Yesterday, there were eight games on, all of which I missed the opportunity to cover at that time due to a heavy workload which continues into today. They started off in...
New Jersey, with the Devils hosting the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward and Johan Hedberg took to the nets. The first tally was recorded by Ilya Kovalchuk for New Jersey in the second period, his 20th of the season going in thanks to Nick Palmieri and Travis Zajac. Brian Rolston padded the lead for the Devils with his ninth of the year, assisted by Patrik Elias and Anssi Salmela. Elias later added his own for New Jersey, making it 3-0 on his 14th of the season with the help of Rolston and Mark Fayne. Carolina got into the scoring with the tenth of the campaign by Sergei Samsonov from Jiri Tlusty. Tuomo Ruutu put the Hurricanes within a goal on his 14th of the year via Eric Staal and Jamie McBain, but the remaining five second was not enough time for an equalizer. Hedberg (25 for 27 saves), Kovalchuk, and Elias earned the three stars in the 3-2 Devils win.
Later, the Buffalo Sabres hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs. Jean-Sebastien Giguere and Ryan Miller made the starts, but Giguere left after the first period with an injury and was replaced by James Reimer. Toronto struck first in the second period with Phil Kessel netting his 22nd of the season, courtesy of Tomas Kaberle and Joffery Lupul. The Maple Leafs took the lead up to 2-0 with the first of the campaign by Joey Crabb, a shorthanded goal coming from Tim Brent. Buffalo attempted to get back into the game with Paul Gaustad's eighth of the year, as Drew Stafford and Chris Butler picked up the helpers. This wouldn't be enough, and Toronto held on to beat the Sabres 2-1, giving the three stars to Lupul, Kessel, and Miller (28 for 30 saves).
Out west, the Columbus Blue Jackets hosted the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick and Mathieu Garon got the starting honors. Los Angeles struck first with Justin Williams potting his 20th of the season with help from Andrei Loktionov and Alec Martinez. Columbus tied it later with Jakub Voracek notching his eleventh of the year, helped along by Derek MacKenzie and Rick Nash. Loktionov gave the Kings the lead back in the second period with his fourth of the season, made possible by Matt Greene. Nash replied for the Blue Jackets with his 27th of the year, assisted by MacKenzie and Grant Clitsome. Los Angeles replied with the eighth of the season for Drew Doughty, making it 3-2 after assistance by Michal Handzus and Anze Kopitar. Columbus got another equalizer late in the period with Kris Russell potting his third of the year, from Voracek and Nash. The tie lasted into a shootout, where the only goal came from Jarret Stoll, giving the Kings the 4-3 victory. The three stars were awarded to Nash, Loktionov, and MacKenzie.
Down south, the Florida Panthers hosted the Philadelphia Flyers. Sergei Bobrovsky and Tomas Vokoun were assigned to the creases. Philadelphia struck first with a Mike Richards goal, his 18th of the season going to twine with help from newly-acquired Kris Versteeg and noted pugilist Dan Carcillo. Andreas Nodl made it 2-0 Flyers with his tenth of the year, assisted by Danny Briere and Scott Hartnell. James van Riemsdyk kept Philadelphia going with his 14th of the season, courtesy of Briere and Chris Pronger. Florida got on the board in the third period with Rostislav Olesz scoring his sixth of the year on the power play via Jason Garrison and Marty Reasoner. The Panthers got within one when David Booth nailed his 16th of the season into the mesh unassisted. However, the Flyers put the dagger in with an empty-netter by Briere, his 28th of the year, with the help of Nodl and Kimmo Timonen to secure a 4-2 victory. Briere, Booth, and van Riemsdyk picked up the three stars.
West again, to the United Center, where the Chicago Blackhawks hosted the Minnesota Wild. Jose Theodore and Corey Crawford put on the masks. Brian Campbell scored in the first period for Chicago with help from Dave Bolland and Marian Hossa for his third of the season, a power play goal. The next goal came from Minnesota in the third period, a power play goal by Matt Cullen, his eleventh of the year getting steam from Jared Spurgeon and Mikko Koivu. Thirty-four seconds later, the Blackhawks reclaimed the lead with another power play goal from Troy Brouwer, his 17th of the season going down thanks to Bolland and Duncan Keith. Chicago sealed the game at 3-1 with a Jake Dowell empty net goal, his sixth of the year made possible by a sock trick-earning Bolland and Hossa. The three stars went to Crawford (33 for 34 saves), Brouwer, and Theodore (34 for 36 saves).
Heading up in the air a mile, for the Colorado Avalanche hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury and Peter Budaj guarded the cages. Pittsburgh struck first with Joe Vitale scoring his first of the season, assisted by Brett Sterling and Paul Martin. Colorado tied the game in the second period with Chris Stewart scoring his 13th of the year, thanks to David Jones and John-Michael Liles. The Avalanche took a lead with Cameron Gaunce scoring his first of the season, with the help of Matt Hunwick and Paul Stastny. Thirty-two seconds later, the Penguins tied it with Jordan Staal getting his sixth of the year, via Nick Johnson and Kris Letang. The tie lasted into overtime, where Pittsburgh took the 3-2 win over Colorado with Tyler Kennedy's 12th of the campaign on the power play from Alex Goligoski and Letang. Kennedy, Gaunce, and Vitale earned the three stars.
Up in Canada, the Calgary Flames hosted the Dallas Stars. Kari Lethonen and Miikka Kiprusoff were in between the pipes. Calgary was the first to score with Olli Jokinen getting his 13th of the season with the help of Mark Giordano and David Moss. Dallas replied in the second period with Mike Ribeiro notching his eleventh of the year with helpers by Brenden Morrow and Jamie Langenbrunner. Langenbrunner (is there an echo on this blog? *this blog*) added on his sixth of the season to give the Stars a 2-1 lead thanks to James Neal and Trevor Daley. The Flames tied it on the power play with Tom Kostopolous getting his fifth of the year, courtesy of Rene Bourque and Anton Babchuk. Calgary took the lead back in the third period on the third of the season by Cory Sarich, helped along by Mikael Backlund. Making it 4-2 Flames was Steve Staios with his second of the year, a shorthanded goal coming off of Bourque and Matt Stajan. This was the eventual final, giving the three stars to Giordano, Bourque, and Kiprusoff (22 for 24 saves).
Lastly, the Anaheim Ducks hosted the Washington Capitals. Semyon Varlamov and Curtis McElhinney tended the twines to start with. Ryan Getzlaf put Anaheim in front first with his 14th of the season, a power play goal from Jason Blake and Bobby Ryan. Washington answered with an Alex Ovechkin tally, his 22nd of the year going down thanks to Nicklas Backstrom and Karl Alzner. Brooks Laich put the Capitals out front with his unassisted 12th of the season. The Ducks tied the game back up with Teemu Selanne's 18th of the year, courtesy of Saku Koivu and Luca Sbisa. Toni Lydman made it 3-2 for Anaheim with his third of the season, off the sticks of Corey Perry and Getzlaf previously. Perry kept the Ducks going with his 29th of the year, a shorthanded goal made possible by Sbisa and Brandon McMillan. Washington turned the tide with Dave Steckel's fifth of the season, courtesy of Boyd Gordon and Matt Hendricks. Alexander Semin tied it for the Capitals with his 19th of the year, with Marcus Johansson and Ovechkin picking up the helpers. Anaheim regained the lead with Lubomir Visnovsky potting his ninth of the season to make it 5-4, with the help of Perry and Getzlaf. Mike Knuble tied it again for Washington with his 14th of the year in the third period, from Backstrom and Alzner. The Ducks went back out in front on the 28th of the season by Bobby Ryan, which allowed both Getzlaf and Perry to get sock tricks with their assists. However, the Capitals had more to come, and ended up winning on Semin's hat trick completion with his 20th and 21st coming consecutively. The assists were doled out to Scott Hannan, Hendricks, Laich, and the sock trick earning Alzner, producing the 7-6 final. Perry, Semin, and Getzlaf earned the three stars.
