Only three games on tonight, beginning with an old rivalry match...
As the Colorado Avalanche host the Detroit Red Wings. Ty Conklin and Semyon Varlamov are in the creases. Detroit led off with a power play goal by Johan Franzen, his twelfth of the season, powered by Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom. Colorado got on the board in the second period with a Ryan O'Reilly goal, his fifth of the year, and Gabriel Landeskog had the lone assist. The Avalanche took the lead with Paul Stastny sinking his eighth of the season, a power play goal courtesy of Matt Duchene. The Red Wings tied it in the third period with Henrik Zetterberg registering his sixth of the year, thanks to Danny Cleary and Todd Bertuzzi. Colorado retook the lead with a shorthanded T.J. Galiardi goal, his third of the season, made possible by Landeskog. The Avalanche iced it with O'Reilly's second of the game and sixth of the year, an empty net goal going in after being passed from Jay McClemenet and Daniel Winnik. The final was 4-2, and the three stars were O'Reilly, Galiardi, and Landeskog.
Farther west, the Anaheim Ducks host the Minnesota Wild. Josh Harding and Jonas Hiller will take care of the cages. Anaheim struck first when Ryan Getzlaf netted his sixth of the season, a power play goal set up by Corey Perry and Teemu Selanne. The Ducks extended the lead with a Saku Koivu goal, his fifth of the year, fueled by Selanne and Matt Beleskey. Minnesota got on the board late in the opening period with Dany Heatley recording his eighth of the season, a power play goal made possible by Matt Cullen and Mikko Koivu. The Wild tied it on the second of the year by Casey Wellman in the second period, assisted by Matt Cullen and Pierre-Marc Bouchard. Minnesota grabbed the lead when Bouchard tallied his fourth of the season, and Cullen completed a natural sock trick with a helper, alongside Wellman's assist. The Ducks tied it in the third period on a Cam Fowler goal, which was unassisted and his third of the year. The Wild reclaimed the lead with the fourth of the season by Nick Johnson, assisted by Cal Clutterbuck and Kyle Brodziak. Minnesota iced it 5-3 with Clutterbuck depositing his eighth of the year into the empty net unassisted. The three stars were awarded to Cullen, Selanne, and Francois Beauchemin, although Clutterbuck, Wellman, and Bouchard have convincing arguments for the third spot.
Finally, up north to Vancouver, where the Canucks host the Calgary Flames. Henrik Karlsson and Roberto Luongo will get the starting nods. Calgary struck first late in the opening period on an Alex Tanguay goal, his fifth of the season, coming from Roman Horak and Rene Bourque. Vancouver tied it on a power play goal by Kevin Bieksa, his second of the year, helped along by Chris Higgins and David Booth. The Canucks took the lead on a Higgins goal, his eighth of the season, guided in by Booth and Dan Hamhuis. Vancouver added on in the third period with Booth's fifth of the year, assisted by Ryan Kesler and Higgins. The Canucks kept going with the seventh of the season for Jannik Hansen, and Mason Raymond and Keith Ballard had the helpers here. The floodgates were officially opened with Vancouver's Daniel Sedin netting his ninth of the year on the power play, powered by Kesler and Henrik Sedin. This forced Karlsson's removal and the insertion of Miikka Kiprusoff to the Flames' crease. The final was 5-1, and the three stars were Booth, Higgins, and Kesler.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
NFL Late Games week 13
Leading off the second wave, the Cleveland Browns host the Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore took the lead in the second quarter with a 6 yard Ray Rice touchdown run, and Billy Cundiff supplied the extra point. Cundiff made it 10-0 at halftime for the Ravens with a 21 yard field goal. Cleveland got on the board in the third quarter with Phil Dawson kicking a 21 yard field goal. Baltimore answered with a Ricky Williams touchdown run of a yard, and Cundiff added on the PAT. The Ravens attacked again in the fourth quarter when Lardarius Webb ran a punt return back 68 yards for a touchdown, and Cundiff once again added the extra point. The Browns chipped away with a 22 yard Colt McCoy touchdown pass to Evan Moore, and Dawson tacked on the extra point. The final was 24-10 Ravens, who improve to 9-3 while Cleveland drops to 4-8.
Over to New York, with the Giants welcoming the Green Bay Packers. New York drew first blood when Eli Manning tossed a 67 yard touchdown to Travis Beckum, and Lawrence Tynes supplied the extra point. Green Bay tied it with a 12 touchdown from Aaron Rodgers to Jermichael Finley, and a Mason Crosby extra point. The Giants took the lead back with Tynes kicking a 38 yard field goal. The Packers grabbed the on a 38 yard interception of Manning by Clay Matthews, good for a touchdown and extra point by Crosby. New York answered with a 1 yard Brandon Jacobs touchdown run, and Tynes tacked on the extra point. Green Bay took the lead back when Rodgers passed a 13 yard touchdown to Donald Driver, and Crosby kicked a PAT once again. This made it 21-17 at the half. The Packers extended the lead with Rodgers throwing a 20 yard touchdown pass to Greg Jennings, and Crosby once more made the extra point. The Giants answered back with Manning throwing a 4 yard touchdown to Hakeem Nicks, and Tynes supplied another extra point. Tynes got New York even closer with a 50 yard field goal. Green Bay gained separation with Rodgers finding Driver again, a 7 yard touchdown reception, and Crosby made it 35-27 with the extra point. The Giants ended up tying it with a 2 yard touchdown from Manning to Nicks, and a two point conversion evening the game at 35 with D.J. Ware's rush. The Packers came back late in the quarter with a Crosby 31 yard field goal to win 38-35. Green Bay is now 12-0 and New York is 6-6.
To the southwest, where the Arizona Cardinals host the Dallas Cowboys. Arizona struck first with Jay Feely kicking a 48 yard field goal. Dallas tied it in the second quarter with a 50 yard Dan Bailey field goal. The Cowboys got a lead with Tony Romo passing 15 yards to Dez Bryant for a touchdown, and Bailey added on an extra point. This made it 10-3, a score taken into the locker rooms. The Cardinals got a few back when Feely kicked a 23 yard field goal in the third quarter. Dallas got it back with Bailey's 37 yard field goal. Arizona tied it with a 4 yard Beanie Wells rush for a touchdown and Feely's subsequent extra point. The game went to overtime, where the Cardinals won 19-13 on a 52 yard touchdown pass from Kevin Kolb to LaRod Stevens-Howling, and there are no extra points in overtime. Arizona went up to 5-7 while Dallas fell to 7-5.
Finally, the San Francisco 49ers host the St. Louis Rams. San Francisco got on the board with a David Akers field goal of 36 yards. Akers added on for the 49ers in the second quarter with a field goal from 19 yards out. San Francisco went up 9-0 with Akers' field goal from 28 yards. This score lasted through halftime. The 49ers extended the lead in the third quarter with Alex Smith passing 52 yards to Michael Crabtree for a touchdown, and Akers supplied the extra point. Akers also made a 34 yard field goal for San Francisco. The 49ers continued the blowout in the fourth quarter as Smith tossed a 56 yard touchdown to Kyle Williams, and Akers added on another extra point. This made it 26-0, the eventual final, improving the 49ers to 10-2 and the Rams went down to 2-10.
Over to New York, with the Giants welcoming the Green Bay Packers. New York drew first blood when Eli Manning tossed a 67 yard touchdown to Travis Beckum, and Lawrence Tynes supplied the extra point. Green Bay tied it with a 12 touchdown from Aaron Rodgers to Jermichael Finley, and a Mason Crosby extra point. The Giants took the lead back with Tynes kicking a 38 yard field goal. The Packers grabbed the on a 38 yard interception of Manning by Clay Matthews, good for a touchdown and extra point by Crosby. New York answered with a 1 yard Brandon Jacobs touchdown run, and Tynes tacked on the extra point. Green Bay took the lead back when Rodgers passed a 13 yard touchdown to Donald Driver, and Crosby kicked a PAT once again. This made it 21-17 at the half. The Packers extended the lead with Rodgers throwing a 20 yard touchdown pass to Greg Jennings, and Crosby once more made the extra point. The Giants answered back with Manning throwing a 4 yard touchdown to Hakeem Nicks, and Tynes supplied another extra point. Tynes got New York even closer with a 50 yard field goal. Green Bay gained separation with Rodgers finding Driver again, a 7 yard touchdown reception, and Crosby made it 35-27 with the extra point. The Giants ended up tying it with a 2 yard touchdown from Manning to Nicks, and a two point conversion evening the game at 35 with D.J. Ware's rush. The Packers came back late in the quarter with a Crosby 31 yard field goal to win 38-35. Green Bay is now 12-0 and New York is 6-6.
