Another short schedule to start off the week, with only two games. The first of these pitted...
The Detroit Red Wings against the Chicago Blackhawks at Joe Louis Arena. Corey Crawford and Joey MacDonald took control of the nets. Chicago opened the scoring with a Jonathan Toews goal, his 31st of the season, from Troy Brouwer and Chris Campoli. Nicklas Lidstrom tied it for Detroit with his 15th of the year, assisted by Valtteri Filppula and Brian Rafalski. The Blackhawks retook the lead with a Brent Seabrook goal, his sixth of the campaign coming on the power play from Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa. The Red Wings got another equalizer from Henrik Zetterberg, his 23rd of the season, also a power play goal with assists provided by Jiri Hudler and Rafalski. Chicago defeated Detroit in the overtime period that was required with the 23rd of the year by Hossa, a power play goal powered by Kane and Duncan Keith to create a 3-2 final score. The three stars went to Hossa, MacDonald (38 for 41), and Toews.
Wrapping up the day's games were the Anaheim Ducks hosting the Colorado Avalanche. Brian Elliott and Ray Emery made the starts. Colorado opened up with Ryan O'Reilly on the power play, notching his eleventh of the season from Milan Hejduk and Ryan Stoa. Matt Duchene extended the Avalanche lead with his 27th of the year, with help from Hejduk and Matt Hunwick. Anaheim got on the board with a penalty shot conversion by Teemu Selanne, his 26th goal of the season. The Ducks tied it with a Jason Blake goal, his 15th of the year, with assistance from Selanne and Saku Koivu. Selanne notched another goal to put Anaheim on front, his second of the game and 27th of the campaign, guided in by Cam Fowler and Koivu. Colorado retied the game with David Jones' 25th of the season, helped along by Daniel Winnik and Ryan O'Byrne. Fowler put the Ducks back in front with his ninth of the year, a power play goal powered by Selanne and Lubomir Visnovsky. Selanne completed his hat trick on the 28th of the season, a power play goal made possible by Ryan Getzlaf and Visnovsky. The Avalanche got back within a goal on Paul Stastny's 21st of the year, assisted by a sock trick completing Hejduk and Duchene. This would not lead to further offense, and Colorado lost 5-4 to the Ducks. The three stars went to Selanne, Koivu, and O'Reilly.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
Fantasy Hockey All-Stars week 23
This week brings us into the thinning of the playoff fields, with some leagues holding their championships and others participating in the semi-finals. I am proud to say that I have five teams looking for a gold medal this week, and likely more to play for 1st place next week as well. With that, here's the best players from last week:
Center: Ryan Getzlaf, 0 goals, 7 assists, +6, 0 penalty minutes, 3 power play points, 7 shots on goal
Left Wing: Ryane Clowe, 1 goal, 4 assists, +4, 14 penalty minutes, 0 power play points, 8 shots on goal
Right Wing: Corey Perry, 5 goals, 1 assist, +5, 0 penalty minutes, 1 power play point, 17 shots on goal
Defenseman: Zdeno Chara, 1 goal, 5 assists, +5, 0 penalty minutes, 1 power play point, 12 shots on goal
Goaltender: "King" Henrik Lundqvist, 2 wins, 0.32 goals against average, 77 saves, .987 save percentage, 2 shutouts
Those were your top players last week. I have seen Lundqvist be a huge difference on many occasions, and both for and against me last week. Also, California is the place to go for forwards. Starting in two weeks, Baseball all-stars will be posted as well. This will run here next week.
Center: Ryan Getzlaf, 0 goals, 7 assists, +6, 0 penalty minutes, 3 power play points, 7 shots on goal
Left Wing: Ryane Clowe, 1 goal, 4 assists, +4, 14 penalty minutes, 0 power play points, 8 shots on goal
Right Wing: Corey Perry, 5 goals, 1 assist, +5, 0 penalty minutes, 1 power play point, 17 shots on goal
Defenseman: Zdeno Chara, 1 goal, 5 assists, +5, 0 penalty minutes, 1 power play point, 12 shots on goal
Goaltender: "King" Henrik Lundqvist, 2 wins, 0.32 goals against average, 77 saves, .987 save percentage, 2 shutouts
Those were your top players last week. I have seen Lundqvist be a huge difference on many occasions, and both for and against me last week. Also, California is the place to go for forwards. Starting in two weeks, Baseball all-stars will be posted as well. This will run here next week.
Song of the Week XIII
This week, we have a pop-punk tune from Good Charlotte called The Chronicles of Life and Death. The song emphasizes the basic life pattern that everyone goes through. It expresses less individuality than other bands usually would show. It also protests people who think they are entitled just because they are alive. The rhythm has short bursts of guitar with a repeating drum pattern. The song is not their best, but it is not horrible either. This feature will run next week.
Sunday hockey coverage
Sunday only had four games in the lead-up to the stretch run. They started in...
