Song of the Week IV

This week, the King of Pop makes an appearance on our weekly list, with Michael Jackson's Dangerous being the designated song. This song is set in a club, with a woman referred to as dangerous talked about throughout the song. The rhythm of the song is a consistent industrial-modern blend to my ears, lasting for a majority of the song. This was a hit off the album of the same title, and also one of Jackson's later works. This has been a favorite of mine for a long time now, with a strong and defiant message coming through. This feature will be run next week.

Sunday Hockey

One week until the All-Star Game at Raleigh, and there are five games on today. Please note that there is no hockey from Thursday-Monday, the 27-31st except for the All-Star Game. Also, on Friday, there will be coverage of the All-Star Fantasy draft between team Staal and team Lidstrom. I will post the teams up as they become available, and I can find them. As for the action today...

The Chicago Blackhawks hosted the Philadelphia Flyers in the one and only Stanley Cup rematch for this season. Sergei Bobrovsky and Corey Crawford were sent out for netminding duties. Jeff Carter put Philadelphia on the board first with his 21st of the season in the second period with help from Claude Giroux and Nikolay Zherdev. Zherdev made it 2-0 in the third period with his 15th of the year, assisted on by Giroux. Carter extended the Flyers lead to 3-0 with his second of the afternoon and 22nd of the season, with Giroux completing his sock trick with the lone assist. Chicago finally got on the board when Marian Hossa converted a penalty shot after Braydon Coburn fell on the puck, which was his eleventh of the year. Scott Hartnell secured a victory of 4-1 for the Flyers over the Blackhawks with his 17th of the season going into the empty net courtesy of Carter and the four-helper man Giroux. Picking up the three stars were Carter, Hossa, and Bobrovsky (30 for 31 saves).

Next up during the afternoon was the New Jersey Devils hosting the Florida Panthers. Scott Clemmensen faced off against the goalie he used to be backup to, Martin Brodeur. Ilya Kovalchuk put New Jersey up first with his 14th of the season, getting help from Adam Greene and Travis Zajac. With two seconds left in the first period, the Devils snagged a 2-0 lead with a Jason Arnott marker, his eleventh of the year made possible by Adam Mair and Mark Fayne. Jacob Markstrom came on to relieve Clemmensen in the second period. Florida visited the scoresheet with Shawn Matthias sinking his sixth of the season, with helpers provided by Cory Stillman and Steve Bernier. New Jersey made it 3-1 on the power play with Brian Rolston netting his fifth of the year in the net, thanks to Kovalchuk and Mattias Tedenby. Patrik Elias extended the Devils lead once again with his 13th of the season, a power play goal from Rolston and Kovalchuk. The Panthers came back with a Marty Reasoner goal in the third period to make it 4-2, with Radek Dvorak and Stillman assisting on Reasoner's tenth of the year. New Jersey would finish the game up 5-2 after the 12th of the season and second of the afternoon by Arnott, with help from Rod Pelley and Henrik Tallinder for the empty net goal. Kovalchuk, Rolston, and Elias earned the three stars.

A short travel to New York for the other noon game, Pacific time. The Islanders host the Buffalo Sabres, with Ryan Miller and Rick DiPietro guarding the cages. Paul Gaustad got Buffalo on the board just fifteen seconds in with his fifth of the season, assisted by Rob Niedermayer (as opposed to Neidermayer) and Mike Grier. New York answered with Matt Moulson putting his 16th of the year in the mesh, with help from John Tavares on the power play. The Sabres took the lead back with Tyler Ennis potting his 12th of the season, courtesy of Jochen Hecht and Jason Pominville. The Islanders tied the game back up with another Moulson tally, his second of the game and 17th of the year, receiving help from P.A. Parenteau and Tavares. Buffalo took the lead once more, this time with Nathan Gerbe notching his sixth of the season, with help from Ennis and Tyler Myers on the power play. The Sabres make it 4-2 with Myers nailing his sixth of the year, courtesy of Gerbe and Paul Byron. Jack Hillen gets New York going later in the third period with his Michael Grabner and Frans Nielsen assisted third of the year. Pominville finalized the game at 5-3 with his empty net goal for his eleventh of the season, with helpers by Steve Montador and Jordan Leopold. The three stars were awarded to Ennis, Moulson, and Miller (31 for 34 saves).

Later in the afternoon, the Tampa Bay Lightning hosted the Atlanta Thrashers. Ondrej Pavelec and Dwayne Roloson went in between the pipes. Tampa Bay struck first in the second period with Nate Thompson's seventh of the season, a shorthanded and unassisted goal. Dana Tyrell made it 2-0 Lightning with his fifth of the year, coming from Dominic Moore and Pavel Kubina. Steven Stamkos added on for Tampa Bay with his 38th of the season, with helpers by Martin St. Louis and Mike Lundin. Peter Mannino relieved Ondrej Pavelec after these three goals. The Lightning continued to pour it on, this time with St. Louis notching his 20th of the year, with help by Steve Downie. Simon Gagne kept Tampa Bay going with his seventh of the season, with assists coming from Vincent Lecavalier and Teddy Purcell. The Lightning had no trouble scoring in the third period either, led off by Kubina and his third of the year, from Purcell. Gagne made it 7-0 with his second of the game and seventh of the season, a power play goal from Lecavalier and Purcell again, with Purcell securing a sock trick. Atlanta finally got on the board when Rich Peverley put away his 13th of the year, with help from Niclas Bergfors. This was the final, with Gagne, Purcell, and Kubina getting the three stars.

Lastly, the Edmonton Oilers host the Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne and Devan Dubnyk are in place to see rubber. Nashville strikes first with an Alexander Sulzer goal, his first of the season coming from Sergei Kostitsyn and Cory Franson. Edmonton answered in the third period with Andrew Cogliano netting his seventh of the year, helped along by Liam Reddox and Theo Peckham. Joel Ward gave the Predators the lead back on his sixth of the season, getting help from Sulzer and Franson on the power play. The Oilers tied the game again with Taylor Hall putting his 15th of the year in the twine, thanks to Dustin Penner and Jim Vandermeer. Nashville would go on to topple Edmonton 3-2 in the shootout on the back of a Franson conversion, with the three stars given out to Ward, Hall, and Sulzer.

That's all for the hockey world. Monday will bring Song of the Week, Fantasy Hockey All-Stars, and Championship round recaps.