To the southwest, where the Arizona Cardinals host the Dallas Cowboys. Arizona struck first with Jay Feely kicking a 48 yard field goal. Dallas tied it in the second quarter with a 50 yard Dan Bailey field goal. The Cowboys got a lead with Tony Romo passing 15 yards to Dez Bryant for a touchdown, and Bailey added on an extra point. This made it 10-3, a score taken into the locker rooms. The Cardinals got a few back when Feely kicked a 23 yard field goal in the third quarter. Dallas got it back with Bailey's 37 yard field goal. Arizona tied it with a 4 yard Beanie Wells rush for a touchdown and Feely's subsequent extra point. The game went to overtime, where the Cardinals won 19-13 on a 52 yard touchdown pass from Kevin Kolb to LaRod Stevens-Howling, and there are no extra points in overtime. Arizona went up to 5-7 while Dallas fell to 7-5.
Finally, the San Francisco 49ers host the St. Louis Rams. San Francisco got on the board with a David Akers field goal of 36 yards. Akers added on for the 49ers in the second quarter with a field goal from 19 yards out. San Francisco went up 9-0 with Akers' field goal from 28 yards. This score lasted through halftime. The 49ers extended the lead in the third quarter with Alex Smith passing 52 yards to Michael Crabtree for a touchdown, and Akers supplied the extra point. Akers also made a 34 yard field goal for San Francisco. The 49ers continued the blowout in the fourth quarter as Smith tossed a 56 yard touchdown to Kyle Williams, and Akers added on another extra point. This made it 26-0, the eventual final, improving the 49ers to 10-2 and the Rams went down to 2-10.
NFL Early Games week 13
Opening up the football today, we have nine games. First off...
The New England Patriots host the Indianapolis Colts. New England opened with a Stephen Gostkowski field goal of 39 yards. Indianapolis tied it in the second quarter with an Adam Vinatieri field goal from 31 yards. The Patriots took the lead back when Tom Brady threw an 11 yard touchdown pass to Rob Gronkowski, and Gostkowski handled the PAT. New England made it 17-3 at halftime with BenJarvus Green-Ellis rushing 1 yard for a touchdown, and Gostkowski adding another extra point. The Patriots added on in the third quarter as Brady passed again to Gronkowski for a 21 yard touchdown, and Gostkowski again made the extra point. New England rolled on with Gronkowski rushing 2 yards for a touchdown, and Gostkowski handled the extra point easily. The Colts got a few points back as Donald Brown ran 5 yards for the touchdown in the fourth quarter, and Vinatieri supplied the extra point. Indianapolis kept coming on late as Dan Orlovsky connected for 33 and 12 yards to Pierre Garcon on two separate touchdowns, and Vinatieri again made the extra points for a 31-24 game, which would be a final. The Patriots improve to 9-3 while dropping Indianapolis to 0-12.
Westward to Minnesota, where the Vikings welcome the Denver Broncos. Minnesota opened as Willis McGahee was stopped in his own end zone for a safety. Denver got going in the right direction with a Mario Haggan interception return of 16 yards for a touchdown, much to the disappointment of Christian Ponder with his errant pass. Matt Prater supplied the extra point. The Vikings pulled back with Ryan Longwell kicking a 40 yard field goal. Minnesota got to 12 the hard way with Ponder completing a touchdown to Kyle Rudoplh for 19 yards, and Longwell supplied the extra point. Longwell made it 15-7 with a 25 yard field goal. The Broncos got a few back with Tim Tebow throwing 21 yards to Demaryius Thomas for a touchdown, and Prater was there with the extra point. The Vikings replied with Ponder throwing to Percy Harvin for a touchdown, a 52 yard play, capped off by a Longwell extra point. Denver pulled back with Tebow finding Thomas again, this time for a 41 yard touchdown, and Prater had the extra point. Minnesota pulled away when Ponder and Harvin met up on a 48 yard touchdown reception, and Longwell made it 29-21 with his extra point in the fourth quarter. The Broncos tied it on a 24 yard touchdown run by McGahee, and a successful two-point attempt by Tebow on the ground. Minnesota regained the lead with a Longwell field goal of 39 yards. Denver tied it at 32 when Prater kicked a 46 yard field goal. Denver won it 35-32 on a Prater field goal of 23 yards, improving to 7-5 while Minnesota falls to 2-10.
Back to the Northeast, with the Buffalo Bills hosting the Tennessee Titans. Tennessee was first to score when Rob Bironas made a 48 yard field goal. Buffalo replied on a C.J. Spiller touchdown run of 35 yards, and Dave Rayner converted the extra point. The Titans got it back with Chris Johnson busting out a 48 yard touchdown run, allowing an extra point from Bironas. Johnson added on for Tennessee with a 4 yard touchdown run, and Bironas supplied the extra point. The Bills got a few back with a Rayner field goal of 27 yards. This made it 17-10, and the teams took this score into the locker rooms. The Titans made it a 10-point lead with Bironas kicking a 27 yard field goal in the third quarter. Bironas also added on in the fourth quarter for Tennessee with a 44 yard field goal. Buffalo got closer with a 2 yard touchdown pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick to Stevie Johnson, and Rayner was good with the PAT. The Titans held on for a 23-17 win, and improved to 7-5 while taking Buffalo down to 5-7.
Down the Atlantic coast to Miami, with the Dolphins hosting the Oakland Raiders. Miami got going with a pair of Dan Carpenter field goals, good from 48 and 33 yards. The Dolphins added on with a second quarter Matt Moore touchdown pass to Davone Bess for 12 yards, and Carpenter added the extra point. This made it 13-0 at halftime. Miami began a stronger attack in the third quarter with Reggie Bush running 1 yard for a touchdown, and Carpenter made the extra point. Moore kept the Dolphins strong with a 6 yard touchdown rush, and Carpenter again made the PAT. Miami went defensive on the next touchdown, as Kevin Burnett intercepted Carson Palmer and returned it 34 yards to score, allowing one more extra point for Carpenter. Oakland got on the board in the fourth quarter as Palmer threw 40 yards to T.J. Houshmandzadeh for a touchdown, and Sebastian Janikowski supplied the extra point. The Raiders got closer despite being far too late with Palmer finding Darrius Heyward-Bey for a 3 yard touchdown pass, and Janikowski again made the extra point for a 34-14 score, the final. Miami jumps up to 4-8 while the Raiders suffer a hurtful blow down to 7-5.
Retracing our steps up to Washington, D.C., where the Redskins welcome the New York Jets. Washington started with Roy Helu running a 2 yard touchdown in, and Graham Gano succeeded in making the extra point. New York tied it with a 1 yard Shonn Greene touchdown run, and a Nick Folk extra point. The Redskins took the lead in the second quarter on a 33 yard Gano field goal. The Jets retied it on a Folk field goal of 45 yards. Washington took the lead again with Gano kicking a field goal good from 23 yards. This brought the score to 13-10, which would last through halftime. New York tied it on a Folk field goal of 51 yards in the third quarter. Gano gave the Redskins a lead in the fourth quarter on a 46 yard field goal. The Jets took the lead when Mark Sanchez found Santonio Holmes for a 30 yard touchdown, and Folk made the PAT. New quickly added a security touchdown as Greene ran in 9 yards to score, and Folk made the extra point. Washington got a few back with Gano kicking a field goal from 43 yards out for a 27-19 score. The Jets put the nail in the coffin with Greene running 25 yards for a touchdown, and Folk making another extra point, leaving the final at 34-19. New York improves to 7-5 while the Redskins fall to 4-8.
Southwest to Texas, where the Houston Texans welcome the Atlanta Falcons. Houston struck first with a 43 yard Neil Rackers field goal. The Texans extended the lead with a T.J. Yates touchdown of 3 yards to Joel Dreessen, and Rackers was there with the extra point. Atlanta got on the board with Matt Bryant nailing a 19 yard field goal. The score would last through halftime at 10-3. The Falcons tied it in the third quarter when Matt Ryan found Roddy White for a 4 yard touchdown, and Bryant supplied the PAT. Houston took the lead in the fourth quarter with Arian Foster running 1 yard for a touchdown, and Rackers made the extra point. The Texans weathered a late drive to win 17-10, and improved to 9-3 while the Falcons fell to 7-5.
Back to the Midwest, where the Chicago Bears host the Kansas City Chiefs. Chicago opened the scoring in the second quarter with Robbie Gould making a 32 yard field goal. Kansas City took a 7-3 lead at halftime with a 38 yard touchdown pass from Tyler Palko to Dexter McCluster, and Ryan Succop handled the extra point. The Chiefs added on in the third quarter when Succop kicked a 21 yard field goal. The fourth quarter was silent, leaving the score at 10-3 in favor of Kansas City. The Chiefs are now 5-7 while taking the Bears down to 7-5.
