We come back out of the holiday break with 14 games. First up...
The New Jersey Devils hosting the Columbus Blue Jackets. Elvis Merzlikins and Vitek Vanecek are in the creases. Columbus led off in the first period with a Jake Bean goal, his second of the season, made possible by Brendan Gaunce and Alexandre Texier. New Jersey tied it on an Ondrej Palat goal, his fifth of the year, guided in by Erik Haula and Dawson Mercer. The Blue Jackets took the lead back in the second period with a Justin Danforth goal, his ninth of the season, via Adam Fantilli and David Jiricek. The Devils tied it in the third period with a Mercer goal, his ninth of the year, courtesy of Simon Nemec. Columbus pulled ahead with a Yegor Chinakhov goal, his tenth of the season, going in unassisted. New Jersey tied it again with a Luke Hughes goal, his fifth of the year, passed from Jack Hughes. The Devils won 4-3 in overtime with a Timo Meier goal, his ninth of the campaign, fueled by Mercer. The three stars were Mercer, Meier, and Luke Hughes.
In New York, the Rangers welcome the Washington Capitals. Darcy Kuemper and Igor Shesterkin guard the cages. Washington got going in the second period with an Anthony Mantha goal, his eleventh of the season, fueled by Rasmus Sandin and Aliaksei Protas. New York tied it on a K'Andre Miller goal, his sixth of the year, via Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin. The Rangers took the lead with a Panarin power play goal, his nineteenth of the season, powered by Vincent Trocheck and Zibanejad. New York added on with a Braden Schneider goal, his third of the year, guided in by Ryan Lindgren and Jimmy Vesey. The Rangers extended the lead Miller scored his second of the game and seventh of the season, with the help of Chris Kreider and Blake Wheeler. New York padded the lead as Alexis Lafreniere scored his tenth of the year, assisted by Adam Fox and Miller. The final stood at 5-1, with the three stars going to Miller, Panarin, and Zibanejad.
Down in Tampa Bay, the Lightning bring in the Florida Panthers. Sergei Bobrobsky and Andrei Vasilevskiy tend the twines. Florida began in the first period with an Aaron Ekblad goal, assisted by Gustav Forsling and Aleksander Barkov. The Panthers added on in the second period with a Sam Reinhart goal, his twentieth of the season, coming off of Evan Rodrigues and Barkov. Tampa Bay got on the board in the third period with a Nikita Kucherov goal, his twenty-fourth of the year, via Victor Hedman and Nick Perbix. Florida shot back with a shorthanded Reinhart goal, his second of the game and twenty-first of the season, set up by Barkov and Niko Mikkola. The Lightning got one back with a Mikey Eyssimont goal, his sixth of the year, a power play goal powered by Brandon Hagel and Darren Raddysh. This only made it 3-2, the final, with the three stars going to Reinhart, Barkov, and Ekblad.
Way north to Toronto, as the Maple Leafs host the Ottawa Senators. Joonas Korpisalo and Martin Jones are set to start in goal. Toronto opened in the first period with a Matthew Knies goal, his eighth of the season, courtesy of Auston Matthews. The Maple Leafs added on with a Tyler Bertuzzi goal, his sixth of the year, via Morgan Rielly and William Nylander. Ottawa got on the board in the second period with a shorthanded Parker Kelly goal, his second of the season, set up by Claude Giroux. The Senators tied it on a Drake Batherson goal, his twelfth of the year, coming off of Tim Stutzle and Jacob Bernard-Docker. Ottawa took the lead in the third period with another Batherson goal, his second of the game and thirteenth of the season, passed from Vladimir Tarasenko and Travis Hamonic. The Senators iced it at 4-2 with an empty net goal by Brady Tkachuk, his sixteenth of the year, set up by Tarasenko. The three stars were Batherson, Tarasenko, and Kelly.
Stateside, the Buffalo Sabres welcome the Boston Bruins. Jeremy Swayman and Devon Levi man the nets. Boston started in the first period with a Mason Lohrei goal, his third of the season, coming off of James van Riemsdyk and Trent Frederic. The Bruins added on with a Charlie Coyle power play goal, his eleventh of the year, powered by Jake DeBrusk and Brad Marchand. Boston extended the lead in the second period as Coyle scored his second of the game and twelfth of the season on the power play, courtesy of DeBrusk and David Pastrnak. The Bruins padded the lead on a Morgan Geekie power play goal, his sixth of the year, with assists provided by Charlie McAvoy and Marchand. Buffalo got on the board in the third period with an Erik Johnson goal, his third of the season, passed from Owen Power and Casey Mittelstadt. This only made it 4-1, the final, with the three stars going to Coyle, Marchand, and DeBrusk.