Sorry for the delay, Thursday's games out tomorrow afternoon.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
2/15 Hockey
Tonight, there are seven games being played. However, before we dive in, the Toronto Maple Leafs have traded Kris Versteeg to the Philadelphia Flyers for their 1st and 3rd round picks in the next draft. As for the Maple Leafs...
They were hosted by Boston tonight. The goalies are James Reimer and Tim Thomas. Boston struck first, with Daniel Paille registering his second of the season, with help from Mark Stuart and Gregory Campbell. Toronto tied the game with Phil Kessel potting his 20th of the year on the power play with the help of Dion Phaneuf, and the newest Leaf, Joffery Lupul. The Maple Leafs went up 2-1 with Mikhail Grabovski scoring his 23rd of the season, thanks to Mike Komisarek and Carl Gunnarsson. Campbell retied the game for the Bruins with a power play goal of his own, his eighth of the year going in via Brad Marchand and Michael Ryder. Boston took a 3-2 lead with Patrice Bergeron sinking his 20th of the season, courtesy of Adam McQuaid and Mark Recchi. Kessel replied with his second of the game and 21st of the campaign, another power play goal gaining steam from Lupul and Tomas Kaberle. The Maple Leafs took a 4-3 lead on Grabovski's second of the game and 24th of the year, helped along by Clarke MacArthur and Phaneuf. This was the final, and the three stars went to Grabovski, Kessel, and Campbell.
Heading north of the border, the Ottawa Senators hosted the New York Islanders. Nathan Lawson and Brian Elliott were given the starting duties. Bobby Butler put Ottawa out front first with his second of the season, assisted by Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek on the power play. New York replied with a Blake Comeau tally, his 15th of the year going in via Ty Wishart and Jesse Joensuu. Ryan Shannon put the Senators back in front with his fifth of the season, also a power play goal, with helpers by Butler and Michalek. The Islanders tied the game on the 25th of the year by Michael Grabner, a shorthanded and unassisted goal. Josh Bailey put New York in front with his seventh of the season, made possible by Grabner and Okposo. Ottawa retied the game on a Erik Karlsson goal from Erik Condra and Zack Smith, good as his ninth of the year. The Islanders took the game in the shootout on Frans Nielsen's goal, which came after Alex Kovalev and Rob Schremp exchanged tallies. The three stars were Shannon, Grabner, and Butler.
Staying in Canada, the Montreal Canadiens host the Buffalo Sabres. Jhonas Enroth and Carey Price tended the twines. Montreal struck first with a Max Pacioretty power play goal, his tenth of the season going down with help from Tomas Plekanec and Roman Hamrlik. Benoit Pouliot made it 2-0 Canadiens with his 13th of the year, assisted by David Desharnais and James Wisniewski. Buffalo got on the board with a Drew Stafford marker, his 24th of the season going in thanks to Thomas Vanek and Tim Connolly on the power play. The Sabres tied it with Jason Pominville getting his 13th of the year in the third period, with assists by Jochen Hecht and Nathan Gerbe. The tie lasted into a shootout, where Montreal scored with Desharnais, Plekanec, and Pacioretty, and Buffalo got tallies from Vanek, Tyler Ennis, and Gerbe before winning it with Hecht. The three stars were Hecht, Pouliot, and Pacioretty.
Moving along to the Tampa Bay Lightning hosting the Philadelphia Flyers. Brian Boucher and Dwayne Roloson were in the creases.Opening the game was a fight between Randy Jones and James van Riemsdyk. Philadelphia opened the scoring with a van Riemsdyk tally, his 13th of the season coming from Claude Giroux and Jeff Carter. Tampa Bay answered back with Dominic Moore netting his tenth of the year in the second period with the help of Adam Hall. The Flyers regained the lead on a power play goal by Scott Hartnell, his 18th of the season made possible by van Riemsdyk, who earned himself a Gordie Howe hat trick, and Andrej Meszaros. Darroll Powe made it 3-1 Philadelphia with his conversion of a penalty shot after a Steven Stamkos hooking call, his fifth goal of the year. The Lightning got back within a goal on the tally from Vincent Lecavalier, a power play goal good as his 13th of the season coming off of Marc-Andre Bergeron and Martin St. Louis. Teddy Purcell tied the game for Tampa Bay with his 12th of the year, thanks to Pavel Kubina and Michael Vernace. The tie went through the third period and overtime to a shootout where goals were exchanged by Moore and Mike Richards before the Flyers defeated the Lightning with Kimmo Timonen's goal. The three stars went to Moore, van Riemsdyk, and Victor Hedman.
Playing out west were the Nashville Predators, who hosted the San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi and Pekka Rinne put on the masks for the game. Nashville struck first with Cody Franson scoring his eighth of the campaign on the power play with the help of Steve Sullivan and David Legwand. San Jose answered with a tying goal in the second period from Devin Setoguchi, his 12th of the season going down thanks to Kent Huskins and Patrick Marleau. The tie lasted throughout the third period until the Sharks won the game 2-1 in overtime on Marleau's 22nd of the year, courtesy of Huskins and Joe Thornton. The three stars were awarded to Marleau, Niemi (30 for 31 saves), and Rinne (48 for 50 saves).
Up in Minnesota, the Wild hosted the Vancouver Canucks. Cory Schneider and Niklas Backstrom took to guarding the cages. Vancouver struck first with Manny Malhotra sinking his seventh of the season on the power play from Sami Salo. Cal Clutterbuck replied for Minnesota with his 18th of the year, also a power play goal, from Kyle Brodziak and Jared Spurgeon. Jannik Hansen gave the lead back to the Canucks with his eighth of the campaign, assisted on by Malhotra. Mikael Samuelsson put Vancouver up 3-1 with his 16th of the season, made possible by Ryan Kesler and Mason Raymond. Icing the game off for the Canucks was Kesler with his 33rd of the year into the empty net to make it 4-1 from Christian Ehrhoff. Schneider (28 for 29 saves), Malhotra, and Clutterbuck were the three stars.
Lastly, the Dallas Stars visited the Edmonton Oilers. The goalies were Kari Lethonen and Nikolai Khabibulin. Edmonton was the first to score with Jordan Eberle getting his 12th of the season from Sam Gagner and Jim Vandermeer. Taylor Chorney added on his first of the year for the Oilers in the second period, a power play goal made possible by Shawn Horcoff and Tom Gilbert. Dallas answered with the 19th of the campaign by Loui Eriksson, also on the power play, courtesy of the newly acquired Jason Williams and the goalie Kari Lethonen. Horcoff responded for Edmonton with his eighth of the season, coming on the man advantage via Ales Hemsky and Chorney. Twenty-eight seconds into the third period, Hemsky scored his tenth of the year for the Oilers, making it 4-1 with the help of Horcoff and Gilbert. This was the final, and the three stars went to Horcoff, Chorney, and Khabibulin (24 for 25 saves).
That's all for the hockey world. There may not be any posts tomorrow, as I should be fairly busy.
They were hosted by Boston tonight. The goalies are James Reimer and Tim Thomas. Boston struck first, with Daniel Paille registering his second of the season, with help from Mark Stuart and Gregory Campbell. Toronto tied the game with Phil Kessel potting his 20th of the year on the power play with the help of Dion Phaneuf, and the newest Leaf, Joffery Lupul. The Maple Leafs went up 2-1 with Mikhail Grabovski scoring his 23rd of the season, thanks to Mike Komisarek and Carl Gunnarsson. Campbell retied the game for the Bruins with a power play goal of his own, his eighth of the year going in via Brad Marchand and Michael Ryder. Boston took a 3-2 lead with Patrice Bergeron sinking his 20th of the season, courtesy of Adam McQuaid and Mark Recchi. Kessel replied with his second of the game and 21st of the campaign, another power play goal gaining steam from Lupul and Tomas Kaberle. The Maple Leafs took a 4-3 lead on Grabovski's second of the game and 24th of the year, helped along by Clarke MacArthur and Phaneuf. This was the final, and the three stars went to Grabovski, Kessel, and Campbell.
