Monday Night Football week 9

This week's Monday night game features the Philadelphia Eagles hosting the Chicago Bears. Chicago struck first on a Jay Cutler touchdown pass of 5 yards to Matt Spaeth, and Robbie Gould had the extra point. Gould tacked on a 51 yard field goal for the Bears in the second quarter. Philadelphia got on the board with Alex Henery kicking a 47 yard field goal. The Eagles went defensive on the next touchdown, as Matt Forte fumbled and Brian Rolle took it back 22 yards for the score, with Henery's extra point tying the score at 10. Chicago gained the lead back at 17-10 with Marion Barber rushing 2 yards for a touchdown, and Gould was there for the PAT. This as the score at halftime. Philadelphia retied it with a 4 yard rushing touchdown for Ronnie Brown, and Henery with the extra point in the third quarter. The Eagles gained the lead with a 33 yard touchdown rush for LeSean McCoy, and Henery was there to provide another extra point. The Bears got a few back with a field goal from 38 yards away by Gould. Chicago took the lead back as Cutler met up for a touchdown pass to Earl Bennett, a 5 yard play capped off on a Gould extra point. Gould made it 30-24 Bears with a 22 yard field goal. This was the final, with the Bears improving to 5-3 and knocking the Eagles to 3-5.

Fantasy Hockey All-Stars week 4

Center: Derek Stepan, 2 G, 3 A, +4, 4 PIM, 3 PPP, 9 SOG
Left Wing: Evander Kane, 3 G, 1 A, +3, 7 PIM, 1 PPP, 15 SOG
Right Wing: Marian Gaborik, 2 G, 3 A, +3, 2 PIM, 2 PPP, 21 SOG
Defenseman: Dan Hamhuis, 2 G, 2 A, 0 +/-, 10 PIM, 3 PPP, 9 SOG
Utility: Patrick Kane, 2 G, 5 A, +5, 2 PIM, 1 PPP, 12 SOG
Utility2: Teemu Selanne, 2 G, 2 A, +3, 24 PIM (pottymouth), 1 PPP, 5 SOG
Goaltender: Josh Harding, 3 W, 0.99 GAA, 90 SV, .968 SV%, 0 SO

Sunday Night game week 9

This week we have a long standing rivalry game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field. Baltimore led off with an 18 yard chip shot field goal for Billy Cundiff. Pittsburgh replied in the second quarter with a 36 yard field goal by Shaun Suisham. The Ravens took the lead back on Cundiff's 43 yard field goal. Suisham tied it at 6 with a 30 yard field goal. Baltimore replied on a Cundiff 51 yard field goal to take a 9-6 lead into the locker rooms. The Ravens extended their lead in the third quarter with a Ray Rice touchdown run of 4 yards, and Cundiff made the extra point. Pittsburgh pulled back on a 1 yard touchdown run by Rashard Mendenhall, with Suisham putting the game within three after the extra point. The Steelers got a 20-16 lead with a 25 yard touchdown connection between Ben Roethlisberger and Mike Wallace, followed up by a Suisham PAT. With eight sec-onds (left in overtime, she's on your mind...) Joe Flacco threw 26 yards for a touchdown to Torrey Smith, and Cundiff's extra point left the score at 23-20. This was a final, and Baltimore moved to 6-2 while dropping their rivals to 6-3.

NHL Day 32 2011-2012

Five games of hockey will be played sporadically throughout the day. The first is at 10:30 Pacific time, as...

The Carolina Hurricanes host the Dallas Stars. Kari Lehtonen and Cam Ward got the starting nods for the matinee. Dallas led off with the third of the season for Eric Nystrom, assisted by Vernon Fiddler and Sheldon Souray. The Stars extended the lead with a Stephane Robidas goal on the power play, via Mike Ribeiro and Michael Ryder. Carolina replied back with the fourth of the year from Chad LaRose, also a power play goal, powered by Jeff Skinner and Tomas Kaberle. Dallas made it 3-1 at the end of the first period on the fourth of the season by Jamie Benn, fueled by Loui Eriksson and Ryder. In the second period, the Stars extended their lead with Ryder tallying his fourth of the year, thanks to Eriksson and Souray. Benn extended the Dallas lead with his second of the game and fifth of the season, a shorthanded goal made possible by Eriksson. The Hurricanes got one back in the third period with a power play goal by Tuomo Ruutu, his fourth of the year, coming off of Derek Joslin and Jay Harrison. The final here was 5-2, and the three stars went to Eriksson, Benn, and Ryder, although another good game came from Souray.

