NHL 2023-24 - Day 43

After a completely empty Tuesday, we've got 14 games for the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. First up...

The Carolina Hurricanes host the Edmonton Oilers. Stuart Skinner and Antti Raanta are in goal. Carolina struck first in the first period with a Jesper Fast goal, his second of the season, coming off of Jordan Martinook and Jalen Chatfield. The Hurricanes added on with a Jack Drury goal, courtesy of Michael Bunting and Dmitry Orlov. Carolina extended the lead as Teuvo Teravainen scored his tenth of the year, thanks to Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis. The Hurricanes padded the lead on a Jarvis goal, his eighth of the season, passed from Teravainen and Chatfield. Calvin Pickard replaced Skinner in goal. Edmonton got on the board with a Zach Hyman goal, his ninth of the year, with helpers from Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard. Pyotr Kochetkov relieved an injured Raanta in goal. Carolina continued in the second period with a Martin Necas goal, his sixth of the season, via Andrei Svechnikov and Brady Skjei. The Oilers got one back on a Mattias Ekholm shorthanded goal, his second of the year, set up by Ryan McLeod and Warren Foegele. Edmonton got closer on a Hyman goal, his second of the game and tenth of the season, with assists provided by Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in the third period. The Hurricanes iced it at 6-3 with a shorthanded empty net goal by Brent Burns, his fifth of the year, set up by Staal. The three stars were Jarvis, Teravainen, and Hyman, while Chatfield gets an honorable mention.

Down in Florida, the Panthers welcome the Boston Bruins. Linus Ullmark and Sergei Bobrovsky are the masked men. Boston drew first blood in the first period with a Charlie Coyle goal, his seventh of the season, via Danton Heinen and Hampus Lindholm. Florida tied it in the second period with an Anton Lundell goal, his second of the year, courtesy of Nick Cousins and Niko Mikkola. The Bruins retook the lead with a John Beecher goal, his third of the season, helped along by Jakub Lauko and Patrick Brown. Boston added on with a Jake DeBrusk goal, his second of the year, passed from Matthew Poitras. This stood for a 3-1 win, with the three stars being Ullmark (27 for 28 in saves), Beecher, and DeBrusk.

Up in Columbus, the Blue Jackets bring in the Chicago Blackhawks. Petr Mrazek and Elvis Merzlikins patrol the creases. Columbus started in the first period with a Boone Jenner goal, his ninth of the season, coming off of Zach Werenski and Adam Boqvist. The Blue Jackets added on with an Erik Gudbranson goal, his second of the year, guided in by Kirill Marchenko. Columbus extended the lead as Jenner scored again the power play, his tenth of the season, with the help of Johnny Gaudreau and Werenski. Chicago got on the board with a Connor Bedard goal, his tenth of the year, fueled by Philipp Kurashev and Isaak Phillips. The Blue Jackets shot back in the second period with a Cole Sillinger goal, via Werenski and Yegor Chinakhov. Columbus padded the lead on a Dmitri Vorokov goal, his third of the season, helped along by Werenski and Sillinger. Arvid Soderblom replaced Mrazek in goal. The Blue Jackets continued with a Marchenko goal, his fifth of the year, with helpers from Boqvist and Ivan Provorov. Columbus kept going with a Patrik Laine goal, his third of the season, made possible by Adam Fantilli. The Blackhawks got one back in the third period with a Jason Dickinson goal, his third of the year, going in unassisted. Chicago got closer with a Reese Johnson goal, his second of the season, an unassisted goal. The final was 7-3, with the three stars being Jenner, Werenski, and Marchenko, while Sillinger and Boqvist get the honorable mentions.

Along to Detroit, as the Red Wings host the New Jersey Devils. Vitek Vanecek faces a lesser foe in Alex Lyon in goal. Detroit kicked off the scoring in the first period with a Lucas Raymond goal, his eighth of the season, passed from Robby Fabbri and J.T. Compher. The Red Wings added on with a Dylan Larkin goal, his sixth of the year, assisted by Alex DeBrincat. Detroit extended the lead as Fabbri scored his third of the season, thanks to Daniel Sprong and Joe Veleno. The Red Wings padded the lead in the second period with a Moritz Seider power play goal, his second of the year, powered by Sprong and Fabbri. This stood for a 4-0 win, with the three stars being Lyon (16 save shutout), Fabbri, and Sprong.

East to Pittsburgh, as the Penguins welcome the New York Rangers. Jonathan Quick and Tristan Jarry are in the blue paint. New York opened in the first period with an Alexis Lafreniere goal, his eighth of the season, fueled by Mika Zibanejad. This was the only goal in a 1-0 Rangers win, with the three stars handed to Quick (32 save shutout), Lafreniere, and Jarry (35 for 36 in saves).

