The New Jersey Devils host the Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne faces a lesser foe in Ken Appleby in goal. Nashville got going in the second period with a P.K. Subban goal, his twelfth of the season, assisted by Mattias Ekholm and Ryan Johansen. The Predators added on in the third period with an Ekholm goal, his seventh of the year, guided in by Kevin Fiala and Viktor Arvidsson. Nashville extended the lead as Arvidsson scored his fifteenth of the season, a shorthanded goal set up by Subban. This made it 3-0, the final, with the three stars being Subban, Arvidsson, and Ekholm, while Rinne (25 save shutout) gets an honorable mention.
Over in Philadelphia, the Flyers welcome the Tampa Bay Lightning. Andrei Vasilevskiy and Michal Neuvirth are in goal. Tampa Bay dented the scoreboard in the second period with a Brayden Point goal, his twentieth of the season, passed from Tyler Johnson. The Lightning added on with a Yanni Gourde goal, his seventeenth of the year, guided in by Matthew Peca and Dan Girardi. Tampa Bay extended the lead as Ryan Callahan scored a shorthanded and unassisted goal, his second of the season. Philadelphia got on the board with a third period Travis Konecny power play goal, his tenth of the year, powered by Jakub Voracek and Claude Giroux. The Lightning replied with a Vladislav Namestnikov goal, his seventeenth of the season, assisted by Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos. Tampa Bay iced it at 5-1 with another Namesntikov goal, his second of the game and eighteenth of the year, fueled by Stamkos and Kucherov. The three stars went to Namestnikov, Vasilevskiy (36 for 37 in saves), and Kucherov, while Stamkos gets an honorable mention.
Across Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh Penguins bring in the Minnesota Wild. Devan Dubnyk and Casey DeSmith are in the blue paint. Pittsburgh began in the first period with a Dominik Simon goal, his third of the season, coming off of Sidney Crosby and Ian Cole. The Penguins added on with an Evgeni Malkin power play goal, his twenty-second of the year, powered by Crosby and Phil Kessel. Pittsburgh extended the lead as Carl Hagelin scored his fourth of the season in the second period, thanks to Malkin and Kessel. The Penguins chased Dubnyk with a Brian Dumoulin goal, his third of the year, passed from Crosby and Hagelin. Alex Stalock came on in relief. Pittsburgh padded the lead in the third period with a Malkin power play goal, his second of the game and twenty-third of the season, with assists provided by Justin Schultz and Kessel, the latter earning a sock trick. The Penguins continued with an unassisted Simon goal, his second of the game and fourth of the year. Minnesota got on the board with an Eric Staal goal, his twentieth of the season, helped along by Nate Prosser and Marcus Foligno. The Wild pulled closer with a Mikael Granlund power play goal, his fifteenth of the year, with helpers from Ryan Suter and Jason Zucker. Minnesota chipped closer on a Jonas Brodin goal, his fifth of the season, fueled by Foligno and Staal. The three stars were Malkin, Kessel, and Simon, while Crosby, Hagelin, Staal, and Foligno get the honorable mentions.
Over in Detroit, the Red Wings host the Chicago Blackhawks. Anton Forsberg and Jimmy Howard make the starts in goal. Chicago led off in the first period with an Alex DeBrincat goal, his fifteenth of the season, courtesy of Connor Murphy and Anthony Duclair. The Blackhawks added on with a Duclair goal, his tenth of the year, passed from DeBrincat and Duncan Keith. Chicago extended the lead as Vinnie Hinostroza scored his fourth of the season, with the help of Duclair. Petr Mrazek replaced Howard in goal. Petr Mrazek replaced Howard in goal. The Blackhawks padded the lead in the second period with a DeBrincat goal, his second of the game and sixteenth of the year, with a lone helper from Jonathan Toews. Detroit got on the board with a third period Anthony Mantha power play goal, his sixteenth of the season, powered by Henrik Zetterberg. Chicago iced it at 5-1 with an empty net goal by DeBrincat empty net goal to complete his hat trick on his fifteenth of the year, set up by Ryan Hartman. The three stars were DeBrincat, Duclair, and Forsberg (23 for 24 in saves).
