Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Song of the Week III, belated
This week, we are featuring a classic rock hit from Don Henley, entitled All She Wants to Do Is Dance. This song, released in 1984 on the album Building the Perfect Beast, has a very quick pace and rhythmic beauty, along with lyrics about the popular belief that having fun is better than serious work. It is, like all songs I own, a great song, and with the catchy tune, Don Henley has a great number out here with a fabulous hit. This post will be run at its proper time next week, pending my memory.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Martin Luther King day hockey
Seeing as today is a holiday, the NHL has six games on, three in the matinee time slot. The first of these has...
The Boston Bruins hosting the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward and Tim Thomas were sent out to block pucks. Boston opened with a Mark Stuart goal, his first of the season getting help from Nathan Horton and Adam McQuaid. Chara added two in a row for the Bruins to make it 3-0 with his eighth and ninth of the year, assisted by McQuaid first and David Krejci and Patrice Bergeron on the latter power play marker. Justin Peters came in to replace Cam Ward after the first Chara goal. Boston continued to score in the second period, with Gregory Campbell putting away his sixth of the season thanks to Shawn Thornton and Blake Wheeler, thirteen seconds before Bergeron stashed his 15th of the campaign in the mesh to make it 5-0 Bruins. Bergeron's goal was unassisted. Michael Ryder added on his 14th of the season in the third period, making it 6-0 with the assistance of Dennis Seidenberg and Steve Kampfer. Chara completed his hat trick on the power play with his tenth of the year, courtesy of Krejci and Milan Lucic, bringing the score to the 7-0 final. Chara, Tim Thomas (31 save shutout), and McQuaid got the three stars.
The other in the pair of early games was the New York Islanders hosting the New Jersey Devils. Martin Brodeur and Kevin Poulin were the starters. New Jersey opened the scoring with Vladimir Zharkov notching his first of the season, thanks to Mattias Tedenby and Jason Arnott. Fifty-seven seconds later, the Devils owned a 2-0 lead because of a power play goal by Ilya Kovalchuk, his 13th tally of the year, from Andy Greene and Travis Zajac. Tedenby made it 3-0 New Jersey in the second period with his fifth of the year, from Mark Fraser and Rod Pelley. New York got on the board with P.A. Parenteau potting his eleventh of the season, helped along by Blake Comeau and Radek Martinek. Fifty-four seconds later, the Islanders deficit was down to one goal with Michael Grabner scoring his eleventh of the campaign, courtesy of Josh Bailey and Travis Hamonic. Pelley got the Devils going again, his third of the year making it 4-2 with help from Fraser and Arnott. Again, fifty-four seconds later, the full lead was restored at a 5-2 margin, with Dainius Zubrus notching his seventh of the season, assisted by Patrik Elias and Brian Rolston. This would be the final after a scoreless third period, with Tedenby, Pelley, and Parenteau grabbing the three stars.
Out west to conclude the first half of the day's games, with the Phoenix Coyotes hosting the San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi and Ilya Bryzgalov got the starting nods. San Jose struck first on a Patrick Marleau goal, his 18th of the season getting assisted on by Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Joe Pavelski. Phoenix tied it on a Derek Morris goal, his fourth of the year, with help from Keith Yandle and Eric Belanger. Dany Heatley made it 2-1 Sharks in the second period with his 18th of the season, thanks to Logan Couture and Joe Thornton. Couture added a power play goal for his 20th tally of the year, putting San Jose up 3-1 with the help of Dan Boyle and Heatley. The Coyotes cut the score to 3-2 with an Oliver Ekman-Larsson goal, his first of the season going after touches by Lauri Korpikoski and Lee Stempniak. Thornton put the game away 4-2 for the Sharks with his empty net goal, good for his 13th of the year as an unassisted goal. Heatley, Niemi (34 for 36 saves), and Ray Whitney got the three stars.
Following that at a normal time was the Florida Panthers hosting the Atlanta Thrashers. Ondrej Pavelec and Scott Clemmensen were in front of the cages. Florida got on the board first in the third period with a power play goal by Dennis Wideman, his sixth of the year assisted by Mike Santorelli and Stephen Weiss. Dmitry Kulikov made it 2-0 with his fifth of the season, also a power play goal, helped along by Cory Stillman and Weiss. Bryan Little got Atlanta on the board with his 13th of the season, thanks to Nik Antropov and Rich Peverley. Forty-four seconds later, the Thrashers tied the game on a Chris Thorburn goal, his sixth of the year getting help from Evander Kane and Little. The tie at 2 lasted into a shootout, with Santorelli and Little exchanging goals before Alex Burmistrov won the game for Atlanta. Burmistrov, Little, and Weiss earned the three stars.
Up to Montreal, where the Canadiens hosted the Calgary Flames for their last game on the road trip. Miikka Kiprusoff and Alex Auld got the starts. Lars Eller opened the scoring for Montreal with his third of the season, helped along by Michael Cammalleri and Tomas Plekanec. Cammalleri made it 2-0 in the same period with his 13th of the season, from Jeff Halpern and P.K. Subban. Andrei Kostitsyn made it 3-0 for Montreal with his 12th of the year in the second period, assisted on by Yannick Weber and Jaroslav Spacek. Halpern acked on his seventh of the year for the Canadiens, making it 4-0 with the helpers from Travis Moen and Spacek. This put Miikka Kiprusoff in the doghouse of Brent Sutter once more, with Henrik Karlsson coming on in relief. This ignited something for Calgary, with Rene Bourque notching his 15th of the season, courtesy of Olli Jokinen and Cory Sarich. Jarome Iginla cut the score to 4-2 for the Flames with his 19th of the season, made possible by Jay Bouwmeester. Calgary continued to roll in the third period with an Ales Kotalik goal, his third of the year coming off of Jokinen. Alex Tanguay tied the game at 4 with his eleventh of the year, assisted on by Iginla and Brendan Morrison. The tie lasted into overtime, where the Flames comeback hopes were squashed by Montreal's rookie defenseman Subban, who netted his fourth of the season thanks to Scott Gomez and Hal Gill to secure a 5-4 Canadiens victory. Subban, Cammalleri, and Kostitsyn picked up the three stars.
Lastly, the Dallas Stars hosted the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Bernier and Kari Lethonen played in net. Los Angeles got the early lead on a Justin Williams goal, his 17th of the season coming from Anze Kopitar. Dallas tied the game at 1 with the 17th of the year by Loui Eriksson in the second period, a power play goal made possible by Brad Richards and Mike Ribeiro. Jamie Langenbrunner gave the Stars a 2-1 lead with his fifth of the season, a power play goal as well, with help from Richards and Jamie Benn. This would be the eventual final, with Langenbrunner, Richards, and Benn earning the three stars.
That's all. I'll try to put a post out tonight for Tuesday hockey, but no promises.
The Boston Bruins hosting the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward and Tim Thomas were sent out to block pucks. Boston opened with a Mark Stuart goal, his first of the season getting help from Nathan Horton and Adam McQuaid. Chara added two in a row for the Bruins to make it 3-0 with his eighth and ninth of the year, assisted by McQuaid first and David Krejci and Patrice Bergeron on the latter power play marker. Justin Peters came in to replace Cam Ward after the first Chara goal. Boston continued to score in the second period, with Gregory Campbell putting away his sixth of the season thanks to Shawn Thornton and Blake Wheeler, thirteen seconds before Bergeron stashed his 15th of the campaign in the mesh to make it 5-0 Bruins. Bergeron's goal was unassisted. Michael Ryder added on his 14th of the season in the third period, making it 6-0 with the assistance of Dennis Seidenberg and Steve Kampfer. Chara completed his hat trick on the power play with his tenth of the year, courtesy of Krejci and Milan Lucic, bringing the score to the 7-0 final. Chara, Tim Thomas (31 save shutout), and McQuaid got the three stars.
