NHL 2021 - Day 79

Nine games on for tonight, beginning with...

The New York Islanders hosting the Washington Capitals. Ilya Samsonov made the start, but left with an injury and was replaced by Vitek Vanecek to oppose Semyon Varlamov in goal. Washington began in the first period with a John Carlson goal, his eighth of the season, courtesy of Tom Wilson and Conor Sheary. New York tied it on a Jordan Eberle goal, his twelfth of the year, passed from Leo Komarov and Mathew Barzal. The Islanders took the lead with a Barzal goal, his eleventh of the season, going in unassisted. New York added on with a Brock Nelson goal, his thirteenth of the year, guided in by Josh Bailey. The Capitals shot back on a Daniel Sprong goal, his seventh of the season, helped along by Lars Eller. The Islanders replied on a Barzal goal, his second of the game and twelfth of the year, made possible by Eberle and Scott Mayfield. New York extended the lead in the second period as Casey Cizikas scored his seventh of the season, thanks to Cal Clutterbuck. Washington fired back on a T.J. Oshie power play goal, his tenth of the year, powered by Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom. The Islanders responded again with an Eberle goal, his second of the game and thirteenth of the season, with helpers from Barzal and Andy Greene. The Capitals pulled one back with a Carlson goal, his second of the game and ninth of the year, fueled by Jakub Vrana and Sprong. New York countered in the third period with a Bailey goal, his sixth of the season, with assists provided by Anthony Beauvillier and Nick Leddy. The Islanders padded the lead as Barzal finished his hat trick on his thirteenth of the year, with the help of Bailey and Mayfield. This made it 8-4, the final, with the three stars awarded to Barzal, Bailey, and Eberle, while Mayfield, Carlson, and Sprong get the honorable mentions.

Down in Tampa Bay, the Lightning welcome the Columbus Blue Jackets. Elvis Merzlikins and Andrei Vasilevskiy start in goal. Tampa Bay opened in the first period with a Brayden Point power play goal, his fourteenth of the season, powered by Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman. Columbus tied it on a second period Zach Werenski goal, his fifth of the year, via Eric Robinson and Max Domi. The Blue Jackets took the lead in the third period with a Robinson goal, his fifth of the season, coming off of Domi and Werenski. The Lightning tied it on a Ross Colton goal, his third of the year, courtesy of Pat Maroon and Mathieu Joseph. Tampa Bay took the lead with a Point goal, his second of the game and fifteenth of the season, fueled by Ondrej Palat and Tyler Johnson. This stood for a 3-2 win, with the three stars being Point, Robinson, and Werenski, while Domi gets an honorable mention.

Staying in the state, the Florida Panthers bring in the Detroit Red Wings. Thomas Greiss and Chris Driedger are in the blue paint. Detroit started in the first period with an Adam Erne goal, his seventh of the season, coming off of Troy Stecher and Patrik Nemeth. Florida retied it on a Noel Acciari goal, his fourth of the year, guided in by Carter Verhaeghe and Keith Yandle. The Red Wings took the lead in the third period with an Anthony Mantha goal, his tenth of the season, fueled by Michael Rasmussen and Nemeth. The Panthers retied it with a Frank Vatrano power play goal, his eleventh of the year, powered by Verhaeghe and Jonathan Huberdeau. Florida won 3-2 in overtime with an Alex Wennberg goal, his eighth of the campaign, helped along by Gustav Forsling and Vatrano. The three stars were Vatrano, Verhaeghe, and Nemeth.

North to Boston, as the Bruins host the Pittsburgh Penguins. Casey DeSmith and Dan Vladar are the backups in goal. Pittsburgh got going in the second period with a Zach Aston-Reese goal, his eighth of the season, assisted by Brandon Tanev and Frederick Gaudreau. The Penguins added on with a Mike Matheson goal, his third of the year, guided in by Anthony Angello and Cody Ceci. Boston got on the board in the third period with a Brad Marchand goal, his fourteenth of the season, via Patrice Bergeron and Jakub Zboril. Pittsburgh shot back on a Jason Zucker goal, his fifth of the year, helped along by Evan Rodrigues and Marcus Pettersson. The Penguins iced it at 4-1 with a Jake Guentzel empty net goal, his fifteenth of the season, set up by Kris Letang and Sidney Crosby. The three stars belonged to DeSmith (30 for 31 in saves), Matheson, and Zucker.

