New Year's Eve is here, with thirteen games that begin with three matinees. First up...
The New Jersey Devils host the Boston Bruins. Jaroslav Halak and MacKenzie Blackwood are set to start in goal. Boston led off in the first period with a Brad Marchand power play goal, his twentieth of the season, powered by David Pastrnak and Matt Grzelcyk. The Bruins added on in the second period with a Joakim Nordstrom goal, his fourth of the year, assisted by Sean Kuraly and Brandon Carlo. New Jersey got on the board with a Blake Coleman goal, his twelfth of the season, guided in by Nikita Gusev and Sami Vatanen. The Devils tied it in the third period with a Jesper Bratt goal, his eighth of the year, via P.K. Subban and Nico Hischier. New Jersey won 3-2 in the shootout with tallies by Jack Hughes and Damon Severson topping Boston's Chris Wagner. The three stars were Halak (42 for 44 in saves), Bratt, and Coleman.
In DC, the Washington Capitals welcome the New York Islanders. Semyon Varlamov faces his former team and Braden Holtby in goal. New York began in the first period with a Casey Cizikas goal, his seventh of the season, made possible by Scott Mayfield and Leo Komarov. The Islanders added on with a Brock Nelson goal, his fourteenth of the year, courtesy of Nick Leddy and Anthony Beauvillier. Washington got on the board with an Evgeny Kuznetsov goal, his fourteenth of the season, assisted by Dmitry Orlov. The Capitals tied it on a Tom Wilson goal, his thirteenth of the year, passed from Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin. Washington pulled ahead in the second period with a Kuznetsov goal, his second of the game and fifteenth of the season, helped along by T.J. Oshie. New York tied it again with a Cizikas goal, his second of the game and eighth of the year, coming off of Matt Martin. The Islanders gained the lead with a Tom Kuhnhackl goal, his second of the season, fueled by Mathew Barzal and Anders Lee. This held for the eventual 4-3 win, with the three stars going to Cizikas, Kuznetsov, and Kuhnhackl.
Out west, the Vegas Golden Knights bring in the Anaheim Ducks. John Gibson and Marc-Andre Fleury tend the twines. Anaheim started in the first period with a Korbinian Holzer goal, going in unassisted. Vegas tied it on a Mark Stone goal, his sixteenth of the season, with a lone assist by Max Pacioretty. The Golden Knights took the lead with an unassisted Alex Tuch goal, his sixth of the year. Vegas added on in the second period with a Reilly Smith goal, his fifteenth of the season, an unassisted goal. The Golden Knights extended the lead as Jonathan Marchessault scored his fourteenth of the year on a penalty shot in the third period. The Ducks got one back with Jakob Silfverberg's fourteenth of the season, going in unassisted. Vegas responded with a Marchessault goal, his second of the game and fifteenth of the year, helped along by Nate Schmidt and Smith into an empty net. The three stars of the 5-2 game were Marchessault, Smith, and Tuch.
Northeast to Minnesota, as the Wild host the Toronto Maple Leafs. Frederik Andersen and Devan Dubnyk are the veterans in goal. Toronto opened in the first period with an Alexander Kerfoot goal, his seventh of the season, made possible by John Tavares and Travis Dermott. The Maple Leafs added on with a William Nylander goal, his seventeenth of the year, courtesy of Auston Matthews and Tyson Barrie. Toronto extended the lead in the second period with a Matthews power play goal, his twenty-seventh of the season, powered by Nylander and Mitchell Marner. Minnesota got on the board with a Ryan Suter power play goal, his sixth of the year, with assists provided by Kevin Fiala and Mikko Koivu. The Maple Leafs iced it at 4-1 in the third period with a Tavares empty net goal, his sixteenth of the campaign, going in unassisted. The three stars were Matthews, Nylander, and Tavares.
Southeast to Raleigh, where the Carolina Hurricanes welcome the Montreal Canadiens. Charlie Lindgren is mismatched with Petr Mrazek in goal. Carolina struck first in the first period with a Sebastian Aho power play goal, his twenty-third of the season, powered by Erik Haula and Teuvo Teravainen. Montreal tied it on an unassisted Max Domi goal, his twelfth of the year. The Hurricanes took the lead in the second period with a Haula goal, his eleventh of the season, fueled by Brett Pesce and Teravainen. Carolina added on with a Ryan Dzingel empty net goal, his seventh of the year, set up by Lucas Wallmark. The final held at 3-1 with the three stars being Haula, Teravainen, and Mrazek (29 for 30 in saves).