Next to the Battle of Florida, with the Florida Panthers hosting the Tampa Bay Lightning. Mathieu Garon and Jose Theodore will be in the creases. Florida opened early on a power play goal by Brian Campbell, powered by Kris Versteeg and Tomas Fleischmann. The Panthers added on with the second of the season for Tomas Kopecky, from Jack Skille and Mike Weaver. Florida made it 3-0 with Mike Santorelli notching a goal, courtesy of Dmitry Kulikov. Garon was pulled in favor of Dwayne Roloson at this time. Tampa Bay got going with a Ryan Malone power play goal in the second period, via Eric Brewer and Steven Stamkos as his fourth of the year. Stamkos soon pulled the Lightning closer with his tenth of the season, and Matt Gilroy and Martin St. Louis had the assists. Tampa Bay tied it in the third period with the fifth of the year by Teddy Purcell, assisted by Steve Downie and Eric Brewer. The game went into overtime, and then a shootout, where the Lightning downed the Panthers for good with a lone tally by Dominic Moore. Roloson (29 for 29 in saves in relief), Stamkos, and Purcell were the three stars in the 4-3 game.

Up to New York, where the Rangers host the Winnipeg Jets. Ondrej Pavelec and Martin Biron will play in front of the cages. New York was first on the board with a Derek Stepan power play goal, his second of the season, powered by Marian Gaborik and Michael Del Zotto. The Rangers extended the lead with Gaborik potting his sixth of the year, courtesy of Stepan and Artem Anisimov. New York iced it at 3-0 with Gaborik netting his second of the game and seventh of the campaign, an empty net goal to finalize the score, with the help of Anisimov. The three stars were Stepan, Biron (23 save shutout), and Gaborik, with honorable mention to Anisimov.

West to Chicago, where the Blackhawks host their fierce rivals from Vancouver, the Canucks. Roberto Luongo and Corey Crawford will play in the blue paint. Vancouver drew first blood with a David Booth goal, assisted by Kevin Bieksa and Chris Higgins on the power play. Chicago answered with Michael Frolik's third of the season, made possible by Niklas Hjalmarsson. The Canucks shot back in the second period with a power play goal by Aaron Rome, powered by Cody Hodgson and Booth. Vancouver extended the lead on the sixth of the year for Daniel Sedin, also a power play goal, coming off of Henrik Sedin and Dan Hamhuis. The Blackhawks got one back as Marcus Kruger recorded his second of the season, from Jamal Mayers and Viktor Stalberg. The Canucks took it back shortly after on a Jannik Hansen goal, his second of the year, from the brothers Sedin. Vancouver made it 5-2 with Hamhuis potting his second of the season, a power play goal aided by Henrik, who gets a sock trick and Alexander Edler. The Canucks rolled on into the third period, striking with a Henrik goal, his fifth of the year, guided in by Edler and Daniel, a power play goal. The final was 6-2, and the three stars were Henrik, Hamhuis, and Daniel, while the honorable mentions go to Hodgson, Booth, and Edler.

Farther west to our final destination tonight. This is Denver, Colorado, with the Colorado Avalanche hosting the Calgary Flames. Miikka Kiprusoff and Semyon Varlamov tended the twines. Colorado struck early with Paul Stastny netting his fourth of the season, via Shane O'Brien and Matt Duchene. Calgary answered on a Mark Giordano goal, his second of the year, set up by Scott Hannan and Tom Kostopoulos. The Flames took the lead with Curtis Glencross scoring on the power play, his fourth of the season, powered by Alex Tanguay and Jarome Iginla. The 2-1 score lasted to the end of the game, and the three stars were Kiprusoff (32 for 33 in saves), Giordano, and Stastny.

NFL Late Games week 9

Five games on in the second wave of kickoffs. Leading us off...

