The schedule continues to oscillate heavily, as there's 15 games this Saturday. First up...
The New Jersey Devils host the Ottawa Senators. Anton Forsberg and Akira Schmid start in goal. New Jersey opened in the first period with an Erik Haula power play goal, powered by Fabian Zetterlund and Damon Severson. The Devils added on with a Nathan Bastian goal, his third of the season, coming off of Miles Wood and Michael McLeod. New Jersey extended the lead in the second period as Jesper Boqvist scored his second of the year, thanks to Yegor Sharangovich and Jonas Siegenthaler. Cam Talbot replaced Forsberg in goal. Ottawa got on the board with a Derick Brassard goal, his second of the season, made possible by Erik Brannstrom and Claude Giroux. The Devils replied with a shorthanded Sharangovich goal, his fifth of the year, set up by Nico Hischier. New Jersey iced it at 5-1 with a McLeod empty net goal, his second of the campaign, going in unassisted. The three stars were Sharangovich, McLeod, and Bastian.
Down in Florida, the Panthers welcome the Calgary Flames. Jacob Markstrom and Spencer Knight protect the nets. Calgary started in the first period with an Adam Ruzicka power play goal, his third of the season, powered by Noah Hanifin and Nikita Zadorov. The Flames added on with a Zadorov goal in the second period, his fourth of the year, via Ruzicka and Elias Lindholm. Florida got on the board with a Colin White goal, his fourth of the season, going in unassisted. The Panthers tied it on a Sam Reinhart power play goal, his fifth of the year, with assists provided by Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov. Calgary regained the lead on a Ruzicka goal, his fourth of the season, made possible by Lindholm. Florida tied it in the third period with a Eetu Luostarinen goal, his sixth of the year, courtesy of Sam Bennett and Gustav Forsling. The Flames retook the lead with a Blake Coleman goal, his second of the season, assisted by Mikael Backlund. The Panthers tied it on a Tkachuk goal, his seventh of the year, guided in by Bennett and Brandon Montour. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Jonathan Huberdeau and Rasmus Andersson lifted the Flames to a 5-4 win over Anton Lundell and the Panthers. The three stars were Ruzicka, Zadorov, and Lindholm, while Tkachuk and Bennett get the honorable mentions.
At the regular time, the Boston Bruins bring in the Chicago Blackhawks. Petr Mrazek and Jeremy Swayman are set to start in goal. Boston led off in the first period with a David Pastrnak power play goal, his tenth of the season, powered by Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron. The Bruins added on in the second period with a Bergeron goal, his ninth of the year, via Charlie McAvoy and Marchand. Chicago got on the board with a Jonathan Toews power play goal, his eighth of the season, with assists provided by Max Domi and Philipp Kurashev. Boston replied with a power play goal by Jake DeBrusk, his seventh of the year, with helpers from Marchand and McAvoy. The Bruins extended the lead as David Krejci scored his fifth of the season, assisted by A.J. Greer and McAvoy. Boston padded the lead in the third period on a Pastrnak goal, his second of the game and eleventh of the year, guided in by Nick Foligno and Tomas Nosek. The Bruins kept going with a Taylor Hall goal, his sixth of the season, fueled by Matt Grzelcyk and McAvoy. The final was 6-1, and the three stars went to McAvoy, Pastrnak, and Marchand, while Bergeron gets an honorable mention.
To Toronto, as the Maple Leafs host the Buffalo Sabres. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Matt Murray man the nets. Toronto was first to score in the first period with a John Tavares power play goal, his tenth of the season, powered by Mitchell Marner and Morgan Rielly. The Maple Leafs added on with a Calle Jarnkrok goal, his fourth of the year, courtesy of Pierre Engvall and Rasmus Sandin. Toronto extended the lead as Mark Giordano scored a shorthanded goal, set up by Marner and David Kampf. Buffalo got on the board in the second period with an Alex Tuch power play goal, his ninth of the season, with assists provided by Dylan Cozens and Rasmus Dahlin. The Maple Leafs fired back with a William Nylander power play goal, his ninth of the year, coming off of Tavares and Auston Matthews. Toronto padded the lead on another Nylander goal, his second of the game and tenth of the season, made possible by Tavares. The Sabres got one back with a Casey Mittelstadt power play goal, his fifth of the year, with assists provided by Victor Olofsson and Owen Power. This only made it 5-2, the final, with the three stars given to Nylander, Tavares, and Marner.