Into the rust belt, where the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Cincinnati Bengals. Pittsburgh got things going in the second quarter with a 3 yard Rashard Mendenhall tocuhdown run, and Shaun Suisham added the extra point. Mendenhall extended the Steelers lead with a 5 yard touchdown run, allowing another extra point by Suisham. Pittsburgh continued the beatdown with Ben Roethlisberger throwing a 12 yard touchdown pass to Mike Wallace, and Suisham again handled the PAT. Cincinnati got on the board with an Andy Dalton touchdown pass of 11 yards to A.J. Green, and Mike Nugent had the extra point. The Steelers got another touchdown on an Antonio Brown punt return of 60 yards, and Suisham stayed true on the extra point. The score was 28-7 at halftime. Pittsburgh answered with Roethlisberger finding Wallace again for a 19 yard touchdown play, and Suisham made yet another extra point. This made it 35-7, the final, pushing the Steelers up to 9-3 and the Bengals down to 7-5.
Wrapping up the morning games by returning to Florida, where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the Carolina Panthers. Carolina led off with a Cam Newton 1 yard touchdown rush, and Olindo Mare made the extra point. The Panthers added on as Jonathan Stewart mimicked his quarterback with his own 1 yard touchdown rush, and Mare was again true on the extra point. Tampa Bay got going with a Connor Barth field goal of 50 yards. Barth kept pulling the Buccaneers closer in the second quarter with a 47 yard field goal. Carolina quickly answered with a Newton touchdown pass to Legedu Naanee, good for 19 yards and Mare was there to make the extra point. Barth kept kicking for Tampa Bay by adding a 46 yard field goal. Barth and Buccaneers kept kicking with a 44 yard field goal. The Panthers made it 24-12 at halftime with Mare nailing a 43 yard field goal. Carolina extended the lead in the third quarter with Newton rushing 1 yard for a touchdown again, and Mare had the PAT. Newton continued his pattern of a 1 yard touchdown rushes for the Panthers in the fourth quarter, and Mare stayed true with the extra point. Tampa Bay finally got a touchdown as Josh Johnson threw 23 yards to Dezmon Briscoe, and Barth made the extra point to make it 38-19. This would go into the books as the final, knocking the Buccaneers to 4-8 while the Panthers improve to the same mark.
The New England Patriots host the Indianapolis Colts. New England opened with a Stephen Gostkowski field goal of 39 yards. Indianapolis tied it in the second quarter with an Adam Vinatieri field goal from 31 yards. The Patriots took the lead back when Tom Brady threw an 11 yard touchdown pass to Rob Gronkowski, and Gostkowski handled the PAT. New England made it 17-3 at halftime with BenJarvus Green-Ellis rushing 1 yard for a touchdown, and Gostkowski adding another extra point. The Patriots added on in the third quarter as Brady passed again to Gronkowski for a 21 yard touchdown, and Gostkowski again made the extra point. New England rolled on with Gronkowski rushing 2 yards for a touchdown, and Gostkowski handled the extra point easily. The Colts got a few points back as Donald Brown ran 5 yards for the touchdown in the fourth quarter, and Vinatieri supplied the extra point. Indianapolis kept coming on late as Dan Orlovsky connected for 33 and 12 yards to Pierre Garcon on two separate touchdowns, and Vinatieri again made the extra points for a 31-24 game, which would be a final. The Patriots improve to 9-3 while dropping Indianapolis to 0-12.
Westward to Minnesota, where the Vikings welcome the Denver Broncos. Minnesota opened as Willis McGahee was stopped in his own end zone for a safety. Denver got going in the right direction with a Mario Haggan interception return of 16 yards for a touchdown, much to the disappointment of Christian Ponder with his errant pass. Matt Prater supplied the extra point. The Vikings pulled back with Ryan Longwell kicking a 40 yard field goal. Minnesota got to 12 the hard way with Ponder completing a touchdown to Kyle Rudoplh for 19 yards, and Longwell supplied the extra point. Longwell made it 15-7 with a 25 yard field goal. The Broncos got a few back with Tim Tebow throwing 21 yards to Demaryius Thomas for a touchdown, and Prater was there with the extra point. The Vikings replied with Ponder throwing to Percy Harvin for a touchdown, a 52 yard play, capped off by a Longwell extra point. Denver pulled back with Tebow finding Thomas again, this time for a 41 yard touchdown, and Prater had the extra point. Minnesota pulled away when Ponder and Harvin met up on a 48 yard touchdown reception, and Longwell made it 29-21 with his extra point in the fourth quarter. The Broncos tied it on a 24 yard touchdown run by McGahee, and a successful two-point attempt by Tebow on the ground. Minnesota regained the lead with a Longwell field goal of 39 yards. Denver tied it at 32 when Prater kicked a 46 yard field goal. Denver won it 35-32 on a Prater field goal of 23 yards, improving to 7-5 while Minnesota falls to 2-10.
Back to the Northeast, with the Buffalo Bills hosting the Tennessee Titans. Tennessee was first to score when Rob Bironas made a 48 yard field goal. Buffalo replied on a C.J. Spiller touchdown run of 35 yards, and Dave Rayner converted the extra point. The Titans got it back with Chris Johnson busting out a 48 yard touchdown run, allowing an extra point from Bironas. Johnson added on for Tennessee with a 4 yard touchdown run, and Bironas supplied the extra point. The Bills got a few back with a Rayner field goal of 27 yards. This made it 17-10, and the teams took this score into the locker rooms. The Titans made it a 10-point lead with Bironas kicking a 27 yard field goal in the third quarter. Bironas also added on in the fourth quarter for Tennessee with a 44 yard field goal. Buffalo got closer with a 2 yard touchdown pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick to Stevie Johnson, and Rayner was good with the PAT. The Titans held on for a 23-17 win, and improved to 7-5 while taking Buffalo down to 5-7.
Down the Atlantic coast to Miami, with the Dolphins hosting the Oakland Raiders. Miami got going with a pair of Dan Carpenter field goals, good from 48 and 33 yards. The Dolphins added on with a second quarter Matt Moore touchdown pass to Davone Bess for 12 yards, and Carpenter added the extra point. This made it 13-0 at halftime. Miami began a stronger attack in the third quarter with Reggie Bush running 1 yard for a touchdown, and Carpenter made the extra point. Moore kept the Dolphins strong with a 6 yard touchdown rush, and Carpenter again made the PAT. Miami went defensive on the next touchdown, as Kevin Burnett intercepted Carson Palmer and returned it 34 yards to score, allowing one more extra point for Carpenter. Oakland got on the board in the fourth quarter as Palmer threw 40 yards to T.J. Houshmandzadeh for a touchdown, and Sebastian Janikowski supplied the extra point. The Raiders got closer despite being far too late with Palmer finding Darrius Heyward-Bey for a 3 yard touchdown pass, and Janikowski again made the extra point for a 34-14 score, the final. Miami jumps up to 4-8 while the Raiders suffer a hurtful blow down to 7-5.
Retracing our steps up to Washington, D.C., where the Redskins welcome the New York Jets. Washington started with Roy Helu running a 2 yard touchdown in, and Graham Gano succeeded in making the extra point. New York tied it with a 1 yard Shonn Greene touchdown run, and a Nick Folk extra point. The Redskins took the lead in the second quarter on a 33 yard Gano field goal. The Jets retied it on a Folk field goal of 45 yards. Washington took the lead again with Gano kicking a field goal good from 23 yards. This brought the score to 13-10, which would last through halftime. New York tied it on a Folk field goal of 51 yards in the third quarter. Gano gave the Redskins a lead in the fourth quarter on a 46 yard field goal. The Jets took the lead when Mark Sanchez found Santonio Holmes for a 30 yard touchdown, and Folk made the PAT. New quickly added a security touchdown as Greene ran in 9 yards to score, and Folk made the extra point. Washington got a few back with Gano kicking a field goal from 43 yards out for a 27-19 score. The Jets put the nail in the coffin with Greene running 25 yards for a touchdown, and Folk making another extra point, leaving the final at 34-19. New York improves to 7-5 while the Redskins fall to 4-8.
Southwest to Texas, where the Houston Texans welcome the Atlanta Falcons. Houston struck first with a 43 yard Neil Rackers field goal. The Texans extended the lead with a T.J. Yates touchdown of 3 yards to Joel Dreessen, and Rackers was there with the extra point. Atlanta got on the board with Matt Bryant nailing a 19 yard field goal. The score would last through halftime at 10-3. The Falcons tied it in the third quarter when Matt Ryan found Roddy White for a 4 yard touchdown, and Bryant supplied the PAT. Houston took the lead in the fourth quarter with Arian Foster running 1 yard for a touchdown, and Rackers made the extra point. The Texans weathered a late drive to win 17-10, and improved to 9-3 while the Falcons fell to 7-5.
