NHL 2023-24 - Day 44

The day after Thanksgiving is loaded with 15 games on the schedule. First up...

The Boston Bruins host the Detroit Red Wings. Ville Husso and Jeremy Swayman start in goal. Detroit led off in the first period with a J.T. Compher power play goal, his fourth of the season, powered by Shayne Gostisbehere and Lucas Raymond. The Red Wings added on with an Alex DeBrincat goal, his twelfth of the year, going in unassisted. Boston got on the board in the second period with a Jake DeBrusk power play goal, his third of the season, with assists provided by David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha. Detroit replied with a Robby Fabbri goal, his fourth of the year, guided in by Daniel Sprong and DeBrincat. The Bruins got one back in the third period with a Danton Heinen goal, his second of the season, made possible by Charlie Coyle and Mason Lohrei. The Red Wings fired back with a Dylan Larkin power play goal, his seventh of the year, with helpers from Compher and Gostisbehere. Detroit iced it at 5-2 with a David Perron empty net goal, his fifth of the campaign, an unassisted goal. The three stars were DeBrincat, Compher, and Gostisbehere.

Over in Philadelphia, the Flyers welcome the New York Rangers. Igor Shesterkin and Carter Hart man the nets. New York began in the first period with a Mika Zibanejad goal, his third of the season, coming off of Blake Wheeler and Chris Kreider. The Rangers added on with a Kreider goal, his eleventh of the year, going in unassisted. New York extended the lead in the second period as Zibanejad scored his second of the game and fourth of the season, thanks to Wheeler and Erik Gustafsson. Philadelphia got on the board with a Sean Couturier goal, his fifth of the year, passed from Nick Seeler and Cam Atkinson. This only made it 3-1, the eventual final, with the three stars given to Zibanejad, Kreider, and Wheeler.

West to Chicago, as the Blackhawks bring in the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ilya Samsonov and Arvid Soderblom draw the starts in goal. Toronto opened in the first period with a Nicholas Robertson goal, his third of the season, assisted by Max Domi and Mark Giordano. Chicago tied it on a Jason Dickinson goal, his fourth of the year, guided in by Joey Anderson. The Maple Leafs retook the lead with a Calle Jarnkrok goal, his fifth of the season, fueled by T.J. Brodie and Domi. Toronto added on with a Ryan Reaves goal, made possible by Jake McCabe and David Kampf. The Blackhawks got one back with a Dickinson goal, his second of the game and fifth of the year, going in unassisted. Chicago tied it in the third period as Dickinson completed his hat trick on his sixth of the season, an unassisted goal. The Blackhawks won 4-3 in overtime with a Kevin Korchinski goal, his second of the year, with helpers from Connor Bedard and Philipp Kurashev. The three stars were Dickinson, Domi, and Korchinski.

Back east, the New Jersey Devils host the Columbus Blue Jackets. Elvis Merzlikins and Akira Schmid are in the blue paint. Columbus started in the first period with a Boone Jenner goal, his eleventh of the season, courtesy of Johnny Gaudreau. New Jersey tied it on an Alexander Holtz goal, his fifth of the year, fueled by Ondrej Palat. The Blue Jackets took the lead with an Eric Robinson goal, coming off of Justin Danforth and Erik Gudbranson. This was it for the scoring in the 2-1 game, with the three stars being Merzlikins (39 for 40 in saves), Robinson, and Jenner.

