NHL 2021 - Day 30

We're already a quarter of the way through the season. Today, there's ten games, beginning with...

The New York Islanders hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins. Casey DeSmith and Semyon Varlamov draw the starts in goal. New York began in the first period with a Casey Cizikas goal, his third of the season, assisted by Cal Clutterbuck and Ryan Pulock. Pittsburgh tied it on a Bryan Rust goal, his third of the year, via Jake Guentzel and Sidney Crosby. The Islanders took the lead back with a Jean-Gabriel Pageau power play goal, his second of the season, powered by Nick Leddy and Josh Bailey. The Penguins tied it in the second period with a Zach Aston-Reese goal, coming off of Teddy Blueger. New York retook the lead in the third period on a Mathew Barzal goal, his fifth of the year, going in unassisted. Pittsburgh tied it on an Evgeni Malkin goal, his third of the campaign, helped along by Kris Letang and Rust. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Crosby had the lone tally for a 4-3 Penguins win. The three stars were Rust, Crosby, and Aston-Reese.

Down in Florida, the Panthers welcome the Tampa Bay Lightning. Andrei Vasilevskiy and Sergei Bobrovsky are the Russian goalies. Florida led off in the first period with a Frank Vatrano goal, his second of the season, helped along by Owen Tippett and Eetu Luostarinen. The Panthers added on in the second period with an Alex Wennberg goal, his third of the year, courtesy of Jonathan Huberdeau and Patric Hornqvist. Tampa Bay got on the board with a Brayden Point power play goal, his fifth of the season, powered by Ondrej Palat and Victor Hedman. Florida responded with an Aaron Ekblad power play goal, his fourth of the year, with assists provided by Keith Yandle and Aleksander Barkov. The Panthers extended the lead as Verhaeghe scored his seventh of the season, with the help of Wennberg and Ekblad. The Lightning got one back in the third period with a Point power play goal, his second of the game and sixth of the year, coming off of Hedman and the goalie Vasilevskiy. Florida iced it at 5-2 with an empty net goal by Brett Connolly, set up by MacKenzie Weegar. The three stars were Wennberg, Ekblad, and Point, while Hedman gets an honorable mention.

North to Chicago, as the Blackhawks bring in the Columbus Blue Jackets. Joonas Korpisalo and Kevin Lankinen are set to start in goal. Columbus started in the first period with a shorthanded Cam Atkinson goal, his fourth of the season, set up by Nick Foligno. Chicago tied it in the second period with an Ian Mitchell goal, via David Kampf and Matthew Highmore. The Blackhawks took the lead on a Nicolas Beaudin goal, courtesy of Nikita Zadorov and Alex DeBrincat. Chicago added on with a Pius Suter goal, his sixth of the year, coming off of Patrick Kane and Beaudin. The Blue Jackets got one back with a Jack Roslovic power play goal, his third of the season, powered by Max Domi and Seth Jones. The Blackhawks replied in the third period with a Kane power play goal, his seventh of the year, with an assist from DeBrincat. Columbus got one back with a Boone Jenner power play goal, his fourth of the season, guided in by Atkinson and Kevin Stenlund. The Blue Jackets tied it on a Roslovic goal, his second of the game and fourth of the year, made possible by Atkinson and Patrik Laine. Chicago retook the lead on a DeBrincat goal, his seventh of the season, assisted by Kane and Madison Bowey. Columbus tied it again on a Michael Del Zotto goal, passed from Atkinson and Andrew Peeke. The Blue Jackets gained the lead on a Stenlund goal, his second of the year, with a lone helper by Oliver Bjorkstrand and Del Zotto. The final held at 6-5, with the three stars given to Atkinson, Roslovic, and Kane, while DeBrincat, Stenlund, and Del Zotto get the honorable mentions.

In Montreal, the Canadiens host the Edmonton Oilers. Mike Smith and Jake Allen are the veteran goalies. Edmonton opened in the first period with a Jujhar Khaira goal, his second of the season, guided in by Josh Archibald and Tyler Ennis. The Oilers added on in the second period with a Darnell Nurse goal, his sixth of the year, going in unassisted. Edmonton extended the lead in the third period as Tyson Barrie scored a power play goal, his third of the season, powered by Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid. This made it 3-0, the final, with the three stars handed to Smith (38 save shutout), Khaira, and Barrie.

Back stateside, the Nashville Predators welcome the Detroit Red Wings. Thomas Greiss and Pekka Rinne are in the creases. Nashville struck first in the first period with a Ryan Ellis power play goal, his second of the season, powered by Filip Forsberg and Roman Josi. Detroit tied it on a Robby Fabbri goal, his third of the year, fueled by Anthony Mantha and Filip Hronek. The Predators took the lead back in the second period with a Matt Duchene goal, his third of the season, via Calle Jarnkrok and Josi. The Red Wings tied it again with a Marc Staal goal, his second of the year, assisted by Bobby Ryan and Vladislav Namestnikov. Nashville took the lead on a Dante Fabbro goal, his second of the season, made possible by Luke Kunin and Forsberg. This stood for a 3-2 win, with the three stars given to Forsberg, Josi, and Fabbro.