Back to the Midwest, where the Chicago Bears host the Kansas City Chiefs. Chicago opened the scoring in the second quarter with Robbie Gould making a 32 yard field goal. Kansas City took a 7-3 lead at halftime with a 38 yard touchdown pass from Tyler Palko to Dexter McCluster, and Ryan Succop handled the extra point. The Chiefs added on in the third quarter when Succop kicked a 21 yard field goal. The fourth quarter was silent, leaving the score at 10-3 in favor of Kansas City. The Chiefs are now 5-7 while taking the Bears down to 7-5.
Into the rust belt, where the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Cincinnati Bengals. Pittsburgh got things going in the second quarter with a 3 yard Rashard Mendenhall tocuhdown run, and Shaun Suisham added the extra point. Mendenhall extended the Steelers lead with a 5 yard touchdown run, allowing another extra point by Suisham. Pittsburgh continued the beatdown with Ben Roethlisberger throwing a 12 yard touchdown pass to Mike Wallace, and Suisham again handled the PAT. Cincinnati got on the board with an Andy Dalton touchdown pass of 11 yards to A.J. Green, and Mike Nugent had the extra point. The Steelers got another touchdown on an Antonio Brown punt return of 60 yards, and Suisham stayed true on the extra point. The score was 28-7 at halftime. Pittsburgh answered with Roethlisberger finding Wallace again for a 19 yard touchdown play, and Suisham made yet another extra point. This made it 35-7, the final, pushing the Steelers up to 9-3 and the Bengals down to 7-5.
Wrapping up the morning games by returning to Florida, where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the Carolina Panthers. Carolina led off with a Cam Newton 1 yard touchdown rush, and Olindo Mare made the extra point. The Panthers added on as Jonathan Stewart mimicked his quarterback with his own 1 yard touchdown rush, and Mare was again true on the extra point. Tampa Bay got going with a Connor Barth field goal of 50 yards. Barth kept pulling the Buccaneers closer in the second quarter with a 47 yard field goal. Carolina quickly answered with a Newton touchdown pass to Legedu Naanee, good for 19 yards and Mare was there to make the extra point. Barth kept kicking for Tampa Bay by adding a 46 yard field goal. Barth and Buccaneers kept kicking with a 44 yard field goal. The Panthers made it 24-12 at halftime with Mare nailing a 43 yard field goal. Carolina extended the lead in the third quarter with Newton rushing 1 yard for a touchdown again, and Mare had the PAT. Newton continued his pattern of a 1 yard touchdown rushes for the Panthers in the fourth quarter, and Mare stayed true with the extra point. Tampa Bay finally got a touchdown as Josh Johnson threw 23 yards to Dezmon Briscoe, and Barth made the extra point to make it 38-19. This would go into the books as the final, knocking the Buccaneers to 4-8 while the Panthers improve to the same mark.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
NHL Day 59 2011-2012
Twelve games on this Saturday, beginning with a lone matinee between the...
Host Los Angeles Kings and visiting Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and Jonathan Bernier play in goal. Montreal struck first late in the first period on a Tomas Plekanec goal, his sixth of the season, assisted by Andrei Kostitsyn and Yannick Weber on the power play. Kostitsyn extended the Canadiens' lead with his seventh of the year in the second period, coming off of Lars Eller and Louis Leblanc. Los Angeles got on the board with a Dustin Penner power play goal powered by Drew Doughty and Trent Hunter. The third period was silent, leaving the 2-1 score as a final, with Price (26 for 27 in saves), Kostitsyn, and Penner getting the three stars.
Back across the south to Tampa Bay, where the Lightning face off against the New York Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist and Mathieu Garon will be assigned to stop the puck. Tampa Bay opened with a Steve Downie goal, his third of the season, assisted by Steven Stamkos and Teddy Purcell. New York evened it in the second period with a Ruslan Fedotenko goal, his fourth of the year, made possible by Brad Richards and Ryan Callahan. The Lightning retook the lead on the second of the season for Tom Pyatt, passed from Dana Tyrell and Nate Thompson. Artem Anisimov retied it for the Rangers in the third period, netting his third of the year, coming off of Derek Stepan. Stepan later put New York in the lead with his fifth of the season, via Anisimov and Ryan McDonagh. The Rangers finished it at 4-2 with a Richards empty net goal thanks to McDonagh, going in the books as his tenth of the year. Stepan, Pyatt, and Victor Hedman received the three stars, although Anisimov, Richards, and McDonagh had good cases for the third slot.
Far to the north, the Winnipeg Jets host the New Jersey Devils. Johan Hedberg and Ondrej Pavelec received the starting nods. Evander Kane put Winnipeg on the board first with his thirteenth of the season, thanks to Dustin Byfuglien and Bryan Little. New Jersey replied with Adam Henrique notching his sixth of the year, via Zach Parise and Ilya Kovalchuk. The Devils took the lead in the second period on a power play goal from Patrik Elias, his ninth of the season, powered by Adam Larsson. The Jets tied it back up with a shorthanded Alex Burmistrov goal, his sixth of the year, and Little picked up the lone assist. Winnipeg took the lead again in the third period on a Mark Stuart goal, his third of the season, courtesy of Blake Wheeler and Zach Bogosian. The Jets iced it at 4-2 with Kane's second of the game and fourteenth of the year, going into the empty cage unassisted. Kane, Parise, and Little were the three stars.
Back to the south, where the Carolina Hurricanes host the Pittsburgh Penguins. Backups Brent Johnson and Brian Boucher tried to ban pucks from going between the pipes. They were successful until about midway through the second period, as Pittsburgh's Craig Adams scored his third of the season, assisted by Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz. Carolina tied it with a Jamie McBain goal, via Joni Pitkanen and Anthony Stewart. The Penguins regained the lead as Arron Asham potted his second of the campaign, courtesy of Adams and Paul Martin. Pittsburgh extended the lead with a Pascal Dupuis goal, his eighth of the year, thanks to Matt Niskanen and Evgeni Malkin. The Hurricanes cut it to 3-2 but never got an equalizer after a second McBain goal, coming on the power play from Patrick Dwyer and Jussi Jokinen. Adams, McBain, and Crosby were the game's three stars.
Up the coastline to Boston, where the Bruins welcomed the Toronto Maple Leafs. James Reimer returned from a concussion and opposed Tuukka Rask in front of the cages. Boston got things going in the second period with a David Krejci goal, his fifth of the season, thanks to Nathan Horton and Milan Lucic. Toronto replied on a Mikhail Grabovski goal, his seventh of the year, assisted by Jake Gardiner and Joey Crabb. The Bruins took the lead back with Chris Kelly scoring his tenth of the campaign, coming off of Rich Peverley and Andrew Ference. Boston extended the lead with Johnny Boychuk's third of the season, helped along by Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron. The Bruins finished it at 4-1 with a Horton goal, his seventh of the year, guided in by Krejci and Lucic. The three stars would go to Boychuk, Rask (21 for 22 in saves), and Krejci, while Horton and Lucic also played admirably.
Traveling to D.C., where the battle of the National Capitals heats up again as the Washington Capitals host the Ottawa Senators. Craig Anderson and Michal Neuvirth were the goalies of choice for the game. Washington quickly got the lead with a Nicklas Backstrom goal, his ninth of the season, and the lone assist went to John Carlson. Ottawa replied in the second period with an Erik Karlsson goal, his second of the campaign, and Jason Spezza was there for the assistance. The Capitals regained the lead in the third period on a Troy Brouwer goal, his seventh of the year, via Alex Ovechkin and Dennis Wideman. The Senators equalized it again with Milan Michalek netting his sixteenth of the season, courtesy of Daniel Alfredsson and Nick Foligno. The game went to overtime, where Washington toppled Ottawa 3-2 on Brooks Laich's fifth of the year, made possible by Jason Chimera and Karl Alzner. Laich, Backstrom, and Neuvirth (32 for 34 in saves) got the three stars.
To the southwest again, where the Phoenix Coyotes and Philadelphia Flyers do battle in the desert. Ilya Bryzgalov faced another of his old teams, now with Mike Smith protecting the goal. Philadelphia led off with Matt Read sinking his tenth of the season unassisted and on the power play. The Flyers added on with Wayne Simmonds scoring his fifth of the year, thanks to Danny Briere and Read. Philadelphia continued with a Claude Giroux goal, his fifteenth of the season, with assists provided by Kimmo Timonen and Jaromir Jagr. The Flyers wouldn't let up, as Scott Hartnell drained his eleventh of the year on the power play, powered by Briere and Read, which would force Smith from the net to be replaced by Jason LaBarbera in the second and third periods. Phoenix got on the board with a second period Ray Whitney goal, his ninth of the season, with help from Radim Vrbata and Derek Morris. The Coyotes made it 4-2 late in the third period on the fifth of the year by Mikkel Boedker, set up by Keith Yandle and Raffi Torres. Read, Briere, and Whitney would get the three stars.