Along to St. Louis, as the Blues welcome the Nashville Predators. Kevin Lankinen and Joel Hofer are the backups in goal. Nashville struck first in the first period with a Filip Forsberg goal, his tenth of the season, assisted by Jeremy Lauzon and Gustav Nyquist. The Predators added on with a Yakov Trenin goal, his third of the year, fueled by Colton Sissons and Ryan McDonagh. Nashville extended the lead as Luke Evangelista scored his second of the season, thanks to Kiefer Sherwood and Alexandre Carrier. St. Louis got on the board with a Pavel Buchnevich goal, his seventh of the year, coming off of Marco Scandella and Robert Thomas. The Predators replied in the second period with a Spencer Stastney goal, with helpers from Evangelista and Sherwood. Jordan Binnington replaced Hofer in goal. Nashville padded the lead on a Ryan O'Reilly power play goal, his tenth of the season, powered by Forsberg and Tyson Barrie. The Predators continued with another Evangelista goal, his second of the game and third of the year, passed from Philip Tomasino and Carrier. The Blues got one back with a Thomas goal, his eighth of the season, guided in by Buchnevich and Brandon Saad. Nashville replied with a Forsberg goal, his second of the game and eleventh of the year, made possible by Cole Smith. St. Louis pulled one back with a Jake Neighbours power play goal in the third period, his fifth of the season, with assists provided by Torey Krug and Jordan Kyrou. The Predators finished it at 8-3 with a Sherwood goal, his fifth of the year, going in unassisted. The three stars belonged to Forsberg, Evangelista, and Sherwood, while Carrier, Thomas, and Buchnevich get the honorable mentions.

East again to DC, as the Washington Capitals bring in the Edmonton Oilers. Stuart Skinner and Charlie Lindgren are between the pipes. Edmonton was first to score in the first period with an Evander Kane goal, his ninth of the season, fueled by Leon Draisaitl and Vincent Desharnais. The Oilers added on with a Ryan Nugent-Hopkins goal, his fourth of the year, guided in by Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman. The Oilers extended the lead in the second period on an Evan Bouchard power play goal, his fifth of the season, powered by McDavid and Nugent-Hopkins. Edmonton padded the lead on a Draisaitl power play goal, his seventh of the year, with assists provided by McDavid and Nugent-Hopkins. Edmonton continued with another Draisaitl power play goal, his second of the game and eighth of the season, helped along by Hyman and McDavid. The final held from here at 5-0, with the three stars awarded to Draisaitl, McDavid, and Skinner (25 save shutout), while Nugent-Hopkins and Hyman get the honorable mentions.

Out in California, the Anaheim Ducks host the Los Angeles Kings. Cam Talbot and John Gibson are the veteran goalies. Los Angeles kicked off the scoring in the first period with a Kevin Fiala power play goal, his fifth of the season, powered by Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty. The Kings added on with an Arthur Kaliyev power play goal, his fourth of the year, helped along by Jordan Spence and Trevor Moore. Los Angeles extended the lead as Quinton Byfield scored his fourth of the season in the second period, thanks to Vladislav Gavrikov and Adrian Kempe. The Kings padded the lead on a Fiala goal, his second of the game and sixth of the year, assisted by Phillip Danault and Moore. Anaheim got on the board with a Radko Gudas goal, his fourth of the season, made possible by Frank Vatrano and Ryan Strome. Los Angeles fired back in the third period with an Anze Kopitar goal, his tenth of the year, guided in by Kempe and Doughty. The Ducks got one back with an Alex Killorn power play goal, with assists provided by Mason McTavish and Troy Terry. The final stood at 5-2, with the three stars going to Fiala, Kopitar, and Kempe, while Moore and Doughty get the honorable mentions.

Up in San Jose, the Sharks welcome the Montreal Canadiens. Cayden Primeau and Mackenzie Blackwood patrol the creases. San Jose got going in the second period with a Mike Hoffman goal, his fifth of the season, assisted by William Eklund and Tomas Hertl. The Sharks added on with an Eklund power play goal, his fourth of the year, powered by Calen Addison and Hertl. Montreal got on the board with a Johnathan Kovacevic goal, his third of the season, made possible by Jayden Struble and Cole Caufield. The Canadiens tied it in the third period with a Caufield goal, his sixth of the year, passed from Juraj Slafkovsky and the goalie Primeau. The tie went to a shootout, where Suzuki and Jesse Ylonen lifted the Canadiens to a 3-2 win over Eklund and the Sharks. The three stars were Caufield, Suzuki, and Eklund, while Hertl gets an honorable mention.