The other in the pair of early games was the New York Islanders hosting the New Jersey Devils. Martin Brodeur and Kevin Poulin were the starters. New Jersey opened the scoring with Vladimir Zharkov notching his first of the season, thanks to Mattias Tedenby and Jason Arnott. Fifty-seven seconds later, the Devils owned a 2-0 lead because of a power play goal by Ilya Kovalchuk, his 13th tally of the year, from Andy Greene and Travis Zajac. Tedenby made it 3-0 New Jersey in the second period with his fifth of the year, from Mark Fraser and Rod Pelley. New York got on the board with P.A. Parenteau potting his eleventh of the season, helped along by Blake Comeau and Radek Martinek. Fifty-four seconds later, the Islanders deficit was down to one goal with Michael Grabner scoring his eleventh of the campaign, courtesy of Josh Bailey and Travis Hamonic. Pelley got the Devils going again, his third of the year making it 4-2 with help from Fraser and Arnott. Again, fifty-four seconds later, the full lead was restored at a 5-2 margin, with Dainius Zubrus notching his seventh of the season, assisted by Patrik Elias and Brian Rolston. This would be the final after a scoreless third period, with Tedenby, Pelley, and Parenteau grabbing the three stars.
Out west to conclude the first half of the day's games, with the Phoenix Coyotes hosting the San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi and Ilya Bryzgalov got the starting nods. San Jose struck first on a Patrick Marleau goal, his 18th of the season getting assisted on by Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Joe Pavelski. Phoenix tied it on a Derek Morris goal, his fourth of the year, with help from Keith Yandle and Eric Belanger. Dany Heatley made it 2-1 Sharks in the second period with his 18th of the season, thanks to Logan Couture and Joe Thornton. Couture added a power play goal for his 20th tally of the year, putting San Jose up 3-1 with the help of Dan Boyle and Heatley. The Coyotes cut the score to 3-2 with an Oliver Ekman-Larsson goal, his first of the season going after touches by Lauri Korpikoski and Lee Stempniak. Thornton put the game away 4-2 for the Sharks with his empty net goal, good for his 13th of the year as an unassisted goal. Heatley, Niemi (34 for 36 saves), and Ray Whitney got the three stars.
Following that at a normal time was the Florida Panthers hosting the Atlanta Thrashers. Ondrej Pavelec and Scott Clemmensen were in front of the cages. Florida got on the board first in the third period with a power play goal by Dennis Wideman, his sixth of the year assisted by Mike Santorelli and Stephen Weiss. Dmitry Kulikov made it 2-0 with his fifth of the season, also a power play goal, helped along by Cory Stillman and Weiss. Bryan Little got Atlanta on the board with his 13th of the season, thanks to Nik Antropov and Rich Peverley. Forty-four seconds later, the Thrashers tied the game on a Chris Thorburn goal, his sixth of the year getting help from Evander Kane and Little. The tie at 2 lasted into a shootout, with Santorelli and Little exchanging goals before Alex Burmistrov won the game for Atlanta. Burmistrov, Little, and Weiss earned the three stars.
Up to Montreal, where the Canadiens hosted the Calgary Flames for their last game on the road trip. Miikka Kiprusoff and Alex Auld got the starts. Lars Eller opened the scoring for Montreal with his third of the season, helped along by Michael Cammalleri and Tomas Plekanec. Cammalleri made it 2-0 in the same period with his 13th of the season, from Jeff Halpern and P.K. Subban. Andrei Kostitsyn made it 3-0 for Montreal with his 12th of the year in the second period, assisted on by Yannick Weber and Jaroslav Spacek. Halpern acked on his seventh of the year for the Canadiens, making it 4-0 with the helpers from Travis Moen and Spacek. This put Miikka Kiprusoff in the doghouse of Brent Sutter once more, with Henrik Karlsson coming on in relief. This ignited something for Calgary, with Rene Bourque notching his 15th of the season, courtesy of Olli Jokinen and Cory Sarich. Jarome Iginla cut the score to 4-2 for the Flames with his 19th of the season, made possible by Jay Bouwmeester. Calgary continued to roll in the third period with an Ales Kotalik goal, his third of the year coming off of Jokinen. Alex Tanguay tied the game at 4 with his eleventh of the year, assisted on by Iginla and Brendan Morrison. The tie lasted into overtime, where the Flames comeback hopes were squashed by Montreal's rookie defenseman Subban, who netted his fourth of the season thanks to Scott Gomez and Hal Gill to secure a 5-4 Canadiens victory. Subban, Cammalleri, and Kostitsyn picked up the three stars.
Lastly, the Dallas Stars hosted the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Bernier and Kari Lethonen played in net. Los Angeles got the early lead on a Justin Williams goal, his 17th of the season coming from Anze Kopitar. Dallas tied the game at 1 with the 17th of the year by Loui Eriksson in the second period, a power play goal made possible by Brad Richards and Mike Ribeiro. Jamie Langenbrunner gave the Stars a 2-1 lead with his fifth of the season, a power play goal as well, with help from Richards and Jamie Benn. This would be the eventual final, with Langenbrunner, Richards, and Benn earning the three stars.
That's all. I'll try to put a post out tonight for Tuesday hockey, but no promises.
Fantasy Hockey All-Stars, week 14
Another week of hockey. I renovated some of my teams, scouring the waiver wires to see what I could do to prepare for a playoff push. Here's whose looking good short term.
Center: Steven Stamkos, 2 goals, 2 assists, +1, 16 penalty minutes, 1 power play point, 13 shots on goal
Left Wing: Jussi Jokinen, 4 goals, 3 assists, +4, 0 penalty minutes, 3 power play points, 10 shots on goal
Right Wing: Danny Briere, 3 goals, 4 assists, -1, 2 penalty minutes, 1 power play point, 13 shots on goal
Defenseman: Dennis Seidenberg, 1 goal, 4 assists, +2, 0 penalty minutes, 2 power play points, 16 shots on goal
Goaltender: Henrik Lundqvist, 1 win, 1.69 goals against average, 105 saves, .955 save percentage, 1 shutout
Utility special: Jeff Carter (C, RW) 3 goals, 1 assist, +4, 0 penalty minutes, 0 power play points, 22 shots on goal
That's all for now. It was a weak week for stats, and fairly unpredictable.
Center: Steven Stamkos, 2 goals, 2 assists, +1, 16 penalty minutes, 1 power play point, 13 shots on goal
Left Wing: Jussi Jokinen, 4 goals, 3 assists, +4, 0 penalty minutes, 3 power play points, 10 shots on goal
Right Wing: Danny Briere, 3 goals, 4 assists, -1, 2 penalty minutes, 1 power play point, 13 shots on goal
Defenseman: Dennis Seidenberg, 1 goal, 4 assists, +2, 0 penalty minutes, 2 power play points, 16 shots on goal
Goaltender: Henrik Lundqvist, 1 win, 1.69 goals against average, 105 saves, .955 save percentage, 1 shutout
Utility special: Jeff Carter (C, RW) 3 goals, 1 assist, +4, 0 penalty minutes, 0 power play points, 22 shots on goal
That's all for now. It was a weak week for stats, and fairly unpredictable.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Sunday NHL games
There are five games on today, interspersed throughout the day so that a good 7 or 8 hours of the day will be covered by hockey. First off...
The Washington Capitals host the team from the Canadian capital, the Ottawa Senators. Brian Elliott and Michal Neuvirth are in goal. Mike Fisher strikes first for Ottawa with his 12th of the season, helped along by Nick Foligno and Ryan Shannon. Washington answers in the third period with Brooks Laich notching his ninth of the season, an unassisted goal. John Carlson gives the Capitals the lead forty-five seconds later with his fifth of the year, a power play goal assisted by Nicklas Backstrom. Jason Chimera made it 3-1 for Washington with his sixth of the season, from Dave Steckel and Karl Alzner. This would be the final, with Carlson, Neuvirth (22 for 23 saves), and Laich getting the three stars.