Sandwich Showdown, IV

This week we had a Chicken and Bacon on Italian bread go up against a double meat attack of Turkey and Ham on Garlic. The Chicken brought strong competition with rich and full flavors coming out very strongly. It looked like it would be hard to beat such a sandwich this week. Along came the toasted Turkey and Ham, which gave a good run, but due to BBQ sauce resources, lost out because of a high-maintenance factor. Both sandwiches were undeniably delicious. This feature will run next week.

Lyrics!

To the readers looking forward to musical posts, this should appeal to you. These are self-composed lyrics to 16 new songs. Hopefully, if my friends can do their part, these will become full-fledged songs. As the album making process is moved along, updates will be made periodically. This is the first post, detailing the lyrics as they stand now.

1. Here Today, Gone Tomorrow – Now you see it and then you don’t/It induces no fear yet it seems to haunt/You have no reasons to fear/Understand that it will be//Here today and gone tomorrow/It makes you laugh and drown in sorrow/Immense pain and endless lies/It’ll make you cry but don’t let it get you down//It isn’t here, it has left you alone/It only does this to let you stand alone/But we want you to succeed/And if it remains, it would only impede/So let it go before it’s//Here today and gone tomorrow/Dragging you down and asking to borrow/Your strength, your gifts/Anything you offer/But don’t let it take you down//If you let it stay, it’ll take away/Everything you’re proud to call your own/So let it go and it will be//Gone today for every tomorrow/Ridding all your pain and sorrow/Your heart will be filled and no longer be hollow/Leaving you with all your dreams to follow
2. This Won’t Last Forever – There is a feeling that something will happen/I wish to know what it is/The answers are not going to come clearly/But it is certainly going to happen//Despite what you want, know this won’t last forever/In your near future, it’ll disappear forever/It doesn’t matter if you’re cunning or clever/You can’t make this last forever//This afflicting clairvoyance tells me that it’s over/Seeing the future shows me that it’s over/I’d rather not see the truth that it’s over/So let us live now, before it’s over forever//Despite what you want, know this won’t last forever/In your near future, it’ll disappear forever/It doesn’t matter if you’re cunning or clever/You can’t make this last forever//I need your love/When push comes to shove/With intervention from above/Before it’s all over//Despite what you want, know this won’t last forever/In your near future, it’ll disappear forever/It doesn’t matter if you’re cunning or clever/You can’t make this last forever//I was told that we’d all die/And I cannot honestly deny/It may be over now, but not for forever/We’re gone for now, but this will last forever
3. Enlightened Future (Subliminal Messages) – Looking forward/Not behind/I am not lost/And you cannot find//This is an enlightened future/Or so it may seem/But these subliminal messages/Are simply just dreams//Making progress/But not amends/When we should be forgiving/We are only just friends/With no brightness in sight/We cannot see the light/The messages haunt the night/And the future doesn’t look so bright//This is an enlightened future/Or so it may seem/But these subliminal messages/Are simply just dreams//Someday, someway/Somebody will say/The things I said to you/They’ll be lost and confused/And they’ll do what I chose to/Let their future be enlightened/And the messages clear/Go on and do well/For you, we’ll be here.
4. Aftermath – Hold on child, while you’re falling apart/Your dreams aren’t gone unless they die in your heart/Listen because my advice is a blessing/Stop worrying and second guessing/You can be anything you want//In the aftermath/Pick yourself up off the floor/This isn’t your life anymore/Change it, create it/Make it yours/Shake the whole world to its core//There is no direction, so you can’t be lost/Take what I offer you, it comes with no cost/Think of what you do, and say a prayer/We’ll be with you, both here and there//In the aftermath/Pick yourself up off the floor/This isn’t your life anymore/Change it, create it/Make it yours/Shake the whole world to its core//Look at yourself now/You are on the mend/The newfound perfection/It will never end/You’ve changed your life/and now it’s much better/Nothing can go wrong now because you’re//In the aftermath/Pick yourself up off the floor/This isn’t your life anymore/Change it, create it/Make it yours/Shake the whole world to its core//
5. We Are the Lonely People – Look at the clock, it’s half past eight/On the day of the world’s fate/Everyone stayed home, they couldn’t bear to see/The Apocalypse and then what we’d be/The world tied in fear/Whisper in my ear//We are the lonely people/But we are the only people/Who can save the world/There is pride to be swallowed/As the leaders will follow/As lonely people save the world//The clocks are still ticking/It’s half past nine/Children and men alike/Are weeping and crying/They sit alone, in anticipation/With their hearts and minds flying/Isn’t this the day, they think/That we’re supposed to be dying?//We are the lonely people/But we are the only people/Who can save the world/There is pride to be swallowed/As the leaders will follow/As lonely people save the world//What will become of us now?/All screaming and dreaming so loud/Were those people all psychics back then?/Could they see that this was the end?/And here we wait/Wait for what will be/This is what we are/We will all be set free// We are the lonely people/But we are the only people/Who can save the world/There is pride to be swallowed/As the leaders will follow/As lonely people save the world//
6. Temporary – There’s no fire, so what’s the rush?/Why do you have to move so fast?/Slow down and enjoy your life/You know it’s only temporary//Slow down before you crash/See the beauty in another’s trash/Since this life is so temporary/And there’s so much more than cash//If you go on like this/It’s gonna knock you down/So careless, so reckless/You’re not even in it for the crown/The leaves will fall/Right after they turn brown/And you’ll lose it all/in greed, you’ll swim and drown//Slow down before you crash/See the beauty in another’s trash/Since this life is so temporary/And there’s so much more than cash//Enjoy your life while you still can/Because it is so temporary/Don’t rush it, don’t force it/Or heavy burdens you will carry/Learn to love the life your given/Or it won’t be life you’re livin’/Slow down before you crash/See the beauty in another’s trash/Since this life is so temporary/And there’s so much more than cash
7. I Stand No Chance Tonight – The world is caving in again/I stand here, watching it collapse/This isn’t what was meant to happen/And yet, it’s the fate we suffer/You come up to me/And ask me what went wrong/I have no answer to your question/But I do know this one fact//The world is ending, and I can’t stop it/The leaders are corrupted, they don’t want to stop it/You don’t understand, so you can’t stop it/Seven billion other people don’t care, and I stand no chance tonight/I can’t change a single thing/I am the defeated minority/And even if I tried/I stand no chance tonight//Alone, the world is now helpless/Consequences of the fatal war/People left stranded, lonely and hungry/Cry out for help on every shore/My heart breaks as I see this happen/To think we let it get this far/But the mess is ours, this one that we’ve made/What could have been accomplished, we’ll never know//The world is ending, and I can’t stop it/The leaders are corrupted, they don’t want to stop it/You don’t understand, so you can’t stop it/Seven billion other people don’t care, and I stand no chance tonight/I can’t change a single thing/I am the defeated minority/And even if I tried/I stand no chance tonight//Lift us up now, under the holy grail/Let us pray and beg for help/Our sins are not unforgivable/Unless we let them stay and ask for no help/Let them be buried, in this new landscape/The one that we have now been dealt/The only thing we ask for now/Is forgiveness and help//The world is ending, and I can’t stop it/The leaders are corrupted, they don’t want to stop it/You don’t understand, so you can’t stop it/Seven billion other people don’t care, and I stand no chance tonight/I can’t change a single thing/I am the defeated minority/And even if I tried/I stand no chance tonight/The world is ending, and I can’t stop it/The leaders are corrupted, they don’t want to stop it/You don’t understand, so you can’t stop it/Seven billion other people don’t care, and I stand no chance tonight/I can’t change a single thing/I am the defeated minority/And even if I tried/I stand no chance tonight//I stand no, I stand no, I stand no, I stand no chance tonight
8. Radio Active – Autotuned and automatic/Is all we hear just static?/No notes and no lyrics/We can’t hear so clear if/The sound is just noise/like the little kids and their toys/You gotta tune in to make it clearer/Make the music get much nearer//Radio, radio, give us your gift/Let us hear every single tune/The ones that are screaming/And the ones that will croon/We need to override the static/Make it sound more diplomatic/Let our ears soak up the sound//The sound in your speakers/Will make you tap your sneakers/The guitars, drum, and bass/It’s all in good taste/Fast paced techno and thumping electro/All the songs you know/The sound can open your soul/Will make you feel whole//Radio, radio, give us your gift/Let us hear every single tune/The ones that are screaming/And the ones that will croon/We need to override the static/Make it sound more diplomatic/Let our ears soak up the sound//We need to be more/Radio active/Hearing more, above the roar/More radio active/Music to everyone’s ears/Just put away your fears/It will calm your heart and nerves// Radio, radio, give us your gift/Let us hear every single tune/The ones that are screaming/And the ones that will croon/We need to override the static/Make it sound more diplomatic/Let our ears soak up the sound