Back north, the Buffalo Sabres bring in the Tampa Bay Lightning. Andrei Vasilevskiy and Linus Ullmark are in the creases. Buffalo drew first blood in the first period with a Conor Sheary goal, his sixth of the season, coming off of Curtis Lazar. The Sabres added on in the second period with a Marcus Johansson goal, his sixth of the year, guided in by Sheary and Marco Scandella. Tampa Bay got on the board with an Ondrej Palat power play goal, his twelfth of the season, powered by Tyler Johnson and Mikhail Sergachev. Buffalo replied with a Jimmy Vesey goal, his fifth of the year, helped along by Johansson and Sheary. The Sabres extended the lead on a shorthanded and unassisted Jack Eichel goal, his twenty-fifth of the season. The Lightning got one back with a Alex Killorn power play goal, his fourteenth of the year, with helpers from Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov. Tampa Bay pulled closer on a Johnson goal, his eighth of the season, courtesy of Palat and Ryan McDonagh. The Lightning tied it in the third period with a Kevin Shattenkirk goal, his sixth of the year, assisted by Johnson and Anthony Cirelli. Tampa Bay took the lead on a Killorn goal, his second of the game and fifteenth of the season, fueled by Pat Maroon and Cedric Paquette. The Lightning iced it at 6-4 with an empty net goal by Cirelli, his ninth of the year, set up by Killorn and Steven Stamkos. The three stars were Killorn, Johnson, and Palat, while Cirelli, Sheary, and Johansson get the honorable mentions.
Over in Columbus, the Blue Jackets host the Florida Panthers. Sergei Bobrovsky faces a lesser foe in Elvis Merzlikins in goal. Columbus kicked off the scoring in the first period with a Zach Werenski goal, his ninth of the season, via Alexander Wennberg. Florida tied it in the second period with a Colton Sceviour goal, his fourth of the year, courtesy of Anton Stralman and Mark Pysyk. The Blue Jackets took the lead back with a Boone Jenner power play goal, his eighth of the season, powered by Gustav Nyquist and Wennberg. Columbus added on in the third period with another Werenski goal, his second of the game and tenth of the year, guided in by David Savard and Jenner. Columbus extended the lead as Werenski completed his hat trick with his eleventh of the season, thanks to Nyquist and Nick Foligno. The final held at 4-1, with the three stars being Werenski, Merzlikins (36 for 37 in saves), and Jenner, while Nyquist and Wennberg get the honorable mentions.
In Detroit, the Red Wings welcome the San Jose Sharks. Martin Jones and Jonathan Bernier are the mediocre goalies. Detroit got going in the second period with a Tyler Bertuzzi goal, his fifteenth of the season, assisted by Madison Bowey and Robby Fabbri. The Red Wings iced it at 2-0 with a Filip Hronek empty net goal, his eighth of the year, set up by Luke Glendening. The three stars were Bernier (34 save shutout), Bertuzzi, and Hronek.
Along to Colorado, where the Avalanche bring in the Winnipeg Jets. Connor Hellebuyck and Philipp Grubauer protect the nets. Winnipeg cracked the scoresheet in the first period with a Blake Wheeler goal, his twelfth of the season, made possible by Nikolaj Ehlers and Jack Roslovic. Colorado tied it on a Nathan MacKinnon goal, his twenty-third of the year, via Samuel Girard and Erik Johnson. The Jets took the lead with a Kyle Connor goal, his eighteenth of the season, going in unassisted. The Avalanche tied it on a MacKinnon power play goal, his second of the game and twenty-fourth of the year, powered by Girard and Nazem Kadri. Winnipeg reclaimed the lead with a Mark Scheifele goal, his eighteenth of the season, with a lone helper from Neal Pionk. Colorado tied it on a power play goal from Gabriel Landeskog, his tenth of the year, with an assist provided by Tyson Jost. The Jets retook the lead on a Connor power play goal, his nineteenth of the season, guided in by Pionk. Winnipeg added on with a Connor goal, his twentieth of the year to complete his hat trick, helped along by Patrik Laine and Scheifele. The Jets extended the lead with a Wheeler empty net goal, his second of the game and thirteenth of the season, set up by Roslovic and Ehlers. Colorado got one back as Kadri scored his thirteenth of the year, with the help of Mikko Rantanen and Johnson. Winnipeg iced it at 7-4 with an Ehlers empty net goal, his sixteenth of the campaign, courtesy of Roslovic. The three stars went to Connor, Wheeler, and Scheifele, while Ehlers, Roslovic, Pionk, MacKinnon, Kadri, Girard, and Johnson all get honorable mentions.