Also in New York, the Islanders bring in the Pittsburgh Penguins. Tristan Jarry and Ilya Sorokin protect the nets. Pittsburgh dented the scoreboard in the second period with a Rickard Rakell goal, his second of the season, assisted by Jake Guentzel and Marcus Pettersson. The Penguins added on with a Guentzel goal, his fifteenth of the year, courtesy of Kris Letang and Pettersson. Pittsburgh extended the lead as Guentzel scored his second of the game and sixteenth of the season, thanks to Rakell and Letang. The Penguins padded the lead on an Evgeni Malkin goal, his twelfth of the year, passed from Reilly Smith and Letang. Pittsburgh continued on a Malkin goal, his second of the game and thirteenth of the season, guided in by Letang and Pettersson. The Penguins kept going with a Radim Zohorna goal, his fourth of the year, with helpers from Valtteri Puustinen and Letang. Semyon Varlamov replaced Sorokin in goal. Pittsburgh continued in the third period with a Puustinen goal, coming off of Letang and Pettersson. The final stood at 7-0, with the three stars awarded to Letang, Guentzel, and Jarry (21 save shutout), while Pettersson, Malkin, Rakell, and Puustinen receive the honorable mentions.
West to Minnesota, as the Wild host the Detroit Red Wings. James Reimer is mismatched with Filip Gustavsson in goal. Minnesota struck first in the first period with a Matt Boldy goal, his tenth of the season, made possible by Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek. Detroit tied it on a Patrick Kane goal, his sixth of the year, courtesy of Alex DeBrincat. The Wild retook the lead in the second period with a Marcus Johansson goal, his third of the season, going in unassisted. The Red Wings tied it in the third period with a DeBrincat power play goal, his sixteenth of the year, powered by Shayne Gostisbehere and J.T. Compher. Minnesota retook the lead with a Ryan Hartman goal, his tenth of the season, via Zach Bogosian and Johansson. The Wild added on with a Marcus Foligno goal, his fifth of the year, helped along by Jake Middleton. Minnesota extended the lead as Johansson scored his second of the game and fourth of the season, thanks to Rossi. Detroit got one back with a Daniel Sprong goal, his ninth of the year, assisted by Simon Edvinsson and Jonatan Berggren. The Wild shot back on a Kaprizov goal, his thirteenth of the season, guided in by Dakota Mermis. The final held from here at 6-3, with the three stars going to Johansson, Kaprizov, and DeBrincat.
South to Nashville, as the Predators welcome the Carolina Hurricanes. Pyotr Kochetkov and Juuse Saros patrol the creases. Carolina was first to score in the first period with a Sebastian Aho power play goal, his fourteenth of the season, powered by Brent Burns and Seth Jarvis. The Hurricanes added on with a Burns power play goal, his sixth of the year, assisted by Aho and Andrei Svechnikov. Nashville got on the board in the second period with a Gustav Nyquist goal, his sixth of the season, via Ryan O'Reilly. Carolina fired back on a Svechnikov goal, his third of the year, fueled by Aho. The Predators got one back with an O'Reilly power play goal, his fourteenth of the season, with assists provided by Colton Sissons and Roman Josi. The Hurricanes fired back with a Jack Drury goal, his fifth of the year, made possible by Jesper Fast and Stefan Noesen. Carolina extended the lead as Jarvis scored his twelfth of the season on the power play, with the help of Michael Bunting and Aho. Yaroslav Askarov replaced Saros in goal for the third period. The final remained at 5-2, with the three stars given to Aho, Burns, and Svechnikov, while Jarvis and O'Reilly get the honorable mentions.
Over in St. Louis, the Blues bring in the Dallas Stars. Scott Wedgewood and Joel Hofer are the backups in goal. St. Louis kicked off the scoring in the first period with a Jake Neighbours goal, his twelfth of the season, via Scott Perunovich. The Blues added on in the second period with a Marco Scandella goal, his second of the year, courtesy of Kasperi Kapanen and Perunovich. Dallas got on the board with a Jason Robertson goal, his eleventh of the season, assisted by Roope Hintz. This only made it 2-1, the eventual final, with the three stars handed to Hofer (39 for 40 in saves), Perunovich, and Scandella.