Next up is the Minnesota Wild hosting the Vancouver Canucks. In net are Cory Schneider and Anton Khudobin. Andrew Brunette opens the scoring in the second period with his eleventh of the year, a power play goal for Minnesota assisted on by Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Antti Miettinen. Martin Havlat put the Wild up 2-0 with his eleventh of the season, an unassisted goal. In the third period Matt Cullen strikes with his ninth of the year, a shorthanded goal from Kyle Brodziak and Nick Schultz to make it 3-0. John Madden sinks Vancouver to the final 4-0 favoring Minnesota with his sixth of the season, helped along by Chuck Kobasew and Cullen. Khudobin (32 save shutout), Cullen, and Havlat earned the three stars.
Following that, the New York Rangers host the Philadelphia Flyers. In front of the nets are Brian Boucher and Martin Biron. Jeff Carter put Philadelphia on the board first with his 19th of the season, from Matt Carle and Ville Leino. Leino added his own goal for the Flyers, making it 2-0 with help from Andrej Meszaros and Carle. Mike Richards extended the Philadelphia lead to 3-0 with a shorthanded goal by Mike Richards, with help coming in the form of Claude Giroux. Wojtek Wolski put New York on the scoreboard in the third period, cutting the score to 3-1 with his eighth of the season, with Mats Zuccarello and Derek Stepan providing the helpers. Stepan trims the deficit for the Rangers down to a goal with his 13th of the season, from Zuccarello and Wolski. Leino, Stepan, and Carle got the three stars in the 3-2 Flyers win.
Heading into the Windy City, where the Chicago Blackhawks host the Nashville Predators in the second game of a home-and-home. Anders Lindback and Marty Turco get the honors in a battle of backups. Nashville struck first, with Martin Erat opening the scoring on his sixth of the season, a power play goal assisted by Cody Franson and Alexander Sulzer. Chicago answered with Dave Bolland notching his eighth of the year, helped by Bryan Bickell. The Predators retook the lead on a J.P. Dumont goal, his fifth of the year happening with a man advantage, thanks to Shea Weber and Ryan Suter. Bolland tied the gave back up for the Blackhawks with his second of the night and ninth of the season, courtesy of Tomas Kopecky. Nashville retook the lead on another Dumont goal, helped along by Chris Mueller as his sixth of the season and second in the game. Troy Brouwer scored twice in forty seconds to put Chicago back on top by a 4-3 score, his 12th and 13th of the year getting help from Duncan Keith and Kopecky on the former power play tally and Patrick Kane on the latter even strength marker. Bickell made it 5-3 for the Blackhawks with his 12th of the year, courtesy of Brian Campbell and Brent Seabrook. Jonathan Toews extends the lead to 6-3 Chicago with his 17th of the year, an unassisted goal. This was the final, with Brouwer, Bolland, and Dumont earning the three stars.
Finally, the Anaheim Ducks host the Edmonton Oilers. Nikolai Khabibulin and Curtis McElhinney are in between the pipes. Luca Sbisa put Anaheim on the board first with his second of the year, assisted by Toni Lydman and Joffery Lupul on the power play. Teemu Selanne made it 2-0 Ducks with his 13th of the campaign, made possible by Lubomir Visnovsky and Jason Blake. Selanne added his second of the night and 14th of the year on a power play goal from Visnovsky and Cam Fowler. Edmonton gets on the board with Magnus Paajarvi scoring his fifth of the year, thanks to Sam Gagner and Taylor Chorney. Twenty-six seconds later, the lead for Anaheim is down to 1 with the Oilers scoring on Gagner's eleventh of the season, assisted by Linus Omark. McElhinney had to leave the game after those two quickies, and was replaced by Jonas Hiller. The 3-2 margin favoring the Ducks over the Oilers was the final, with Selanne, Saku Koivu, and Gagner getting the three stars.
Posts that are supposed to be out tomorrow morning will be finished tomorrow morning. Please take time, to my American readers, to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. tomorrow.
The Washington Capitals host the team from the Canadian capital, the Ottawa Senators. Brian Elliott and Michal Neuvirth are in goal. Mike Fisher strikes first for Ottawa with his 12th of the season, helped along by Nick Foligno and Ryan Shannon. Washington answers in the third period with Brooks Laich notching his ninth of the season, an unassisted goal. John Carlson gives the Capitals the lead forty-five seconds later with his fifth of the year, a power play goal assisted by Nicklas Backstrom. Jason Chimera made it 3-1 for Washington with his sixth of the season, from Dave Steckel and Karl Alzner. This would be the final, with Carlson, Neuvirth (22 for 23 saves), and Laich getting the three stars.
Next up is the Minnesota Wild hosting the Vancouver Canucks. In net are Cory Schneider and Anton Khudobin. Andrew Brunette opens the scoring in the second period with his eleventh of the year, a power play goal for Minnesota assisted on by Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Antti Miettinen. Martin Havlat put the Wild up 2-0 with his eleventh of the season, an unassisted goal. In the third period Matt Cullen strikes with his ninth of the year, a shorthanded goal from Kyle Brodziak and Nick Schultz to make it 3-0. John Madden sinks Vancouver to the final 4-0 favoring Minnesota with his sixth of the season, helped along by Chuck Kobasew and Cullen. Khudobin (32 save shutout), Cullen, and Havlat earned the three stars.
Following that, the New York Rangers host the Philadelphia Flyers. In front of the nets are Brian Boucher and Martin Biron. Jeff Carter put Philadelphia on the board first with his 19th of the season, from Matt Carle and Ville Leino. Leino added his own goal for the Flyers, making it 2-0 with help from Andrej Meszaros and Carle. Mike Richards extended the Philadelphia lead to 3-0 with a shorthanded goal by Mike Richards, with help coming in the form of Claude Giroux. Wojtek Wolski put New York on the scoreboard in the third period, cutting the score to 3-1 with his eighth of the season, with Mats Zuccarello and Derek Stepan providing the helpers. Stepan trims the deficit for the Rangers down to a goal with his 13th of the season, from Zuccarello and Wolski. Leino, Stepan, and Carle got the three stars in the 3-2 Flyers win.
Heading into the Windy City, where the Chicago Blackhawks host the Nashville Predators in the second game of a home-and-home. Anders Lindback and Marty Turco get the honors in a battle of backups. Nashville struck first, with Martin Erat opening the scoring on his sixth of the season, a power play goal assisted by Cody Franson and Alexander Sulzer. Chicago answered with Dave Bolland notching his eighth of the year, helped by Bryan Bickell. The Predators retook the lead on a J.P. Dumont goal, his fifth of the year happening with a man advantage, thanks to Shea Weber and Ryan Suter. Bolland tied the gave back up for the Blackhawks with his second of the night and ninth of the season, courtesy of Tomas Kopecky. Nashville retook the lead on another Dumont goal, helped along by Chris Mueller as his sixth of the season and second in the game. Troy Brouwer scored twice in forty seconds to put Chicago back on top by a 4-3 score, his 12th and 13th of the year getting help from Duncan Keith and Kopecky on the former power play tally and Patrick Kane on the latter even strength marker. Bickell made it 5-3 for the Blackhawks with his 12th of the year, courtesy of Brian Campbell and Brent Seabrook. Jonathan Toews extends the lead to 6-3 Chicago with his 17th of the year, an unassisted goal. This was the final, with Brouwer, Bolland, and Dumont earning the three stars.