Over in Quebec, the Montreal Canadiens welcome the Philadelphia Flyers. Carter Hart and Jake Allen are the veteran goalies. Philadelphia began in the first period with a Travis Sanheim goal, coming off of Scott Laughton and Zack MacEwen. The Flyers added on with an Owen Tippett goal, his fifth of the season, assisted by Sanheim and Joel Farabee. Montreal got on the board with a Christian Dvorak goal, his fourth of the year, via Brendan Gallagher and Arber Xhekaj. The Canadiens tied it on a Cole Caufield power play goal, his tenth of the season, powered by Kirby Dach and Mike Hoffman. Montreal took the lead with a Mike Matheson goal in the second period, passed from Nick Suzuki and Caufield. Philadelphia tied it on a Tippett goal, his second of the game and sixth of the year, going in unassisted. The Flyers pulled ahead with a Kevin Hayes goal, his fifth of the season, made possible by Nick Seeler and MacEwen. The Canadiens tied it again on a Caufield goal, his second of the game and eleventh of the year, guided in by Suzuki and Sean Monahan. The tie went to a shootout, where Suzuki's lone tally lifted the Canadiens won a 5-4 win. The three stars were Caufield, Tippett, and Suzuki, while Sanheim and MacEwen get the honorable mentions.
Stateside, the Washington Capitals bring in the Colorado Avalanche. Alexandar Georgiev and Darcy Kuemper protect the nets. Colorado drew first blood in the first period with a Cale Makar power play goal, his fourth of the season, powered by Nathan MacKinnon and Artturi Lehkonen. The Avalanche added on in the second period with a MacKinnon goal, his fifth of the year, fueled by Josh Manson and Alex Newhook. Colorado extended the lead in the third period as Andrew Cogliano scored his second of the season, thanks to Jacob MacDonald and J.T. Compher. The Avalanche padded the lead on a Lehkonen goal, his sixth of the year, going in unassisted. The final was 4-0, and the three stars were awarded to Georgiev (32 save shutout), MacKinnon, and Lehkonen.
Along to Columbus, as the Blue Jackets host the Detroit Red Wings. Ville Husso and Joonas Korpisalo are the Finnish goalies. Detroit struck first in the first period with a Dylan Larkin power play goal, his eighth of the season, powered by David Perron and Moritz Seider. Columbus tied it in the second period with an Emil Bemstrom goal, his second of the year, via Boone Jenner and Johnny Gaudreau. The Red Wings retook the lead with a Filip Hronek goal, his third of the season, going in unassisted. Detroit added on with a Ben Chiarot goal, his second of the year, passed from Lucas Raymond and Andrew Copp. The Red Wings extended the lead as Hronek scored his second of the game and fourth of the season, thanks to Larkin and Seider. Detroit padded the lead on a Dominik Kubalik power play goal in the third period, his ninth of the year, assisted by Seider and Larkin. The Red Wings continued with a Tyler Bertuzzi goal, fueled by Copp and Raymond. This made it 6-1, the final, with the three stars given to Hronek, Larkin, and Seider, while Raymond and Copp get the honorable mentions.
Up in Winnipeg, the Jets welcome the Pittsburgh Penguins. Tristan Jarry and Connor Hellebuyck are between the pipes. Pittsburgh dented the scoreboard in the third period with a Jason Zucker goal, his fifth of the season, coming off of Evgeni Malkin and Jeff Petry. The Penguins added on with a Bryan Rust goal, his fifth of the year, via Sidney Crosby. Pittsburgh iced it at 3-0 with a Jake Guentzel empty net goal, his tenth of the campaign, set up by Rust and Crosby. The three stars were Jarry (32 save shutout), Rust, and Crosby.
Down in St. Louis, the Blues bring in the Anaheim Ducks. John Gibson and Jordan Binnington are the inconsistent goalies. St. Louis kicked off the scoring in the first period with a Noel Acciari goal, his third of the season, via Justin Faulk and Brayden Schenn. The Blues added on with a Pavel Buchnevich goal, his third of the year, coming off of Robert Thomas. St. Louis extended the lead as Buchnevich scored his second of the game and fourth of the season in the second period, thanks to Thomas and Jordan Kyrou. The Blues padded the lead on a Schenn goal, his fifth of the year, courtesy of Buchnevich and Faulk. Anaheim got on the board with a Cam Fowler power play goal, powered by Adam Henrique. St. Louis replied with a Torey Krug power play goal, his fourth of the season, with assists provided by Kyrou and Buchnevich. Anthony Stolarz relieved Gibson in the third period. The Ducks got one back with a Henrique power play goal, his sixth of the year, guided in by Fowler and Mason McTavish. The Blues replied with a Thomas goal, his fourth of the season, assisted by Kyrou. The final was 6-2, and the three stars were awarded to Buchnevich, Kyrou, and Thomas, while Schenn, Henrique, and Fowler get the honorable mentions.