Back to the Midwest, where the Nashville Predators host the Buffalo Sabres. Ryan Miller and Anders Lindback have the goalie masks on. Buffalo led off at exactly halfway through the first period when Luke Adam drained his ninth of the season, thanks to Ville Leino and Christian Ehrhoff. The Sabres extended the lead with the second of the year by Zack Kassian, and Adam and Leino had the helpers here. Nashville answered in the third period with a Craig Smith power play goal, his eighth of the season, fueled by David Legwand and Colin Wilson on the power play. Buffalo replied with Tyler Ennis scoring, and the lone assist went to Derek Roy. The Predators tried to make it close with Legwand recording his seventh of the year to make it 3-2, with the help of Roman Josi and Jonathon Blum, but they failed to get the equalizer. The three stars were awarded to Adam, Miller (32 for 34 in saves), and Legwand, while Leino also had a decent performance.
Staying in the region, the St. Louis Blues hosted the Chicago Blackhawks. Ray Emery and Brian Elliott got assigned to start. St. Louis started off with David Perron's goal, his first since a concussion that cost him over a season's worth of games, helped along by Patrik Berglund and Roman Polak. Chicago tied it with the fifteenth of the season by Jonathan Toews, assisted by Niklas Hjalmarsson and Patrick Kane. The Blues replied with a Chris Stewart goal, his fourth of the year, with a lone assist by Vladimir Sobotka. The Blackhawks tied it back up with Marian Hossa notching his tenth of the season, a shorthanded goal, with the help of Duncan Keith. Chicago took the lead on a Patrick Sharp power play goal, his thirteenth of the year, powered by Keith and Toews. The Blachawks rolled on in the third period when Hossa struck with a power play goal, his second of the game and eleventh of the season, passed from Sharp and Kane. Chicago iced it 5-2 with the fourth of the year by Michael Frolik, sailing into the empty net after touching the tape of Dave Bolland. The three stars went to Hossa, Perron, and Sharp, while Keith, Toews, and Kane also put up nice numbers.
Southward to Dallas, where the Stars host the New York Islanders. Rick DiPietro and Andrew Raycroft will be in net. New York led off with a pair of Matt Moulson goals, his tenth and eleventh of the season, with assists doled out to John Tavares on both the power play and even strength tallies, and Mark Streit on the power play, P.A. Parenteau on the even strength. The Islanders added on in the second period with Dylan Reese scoring, courtesy of Matt Martin and Marty Reasoner. Tomas Vincour got Dallas on the board with a goal, thanks to Stephane Robidas and Mike Ribeiro. The Stars pulled closer with the tenth of the year by Eric Nystrom, assisted by Vernon Fiddler and Nicklas Grossman. Dallas tied it with a Jake Dowell goal, coming off of Tom Wandell and Toby Petersen. Moulson finished the hat trick and gave New York the lead again with his third of the game and twelfth of the season, allowing Tavares to complete the sock trick alongside an assist by Parenteau. Wandell retied it for the Stars, and his goal was set up by Dowell and Radek Dvorak. The Islanders made it 5-4 near the end of the second with Moulson's fourth of the game and thirteenth of the year, with Parenteau earning a sock trick on his lone assist. This would be a final when the third period went silent, and the three stars were Moulson, Tavares, and Wandell, while Parenteau and Dowell earn the honorable mentions.
Into Alberta, where the battle for the province is fired up again as the Edmonton Oilers host their southern neighbors, the Calgary Flames. Miikka Kiprusoff and Nikolai Khabibulin tend the twines. Edmonton opened early on a Lennart Petrell goal, his second of the season, made possible by Darcy Hordichuk and Ryan O'Marra. The Oilers extended the lead with a Sam Gagner goal, assisted by Ales Hemsky and Shawn Horcoff. Calgary got on the board with an Olli Jokinen power play goal, his sixth of the year, powered by Jarome Iginla and Rene Bourque. The Flames tied it with the eighth of the season for Bourque, courtesy of Roman Horak and Blake Comeau. Edmonton retook the lead in the third period with a Ryan Nugent-Hopkins goal, his twelfth of the year, with the help of Jordan Eberle. Calgary quickly retied with Derek Smith netting his second of the season, and Iginla had the lone assist. The Flames then took the lead with a power play goal by Mikael Backlund, and Iginla picked up a sock trick with a primary assist, alongside Smith on the secondary. Calgary finished it with an empty net goal by Jokinen, his second of the game and seventh of the year, with no assistance. The three stars in the 5-3 game were Iginla, Gagner, and Bourque, while Smith and Jokinen also played well.
Down to San Jose, where we wrap up the day as the Sharks host the Florida Panthers. Backups Scott Clemmensen and Thomas Greiss are in the blue paint. San Jose led off with Logan Couture netting his ninth of the season, coming off of Brent Burns. Florida answered with Stephen Weiss on the power play, his ninth of the year, powered by Tomas Fleischmann and Kris Versteeg. The Sharks regained the lead with a Jamie McGinn goal, his fourth of the season, assisted by Michal Handzus and Colin White. The Panthers tied it in the second period with an unassisted Marco Sturm goal, his second of the year. Florida grabbed the lead with Fleischmann notching his twelfth of the season, with the help of Versteeg and Weiss. The Panthers extended the lead with Jack Skille registering his second of the year, shorthanded and unassisted. San Jose got one back as Couture struck with a power play goal, his second of the game and tenth of the season, pushed through by Martin Havlat and Jason Demers. Florida iced it at 5-3 with a Dmitry Kulikov power play goal, his second of the year, guided in by Weiss and Fleischmann. The three stars went to Fleischmann, Weiss, and Couture, while Versteeg also played well.
Host Los Angeles Kings and visiting Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and Jonathan Bernier play in goal. Montreal struck first late in the first period on a Tomas Plekanec goal, his sixth of the season, assisted by Andrei Kostitsyn and Yannick Weber on the power play. Kostitsyn extended the Canadiens' lead with his seventh of the year in the second period, coming off of Lars Eller and Louis Leblanc. Los Angeles got on the board with a Dustin Penner power play goal powered by Drew Doughty and Trent Hunter. The third period was silent, leaving the 2-1 score as a final, with Price (26 for 27 in saves), Kostitsyn, and Penner getting the three stars.
Back across the south to Tampa Bay, where the Lightning face off against the New York Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist and Mathieu Garon will be assigned to stop the puck. Tampa Bay opened with a Steve Downie goal, his third of the season, assisted by Steven Stamkos and Teddy Purcell. New York evened it in the second period with a Ruslan Fedotenko goal, his fourth of the year, made possible by Brad Richards and Ryan Callahan. The Lightning retook the lead on the second of the season for Tom Pyatt, passed from Dana Tyrell and Nate Thompson. Artem Anisimov retied it for the Rangers in the third period, netting his third of the year, coming off of Derek Stepan. Stepan later put New York in the lead with his fifth of the season, via Anisimov and Ryan McDonagh. The Rangers finished it at 4-2 with a Richards empty net goal thanks to McDonagh, going in the books as his tenth of the year. Stepan, Pyatt, and Victor Hedman received the three stars, although Anisimov, Richards, and McDonagh had good cases for the third slot.
Far to the north, the Winnipeg Jets host the New Jersey Devils. Johan Hedberg and Ondrej Pavelec received the starting nods. Evander Kane put Winnipeg on the board first with his thirteenth of the season, thanks to Dustin Byfuglien and Bryan Little. New Jersey replied with Adam Henrique notching his sixth of the year, via Zach Parise and Ilya Kovalchuk. The Devils took the lead in the second period on a power play goal from Patrik Elias, his ninth of the season, powered by Adam Larsson. The Jets tied it back up with a shorthanded Alex Burmistrov goal, his sixth of the year, and Little picked up the lone assist. Winnipeg took the lead again in the third period on a Mark Stuart goal, his third of the season, courtesy of Blake Wheeler and Zach Bogosian. The Jets iced it at 4-2 with Kane's second of the game and fourteenth of the year, going into the empty cage unassisted. Kane, Parise, and Little were the three stars.