Finally, the Anaheim Ducks host the Edmonton Oilers. Nikolai Khabibulin and Curtis McElhinney are in between the pipes. Luca Sbisa put Anaheim on the board first with his second of the year, assisted by Toni Lydman and Joffery Lupul on the power play. Teemu Selanne made it 2-0 Ducks with his 13th of the campaign, made possible by Lubomir Visnovsky and Jason Blake. Selanne added his second of the night and 14th of the year on a power play goal from Visnovsky and Cam Fowler. Edmonton gets on the board with Magnus Paajarvi scoring his fifth of the year, thanks to Sam Gagner and Taylor Chorney. Twenty-six seconds later, the lead for Anaheim is down to 1 with the Oilers scoring on Gagner's eleventh of the season, assisted by Linus Omark. McElhinney had to leave the game after those two quickies, and was replaced by Jonas Hiller. The 3-2 margin favoring the Ducks over the Oilers was the final, with Selanne, Saku Koivu, and Gagner getting the three stars.
Posts that are supposed to be out tomorrow morning will be finished tomorrow morning. Please take time, to my American readers, to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. tomorrow.
Sandwich showdown III
This weekend, we have an Italian BMT pitted against a toasted Roast Beef. The BMT got Italian herbs and cheese, for national unity of course, and the Roast Beef received wheat bread. The flavors were both powerful and unique, with the three meats in the BMT blending nicely together, but very level to standalone hearty flavor found in the Roast Beef, which will take the slightest of edges in this showdown. Thanks for reading and happy eating.
NFL Divisional Weekend
Another four games of football were played, determining who will face off for the rights to play in Super Bowl XLV. It starts with the AFC Divisional...
Between the host Pittsburgh Steelers and visiting Baltimore Ravens. Pittsburgh was the first team to visit the end zone on a Rashard Mendenhall run of 1 yard for a touchdown, followed by a Shaun Suisham extra point. Baltimore answered back with a Ray Rice 14 yard touchdown run, after which Billy Cundiff tied the game with the extra point. Ben Roethlisberger then was pressured and lost control of the ball, and after a spell, Cory Redding of the Ravens took it to the house, and Cundiff made it 14-7. Baltimore extended the lead in the second quarter as Joe Flacco connected with Todd Heap for 4 yards, allowing another Cundiff extra point to produce the halftime score of 21-7 Baltimore. Roethlisberger tied the game with touchdown passes of 9 and 8 yards to Heath Miller and Hines Ward, and the tying point coming from Suisham's foot. Suisham and Cundiff exchanged field goals in the fourth quarter, with Suisham good from 35 yards and Cundiff from 24 yards away. With the score tied at 24 with under 2 minutes in the game, Mendenhall runs a 2 yard touchdown in, and Suisham supplies the extra point to make it 31-24 Steelers. The Ravens failed to recover, and were eliminated by that score from the playoffs, with Pittsburgh waiting to see if they will host the New York Jets or travel to New England next weekend.
Hopping to the NFC Divisional game between the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta dented the scoreboard first with a Michael Turner touchdown run of 12 yards, and Matt Bryant provided the extra point. Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay answered in the second quarter with a 6 yard touchdown pass to Jordy Nelson, followed by a Mason Crosby extra point. However, the ensuing kickoff was fateful, as Eric Weems returned the ball 102 yards for the Falcons, and Bryant put them up 14-7 with the extra point. John Kuhn got the Packers back together and ran a touchdown in for 1 yard, allowing a tying extra point by Crosby. Rodgers gave Green Bay the lead with a 20 yard touchdown connection with James Jones, followed by yet another Crosby extra point. Hoping to take momentum into the locker room, Matt Ryan threw one up for Atlanta, and Tramon Williams picked it off and ran it in 70 yards to give the Packers some push, putting them up 28-14 at half with Crosby making his extra point. Rodgers took to the ground to extend the lead for Green Bay, running 7 yards to crack the goal line, with Crosby adding another extra point. Rodgers found Kuhn for 7 yards as well, and after a Crosby extra point, it was all but certain the the Packers had strong control over the game at 42-14. Ryan passed to Roddy White for a 6 yard touchdown as a last whimper for the Falcons, with Bryant's extra point making the score 42-21. Crosby put the Falcons out of their misery after two more field goals, from 43 and 32 yards to bring the final to 48-21, with Green Bay either traveling to Chicago or Seattle depending on who wins the match today.
Into day 2 of the divisional weekend, with the Chicago Bears hosting the Seattle Seahawks. Jay Cutler put Chicago out front early when connecting with Greg Olsen for 58 yards and a touchdown, followed by a Robbie Gould extra point. Chester Taylor extended the Bears lead with a 1 yard touchdown run, with Gould adding another extra point. Cutler took matters in his own hands for the third touchdown, running in 6 yards for the score, allowing another Gould extra point. The score going into halftime was 21-0, and the Bears extended the lead once more on the legs of Cutler, with his second touchdown rush, this time of 9 yards, and Gould was true on the extra point to make it 28-0. Seattle decided it would be good to actually score some points and Olindo Mare blasted a 30 yard field goal through the uprights. Matt Hasselbeck continued the scoring for the Seahawks, finding Mike Williams in the end zone for a 2 yard touchdown, with Mare making the extra point. Cutler's pass to Kellen Davis for 39 yards was good enough to be a dagger for Seattle's comeback hopes, with that touchdown and the subsequent extra point making it 35-10. Hasselbeck added two more touchdown passes, of 3 and 9 yards to Williams and Brandon Stokley, and after Mare's two extra points, the score stood at its eventual final of 35-24 Bears over Seahawks. Chicago advanced to the NFC Championship, staying at home to host their fierce rivals, the Green Bay Packers. Seattle, after a surprising season and playoff run will return home.
Lastly, the most hyped and trash-talked match between the New York Jets and the New England Patriots. Shayne Graham opened the scoring by booting a 34 yard field goal in for New England. Mark Sanchez and New York answered in the second quarter with two touchdown passes, one of 7 yards to LaDainian Tomlinson and the other for Braylon "Banana Feet... err... Hands" Edwards for 15 yards. Footsmith Nick Folk came on for both extra points. The Patriots came back in the third quarter as Tom Brady connected with Alge Crumpler for 2 yards and a touchdown, and the two point conversion by the quick-footed Sammy Morris was successful. Sanchez answered back for the Jets with a touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes for 7 yards and a touchdown, allowing Folk to nail another extra point in. Graham came back out for another field goal, this time of 35 yards, putting New England down only 21-14. Shonn Greene however turned New York's fortunes around and put them up by a more comfortable lead by running with flying feet 16 yards to find the end zone, with Folk kicking in another extra point. Brady attempted to get the Patriots back into the game, allowing Deion Branch to catch a 13 yard touchdown pass and plant his feet for the score, before Graham knocked in the extra point. The onside kick was no good, and the Jets held on to win by a toe, or a touchdown (whatever Rex Ryan thinks) by the 28-21 score. The Patriots started to book tee times, while Rex Ryan and the Jets could go home and kick their feet up on the foot stools. Final count on bad foot puns aimed at Rex Ryan: 8, so I lose to Wes Welker.
Next week will feature two games to determine who plays in the Super Bowl. I, as a fan, no longer care that much, but because you readers do, I'll grudgingly cover the games.
Between the host Pittsburgh Steelers and visiting Baltimore Ravens. Pittsburgh was the first team to visit the end zone on a Rashard Mendenhall run of 1 yard for a touchdown, followed by a Shaun Suisham extra point. Baltimore answered back with a Ray Rice 14 yard touchdown run, after which Billy Cundiff tied the game with the extra point. Ben Roethlisberger then was pressured and lost control of the ball, and after a spell, Cory Redding of the Ravens took it to the house, and Cundiff made it 14-7. Baltimore extended the lead in the second quarter as Joe Flacco connected with Todd Heap for 4 yards, allowing another Cundiff extra point to produce the halftime score of 21-7 Baltimore. Roethlisberger tied the game with touchdown passes of 9 and 8 yards to Heath Miller and Hines Ward, and the tying point coming from Suisham's foot. Suisham and Cundiff exchanged field goals in the fourth quarter, with Suisham good from 35 yards and Cundiff from 24 yards away. With the score tied at 24 with under 2 minutes in the game, Mendenhall runs a 2 yard touchdown in, and Suisham supplies the extra point to make it 31-24 Steelers. The Ravens failed to recover, and were eliminated by that score from the playoffs, with Pittsburgh waiting to see if they will host the New York Jets or travel to New England next weekend.