Are the Tennessee Titans against the Cincinnati Bengals. Tennessee drew first blood with Rob Bironas kicking a 43 yard field goal. Cincinnati took the lead in the second quarter on a touchdown from Andy Dalton 1 yard to Colin Cochart, and Mike Nugent handled the extra point. The Titans took the lead back on an 8 yard touchdown connection between Matt Hasselbeck and Damian Williams, iced off by Bironas with the extra point. Tennessee made it 17-7 at halftime with Hasselbeck throwing a 16 yard touchdown to Lavelle Hawkins, and Bironas again made the PAT. The Bengals came roaring back on Dalton's 15 yard touchdown connection with Jerome Simpson, and Nugent had another extra point. Cincinnati grabbed the lead as Dalton threw a 5 yard touchdown to Andre Caldwell, and Nugent's extra point made it 21-17. The Bengals made it 24-17 with a field goal by Nugent from 36 yards away.  This was the final, and Cincinnati improved to 6-2 while Tennessee fell to 4-4.

Following that, the Oakland Raiders welcome the Denver Broncos. Oakland opened the scoring with a 48 yard field goal by Sebastian Janikowski. Denver took the lead as Tim Tebow threw 27 yards for a touchdown to Eric Decker, and Matt Prater added the extra point. The Raiders regained the lead in the second quarter on a Carson Palmer touchdown pass of 11 yards to Michael Bush, and Janikowski supplied an extra point. Palmer then threw to Marcel Reece later in the quarter, a 40 yard touchdown capped off with Janikowski making the extra point for 17-7 score at the half. The Broncos got back into scoring in the third quarter with Tebow finding Eddie Royal for 26 yards and a touchdown, with Prater polishing it off on the extra point. Oakland extended the lead with Palmer throwing an 18 yard touchdown pass to Jacoby Ford, and Janikowski supplied another PAT. Denver pulled back within a touchdown as Prater kicked a 43 yard field goal. The Broncos tied it at 24 with a 60 yard touchdown rush by Willis McGahee, and Prater's extra point. The Broncos took the lead when Quan Crosby ran a punt return back 85 yards for a touchdown, and Prater was there to make the extra point. Denver secured a win with a touchdown run of 24 yards for McGahee, and Prater's extra point to make it 38-24. This was a final, improving the Broncos to 3-5 and pushing the Raiders down to 4-4.

The marquee matchup of the afternoon is back east, as the New England Patriots host the New York Giants. The score was 0 all at the half, not what anyone expected from these two teams. New York finally found points with Lawrence Tynes nailing a 22 yard field goal. The Giants continued their quest for control as Brandon Jacobs ran 10 yards for a touchdown, and Tynes supplied another extra point. New England got on the board with a 32 yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski. The Patriots tied it as Tom Brady found Aaron Hernandez in the end zone on a 5 yard touchdown. Gostkowski was there for the extra point. New England gained a lead with Gostkowski nailing a 45 yard field goal. New York retook the lead on an Eli Manning 10 yard touchdown pass to Mario Manningham, and Tynes converted the PAT. The Patriots got the lead back with Brady connecting on a 14 yard pass to Rob Gronkowski, and Gostkowski made the extra point for a 20-17 score. The Giants stole the game on a 1 yard touchdown pass by Manning to Jake Ballard, and Tynes' extra point secured the 24-20 victory. New York goes to 6-2 while New England falls to 5-3.

Back to the southwest, with the Arizona Cardinals hosting the St. Louis Rams. Arizona was first to score on Jay Feely's 27 yard field goal. St. Louis replied with a Josh Brown field goal, good from 48 yards away. The Rams took the lead with Brown kicking a 37 yard field goal in the second quarter. Brown made it 9-3 St. Louis at the half with his 41 yard field goal. The Cardinals repositioned themselves in the third quarter with Feely nailing a 38 yard field goal. The Rams got a safety as James Hall sacked John Skelton. Skelton was later sacked for another safety by St. Louis' C.J. Ah You. Skelton finally showed usefulness in the fourth quarter, throwing a 13 yard touchdown pass to Larry Fitzgerald, and Feely tied it with an extra point. The game went into overtime, where Arizona won it on a 99 yard punt return by Patrick Peterson. The Cardinals are now 2-6, while the Rams are 1-7.