Along to Buffalo, where the Sabres welcome the New York Rangers. Igor Shesterkin and Dustin Tokarski are in between the pipes. Buffalo led off in the first period with a Rasmus Asplund goal, his third of the season, via Jeff Skinner and Cody Eakin. New York tied it in the second period on a Colin Blackwell goal, his ninth of the year, coming off of Artemi Panarin and Ryan Strome. The Rangers took the lead in the third period on a Filip Chytil goal, his seventh of the season, made possible by Julien Gauthier and Jacob Trouba. The Sabres tied it with a Tage Thompson goal, his second of the year, courtesy of Casey Mittelstadt and Sam Reinhart. New York won 3-2 in overtime with a Mika Zibanejad goal, his twelfth of the campaign, passed from Panarin and Adam Fox. The three stars were Panarin, Zibanejad, and Chytil.

In Canada, the Ottawa Senators bring in the Montreal Canadiens. Jake Allen and Filip Gustavsson receive the starting nods in goal. Montreal struck first in the first period with a Phillip Danault goal, his third of the season, made possible by Brendan Gallagher and Tomas Tatar. The Canadiens added on in the second period with a shorthanded goal by Paul Byron, his third of the year, set up by Jake Evans and Artturi Lehkonen. Montreal extended the lead in the third period as Corey Perry scored his seventh of the season, with the help of Evans and Victor Mete. The Canadiens padded the lead on a Gallagher goal, his fourteenth of the year, assisted by Danault and Tatar. Ottawa got on the board with a Connor Brown power play goal, his eighth of the campaign, powered by Josh Norris and Mike Reilly. This only made it 4-1, the final, with the three stars being Gallagher, Evans, and Danault, while Tatar gets an honorable mention.

Back stateside, the Chicago Blackhawks host the Carolina Hurricanes. James Reimer and Kevin Lankinen protect the nets. Carolina drew first blood in the first period with a Vincent Trocheck goal, his fourteenth of the season, coming off of Dougie Hamilton and Jesper Fast. The Hurricanes added on in the second period with a Warren Foegele goal, his seventh of the year, made possible by Jordan Staal and Nino Niederreiter. Chicago got on the board with a Dominik Kubalik goal, his twelfth of the season, guided in by Wyatt Kalynuk and Calvin de Haan. The Blackhawks tied it in the third period with a Brandon Hagel goal, his fifth of the year, via Kirby Dach. Carolina retook the lead on another Foegele goal, his eighth of the season and second of the game, assisted by Niederreiter and Staal. Chicago retied it on a Dylan Strome goal, his seventh of the year, helped along by Connor Murphy and Mattias Janmark. The Hurricanes took the lead with a Fast goal, his fifth of the season, fueled by Trocheck and Brett Pesce. The final stood from here at 4-3, with the three stars going to Foegele, Fast, and Trocheck, while Niederreiter and Staal get the honorable mentions.

Further south to Nashville, as the Predators welcome the Dallas Stars. Anton Khudobin and Juuse Saros are the masked men. Dallas was first to score in the first period with an Esa Lindell goal, his fourth of the season, coming off of Blake Comeau and Jason Dickinson. Nashville tied it on a Colton Sissons goal, his fifth of the year, fueled by Yakov Trenin. The Stars retook the lead in the second period with a Jason Robertson goal, his eighth of the season, via Roope Hintz and Joe Pavelski. Dallas added on in the third period with a Jamie Benn power play goal, his sixth of the year, powered by Denis Gurianov and John Klingberg. Dallas iced it at 4-1 with a Miro Heiskanen empty net goal, his fifth of the campaign, set up by Pavelski. The three stars were Khudobin (21 for 22 in saves), Robertson, and Pavelski.

Finally, the Vegas Golden Knights bring in the Minnesota Wild. Cam Talbot and Robin Lehner guard the cages. Vegas kicked off the scoring in the first period with a William Karlsson goal, his tenth of the season, helped along by Shea Theodore and Alec Martinez. Minnesota tied it on a Kirill Kaprizov goal, his thirteenth of the year, guided in by Jordan Greenway and Jonas Brodin. The Golden Knights retook the lead in the third period with a Brayden McNabb goal, via William Carrier. The Wild tied it again with a Jared Spurgeon power play goal, his fourth of the season, powered by Kevin Fiala and Kaprizov. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Fiala had the lone tally for a 3-2 Wild win. The three stars were Kaprizov, Fiala, and Spurgeon. 

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