Hopping to the NFC Divisional game between the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta dented the scoreboard first with a Michael Turner touchdown run of 12 yards, and Matt Bryant provided the extra point. Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay answered in the second quarter with a 6 yard touchdown pass to Jordy Nelson, followed by a Mason Crosby extra point. However, the ensuing kickoff was fateful, as Eric Weems returned the ball 102 yards for the Falcons, and Bryant put them up 14-7 with the extra point. John Kuhn got the Packers back together and ran a touchdown in for 1 yard, allowing a tying extra point by Crosby. Rodgers gave Green Bay the lead with a 20 yard touchdown connection with James Jones, followed by yet another Crosby extra point. Hoping to take momentum into the locker room, Matt Ryan threw one up for Atlanta, and Tramon Williams picked it off and ran it in 70 yards to give the Packers some push, putting them up 28-14 at half with Crosby making his extra point. Rodgers took to the ground to extend the lead for Green Bay, running 7 yards to crack the goal line, with Crosby adding another extra point. Rodgers found Kuhn for 7 yards as well, and after a Crosby extra point, it was all but certain the the Packers had strong control over the game at 42-14. Ryan passed to Roddy White for a 6 yard touchdown as a last whimper for the Falcons, with Bryant's extra point making the score 42-21. Crosby put the Falcons out of their misery after two more field goals, from 43 and 32 yards to bring the final to 48-21, with Green Bay either traveling to Chicago or Seattle depending on who wins the match today.
Into day 2 of the divisional weekend, with the Chicago Bears hosting the Seattle Seahawks. Jay Cutler put Chicago out front early when connecting with Greg Olsen for 58 yards and a touchdown, followed by a Robbie Gould extra point. Chester Taylor extended the Bears lead with a 1 yard touchdown run, with Gould adding another extra point. Cutler took matters in his own hands for the third touchdown, running in 6 yards for the score, allowing another Gould extra point. The score going into halftime was 21-0, and the Bears extended the lead once more on the legs of Cutler, with his second touchdown rush, this time of 9 yards, and Gould was true on the extra point to make it 28-0. Seattle decided it would be good to actually score some points and Olindo Mare blasted a 30 yard field goal through the uprights. Matt Hasselbeck continued the scoring for the Seahawks, finding Mike Williams in the end zone for a 2 yard touchdown, with Mare making the extra point. Cutler's pass to Kellen Davis for 39 yards was good enough to be a dagger for Seattle's comeback hopes, with that touchdown and the subsequent extra point making it 35-10. Hasselbeck added two more touchdown passes, of 3 and 9 yards to Williams and Brandon Stokley, and after Mare's two extra points, the score stood at its eventual final of 35-24 Bears over Seahawks. Chicago advanced to the NFC Championship, staying at home to host their fierce rivals, the Green Bay Packers. Seattle, after a surprising season and playoff run will return home.
Lastly, the most hyped and trash-talked match between the New York Jets and the New England Patriots. Shayne Graham opened the scoring by booting a 34 yard field goal in for New England. Mark Sanchez and New York answered in the second quarter with two touchdown passes, one of 7 yards to LaDainian Tomlinson and the other for Braylon "Banana Feet... err... Hands" Edwards for 15 yards. Footsmith Nick Folk came on for both extra points. The Patriots came back in the third quarter as Tom Brady connected with Alge Crumpler for 2 yards and a touchdown, and the two point conversion by the quick-footed Sammy Morris was successful. Sanchez answered back for the Jets with a touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes for 7 yards and a touchdown, allowing Folk to nail another extra point in. Graham came back out for another field goal, this time of 35 yards, putting New England down only 21-14. Shonn Greene however turned New York's fortunes around and put them up by a more comfortable lead by running with flying feet 16 yards to find the end zone, with Folk kicking in another extra point. Brady attempted to get the Patriots back into the game, allowing Deion Branch to catch a 13 yard touchdown pass and plant his feet for the score, before Graham knocked in the extra point. The onside kick was no good, and the Jets held on to win by a toe, or a touchdown (whatever Rex Ryan thinks) by the 28-21 score. The Patriots started to book tee times, while Rex Ryan and the Jets could go home and kick their feet up on the foot stools. Final count on bad foot puns aimed at Rex Ryan: 8, so I lose to Wes Welker.
Next week will feature two games to determine who plays in the Super Bowl. I, as a fan, no longer care that much, but because you readers do, I'll grudgingly cover the games.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Saturday Hockey, partially live
Once again, we have partial live coverage of hockey. Tomorrow will also bring a football post dealing with the divisional weekend, recapped whenever I can get around to it. Sandwiches will also be covered, just as a heads-up. As for today, we start with a matinee in...
Boston, where the Bruins hosted the Penguins. In goal were Marc-Andre Fleury and Tuukka Rask. Pittsburgh got on the board first with a Chris Kunitz goal, his 15th of the season a product of Jordan Staal and Matt Cooke. Pascal Dupuis made it 2-0 Penguins early in the second period with his ninth of the year, assisted by Zbynek Michalek and Evgeni Malkin. Dennis Seidenberg got Boston on the board with his third of the season, thanks to Shawn Thornton and Gregory Campbell. The Bruins tied it only thirteen seconds later with Michael Ryder notching his 13th of the year, made possible by Marc Savard and Seidenberg. Staal scored his second of the season in the third period for Pittsburgh, giving them a 3-2 lead with help from Cooke and Tyler Kennedy, and this score would stand to defeat Boston. Staal, Ryder, and Seidenberg earned the three stars.
Heading out west to the Motor City, with the Detroit Red Wings hosting the Columbus Blue Jackets. Steve Mason and Joey MacDonald are guarding the cages. Thirty-three seconds into the game, Derick Brassard scored to give Columbus an early lead, with Rick Nash assisting on his tenth. The Blue Jackets made it 2-0 with the second of the season by Grant Clitsome, with Jakub Voracek and Nash picking up the helpers. Valtteri Filppula got Detroit on the board with his eleventh of the season, thanks to Todd Bertuzzi and Jiri Hudler. Drew Miller tied it for the Red Wings with his third of the year, helped along by Darren Helm and Kris Draper. Columbus took the lead back in the second period on a Matt Calvert goal, his second of the year coming from Voracek and Jan Hejda. Detroit tied it again with the third of the season by Jonathan Ericsson, made possible by Helm. Brian Rafalski gave the Red Wings a 4-3 lead with his fourth of the campaign, assisted by Miller and Ericsson. The Blue Jackets tied it again in the third period with the 15th of the year by R.J. Umberger, thanks to Fedor Tyutin and Brassard on the power play. Draper gave Detroit the lead back with his fourth of the season, with Miller and Nicklas Lidstrom picking up the assists. Columbus would not go away however, and Nash tied it with his 21st of the year, with help from Clitsome and Antoine Vermette. The Red Wings put the game out of reach once and for all in overtime, winning 6-5 on Johan Franzen's 19th of the year forty-five seconds into the extra frame, assisted by Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas Kronwall. Earning the three stars were Draper, Nash, and Ericsson.
Next up, the Florida Panthers hosted the New Jersey Devils. Martin Brodeur and Scott Clemmensen picked up the starting honors. New Jersey drew the first blood with Nick Palmieri netting his second of the year with help from Travis Zajac and Anssi Salmela. Florida answered back with an Evgeny Dadonov goal, his fourth of the year getting help from Stephen Weiss and Dennis Wideman on the power play. Wideman gave the Panthers a 2-1 lead in the second period with his own power play goal, his fifth of the season getting a boost from Mike Santorelli and Dmitry Kulikov. David Clarkson tied it in the third period for the Devils with his eighth of the year, with help coming from Tim Sestito. The 2-2 tie lasted until it was broken in overtime by Florida's Kulikov, who notched his fourth of the season with help from Weiss and Cory Stillman to win the game 3-2. Kulikov, Wideman, and Dadonov earned the three stars.