Wrapping it up today, the San Diego Chargers host the Green Bay Packers. San Diego was first to score here, as Philip Rivers threw 23 yards and Vincent Jackson took it in his hands to the end zone for a touchdown, allowing a Nick Novak extra point. Green Bay answered with Aaron Rodgers throwing a 5 yard touchdown to Jermichael Finley, and Mason Crosby had the tying extra point. The Packers went defensive on the next touchdown, as Charlie Peprah intercepted Rivers and took it back 40 yards for a touchdown, where Crosby then supplied an extra point. Rivers' nightmare continued as the Green Bay defense got another pick 6 on a 43 yard return by Tramon Williams. The Chargers finally got one back, as Mike Tolbert ran 8 yards to score a touchdown, and Novak made the PAT. Novak put San Diego a little closer on a 52 yard field goal. The score at the half was 28-17 after Rodgers tossed a 16 yard touchdown to Jordy Nelson, and Crosby made one more extra point. The Packers continued applying the pressure on a Crosby field goal in the third quarter from 47 yards out. The Chargers got within a touchdown after a touchdown pass from Rivers 11 yards to Antonio Gates, and Novak was there with the extra point. Green Bay made it 38-24 with Rodgers passing 21 yards for a touchdown to James Jones, and Crosby had another extra point. The Packers continue to pour on the points with Rodgers hooking up a 4 yard touchdown to Greg Jennings, and Crosby had another extra point. San Diego grabbed a few more point back with Rivers tossing a touchdown to Jackson, a 5 yard play with Novak finishing it off on the extra point. The Chargers refused to die as Rivers and Jackson met for another touchdown, a 29 yard connection capped off by a Novak extra point. They would not tie it, losing 45-38, with the Packers moving up to 8-0 and San Diego falling to 4-4.

NFL Early Games week 9

There are seven games on early this Sunday, and we lead off with...

The Dallas Cowboys hosting the Seattle Seahawks. Dallas led off with a 20 yard Dan Bailey field goal. Seattle tied it on Steven Hauschka's 45 yard field goal. The Cowboys regained the lead in the second quarter, on another Bailey 20 yard field goal. Hauschka retied it for the Seahawks on a 32 yard field goal. The tie lasted through halftime. Dallas took control in the third quarter with a touchdown from Tony Romo to Jason Witten for 33 yards, and Bailey made the extra point. The Cowboys continued to pull away with Romo throwing 6 yards to Laurent Robinson for a touchdown, and Bailey would convert another extra point in the fourth quarter. Dallas added on, making it 23-6 with Bailey's 42 yard field goal. Seattle finally found a touchdown on a 4 yard run by Marshawn Lynch, and Hauschka was there for the PAT. The final stood at 23-13, sending the Cowboys to an even 4-4, and the Seahawks to a dismal 2-6.

Next up, the Indianapolis Colts welcome the Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta struck first with a 1 yard touchdown rush by Michael Turner, and Matt Bryant added the extra point. The Falcons added on with Matt Ryan throwing a 50 yard touchdown pass to Julio Jones, and Bryant supplied another PAT. Atlanta kept going in the second quarter as Jones met Ryan again, this time an 80 yard touchdown connection, and Bryant put away another extra point. Indianapolis got on the board with Jerraud Powers intercepting Ryan at short range and taking it 6 yards into the end zone. Adam Vinatieri kicked the extra point. The score at halftime was 21-7. The Falcons got back to work in the third quarter with a touchdown from Ryan to Tony Gonzalez, a 1 yard play capped off by Bryant on the extra point. Atlanta had some mercy in the fourth quarter, allowing Bryant a 20 yard field goal. This made it 31-7, the eventual final, sending the Falcons up to 5-3 and the Colts down to 0-9.