9. Sunrise Village – The breaking hours of the day/With the dawn the sky awakes/Orange, red, and pink in the air/A light breeze makes the trees shake/I see the beauty/In the newborn day/We’re the only ones here/In the sunrise village//Open up the windows now/Let us bathe in the light/It feels so calm and warm/After the cold dark night/It is so welcoming/So loving and true/The colors are so natural/In all the beautiful hues//The awakening/Of the day ahead/Possibilities endless/We are ready now/Ready to savor every moment we can/This is only the beginning/Of a beautiful day//Open up the windows now/Let us bathe in the light/It feels so calm and warm/After the cold dark night/It is so welcoming/So loving and true/The colors are so natural/In all the beautiful hues//Wish upon the morning star/The one of radiant light/We have nothing to fear/with such beauty so near//Inside the sunrise village/With the beautiful light/We wish for great happiness/And we will have no frights//Open up the windows now/Let us bathe in the light/It feels so calm and warm/After the cold dark night/It is so welcoming/So loving and true/The colors are so natural/In all the beautiful hues//Wish upon the morning star/The one of radiant light/We have nothing to fear/with such beauty so near
10. Whispering Hills – The wind in the grasses/How it rustles so softly/Listen to the sound/It speaks answers to your life/The voice is so quiet/And also quite gentle/It can tell you/Everything you need to know//Listen to the whispering hills/Their insight is so deep/The things they will tell you/can easily make you weep/The climb to get there/Is most definitely steep/But with the rewards you gain/There is so much knowledge to reap//To find this place/Hidden deep in nature/You must travel very far/And disturb not a creature/It’s a tough task to complete/But well worth the time/And when you make it there/It’ll cost not a dime//(Long instrumental) Listen to the whispering hills/Their insight is so deep/The things they will tell you/can easily make you weep/The climb to get there/Is most definitely steep/But with the rewards you gain/There is so much knowledge to reap//Listen to the whispering hills/Their insight is so deep/The things they will tell you/can easily make you weep/The climb to get there/Is most definitely steep/But with the rewards you gain/There is so much knowledge to reap
11. Victorious – To any challenge/I say game on/I have no fear of losing/Because I’m never second best/The more competition/The better in my eyes/They’ve got no chance/Because I’ll be victorious//I wish you all the best of luck/But this game is mine to win/I will never leave or give up/Until the prize is in my hands/Give it everything that you’ve got/But I’ll make you very furious/This game is my destiny/To be victorious//As the competition wears on/I see them break and buckle/Running down on pride/and losing all their hustle/Only a few left standing/In the ultimate test/But they’ll fall as well/And I’ll be victorious//I wish you all the best of luck/But this game is mine to win/I will never leave or give up/Until the prize is in my hands/Give it everything that you’ve got/But I’ll make you very furious/This game is my destiny/To be victorious//Admit it all now/It’s insane we’ve made it this far/With time running down/And we all feel our scars/The morning sun is rising now/On the horizon’s crest/Close your eyes and quit/Because I’ll be victorious//I wish you all the best of luck/But this game is mine to win/I will never leave or give up/Until the prize is in my hands/Give it everything that you’ve got/But I’ll make you very furious/This game is my destiny/To be victorious//I wish you all the best of luck/But this game is mine to win/I will never leave or give up/Until the prize is in my hands/Give it everything that you’ve got/But I’ll make you very furious/This game is my destiny/To be victorious//This game/Was always mine to win/I’ll did it now/And if needed, I’ll do it again
12. The Plan – Ideas floating through my head/Thinking clearly and organized/This is quite chaotic/I can’t seem to get an order/Trying to think of what I can do/To improve the life I’m living/I concentrate and think some more/But nothing is coming of it//This is the plan to rearrange my life/To save me from the chaos that gnaws relentless/This is a plan to get me going/Motivation to improve myself from where I am//I’m now willing to take action/To save myself from the disorder/The clearest of thoughts/May still be hazy/But I am trying/Isn’t that all they can ask of me?/Trying harder than ever/To make this plan a reality//This is the plan to rearrange my life/To save me from the chaos that gnaws relentless/This is a plan to get me going/Motivation to improve myself from where I am//Listen to me now, because I need your help/This is the plan, with the details you need to follow/Please do as I say, it means the world to me/Just by asking I’ve had pride to swallow//This is the plan to rearrange my life/To save me from the chaos that gnaws relentless/This is a plan to get me going/Motivation to improve myself from where I am//From where I am/Saving me from the chaos/The plan makes it clearer/The plan is the answer
13. Manipulator – Nowhere for you to run/I’ve got you in my grasp/Your twisting and turning/Watching the time pass/I’m getting in your head/And playing with your mind/Welcome to the fake world/Harsh, cruel, and unkind//I can really twist your mind/Making you feel so hated/I am behind the scenes, but everybody knows me/I am the manipulator//No need for you to worry/Everything will be alright/I’ve seen all of this coming, no troubles/You’ll see this in a different light/I know I’ve hurt your pride/And it pains me that I did/But I did this to make life better/And soon we will be able to live//I can really twist your mind/Making you feel so hated/I am behind the scenes, but everybody knows me/I am the manipulator//You can’t stop me/You are my puppet/You can’t escape/Prepare to live a lie// I can really twist your mind/Making you feel so hated/I am behind the scenes, but everybody knows me/I am the manipulator
14. Nothing At All – Have you ever asked yourself/What does it all mean?/Often in the times of trouble/The answers are unseen//With your back against the wall/When you need someone to call/Remember what I said to you/It doesn’t mean anything at all//How does it feel/To know you have no power?/It’s a feeling so helpless/No control in that fateful hour/It’s heartbreaking to see/That you’re falling apart/Left alone, cold and lonely/With a hardened and dark heart//With your back against the wall/When you need someone to call/Remember what I said to you/It doesn’t mean anything at all//The answers that you seek/Shouldn’t mean a thing to you/Even with the knowledge/What can you really do?/It’s nothing at all/Nothing that can help/Don’t worry what everybody else thinks/Just worry about yourself//With your back against the wall/When you need someone to call/Remember what I said to you/It doesn’t mean anything at all
15. You Are the Only One For Me – The breaking of the day/Colors in the sky/So beautiful/I have always admired you/And you always inspired me/The love you give, so plentiful//The best of the best/Nothing like the rest/You are as amazing as can be/So perfect/So stunning/You are the only one for me//If I was going to listen/To what other people said/There’d be no hope left/So I follow my heart/And do what I want/To keep my dreams alive//The best of the best/Nothing like the rest/You are as amazing as can be/So perfect/So stunning/You are the only one for me//Let me show you what I can do/To give my heart to you/This is a risk I want to take/Hoping my heart won’t break/All I ask for is a chance/A chance to show what I am made of//The best of the best/Nothing like the rest/You are as amazing as can be/So perfect/So stunning/You are the only one for me//The best of the best/Nothing like the rest/You are as amazing as can be/So perfect/So stunning/You are the only one for me//
16. Against All Odds – See us where we stand/Here at home on our own land/Size us up from the distance/and show your strongest stance/Seconds left until the game begins/This place will rock until the end/Get ready now, here’s your kick/By the end you’ll have seen our tricks//Nobody expects a thing out of us/We’re ready to prove them all wrong/You’re the only side expected to win/But we’re here to put up a fight/We may not have a single chance/But we’ll try against all odds//Jumping on your quick offensive/But your lead is not extensive/We’re not gonna die quite yet/We’re just getting started so you can bet/We’ll rally back and stun them all/It is their turn to take the fall/By the middle we’ve got the tie/Pumped, ferocious, never say die//Nobody expects a thing out of us/We’re ready to prove them all wrong/You’re the only side expected to win/But we’re here to put up a fight/We may not have a single chance/But we’ll try against all odds//We take our control and settle in/How on Earth is this happening?/But we start to feel safe and let you in/Making us work hard once again/There’s the magic in the air/And now our chances are fair/And then the runner found his breaks/Making the whole building shake/No one can believe what they just saw/We just won, against all odds// Nobody expects a thing out of us/We’re ready to prove them all wrong/You’re the only side expected to win/But we’re here to put up a fight/We may not have a single chance/But we’ll try against all odds