Into Canada, with the Toronto Maple Leafs hosting cross-country rivals in the Calgary Flames. Miikka Kiprusoff and Jean-Sebastien Giguere got the starts, with Kiprusoff coming out of the doghouse and Giguere returning from injury. The game was quiet until Calgary scored in the third period with Matt Stajan nailing his third of the season, thanks to Niklas Hagman and Curtis Glencross. With only thirteen seconds in regulation, sweet victory was stolen from Calgary as Toronto's Mikhail Grabovski notched his 18th of the season, with help from Clarke MacArthur and Nikolai Kulemin on the power play. The tie lasted into the shootout, where Tyler Bozak and Alex Tanguay exchanged barbs, followed by another washing out pair by Colby Armstrong and Ales Kotalik, and then Calgary got the decisive goal off the stick of Olli Jokinen, the first star, with the other two being Grabovski and Stajan.
Moving over a province, with the Montreal Canadiens hosting the New York Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist and Carey Price guarded the nets. New York got out to the early lead with Brian Boyle scoring his 15th of the season with help from Brandon Prust and Dan Girardi. Roman Hamrlik tied it for Montreal with his fourth of the year, a power play goal helped along by James Wisniewski and Michael Cammalleri. Tomas Plekanec made it 2-1 for the Canadiens with his 14th of the season, a power play goal as well, with helpers credited to P.K. Subban and Wisniewski. Andrei Kostitsyn extended the Montreal lead further with his eleventh of the year, assisted by Jeff Halpern. The Rangers waited until the third period to score again, cutting the lead down with Mats Zuccarello and his second of the year, with help from Derek Stepan and Girardi. Montreal managed to hold on and defeat New York 3-2, with Wisniewski, losing goalie Lundqvist (38 for 41 stops), and Kostitsyn (the Montreal version, of course) getting the three stars.
Speaking of New York, the Islanders hosted the Buffalo Sabres. Ryan Miller and Rick DiPietro were blocking the pucks, with the latter returning from yet another injury. The first period was quiet, but Thomas Vanek and Buffalo opened the scoring up in the second period just seventeen seconds in, with his 17th of the year, a power play goal with help from Tyler Ennis and Jason Pominville. John Tavares turned the game around for New York by going natural for a hat trick in a 5:46 span, being his 16-18th goals of the year. Matt Moulson picked up a sock trick in the process, P.A. Parenteau had two assists himself, and Andrew MacDonald earned one assist of his own. The middle goal came on the power play. Tavares surrendered full offensive rights for the Islanders when Blake Comeau notched his 13th of the season, thanks to Josh Bailey and Bruno Gervais. Ennis tried to rally the stunned Sabres troops with his tenth of the year, a power play goal made possible by Jordan Leopold and Pominville. New York made it 5-2 on a shorthanded goal by Michael Grabner, his tenth of the season, with assists credited to Matt Martin and Milan Jurcina. Buffalo gave one last gasp of breath with a goal by Jochen Hecht, his seventh of the year getting help from Pominville, who capped off a sock trick, and Vanek. The 5-3 final favored the Islanders over the Sabres, with Tavares, Parenteau, and MacDonald getting the three stars.
Going down the coast a bit to Carolina, with the Hurricanes hosting the Tampa Bay Lightning. In the creases we had Dwayne Roloson and Cam Ward. Tampa Bay took an early lead on the 33rd of the season by Steven Stamkos, with assists provided by Steve Downie and Pavel Kubina. Chad LaRose tied the game for Carolina with his eighth of the season, helped along by Joe Corvo and Erik Cole on the power play. Jeff Skinner gave the Hurricanes a 2-1 lead with his 16th of the year, thanks to Tuomo Ruutu and Ian White. Vincent Lecavalier tied the game back up for the Lightning with his eighth of the year, with helpers accredited to Martin St. Louis and Ryan Malone. Tampa Bay took the lead back in the second period on a Simon Gagne goal, his fifth of the season made possible by Stamkos and Victor Hedman. Carolina would have none of it, tying the game on a power play goal by Jamie McBain, his second tally of the year getting helping from Jussi Jokinen and Eric Staal. Jokinen gave the lead back to the Hurricanes with his own power play goal, good for his ninth of the season, with Sergei Samsonov and Skinner getting the helpers. Eric Staal scored his 22nd of the year to make it 5-3 on a shorthanded play, getting help from Cole. Gagne added his second of the night and sixth of the year to make it 5-4, with the goal going unassisted. Carolina, however, wasn't going to lose, and Jokinen's tenth of the year solidfied this fact, his second of the game making it 6-4 with Cole picking up his third assist to clinch the sock trick. Staal, Cole, and Jokinen picked up the honors as three stars.
Out to Texas, with the Dallas Stars hosting the Atlanta Thrashers. Chris Mason and Kari Lethonen picked up the starting honors, but Mason faced only three shots before exiting the game, with Ondrej Pavelec covering for him. Trevor Daley opened the scoring for Dallas with his fourth of the season, helped along by Jamie Benn and Brad Richards on the power play. Atlanta answered in the second period with Andrew Ladd nailing his 16th of the year home with Tobias Enstrom and Nik Antropov picking up helpers. Adam Burish made it 2-1 Stars with his fifth of the season, assisted by Stephane Robidas and Nicklas Grossman. Daley extended the Dallas lead farther with his second of the night and fifth of the year, another power play goal, with help coming from Mike Ribeiro and the goalie Kari Lethonen. James Neal made it 5-1 Stars with his 17th and 18th of the campaign, thanks to Loui Eriksson and Richards the first time and Robidas and Benn the on the latter power play goal. Jeff Woywitka added on his first of the season for good measure, making it 6-1 Dallas on the power play goal that was helped by Brenden Morrow and Ribeiro. Daley, Lehtonen (29 for 30 saves + assist), and Neal earned the three stars.
In a Pacific division matchup, the Phoenix Coyotes hosted the Anaheim Ducks. Jonas Hiller and Ilya Bryzgalov were in between the pipes. Phoenix struck first with Ray Whitney scoring his ninth of the year with the help of Radim Vrbata. Matt Beleskey added his third of the year to tie the game for Anaheim, with assists given to Bobby Ryan and Corey Perry. Adrian Aucoin gave the Coyotes a lead early in the second period with his second of the year, made possible by Lee Stempniak and Vernon Fiddler. Taylor Pyatt made it 3-1 for Phoenix with his 12th of the season, assisted by Keith Yandle and Stempniak. Sami Lepisto extended the lead to 4-1 Coyotes with his fourth of the year, thanks to Whitney and Martin Hanzal, chasing Jonas Hiller out of the Anaheim net at the end of the second period, with Curtis McElhinney playing the final frame. Whitney added his second of the night and tenth of the season for Phoenix in the third period, getting help along the way from Vrbata and Lepisto. The Ducks gave a whimper of life with a Perry power play goal, his 23rd of the year getting help from Lubomir Visnowsky and Jason Blake. Stempniak put Anaheim out of their misery and made it 6-2 Coyotes, the eventual final, with his tenth of the season, helped along by Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Lauri Korpikoski. Whitney, Lepisto, and Vrbata earned the three stars.