Pittsburgh, with the Penguins bringing the Florida Panthers to the CONSOL Energy Center. Tomas Vokoun and Marc-Andre Fleury took to the creases. Florida opened the scoring in the second period with the third goal of the season by Ryan Carter, guided in by Alexander Sulzer and Darcy Hordichuk. Pittsburgh replied with Ben Lovejoy notching his third of the year, with the help of Alex Kovalev and James Neal. The tie lasted through the Scott Clemmensen substitution for Tomas Vokoun, throughout overtime to the shootout, where the Penguins beat the Panthers with tallies from Kovalev and Neal. Fleury (37 for 38 saves), Lovejoy, and Kovalev picked up the three stars.
South to Atlanta, where the Thrashers hosted the Ottawa Senators. Craig Anderson and Chris Mason were the starters. Atlanta tallied first with the 16th of the season by Blake Wheeler, assisted by Zach Bogosian and Andrew Ladd. Ottawa replied with Marek Svatos' third of the year, an unassisted goal. The Thrashers took the lead back with Bryan Little potting his 17th of the season, with help from Wheeler. Nineteen seconds later, Atlanta extended their lead on Ben Maxwell's first of the year, fueled by Dustin Byfuglien and Ron Hainsey. The Senators got a goal back on Chris Neil's sixth of the season, courtesy of Jesse Winchester and Patrick Wiercioch. The Thrashers took that goal back with Mark Stuart netting his second of the year, with helpers provided by Nik Antropov and Maxwell. Ottawa pulled back within a goal on Erik Condra's sixth of the season, helped along by Jason Spezza and Brian Lee. Svatos added the equalizer for the Senators with his second of the game and fourth of the year, powered by Filip Kuba and Erik Karlsson. Atlanta beat Ottawa in the shootout later in the game, with Ladd providing the lone tally for the 5-4 victory. The three stars were given to Maxwell, Wheeler, and Ladd.
To Columbus, with the Blue Jackets hosting the Vancouver Canucks. Cory Schneider and Mathieu Garon played the creases. Vancouver opened the scoring with Christian Ehrhoff netting his 12th of the season via Chris Higgins and Mason Raymond. The Canucks extended their lead in the third period with the 19th of the year coming on the power play off the tape of Henrik Sedin, with helpers provided by Daniel Sedin and Ryan Kesler. Higgins kept Vancouver rolling with his 12th of the season, made possible by Kesler and Raymond. Columbus got on the board with R.J. Umberger sinking his 24th of the campaign, thanks to Antoine Vermette. Higgins made it 4-1 Canucks with his 13th of the year, a power play goal and his second tally of the game being powered by Raymond, who clinched a sock trick, and Kevin Bieksa. Schneider (39 for 40 saves), Higgins, and Umberger earned the three stars.
Finally, the Philadelphia Flyers hosted the Boston Bruins. Tim Thomas and Brian Boucher participated in some alliteration in front of the cages. Philadelphia got on the board first with Kris Versteeg netting his 20th of the campaign, assisted by Mike Richards and James van Riemsdyk. Boston replied in the second period with Nathan Horton on the power play with his 23rd of the season, powered by Tomas Kaberle and David Krejci. The Bruins took a 2-1 lead in the third period with another power play goal, this time Brad Marchand's 20th of the year, guided along by Dennis Seidenberg and Mark Recchi. This was the final, with the three stars going to Marchand, Thomas (27 for 28 saves), and Versteeg.
Pittsburgh, with the Penguins bringing the Florida Panthers to the CONSOL Energy Center. Tomas Vokoun and Marc-Andre Fleury took to the creases. Florida opened the scoring in the second period with the third goal of the season by Ryan Carter, guided in by Alexander Sulzer and Darcy Hordichuk. Pittsburgh replied with Ben Lovejoy notching his third of the year, with the help of Alex Kovalev and James Neal. The tie lasted through the Scott Clemmensen substitution for Tomas Vokoun, throughout overtime to the shootout, where the Penguins beat the Panthers with tallies from Kovalev and Neal. Fleury (37 for 38 saves), Lovejoy, and Kovalev picked up the three stars.
South to Atlanta, where the Thrashers hosted the Ottawa Senators. Craig Anderson and Chris Mason were the starters. Atlanta tallied first with the 16th of the season by Blake Wheeler, assisted by Zach Bogosian and Andrew Ladd. Ottawa replied with Marek Svatos' third of the year, an unassisted goal. The Thrashers took the lead back with Bryan Little potting his 17th of the season, with help from Wheeler. Nineteen seconds later, Atlanta extended their lead on Ben Maxwell's first of the year, fueled by Dustin Byfuglien and Ron Hainsey. The Senators got a goal back on Chris Neil's sixth of the season, courtesy of Jesse Winchester and Patrick Wiercioch. The Thrashers took that goal back with Mark Stuart netting his second of the year, with helpers provided by Nik Antropov and Maxwell. Ottawa pulled back within a goal on Erik Condra's sixth of the season, helped along by Jason Spezza and Brian Lee. Svatos added the equalizer for the Senators with his second of the game and fourth of the year, powered by Filip Kuba and Erik Karlsson. Atlanta beat Ottawa in the shootout later in the game, with Ladd providing the lone tally for the 5-4 victory. The three stars were given to Maxwell, Wheeler, and Ladd.