As you can see here, there are many different feelings and emotions throughout the songs. Please, either e-mail me here or leave a comment under this post. I would love to hear any feedback about the songs, both positive and negative, although try to keep it constructive. More updates on the music will come as they are presented.

Saturday hockey

Today, hockey will run from 10 AM to 10 PM on the Pacific coast, with eleven total games being played. The first is...

The Philadelphia Flyers hosting the New Jersey Devils in an eastern matinee. Johan Hedberg and Brian Boucher are sent out to block pucks. New Jersey opens with a goal by Henrik Tallinder, his second of the season going in unassisted. Patrik Elias made it 2-0 Devils with his eleventh of the year, with help from Mark Fayne and Brian Rolston. Philadelphia answered late in the second period with a James van Riemsdyk tally, his 12th of the season seeing the sticks of Claude Giroux and Mike Richards before finding twine. New Jersey sealed the game off with another Elias goal, his second of the afternoon and 12th of the year, getting help from Rolston and Tallinder for the empty net marker. The final was 3-1, with the three stars given out to Elias, Hedberg (26 for 27 saves), and Giroux.

West a bit for the next afternoon special, as the Detroit Red Wings host bitter rivals in the Chicago Blackhawks. Corey Crawford and Jimmy Howard have earned the starts. Detroit got on the board first with the first of the year by Cory Emmerton, assisted by Brian Rafalski and Jonathan Ericsson. Dave Bolland put Chicago back into a tie with his tenth of the season, thanks to Troy Brouwer and Duncan Keith on the power play. The Blackhawks take the lead on another power play goal, this one the ninth tally of the season for Tomas Kopecky, assisted by Bolland and Keith. Kopecky tallied another one to make it 3-1 Chicago, getting help this time from Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp. Brouwer finished the scoring off, producing the final of 4-1 Blackhawks over Red Wings with his 14th of the season, from Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. The three stars went to Kopecky, Keith, and Crawford (36 for 37 saves).