Way south to Tampa Bay, as the Lightning bring in the Winnipeg Jets. Connor Hellebuyck and Jonas Johansson have the green light to start in goal. Winnipeg led off in the first period with a Josh Morrissey goal, his third of the season, guided in by Dylan DeMelo and Nikolaj Ehlers. The Jets added on with a Mark Scheifele power play goal, his seventh of the year, powered by Morrissey and Kyle Connor. Tampa Bay got on the board with a Steven Stamkos power play goal, his eighth of the season, with assists provided by Nikita Kucherov and Victor Hedman. The Lightning tied it in the second period with a Brayden Point goal, his eighth of the year, fueled by Brandon Hagel. Winnipeg won 3-2 in overtime with an Adam Lowry goal, his third of the season, assisted by Neal Pionk and Vladislav Namestnikov. The three stars belonged to Morrissey, Lowry, and Hellebuyck (29 for 31 in saves).

Backtracking to DC, as the Washington Capitals host the Buffalo Sabres. Devon Levi and Darcy Kuemper are between the pipes. Buffalo began in the first period with a JJ Peterka goal, his eighth of the season, made possible by Tyson Jost and Victor Olofsson. The Sabres added on with a Zach Benson goal, courtesy of Olofsson. Washington got on the board with an Alexander Alexeyev goal, assisted by Nic Dowd and Trevor van Riemsdyk. The Capitals tied it on a T.J. Oshie goal in the second period, passed from Connor McMichael. Buffalo took the lead with a Dylan Cozens power play goal, his fourth of the year, powered by Rasmus Dahlin and Casey Mittelstadt. Washington tied it on a Tom Wilson goal in the third period, his fourth of the season, coming off of Dylan Strome and John Carlson. The Capitals won 4-3 in overtime with a Strome goal, his eighth of the year, helped along by Carlson. The three stars were Strome, Carlson, and Olofsson.

Next up, the New York Islanders welcome the Philadelphia Flyers. Carter Hart and Ilya Sorokin guard the cages. New York was first to score in the first period with an Anders Lee goal, his third of the season, coming off of Oliver Wahlstrom. The Islanders added on in the second period with a Brock Nelson goal, his ninth of the year, courtesy of Adam Pelech and Pierre Engvall. Philadelphia got on the board with a Cam York goal, his third of the season, guided in by Owen Tippett and Ryan Poehling. New York shot back in the third period with a Nelson goal, his second of the game and tenth of the year, passed from Engvall and Pelech. The Flyers got one back with a Joel Farabee goal, his eighth of the season, going in unassisted. This only made it 3-2, the final, with the three stars belonged to Nelson, Engvall, and Pelech. 

Out west, the Arizona Coyotes bring in the St. Louis Blues. Jordan Binnington and Karel Vejmelka are the starting goalies. St. Louis opened in the first period with a Brayden Schenn goal, his sixth of the season, with a lone helper by Jake Neighbours. Arizona tied it on a Nick Bjugstad goal, his fourth of the year, courtesy of Matias Maccelli. The Blues retook the lead on a Colton Parayko goal, his third of the season, via Brandon Saad. The Coyotes tied it on a Jason Zucker goal, his fourth of the year, guided in by Michael Carcone. Arizona took the lead in the second period with a Lawson Crouse goal, his ninth of the season, assisted by Maccelli and Bjugstad. St. Louis tied it again with a Nick Leddy shorthanded goal, his second of the year, set up by Kasperi Kapanen. The Blues pulled ahead with an Alexey Toropchenko shorthanded goal, his fourth of the season, coming off of Justin Faulk. Connor Ingram replaced Vejmelka in goal. The Coyotes tied it on a Carcone goal, his seventh of the year, with helpers from Alexander Kerfoot and Travis Boyd. Arizona pulled ahead on a Nick Schmaltz goal, his fifth of the season, made possible by J.J. Moser and Clayton Keller. Joel Hofer replaced Binnington in goal. St. Louis tied it up with a Robert Thomas goal, his seventh of the year, passed from Jordan Kyrou and Scott Perunovich. The Blues gained the lead in the third period with a Kevin Hayes goal, his third of the season, dished from Saad. This held for a 6-5 win, with the three stars going to Saad, Bjugstad, and Carcone, while Maccelli gets an honorable mention.