Heading north of the border, the Ottawa Senators hosted the New York Islanders. Nathan Lawson and Brian Elliott were given the starting duties. Bobby Butler put Ottawa out front first with his second of the season, assisted by Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek on the power play. New York replied with a Blake Comeau tally, his 15th of the year going in via Ty Wishart and Jesse Joensuu. Ryan Shannon put the Senators back in front with his fifth of the season, also a power play goal, with helpers by Butler and Michalek. The Islanders tied the game on the 25th of the year by Michael Grabner, a shorthanded and unassisted goal. Josh Bailey put New York in front with his seventh of the season, made possible by Grabner and Okposo. Ottawa retied the game on a Erik Karlsson goal from Erik Condra and Zack Smith, good as his ninth of the year. The Islanders took the game in the shootout on Frans Nielsen's goal, which came after Alex Kovalev and Rob Schremp exchanged tallies. The three stars were Shannon, Grabner, and Butler.
Staying in Canada, the Montreal Canadiens host the Buffalo Sabres. Jhonas Enroth and Carey Price tended the twines. Montreal struck first with a Max Pacioretty power play goal, his tenth of the season going down with help from Tomas Plekanec and Roman Hamrlik. Benoit Pouliot made it 2-0 Canadiens with his 13th of the year, assisted by David Desharnais and James Wisniewski. Buffalo got on the board with a Drew Stafford marker, his 24th of the season going in thanks to Thomas Vanek and Tim Connolly on the power play. The Sabres tied it with Jason Pominville getting his 13th of the year in the third period, with assists by Jochen Hecht and Nathan Gerbe. The tie lasted into a shootout, where Montreal scored with Desharnais, Plekanec, and Pacioretty, and Buffalo got tallies from Vanek, Tyler Ennis, and Gerbe before winning it with Hecht. The three stars were Hecht, Pouliot, and Pacioretty.
Moving along to the Tampa Bay Lightning hosting the Philadelphia Flyers. Brian Boucher and Dwayne Roloson were in the creases.Opening the game was a fight between Randy Jones and James van Riemsdyk. Philadelphia opened the scoring with a van Riemsdyk tally, his 13th of the season coming from Claude Giroux and Jeff Carter. Tampa Bay answered back with Dominic Moore netting his tenth of the year in the second period with the help of Adam Hall. The Flyers regained the lead on a power play goal by Scott Hartnell, his 18th of the season made possible by van Riemsdyk, who earned himself a Gordie Howe hat trick, and Andrej Meszaros. Darroll Powe made it 3-1 Philadelphia with his conversion of a penalty shot after a Steven Stamkos hooking call, his fifth goal of the year. The Lightning got back within a goal on the tally from Vincent Lecavalier, a power play goal good as his 13th of the season coming off of Marc-Andre Bergeron and Martin St. Louis. Teddy Purcell tied the game for Tampa Bay with his 12th of the year, thanks to Pavel Kubina and Michael Vernace. The tie went through the third period and overtime to a shootout where goals were exchanged by Moore and Mike Richards before the Flyers defeated the Lightning with Kimmo Timonen's goal. The three stars went to Moore, van Riemsdyk, and Victor Hedman.
Playing out west were the Nashville Predators, who hosted the San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi and Pekka Rinne put on the masks for the game. Nashville struck first with Cody Franson scoring his eighth of the campaign on the power play with the help of Steve Sullivan and David Legwand. San Jose answered with a tying goal in the second period from Devin Setoguchi, his 12th of the season going down thanks to Kent Huskins and Patrick Marleau. The tie lasted throughout the third period until the Sharks won the game 2-1 in overtime on Marleau's 22nd of the year, courtesy of Huskins and Joe Thornton. The three stars were awarded to Marleau, Niemi (30 for 31 saves), and Rinne (48 for 50 saves).
Up in Minnesota, the Wild hosted the Vancouver Canucks. Cory Schneider and Niklas Backstrom took to guarding the cages. Vancouver struck first with Manny Malhotra sinking his seventh of the season on the power play from Sami Salo. Cal Clutterbuck replied for Minnesota with his 18th of the year, also a power play goal, from Kyle Brodziak and Jared Spurgeon. Jannik Hansen gave the lead back to the Canucks with his eighth of the campaign, assisted on by Malhotra. Mikael Samuelsson put Vancouver up 3-1 with his 16th of the season, made possible by Ryan Kesler and Mason Raymond. Icing the game off for the Canucks was Kesler with his 33rd of the year into the empty net to make it 4-1 from Christian Ehrhoff. Schneider (28 for 29 saves), Malhotra, and Clutterbuck were the three stars.
Lastly, the Dallas Stars visited the Edmonton Oilers. The goalies were Kari Lethonen and Nikolai Khabibulin. Edmonton was the first to score with Jordan Eberle getting his 12th of the season from Sam Gagner and Jim Vandermeer. Taylor Chorney added on his first of the year for the Oilers in the second period, a power play goal made possible by Shawn Horcoff and Tom Gilbert. Dallas answered with the 19th of the campaign by Loui Eriksson, also on the power play, courtesy of the newly acquired Jason Williams and the goalie Kari Lethonen. Horcoff responded for Edmonton with his eighth of the season, coming on the man advantage via Ales Hemsky and Chorney. Twenty-eight seconds into the third period, Hemsky scored his tenth of the year for the Oilers, making it 4-1 with the help of Horcoff and Gilbert. This was the final, and the three stars went to Horcoff, Chorney, and Khabibulin (24 for 25 saves).
That's all for the hockey world. There may not be any posts tomorrow, as I should be fairly busy.
Song of the Week VII
This week, we hear from O.A.R., who provides us with the song On My Way from their album All Sides. The song is a slower tempo and rather soft. It would be appropriate for the most recently passed holiday, as it is somewhat a love song. The acoustic sounding tone and limited drumming adds to the ambiance in the song. That's the song of the week, and the feature will be back next week.
Monday, February 14, 2011
For the Love of Hockey (V-Day 2011)
Hockey's not giving the fans much love tonight, with only three games for the viewing purposes. It starts (surprisingly) at the...
Jobing.com Arena in Phoenix, where the Coyotes host the Washington Capitals. Michal Neuvirth and Ilya Bryzgalov put on the masks to guard the cages. Marcus Johansson opened the scoring for Washington with his eighth of the season, assisted by Brooks Laich and Alexander Semin. Forty-nine seconds later, Phoenix tied the game with a Martin Hanzal marker, his 12th of the year going down with help from Ray Whitney and Radim Vrbata. Ray Whitney put the Coyotes ahead with his eleventh of the season, a power play goal from Vrbata and Shane Doan. Vernon Fiddler extended the lead once more for Phoenix on his sixth of the campaign, helped along by Scottie Upshall and Keith Yandle. The Capitals tried to get back in the game with Matt Bradley sinking his fourth of the year, thanks to Dave Steckel and Jeff Schultz, but they couldn't get the equalizer and lost 3-2. The three stars were Bryzgalov (29 for 31 saves), Whitney, and Vrbata.
Teeing off at the same time, the St. Louis Blues hosted the Vancouver Canucks. In between the pipes were Roberto Luongo and Jaroslav Halak. St. Louis got on the board first with Andy McDonald notching his tenth of the season on the power play, with help from Nikita Nikitin and Alex Pietrangelo. Vancouver replied with Henrik Sedin scoring his 13th of the year via Sami Salo and Alexandre Burrows. The Blues took the lead back with Alex Steen notching his 16th of the campaign, unassisted. In the second period, St. Louis went up 3-1 on a power play goal by Patrik Berglund, his 15th of the season seeing the sticks of Pietrangelo and McDonald previously. The Canucks attempted to get back in the game with Jannik Hansen putting his seventh of the year away thanks to Raffi Torres and Christian Ehrhoff, but they failed to score again and fell 3-2. Pietrangelo, McDonald, and Henrik Sedin earned the three stars.