Southwest to Arizona, as the Coyotes host the Colorado Avalanche. Alexandar Georgiev and Karel Vejmelka handle the goaltending duties. Colorado cracked the scoresheet in the first period with a Mikko Rantanen power play goal, his eighteenth of the season, powered by Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar. The Avalanche added on with a Jonathan Drouin goal in the second period, his fifth of the year, via Ross Colton and Devon Toews. Colorado extended the lead as Logan O'Connor scored his fifth of the season, thanks to Josh Manson and Bowen Byram. The Avalanche padded the lead on a MacKinnon power play goal, his nineteenth of the year, with assists provided by Rantanen and Makar. Arizona got on the board with a Lawson Crouse goal, his fifteenth of the season, passed from Nick Bjugstad and Matias Maccelli. The Coyotes got closer in the third period with a Michael Kesselring goal, his fourth of the year, courtesy of Sean Durzi. Arizona pulled closer with a Jason Zucker goal, his sixth of the season, made possible by Durzi and Logan Cooley. The Coyotes tied it on a Durzi goal, his sixth of the year, fueled by Maccelli and Crouse. Arizona won 5-4 in overtime with a Jack McBain goal, his sixth of the season, guided in by Zucker and Durzi. The three stars were Durzi, Zucker, and MacKinnon, while Crouse, Maccelli, Rantanen, and Makar get the honorable mentions.
Backtracking to Chicago, where the Blackhawks welcome the Winnipeg Jets. Connor Hellebuyck and Petr Mrazek are the veteran goalies. Chicago drew first blood in the first period with a Connor Bedard goal, his fourteenth of the season, fueled by Connor Murphy and Philipp Kurashev. Winnipeg tied it in the second period with a Morgan Barron goal, his sixth of the year, via Axel Jonsson-Fjallby and Dominic Toninato. The Blackhawks won 2-1 in overtime with a Bedard goal, his second of the game and fifteenth of the campaign, assisted by Alex Vlasic and Anthony Beauvillier. The three stars were Bedard, Mrazek (37 for 38 in saves), and Barron.
Along to Calgary, as the Flames bring in the Seattle Kraken. Chris Driedger and Jacob Markstrom have the green light to start in goal. Seattle began in the first period with a Kailer Yamamoto goal, his seventh of the season, via Vince Dunn and Adam Larsson. Calgary tied it on a Nazem Kadri power play goal, his ninth of the year, powered by Yegor Sharangovich. The Kraken took the lead back in the third period with an Alexander Wennberg goal, his fifth of the season, made possible by Jared McCann and Will Borgen. This held for a 2-1 win, with the three stars being Driedger (36 for 37 in saves), Wennberg, and Yamamoto.
Down in California, the Anaheim Ducks welcome the Vegas Golden Knights. Logan Thompson and John Gibson are between the pipes. Anaheim led off in the first period with a Brett Leason goal, his fifth of the season, assisted by Cam Fowler and Adam Henrique. The Ducks added on with a Jamie Drysdale goal, courtesy of Mason McTavish and Ryan Strome. Anaheim extended the lead as Frank Vatrano scored his sixteenth of the year, thanks to McTavish and Ilya Lyubushkin. The Ducks padded the lead on a Troy Terry goal, his ninth of the season, made possible by Alex Killorn and Trevor Zegras. Vegas got on the board in the second period with an Alec Martinez goal, his fourth of the year, guided in by Paul Cotter. The Golden Knights got closer with a Mark Stone power play goal, his twelfth of the season, powered by William Karlsson and Jonathan Marchessault. Anaheim answered with a Leason goal, his second of the game and sixth of the year, with helpers from McTavish and Fowler. This held for a 5-2 win, with the three stars being Leason, McTavish, and Fowler.
Finally, the Los Angeles Kings bring in the San Jose Sharks. Kaapo Kahkonen and David Rittich receive the starting nods in goal. San Jose struck first in the first period with a Fabian Zetterlund goal, his tenth of the season, going in unassisted. Los Angeles tied it in the second period with a Kevin Fiala goal, his seventh of the year, via Jordan Spence. The Kings took the lead with a Trevor Lewis goal, his fifth of the season, an unassisted goal. Los Angeles added on with a Pierre-Luc Dubois goal, his seventh of the year, passed from Arthur Kaliyev and Alex Laferriere. The Kings extended the lead in the third period as Adrian Kempe scored his tenth of the season, thanks to Matt Roy and Carl Grundstrom. Los Angeles padded the lead on a Kempe goal, his second of the game and eleventh of the year, guided in by Mikey Anderson and Drew Doughty. This produced the 5-1 final score, with the three stars going to Kempe, Lewis, and Rittich (24 for 25 in saves).
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