All the way east again to Buffalo, as the Sabres bring in the Pittsburgh Penguins. Alex Nedeljkovic and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen are the starters in goal. Pittsburgh drew first blood in the first period with a Sidney Crosby goal, his thirteenth of the season, coming off of Jake Guentzel. The Penguins added on with a Lars Eller goal, his third of the year, via Matt Nieto. Buffalo got on the board in the third period with a Jeff Skinner power play goal, his ninth of the season, powered by Alex Tuch and Victor Olofsson. The Sabres tied it on a Kyle Okposo goal, passed from Rasmus Dahlin and Olofsson. Buffalo gained the lead with a Tuch goal, his sixth of the year, guided in by Skinner and Casey Mittelstadt. This stood for a 3-2 win, with the three stars being Tuch, Skinner, and Olofsson.

In Ottawa, the Senators host the New York Islanders. Semyon Varlamov and Anton Forsberg receive the starting nods in goal. Ottawa began in the first period with a Drake Batherson power play goal, his fifth of the season, powered by Brady Tkachuk and Josh Norris. New York tied it with a Kyle Palmieri goal, his fifth of the year, fueled by Brock Nelson and Alexander Romanov. The Islanders took the lead with an Oliver Wahlstrom goal, his second of the season, via Romanov and Jean-Gabriel Pageau. New York added on with a Mathew Barzal power play goal, his fifth of the year, with assists provided by Palmieri and Nelson. The Islanders extended the lead as Anders Lee scored his fourth of the season, with the help of Wahlstrom. The Senators got one back with a Tim Stutzle goal, his fifth of the year, guided in by Mathieu Joseph. Ottawa pulled closer with a Batherson goal, his second of the game and sixth of the season, passed from Stutzle and Joseph. New York fired back with a Simon Holmstrom goal, his fifth of the year, with helpers from Noah Dobson and Scott Mayfield. This made it 5-3, the final, with the three stars being Palmieri, Wahlstrom, and Batherson, while Nelson, Romanov, Stutzle, and Joseph get the honorable mentions. 

Stateside, the Carolina Hurricanes welcome the Tampa Bay Lightning. Andrei Vasilevskiy and Antti Raanta protect the nets. Carolina led off in the first period with a Stefan Noesen goal, his fifth of the season, made possible by Jack Drury and Michael Bunting. Tampa Bay tied it in the second period with a Steven Stamkos power play goal, his ninth of the year, powered by Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov. The Lightning took the lead on a Kucherov power play goal, his fourteenth of the season, with assists provided by Brandon Hagel and Mikey Eyssimont. Tampa Bay added on with a Point power play goal, his ninth of the year, assisted by Kucherov and Victor Hedman. The Hurricanes responded with a Bunting power play goal, his fourth of the season, with a lone helper from Andrei Svechnikov. The Lightning shot back in the third period on a Hagel goal, his tenth of the year, guided in by Point and Kucherov. Tampa Bay extended the lead as Luke Glendening scored his third of the season, an unassisted goal. The Lightning padded the lead as Point scored his second of the game and tenth of the year, with the help of Nick Perbix and Cole Koepke. Tampa Bay continued with a Kucherov goal, his second of the game and fifteenth of the season, helped along by Hagel and Mikhail Sergachev. The Lightning finished it at 8-2 with a Point power play goal, completing his hat trick on his eleventh of the year, fueled by Kucherov and Stamkos. The three stars were awarded to Kucherov, Point, and Hagel, while Stamkos and Bunting get the honorable mentions.