To Columbus, with the Blue Jackets hosting the Vancouver Canucks. Cory Schneider and Mathieu Garon played the creases. Vancouver opened the scoring with Christian Ehrhoff netting his 12th of the season via Chris Higgins and Mason Raymond. The Canucks extended their lead in the third period with the 19th of the year coming on the power play off the tape of Henrik Sedin, with helpers provided by Daniel Sedin and Ryan Kesler. Higgins kept Vancouver rolling with his 12th of the season, made possible by Kesler and Raymond. Columbus got on the board with R.J. Umberger sinking his 24th of the campaign, thanks to Antoine Vermette. Higgins made it 4-1 Canucks with his 13th of the year, a power play goal and his second tally of the game being powered by Raymond, who clinched a sock trick, and Kevin Bieksa. Schneider (39 for 40 saves), Higgins, and Umberger earned the three stars.
Finally, the Philadelphia Flyers hosted the Boston Bruins. Tim Thomas and Brian Boucher participated in some alliteration in front of the cages. Philadelphia got on the board first with Kris Versteeg netting his 20th of the campaign, assisted by Mike Richards and James van Riemsdyk. Boston replied in the second period with Nathan Horton on the power play with his 23rd of the season, powered by Tomas Kaberle and David Krejci. The Bruins took a 2-1 lead in the third period with another power play goal, this time Brad Marchand's 20th of the year, guided along by Dennis Seidenberg and Mark Recchi. This was the final, with the three stars going to Marchand, Thomas (27 for 28 saves), and Versteeg.
Sandwich Showdown XII
This weekend, the two sandwiches in competition had a very similar composition, with the Subway Club on Italian opposing the Subway Melt on Garlic. The Club had a very strong set of flavor, bringing out all of its best angles. The bread quality was top-notch. The Melt that followed was toasted and also had a good flavor. The bread was also very strong. This week the edge goes just barely to the Melt, but it was one of the best battles I've had the right to taste. This will run again next week.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Saturday Hockey
Today we have twelve games on. The first two are matinees, and we begin with...
The Boston Bruins hosting the New York Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist and Tuukka Rask took to the nets. New York took the initial lead with a Derek Stepan goal in the first period, his 20th of the campaign, with help from Mike Sauer and Vinny Prospal. This turned out to be the only goal in the game after scoreless second and third periods, giving the Rangers a 1-0 win. Lundqvist (26 save shutout), Dan Girardi, and Rask (22 for 23 saves) collected the three stars.
Moving to the second of the matinees, with the Los Angeles Kings hosting the Colorado Avalanche. Peter Budaj and Jonathan Quick took control of the cages. Los Angeles opened the scoring with Willie Mitchell potting his fifth of the season, with help from Anze Kopitar. The Kings extended their lead with a power play goal by Michal Handzus, his eleventh of the year, getting help from Dustin Brown and Drew Doughty. Colorado got on the board in the second period with Milan Hejduk notching his 20th of the campaign, assisted by Paul Stastny. Ryan Smyth got the goal back for Los Angeles on his 21st of the season, coming off of Trevor Lewis and Brown. Lewis made it 4-1 Kings with his third of the year, via Smyth, which would make the score final. The three stars were awarded to Smyth, Lewis, Quick (20 for 21 saves).
To the regularly timed games, with the Montreal Canadiens hosting the Washington Capitals. Braden Holtby and Carey Price tended the twines. Washington got in front first with Marco Sturm netting his fifth of the season, with help from Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Semin. In the third period, the Capitals went up 2-0 with Semin notching his 26th of the year, courtesy of Backstrom and Sturm. This score was the final, with the three stars given to Price (31 for 33 saves), Holtby (18 save shutout), and Sturm.
Onto Long Island, with the New York Islanders hosting the Philadelphia Flyers. Sergei Bobrovsky and Rick DiPietro played in the blue paint. Philadelphia opened the scoring with a Jeff Carter goal, his 34th of the season, coming via Claude Giroux. James van Riemsdyk extended the Flyer lead with his 17th of the year, thanks to Kris Versteeg, just twenty-two seconds after the earlier goal. New York got on the board with a Blake Comeau tally, his 21st of the campaign made possible by Josh Bailey and Radek Martinek. Van Riemsdyk got the goal back for Philadelphia with his second of the game and 18th of the season, fueled by Andrej Meszaros and Sean O'Donnell. Van Riemsdyk sealed a 4-1 victory for the Flyers in the third period by completing his hat trick with his 19th of the year, helped along by Giroux and Danny Briere on the power play. The three stars were given to van Riemsdyk, Bobrovsky (36 for 37 saves), and Carter.