Finally, we stop in Colorado, where the Avalanche host the Calgary Flames. Miikka Kiprusoff and Peter Budaj got the starting honors. Calgary struck first just eighteen seconds into the game with David Moss nailing his 13th of the season into the twine with help from Robyn Regehr and Olli Jokinen. Anton Babchuk made it 2-0 Flames on the power play for his eighth of the year coming off of Jay Bouwmeester and Jokinen, prompting Colorado to switch goalies, putting Craig Anderson into action. Jarome Iginla kept Calgary going with his 24th of the season, assisted by Rene Bourque and Brendan Morrison. Curtis Glencross later added on another for the Flames, his 18th of the year finding the back of the net thanks to Jokinen, who wrapped up a sock trick in just 12:41 minutes of play, and Moss. Jokinen added his own goal for Calgary, his 12th of the season, courtesy of Glencross and Moss. The Avalanche reinstated Budaj for the second period and beyond. Colorado got on the board in the second period with Daniel Winnik potting his eighth of the year, a power play goal made possible by Kevin Porter and Matt Hunwick. The Flames made it 6-1 in the third period with an Alex Tanguay goal from Regehr and Morrison, good as his 15th of the season. Glencross put Calgary ahead 7-1 with his second of the game and 19th of the year, with Tom Kostopoulos and Moss picking up the assists, the latter earning his own sock trick. Iginla kept the Flames going with his second of the night and 25th of the season, with the help of Mikael Backlund and Steve Staios. Kiprusoff had to come out of the game, with Henrik Karlsson coming in to clean up. Calgary would add on one more goal, making it 9-1 with Matt Stajan potting his fifth of the year shorthanded from Bourque. This was the final, with Jokinen, Glencross, and Moss earning the three stars for the massacre.
That's all for Valentine's Day. A special bit of love to all of you who keep reading, it is much appreciated.
Jobing.com Arena in Phoenix, where the Coyotes host the Washington Capitals. Michal Neuvirth and Ilya Bryzgalov put on the masks to guard the cages. Marcus Johansson opened the scoring for Washington with his eighth of the season, assisted by Brooks Laich and Alexander Semin. Forty-nine seconds later, Phoenix tied the game with a Martin Hanzal marker, his 12th of the year going down with help from Ray Whitney and Radim Vrbata. Ray Whitney put the Coyotes ahead with his eleventh of the season, a power play goal from Vrbata and Shane Doan. Vernon Fiddler extended the lead once more for Phoenix on his sixth of the campaign, helped along by Scottie Upshall and Keith Yandle. The Capitals tried to get back in the game with Matt Bradley sinking his fourth of the year, thanks to Dave Steckel and Jeff Schultz, but they couldn't get the equalizer and lost 3-2. The three stars were Bryzgalov (29 for 31 saves), Whitney, and Vrbata.
Teeing off at the same time, the St. Louis Blues hosted the Vancouver Canucks. In between the pipes were Roberto Luongo and Jaroslav Halak. St. Louis got on the board first with Andy McDonald notching his tenth of the season on the power play, with help from Nikita Nikitin and Alex Pietrangelo. Vancouver replied with Henrik Sedin scoring his 13th of the year via Sami Salo and Alexandre Burrows. The Blues took the lead back with Alex Steen notching his 16th of the campaign, unassisted. In the second period, St. Louis went up 3-1 on a power play goal by Patrik Berglund, his 15th of the season seeing the sticks of Pietrangelo and McDonald previously. The Canucks attempted to get back in the game with Jannik Hansen putting his seventh of the year away thanks to Raffi Torres and Christian Ehrhoff, but they failed to score again and fell 3-2. Pietrangelo, McDonald, and Henrik Sedin earned the three stars.
Finally, we stop in Colorado, where the Avalanche host the Calgary Flames. Miikka Kiprusoff and Peter Budaj got the starting honors. Calgary struck first just eighteen seconds into the game with David Moss nailing his 13th of the season into the twine with help from Robyn Regehr and Olli Jokinen. Anton Babchuk made it 2-0 Flames on the power play for his eighth of the year coming off of Jay Bouwmeester and Jokinen, prompting Colorado to switch goalies, putting Craig Anderson into action. Jarome Iginla kept Calgary going with his 24th of the season, assisted by Rene Bourque and Brendan Morrison. Curtis Glencross later added on another for the Flames, his 18th of the year finding the back of the net thanks to Jokinen, who wrapped up a sock trick in just 12:41 minutes of play, and Moss. Jokinen added his own goal for Calgary, his 12th of the season, courtesy of Glencross and Moss. The Avalanche reinstated Budaj for the second period and beyond. Colorado got on the board in the second period with Daniel Winnik potting his eighth of the year, a power play goal made possible by Kevin Porter and Matt Hunwick. The Flames made it 6-1 in the third period with an Alex Tanguay goal from Regehr and Morrison, good as his 15th of the season. Glencross put Calgary ahead 7-1 with his second of the game and 19th of the year, with Tom Kostopoulos and Moss picking up the assists, the latter earning his own sock trick. Iginla kept the Flames going with his second of the night and 25th of the season, with the help of Mikael Backlund and Steve Staios. Kiprusoff had to come out of the game, with Henrik Karlsson coming in to clean up. Calgary would add on one more goal, making it 9-1 with Matt Stajan potting his fifth of the year shorthanded from Bourque. This was the final, with Jokinen, Glencross, and Moss earning the three stars for the massacre.
That's all for Valentine's Day. A special bit of love to all of you who keep reading, it is much appreciated.
Fantasy Hockey All-Stars, week 17
This week featured a variety of different forms of value, with high scoring games also being accompanied by slugfests. Therefore, these were the best players in terms of fantasy value only.
Center: John Tavares, 3 goals, 5 assists, -1, 4 penalty minutes, 4 power play points, 12 shots on goal
Left Wing: Rick Nash, 3 goals, 2 assists, +4, 2 penalty minutes, 0 power play points, 18 shots on goal
Right Wing: Michael Grabner, 8 goals, 1 assist, +7, 0 penalty minutes, 0 power play points, 23 shots on goal
Defenseman: Travis Hamonic, 1 goal, 3 assists, +1, 29 penalty minutes, 1 power play points, 8 shots on goal
Goaltender: Ilya Bryzgalov, 3 wins, 1.29 goals against average, 73 saves, .948 save percentage, 1 shutout
As evidenced by the three Islanders present this week, increase in teammates (Hamonic, others) penalty minutes can lead to amazing offensive production (Tavares, Grabner). Here's to a less violent week.
Center: John Tavares, 3 goals, 5 assists, -1, 4 penalty minutes, 4 power play points, 12 shots on goal
Left Wing: Rick Nash, 3 goals, 2 assists, +4, 2 penalty minutes, 0 power play points, 18 shots on goal
Right Wing: Michael Grabner, 8 goals, 1 assist, +7, 0 penalty minutes, 0 power play points, 23 shots on goal
Defenseman: Travis Hamonic, 1 goal, 3 assists, +1, 29 penalty minutes, 1 power play points, 8 shots on goal
Goaltender: Ilya Bryzgalov, 3 wins, 1.29 goals against average, 73 saves, .948 save percentage, 1 shutout
As evidenced by the three Islanders present this week, increase in teammates (Hamonic, others) penalty minutes can lead to amazing offensive production (Tavares, Grabner). Here's to a less violent week.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Sunday Hockey action
Today's slate of eight games are all relatively early games.They started with NBC's game, which was at...