In Quebec, the Montreal Canadiens welcome the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward and Carey Price are the veteran goalies. Carolina opened in the first period with a Teuvo Teravainen goal, his twelfth of the season, courtesy of Justin Williams and Victor Rask. The Hurricanes added on with a Jordan Staal power play goal, his fourteenth of the year, powered by Rask and Justin Faulk. Montreal got on the board in the second period with a Charles Hudon goal, his fifth of the season, made possible by Jeff Petry and Paul Byron. The Canadiens tied it on a Brendan Gallagher goal, his eighteenth of the year, going in unassisted. Carolina retook the lead with a Jeff Skinner goal, his fifteenth of the season, coming off of Noah Hanifin and Derek Ryan. The Hurricanes extended the lead as Teravainen scored an unassisted goal, his second of the game and thirteenth of the year. Montreal got one back with an unassisted goal by Hudon, his second of the game and sixth of the season. The Canadiens retied it with a Petry goal, his fifth of the year, helped along by Max Pacioretty and Hudon. Carolina pulled ahead again with a Ryan goal, his eleventh of the season, assisted by Hanifin and Lee Stempniak. Montreal tied it with a third period Pacioretty goal, his sixteenth of the year, a power play goal with assists provided by Petry and Jonathan Drouin. Carolina regained the lead on a Williams goal, his ninth of the season, passed from Teravainen and Hanifin, the latter earning a sock trick. The final was 6-5, with the three stars awarded to Teravainen, Hudon, and Petry, while Rask, Williams, Ryan, Hanifin, and Pacioretty get the honorable mentions
Next up, the Ottawa Senators bring in the Boston Bruins. Tuukka Rask and Mike Condon are set to start in goal. Ottawa started in the first period with a Thomas Chabot goal, his fourth of the season, with a lone assist by Dion Phaneuf. Boston tied it on a Danton Heinen power play goal in the second period, his eleventh of the year, powered by David Pastrnak and Patrice Bergeron. The Bruins took the lead with a Tim Schaller shorthanded goal, his sixth of the season, set up by Bergeron in the third period. The Senators retied it on a Ryan Dzingel power play goal, his fourteenth of the year, with helpers from Matt Duchene and Phaneuf. Boston regained the lead with a Jake DeBrusk goal, his eleventh of the season, via Ryan Spooner and Kevan Miller. The final held at 3-2, with the three stars being Bergeron, Phaneuf, and Rask (21 for 23 in saves).
To the south, the Florida Panthers host the Washington Capitals. Braden Holtby and Harri Sateri receive the starting nods in goal. Florida struck first in the first period with a Denis Malgin goal, his sixth of the season, coming off of Jared McCann. Washington tied it on a Nicklas Backstrom power play goal, his tenth of the year, powered by Evgeny Kuznetsov and Alex Ovechkin. The Panthers retook the lead in the second period with a Malgin goal, his second of the game and seventh of the season, guided in by Jonathan Huberdeau and Vincent Trocheck. The Capitals tied it again on an Ovechkin goal, his thirtieth of the year, via Brooks Orpik and Madison Bowey. Washington took the lead with a John Carlson goal, his seventh of the season, fueled by Tom Wilson and Kuznetsov. The Capitals added on in the third period with a Brett Connolly power play goal, his thirteenth of the year, with assists provided by Andre Burakovsky and Lars Eller. The final held at 4-2, with the three stars given to Ovechkin, Malgin, and Kuznetsov.
Northwest to St. Louis, as the Blues welcome the Colorado Avalanche. Jonathan Bernier and Carter Hutton are the backups in goal. St. Louis was first to score in the first period with a Paul Stastny power play goal, his eleventh of the season, powered by Alex Pietrangelo and Patrik Berglund. The Blues added on in the second period with a Brayden Schenn power play goal, his twenty-first of the year, with assists provided by Alexander Steen and Vince Dunn. Colorado got on the board with an Alexander Kerfoot goal, his twelfth of the season, passed from Tyson Jost and Anton Lindholm. St. Louis replied in the third period with a Steen goal, his tenth of the year, courtesy of Vladimir Sobotka and Pietrangelo. This made it 3-1, the final, with the three stars being Steen, Pietrangelo, and Hutton (36 for 37 in saves).
Down in Dallas, the Stars bring in the Toronto Maple Leafs. Curtis McElhinney is mismatched with Ben Bishop in goal. Toronto kicked off the scoring in the first period with a Nazem Kadri goal, his sixteenth of the season, made possible by Mitchell Marner and Jake Gardiner. The Maple Leafs added on in the second period with a Zach Hyman goal, his ninth of the year, via William Nylander. Toronto extended the lead as Kadri scored a power play goal, his second of the game and seventeenth of the season, powered by Tyler Bozak and Gardiner. Dallas got on the board with a Tyler Seguin goal, his twenty-third of the year, helped along by Alexander Radulov. The Maple Leafs replied in the third period with an Auston Matthews goal, his twenty-second of the season, coming off of Nylander and Gardiner, the latter earning a sock trick. This made it 4-1, the final, with the three stars given to Kadri, Gardiner, and McElhinney (39 for 40 in saves), while Nylander gets an honorable mention.
In Alberta, the Edmonton Oilers host the Calgary Flames in the battle of Alberta. David Rittich and Cam Talbot are in the creases. Calgary opened in the first period with a Matthew Tkachuk goal, his fifteenth of the season, assisted by Troy Brouwer and Mikael Backlund. The Flames added on with a Mark Giordano goal, his ninth of the year, via Dougie Hamilton. Edmonton got on the board in the second period with a Brandon Davidson goal, helped along by Jesse Puljujarvi and Ryan Strome. The Oilers tied it on a Zack Kassian goal, his fourth of the season, coming off of Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid. Edmonton took the lead in the third period with a Davidson goal, his second of the game, courtesy of Strome. Calgary tied it on a Tkachuk goal, his second of the game and sixteenth of the year, with a lone assist from Backlund. The tie went to a shootout, where Michael Cammalleri and McDavid lifted the Oilers over Tkachuk and the Flames. The three stars of the 4-3 game were Davidson, Tkachuk, and McDavid, while Backlund and Strome get the honorable mentions.