To Buffalo, where the Sabres hosted the New Jersey Devils. Martin Brodeur and Ryan Miller played between the pipes. Buffalo went up first with a Nathan Gerbe goal, his 14th of the season, helped into the mesh by Paul Gaustad and Brad Boyes. Thomas Vanek extended the Sabres lead to 2-0 with his 26th of the year, thanks to Jason Pominville and Tim Connolly. After the silent second and third periods, this was a final score, with the three stars going to Miller (30 save shutout), Gerbe, and Pominville.
Southward to Carolina, with the Hurricanes hosting the Tampa Bay Lightning. Mike Smith and Cam Ward took control of the creases. Eric Staal used his 31st of the season on the power play to put Carolina up first, with helpers provided by Cory Stillman and Jamie McBain. Tampa Bay tied it on a Martin St. Louis goal, his 27th of the year, with Vincent Lecavalier picking up the lone assist. The Lightning took the lead with a Simon Gagne goal, his 15th of the season requiring no help to find twine. Erik Cole tied it for the Hurricanes with his 23rd of the year, assisted by Stillman and Bryan Allen. Dominic Moore gave Tampa Bay the lead back with his 15th of the season, a power play goal made possible by Lecavalier and St. Louis. Gagne wrapped up the game for the Lightning at a 4-2 score with his second of the game and 16th of the year, going unassisted once again into the empty net. The three stars went to St. Louis, Lecavalier, and Stillman.
To the Motor City of Detroit, where the Red Wings hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs. James Reimer and Jimmy Howard got the starting nods. Detroit opened the scoring with Henrik Zetterberg, his 22nd of the season a power play goal powered by Nicklas Lidstrom and Jiri Hudler. Toronto replied with the second of the year by Nazem Kadri, with guidance provided by Joey Crabb. The Red Wings replied in the second period by Tomas Holmstrom netting a power play goal, his 15th of the season, created by Niklas Kronwall and Brian Rafalski. Howard came out of the game due to injury, and Joey MacDonald came on in time to relinquish a goal to the Maple Leafs, as Joffrey Lupul sank his eleventh of the year, and Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf picked up the assists. Thirty-eight seconds later, Detroit got the goal back with Hudler potting his tenth of the season, and Zetterberg grabbing the assist. Todd Bertuzzi solidified the game for the Red wings with his empty-netter from Kronwall, his 15th of the year making the score 4-2. The three stars went out to Hudler, Zetterberg, and Phaneuf.
West to Minnesota, where the Wild hosted the St. Louis Blues. Ty Conklin and Niklas Backstrom played in front of the goalmouths. Minnesota broke the game open with a Marek Zidlicky goal, his sixth of the season, made possible by Andrew Brunette and Mikko Koivu. St. Louis replied with a Matt D'Agostini goal, his 19th of the year, guided in by Kevin Shattenkirk and Andy McDonald. The Wild retook the lead with an Antti Miettinen goal, his 13th of the campaign coming on the power play from Brunette and Koivu. The Blues tied it again, releasing Adam the Cracknell for his third of the season, an unassisted goal. St. Louis took the lead with Chris Stewart potting his 24th of the year in the second period, assisted by T.J. Oshie and Roman Polak. Twenty-three seconds later, the Blues got another goal, this time the 27th of the season by David Backes, powered by Alex Pietrangelo. Pietrangelo tallied for himself and St. Louis in the third period, his eleventh of the year getting the favored returned by Backes. The Blues scored yet again with a Patrik Berglund marker, his 19th of the season, helped along by Nikita Nikitin. Minnesota made it 6-3 with another Miettinen goal ,his second of the game and 14th of the year, finding twine thanks to Koivu and Brunette, both of whom completed sock tricks in the loss. The three stars went to Backes, Pietrangelo, and Oshie.
Back to Nashville, where the Predators hosted the Dallas Stars in a country music showdown. Kari Lethonen and Pekka Rinne took their place in front of the cages. Dallas opened with a power play goal by Alex Goligoski, his 13th of the season coming off of Loui Eriksson and Mike Ribeiro. Nashville replied with a David Legwand goal, the 16th of the year for him made possible by Martin Erat and Shea Weber. The Predators took the lead in the second period with Mike Fisher's 16th of the season, assisted by Patric Hornqvist and Sergei Kostitsyn. The Stars retied it with Brenden Morrow recording his 28th of the year courtesy of Jamie Benn and Ribeiro. Fisher put Nashville back in front with his second of the game and 17th of the season, helped in by Ryan Suter (finally getting credit for his work) and Hornqvist. Legwand secured a 4-2 victory for the Predators with his second of the game and 17th of the year, an empty net goal that went without assistance. The three stars were awarded to Fisher, Hornqvist, and Suter.
To the Windy City, where the Chicago Blackhawks welcomed the Anaheim Ducks to the United Center. Ray Emery and Corey Crawford took care of the nets. Chicago opened up with a Marian Hossa tally, his 22nd of the season coming off of Viktor Stalberg and Michael Frolik. The second period was silent, but Anaheim took a 2-1 lead with a pair of Corey Perry third period goals, his 43rd and 44th of the year, with both Ryan Getzlaf and Bobby Ryan picking up two assists. This would be the final, and the three stars went to Perry, Hossa, and Emery (27 for 28 saves).