Also, the Buffalo Bills have a tough matchup against AFC East rivals in the New York Jets. New York opened the scoring late in the second quarter with a 49 yard Nick Folk field goal. The score lasted through halftime at 3-0. The Jets took control in the third quarter as Folk scored a 50 yard field goal and then later added an extra point onto the touchdown rush of 1 yard by LaDainian Tomlinson. Buffalo got on the board with a 24 yard field goal by Rian Lindell. New York made it 20-3 as Mark Sanchez hooked up with Santonio Holmes for an 8 yard touchdown, and Folk added another PAT. The Jets kept extending the lead as John Conner ran 1 yard for a touchdown, and Folk continued to kick extra points. Buffalo tacked on a touchdown in the too little, too late column with Ryan Fitzpatrick throwing 7 yards to David Nelson, and then he converted the extra point by running it in himself to make it 27-11. This was the final, and both teams are now 5-3.

South to Houston, where the Texans host the Cleveland Browns. Houston led off with a 27 yard touchdown run by Ben Tate, and Neil Rackers handled the kicking of the extra point. The Texans extended their lead as Matt Schaub rushed 2 yards for a touchdown, and Rackers kicked another extra point. Cleveland got on the board with Phil Dawson kicking a 50 yard field goal. Houston kept going to the ground game in the second quarter, as Arian Foster ran 19 yards to cross the goal line, and Rackers booted in another extra point. Rackers made it 24-3 Texans at halftime with a 28 yard field goal. In the third quarter, Rackers and Dawson exchanged field goals, with Rackers kicking at 21 yards and Dawson good from 51 yards. Rackers moved Houston farther ahead with a fourth quarter field goal, good from 50 yards away. Cleveland pulled some back with a touchdown pass of 2 yards from Colt McCoy to Joshua Cribbs, but they couldn't do the same thing twice and failed on the two point attempt. The final here was 30-12, and Houston goes to 6-3 while dropping Cleveland to 3-5.

Back northeast to Washington, D.C., with the Redskins playing the San Francisco 49ers. San Francisco was first to score on a David Akers field goal from 52 yards away. The 49ers made it 6-0 with Akers blasting a 34 yard field goal. San Francisco extended the lead again with Alex Smith connecting 30 yards to Bruce Miller for a touchdown, and Akers made the PAT. Washington got on the board just before halftime for a 13-3 score with Graham Gano's 59 yard field goal. Akers and San Francisco got back to it in the third quarter on a 45 yard field goal. The 49ers kept going in the fourth quarter with Akers kicking a 20 yard field goal. The Redskins cut the score to 19-11 with a touchdown from John Beck 9 yards to Jabar Gaffney, and Beck passed to Leonard Hankerson for the two point conversion. This would be the final, with San Francisco improving to 7-1 and the Redskins falling to 3-5.

To the Big Easy, where the New Orleans Saints are hosting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. New Orleans drew first blood with Drew Brees finding Lance Moore for a three yard touchdown, and John Kasay took care of the extra point. The Saints extended the lead on a Brees touchdown pass of 21 yards to Darren Sproles. Kasay again supplied the extra point. Tampa Bay got on the board with a Connor Barth field goal from 40 yards out. New Orleans set the halftime score at 17-3 with Kasay notching a 21 yard field goal. The Buccaneers took some back with Barth nailing a 48 yard field goal in the third quarter. The Saints replied quickly with a 9 yard touchdown rush by Pierre Thomas, and Kasay added another PAT. Tampa Bay replied with Barth kicking a 25 yard field goal in the fourth quarter. The Buccaneers kept approaching with Josh Freeman throwing 5 yards for a touchdown to Kellen Winslow, and Barth recorded an extra point. Kasay kicked a 34 yard field goal, making the final 27-16, and New Orleans improves to 6-3 while Tampa Bay goes to 4-4.

Lastly, the Kansas City Chiefs host the Miami Dolphins. Kansas City was the first to score on a 43 yard Ryan Succop field goal. Miami took the lead with a Matt Moore touchdown pass of 3 yards to Anthony Fasano, and Dan Carpenter made the extra point. Moore and Fasano met up again in the second quarter as they connected for a 35 yard touchdown play, and Carpenter happily kicked another extra point. This kept the score at 14-3 Dolphins, which was taken into the locker rooms. Miami got back to work in the third quarter, starting with Moore throwing a 14 yard touchdown pass to Brandon Marshall, and Carpenter kicked the extra point. Reggie Bush continued the effort by the Dolphins with a 28 yard touchdown rush, and Carpenter again kicked an extra point. Miami added a field goal from 42 yards away in the fourth quarter, courtesy of Carpenter. The final here was 31-3, with the Dolphins getting their first win for a 1-7 record, derailing the Chiefs' progress and knocking them back to 4-4.