Backing up a bit with the Nashville Predators hosting the Chicago Blackhawks. Corey Crawford and Pekka Rinne were given the starting nods. Tomas Kopecky got Chicago on the board first with his eighth of the year, a power play goal from Dave Bolland and Brian Campbell. Viktor Stalberg extended the Blackhawks lead in the second period with his seventh of the year, from Jake Dowell and Jack Skille. Jerred Smithson put Nashville on the board in the third period with his fifth of the season, thanks to Nick Spaling and Joel Ward. Shea Weber tied it for the Predators with his eighth of the season, helped along by Ryan Suter and Ward. The tie lasted into a shootout, where Nashville took Chicago down by a final of 3-2 on a Marcel Goc tally. The three stars were handed out to Smithson, Weber, and Kopecky.
Hitting the west coast in Los Angeles, with the Kings hosting the Edmonton Oilers. Devan Dubnyk and Jonathan Bernier get the starts tonight. Edmonton strikes first with Dustin Penner scoring his 14th of the year off of Ales Hemsky and Taylor Hall. Marco Sturm evens the score at 1 for Los Angeles with his fourth of the year, assisted by Drew Doughty and Wayne Simmonds. The Kings take a 2-1 lead on the 16th of the year by Anze Kopitar, thanks to Justin Williams. The Oilers, however, tie the game on Andrew Cogliano's sixth of the season, made possible by Ryan Jones and Liam Reddox. Jarret Stoll got Los Angeles a 3-2 lead with his 12th of the season, helped along by Dustin Brown and Sturm. The Kings extended the lead to 4-2 in the third period with a goal by Doughty, his third of the year, an unassisted goal. Stoll helped Los Angeles finish off the Oilers with his second of the night and 13th of the season, with Brown and Rob Scuderi picking up the helpers on the final tally of the game. Doughty, Stoll, and Hall earned the three stars.
To the Bay Area, with the San Jose Sharks hosting the St. Louis Blues. Jaroslav Halak and Antti Niemi are guarding the cages. B.J. Crombeen puts St. Louis on the board first with his fifth of the season, assisted by Brad Winchester and Roman Polak. Dany Heatley ties the game for San Jose with his 16th of the year, a power play goal from Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski. Erik Johnson tied the game for the Blues with his fourth of the season, assisted by Patrik Berglund. San Jose took a 3-2 lead in the third period on Heatley's second of the night and 17th of the year, with help provided by Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Jason Demers. Jamie McGinn finished the Blues off with his first of the season, with the lone assist coming from Scott Nichol to present us with the final score of 4-2 Sharks over Blues. Heatley, Nichol, and McGinn earned the three stars.
That's all for Saturday's hockey games. Sunday has 5 games of hockey and 2 games of football. Football will also be covered from Saturday at the conclusion and publishing of this post.
Boston, where the Bruins hosted the Penguins. In goal were Marc-Andre Fleury and Tuukka Rask. Pittsburgh got on the board first with a Chris Kunitz goal, his 15th of the season a product of Jordan Staal and Matt Cooke. Pascal Dupuis made it 2-0 Penguins early in the second period with his ninth of the year, assisted by Zbynek Michalek and Evgeni Malkin. Dennis Seidenberg got Boston on the board with his third of the season, thanks to Shawn Thornton and Gregory Campbell. The Bruins tied it only thirteen seconds later with Michael Ryder notching his 13th of the year, made possible by Marc Savard and Seidenberg. Staal scored his second of the season in the third period for Pittsburgh, giving them a 3-2 lead with help from Cooke and Tyler Kennedy, and this score would stand to defeat Boston. Staal, Ryder, and Seidenberg earned the three stars.
Heading out west to the Motor City, with the Detroit Red Wings hosting the Columbus Blue Jackets. Steve Mason and Joey MacDonald are guarding the cages. Thirty-three seconds into the game, Derick Brassard scored to give Columbus an early lead, with Rick Nash assisting on his tenth. The Blue Jackets made it 2-0 with the second of the season by Grant Clitsome, with Jakub Voracek and Nash picking up the helpers. Valtteri Filppula got Detroit on the board with his eleventh of the season, thanks to Todd Bertuzzi and Jiri Hudler. Drew Miller tied it for the Red Wings with his third of the year, helped along by Darren Helm and Kris Draper. Columbus took the lead back in the second period on a Matt Calvert goal, his second of the year coming from Voracek and Jan Hejda. Detroit tied it again with the third of the season by Jonathan Ericsson, made possible by Helm. Brian Rafalski gave the Red Wings a 4-3 lead with his fourth of the campaign, assisted by Miller and Ericsson. The Blue Jackets tied it again in the third period with the 15th of the year by R.J. Umberger, thanks to Fedor Tyutin and Brassard on the power play. Draper gave Detroit the lead back with his fourth of the season, with Miller and Nicklas Lidstrom picking up the assists. Columbus would not go away however, and Nash tied it with his 21st of the year, with help from Clitsome and Antoine Vermette. The Red Wings put the game out of reach once and for all in overtime, winning 6-5 on Johan Franzen's 19th of the year forty-five seconds into the extra frame, assisted by Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas Kronwall. Earning the three stars were Draper, Nash, and Ericsson.
Next up, the Florida Panthers hosted the New Jersey Devils. Martin Brodeur and Scott Clemmensen picked up the starting honors. New Jersey drew the first blood with Nick Palmieri netting his second of the year with help from Travis Zajac and Anssi Salmela. Florida answered back with an Evgeny Dadonov goal, his fourth of the year getting help from Stephen Weiss and Dennis Wideman on the power play. Wideman gave the Panthers a 2-1 lead in the second period with his own power play goal, his fifth of the season getting a boost from Mike Santorelli and Dmitry Kulikov. David Clarkson tied it in the third period for the Devils with his eighth of the year, with help coming from Tim Sestito. The 2-2 tie lasted until it was broken in overtime by Florida's Kulikov, who notched his fourth of the season with help from Weiss and Cory Stillman to win the game 3-2. Kulikov, Wideman, and Dadonov earned the three stars.
Into Canada, with the Toronto Maple Leafs hosting cross-country rivals in the Calgary Flames. Miikka Kiprusoff and Jean-Sebastien Giguere got the starts, with Kiprusoff coming out of the doghouse and Giguere returning from injury. The game was quiet until Calgary scored in the third period with Matt Stajan nailing his third of the season, thanks to Niklas Hagman and Curtis Glencross. With only thirteen seconds in regulation, sweet victory was stolen from Calgary as Toronto's Mikhail Grabovski notched his 18th of the season, with help from Clarke MacArthur and Nikolai Kulemin on the power play. The tie lasted into the shootout, where Tyler Bozak and Alex Tanguay exchanged barbs, followed by another washing out pair by Colby Armstrong and Ales Kotalik, and then Calgary got the decisive goal off the stick of Olli Jokinen, the first star, with the other two being Grabovski and Stajan.
Moving over a province, with the Montreal Canadiens hosting the New York Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist and Carey Price guarded the nets. New York got out to the early lead with Brian Boyle scoring his 15th of the season with help from Brandon Prust and Dan Girardi. Roman Hamrlik tied it for Montreal with his fourth of the year, a power play goal helped along by James Wisniewski and Michael Cammalleri. Tomas Plekanec made it 2-1 for the Canadiens with his 14th of the season, a power play goal as well, with helpers credited to P.K. Subban and Wisniewski. Andrei Kostitsyn extended the Montreal lead further with his eleventh of the year, assisted by Jeff Halpern. The Rangers waited until the third period to score again, cutting the lead down with Mats Zuccarello and his second of the year, with help from Derek Stepan and Girardi. Montreal managed to hold on and defeat New York 3-2, with Wisniewski, losing goalie Lundqvist (38 for 41 stops), and Kostitsyn (the Montreal version, of course) getting the three stars.
