NHL 2021 - Day 86

There's ten games on today, beginning with...

The Carolina Hurricanes hosting the Florida Panthers. Chris Driedger and Alex Nedeljkovic are the young goalies. Carolina was first to score in the first period with a Sebastian Aho power play goal, his sixteenth of the season, powered by Vincent Trocheck and Andrei Svechnikov. The Hurricanes added on in the second period with a Trocheck goal, his sixteenth of the year, via Martin Necas and Brady Skjei. Carolina extended the lead in the third period on a Necas empty net goal, his tenth of the campaign, set up by Nino Niederreiter. The three stars of the 3-0 game were Nedeljkovic (24 save shutout), Trocheck, and Necas.

To DC, as the Washington Capitals welcome the Boston Bruins. Jeremy Swayman and Ilya Samsonov make the starts in goal. Boston started in the first period with a Jeremy Lauzon goal, courtesy of Brad Marchand and Craig Smith. The Bruins added on with an Anton Blidh goal, going in unassisted. Boston extended the lead in the second period on a Marchand shorthanded goal, his nineteenth of the season, an unassisted tally. Washington got on the board with an Alex Ovechkin power play goal, his twentieth of the year, powered by John Carlson and T.J. Oshie. The Capitals got closer with an Oshie power play goal, his twelfth of the season, with assists provided by Carlson and Nicklas Backstrom. The Bruins replied in the third period with a Smith power play goal, his seventh of the year, guided in by Charlie Coyle and Jakub Zboril. The final held from here at 4-2, with the three stars being Smith, Marchand, and Oshie, while Carlson gets an honorable mention.

On Long Island, the New York Islanders bring in the Philadelphia Flyers. Carter Hart and Ilya Sorokin man the nets. New York opened in the first period with a Brock Nelson goal, his fifteenth of the season, assisted by Ryan Pulock and Anthony Beauvillier. The Islanders added on with a Jordan Eberle goal, his fourteenth of the year, courtesy of Leo Komarov. Philadelphia got on the board with a Nicolas Aube-Kubel goal, his third of the season, going in unassisted. The Flyers tied it in the second period with a Jakub Voracek goal, his seventh of the year, via Claude Giroux and Travis Konecny. The Islanders won 3-2 in the shootout with a Nelson tally. The three stars were Nelson, Eberle, and Sorokin (25 for 27 in saves).

Staying in New York, the Rangers host the Pittsburgh Penguins. Tristan Jarry and Igor Shesterkin are set to start in goal. Pittsburgh led off in the first period with a Radim Zohorna goal, his second of the season, guided in by Marcus Pettersson and Kris Letang. New York tied it in the second period with a Colin Blackwell power play goal, his eleventh of the year, powered by Pavel Buchnevich and Kaapo Kakko. The Penguins retook the lead on a Letang goal, his seventh of the season, passed from Jake Guentzel and Brian Dumoulin. Pittsburgh added on with an Evan Rodrigues power play goal, his fifth of the year, with assists provided by Zohorna and Jason Zucker. The Penguins extended the lead in the third period as Zucker scored his sixth of the season, thanks to Rodrigues and Cody Ceci. The Rangers got one back on a Kevin Rooney goal, his sixth of the year, helped along by Adam Fox. Pittsburgh iced it at 5-2 with a Mark Jankowski empty net goal, his fourth of the campaign, set up by Zach Aston-Reese. The three stars were Zucker, Zohorna, and Letang, while Rodrigues gets an honorable mention.

Up in Canada, the Montreal Canadiens welcome the Winnipeg Jets. Connor Hellebuyck and Jake Allen are the masked men. Winnipeg began in the first period with a Josh Morrissey goal, his third of the season, via Mathieu Perreault and Mason Appleton. Montreal tied it on a Phillip Danault goal, his fourth of the year, helped along by Tomas Tatar and Jesperi Kotkaniemi. The Jets took the lead with a Trevor Lewis goal, his second of the season, guided in by Neal Pionk and Derek Forbort. Winnipeg added on with a Nikolaj Ehlers goal, his sixteenth of the year, assisted by Kyle Connor and Logan Stanley. The Canadiens got one back with a Paul Byron goal in the second period, his fourth of the season, passed from Jeff Petry and Kotkaniemi. The Jets countered with an Andrew Copp empty net goal in the third period, his thirteenth of the year, set up by Connor and Mark Scheifele. This made it 4-2, the final, with the three stars being Connor, Kotkaniemi, and Ehlers.