Next up, the Arizona Coyotes host the St. Louis Blues. Jake Allen and Antti Raanta are between the pipes. Arizona dented the scoreboard in the first period with a Conor Garland power play goal, his fourteenth of the season, powered by Alex Goligoski and Jakob Chychrun. St. Louis tied it on a Tyler Bozak goal, his eighth of the year, fueled by Alexander Steen and Robert Thomas. The Coyotes took the lead in the third period with a Phil Kessel goal, his ninth of the season, coming off of Lawson Crouse and Chychrun. Arizona iced it at 3-1 with a Nick Schmaltz empty net goal, his seventh of the year, set up by Carl Soderberg and Derek Stepan on the power play. The three stars were Raanta (38 for 39 in saves), Kessel, and Chychrun.
Up to Alberta, where the Flames welcome the Chicago Blackhawks. Robin Lehner and David Rittich guard the cages. Chicago led off in the first period with an Olli Maatta goal, his second of the season, via Patrick Kane and Dylan Sikura. The Blackhawks added on with a power play goal by Alex DeBrincat, his tenth of the year, powered by Dylan Strome and Kane. Chicago extended the lead as Kane scored his twenty-first of the season, coming off of Sikura and Ryan Carpenter. The Blackhawks padded the lead on a Strome goal, his ninth of the year, assisted by DeBrincat and Connor Murphy in the second period. Calgary got on the board with a Sam Bennett goal, his fourth of the season, helped along by Derek Ryan and Milan Lucic. The Flames got closer in the third period with a shorthanded Michael Frolik goal, his fifth of the year, going in unassisted. Calgary pulled closer with a Sean Monahan goal, his thirteenth of the season, fueled by Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau. Chicago iced it at 5-3 with an empty net goal by Kane, his second of the game and twenty-second of the year, set up by Maatta. The three stars were awarded to Kane, Maatta, and Strome, while DeBrincat and Sikura get the honorable mentions.
Also in the province, the Edmonton Oilers bring in the New York Rangers. Alexandar Georgiev and Mikko Koskinen are the underrated goalies. Edmonton was first to score in the first period with a James Neal goal, his seventeenth of the season, assisted by Zack Kassian and Oscar Klefbom. The Oilers added on with a Neal goal, his second of the game and eighteenth of the year, powered by Klefbom and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on the power play. Edmonton extended the lead as Nugent-Hopkins scored his eighth of the season, with the help of Ethan Bear and Jujhar Khaira. The Oilers padded the lead in the second period on a Leon Draisaitl power play goal, his twenty-third of the year, with assists provided by Nugent-Hopkins and Neal. Edmonton continued as Neal completed his hat trick on his nineteenth of the season, thanks to Connor McDavid and Nugent-Hopkins. The Oilers kept going with a Josh Archibald goal, his third of the year, passed from Riley Sheahan. Henrik Lundqvist replaced Georgiev in goal. New York got on the board with a Chris Kreider goal, his twelfth of the season, made possible by Artemi Panarin and Brady Skjei. The Rangers got closer in the third period with a Ryan Strome goal, his eleventh of the year, coming off of Adam Fox and Panarin. New York chipped closer with a Marc Staal goal, his second of the season, courtesy of Strome and Panarin. The Rangers kept rallying with a Panarin goal, his twenty-second of the year, going in unassisted. New York pushed closer with a Zibanejad goal, his sixteenth of the season, with helpers from Fox and Tony DeAngelo. Edmonton iced it at 7-5 with a Kailer Yamamoto empty net goal, set up Khaira. The three stars belonged to Neal, Nugent-Hopkins, and Panarin, while Klefbom, Khaira, Strome, and Fox get the honorable mentions.
Finally, the Los Angeles Kings host the Philadelphia Flyers. Brian Elliott and Jonathan Quick are the experienced goalies. Los Angeles began in the first period with a Kyle Clifford goal, his fifth of the season, assisted by Matt Luff and Michael Amadio. The Kings added on with a power play goal by Alex Iafallo, his seventh of the year, powered by Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe. Los Angeles extended the lead as Tyler Toffoli scored his eleventh of the season on the power play, thanks to Kopitar and Drew Doughty. The Kings padded the lead on a Kempe shorthanded goal, his eighth of the year, set up by Blake Lizotte and Kurtis MacDermid. Carter Hart replaced Elliott to start the second period. Philadelphia got on the board in the second period with a Justin Braun goal, coming off of Mikhail Vorobyev. Los Angeles responded in the third period with a power play goal by Martin Frk, his third of the season, guided in by Sean Walker and Nikolai Prokhorkin. The Flyers pulled one back with a Claude Giroux power play goal, his twelfth of the year, with helpers from Jakub Voracek and Travis Konecny. Philadelphia got closer with a Scott Laughton goal, his fifth of the season, fueled by Braun and Voracek. This only made it 5-3, the final, with the three stars given to Kempe, Braun, and Kopitar, while Voracek gets an honorable mention.
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