Back to the south, where the Carolina Hurricanes host the Pittsburgh Penguins. Backups Brent Johnson and Brian Boucher tried to ban pucks from going between the pipes. They were successful until about midway through the second period, as Pittsburgh's Craig Adams scored his third of the season, assisted by Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz. Carolina tied it with a Jamie McBain goal, via Joni Pitkanen and Anthony Stewart. The Penguins regained the lead as Arron Asham potted his second of the campaign, courtesy of Adams and Paul Martin. Pittsburgh extended the lead with a Pascal Dupuis goal, his eighth of the year, thanks to Matt Niskanen and Evgeni Malkin. The Hurricanes cut it to 3-2 but never got an equalizer after a second McBain goal, coming on the power play from Patrick Dwyer and Jussi Jokinen. Adams, McBain, and Crosby were the game's three stars.
Up the coastline to Boston, where the Bruins welcomed the Toronto Maple Leafs. James Reimer returned from a concussion and opposed Tuukka Rask in front of the cages. Boston got things going in the second period with a David Krejci goal, his fifth of the season, thanks to Nathan Horton and Milan Lucic. Toronto replied on a Mikhail Grabovski goal, his seventh of the year, assisted by Jake Gardiner and Joey Crabb. The Bruins took the lead back with Chris Kelly scoring his tenth of the campaign, coming off of Rich Peverley and Andrew Ference. Boston extended the lead with Johnny Boychuk's third of the season, helped along by Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron. The Bruins finished it at 4-1 with a Horton goal, his seventh of the year, guided in by Krejci and Lucic. The three stars would go to Boychuk, Rask (21 for 22 in saves), and Krejci, while Horton and Lucic also played admirably.
Traveling to D.C., where the battle of the National Capitals heats up again as the Washington Capitals host the Ottawa Senators. Craig Anderson and Michal Neuvirth were the goalies of choice for the game. Washington quickly got the lead with a Nicklas Backstrom goal, his ninth of the season, and the lone assist went to John Carlson. Ottawa replied in the second period with an Erik Karlsson goal, his second of the campaign, and Jason Spezza was there for the assistance. The Capitals regained the lead in the third period on a Troy Brouwer goal, his seventh of the year, via Alex Ovechkin and Dennis Wideman. The Senators equalized it again with Milan Michalek netting his sixteenth of the season, courtesy of Daniel Alfredsson and Nick Foligno. The game went to overtime, where Washington toppled Ottawa 3-2 on Brooks Laich's fifth of the year, made possible by Jason Chimera and Karl Alzner. Laich, Backstrom, and Neuvirth (32 for 34 in saves) got the three stars.
To the southwest again, where the Phoenix Coyotes and Philadelphia Flyers do battle in the desert. Ilya Bryzgalov faced another of his old teams, now with Mike Smith protecting the goal. Philadelphia led off with Matt Read sinking his tenth of the season unassisted and on the power play. The Flyers added on with Wayne Simmonds scoring his fifth of the year, thanks to Danny Briere and Read. Philadelphia continued with a Claude Giroux goal, his fifteenth of the season, with assists provided by Kimmo Timonen and Jaromir Jagr. The Flyers wouldn't let up, as Scott Hartnell drained his eleventh of the year on the power play, powered by Briere and Read, which would force Smith from the net to be replaced by Jason LaBarbera in the second and third periods. Phoenix got on the board with a second period Ray Whitney goal, his ninth of the season, with help from Radim Vrbata and Derek Morris. The Coyotes made it 4-2 late in the third period on the fifth of the year by Mikkel Boedker, set up by Keith Yandle and Raffi Torres. Read, Briere, and Whitney would get the three stars.
Back to the Midwest, where the Nashville Predators host the Buffalo Sabres. Ryan Miller and Anders Lindback have the goalie masks on. Buffalo led off at exactly halfway through the first period when Luke Adam drained his ninth of the season, thanks to Ville Leino and Christian Ehrhoff. The Sabres extended the lead with the second of the year by Zack Kassian, and Adam and Leino had the helpers here. Nashville answered in the third period with a Craig Smith power play goal, his eighth of the season, fueled by David Legwand and Colin Wilson on the power play. Buffalo replied with Tyler Ennis scoring, and the lone assist went to Derek Roy. The Predators tried to make it close with Legwand recording his seventh of the year to make it 3-2, with the help of Roman Josi and Jonathon Blum, but they failed to get the equalizer. The three stars were awarded to Adam, Miller (32 for 34 in saves), and Legwand, while Leino also had a decent performance.
Staying in the region, the St. Louis Blues hosted the Chicago Blackhawks. Ray Emery and Brian Elliott got assigned to start. St. Louis started off with David Perron's goal, his first since a concussion that cost him over a season's worth of games, helped along by Patrik Berglund and Roman Polak. Chicago tied it with the fifteenth of the season by Jonathan Toews, assisted by Niklas Hjalmarsson and Patrick Kane. The Blues replied with a Chris Stewart goal, his fourth of the year, with a lone assist by Vladimir Sobotka. The Blackhawks tied it back up with Marian Hossa notching his tenth of the season, a shorthanded goal, with the help of Duncan Keith. Chicago took the lead on a Patrick Sharp power play goal, his thirteenth of the year, powered by Keith and Toews. The Blachawks rolled on in the third period when Hossa struck with a power play goal, his second of the game and eleventh of the season, passed from Sharp and Kane. Chicago iced it 5-2 with the fourth of the year by Michael Frolik, sailing into the empty net after touching the tape of Dave Bolland. The three stars went to Hossa, Perron, and Sharp, while Keith, Toews, and Kane also put up nice numbers.
Southward to Dallas, where the Stars host the New York Islanders. Rick DiPietro and Andrew Raycroft will be in net. New York led off with a pair of Matt Moulson goals, his tenth and eleventh of the season, with assists doled out to John Tavares on both the power play and even strength tallies, and Mark Streit on the power play, P.A. Parenteau on the even strength. The Islanders added on in the second period with Dylan Reese scoring, courtesy of Matt Martin and Marty Reasoner. Tomas Vincour got Dallas on the board with a goal, thanks to Stephane Robidas and Mike Ribeiro. The Stars pulled closer with the tenth of the year by Eric Nystrom, assisted by Vernon Fiddler and Nicklas Grossman. Dallas tied it with a Jake Dowell goal, coming off of Tom Wandell and Toby Petersen. Moulson finished the hat trick and gave New York the lead again with his third of the game and twelfth of the season, allowing Tavares to complete the sock trick alongside an assist by Parenteau. Wandell retied it for the Stars, and his goal was set up by Dowell and Radek Dvorak. The Islanders made it 5-4 near the end of the second with Moulson's fourth of the game and thirteenth of the year, with Parenteau earning a sock trick on his lone assist. This would be a final when the third period went silent, and the three stars were Moulson, Tavares, and Wandell, while Parenteau and Dowell earn the honorable mentions.
Into Alberta, where the battle for the province is fired up again as the Edmonton Oilers host their southern neighbors, the Calgary Flames. Miikka Kiprusoff and Nikolai Khabibulin tend the twines. Edmonton opened early on a Lennart Petrell goal, his second of the season, made possible by Darcy Hordichuk and Ryan O'Marra. The Oilers extended the lead with a Sam Gagner goal, assisted by Ales Hemsky and Shawn Horcoff. Calgary got on the board with an Olli Jokinen power play goal, his sixth of the year, powered by Jarome Iginla and Rene Bourque. The Flames tied it with the eighth of the season for Bourque, courtesy of Roman Horak and Blake Comeau. Edmonton retook the lead in the third period with a Ryan Nugent-Hopkins goal, his twelfth of the year, with the help of Jordan Eberle. Calgary quickly retied with Derek Smith netting his second of the season, and Iginla had the lone assist. The Flames then took the lead with a power play goal by Mikael Backlund, and Iginla picked up a sock trick with a primary assist, alongside Smith on the secondary. Calgary finished it with an empty net goal by Jokinen, his second of the game and seventh of the year, with no assistance. The three stars in the 5-3 game were Iginla, Gagner, and Bourque, while Smith and Jokinen also played well.
Down to San Jose, where we wrap up the day as the Sharks host the Florida Panthers. Backups Scott Clemmensen and Thomas Greiss are in the blue paint. San Jose led off with Logan Couture netting his ninth of the season, coming off of Brent Burns. Florida answered with Stephen Weiss on the power play, his ninth of the year, powered by Tomas Fleischmann and Kris Versteeg. The Sharks regained the lead with a Jamie McGinn goal, his fourth of the season, assisted by Michal Handzus and Colin White. The Panthers tied it in the second period with an unassisted Marco Sturm goal, his second of the year. Florida grabbed the lead with Fleischmann notching his twelfth of the season, with the help of Versteeg and Weiss. The Panthers extended the lead with Jack Skille registering his second of the year, shorthanded and unassisted. San Jose got one back as Couture struck with a power play goal, his second of the game and tenth of the season, pushed through by Martin Havlat and Jason Demers. Florida iced it at 5-3 with a Dmitry Kulikov power play goal, his second of the year, guided in by Weiss and Fleischmann. The three stars went to Fleischmann, Weiss, and Couture, while Versteeg also played well.