The last matinee features the Colorado Avalanche hosting the Boston Bruins. Tim Thomas and Craig Anderson will guard the nets to the best of their abilities. Paul Stastny put Colorado on the board first with his 17th of the season, made possible by Kevin Shattenkirk and Chris Stewart. Boston tied the game with the eleventh of the year by Brad Marchand, courtesy of Mark Recchi and Patrice Bergeron. The Bruins took the lead with a Milan Lucic goal, his 18th of the season coming with the man advantage thanks to David Krejci and Recchi. Recchi added his own goal in the second period, his tenth of the year coming from Marchand. Lucic notched his second of the night and 19th of the year to put Boston up 4-1 late in the second, with helpers provided by Krejci and Bergeron. Shattenkirk attempted to get the Avalanche back into the game with his sixth of the season, with help from Milan Hejduk. Boston answered back with a Bergeron goal, his 16th of the year getting help along the way by Marchand and Johnny Boychuk. Marchand finished it off with his second of the night and 12th of the season, an empty net goal assisted by Gregory Campbell and Andrew Ference. Picking up the three stars in the Bruins 6-2 victory were Recchi, Lucic, and Marchand.

Now at the normally scheduled games, the Pittsburgh Penguins hosted the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward and Marc-Andre Fleury were in between the pipes. The first period was scoreless, and Pittsburgh struck late in the second frame with Dustin Jeffrey's second of the season, thanks to Brooks Orpik. The Penguins made it 2-0 in the third period with Mark Letestu notching his tenth of the year, a power play goal from Chris Kunitz and Kris Letang. It became 3-0 with Pascal Dupuis netting his tenth of the year, a shorthanded goal made possible by Jordan Staal and Paul Martin. Carolina got on the board with Sergei Samsonov potting his ninth of the season, with help from Jiri Tlusty. Eric Staal cut the deficit to 3-2 with his 23rd of the season, assisted by Joe Corvo and Joni Pitkanen, but the Penguins weathered the last fifty-eight seconds and won by the previously mentioned score. The three stars went to Fleury (24 for 26 saves), Jordan Staal, and Eric Staal.

Down the coast a bit, the Atlanta Thrashers host the New York Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist and Ondrej Pavelec made the goalie appearances. Nik Antropov put Atlanta out front first with his eighth of the season, helped along by Tobias Enstrom and Tim Stapleton. Wojtek Wolski tied it for New York in the second period with his ninth of the year, coming from Derek Stepan and Dan Girardi. The Thrashers retook the lead via Anthony Stewart notching his 12th of the season, assisted by Bryan Little and Andrew Ladd. Brian Boyle tied it up for the Rangers again with his 17th of the year, with Kris Newbury and Mike Sauer getting the helpers. The tie lasted into the shootout, where New York toppled Atlanta with Mats Zuccarello putting his away and giving his team a 3-2 win. The three stars were awarded to Zuccarello, Antropov, and Boyle.

To the Canadian hockey hub, where the Toronto Maple Leafs hosted the Washington Capitals. Braden Holtby and Jean-Sebastien Giguere tended the twines. Washington scored first with Alex Ovechkin nailing his 17th of the season, assisted by Jeff Schultz and Nicklas Backstrom. Early in the third period, the Capitals got up 2-0 on another Ovechkin goal, his 18th of the year and second of the night, with helpers by Mike Green and Jason Chimera. Toronto got on the board with a Tim Brent goal, his fourth of the season, helped along by Jay Rosehill and Dion Phaneuf. Washington later took the two goal lead back with a Matt Hendricks tally, his sixth of the year requiring no assistance to get to the net. Ovechkin completed his hat trick with an empty net goal for his 19th of the season, making it 4-1 with help from Backstrom and John Carlson. Holtby (35 for 36 saves), Ovechkin, and Phaneuf earned the three stars.

Staying north to a much-anticipated reunion game for the Montreal Canadiens with Saku Koivu returning as an Anaheim Duck to the Bell Centre. Jonas Hiller and Carey Price took their normal spots in front of the net. Cam Fowler struck first for Anaheim with his fourth of the season, a power play goal powered along by Lubomir Visnovsky and Teemu Selanne. Montreal tied the game at 1 with a Max Pacioretty marker, his fifth of the year receiving assistance from Scott Gomez on the power play. Bobby Ryan retook the lead for the Ducks with his 22nd of the season, thanks to Joffery Lupul. Anaheim made it 3-1 with Corey Perry putting away his 25th of the year on the power play, assisted by Saku Koivu and Selanne. Mathieu Darche started the Canadiens back on the path with his eighth of the season, courtesy of Yannick Weber and Andrei Kostitsyn. Pacioretty supplied his second of the night for Montreal, tying the game at three with his sixth of the year, courtesy of Tomas Plekanec and P.K. Subban on the mad advantage. The tie lasted into the shooutout, where the lone tally came from Bobby Ryan, giving the Ducks a 4-3 victory over the Canadiens. The three stars were given to Ryan, Koivu, and Pacioretty.

Next up, the St. Louis Blues hosted the Columbus Blue Jackets. Steve Mason and Jaroslav Halak had the goaltending responsibilities. While both teams feature blue in the name, the game started off black and blue with two fights, as Brad Winchester and Derek Dorsett dropped the mitts ten seconds in, followed by the sequel involving B.J. Crombeen and Jared Boll. St. Louis got into the scoring mindset first with Eric Brewer putting away his seventh of the season, with help from Alex Steen and Brad Boyes. Patrik Berglund made it 2-0 shortly after with his eleventh of the year, a power play goal made possible by Steen and Alex Pietrangelo. Columbus finally found twine off the stick of Antoine Vermette, his eleventh receiving assistance from R.J. Umberger and Kristian Huselius. The Blue Jackets tied the game with Jared Boll notching his fifth of the season, assisted by Derek MacKenzie and Matt Calvert. Andrew Murray gave Columbus a 3-2 lead with his third of the campaign, with the puck visiting the sticks of Jan Hejda and Samuel Pahlsson before finding his stick and the twine. Rick Nash made it 4-2 for the Blue Jackets with his 22nd of the year, a power play goal courtesy of Derick Brassard and Jakub Voracek. Fedor Tyutin iced the game off at 5-2 with his fifth of the season, an empty netter from Brassard and Voracek. The three stars were given to Nash, Boll, and Pietrangelo.

