There's eight games on for this Saturday, beginning with three matinees. First up...
The Detroit Red Wings host the Philadelphia Flyers. Carter Hart and Thomas Greiss are in goal. Detroit led off in the first period with a Tyler Bertuzzi goal, his twenty-third of the season, passed from Robby Fabbri and Pius Suter. The Red Wings added on in the second period with a Filip Zadina goal, his sixth of the year, assisted by Dylan Larkin and Marc Staal. Philadelphia got on the board with a Keith Yandle power play goal, powered by Scott Laughton and Isaac Ratcliffe. Detroit replied in the third period with a Moritz Seider power play goal, his fifth of the season, with assists provided by Larkin and Lucas Raymond. The Flyers got one back on a Laughton goal, his ninth of the year, guided in by Travis Konecny and Ivan Provorov. The Red Wings iced it at 4-2 with a Michael Rasmussen empty net goal, his sixth of the campaign, set up by Larkin and Sam Gagner. The three stars were Larkin, Laughton, and Seider.
Up in Montreal, the Canadiens welcome the Columbus Blue Jackets. Elvis Merzlikins and Samuel Montembeault are the goalies. Columbus began in the first period with an Oliver Bjorkstrand goal, his fourteenth of the season, helped along by Patrik Laine. Montreal tied it in the third period on a Cole Caufield goal, his third of the year, fueled by Ryan Poehling. The Blue Jackets won 2-1 with a Laine power play goal, his thirteenth of the season, powered by Zach Werenski and Jakub Voracek. The three stars were Laine, Merzlikins (30 for 31 in saves), and Bjorkstrand.
Over in Ottawa, the Senators host the Boston Bruins. Jeremy Swayman and Matt Murray man the nets. Boston opened in the first period with a Trent Frederic goal, his third of the season, coming off of Charlie Coyle. The Bruins added on with a Curtis Lazar goal, his sixth of the year, guided in by Anton Blidh. This held for a 2-0 win, with the three stars given to Swayman (30 save shutout), Frederic, and Lazar.
Out west, the Vancouver Canucks bring in the Toronto Maple Leafs. Petr Mrazek and Thatcher Demko are the masked men. Vancouver started in the first period with a J.T. Miller goal, his seventeenth of the season, assisted by Bo Horvat and Brock Boeser. The Canucks added on with a Boeser power play goal, his fourteenth of the year, powered by Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Miller. Toronto got on the board in the second period on an Auston Matthews power play goal, his thirty-second of the season, with assists provided by John Tavares and William Nylander. The Maple Leafs tied it on an Ondrej Kase power play goal, his ninth of the year, guided in by Jason Spezza and Rasmus Sandin. Vancouver retook the lead with a Juho Lammikko goal, his fourth of the season, helped along by Alex Chiasson and Tyler Motte. The final stood at 3-2, with the three stars going to Boeser, Miller, and Demko (51 for 53 in saves).
Back in Nashville, the Predators host the Winnipeg Jets. Connor Hellebuyck and Juuse Saros guard the cages. Nashville struck first in the first period with a Mikael Granlund goal, his seventh of the season, via Filip Forsberg and Alexandre Carrier. The Predators added on with a Matt Duchene power play goal, his twenty-third of the year, powered by Roman Josi and Ryan Johansen. Winnipeg got on the board with a Mark Scheifele goal, his thirteenth of the season, coming off of Ville Heinola and Blake Wheeler. The Jets tied it on a Kyle Connor power play goal in the second period, his twenty-sixth of the year, made possible by Wheeler and Josh Morrissey. Winnipeg took the lead in the third period with a Wheeler power play goal, his third of the season, assisted by Scheifele and Morrissey. The Jets extended the lead as Pierre-Luc Dubois scored a power play goal, his twentieth of the year, thanks to Wheeler and Connor. Winnipeg iced it at 5-2 with a Wheeler empty net goal, his second of the game and fourth of the campaign, set up by Scheifele. The three stars were Wheeler, Scheifele, and Connor, while Morrissey gets an honorable mention.
Up in Minnesota, the Wild welcome the Carolina Hurricanes. Frederik Andersen and Cam Talbot protect the nets. Minnesota got going in the second period with a Kevin Fiala goal, his fourteenth of the season, fueled by Frederick Gaudreau and Jon Merrill. The Wild added on in the third period with a Kirill Kaprizov goal, his twentieth of the year, via Mats Zuccarello. Minnesota extended the lead as Gaudreau scored his fifth of the season, thanks to Fiala. Carolina got on the board with an Andrei Svechnikov goal, his nineteenth of the year, assisted by Tony DeAngelo and Jaccob Slavin. The Hurricanes got closer with a Svechnikov power play goal, his second of the game and twentieth of the season, powered by Teuvo Teravainen and DeAngelo. The three stars of the 3-2 game were Fiala, Gaudreau, and Svechnikov, while DeAngelo gets an honorable mention.
South again to St. Louis, as the Blues host the Chicago Blackhawks. Marc-Andre Fleury and Ville Husso patrol the creases. St. Louis kicked off the scoring in the first period with a David Perron power play goal, his ninth of the season, powered by Justin Faulk and Brayden Schenn. The Blues added on with a Dakota Joshua goal, his second of the year, via Torey Krug and Oskar Sundqvist. Chicago got on the board in the second period with a Dylan Strome power play goal, his ninth of the year, guided in by Patrick Kane and Dominik Kubalik. St. Louis shot back with a Vladimir Tarasenko goal, his sixteenth of the season, assisted by Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich. The Blues extended the lead as Sundqvist scored his third of the year in the third period, with the help of Niko Mikkola and Brandon Saad. St. Louis finished it at 5-1 with a Jordan Kyrou goal, his eighteenth of the campaign, with helpers from Brayden Schenn and Ryan O'Reilly.
Finally, the Calgary Flames bring in the New York Islanders. Ilya Sorokin and Jacob Markstrom tend the twines. Calgary drew first blood in the first period with an Adam Ruzicka goal, his third of the season, helped along by Rasmus Andersson and Noah Hanifin. New York tied it on a Noah Dobson power play goal, his eighth of the year, powered by Mathew Barzal and Jean-Gabriel Pageau. The Flames retook the lead on a Christopher Tanev goal, his fourth of the season, guided in by Johnny Gaudreau and Oliver Kylington. Calgary added on in the second period with an Andrew Mangiapane goal, his twenty-fourth of the year, fueled by Ruzicka and Nikita Zadorov. The Islanders got one back with a Pageau goal, his sixth of the season, via Zach Parise and Oliver Wahlstrom. The Flames fired back with an Erik Gudbranson goal, his second of the year, made possible by Milan Lucic and Trevor Lewis. Calgary iced it at 5-2 with an Elias Lindholm goal, his eighteenth of the campaign, with helpers from Matthew Tkachuk and Gaudreau. The three stars were Ruzicka, Gaudreau, and Pageau.
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