Out west to Phoenix, where the Coyotes hosted the San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi and Ilya Bryzgalov were called on as starters. Logan Couture used his 29th of the season to put San Jose ahead first, gathering steam off of Ryane Clowe and Dany Heatley. Phoenix replied with Mikkel Boedker notching his fourth of the year, courtesy of Derek Morris and Kyle Turris. Joe Pavelski restored the lead for the Sharks on his 18th of the campaign, assisted by Joe Thornton and Jamal Mayers. Clowe notched his 24th of the season as well for San Jose, with helpers provided by Couture and Devin Setoguchi. Couture made it 4-1 with his second of the game and 30th of the year, guided in by Clowe and Ian White. The last event of the game had Paul Bissonnette help Clowe complete a Gordie Howe hat trick by taking a dance late in the third period. The final was as listed above, and the three stars went to Couture, Clowe, and Niemi (26 for 27 saves).
Lastly, the Battle of Alberta, in Edmonton, with the Oilers hosting the Calgary Flames. Miikka Kiprusoff and Devan Dubnyk took the starts. Edmonton opened with Magnus Paajarvi notching his 12th of the season, with Andrew Cogliano and Linus Omark providing the necessary assistance. Calgary evened it in the second period with a Jarome Iginla power play goal, his 35th of the year powered by Mark Giordano and Tom Kostopolous. Fifty-nine seconds later, Teemu Hartikainen sank his first of the season for the Oilers, with help from Jordan Eberle and Theo Peckham. Edmonton extended their lead with a Colin Fraser goal, his third of the year coming shorthanded and unassisted. Ryan Jones kept the Oilers going with his 17th of the season, fueled by Ryan O'Marra and Liam Reddox. The Flames got a jumpstart with Iginla's second of the game and 36th of the year, another power play goal, aided by Giordano and Mikael Backlund. Calgary cut the deficit to a goal with Curtis Glencross sinking his 23rd of the season, thanks to Iginla and a sock trick recipient named Giordano. The Flames tied it with the third of the year by Steve Staios, guided along by Rene Bourque and Olli Jokinen. The tie lasted into a shootout, where Calgary completed the comeback with the lone Alex Tanguay tally to put them on top of Edmonton by a 5-4 margin. The three stars went to Hartikainen, Iginla, and Paajarvi.
There's four games for Sunday and a Sandwich Showdown as well.
The Boston Bruins hosting the New York Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist and Tuukka Rask took to the nets. New York took the initial lead with a Derek Stepan goal in the first period, his 20th of the campaign, with help from Mike Sauer and Vinny Prospal. This turned out to be the only goal in the game after scoreless second and third periods, giving the Rangers a 1-0 win. Lundqvist (26 save shutout), Dan Girardi, and Rask (22 for 23 saves) collected the three stars.
Moving to the second of the matinees, with the Los Angeles Kings hosting the Colorado Avalanche. Peter Budaj and Jonathan Quick took control of the cages. Los Angeles opened the scoring with Willie Mitchell potting his fifth of the season, with help from Anze Kopitar. The Kings extended their lead with a power play goal by Michal Handzus, his eleventh of the year, getting help from Dustin Brown and Drew Doughty. Colorado got on the board in the second period with Milan Hejduk notching his 20th of the campaign, assisted by Paul Stastny. Ryan Smyth got the goal back for Los Angeles on his 21st of the season, coming off of Trevor Lewis and Brown. Lewis made it 4-1 Kings with his third of the year, via Smyth, which would make the score final. The three stars were awarded to Smyth, Lewis, Quick (20 for 21 saves).
To the regularly timed games, with the Montreal Canadiens hosting the Washington Capitals. Braden Holtby and Carey Price tended the twines. Washington got in front first with Marco Sturm netting his fifth of the season, with help from Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Semin. In the third period, the Capitals went up 2-0 with Semin notching his 26th of the year, courtesy of Backstrom and Sturm. This score was the final, with the three stars given to Price (31 for 33 saves), Holtby (18 save shutout), and Sturm.
Onto Long Island, with the New York Islanders hosting the Philadelphia Flyers. Sergei Bobrovsky and Rick DiPietro played in the blue paint. Philadelphia opened the scoring with a Jeff Carter goal, his 34th of the season, coming via Claude Giroux. James van Riemsdyk extended the Flyer lead with his 17th of the year, thanks to Kris Versteeg, just twenty-two seconds after the earlier goal. New York got on the board with a Blake Comeau tally, his 21st of the campaign made possible by Josh Bailey and Radek Martinek. Van Riemsdyk got the goal back for Philadelphia with his second of the game and 18th of the season, fueled by Andrej Meszaros and Sean O'Donnell. Van Riemsdyk sealed a 4-1 victory for the Flyers in the third period by completing his hat trick with his 19th of the year, helped along by Giroux and Danny Briere on the power play. The three stars were given to van Riemsdyk, Bobrovsky (36 for 37 saves), and Carter.