To the desert, where the Phoenix Coyotes hosted the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick and Ilya Bryzgalov were in the creases. Justin Williams put Los Angeles up early with his 18th of the season, helped along by Ryan Smyth. Drew Doughty made it 2-0 Kings with his fourth of the year, assisted by Anze Kopitar and Brad Ricahrdson. Alec Martinez extended the Los Angeles lead to 3-0 with his third of the season, thanks to Matt Greene. Lee Stempniak got Phoenix on the board after an early shellacking with his 13th of the campaign, helped along by Taylor Pyatt and Eric Belanger. Martin Hanzal continued the efforts with a power play goal in the second period, his eleventh of the season made possible by Keith Yandle and Ray Whitney. Stempniak tied it late in the second period with his second of the night and 14th of the year, with assists provided by Pyatt and Yandle. The Kings regrouped themselves in the third period, and notched the only goal of that frame to retake the lead and the eventual win over the Coyotes with Jarret Stoll's 14th of the year, assisted by Smyth and Jack Johnson. The three stars were awarded to Stempniak, Stoll, and Paul Bissonnette (who did nothing spectacular in his 7:51 of ice time, besides record 1 shot and stay out of the penalty box. We assume he earned the third star for his Twitter account, his soul patch, and mustache, the latter two mentioned pictured here.)

Into live action (finally caught up) with the Vancouver Canucks hosting the Calgary Flames. Miikka Kiprusoff and Roberto Luongo and subjected to a barrage of shots for the game. Vancouver got out to the early lead with Alexander Edler scoring his seventh of the season, from Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin. Brendan Morrison got Calgary into a tie with his eighth of the year, assisted by Tim Jackman and Jarome Iginla on the power play. Twenty seconds later, Curtis Glencross put away his eleventh of the season for the Flames, giving them a 2-1 lead with the help of Matt Stajan. Edler tied it for the Canucks with his eighth of the year and second of the night, assisted by Alexandre Burrows and Christian Ehrhoff. Calgary takes a 3-2 lead on a Jackman goal, with assists from Adam Pardy and Mikael Backlund. Ryan Kesler put Vancouver back into a tie with his 26th of the year, a shorthanded goal with help from Burrows and the goalie Roberto Luongo. The tie lasted into the shootout, with Jeff Tambellini and Rene Bourque exchanging tallies before a controversial winner by Alex Tanguay (watch for yourself here). The three stars in the Flames 4-3 win over the Canucks were Edler, Morrison, and Burrows.

Down the west coast to San Jose, where the Sharks host the Minnesota Wild. Niklas Backstrom and Antti Niemi were sent out for the starts in the final game of the day. San Jose struck first with Logan Couture notching his 22nd of the season, assisted by Jason Demers. Minnesota responded with Mikko Koivu potting his 13th of the year, a power play goal made possible by Brent Burns. The Sharks take a 2-1 lead in the second period with the eighth of the season by Devin Setoguchi, with helpers provided by Patrick Marleau and Dan Boyle. San Jose extended the lead to 3-1 with Setoguchi striking on the power play with his second of the night and ninth of the year, with help from Joe Pavelski and Marleau. The Wild got a goal back when Koivu netted his second of the night and 14th of the season, a power play goal from Matt Cullen and Burns. The Sharks took the lead up to 4-2 with Benn Ferriero scoring his fifth of the year, courtesy of Joe Thornton and Jamie McGinn. Minnesota attempted to come back starting with Burns' 14th of the season, helped along by Cal Clutterbuck and Pierre-Marc Bouchard, however they fell 4-3 after mustering up no further scoring. The three stars were handed out to Setoguchi, Burns, and McGinn.

That's all for Saturday. Sunday will have a Sandwich showdown, Championship round football summaries, hockey games, and a special Lyrics post for the songs I wrote and will be passing along to the musicians I know. This is not in order, so keep eyes peeled for these throughout the day.

Friday NHL games

Tonight we have four games on, starting with the...

Buffalo Sabres hosting the New York Islanders. Nathan Lawson and Ryan Miller got the starts. New York struck first with a Michael Grabner goal, his 13th of the season, assisted by Rob Schremp. Matt Moulson made it 2-0 Islanders with his 15th of the year, from Andrew MacDonald and Travis Hamonic. Both teams had new goalies in for the second period, with Kevin Poulin going out for New York and Patrick Lalime taking the crease for Buffalo. P.A. Parenteau made it 3-0 for the Islanders with his 12th of the season, courtesy of John Tavares. Jack Hillen makes it 4-0 New York on his second of the year, with help from Blake Comeau and Schremp. The Sabres finally visit the scoreboard with Nathan Gerbe putting away his fourth of the year, from Mike Weber. Five seconds later, Gerbe put away another, his fifth of the season to make it 4-2, with Mike Grier getting the assist. Grabner put the dagger in with two seconds left in the game, with help from Kyle Okposo into the empty net, making it 5-2 Islanders over Sabres, and the three stars are given to Tavares, Gerbe, and Moulson.

Up for a Canadian special with the Ottawa Senators hosting the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and Mike Brodeur get the starting rights for the game. Benoit Pouliot got Montreal on the board first with his tenth of the season, thanks to Mathieu Darche and Yannick Weber. Tomas Plekanec put the Canadiens up 2-1 with his 15th of the year, assisted by Andrei Kostitsyn. Ottawa got one back with Chris Kelly putting away his tenth of the season, helped along by Chris Campoli and Zack Smith. Brian Gionta took that goal back in the second period with his 16th of the year, coming from Scott Gomez and Max Pacioretty. Pacioretty made it 4-1 Montreal with his fourth of the season, a power play goal with help from Gomez and James Wisniewski. Brian Elliott came on to relieve Mike Brodeur, but Plekanec made it look futile with his second of the night and 16th of the year, going in unassisted. The Canadiens made it 6-1 early in the third period with Kostitsyn's 13th of the season, an unassisted goal. P.K. Subban kept it going with his fifth of the year, a power play goal assisted by Wisniewski and David Desharnais. The final had the Canadiens crushing the rival Senators 7-1, with three stars going to Plekanec, Kostitsyn and Price (33 for 34 saves).

Down far south, the Florida Panthers host their instate rivals from Tampa Bay, the Lightning. Dan Ellis and Tomas Vokoun are in the creases. Fifty seconds in, Florida struck with a Cory Stillman goal, his sixth of the season coming from Shawn Matthias and Jason Garrison. Steve Downie tied it for Tampa Bay with his fourth of the year, assisted by Steven Stamkos and Martin St. Louis. Dominic Moore won the game for Tampa Bay in the shootout, as the second, third, and overtime frame went scoreless, giving him first star, followed by David Booth and Dan Ellis (29 for 30 saves).