Friday, December 2, 2011
NHL Day 58 2011-2012
Six games coming one every half an hour from 4:30 to 7:00 Pacific tonight. We begin in...
Buffalo, where the Sabres host the Detroit Red Wings. Jimmy Howard and Jhonas Enroth are the starting goaltenders. Detroit opened with Jakub Kindl scoring, assisted by Tomas Holmstrom and Justin Abdelkader. The Red Wings added on with a Johan Franzen goal, his eleventh of the season, a power play goal powered by Nicklas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk. Detroit extended the lead with a Valtteri Filppula goal, his eighth of the year, guided in by Henrik Zetterberg. Buffalo got on the board in the third period with Jochen Hecht recording his third of the season, via Jason Pominville and Ville Leino. The Red Wings wrapped it up 4-1 with Datsyuk scoring his eighth of the year into an empty net with no assistance. The three stars were Franzen, Howard (27 for 28 in saves), and Filppula, while Datsyuk earns honorable mention.
Across the way, the Minnesota Wild host the New Jersey Devils. Martin Brodeur and Niklas Backstrom will make the starts. New Jersey opened with a Zach Parise goal, his seventh of the season, made possible by Andy Greene and Adam Henrique. Minnesota quickly replied with the seventh of the year for Dany Heatley, coming off of Jared Spurgeon and the goalie Backstrom. The Wild took the lead with an unassisted Kyle Brodziak goal, his seventh of the season. Casey Wellman chased Brodeur away with a goal, coming first from Matt Cullen and Pierre-Marc Bouchard. Johan Hedberg took over in the Devils net. The Devils got one back as Ilya Kovalchuk deposited his sixth of the year, and Parise had the lone assist. Josh Harding played goal for the Wild in the second period onward. The Wild gained separation in the third period with Brodziak's second of the game and eighth of the campaign, and Nick Johnson and Marco Scandella helped to make it happen. The final was 4-2, and Brodziak, Harding (22 for 22 relieving Backstrom in saves), and Wellman earned the three stars.
Down to Chicago, where the Blackhawks host the New York Islanders. Al Montoya and Corey Crawford earned the starting nods. New York was first to score with the third of the season by Kyle Okposo, a power play goal powered by Travis Hamonic and Milan Jurcina. Chicago tied it on an Andrew Brunette goal, his sixth of the year, coming about thanks to Sean O'Donnell and Dan Carcillo. The Islanders retook the lead with the ninth of the season by Matt Moulson, helped along by P.A. Parenteau and John Tavares. The Blackhawks tied it in the second period on a Ben Smith goal, pushed through by Patrick Kane and Michael Frolik. Chicago took the lead with Jonathan Toews registering his fourteenth of the year, a shorthanded goal passed through Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith. New York retied it in the third period on Parenteau's power play goal, putting his fourth of the season between the pipes with the help of Moulson and Tavares. The Blackhawks regained the lead on a Patrick Sharp power play goal, his twelfth of the year, guided in by Kane and Toews. The Islanders tied it up again with a Nino Niederreiter goal, via Matt Martin and Marty Reasoner. The game lasted to a shootout, where Chicago took it 5-4 on a lone tally from Toews. This earned him the top star, alongside Moulson and Sharp, while Kane, Tavares, and Parenteau take the honorable mentions.
Westward again, this time stopping in Denver, as the Colorado Avalanche host the St. Louis Blues. Guarding the cages are Jaroslav Halak and Semyon Varlamov. St. Louis led off with a Kevin Shattenkirk power play goal, his third of the season, set up by Jason Arnott and Alex Steen. Colorado tied it with Milan Hejduk notching his ninth of the year, thanks to Ryan O'Reilly and Ryan Wilson. Patrik Berglund took the lead back for the Blues in the second period with his fifth of the season, assisted by Chris Stewart and Ian Cole. The Avalnche tied it in the third period on an O'Reilly goal, his fourth of the year, fueled by Ryan O'Bynre and Jan Hejda. The game went into the shootout, where Colorado beat St. Louis on a tally by none other than O'Reilly. The three stars were awarded to O'Reilly, Varlamov (35 for 37 in saves), and Shattenkirk.
North into Alberta, where the Edmonton Oilers play host to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Curtis Sanford and Devan Dubnyk put on the goalie masks. Edmonton got the game started with a power play goal by Jordan Eberle, his tenth of the season, made possible by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Tom Gilbert. Columbus tied it on the fourth of the year for Mark Letestu, also a power play goal, guided in by Rick Nash and James Wisniewski. The Blue Jackets got the lead in the second period with the fourth of the season by Derek Dorsett, a shorthanded and unassisted goal. The Oilers tied it in the third period on a Ryan Jones goal, his seventh of the year, with Ryan Smyth and Ryan Whitney getting credited with the helpers. Edmonton took the lead on a Ladislav Smid goal, his second of the season, via Gilbert and Smyth. The Oilers surged onward with Jones' second goal of the game and eighth of the year, assisted by Eric Belanger and Magnus Paajarvi. Dorsett got Columbus back within striking distance with his second of the game and fifth of the season, coming off of Marc Methot and Derek MacKenzie. Edmonton made it 5-3 with Ales Hemsky scoring his third of the year, thanks to Shawn Horcoff and Sam Gagner. Jones added on with an empty net goal to make it 6-3, giving him a hat trick, with assists provided by Horcoff and Hemsky. This was a final, and the three stars were Jones, Smyth, and Dorsett, while Hemsky, Horcoff, and Gilbert earn the honorable mentions.
Finally, the Anaheim Ducks host the Philadelphia Flyers. Ilya Bryzgalov hopes to get one of his old teams med, while Jonas Hiller opposes him in goal. Anaheim struck first with a power play goal by Andrew Cogliano, his sixth of the season, powered by Devante Smith-Pelly and Saku Koivu. Teemu Selanne extended the lead for the Ducks with his ninth of the year, assisted by Koivu and Matt Beleskey. Anaheim added on again in the second period with Andrew Gordon scoring, helped along by Ben Maxwell and Maxime Macenauer. Philadelphia got on the board when Jaromir Jagr netted his seventh of the season, a power play goal made possible by Kimmo Timonen and Claude Giroux. The Flyers pulled closer with a third period goal from Jagr, another power play goal, his eighth of the year, set up by Timonen and Danny Briere. Philadelphia tied it up with Scott Hartnell notching his tenth of the season, and it was from Timonen, who gets a sock trick and Jagr. The Flyers completed the unlikely comeback with an overtime goal from Giroux, his fourteenth of the year, on the power play from Briere and Hartnell. The three stars were Giroux, Koivu, and Jagr, while Briere, Hartnell, and Timonen get the honorable mentions.
Buffalo, where the Sabres host the Detroit Red Wings. Jimmy Howard and Jhonas Enroth are the starting goaltenders. Detroit opened with Jakub Kindl scoring, assisted by Tomas Holmstrom and Justin Abdelkader. The Red Wings added on with a Johan Franzen goal, his eleventh of the season, a power play goal powered by Nicklas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk. Detroit extended the lead with a Valtteri Filppula goal, his eighth of the year, guided in by Henrik Zetterberg. Buffalo got on the board in the third period with Jochen Hecht recording his third of the season, via Jason Pominville and Ville Leino. The Red Wings wrapped it up 4-1 with Datsyuk scoring his eighth of the year into an empty net with no assistance. The three stars were Franzen, Howard (27 for 28 in saves), and Filppula, while Datsyuk earns honorable mention.
Across the way, the Minnesota Wild host the New Jersey Devils. Martin Brodeur and Niklas Backstrom will make the starts. New Jersey opened with a Zach Parise goal, his seventh of the season, made possible by Andy Greene and Adam Henrique. Minnesota quickly replied with the seventh of the year for Dany Heatley, coming off of Jared Spurgeon and the goalie Backstrom. The Wild took the lead with an unassisted Kyle Brodziak goal, his seventh of the season. Casey Wellman chased Brodeur away with a goal, coming first from Matt Cullen and Pierre-Marc Bouchard. Johan Hedberg took over in the Devils net. The Devils got one back as Ilya Kovalchuk deposited his sixth of the year, and Parise had the lone assist. Josh Harding played goal for the Wild in the second period onward. The Wild gained separation in the third period with Brodziak's second of the game and eighth of the campaign, and Nick Johnson and Marco Scandella helped to make it happen. The final was 4-2, and Brodziak, Harding (22 for 22 relieving Backstrom in saves), and Wellman earned the three stars.