Back south, the Arizona Coyotes welcome the Columbus Blues Jackets. Sergei Bobrovsky and Antti Raanta protect the nets. Columbus drew first blood in the third period with an Alexander Wennberg power play goal, his fifth of the season, powered by Seth Jones and Zach Werenski. Arizona tied it on a Brendan Perlini power play goal, his fourteenth of the year, via Christian Dvorak and Derek Stepan. The Blue Jackets retook the lead with a Cam Atkinson goal, his seventh of the campaign, coming off of Wennberg and Nick Foligno. This stood for a 2-1 win, with the three stars being Wennberg, Atkinson, and Bobrovsky (38 for 39 in saves).
Returning to Canada, the Vancouver Canucks bring in the Buffalo Sabres. Robin Lehner and Jacob Markstrom are the reliable goalies. Buffalo started in the first period with a Sam Reinhart goal, his tenth of the season, coming off of Scott Wilson and Victor Antipin. The Sabres added on with a Nicholas Baptiste goal, via Benoit Pouliot and Evan Rodrigues in the second period. Buffalo extended the lead as Kyle Okposo scored a power play goal in the third period, his ninth of the year, powered by Marco Scandella and Rasmus Ristolainen. The Sabres iced it at 4-0 with a shorthanded and unassisted empty net goal by Johan Larsson, his third of the campaign. The three stars were Lehner (30 save shutout), Reinhart, and Baptiste.
In California, the Anaheim Ducks host the Winnipeg Jets. Connor Hellebuyck and John Gibson tend the twines. Winnipeg led off in the first period with an unassisted Patrik Laine goal, his twenty-second of the season. Anaheim tied it on an Adam Henrique goal, his thirteenth of the year, going in unassisted. The Ducks took the lead in the second period with a Nick Ritchie goal, his fourth of the season, via Henrique and Jakob Silfverberg. The Jets tied it on a Brandon Tanev goal, his fourth of the year, courtesy of Jacob Trouba. Anaheim retook the lead in the third period with a Ryan Kesler goal, his fourth of the season, assisted by Andrew Cogliano and J.T. Brown. Winnipeg retied it on an unassisted Jack Roslovic goal. Ryan Miller replaced an injured Gibson later on. The Ducks won 4-3 in the shootout with a lone tally by Henrique. The three stars were Henrique, Roslovic, and Kesler.
Back east, the Vegas Golden Knights welcome the New York Islanders. Jaroslav Halak and Marc-Andre Fleury are the experienced goalies. New York cracked the scoresheet in the second period with a Ross Johnston goal, assisted by Ryan Pulock and Cal Clutterbuck. The Islanders added on in the third period with a Jordan Eberle goal, his seventeenth of the season, passed from Mathew Barzal and Anthony Beauvillier. Vegas got on the board with an Erik Haula power play goal, his seventeenth of the year, powered by David Perron and Colin Miller. They failed to equalize, losing 2-1, as the three stars belong to Halak (38 for 39 in saves), Eberle, and Johnston.
Finally, the San Jose Sharks bring in the New York Rangers. Ondrej Pavelec and Aaron Dell occupy the blue paint. New York began in the first period with a Kevin Hayes goal, his eleventh of the season, passed from J.T. Miller and Mats Zuccarello. San Jose tied it on a Barclay Goodrow goal, his fourth of the year, with a lone assist by Brent Burns. The Sharks took the lead with a Logan Couture goal, his nineteenth of the season, via Kevin Labanc and Joakim Ryan. The Rangers retied it on a Jesper Fast goal, his eighth of the year, guided in by Michael Grabner and Peter Holland. San Jose reclaimed the lead in the second period on another Couture goal, his second of the game and twentieth of the season, helped along by Labanc and Marc-Edouard Vlasic. New York tied it on a Ryan McDonagh goal, courtesy of Hayes and Miller. The Rangers pulled ahead on a McDonagh power play goal, his second of the game, powered by Pavel Buchnevich. New York added on with a shorthanded and unassisted Brady Skjei goal, his third of the year. The Sharks pulled back in the third period with a Vlasic goal, his eighth of the season, made possible by Justin Braun and Chris Tierney. The Rangers answered with a Miller goal, his eleventh of the year, dished from Zuccarello and Skjei. San Jose got one back with a Tomas Hertl goal, his fourteenth of the campaign, fueled by Labanc, who got a sock trick, and Burns. The three stars were McDonagh, Couture, and Miller in the 6-5 Rangers win, while Hayes, Zuccarello, Skjei, Labanc, Burns, and Vlasic all get honorable mentions.
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