The Joe Louis Arena, home of the Detroit Red Wings, who hosted the Boston Bruins. Tim Thomas and Jimmy Howard took care of the nets. Boston scored first with Tyler Seguin notching his ninth of the season with the help of Blake Wheeler and Michael Ryder. Todd Bertuzzi answered for Detroit with his eleventh of the year, an unassisted goal. Brad Marchand restored the lead for the Bruins with his 16th of the season, a power play goal going in thanks to Ryder and Mark Recchi. The Red Wings got the game tied again with Pavel Datsyuk registering his 14th of the year, courtesy of Brian Rafalski and Jiri Hudler. Kris Draper gave Detroit a 3-2 lead with his sixth of the season, assisted by Patrick Eaves and Darren Helm. Bertuzzi locked up the game with his second of the afternoon and 12th of the year, with help from Johan Franzen and Henrik Zetterberg, making it 4-2 Red Wings, the final. The three stars went to Bertuzzi, Draper, and Zdeno Chara.
Next up, the New York Rangers hosted the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury and Henrik Lundqvist were in the blue paint. Pittsburgh opened the scoring with a Deryk Engelland goal, his third of the season helped along by Chris Conner and Michael Rupp. Nick Johnson put the Penguins up 2-0 with his first of the year, courtesy of Jordan Staal and Pascal Dupuis. Thirty-seven seconds later, New York entered the scoring with Brian Boyle potting his 19th of the season, thanks to Marc Staal. The Rangers tied the game with Ryan Callahan getting his 13th of the year on the power play from Dan Girardi and Wojtek Wolski. New York obtained the lead in the second period with the second goal of the season by Vinny Prospal, assisted by Brandon Dubinsky and Marian Gaborik. Callahan added his second of the night for the Rangers, also his 14th of the year, with helpers from Marc Staal and Derek Stepan on the power play. Artem Anisimov put New York up 5-2 with his 12th of the season, also on the power play, helped along by Mats Zuccarello and Callahan. Pittsburgh tries to make a comeback in the third period with the second of the year by Brett Sterling, a power play marker made possible by Alex Goligoski and Kris Letang. The Rangers were able to hold on throughout the rest of the third period and defeated the Penguins 5-3. Callahan, Marc Staal, and Boyle earned the three stars.
Staying in the east, the Philadelphia Flyers hosted the road-weary Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick and Sergei Bobrovsky tended the twines. Los Angeles got the first goal seventeen seconds into the second period with Drew Doughty notching his seventh of the season with the help of Anze Kopitar and Wayne Simmonds. This was the only goal in the game, giving the Kings a 1-0 victory over the Flyers, with Quick (40 save shutout), Doughty, and Claude Giroux getting the three stars.
Following that, the Buffalo Sabres hosted the New York Islanders. Mikko Koskinen and Ryan Miller picked up the starts. Forty seconds into the game, New York struck with a Michael Grabner goal, with help from Frans Nielsen and Kyle Okposo for his 22nd of the season. Buffalo responded with a Jochen Hecht tally, his ninth of the year going in unassisted. Drew Stafford made it 2-1 for the Sabres on his 21st of the season, courtesy of Tyler Ennis and Tim Connolly. John Tavares retied the game for the Islanders with his 21st of the year, with Travis Hamonic and Matt Moulson picking up the helpers. Stafford restored the lead for Buffalo with his second of the game and 22nd of season, via Ennis and Connolly again. The Sabres extended their lead and chased away Koskinen with Nathan Gerbe potting his seventh of the year, with the help of Shaone Morrison. Al Montoya came on in relief. New York got back within a goal later in the second period, a Blake Comeau tally for his 14th of the season, with assistance from Nielsen and Okposo. The Islanders tied it with the second goal of the game and 23rd of the year by Grabner in the third period, an unassisted goal. Buffalo made it 5-4 with a Tyler Myers goal, his eighth of the campaign finding twine with guidance from Jason Pominville. Milan Jurcina retied it yet again for New York with his fourth of the season coming on the power play from Nielsen, who wrapped up his sock trick, and Tavares. Ty Wishart gave the Islanders a lead with his first of the year, also a power play goal, made possible by Jurcina and Josh Bailey. Thirty-one second later, the Sabres retied the game at 6 with Stafford completing his hat trick on his 23rd goal of the season, assisted by Jordan Leopold and Tyler Ennis, who finished a sock trick. The tie lasted until Grabner gave New York the 7-6 victory in overtime, completing a hat trick of his own on his 24th of the year, thanks to Okposo, who also earned a sock trick, and Andrew MacDonald. Grabner, Stafford, and Ennis all earned the three stars.
Heading southwest, the Dallas Stars hosted the Columbus Blue Jackets. Kari Lethonen and Steve Mason put on the masks. Dallas struck first with a Brad Richards goal, his 24th of the season coming on the power play via Trevor Daley and Steve Ott. Columbus answered forty-six seconds later with Matt Calvert notching his fourth of the campaign with the help of Anton Stralman and Jan Hejda. Rick Nash put the Blue Jackets up 2-1 in the second period on his 26th of the year, seeing the sticks of Jakub Voracek and Stralman previously. The scoring dried up after this point, and Columbus held on for the 2-1 victory over the Stars. The three stars went out to Mason (29 for 30 saves), Lethonen (37 for 39 saves), Stralman.
Continuing along, the Atlanta Thrashers hosted the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward and Ondrej Pavelec stood tall in the paint. Carolina was the first to strike with a Jiri Tlusty marker, his fifth of the season getting steam from Joni Pitkanen and Sergei Samsonov. Atlanta replied in the second period with Andrew Ladd sinking his 18th of the year unassisted. Joe Corvo put the Hurricanes back out front with his ninth of the campaign, courtesy of Brandon Sutter and Jeff Skinner. Ladd again provided the equalizer for the Thrashers with his second of the game and 19th of the season, again needing no help. Carolina managed to retake the lead again at 3-2 with Erik Cole sinking his 16th of the year with the help of Samsonov and Ian White, which would be the final. The three stars went out to Cole, Ladd, and Ward (41 for 43 saves).
Staying on the east coast, the Florida Panthers hosted the San Jose Sharks. Tending the twines were Antti Niemi and Tomas Vokoun. San Jose opened the scoring with Kent Huskins netting his second of the season, courtesy of Joe Pavelski and Torrey Mitchell. Florida responded late in the second period with Mike Santorelli nailing his 15th of the year with help from Cory Stillman and Keaton Ellerby. Pavelski gave the Sharks the lead back on his 12th of the campaign, assisted by Dany Heatley and Mitchell. The Panthers tied it again with Chris Higgins notching his tenth of the season thanks to Marty Reasoner and Dennis Wideman. Jason Garrison gave the Panthers a 3-2 lead with his third of the year, coming off of Reasoner and Higgins. This would be the final, with the three stars going to Garrison, Higgins, and Santorelli.
Finally, the Edmonton Oilers hosted the Anaheim Ducks. Jonas Hiller and Devan Dubnyk were between the pipes. Thirty-four seconds into the game Teemu Selanne potted his 17th of the season, allowing Jason Blake and Andreas Lilja to pick up the helpers. Brandon McMillan made it 2-0 Ducks in the second period with his eighth of the year, via Dan Sexton and Maxim Lapierre. Bobby Ryan added on his 26th of the season for Anaheim shortly after, thanks to Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf. The troublesome trio made it 4-0 Ducks in the third period when Ryan nailed his 27th of the year and second of the game, with Perry and Getzlaf helping out again. Nikolai Khabibulin closed out the game for Edmonton, who still lost 4-0. The three stars went to Ryan, Perry, and Selanne, and Hiller was noted to have an easy night, making a mere 12 saves for the shutout.
Monday brings three games, hopefully I have the time for them.