Lastly, the Calgary Flames host the road warrior Dallas Stars. Backup goalies Andrew Raycroft and Henrik Karlsson are seeing some ice time tonight. Calgary struck first with an Alex Tanguay goal, his 12th of the season, assisted by Brendan Morrison and Robyn Regehr. Brenden Morrow tied the game for Dallas with his 19th of the year, from Mike Ribeiro and Jamie Benn. The Stars ran the lead to 2-1 with a Brad Richards goal, his 19th of the season, assisted by Ribeiro and Stephane Robidas. The Flames got a tying goal out of Olli Jokinen, his ninth of the year coming from David Moss. Calgary took the lead 3-2 with a Mikael Backlund goal from Tim Jackman and Adam Pardy, his fifth of the year. David Moss made it 4-2 Flames with his ninth of the season, with help from Niklas Hagman and Cory Sarich. Fifty-four seconds later, Calgary had another goal, Morrison's sixth of the year, with help coming from Tanguay and Jarome Iginla. Shortly after, Dallas regained that goal back with the first of the season by Nicklas Grossman, thanks to Ribeiro, who completed his sock trick. The Stars cut the lead to 5-4 with a James Neal goal thirty-one seconds into the third period, with assists doled out to Jamie Langenbrunner and Brad Richards on his 20th of the year. Iginla answered back with his own 20th of the season, an unassisted goal. Moss makes it 7-4 Calgary with his tenth of the year and second of the night, a power play goal made possible by Jokinen and Mark Giordano. This was the final, with Moss Morrison, and Ribeiro getting the three stars.

That's all for Friday's hockey. Tomorrow I will attempt to cover the games on, and I am also going to have a copy of the songs that I wrote for a friend up when I can type them. These could be going somewhere musically, and I will keep you posted. Look for posts with titles including the word lyrics.

Thursday NHL action, live

There is a heavy slate of games on tonight, so we'll jump right in. First...

The Carolina Hurricanes host the New York Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist and Cam Ward will tend the twine. Carolina gets out to the early lead on a Char LaRose goal, assisted by Jeff Skinner and Tuomo Ruutu as his tenth of the season. Jussi Jokinen made it 2-0 Hurricanes with his 12th of the year, a power play goal helped along by Joe Corvo and Ruutu. Brandon Sutter continued Carolina's scoring spree with his eighth of the season, assisted on by Sergei Samsonov. New York finally visits the scoreboard in the third period with Brandon Prust putting his sixth of the year away, with help from Chad Kolarik and Ryan McDonagh. Skinner silenced the rally by the Rangers with his 17th of the season, from LaRose. LaRose, Skinner, and Ward (39 for 40 saves) got the three stars in the 4-1 Carolina victory.

Into Boston, where the Bruins host the Buffalo Sabres. Ryan Miller and Tuukka Rask get the starting nods. Dennis Seidenberg puts Boston up first with his fourth of the season, thanks to Mark Stuart and Marc Savard. Buffalo answers in the second period with a goal by Cody McCormick, his seventh of the season coming from Tim Connolly and Tyler Ennis. The Bruins retake the lead on a Gregory Campbell goal, his seventh of the year getting help from Blake Wheeler and Shawn Thornton. The Sabres got back into a tie with a Nathan Gerbe power play goal, his third of the year assisted by Tyler Myers and Ennis. Buffalo takes a 3-2 lead on a Thomas Vanek goal, his 18th of the season going unassisted. The Sabres extend the lead with Jason Pominville netting his tenth of the year, from Vanek and Jochen Hecht. The final had Buffalo over Boston 4-2, with the three stars going to Paul Gaustad, Gerbe, and Andrej Sekera, but I think the officials got this one wrong, and my personal three stars are Vanek, Ennis, and Miller (38 for 40 saves).

Up north to Toronto, where the Maple Leafs host the traveling Anaheim Ducks. Jonas Hiller and Jean-Sebastien Giguere face off in a battle of teacher and student. Dan Sexton registered his third of the season for Anaheim to give them the early lead, with help from Lubomir Visnovsky and Matt Beleskey. Clarke MacArthur tied the game at 1 for Toronto with his 15th of the year, from Phil Kessel and Tyler Bozak. The Ducks retake the lead with Maxim Lapierre netting his sixth of the season, courtesy of Brandon McMillan and Joffery Lupul. Carl Gunnarsson gets the Maple Leafs back into a tie with his third of the year, from MacArthur. Toronto takes the lead on a Bozak goal, his eighth of the season, from Kessel and Dion Phaneuf. Mikhail Grabovski gets Toronto going again with two in a row, his 19th and 20th of the season, the first going unassisted and the second coming off of MacArthur. The final would have the Maple Leafs defeating the Ducks 5-2, with the three stars handed out to Giguere (26 for 28 saves), Grabovski, and Bozak.

Back down south to Atlanta, where the Thrashers host the Tampa Bay Lightning. Dwayne Roloson and Ondrej Pavelec get to guard the cages. Niclas Bergfors puts Atlanta up early with his tenth of the season, made possible by Freddy Meyer and Nigel Dawes. Steven Stamkos provided the tying goal for Tampa Bay in his 36th of the year, an unassisted goal. Anthony Stewart and the Thrashers took the lead back with his eleventh of the year, thanks to Nik Antropoc and Brent Sopel on the power play. Stamkos put the Lightning back in a tie with his second of the night and 37th of the season, with help from Steve Downie and Pavel Kubina. Tampa Bay got the game 3-2 in the shootout after Adam Hall traded a barb with Bryan Little, leading to Dominic Moore's game winner. The three stars are Stamkos, Moore, and Bergfors.

Continuing the vertical zig-zag, the New Jersey Devils host the Pittsburgh Penguins. Brent Johnson and Martin Brodeur are guarding the cages. Brian Rolston puts New Jersey ahead early with his fourth of the season, courtesy of Patrik Elias and Andy Greene. The Devils go up 2-0 on a Nick Palmieri goal, his third of the year going down unassisted. The final was the same score as the second and third periods went scoreless, with Brodeur (23 save shutout), Rolston, and Palmieri getting the three stars.