East again to Nashville, where the Predators host the Calgary Flames. Jacob Markstrom and Juuse Saros protect the nets. Nashville started in the first period with a Colton Sissons shorthanded goal, his sixth of the season, set up by Roman Josi and Cole Smith. Calgary tied it on a Noah Hanifin goal, his fourth of the year, passed from Andrew Mangiapane and Chris Tanev. The Predators retook the lead with a Ryan O'Reilly goal, his ninth of the season, courtesy of Ryan McDonagh and Gustav Nyquist. Nashville added on in the third period with an Alexandre Carrier goal, going in unassisted. The Predators extended the lead on a Juuso Parssinen power play goal, his third of the year, powered by Philip Tomasino and McDonagh. The Flames pulled one back with a shorthanded Yegor Sharangovich goal, his fourth of the season, going in unassisted. The three stars were McDonagh, Carrier, and Saros (24 for 26 in saves).

South to Dallas, as the Stars welcome the Vegas Golden Knights. Adin Hill and Jake Oettinger tend the twines. Vegas led off in the first period with a Michael Amadio power play goal, his third of the season, powered by Nicolas Roy and Chandler Stephenson. Dallas tied it on a second period Roope Hintz goal, his eighth of the year, courtesy of Joe Pavelski and Jason Robertson. The Golden Knights won 2-1 with a Jack Eichel goal in overtime, his eighth of the season, fueled by Jonathan Marchessault.

In California, the Anaheim Ducks bring in the Montreal Canadiens. Sam Montembeault and John Gibson draw the starts in goal. Montreal struck first in the first period with an Alex Newhook goal, his fifth of the season, guided in by Tanner Pearson and Brendan Gallagher. The Canadiens added on with a Kaiden Guhle goal, his second of the year, passed from Jesse Ylonen and Jake Evans. Anaheim got on the board in the second period with a Mason McTavish power play goal, his ninth of the season, powered by Leo Carlsson and Pavel Mintyukov. Montreal replied with a Mike Matheson goal, his fifth of the year, courtesy of Nick Suzuki and Justin Barron. The Ducks fired back on another McTavish goal, his second of the game and tenth of the season, helped along by Frank Vatrano and Tristan Luneau. Anaheim tied it in the third period with a Vatrano goal, his thirteenth of the year, fueled by McTavish and Cam Fowler. The Canadiens took the lead back with a Newhook goal, his sixth of the season, assisted by Evans. The final held at 4-3, with the three stars being Newhook, McTavish, and Vatrano, while Evans gets an honorable mention.

Northeast to Colorado, as the Avalanche host the Vancouver Canucks. Thatcher Demko and Alexandar Georgiev are between the pipes. Vancouver drew first blood in the first period with a Nils Hoglander goal, his sixth of the season, coming off of Anthony Beauvillier and Sam Lafferty. Colorado tied it on a Valeri Nichushkin power play goal, his eighth of the year, powered by Mikko Rantanen and Jonathan Drouin. The Avalanche took the lead with a Drouin goal, his second of the season, fueled by Cale Makar and Bowen Byram. The Canucks tied it in the second period with a J.T. Miller goal, his thirteenth of the year, assisted by Quinn Hughes and Filip Hronek. Colorado retook the lead with a Riley Tufte goal, made possible by Miles Wood and Ross Colton. The Avalanche added on with a Makar goal, his fifth of the season, going in unassisted. Colorado extended the lead on a Rantanen empty net goal, his twelfth of the year, set up by Nathan MacKinnon and Nichushkin. This made it 5-2, the final, with the three stars handed to Makar, Nichushkin, and Drouin, while Rantanen gets an honorable mention.

Finally, the Seattle Kraken host the San Jose Sharks. Kaapo Kahkonen and Joey Daccord are the backups in goal. Seattle began in the first period with a Brandon Tanev goal, his second of the season, via Alexander Wennberg and Jamie Oleksiak. The Kraken added on with an Oliver Bjorkstrand goal, his seventh of the year, passed from Yanni Gourde. Seattle extended the lead as Adam Larsson scored, thanks to Jared McCann and Jordan Eberle. The Kraken padded the lead on a Gourde goal, his fourth of the season, made possible by Will Borgen and Bjorkstrand. Mackenzie Blackwood replaced Kahkonen in goal for the second period. Seattle continued in the second period with a McCann power play goal, his ninth of the year, powered by Justin Schultz and Bjorkstrand. The Kraken struck again in the third period with a Tolvanen goal, his fourth of the season, with helpers from Bjorkstrand and Brian Dumoulin. San Jose got on the board with a Mike Hoffman goal, his fourth of the year, fueled by Nikita Okhotiuk and Kyle Burroughs. Seattle responded with Tolvanen's second goal of the game and fifth of the season, guided in by Oleksiak. The final was 7-1, with the three stars going to Tolvanen, Bjorkstrand, and Gourde, while McCann and Oleksiak get the honorable mentions. 

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