Speaking of New York, the Islanders hosted the Buffalo Sabres. Ryan Miller and Rick DiPietro were blocking the pucks, with the latter returning from yet another injury. The first period was quiet, but Thomas Vanek and Buffalo opened the scoring up in the second period just seventeen seconds in, with his 17th of the year, a power play goal with help from Tyler Ennis and Jason Pominville. John Tavares turned the game around for New York by going natural for a hat trick in a 5:46 span, being his 16-18th goals of the year. Matt Moulson picked up a sock trick in the process, P.A. Parenteau had two assists himself, and Andrew MacDonald earned one assist of his own. The middle goal came on the power play. Tavares surrendered full offensive rights for the Islanders when Blake Comeau notched his 13th of the season, thanks to Josh Bailey and Bruno Gervais. Ennis tried to rally the stunned Sabres troops with his tenth of the year, a power play goal made possible by Jordan Leopold and Pominville. New York made it 5-2 on a shorthanded goal by Michael Grabner, his tenth of the season, with assists credited to Matt Martin and Milan Jurcina. Buffalo gave one last gasp of breath with a goal by Jochen Hecht, his seventh of the year getting help from Pominville, who capped off a sock trick, and Vanek. The 5-3 final favored the Islanders over the Sabres, with Tavares, Parenteau, and MacDonald getting the three stars.
Going down the coast a bit to Carolina, with the Hurricanes hosting the Tampa Bay Lightning. In the creases we had Dwayne Roloson and Cam Ward. Tampa Bay took an early lead on the 33rd of the season by Steven Stamkos, with assists provided by Steve Downie and Pavel Kubina. Chad LaRose tied the game for Carolina with his eighth of the season, helped along by Joe Corvo and Erik Cole on the power play. Jeff Skinner gave the Hurricanes a 2-1 lead with his 16th of the year, thanks to Tuomo Ruutu and Ian White. Vincent Lecavalier tied the game back up for the Lightning with his eighth of the year, with helpers accredited to Martin St. Louis and Ryan Malone. Tampa Bay took the lead back in the second period on a Simon Gagne goal, his fifth of the season made possible by Stamkos and Victor Hedman. Carolina would have none of it, tying the game on a power play goal by Jamie McBain, his second tally of the year getting helping from Jussi Jokinen and Eric Staal. Jokinen gave the lead back to the Hurricanes with his own power play goal, good for his ninth of the season, with Sergei Samsonov and Skinner getting the helpers. Eric Staal scored his 22nd of the year to make it 5-3 on a shorthanded play, getting help from Cole. Gagne added his second of the night and sixth of the year to make it 5-4, with the goal going unassisted. Carolina, however, wasn't going to lose, and Jokinen's tenth of the year solidfied this fact, his second of the game making it 6-4 with Cole picking up his third assist to clinch the sock trick. Staal, Cole, and Jokinen picked up the honors as three stars.
Out to Texas, with the Dallas Stars hosting the Atlanta Thrashers. Chris Mason and Kari Lethonen picked up the starting honors, but Mason faced only three shots before exiting the game, with Ondrej Pavelec covering for him. Trevor Daley opened the scoring for Dallas with his fourth of the season, helped along by Jamie Benn and Brad Richards on the power play. Atlanta answered in the second period with Andrew Ladd nailing his 16th of the year home with Tobias Enstrom and Nik Antropov picking up helpers. Adam Burish made it 2-1 Stars with his fifth of the season, assisted by Stephane Robidas and Nicklas Grossman. Daley extended the Dallas lead farther with his second of the night and fifth of the year, another power play goal, with help coming from Mike Ribeiro and the goalie Kari Lethonen. James Neal made it 5-1 Stars with his 17th and 18th of the campaign, thanks to Loui Eriksson and Richards the first time and Robidas and Benn the on the latter power play goal. Jeff Woywitka added on his first of the season for good measure, making it 6-1 Dallas on the power play goal that was helped by Brenden Morrow and Ribeiro. Daley, Lehtonen (29 for 30 saves + assist), and Neal earned the three stars.
In a Pacific division matchup, the Phoenix Coyotes hosted the Anaheim Ducks. Jonas Hiller and Ilya Bryzgalov were in between the pipes. Phoenix struck first with Ray Whitney scoring his ninth of the year with the help of Radim Vrbata. Matt Beleskey added his third of the year to tie the game for Anaheim, with assists given to Bobby Ryan and Corey Perry. Adrian Aucoin gave the Coyotes a lead early in the second period with his second of the year, made possible by Lee Stempniak and Vernon Fiddler. Taylor Pyatt made it 3-1 for Phoenix with his 12th of the season, assisted by Keith Yandle and Stempniak. Sami Lepisto extended the lead to 4-1 Coyotes with his fourth of the year, thanks to Whitney and Martin Hanzal, chasing Jonas Hiller out of the Anaheim net at the end of the second period, with Curtis McElhinney playing the final frame. Whitney added his second of the night and tenth of the season for Phoenix in the third period, getting help along the way from Vrbata and Lepisto. The Ducks gave a whimper of life with a Perry power play goal, his 23rd of the year getting help from Lubomir Visnowsky and Jason Blake. Stempniak put Anaheim out of their misery and made it 6-2 Coyotes, the eventual final, with his tenth of the season, helped along by Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Lauri Korpikoski. Whitney, Lepisto, and Vrbata earned the three stars.
Backing up a bit with the Nashville Predators hosting the Chicago Blackhawks. Corey Crawford and Pekka Rinne were given the starting nods. Tomas Kopecky got Chicago on the board first with his eighth of the year, a power play goal from Dave Bolland and Brian Campbell. Viktor Stalberg extended the Blackhawks lead in the second period with his seventh of the year, from Jake Dowell and Jack Skille. Jerred Smithson put Nashville on the board in the third period with his fifth of the season, thanks to Nick Spaling and Joel Ward. Shea Weber tied it for the Predators with his eighth of the season, helped along by Ryan Suter and Ward. The tie lasted into a shootout, where Nashville took Chicago down by a final of 3-2 on a Marcel Goc tally. The three stars were handed out to Smithson, Weber, and Kopecky.
Hitting the west coast in Los Angeles, with the Kings hosting the Edmonton Oilers. Devan Dubnyk and Jonathan Bernier get the starts tonight. Edmonton strikes first with Dustin Penner scoring his 14th of the year off of Ales Hemsky and Taylor Hall. Marco Sturm evens the score at 1 for Los Angeles with his fourth of the year, assisted by Drew Doughty and Wayne Simmonds. The Kings take a 2-1 lead on the 16th of the year by Anze Kopitar, thanks to Justin Williams. The Oilers, however, tie the game on Andrew Cogliano's sixth of the season, made possible by Ryan Jones and Liam Reddox. Jarret Stoll got Los Angeles a 3-2 lead with his 12th of the season, helped along by Dustin Brown and Sturm. The Kings extended the lead to 4-2 in the third period with a goal by Doughty, his third of the year, an unassisted goal. Stoll helped Los Angeles finish off the Oilers with his second of the night and 13th of the season, with Brown and Rob Scuderi picking up the helpers on the final tally of the game. Doughty, Stoll, and Hall earned the three stars.
To the Bay Area, with the San Jose Sharks hosting the St. Louis Blues. Jaroslav Halak and Antti Niemi are guarding the cages. B.J. Crombeen puts St. Louis on the board first with his fifth of the season, assisted by Brad Winchester and Roman Polak. Dany Heatley ties the game for San Jose with his 16th of the year, a power play goal from Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski. Erik Johnson tied the game for the Blues with his fourth of the season, assisted by Patrik Berglund. San Jose took a 3-2 lead in the third period on Heatley's second of the night and 17th of the year, with help provided by Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Jason Demers. Jamie McGinn finished the Blues off with his first of the season, with the lone assist coming from Scott Nichol to present us with the final score of 4-2 Sharks over Blues. Heatley, Nichol, and McGinn earned the three stars.
That's all for Saturday's hockey games. Sunday has 5 games of hockey and 2 games of football. Football will also be covered from Saturday at the conclusion and publishing of this post.
Subscribe to:
Comments
(
Atom
)