NHL Day 31 2011-2012

There are eleven games for us to look over, and we lead off in Motown, where the Detroit Red Wings host the Anaheim Ducks. Jonas Hiller and Jimmy Howard made the starts, but Hiller was pulled midway through the third period in favor of Dan Ellis. Detroit led off with the second of the season for Niklas Kronwall, courtesy of Valtteri Filppula and Johan Franzen. The Red Wings added on with a Henrik Zetterberg in the second period, his third of the campaign, fueled by Franzen and Nicklas Lidstrom. Lidstrom quickly potted another one for Detroit after that, and was helped by Drew Miller and Fabian Brunnstrom for his fourth of the year. The Red Wings kept control in the third period with Lidstrom notching his second of the game and fifth of the season, a power play goal powered by Pavel Datsyuk and Ian White. Hiller was chased as Detroit made it 5-0 on a Franzen goal, his fifth of the year, guided in by White. This was the final, and the three stars were Lidstrom, Franzen, and Howard (22 save shutout). White earns an honorable mention.

East to New Jersey, where the Devils host the Winnipeg Jets. Ondrej Pavelec and Martin Brodeur take to the creases. New Jersey opened the scoring in the second period with Patrik Elias netting his sixth of the season, assisted by Dainius Zubrus and Bryce Salvador. The Devils extended the lead with an Adam Henrique goal, his second of the year, with a lone assist by Zach Parise. Winnipeg got on the board in the third period with Mark Flood's goal from Dustin Byfuglien. The Jets tied it late with the fifth of the season for Jim Slater, guided in by Flood and Byfuglien. The tie lasted into overtime, where New Jersey won 3-2 with another Henrique goal, his second of the game and third of the year, thanks to Parise and Adam Larsson. The three stars were Henrique, Slater, and Elias, and honorable mentions are in order for multi-point efforts by Parise, Flood, and Byfuglien.

Up into Ontario, with the Ottawa Senators welcoming the Buffalo Sabres. Jhonas Enroth makes another start, this time opposing Craig Anderson. Ottawa led off with a Milan Michalek goal, his ninth of the season, fueled by Chris Phillips and the goalie Anderson. Buffalo tied it in the second period with Derek Roy potting his second of the campaign, with the help of Ville Leino and Andrej Sekera. The Sabres gained the lead as Jordan Leopold notched his second of the year, thanks to Nathan Gerbe and Paul Gaustad. The Senators retied it with Erik Condra's goal, coming from Zack Smith. The tie lasted throughout the third period, into overtime and eventually a shootout, where Buffalo and Ottawa traded a pair each as Thomas Vanek and Brad Boyes neutralized the effects of Michalek and Jason Spezza. The Sabres would take it on a sixth round marker from Roy, for a 3-2 victory. The three stars were Roy, Anderson (31 for 33 in saves), and Michalek.

Back to the States, with the New York Islanders hosting the Washington Capitals. Tomas Vokoun and Rick DiPietro got the starting nods. Washington drew first blood on a Joel Ward goal, his fourth of the season, assisted by John Carlson and Jeff Halpern. The Capitals extended their lead on an Alex Ovechkin goal, his sixth of the year, helped in by Nicklas Backstrom and Jeff Schultz. New York got going in the second period with the third of the season by Frans Nielsen, courtesy of P.A. Parenteau. The Islanders tied it on a Brian Rolston goal, via Nielsen and Parenteau. New York took the lead in the third period with the second of the campaign for Matt Martin, made possible by Steve Staios and Josh Bailey. Washington tied it up again with a power play goal by Brooks Laich, his second of the year, powered by Dennis Wideman and Backstrom. The Islanders retook the lead with a Parenteau goal, his second of the season, set up by Milan Jurcina and Nielsen. New York iced it with the eighth of the year for John Tavares, with help from the goalie DiPietro on the empty netter. The 5-3 game had the three stars given to Parenteau, Nielsen, and Ovechkin, although Backstrom was just a slightly better Capital tonight.