The Joe Louis Arena, home of the Detroit Red Wings, who hosted the Boston Bruins. Tim Thomas and Jimmy Howard took care of the nets. Boston scored first with Tyler Seguin notching his ninth of the season with the help of Blake Wheeler and Michael Ryder. Todd Bertuzzi answered for Detroit with his eleventh of the year, an unassisted goal. Brad Marchand restored the lead for the Bruins with his 16th of the season, a power play goal going in thanks to Ryder and Mark Recchi. The Red Wings got the game tied again with Pavel Datsyuk registering his 14th of the year, courtesy of Brian Rafalski and Jiri Hudler. Kris Draper gave Detroit a 3-2 lead with his sixth of the season, assisted by Patrick Eaves and Darren Helm. Bertuzzi locked up the game with his second of the afternoon and 12th of the year, with help from Johan Franzen and Henrik Zetterberg, making it 4-2 Red Wings, the final. The three stars went to Bertuzzi, Draper, and Zdeno Chara.
Next up, the New York Rangers hosted the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury and Henrik Lundqvist were in the blue paint. Pittsburgh opened the scoring with a Deryk Engelland goal, his third of the season helped along by Chris Conner and Michael Rupp. Nick Johnson put the Penguins up 2-0 with his first of the year, courtesy of Jordan Staal and Pascal Dupuis. Thirty-seven seconds later, New York entered the scoring with Brian Boyle potting his 19th of the season, thanks to Marc Staal. The Rangers tied the game with Ryan Callahan getting his 13th of the year on the power play from Dan Girardi and Wojtek Wolski. New York obtained the lead in the second period with the second goal of the season by Vinny Prospal, assisted by Brandon Dubinsky and Marian Gaborik. Callahan added his second of the night for the Rangers, also his 14th of the year, with helpers from Marc Staal and Derek Stepan on the power play. Artem Anisimov put New York up 5-2 with his 12th of the season, also on the power play, helped along by Mats Zuccarello and Callahan. Pittsburgh tries to make a comeback in the third period with the second of the year by Brett Sterling, a power play marker made possible by Alex Goligoski and Kris Letang. The Rangers were able to hold on throughout the rest of the third period and defeated the Penguins 5-3. Callahan, Marc Staal, and Boyle earned the three stars.
Staying in the east, the Philadelphia Flyers hosted the road-weary Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick and Sergei Bobrovsky tended the twines. Los Angeles got the first goal seventeen seconds into the second period with Drew Doughty notching his seventh of the season with the help of Anze Kopitar and Wayne Simmonds. This was the only goal in the game, giving the Kings a 1-0 victory over the Flyers, with Quick (40 save shutout), Doughty, and Claude Giroux getting the three stars.
Following that, the Buffalo Sabres hosted the New York Islanders. Mikko Koskinen and Ryan Miller picked up the starts. Forty seconds into the game, New York struck with a Michael Grabner goal, with help from Frans Nielsen and Kyle Okposo for his 22nd of the season. Buffalo responded with a Jochen Hecht tally, his ninth of the year going in unassisted. Drew Stafford made it 2-1 for the Sabres on his 21st of the season, courtesy of Tyler Ennis and Tim Connolly. John Tavares retied the game for the Islanders with his 21st of the year, with Travis Hamonic and Matt Moulson picking up the helpers. Stafford restored the lead for Buffalo with his second of the game and 22nd of season, via Ennis and Connolly again. The Sabres extended their lead and chased away Koskinen with Nathan Gerbe potting his seventh of the year, with the help of Shaone Morrison. Al Montoya came on in relief. New York got back within a goal later in the second period, a Blake Comeau tally for his 14th of the season, with assistance from Nielsen and Okposo. The Islanders tied it with the second goal of the game and 23rd of the year by Grabner in the third period, an unassisted goal. Buffalo made it 5-4 with a Tyler Myers goal, his eighth of the campaign finding twine with guidance from Jason Pominville. Milan Jurcina retied it yet again for New York with his fourth of the season coming on the power play from Nielsen, who wrapped up his sock trick, and Tavares. Ty Wishart gave the Islanders a lead with his first of the year, also a power play goal, made possible by Jurcina and Josh Bailey. Thirty-one second later, the Sabres retied the game at 6 with Stafford completing his hat trick on his 23rd goal of the season, assisted by Jordan Leopold and Tyler Ennis, who finished a sock trick. The tie lasted until Grabner gave New York the 7-6 victory in overtime, completing a hat trick of his own on his 24th of the year, thanks to Okposo, who also earned a sock trick, and Andrew MacDonald. Grabner, Stafford, and Ennis all earned the three stars.
Heading southwest, the Dallas Stars hosted the Columbus Blue Jackets. Kari Lethonen and Steve Mason put on the masks. Dallas struck first with a Brad Richards goal, his 24th of the season coming on the power play via Trevor Daley and Steve Ott. Columbus answered forty-six seconds later with Matt Calvert notching his fourth of the campaign with the help of Anton Stralman and Jan Hejda. Rick Nash put the Blue Jackets up 2-1 in the second period on his 26th of the year, seeing the sticks of Jakub Voracek and Stralman previously. The scoring dried up after this point, and Columbus held on for the 2-1 victory over the Stars. The three stars went out to Mason (29 for 30 saves), Lethonen (37 for 39 saves), Stralman.
Continuing along, the Atlanta Thrashers hosted the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward and Ondrej Pavelec stood tall in the paint. Carolina was the first to strike with a Jiri Tlusty marker, his fifth of the season getting steam from Joni Pitkanen and Sergei Samsonov. Atlanta replied in the second period with Andrew Ladd sinking his 18th of the year unassisted. Joe Corvo put the Hurricanes back out front with his ninth of the campaign, courtesy of Brandon Sutter and Jeff Skinner. Ladd again provided the equalizer for the Thrashers with his second of the game and 19th of the season, again needing no help. Carolina managed to retake the lead again at 3-2 with Erik Cole sinking his 16th of the year with the help of Samsonov and Ian White, which would be the final. The three stars went out to Cole, Ladd, and Ward (41 for 43 saves).
Staying on the east coast, the Florida Panthers hosted the San Jose Sharks. Tending the twines were Antti Niemi and Tomas Vokoun. San Jose opened the scoring with Kent Huskins netting his second of the season, courtesy of Joe Pavelski and Torrey Mitchell. Florida responded late in the second period with Mike Santorelli nailing his 15th of the year with help from Cory Stillman and Keaton Ellerby. Pavelski gave the Sharks the lead back on his 12th of the campaign, assisted by Dany Heatley and Mitchell. The Panthers tied it again with Chris Higgins notching his tenth of the season thanks to Marty Reasoner and Dennis Wideman. Jason Garrison gave the Panthers a 3-2 lead with his third of the year, coming off of Reasoner and Higgins. This would be the final, with the three stars going to Garrison, Higgins, and Santorelli.
Finally, the Edmonton Oilers hosted the Anaheim Ducks. Jonas Hiller and Devan Dubnyk were between the pipes. Thirty-four seconds into the game Teemu Selanne potted his 17th of the season, allowing Jason Blake and Andreas Lilja to pick up the helpers. Brandon McMillan made it 2-0 Ducks in the second period with his eighth of the year, via Dan Sexton and Maxim Lapierre. Bobby Ryan added on his 26th of the season for Anaheim shortly after, thanks to Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf. The troublesome trio made it 4-0 Ducks in the third period when Ryan nailed his 27th of the year and second of the game, with Perry and Getzlaf helping out again. Nikolai Khabibulin closed out the game for Edmonton, who still lost 4-0. The three stars went to Ryan, Perry, and Selanne, and Hiller was noted to have an easy night, making a mere 12 saves for the shutout.
Monday brings three games, hopefully I have the time for them.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
NHL Saturday - Hockey Day in Canada
Today we have a light schedule for a Saturday, with only eight games, three of which being all-Canada games. We start early with the...
