Saturday, December 30, 2017

NHL 2017-18 Day 84

A light Saturday schedule sees six games on, beginning with...

The Ottawa Senators hosting the Boston Bruins. Tuukka Rask faces a lesser foe in Mike Condon in goal. Boston opened in the first period with a Ryan Spooner power play goal, his second of the season, powered by David Backes and David Krejci. The Bruins added on with a Noel Acciari goal, his fourth of the year, coming off of Torey Krug and Tim Schaller in the second period. Boston extended the lead as Spooner scored again, his second of the game and third of the season, going in unassisted. The Bruins padded the lead on a power play goal by Krejci, his sixth of the year, made possible by Backes and Charlie McAvoy. Boston iced it at 5-0 in the third period with a Patrice Bergeron power play goal, his eleventh of the campaign, with helpers from Krug and David Pastrnak. Spooner, Krejci, and Rask (25 save shutout) received the three stars, while Krug and Backes earned honorable mentions.

Down in DC, the Washington Capitals welcome the New Jersey Devils. Cory Schneider and Braden Holtby guard the cages. Washington started in the first period with a Tom Wilson goal, his sixth of the season, passed from Christian Djoos and John Carlson. The Capitals added on with a Djoos goal, his third of the year, via Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin. New Jersey got on the board with a John Moore goal, his sixth of the season, made possible by Travis Zajac and Marcus Johansson. Washington replied in the second period with a Carlson power play goal, his fourth of the year, powered by Backstrom and Ovechkin. Washington extended the lead as Matt Niskanen goal, his third of the season, guided in by Devante Smith-Pelly and Ovechkin, the latter earning a sock trick. The Devils answered with a Zajac goal, his third of the year, helped along by Johansson and Sami Vatanen. The Capitals iced it at 5-2 with an empty net Backstrom goal, his eighth of the campaign, set up by Carlson. The three stars belonged to Carlson, Backstrom, and Ovechkin, while Djoos, Zajac, and Johansson get the honorable mentions.

Further south to Florida, where the Panthers bring in the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and James Reimer are between the pipes. Florida got going in the second period with a Connor Brickley goal, his fourth of the season, made possible by Mark Pysyk and Mike Matheson. The Panthers added on with a Vincent Trocheck goal, his fifteenth of the year, fueled by MacKenzie Weegar and Brickley in the third period. This stood for a 2-0 with, with the three stars being Reimer (38 save shutout), Brickley, and Trocheck.

Northwest to St. Louis, where the Blues host the Carolina Hurricanes. Scott Darling and Carter Hutton are the inexperienced goalies. St. Louis led off in the first period with a Kyle Brodziak goal, his seventh of the season, made possible by Alexander Steen and Alex Pietrangelo. The Blues added on in the second period with a Patrik Berglund goal, his sixth of the year, assisted by Pietrangelo and Brodziak. Carolina got on the board with a Derek Ryan goal, his ninth of the season, going in unassisted. The Hurricanes tied it on a Lucas Wallmark goal, helped along by Noah Hanifin and Sebastian Aho. St. Louis retook the lead in the third period with a Scottie Upshall goal, his sixth of the year, guided in by Brayden Schenn and Vladimir Tarasenko. This held up for a 3-2 win, with the three stars given to Brodziak, Pietrangelo, and Upshall.

Backtracking to Nashville, where the Predators welcome the Minnesota Wild. Alex Stalock and Juuse Saros are in the blue paint. Nashville dented the scoreboard in the third period with a Scott Hartnell goal, his fifth of the season, coming off of Nick Bonino and Matt Irwin. The Predators added on with a P.K. Subban power play goal, his ninth of the year, powered by Calle Jarnkrok and Ryan Johansen. Nashville iced it at 3-0 with a Viktor Arvidsson empty net goal, his twelfth of the campaign, set up by Subban and Jarnkrok. The three stars went to Saros (29 save shutout), Subban, and Jarnkrok.

Finally, the Vancouver Canucks bring in the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick and Jacob Markstrom man the nets. Vancouver began in the first period with a Troy Stecher goal, going in unassisted. Los Angeles tied it on a Tyler Toffoli goal, his seventeenth of the season, made possible by Marian Gaborik and Adrian Kempe. The Kings took the lead with a Gaborik power play goal, his seventh of the year, powered by Trevor Lewis and Toffoli. The Canucks tied it in the second period with a Nikolay Goldobin goal, his second of the season, helped along by Ben Hutton and the goalie Markstrom. Vancouver took the lead in the third period with a Nic Dowd goal, passed from Markus Granlund and Hutton. Los Angeles retied it on a Kyle Clifford goal, assisted by Nick Shore and Lewis. The Kings took the lead on a Drew Doughty goal, his seventh of the year, coming off of Toffoli. The final held at 4-3, with the three stars being Toffoli, Gaborik, and Lewis, while Hutton gets an honorable mention.

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