Further south, the Florida Panthers bring in the Winnipeg Jets. Connor Hellebuyck and Sergei Bobrovsky guard the cages. Winnipeg started in the first period with a Nino Niederreiter goal, his sixth of the season, coming off of Dylan Samberg and Mason Appleton. The Jets added on in the second period with a Nikolaj Ehlers goal, his sixth of the year, fueled by Cole Perfetti and Vladislav Namestnikov. Winnipeg iced it at 3-0 with an Adam Lowry shorthanded empty net goal, his fourth of the campaign, set up by Appleton and Samberg. The three stars were Hellebuyck (32 save shutout), Appleton, and Namestnikov.

Westward to Dallas, as the Stars host the Calgary Flames. Jacob Markstrom and Jake Oettinger tend the twines. Dallas opened in the first period with a Wyatt Johnston goal, his eighth of the season, courtesy of Jamie Benn and Evgenii Dadonov. Calgary tied it on an A.J. Greer goal, his third of the year, passed from Dillon Dube and Adam Ruzicka. The Stars took the lead back with a Jason Robertson goal, his sixth of the season, coming off of Nils Lundkvist. The Flames tied it in the second period with a Yegor Sharangovich goal, his fifth of the year, assisted by Elias Lindholm and Andrew Mangiapane. Dallas retook the lead with a Johnston goal, his second of the game and ninth of the season, guided in by Benn and Dadonov. The Stars added on with a Joe Pavelski power play goal, his ninth of the year, powered by Matt Duchene and Robertson. Calgary got one back with a Ruzicka goal, his third of the season, made possible by Chris Tanev and Greer. The Flames tied it in the third period with a Blake Coleman goal, his sixth of the year, helped along by MacKenzie Weegar and Rasmus Andersson. Calgary pulled ahead with a Lindholm goal, his fifth of the season, with helpers from Sharangovich and Mangiapane. The Flames extended the lead as Mikael Backlund scored his third of the year, thanks to Connor Zary and Coleman. Calgary iced it at 7-4 with a Nazem Kadri empty net goal, his fourth of the campaign, set up by Sharangovich. The three stars were Sharangovich, Johnston, and Lindholm, while Coleman, Ruzicka, Greer, Mangiapane, Benn, Robertson, and Dadonov get the honorable mentions.

Up in Minnesota, the Wild welcome the Colorado Avalanche. Alexandar Georgiev and Filip Gustavsson are set to start in goal. Colorado struck first in the first period with a Ross Colton goal, his seventh of the season, made possible by Bowen Byram and Riley Tufte. The Avalanche added on in the second period with a Valeri Nichushkin power play goal, his ninth of the year, powered by Nathan MacKinnon and Devon Toews. Minnesota got on the board with a Kirill Kaprizov goal, his sixth of the season, assisted by Marco Rossi. The Wild tied it on a Joel Eriksson Ek power play goal, his ninth of the year, with assists provided by Mats Zuccarello and Kaprizov. Colorado retook the lead in the third period with a Kurtis MacDermid goal, with helpers from Andrew Cogliano and Fredrik Olofsson. They went on to win 3-2, with the three stars going to Kaprizov, MacDermid, and Nichushkin.

Finally, the Seattle Kraken bring in the Vancouver Canucks. Thatcher Demko and Joey Daccord man the nets. Vancouver kicked off the scoring in the first period with a shorthanded and unassisted Teddy Blueger goal. The Canucks added on in the second period with a Dakota Joshua goal, his third of the season, coming off of Conor Garland and Nils Aman. Seattle got on the board with a Tye Kartye goal, his third of the year, guided in by Vince Dunn. Vancouver replied in the third period with a Sam Lafferty goal, his fifth of the season, courtesy of Filip Hronek and Quinn Hughes. The Canucks extended the lead as Nils Hoglander scored his seventh of the year, passed from Aman. Vancouver padded the lead on an Ilya Mikheyev goal, his seventh of the season, assisted by Garland and Tyler Myers. This made it 5-1, the final, with the three stars given to Demko (23 for 24 in saves), Garland, and Aman. 

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