Washington Capitals hosting the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Bernier and Semyon Varlamov were given the starts. Opening the scoring was Washington when Alex Ovechkin put his 21st of the season away unassisted. Los Angeles tied it with an Anze Kopitar tally, his 17th of the year coming from Wayne Simmonds and Michal Handzus. The Kings took the lead with an Andrei Loktionov marker, his third of the campaign made possible by Kyle Clifford and Matt Greene. Handzus made it 3-1 Los Angeles with his eighth of the season, coming from Kopitar and Simmonds. Jarret Stoll extended the Kings lead farther with his 16th of the year, assisted by Justin Williams and Ryan Smyth. This was the final tally, and the three stars went to Kopitar, Simmonds, and Willie Mitchell.
In the first of the Canada matches, the Edmonton Oilers hosted the Ottawa Senators during the afternoon. Nikolai Khabibulin opposed Brian Elliott. Ottawa drew first blood on Bobby Butler's first goal of the season, an unassisted goal. Andrew Cogliano replied for Edmonton with his ninth of the year, thanks to Jordan Eberle and Kurtis Foster. Alex Kovalev retook the lead for the Senators on his 12th of the season, with help from Nick Foligno. The Oilers tied it again in the second period with Dustin Penner scoring his 19th of the year via Ales Hemsky. Ottawa made it 3-2 when Milan Michalek scored on the power play with his 14th of the season, courtesy of Butler and Jason Spezza. The Senators extended the lead again with a Peter Regin tally, his third of the year, with help from Kovalev and Foligno. Edmonton got back within a goal on Penner's second of the game and 20th of the season, assisted by Hemsky and Linus Omark. However, Ottawa sealed the deal with Kovalev notching his second of the game and 13th of the year into the open cage, with Spezza and Erik Karlsson picking up the helpers. Butler, Penner, and Kovalev were the three stars.
Staying Canadian (or should we say Canadien), the Montreal Canadiens hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs. Jean-Sebastien Giguere and Carey Price got the starts (and name association to team loyalties would be misleading in this scenario) in front of the cages. Benoit Pouliot got Montreal out front in the second period with his 12th of the season, a goal from David Desharnais and Roman Hamrlik. Shortly thereafter, Brian Gionta added on his 21st of the year for the Canadiens, with help from Max Pacioretty. Montreal got it out to 3-0 with a Desharnais power play marker, his fifth of the campaign going in with assistance from Scott Gomez and Hamrlik. This would be the final, giving Desharnais, Price (27 save shutout), and Pouliot the three stars.
Heading south, where the Tampa Bay Lightning hosted the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward and Dwayne Roloson were given the responsibility in front of the nets. Tampa Bay struck first in the second period on a Steve Downie goal, his seventh of the season from Martin St. Louis and Steven Stamkos. The Lightning made it 2-0 with a Vincent Lecavalier marker, his 12th of the year being assisted by Teddy Purcell and Simon Gagne on the power play. Carolina answered with an Eric Staal tally, his 27th of the season also coming on the power play with the help of Joni Pitkanen and Erik Cole. Sean Bergenheim extended the Tampa Bay lead to 3-1 with his eleventh of the year, courtesy of Dana Tyrell. Jeff Skinner got the Hurricanes back within a goal on his 21st of the season, thanks to Staal and Tuomo Ruutu. Nineteen seconds later, Cole potted his 15th of the year to tie the game with a mere thirty-three seconds left in regulation. Pitkanen and Joe Corvo grabbed the assists. This was just an extension of the loss though, as Marc-Andre Bergeron nailed his first of the season in overtime to win it for the Lightning, with the help of Bergenheim. Earning the three stars were Bergeron, Lecavalier, and Pitkanen.
Out west, the Phoenix Coyotes hosted the Chicago Blackhawks. Earning the chance to start were Corey Crawford and Ilya Bryzgalov. Phoenix drew first blood with a Radim Vrbata goal, his 15th of the season getting help from Ray Whitney. The Coyotes made it 2-0 early in the second period on a Taylor Pyatt marker, his 14th of the year coming off of Shane Doan and Sami Lepisto. Chicago got a goal back with Troy Brouwer putting his 16th of the season away on the power play with the help of Marian Hossa and Dave Bolland. Duncan Keith tied it for the Blackhawks in the third period with his own power play goal, helped along by Brian Campbell and Bolland as his fifth of the year. The tie was preserved into a shootout, where Vrbata scored the only tally and gave Phoenix the 3-2 victory. Vrbata, Pyatt, and Bryzgalov (31 for 33 saves) were the three stars.
Back east, the Nashville Predators hosted the Colorado Avalanche. Peter Budaj and Pekka Rinne were in front of the cages. Colorado opened the scoring with Kevin Porter notching his tenth of the season courtesy of Paul Stastny and Matt Hunwick. Eleven seconds later, Shea Weber potted his eleventh of the year for Nashville to tie the game, with help from Martin Erat and Ryan Suter. Erat made it 2-1 for the Predators in the second period with his ninth of the season, a power play goal made possible by Patric Hornqvist and Sergei Kostitsyn. The Avalanche retied the game with David Jones scoring his 19th of the year, thanks to Daniel Winnik and Ryan O'Reilly. Colorado took a 3-2 lead early in the third period with Matt Duchene sinking his 21st of the season, with assists from Brandon Yip and Porter. Hornqvist retied the game for Nashville on his 17th of the year, with help from David Legwand and Steve Sullivan. Cody Franson gave the Predators a 4-3 lead with his seventh of the year, unassisted. Icing the game off for Nashville was Legwand, providing his ninth of the season into the empty net with assistance from Erat and new Predator Mike Fisher. Earning the three stars were Hornqvist, Franson, and Erat.
North for the Minnesota Wild hosting the St. Louis Blues. Jaroslav Halak and Niklas Backstrom put on the masks for the game. Two fights opened the action in the mid first period, with Matt D'Agostini taking on Cam Barker, and the sequel between Cam Janssen and Brad Staubitz. Minnesota ended up drawing the first goal with Cal Clutterbuck taking his 17th of the season to the twine with help from Jared Spurgeon and Pierre-Marc Bouchard. The Wild made it 2-0 with the eleventh of the year by Antti Miettinen, a power play goal coming off of Andrew Brunette. Minnesota rolled along with Kyle Brodziak notching his eleventh of the season, with Brent Burns picking up the assist. St. Louis got on the board with Patrik Berglund scoring his 14th of the year on the power play, courtesy of T.J. Oshie and Brad Boyes. With no scoring in the third period, 3-1 Wild over Blues was the final, but there was a mini-brawl at the end with Alex Steen and Greg Zanon exchanging minors as Colin Stoner fought with David Backes, earning them 15 minutes apiece. The three stars went out to Burns, Backstrom (24 for 25 saves), and Staubitz.
Finally, the Vancouver Canucks hosted the Calgary Flames to wrap up the Canadian-themed day. Miikka Kiprusoff and Roberto Luongo were between the pipes. Vancouver opened the scoring with Alexandre Burrows potting his 16th of the season on the power play with assists provided by Mason Raymond and Manny Malhotra. Calgary tied the game in the second period with Tim Jackman sinking his tenth of the year with the help of Matt Stajan and Anton Babchuk. Curtis Glencross soon made it 2-1 Flames with his 17th of the season, helped along by Brendan Morrison and Jarome Iginla. Mikael Samuelsson put the Canucks back in front with two goals in a row, his 14th and 15th of the campaign. Picking up assists were first Raymond and Kevin Bieksa at even strength and then Christian Ehrhoff and Daniel Sedin on the power play. Burrows sealed the deal 4-2 for Vancouver over Calgary with his second of the game and 17th of the year into an empty net, with the set up made by Aaron Rome and Malhotra. Samuelsson, Glencross, and Bieksa earned the three stars.
That's all for Saturday. Happy Hockey Day.