To Buffalo, where the Sabres hosted the New Jersey Devils. Martin Brodeur and Ryan Miller played between the pipes. Buffalo went up first with a Nathan Gerbe goal, his 14th of the season, helped into the mesh by Paul Gaustad and Brad Boyes. Thomas Vanek extended the Sabres lead to 2-0 with his 26th of the year, thanks to Jason Pominville and Tim Connolly. After the silent second and third periods, this was a final score, with the three stars going to Miller (30 save shutout), Gerbe, and Pominville.
Southward to Carolina, with the Hurricanes hosting the Tampa Bay Lightning. Mike Smith and Cam Ward took control of the creases. Eric Staal used his 31st of the season on the power play to put Carolina up first, with helpers provided by Cory Stillman and Jamie McBain. Tampa Bay tied it on a Martin St. Louis goal, his 27th of the year, with Vincent Lecavalier picking up the lone assist. The Lightning took the lead with a Simon Gagne goal, his 15th of the season requiring no help to find twine. Erik Cole tied it for the Hurricanes with his 23rd of the year, assisted by Stillman and Bryan Allen. Dominic Moore gave Tampa Bay the lead back with his 15th of the season, a power play goal made possible by Lecavalier and St. Louis. Gagne wrapped up the game for the Lightning at a 4-2 score with his second of the game and 16th of the year, going unassisted once again into the empty net. The three stars went to St. Louis, Lecavalier, and Stillman.
To the Motor City of Detroit, where the Red Wings hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs. James Reimer and Jimmy Howard got the starting nods. Detroit opened the scoring with Henrik Zetterberg, his 22nd of the season a power play goal powered by Nicklas Lidstrom and Jiri Hudler. Toronto replied with the second of the year by Nazem Kadri, with guidance provided by Joey Crabb. The Red Wings replied in the second period by Tomas Holmstrom netting a power play goal, his 15th of the season, created by Niklas Kronwall and Brian Rafalski. Howard came out of the game due to injury, and Joey MacDonald came on in time to relinquish a goal to the Maple Leafs, as Joffrey Lupul sank his eleventh of the year, and Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf picked up the assists. Thirty-eight seconds later, Detroit got the goal back with Hudler potting his tenth of the season, and Zetterberg grabbing the assist. Todd Bertuzzi solidified the game for the Red wings with his empty-netter from Kronwall, his 15th of the year making the score 4-2. The three stars went out to Hudler, Zetterberg, and Phaneuf.
West to Minnesota, where the Wild hosted the St. Louis Blues. Ty Conklin and Niklas Backstrom played in front of the goalmouths. Minnesota broke the game open with a Marek Zidlicky goal, his sixth of the season, made possible by Andrew Brunette and Mikko Koivu. St. Louis replied with a Matt D'Agostini goal, his 19th of the year, guided in by Kevin Shattenkirk and Andy McDonald. The Wild retook the lead with an Antti Miettinen goal, his 13th of the campaign coming on the power play from Brunette and Koivu. The Blues tied it again, releasing Adam the Cracknell for his third of the season, an unassisted goal. St. Louis took the lead with Chris Stewart potting his 24th of the year in the second period, assisted by T.J. Oshie and Roman Polak. Twenty-three seconds later, the Blues got another goal, this time the 27th of the season by David Backes, powered by Alex Pietrangelo. Pietrangelo tallied for himself and St. Louis in the third period, his eleventh of the year getting the favored returned by Backes. The Blues scored yet again with a Patrik Berglund marker, his 19th of the season, helped along by Nikita Nikitin. Minnesota made it 6-3 with another Miettinen goal ,his second of the game and 14th of the year, finding twine thanks to Koivu and Brunette, both of whom completed sock tricks in the loss. The three stars went to Backes, Pietrangelo, and Oshie.
Back to Nashville, where the Predators hosted the Dallas Stars in a country music showdown. Kari Lethonen and Pekka Rinne took their place in front of the cages. Dallas opened with a power play goal by Alex Goligoski, his 13th of the season coming off of Loui Eriksson and Mike Ribeiro. Nashville replied with a David Legwand goal, the 16th of the year for him made possible by Martin Erat and Shea Weber. The Predators took the lead in the second period with Mike Fisher's 16th of the season, assisted by Patric Hornqvist and Sergei Kostitsyn. The Stars retied it with Brenden Morrow recording his 28th of the year courtesy of Jamie Benn and Ribeiro. Fisher put Nashville back in front with his second of the game and 17th of the season, helped in by Ryan Suter (finally getting credit for his work) and Hornqvist. Legwand secured a 4-2 victory for the Predators with his second of the game and 17th of the year, an empty net goal that went without assistance. The three stars were awarded to Fisher, Hornqvist, and Suter.