Retracing our steps to Ontario again, as the Toronto Maple Leafs welcome the Boston Bruins. Tim Thomas and Ben Scrivens get the start, but the young Scrivens was pulled after five goals (SPOILER) in favor of Jonas Gustavsson. Boston led off with a Tyler Seguin power play goal, powered by Rich Peverley and Patrice Bergeron as his fifth of the season. Seguin struck again in the second period with his second of the game and sixth of the year, and Bergeron had the lone assist. Eight seconds later, and just forty-two seconds into the middle frame, Milan Lucic put his fifth of the season away, and Zdeno Chara and David Krejci provided the helpers. Seguin polished off the hat trick later in the period with his seventh of the year, and guiding it in were Bergeron (for a sock trick) and Brad Marchand. Fourteen seconds after that (obviously goals come in pair tonight), Krejci potted his second of the season, via Lucic and Andrew Ference. Lucic was the first two break thru the new goalie, netting his second of the night and sixth of the year, courtesy of Krejci and Chara. Twenty-eight seconds later, Gregory Campbell made it 7-0, and he got assistance from Shawn Thornton. This was a final score (mercifully), and Seguin, Lucic, and Thomas (25 save shutout) had the three stars, and three-point nights also came from Krejci and Bergeron.

To New York once again, with the Rangers hosting the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and Henrik Lundqvist tended the twines. New York struck first with Erik Christensen, on a power play goal, powered by Derek Stepan and Marian Gaborik. The Rangers extended the lead with a Dan Girardi goal, his second of the season, courtesy of Artem Anisimov and Christensen. New York kept it up with a Michael Del Zotto goal, his second of the year, via Stepan and Anisimov. Max Pacioretty put Montreal on the board in the second period with his fifth of the season, with helpers by Brian Gionta and Tomas Plekanec. Andrei Kostitsyn got the Canadiens closer, with his fifth of the year on the power play, guided in by Plekanec and Michael Cammalleri. The Rangers took it back on a Brad Richards goal, his fourth of the season, with helpers provided by Brandon Prust and Andre Deveaux. Gionta got Montreal back within one with his third of the campaign, coming off of Jaroslav Spacek and a sock trick earning assist from Plekanec. New York iced it 5-3 with Ryan Callahan scoring his sixth of the year in an empty net, set up by Ryan McDonagh and Brandon Dubinsky. The three stars were Anisimov, Girardi, and McDonagh, with obvious snubs on Christensen, Stepan, Plekanec, and Gionta.

Over to Pennsylvania, where the Philadelphia Flyers host the Columbus Blue Jackets. Steve Mason and Allen York both saw time 200 feet away from Ilya Bryzgalov. Philadelphia opened with James van Riemsdyk's sixth of the season, courtesy of Erik Gustafsson and Danny Briere. The Flyers extended the lead with Jaromir Jagr potting his sixth of the year on the power play, powered by the tenth assists for both Claude Giroux and Kimmo Timonen. Philadelphia assumed full authority with Max Talbot sinking his fifth of the season, thanks to Jakub Voracek. The Flyers continued with Giroux registering his ninth of the year, and the lone assist came from Jagr. Voracek made it 5-0 Philadelphia before the first period expired by netting his third of the season, with the help of Talbot and Andrej Meszaros. The Flyers kept their collective feet on the the throat of Columbus with a shorthanded goal in the second period, represented as the fourth of the year for Sean Couturier, and assists here came from Braydon Coburn and Eric Wellwood. Wayne Simmonds extended the Philadelphia led again with his third of the season, set up by van Riemsdyk. The Flyers had it at 8-0 by the end of the second as Matt Carle notched his third of the year, aided by van Riemsdyk and Briere. Columbus was finally allowed to score in the third period, as Derek Dorsett solved the Bryzgalov puzzle with his second of the season, assisted by Rick Nash. Philadelphia replied on a Couturier goal, his second of the game and fifth of the year, finding twine from passes by Voracek and Harry Zolnierczyk. The Blue Jackets got the last laugh as Grant Clitsome scored to make it a 9-2 final, and he received the puck from Vinny Prospal and Aaron Johnson. The three stars were van Riemsdyk, Voracek, and Couturier, with a supporting cast of Briere, Giroux, Jagr, and Talbot primarily. Other honorable mentions go to Dorsett, Johnson, and Derek MacKenzie for having positive plus/minus numbers in the blowout loss. Dishonorable mention is in store for most of Columbus (excluding previously named Jackets), and Scott Hartnell, Andreas Lilja, and Zac Rinaldo, who didn't record a point in the game where points were not at a premium.