In Canada again, the Winnipeg Jets bring in the Ottawa Senators. Matt Murray and Connor Hellebuyck protect the nets. Winnipeg got going in the second period with a Paul Stastny goal, his third of the season, fueled by Mason Appleton and Derek Forbort. The Jets added on with a Nikolaj Ehlers goal, his ninth of the year, passed from Dylan DeMelo and Kyle Connor. Winnipeg extended the lead as Blake Wheeler scored his fourth of the year on the power play, powered by Stastny and Josh Morrissey. Marcus Hogberg replaced Murray in goal in the third period. The Jets padded the lead as Mathieu Perreault scored his second of the season, thanks to Mark Scheifele and Trevor Lewis. Ottawa got on the board with a Josh Norris goal, his third of the year, guided in by Christian Wolanin and Austin Watson. Winnipeg answered with a Neal Pionk goal, with helpers from Scheifele and Ehlers. This made it 5-1, the final, with the three stars going to Stastny, Hellebuyck (41 for 42 in saves), and Ehlers, while Scheifele gets an honorable mention.

Way south to Dallas, as the Stars host the Carolina Hurricanes. James Reimer and Anton Khudobin are the masked men. Carolina drew first blood in the first period with a Sebastian Aho power play goal, his third of the season, powered by Jordan Staal and Vincent Trocheck. Dallas tied it in the second period with a Mark Pysyk goal, fueled by Jason Robertson and Denis Gurianov. The Hurricanes took the lead back with a Jordan Staal goal, his third of the year, passed from Andrei Svechnikov and Brett Pesce. The Stars took the lead back on a Roope Hintz goal, his fourth of the season, via Gurianov and Robertson. Dallas took the lead on a Joe Pavelski power play goal, his eighth of the year, with assists provided by John Klingberg and Miro Heiskanen. Carolina tied it again with a Brock McGinn goal, his fourth of the season, assisted by Pesce. The Hurricanes took the lead in the third period with a Nino Niederreiter goal, his sixth of the year, made possible by Dougie Hamilton and Trocheck. Carolina iced it at 5-3 with a Warren Foegele empty net goal, his third of the campaign, set up by Aho. The three stars were Staal, Aho, and Trocheck, while Pesce, Gurianov, and Robertson get the honorable mentions.

West to Vegas, as the Golden Knights welcome the Anaheim Ducks. John Gibson and Marc-Andre Fleury are between the pipes. Anaheim dented the scoreboard in the third period with a Max Comtois goal, his sixth of the season, courtesy of Rickard Rakell and Cam Fowler. This stood for a 1-0 win, with the three stars awarded to Gibson (21 save shutout), Comtois, and Fleury (27 for 28 in saves).

In California, the Los Angeles Kings bring in the San Jose Sharks. Martin Jones and Jonathan Quick are given the starting nods in goal. Los Angeles kicked off the scoring in the first period with an Anze Kopitar power play goal, his fourth of the season, powered by Drew Doughty and Dustin Brown. The Kings added on with a Carl Grundstrom goal, his third of the year, via Jaret Anderson-Dolan and Austin Strand. Los Angeles extended the lead as Austin Wagner scored his second of the season, thanks to Tobias Bjornfot. San Jose got on the board with a Tomas Hertl goal, his fourth of the year, passed from Nikolai Knyzhov and Marc-Edouard Vlasic. The Sharks got closer in the second period with a Hertl power play goal, his second of the game and fifth of the season, guided in by Logan Couture and Brent Burns. The Kings answered with an Anderson-Dolan goal in the third period, his second of the year, coming off of Trevor Moore and Grundstrom. Los Angeles padded the lead on an Alex Iafallo power play goal, his third of the season, with assists provided by Adrian Kempe and Doughty. The Kings kept rolling with a Jeff Carter power-play goal, his second of the year, helped along by Kopitar and Doughty. The final remained at 6-2 with the three stars going to Kopitar, Anderson-Dolan, and Doughty, while Grundstrom and Hertl get the honorable mentions.

Finally, the Vancouver Canucks host the Calgary Flames. Jacob Markstrom faces his old team and Thatcher Demko in goal. Calgary was first to score in the first period with a Mark Giordano goal, his second of the season, fueled by Sean Monahan and Elias Lindholm. Vancouver tied it in the second period with a Brock Boeser goal, his tenth of the year, via Elias Pettersson. The Flames took the lead back on an Andrew Mangiapane goal, his fourth of the season, assisted by Giordano and Juuso Valimaki. Calgary added on in the third period with a Johnny Gaudreau goal, his eighth of the year, courtesy of Monahan. This made it 3-1, the final, with the three stars handed to Markstrom (33 for 34 in saves), Giordano, and Monahan. 

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