To the Windy City, where the Chicago Blackhawks welcomed the Anaheim Ducks to the United Center. Ray Emery and Corey Crawford took care of the nets. Chicago opened up with a Marian Hossa tally, his 22nd of the season coming off of Viktor Stalberg and Michael Frolik. The second period was silent, but Anaheim took a 2-1 lead with a pair of Corey Perry third period goals, his 43rd and 44th of the year, with both Ryan Getzlaf and Bobby Ryan picking up two assists. This would be the final, and the three stars went to Perry, Hossa, and Emery (27 for 28 saves).
Out west to Phoenix, where the Coyotes hosted the San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi and Ilya Bryzgalov were called on as starters. Logan Couture used his 29th of the season to put San Jose ahead first, gathering steam off of Ryane Clowe and Dany Heatley. Phoenix replied with Mikkel Boedker notching his fourth of the year, courtesy of Derek Morris and Kyle Turris. Joe Pavelski restored the lead for the Sharks on his 18th of the campaign, assisted by Joe Thornton and Jamal Mayers. Clowe notched his 24th of the season as well for San Jose, with helpers provided by Couture and Devin Setoguchi. Couture made it 4-1 with his second of the game and 30th of the year, guided in by Clowe and Ian White. The last event of the game had Paul Bissonnette help Clowe complete a Gordie Howe hat trick by taking a dance late in the third period. The final was as listed above, and the three stars went to Couture, Clowe, and Niemi (26 for 27 saves).
Lastly, the Battle of Alberta, in Edmonton, with the Oilers hosting the Calgary Flames. Miikka Kiprusoff and Devan Dubnyk took the starts. Edmonton opened with Magnus Paajarvi notching his 12th of the season, with Andrew Cogliano and Linus Omark providing the necessary assistance. Calgary evened it in the second period with a Jarome Iginla power play goal, his 35th of the year powered by Mark Giordano and Tom Kostopolous. Fifty-nine seconds later, Teemu Hartikainen sank his first of the season for the Oilers, with help from Jordan Eberle and Theo Peckham. Edmonton extended their lead with a Colin Fraser goal, his third of the year coming shorthanded and unassisted. Ryan Jones kept the Oilers going with his 17th of the season, fueled by Ryan O'Marra and Liam Reddox. The Flames got a jumpstart with Iginla's second of the game and 36th of the year, another power play goal, aided by Giordano and Mikael Backlund. Calgary cut the deficit to a goal with Curtis Glencross sinking his 23rd of the season, thanks to Iginla and a sock trick recipient named Giordano. The Flames tied it with the third of the year by Steve Staios, guided along by Rene Bourque and Olli Jokinen. The tie lasted into a shootout, where Calgary completed the comeback with the lone Alex Tanguay tally to put them on top of Edmonton by a 5-4 margin. The three stars went to Hartikainen, Iginla, and Paajarvi.
There's four games for Sunday and a Sandwich Showdown as well.
Friday NHL coverage
We have five games in the NHL on Friday, and I think I might finally be caught up. We start in...
Pittsburgh, with the Penguins hosting the New Jersey Devils. Martin Brodeur and Marc-Andre Fleury played between the pipes. The game went scoreless throughout the 65 minutes of regulation and overtime, and Pittsburgh defeated New Jersey on the lone James Neal tally in the shootout. Fleury (21 save shutout), Brodeur (26 save "shutout") and Neal were the easily-chosen three stars.
Along to Buffalo, where the Sabres hosted the Florida Panthers. Tomas Vokoun and Ryan Miller wore the masks. Buffalo led off with a Jason Pominville goal, his 19th of the season, with help from Thomas Vanek and Andrej Sekera. Florida answered with Sergei Samsonov, his 13th of the year coming unassisted. The Sabres retook the lead with the 27th of the season for Drew Stafford, helped in by Brad Boyes and Tyler Ennis. Buffalo continued with a Jordan Leopold tally on the power play, his 13th of the year powered by Pominville and Stafford. Thirteen seconds later, Stafford tallied again for the Sabres with his 28th of the season and second of the game, assisted by Ennis. With three seconds left, Evgeny Dadonov brought the final to 4-2 for the Panthers with his seventh of the year, helped along by Niclas Bergfors. Stafford, Pominville, and Ennis collected the three stars.
Up to Ottawa, with the Senators hosting the Washington Capitals. Semyon Varlamov and Craig Anderson took control of the cages. Ottawa opened the scoring in the second period with a Colin Greening goal, his fourth of the season, with help from Jason Spezza and Bobby Butler. The Senators made it 2-0 with Erik Condra potting his fifth of the year in the third period, courtesy of Milan Michalek. This would be the final, with Anderson (31 save shutout), Chris Phillips, and Condra earning the three stars.
Down to Atlanta, where the Thrashers hosted the Vancouver Canucks. Roberto Luongo and Chris Mason tended the twines. Vancouver broke the scoring open in the second period with a goal by Mason Raymond, his 13th of the season gathering steam off of Raffi Torres. The Canucks extended their lead with Alexandre Bolduc notching his second of the year, with help from Victor Oreskovich and Keith Ballard. Atlanta got on the board with Bryan Little in the third period, his 16th of the season coming unassisted. Vancouver clinched victory at 3-1 with Alexandre Burrows putting his 22nd of the year away into the empty net, via Ryan Kesler. The three stars went to Luongo (30 for 31 saves), Bolduc, and Little.