Off to less hostile environments for goalies, specifically Minnesota (no offense northerners) with the Wild hosting the St. Louis Blues. Jaroslav Halak and Josh Harding put on the masks for this game. Minnesota opened the scoring in the second period with Dany Heatley recording his fourth of the season, assisted by Mikko Koivu and Nate Prosser. The Wild extended the lead with the third of the year by Guillaume Latendresse, an unassisted goal. St. Louis got on the board for a 2-1 score in the third period, with Jamie Langenbrunner netting the puck off of Vladimir Sobotka and Alex Pietrangelo. This was a final, and Harding (30 for 31 in saves), Latendresse, and Prosser were the three stars.

To the southwest, where the Phoenix Coyotes host the Edmonton Oilers. Devan Dubnyk and Mike Smith will play between the pipes. The scoring started with Phoenix in the second period, as Daymond Langkow downed his third of the season, and Keith Yandle and the goalie Smith had the assists. Adrian Aucoin extended the Coyotes lead, with help from Patrick O'Sullivan on the power play. Edmonton found the scoreboard in the third period as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins sank his sixth of the year, courtesy of Jordan Eberle and Ryan Smyth. Phoenix took it back on a Boyd Gordon goal, his second of the season, made possible by Ray Whitney and Radim Vrbata. The Oilers pulled back within one on Theo Peckham's goal, fueled by Colton Teubert and Magnus Paajarvi. The Coyotes iced it 4-2 with an empty net goal by Whitney, his sixth of the year, set up by Vrbata and Gordon. The three stars were Langkow, Gordon, and Aucoin, with honorable mention to Whitney and Vrbata.

Hitting the west coast now, beginning in San Jose, where the Sharks host the Nashville Predators. Finns Pekka Rinne and Antti Niemi were the starting goaltenders here. David Legwand broke the scoring open in the second period with his fourth of the season, assisted by Patric Hornqvist and Colin Wilson. San Jose replied on a Joe Pavelski goal, his ninth of the year, fueled by Logan Couture and Joe Thornton. The Sharks took the lead with a Martin Havlat power play goal powered by Couture and Ryane Clowe. San Jose extended the lead in the third period with a Couture goal, his fifth of the campaign, aided by Pavelski and Thornton. Hornqvist got the Predators back to scoring with his sixth of the season, guided in by Shea Weber and Francis Bouillon. Nashville tied it on Ryan Suter's third of the year, a power play goal made possible by Martin Erat and Weber. The Predators took the game into overtime and won it there with a Legwand goal, his fifth of the season and second of the game, taken off a pass by Bouillon. Legwand, Couture, and Pavelski got the three stars, and Weber, Hornqvist, Bouillon, and Thornton all also had good games.

Finally, the Los Angeles Kings host the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury and Jonathan Quick play in goal tonight. Pittsburgh broke through first with Steve Sullivan's goal via Kris Letang and James Neal on the power play. Los Angeles tied it in the second period with Anze Kopitar registering his seventh of the season, courtesy of Justin Williams and Matt Greene. The Kings took the lead in the third period with Simon Gagne scoring his fourth of the year, assisted by Kopitar and Williams. The Penguins tied it late on a Chris Kunitz goal, his fifth of the season, fueled by Jordan Staal and Pascal Dupuis. The tie lasted into a shootout, where Kunitz and Letang overpowered Kopitar to take Pittsburgh to a 3-2 victory. The three stars were Kopitar, Letang, and Quick (31 for 33 in saves), with honorable mentions to Williams and Kunitz.

Lastly of all, I'd like to thank everyone who has stopped by and read this blog over the past year. It has been great to see the global support from many countries. Last night, we reached our 2,000th hit and I appreciate that people still come back to read this. I ask that you continue to read it, and tell your friends and family, so it can be shared with even more people. Thank you all very much, and I will keep posting tomorrow.