East to Nashville, as the Predators host the Tampa Bay Lightning. Andrei Vasilevskiy and Juuse Saros tend the twines. Nashville cracked the scoresheet in the first period with a Filip Forsberg power play goal, his seventh of the season, powered by Mattias Ekholm and Jusso Parssinen. Tampa Bay tied it on a Nikita Kucherov power play goal in the second period, his tenth of the year, coming off of Brayden Point and Mikhail Sergachev. The Predators took the lead in the third period with a Nino Niederreiter goal, his ninth of the season, going in unassisted. The Lightning tied it again on an Alex Killorn goal, his sixth of the year, made possible by Ian Cole and Nikita Kucherov. Tampa Bay won 3-2 in overtime with a Steven Stamkos power play goal, his tenth of the campaign, with assists provided by Kucherov and Point. The three stars were Kucherov, Point, and Stamkos.
Further south to Dallas, as the Stars welcome the New York Islanders. Semyon Varlamov and Jake Oettinger are the masked men. New York got going in the second period with a Mathew Barzal goal, coming off of Alexander Romanov and Oliver Wahlstrom. Dallas tied it on a Radek Faksa goal, his second of the season, via Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn. The Islanders added on with a Barzal power play goal, his second of the game, powered by Brock Nelson and Anders Lee. The Stars tied it again on a Mason Marchment goal, his sixth of the year, courtesy of Benn and Colin Miller. Dallas took the lead with a Benn goal, his eighth of the season, made possible by Marchment and Seguin. The Stars extended the lead as Jason Robertson scored his twelfth of the year, with the help of Joe Pavelski. Dallas iced it at 5-2 with a Jani Hakanpaa empty net goal, his third of the campaign, set up by the goalie Oettinger and Pavelski. The three stars went to Benn, Marchment, and Barzal, while Seguin and Pavelski get the honorable mentions.
Way north to Minnesota, where the Wild bring in the Carolina Hurricanes. Pyotr Kochetkov and Filip Gustavsson are the backups in goal. Carolina led off in the first period with a Sebastian Aho goal, his ninth of the season, via Martin Necas and Stefan Noesen. Minnesota tied it on a Sam Steel goal in the third period, his third of the year, courtesy of Jared Spurgeon and Kirill Kaprizov. The Wild won 2-1 in overtime with an Alex Goligoski goal, assisted by Steel and Frederick Gaudreau. The three stars belonged to Steel, Goligoski, and Gustavsson (20 for 21 in saves).
In Canada once more, the Edmonton Oilers host the Vegas Golden Knights. Adin Hill and Stuart Skinner will patrol the creases. Edmonton began in the first period with a Warren Foegele goal, his third of the season, courtesy of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Ryan Murray. Vegas tied it on a Keegan Kolesar goal, his third of the year, via Shea Theodore and Brett Howden. The Golden Knights took the lead in the second period on a Mark Stone penalty shot goal, his sixth of the season. The Oilers tied it on a Leon Draisaitl goal, his tenth of the year, passed from Darnell Nurse and Nugent-Hopkins. Edmonton pulled ahead in the third period with a Zach Hyman power play goal, his ninth of the season, powered by Connor McDavid and Nugent-Hopkins. Vegas tied it again with a Stone goal, his second of the game and seventh of the year, coming off of Theodore and Jack Eichel. The Oilers won 4-3 in overtime with a McDavid goal, his sixteenth of the campaign, passed from Nurse and Draisaitl.
To Seattle, where the Kraken welcome the Los Angeles Kings. Cal Petersen and Martin Jones are in the blue paint. Seattle opened in the first period with a Jared McCann goal, his seventh of the season, assisted by Matty Beniers and Jordan Eberle. Los Angeles tied it in the second period on a Phillip Danault goal, his sixth of the year, via Viktor Arvidsson and Alexander Edler. The Kings took the lead in the third period with a Trevor Moore shorthanded goal, his sixth of the season, set up by Danault and Matt Roy. The Kraken retied it on a Daniel Sprong power play goal, his third of the year, powered by Justin Schultz and Beniers. Seattle won 3-2 in overtime with an Eberle goal, his fifth of the campaign, fueled by Schultz. The three stars were Eberle, Schultz, and Danault.
Finally, the San Jose Sharks bring in the New York Rangers. Igor Shesterkin and James Reimer get the starts in goal. New York dented the scoreboard in the third period with a Julien Gauthier goal, his third of the season, via Jacob Trouba and K'Andre Miller. The Rangers added on with an Adam Fox empty net goal, his sixth of the year, set up by Mika Zibanejad and Jimmy Vesey. San Jose got on the board with a Logan Couture goal, his ninth of the season, courtesy of Tomas Hertl and Timo Meier. The final was 2-1, with the three stars being Shesterkin (22 for 23 in saves), Reimer (41 for 42 in saves), and Gauthier.
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