Finally, the Tampa Bay Lightning hosted the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward and Dwayne Roloson played in the blue paint. Tampa Bay opened the scoring on the power play with the 13th of the season from Simon Gagne, powered by Martin St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier. Carolina replied with the 26th of the year from Jeff Skinner, assisted by Tuomo Ruutu and Joni Pitkanen. The Hurricanes took the lead 3-1 with a pair of Erik Cole goals in the second and third periods, with help from Cory Stillman and Eric Staal on the earlier power play goal, and unassisted in the third period at even strength. They were his 21st and 22nd of the season. Staal tacked on his own power play goal for Carolina, his 30th of the year, made possible by Joe Corvo and Pitkanen. Fifty-seven seconds later, Lecavalier notched his 20th of the season for the Lightning, with the help of Victor Hedman. Gagne added on his second of the game and 14th of the year for Tampa Bay to put them at a 4-3 deficit, with helpers coming on the power play from St. Louis and Brett Clark. This wouldn't be enough, as the score lasted the rest of the game, and the three stars went to Cole, Gagne, and Staal.
Twelve games on Saturday, starting at 10 A.M. Pacific.
Pittsburgh, with the Penguins hosting the New Jersey Devils. Martin Brodeur and Marc-Andre Fleury played between the pipes. The game went scoreless throughout the 65 minutes of regulation and overtime, and Pittsburgh defeated New Jersey on the lone James Neal tally in the shootout. Fleury (21 save shutout), Brodeur (26 save "shutout") and Neal were the easily-chosen three stars.
Along to Buffalo, where the Sabres hosted the Florida Panthers. Tomas Vokoun and Ryan Miller wore the masks. Buffalo led off with a Jason Pominville goal, his 19th of the season, with help from Thomas Vanek and Andrej Sekera. Florida answered with Sergei Samsonov, his 13th of the year coming unassisted. The Sabres retook the lead with the 27th of the season for Drew Stafford, helped in by Brad Boyes and Tyler Ennis. Buffalo continued with a Jordan Leopold tally on the power play, his 13th of the year powered by Pominville and Stafford. Thirteen seconds later, Stafford tallied again for the Sabres with his 28th of the season and second of the game, assisted by Ennis. With three seconds left, Evgeny Dadonov brought the final to 4-2 for the Panthers with his seventh of the year, helped along by Niclas Bergfors. Stafford, Pominville, and Ennis collected the three stars.
Up to Ottawa, with the Senators hosting the Washington Capitals. Semyon Varlamov and Craig Anderson took control of the cages. Ottawa opened the scoring in the second period with a Colin Greening goal, his fourth of the season, with help from Jason Spezza and Bobby Butler. The Senators made it 2-0 with Erik Condra potting his fifth of the year in the third period, courtesy of Milan Michalek. This would be the final, with Anderson (31 save shutout), Chris Phillips, and Condra earning the three stars.
Down to Atlanta, where the Thrashers hosted the Vancouver Canucks. Roberto Luongo and Chris Mason tended the twines. Vancouver broke the scoring open in the second period with a goal by Mason Raymond, his 13th of the season gathering steam off of Raffi Torres. The Canucks extended their lead with Alexandre Bolduc notching his second of the year, with help from Victor Oreskovich and Keith Ballard. Atlanta got on the board with Bryan Little in the third period, his 16th of the season coming unassisted. Vancouver clinched victory at 3-1 with Alexandre Burrows putting his 22nd of the year away into the empty net, via Ryan Kesler. The three stars went to Luongo (30 for 31 saves), Bolduc, and Little.
Finally, the Tampa Bay Lightning hosted the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward and Dwayne Roloson played in the blue paint. Tampa Bay opened the scoring on the power play with the 13th of the season from Simon Gagne, powered by Martin St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier. Carolina replied with the 26th of the year from Jeff Skinner, assisted by Tuomo Ruutu and Joni Pitkanen. The Hurricanes took the lead 3-1 with a pair of Erik Cole goals in the second and third periods, with help from Cory Stillman and Eric Staal on the earlier power play goal, and unassisted in the third period at even strength. They were his 21st and 22nd of the season. Staal tacked on his own power play goal for Carolina, his 30th of the year, made possible by Joe Corvo and Pitkanen. Fifty-seven seconds later, Lecavalier notched his 20th of the season for the Lightning, with the help of Victor Hedman. Gagne added on his second of the game and 14th of the year for Tampa Bay to put them at a 4-3 deficit, with helpers coming on the power play from St. Louis and Brett Clark. This wouldn't be enough, as the score lasted the rest of the game, and the three stars went to Cole, Gagne, and Staal.
Twelve games on Saturday, starting at 10 A.M. Pacific.
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