as America's weekend-long celebration of hockey begins. The first game is...

The Carolina Hurricanes hosting the San Jose Sharks. Martin Jones and Cam Ward make the starts in goal. Carolina led off in the first period with a Chris Terry goal, his fifth of the season, passed from Noah Hanifin and Riley Nash. San Jose tied it on a Brent Burns goal, his nineteenth of the year, made possible by Joel Ward and Matt Nieto. The Hurricanes took the lead back in the second period with a Joakim Nordstrom goal, his sixth of the season, guided in by Jordan Staal and Brett Pesce. Carolina added on with a Jeff Skinner power play goal in the third period, his twentieth of the year, powered by Eric Staal and Kris Versteeg. The Sharks got one back with a Tomas Hertl goal, his twelfth of the season, helped along by Patrick Marleau. The Hurricanes replied with another Skinner goal, his second of the game and twenty-first of the year, with a lone helper by Jaccob Slavin. Carolina iced it at 5-2 with a Jordan Staal empty net goal, his fifteenth of the campaign, going in unassisted. The three stars went to Skinner, Jordan Staal, and Nordstrom.

Up in New Jersey, the Devils welcome the New York Islanders. Jaroslav Halak and Cory Schneider guard the cages. New York opened in the first period with a Casey Cizikas goal, his sixth of the season, courtesy of Nick Leddy and Matt Martin. This stood for a 1-0 win, with the three stars given to Halak (27 save shutout), Cizikas, and Schneider (23 for 24 in saves).

Over in Columbus, the Blue Jackets host the Buffalo Sabres. Robin Lehner and Joonas Korpisalo are the underrated goalies. Buffalo began in the first period with a Jamie McGinn power play goal, his thirteenth of the season, assisted by Jack Eichel and Rasmus Ristolainen. The Sabres added on with a shorthanded David Legwand goal, his fifth of the year, going in unassisted. Buffalo extended the lead as McGinn scored his second of the game and fourteenth of the season, with the help of Zemgus Girgensons and Eichel in the third period. The Sabres padded the lead with a Sam Reinhart goal, his eighteenth of the year, passed from Evander Kane. The final held at 4-0, with the three stars being McGinn, Lehner (35 save shutout), and Eichel.

Up in Montreal, the Canadiens bring in the Philadelphia Flyers. Michal Neuvirth and Mike Condon are given the starting nods. Montreal started in the first period with a Dale Weise goal, his fourteenth of the season, coming off of Andrei Markov and P.K. Subban. Philadelphia tied it on a Nick Cousins goal, his third of the year, via R.J. Umberger and Evgeny Medvedev. The Flyers took the lead in the third period with a Michael Raffl goal, his eighth of the season, assisted by Shayne Gostisbehere and Scott Laughton. The Canadiens retied it with a Max Pacioretty power play goal, his twenty-first of the year, powered by Subban and Weise. In the shootout, Cousins was matched by Pacioretty, and then a Paul Byron tally gave the Canadiens the 3-2 win. The three stars went to Pacioretty, Weise, and Subban, while Cousins gets an honorable mention.

Finally, the Calgary Flames host the Vancouver Canucks. Jacob Markstrom and Jonas Hiller are the mediocre goalies. Calgary drew first blood in the first period with a Joe Colborne goal, his ninth of the season, courtesy of Mikael Backlund and T.J. Brodie. Vancouver tied it on an Adam Cracknell goal, his fourth of the year, coming off of Jannik Hansen. The Canucks took the lead with an unassisted Jake Virtanen goal, his fourth of the season. The Flames retied it in the second period with a Mikael Backlund goal, his tenth of the year, passed from Colborne and Michael Frolik. Calgary took the lead on Frolik's tenth of the season, helped along by Brodie and Matt Stajan. The Flames added on with a Mark Giordano goal, his fourteenth of the year, guided in by Brodie, who got a sock trick, and Johnny Gaudreau. Calgary iced it at 5-2 with a Josh Jooris goal in the third period, his fourth of the campaign, assisted by Lance Bouma and Jakub Nakladal. The three stars went to Frolik, Brodie, and Colborne, while Backlund gets an honorable mention.

Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.

No comments :

Post a Comment