Short travel to Long Island, where the New York Islanders host the Washington Capitals. Facing the opposing shooters are Braden Holtby and Rick DiPietro. Jason Chimera puts Washington up early with his seventh of the season, from Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom. The Capitals take the lead to 2-0 with Backstrom notching his 12th of the year, with help from Ovechkin and John Carlson. New York gets on the board with Michael Grabner putting away his 12th of the season, with Josh Bailey picking up the assist. Washington weathered through over a period of scoreless play to win 2-1 over the Islanders, with the three stars going to Backstrom, Ovechkin, and Grabner.

The final game teeing off on the earliest wave of puck drops is the Philadelphia Flyers hosting the Ottawa Senators. Brian Elliott and Sergei Bobrovsky are in between the pipes. Danny Briere puts Philadelphia up early with his 25th of the season, assisted by Andrej Meszaros and Sean O'Donnell. Mike Richards makes it 2-0 Flyers with his 16th of the year, thanks to Braydon Coburn and Andreas Nodl. Richards adds on his second of the night and 17th of the season to make it 3-0 with the power play tally from Chris Pronger and Kimmo Timmonen, good for Pronger's first point since returning from injury. Ottawa finally responds with a Milan Michalek goal, his eleventh of the year going in with help from Jarkko Ruutu shorthanded. Nick Foligno continues the Senators surge with his eighth of the year, thanks to Mike Fisher and Daniel Alfredsson. The Flyers rebuild a portion of their lead with Scott Hartnell notching his 16th of the season, with Briere and Ville Leino grabbing the helpers. Philadelphia makes it 5-2 with James van Riemsdyk notching his eleventh of the year, with the helpers from Richards and Pronger. The Flyers extend the lead farther with Meszaros putting his third of the year, a power play goal from Claude Giroux, prompting a late goalie change for the Senators, with Mike Borduer coming on to relieve Brian Elliott. Philadelphia took Ottawa down 6-2, with the three stars given out to nobody because everyone was in the penalty box after the 5-fight, 126-penalty minute game. To put this in perspective, each team had at least one player penalized for longer than the game was played. On Ottawa's side, the fighters were Jesse Winchester, Nick Foligno, Chris Neil, Jarkko Ruutu, and Matt Carkner, with misconducts handed out to Zack Smith, Neil, and Carkner. Their minors for roughing featured Neil twice, Chris Campoli, Ryan Shannon and Carkner. The Philadelphia fighting majors went to Jeff Carter, Claude Giroux, Jody Shelley, Scott Hartnell, and Sean O'Donnell. Misconducts were doled out to Shelley and O'Donnell. The roughing minors featured just Darroll Powe twice. Three stars are actually Richards, Briere, and Meszaros.

The St. Louis Blues were the next to start, hosting the Detroit Red Wings. Jimmy Howard and Jaroslav Halak are in the creases. Detroit gets the first goal with Patrick Eaves scoring his 13th of the season, made possible by Henrik Zetterberg. Todd Bertuzzi put the lead at 2-0 Red Wings with his eighth of the year, courtesy of Valtteri Filppula and Jiri Hudler. Jakub Kindl makes it 3-0 for Detroit with his first of the season, helped along by Filppula and Hudler. St. Louis enters the scoring with T.J. Oshie potting his second of the year, returning from injury and getting help from Patrik Berglund and Roman Polak. The Blues inched closer to a tie with Berglund potting his tenth of the season, assisted by Vladimir Sobotka and Alex Pietrangelo. David Backes got St. Louis into a 3-3 tie with his 15th of the year, with help from Brad Boyes and Alex Steen. Darren Helm gave the Red Wings the win in overtime with his fifth of the season, from the sock trick completion by Hudler and Niklas Kronwall. In the 4-3 victory, Filppula, Oshie, and Bertuzzi got the three stars.

Heading into Colorado, with the Avalanche hosting the Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne and Craig Anderson get the starts. Nashville takes the early lead on the 12th of the season by Sergei Kostitsyn, with help from Martin Erat and Marcel Goc. The Predators make it 2-0 with Cody Franson nailing his sixth of the year, courtesy of Patric Hornqvist and David Legwand. Nashville went up 3-0 on a Matt Halischuk goal, his first of the season getting help from Shane O'Brien and J.P. Dumont. Shortly thereafter, the Predators tacked on another from Legwand, his sixth of the year coming from Hornqvist and Franson. Colin Wilson kept Nashville going with his 12th of the season, assisted by Shea Weber and Kevin Klein. Colorado finally scored to make it 5-1 when Matt Duchene netted his 19th of the year, thanks to Kevin Shattenkirk and Chris Stewart. This was the final, with Rinne (32 for 33 saves), Franson, and Ryan Suter earning the three stars.

Up north in Canada, where the Edmonton Oilers host the Dallas Stars. Kari Lehtonen and Nikolai Khabibulin are out to stop the shots. Jamie Benn notches his 13th of the season to put Dallas up early, with help from Adam Burish and Stephane Robidas. Ryan Jones quickly ties the game for Edmonton, potting his eleventh of the year thanks to Andrew Cogliano while shorthanded. Mike Ribeiro gives the Stars the lead back with his tenth of the year, assisted on by Nicklas Grossman. James Neal made it 3-1 Dallas with his 19th of the season, a power play goal helped along by Benn. The Oilers got a goal back when Jeff Petry netted his first of the season, thanks to Ladislav Smid and Magnus Paajarvi. The Stars did ice the game at 4-2 with Burish's sixth of the year into an empty net unassisted. Benn, Paajarvi, and Neal got the three stars.

Also in Canada, the Vancouver Canucks host the San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi and Roberto Luongo will be tending the twines. Henrik Sedin opens the scoring for Vancouver with his tenth of the season, helped along by Daniel Sedin and Dan Hamhuis. San Jose tied it with Logan Couture notching his 21st of the year unassisted. late in third. San Jose took the game 2-1 in the shootout because of Joe Pavelski's goal. The three stars went to winning goalie Luongo (45 for 46 saves), losing goalie Niemi (36 for 37 saves), and Henrik Sedin.

Lastly, the Los Angeles Kings host the Phoenix Coyotes. Ilya Bryzgalov and Jonathan Quick are given the responsibility to block the shots. Phoenix opened the scoring in the second period with Martin Hanzal getting his tenth of the season, a power play goal assisted on by Ray Whitney and Keith Yandle. Fifty-seven seconds later, Lee Stempniak added his 12th of the year, an unassisted goal. This was the final after the scoreless third period with Bryzgalov (36 save shutout), Hanzal, and Willie Mitchell getting the three stars.

That's all for hockey. Live blogging will likely be continued on Friday night.