Washington Capitals hosting the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Bernier and Semyon Varlamov were given the starts. Opening the scoring was Washington when Alex Ovechkin put his 21st of the season away unassisted. Los Angeles tied it with an Anze Kopitar tally, his 17th of the year coming from Wayne Simmonds and Michal Handzus. The Kings took the lead with an Andrei Loktionov marker, his third of the campaign made possible by Kyle Clifford and Matt Greene. Handzus made it 3-1 Los Angeles with his eighth of the season, coming from Kopitar and Simmonds. Jarret Stoll extended the Kings lead farther with his 16th of the year, assisted by Justin Williams and Ryan Smyth. This was the final tally, and the three stars went to Kopitar, Simmonds, and Willie Mitchell.
In the first of the Canada matches, the Edmonton Oilers hosted the Ottawa Senators during the afternoon. Nikolai Khabibulin opposed Brian Elliott. Ottawa drew first blood on Bobby Butler's first goal of the season, an unassisted goal. Andrew Cogliano replied for Edmonton with his ninth of the year, thanks to Jordan Eberle and Kurtis Foster. Alex Kovalev retook the lead for the Senators on his 12th of the season, with help from Nick Foligno. The Oilers tied it again in the second period with Dustin Penner scoring his 19th of the year via Ales Hemsky. Ottawa made it 3-2 when Milan Michalek scored on the power play with his 14th of the season, courtesy of Butler and Jason Spezza. The Senators extended the lead again with a Peter Regin tally, his third of the year, with help from Kovalev and Foligno. Edmonton got back within a goal on Penner's second of the game and 20th of the season, assisted by Hemsky and Linus Omark. However, Ottawa sealed the deal with Kovalev notching his second of the game and 13th of the year into the open cage, with Spezza and Erik Karlsson picking up the helpers. Butler, Penner, and Kovalev were the three stars.
Staying Canadian (or should we say Canadien), the Montreal Canadiens hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs. Jean-Sebastien Giguere and Carey Price got the starts (and name association to team loyalties would be misleading in this scenario) in front of the cages. Benoit Pouliot got Montreal out front in the second period with his 12th of the season, a goal from David Desharnais and Roman Hamrlik. Shortly thereafter, Brian Gionta added on his 21st of the year for the Canadiens, with help from Max Pacioretty. Montreal got it out to 3-0 with a Desharnais power play marker, his fifth of the campaign going in with assistance from Scott Gomez and Hamrlik. This would be the final, giving Desharnais, Price (27 save shutout), and Pouliot the three stars.
Heading south, where the Tampa Bay Lightning hosted the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward and Dwayne Roloson were given the responsibility in front of the nets. Tampa Bay struck first in the second period on a Steve Downie goal, his seventh of the season from Martin St. Louis and Steven Stamkos. The Lightning made it 2-0 with a Vincent Lecavalier marker, his 12th of the year being assisted by Teddy Purcell and Simon Gagne on the power play. Carolina answered with an Eric Staal tally, his 27th of the season also coming on the power play with the help of Joni Pitkanen and Erik Cole. Sean Bergenheim extended the Tampa Bay lead to 3-1 with his eleventh of the year, courtesy of Dana Tyrell. Jeff Skinner got the Hurricanes back within a goal on his 21st of the season, thanks to Staal and Tuomo Ruutu. Nineteen seconds later, Cole potted his 15th of the year to tie the game with a mere thirty-three seconds left in regulation. Pitkanen and Joe Corvo grabbed the assists. This was just an extension of the loss though, as Marc-Andre Bergeron nailed his first of the season in overtime to win it for the Lightning, with the help of Bergenheim. Earning the three stars were Bergeron, Lecavalier, and Pitkanen.
Out west, the Phoenix Coyotes hosted the Chicago Blackhawks. Earning the chance to start were Corey Crawford and Ilya Bryzgalov. Phoenix drew first blood with a Radim Vrbata goal, his 15th of the season getting help from Ray Whitney. The Coyotes made it 2-0 early in the second period on a Taylor Pyatt marker, his 14th of the year coming off of Shane Doan and Sami Lepisto. Chicago got a goal back with Troy Brouwer putting his 16th of the season away on the power play with the help of Marian Hossa and Dave Bolland. Duncan Keith tied it for the Blackhawks in the third period with his own power play goal, helped along by Brian Campbell and Bolland as his fifth of the year. The tie was preserved into a shootout, where Vrbata scored the only tally and gave Phoenix the 3-2 victory. Vrbata, Pyatt, and Bryzgalov (31 for 33 saves) were the three stars.
Back east, the Nashville Predators hosted the Colorado Avalanche. Peter Budaj and Pekka Rinne were in front of the cages. Colorado opened the scoring with Kevin Porter notching his tenth of the season courtesy of Paul Stastny and Matt Hunwick. Eleven seconds later, Shea Weber potted his eleventh of the year for Nashville to tie the game, with help from Martin Erat and Ryan Suter. Erat made it 2-1 for the Predators in the second period with his ninth of the season, a power play goal made possible by Patric Hornqvist and Sergei Kostitsyn. The Avalanche retied the game with David Jones scoring his 19th of the year, thanks to Daniel Winnik and Ryan O'Reilly. Colorado took a 3-2 lead early in the third period with Matt Duchene sinking his 21st of the season, with assists from Brandon Yip and Porter. Hornqvist retied the game for Nashville on his 17th of the year, with help from David Legwand and Steve Sullivan. Cody Franson gave the Predators a 4-3 lead with his seventh of the year, unassisted. Icing the game off for Nashville was Legwand, providing his ninth of the season into the empty net with assistance from Erat and new Predator Mike Fisher. Earning the three stars were Hornqvist, Franson, and Erat.
North for the Minnesota Wild hosting the St. Louis Blues. Jaroslav Halak and Niklas Backstrom put on the masks for the game. Two fights opened the action in the mid first period, with Matt D'Agostini taking on Cam Barker, and the sequel between Cam Janssen and Brad Staubitz. Minnesota ended up drawing the first goal with Cal Clutterbuck taking his 17th of the season to the twine with help from Jared Spurgeon and Pierre-Marc Bouchard. The Wild made it 2-0 with the eleventh of the year by Antti Miettinen, a power play goal coming off of Andrew Brunette. Minnesota rolled along with Kyle Brodziak notching his eleventh of the season, with Brent Burns picking up the assist. St. Louis got on the board with Patrik Berglund scoring his 14th of the year on the power play, courtesy of T.J. Oshie and Brad Boyes. With no scoring in the third period, 3-1 Wild over Blues was the final, but there was a mini-brawl at the end with Alex Steen and Greg Zanon exchanging minors as Colin Stoner fought with David Backes, earning them 15 minutes apiece. The three stars went out to Burns, Backstrom (24 for 25 saves), and Staubitz.
Finally, the Vancouver Canucks hosted the Calgary Flames to wrap up the Canadian-themed day. Miikka Kiprusoff and Roberto Luongo were between the pipes. Vancouver opened the scoring with Alexandre Burrows potting his 16th of the season on the power play with assists provided by Mason Raymond and Manny Malhotra. Calgary tied the game in the second period with Tim Jackman sinking his tenth of the year with the help of Matt Stajan and Anton Babchuk. Curtis Glencross soon made it 2-1 Flames with his 17th of the season, helped along by Brendan Morrison and Jarome Iginla. Mikael Samuelsson put the Canucks back in front with two goals in a row, his 14th and 15th of the campaign. Picking up assists were first Raymond and Kevin Bieksa at even strength and then Christian Ehrhoff and Daniel Sedin on the power play. Burrows sealed the deal 4-2 for Vancouver over Calgary with his second of the game and 17th of the year into an empty net, with the set up made by Aaron Rome and Malhotra. Samuelsson, Glencross, and Bieksa earned the three stars.
That's all for Saturday. Happy Hockey Day.
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)