Back stateside, the Columbus Blue Jackets bring in the Tampa Bay Lightning. Andrei Vasilevskiy and Joonas Korpisalo guard the cages. Tampa Bay struck first in the first period with a Blake Coleman goal, his eighth of the season, fueled by Yanni Gourde and Barclay Goodrow. The Lightning added on with a Steven Stamkos power play goal, his seventeenth of the year, powered by Victor Hedman and Ondrej Palat. Tampa Bay extended the lead as Goodrow scored his sixth of the season, thanks to Gourde and Coleman. Elvis Merzlikins replaced Korpisalo in goal. Columbus got on the board with a Michael Del Zotto goal, his third of the year, guided in by Jack Roslovic and the goalie Merzlikins. The Lightning replied with a Ryan McDonagh goal, his third of the season, with a lone helper by Gourde and Coleman. Tampa Bay padded the lead in the second period with a Ross Colton goal, his sixth of the year, assisted by Tyler Johnson and Pat Maroon. The Blue Jackets got one back with a Roslovic goal, his eighth of the season, made possible by Mikhail Grigorenko and Cam Atkinson. The Lightning responded on a McDonagh goal, his fourth of the year and second of the game, helped along by Gourde and Goodrow. Columbus shot back in the third period with a Zach Werenski goal, his seventh of the season, coming off of Alexandre Texier and Roslovic. The Blue Jackets pulled closer with a Max Domi goal, his seventh of the year, with helpers from Oliver Bjorkstrand and Dean Kukan. This only made it 6-4, the final, with the three stars going to Goodrow, Coleman, and Gourde, while McDonagh and Roslovic get the honorable mentions.

Over in Buffalo, the Sabres host the New Jersey Devils. Aaron Dell and Linus Ullmark are in the blue paint. Buffalo kicked off the scoring in the first period with a Victor Olofsson goal, his eleventh of the season, coming off of Henri Jokiharju and Kyle Okposo. New Jersey tied it on a Pavel Zacha power play goal, his ninth of the year, powered by Ty Smith and Jesper Bratt. The Devils took the lead with a Zacha power play goal, his second of the game and tenth of the season, with assists provided by Smith and Bratt. New Jersey added on with a Jack Hughes goal, his eighth of the year, passed from Janne Kuokkanen and Yegor Sharangovich. The Sabres got one back on a Tage Thompson power play goal, his third of the season, with helpers from Brandon Montour and Colin Miller. Buffalo tied it as Jeff Skinner scored his fourth of the year, with the help of Sam Reinhart and Rasmus Dahlin. The Devils retook the lead in the third period with a Jesper Boqvist goal, courtesy of Michael McLeod. New Jersey extended the lead as Sharangovich scored his ninth of the season, thanks to Hughes and Kuokkanen. The Devils iced it at 6-3 with an empty net goal by Kuokkanen, his sixth of the year, set up by Sharangovich and Hughes. The three stars were Hughes, Sharangovich, and Koukkanen, while Zacha, Bratt, and Smtih get the honorable mentions.

In Canada again, the Ottawa Senators welcome the Edmonton Oilers. Mike Smith and Anton Forsberg play in goal. Edmonton got going in the second period on a Kailer Yamamoto power play goal, his eighth of the season, powered by Connor McDavid and Tyson Barrie. Ottawa tied it on a Connor Brown goal, his twelfth of the year, via Chris Tierney and Mike Reilly. The Oilers took the lead in the third period with a Devin Shore goal, his fourth of the season, coming off of Caleb Jones and Jujhar Khaira. Edmonton iced it at 3-1 with an empty net goal by Jesse Puljujarvi, his ninth of the year, going in unassisted. The three stars were Smith (39 for 40 in saves), Shore, and Yamamoto.

Along to Detroit, as the Red Wings bring in the Nashville Predators. Juuse Saros and Jonathan Bernier protect the nets. Detroit dented the scoreboard in the second period with a Darren Helm goal, his third of the season, fueled by Troy Stecher and Adam Erne. Nashville tied it on a Viktor Arvidsson goal, his sixth of the year, guided in by Nick Cousins and Mattias Ekholm. The Predators took the lead with an Erik Haula goal, his fourth of the season, coming off of Rocco Grimaldi. Nashville added on with a Cousins goal, his fourth of the year, via Colton Sissons and Haula. The Predators extended the lead as Mikael Granlund scored his tenth of the season, thanks to Ben Harpur and Ekholm in the third period. Nashville padded the lead with an Arvidsson goal, his second of the game and seventh of the year, helped along by Tyler Lewington. The Predators continued with an Arvidsson penalty shot goal to complete his hat trick with his eighth of the season. Nashville struck again with a Yakov Trenin goal, his third of the year, made possible by Sissons and Harpur. This stood for a 7-1 win, with the three stars handed to Arvidsson, Haula, and Cousins, while Sissons, Ekholm, and Harpur get the honorable mentions.

Finally, the Chicago Blackhawks host the Dallas Stars. Anton Khudobin and Kevin Lankinen patrol the creases. Dallas drew first blood in the first period with a Roope Hintz power play goal, his twelfth of the season, powered by Jamie Benn and Joe Pavelski. Chicago tied it on a Dominik Kubalik goal, his fourteenth of the year, via Vinnie Hinostroza and Philipp Kurashev. The Stars retook the lead in the second period with a Jason Robertson goal, his ninth of the season, courtesy of Hintz and Esa Lindell. Dallas added on with a Miro Heiskanen power play goal, his sixth of the year, fueled by Benn and Hintz. The Stars extended the lead as Blake Comeau scored his second of the season, thanks to Andrew Cogliano. Dallas padded the lead in the third period with a Comeau goal, his second of the game and third of the year, guided in by Hintz. This made it 5-1, the final, with the three stars handed to Hintz, Comeau, and Khudobin (38 for 39 in saves), while Benn gets an honorable mention. 

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