Down to Chicago, where the Blackhawks host the New York Islanders. Al Montoya and Corey Crawford earned the starting nods. New York was first to score with the third of the season by Kyle Okposo, a power play goal powered by Travis Hamonic and Milan Jurcina. Chicago tied it on an Andrew Brunette goal, his sixth of the year, coming about thanks to Sean O'Donnell and Dan Carcillo. The Islanders retook the lead with the ninth of the season by Matt Moulson, helped along by P.A. Parenteau and John Tavares. The Blackhawks tied it in the second period on a Ben Smith goal, pushed through by Patrick Kane and Michael Frolik. Chicago took the lead with Jonathan Toews registering his fourteenth of the year, a shorthanded goal passed through Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith. New York retied it in the third period on Parenteau's power play goal, putting his fourth of the season between the pipes with the help of Moulson and Tavares. The Blackhawks regained the lead on a Patrick Sharp power play goal, his twelfth of the year, guided in by Kane and Toews. The Islanders tied it up again with a Nino Niederreiter goal, via Matt Martin and Marty Reasoner. The game lasted to a shootout, where Chicago took it 5-4 on a lone tally from Toews. This earned him the top star, alongside Moulson and Sharp, while Kane, Tavares, and Parenteau take the honorable mentions.
Westward again, this time stopping in Denver, as the Colorado Avalanche host the St. Louis Blues. Guarding the cages are Jaroslav Halak and Semyon Varlamov. St. Louis led off with a Kevin Shattenkirk power play goal, his third of the season, set up by Jason Arnott and Alex Steen. Colorado tied it with Milan Hejduk notching his ninth of the year, thanks to Ryan O'Reilly and Ryan Wilson. Patrik Berglund took the lead back for the Blues in the second period with his fifth of the season, assisted by Chris Stewart and Ian Cole. The Avalnche tied it in the third period on an O'Reilly goal, his fourth of the year, fueled by Ryan O'Bynre and Jan Hejda. The game went into the shootout, where Colorado beat St. Louis on a tally by none other than O'Reilly. The three stars were awarded to O'Reilly, Varlamov (35 for 37 in saves), and Shattenkirk.
North into Alberta, where the Edmonton Oilers play host to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Curtis Sanford and Devan Dubnyk put on the goalie masks. Edmonton got the game started with a power play goal by Jordan Eberle, his tenth of the season, made possible by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Tom Gilbert. Columbus tied it on the fourth of the year for Mark Letestu, also a power play goal, guided in by Rick Nash and James Wisniewski. The Blue Jackets got the lead in the second period with the fourth of the season by Derek Dorsett, a shorthanded and unassisted goal. The Oilers tied it in the third period on a Ryan Jones goal, his seventh of the year, with Ryan Smyth and Ryan Whitney getting credited with the helpers. Edmonton took the lead on a Ladislav Smid goal, his second of the season, via Gilbert and Smyth. The Oilers surged onward with Jones' second goal of the game and eighth of the year, assisted by Eric Belanger and Magnus Paajarvi. Dorsett got Columbus back within striking distance with his second of the game and fifth of the season, coming off of Marc Methot and Derek MacKenzie. Edmonton made it 5-3 with Ales Hemsky scoring his third of the year, thanks to Shawn Horcoff and Sam Gagner. Jones added on with an empty net goal to make it 6-3, giving him a hat trick, with assists provided by Horcoff and Hemsky. This was a final, and the three stars were Jones, Smyth, and Dorsett, while Hemsky, Horcoff, and Gilbert earn the honorable mentions.
Finally, the Anaheim Ducks host the Philadelphia Flyers. Ilya Bryzgalov hopes to get one of his old teams med, while Jonas Hiller opposes him in goal. Anaheim struck first with a power play goal by Andrew Cogliano, his sixth of the season, powered by Devante Smith-Pelly and Saku Koivu. Teemu Selanne extended the lead for the Ducks with his ninth of the year, assisted by Koivu and Matt Beleskey. Anaheim added on again in the second period with Andrew Gordon scoring, helped along by Ben Maxwell and Maxime Macenauer. Philadelphia got on the board when Jaromir Jagr netted his seventh of the season, a power play goal made possible by Kimmo Timonen and Claude Giroux. The Flyers pulled closer with a third period goal from Jagr, another power play goal, his eighth of the year, set up by Timonen and Danny Briere. Philadelphia tied it up with Scott Hartnell notching his tenth of the season, and it was from Timonen, who gets a sock trick and Jagr. The Flyers completed the unlikely comeback with an overtime goal from Giroux, his fourteenth of the year, on the power play from Briere and Hartnell. The three stars were Giroux, Koivu, and Jagr, while Briere, Hartnell, and Timonen get the honorable mentions.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
NHL Day 57 2011-2012
Another day with eight games to be played. First off, the rivalry of the decade continues with the Washington Capitals hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury and Tomas Vokoun will be in goal. Pittsburgh opened on a Craig Adams goal, his second of the season, thanks to Arron Asham and Richard Park. Washington tied it on a Jason Chimera goal, his tenth of the year, made possible by Joel Ward and Brooks Laich. The Penguins grabbed the lead back in the third period with Chris Kunitz netting his ninth of the season, via Tyler Kennedy and Simon Despres. This held up for a 2-1 final, and the three stars were Paul Martin, Chimera, and Alex Ovechkin, although anyone who got a point would have fit too.
Down to Carolina, where the Hurricanes will host the New York Rangers. Carolina struck early with Jiri Tlusty's fifth of the season, while Brandon Sutter had the lone assist. New York replied with a power play goal by Ryan Callahan, his tenth of the year, powered by Brad Richards and Michael Del Zotto. The Hurricanes took the lead again late in the period on a Jeff Skinner goal, his eleventh of the season, fueled by Joni Pitkanen and Eric Staal. The Rangers retied it on the fourth of the year from Ryan McDonagh, coming off of Brandon Dubinsky and Dan Girardi. New York grabbed the lead with the twelfth of the season for Marian Gaborik, assisted by Artem Anisimov and Jeff Woywitka. Sean Avery extended the lead for the Rangers on his third of the year, and the helpers were handed out to Gaborik and Derek Stepan. Carolina cut into the deficit with a Derek Joslin goal, via Staal and Tuomo Ruutu. New York took it back in the third period with a Mike Sauer goal, courtesy of Brian Boyle and Carl Hagelin. This was good for a 5-3 final, and the three stars were awarded to Gaborik, Skinner, and McDonagh. Staal gets honorable mention.
Next up, the new Winnipeg Jets host the old Winnipeg Jets, the Phoenix Coyotes, in the homecoming of Shane Doan. Mike Smith and Ondrej Pavelec have the goaltending honors. Winnipeg was first to score with a Bryan Little goal, his seventh of the season, made possible by Evander Kane and Blake Wheeler. This held up as the only goal for a 1-0 Jets win. The three stars were Pavelec (33 save shutout), Little, and Smith (30 for 31 in saves).
Down deep in the south, the Dallas Stars host the Ottawa Senators. Craig Anderson and Andrew Raycroft take their places in the creases. Ottawa was first to score with the third of the season by Erik Condra, and the lone assist went to Jared Cowen. Dallas tied it with a power play goal off Steve Ott's tape, his fifth of the year, powered by Toby Petersen and Stephane Robidas. The Senators took the lead in the third period on a Milan Michalek goal, his fifteenth of the season, assisted by Daniel Alfredsson and Nick Foligno. The Stars retied it with a Radek Dvorak tally, his third of the year, thanks to Mike Ribeiro and Tomas Vincour. Dallas took the game 3-2 with an Eric Nystrom goal, his ninth of the campaign, guided in by Vernon Fiddler and Dvorak. The three stars were Nystrom, Ribeiro, and Michalek, although Dvorak has a good case.
To the north again, as the Calgary Flames host the Columbus Blue Jackets. Curtis Sanford and Miikka Kiprusoff will be in front of the cages. Columbus led off with an Antoine Vermette goal, his third of the season, with help from Nikita Nikitin and Samuel Pahlsson. Calgary tied it with a Lee Stempniak goal, his sixth of the year, assisted by Jay Bouwmeester and Blake Comeau. The Flames took a late second period lead with the seventh of the season for Rene Bourque, courtesy of Alex Tanguay and Chris Butler. Calgary extended the lead in the third period with Comeau's unassisted goal. The Blue Jackets got one back as Nikitin netted the puck, with the help of Vinny Prospal and Derek MacKenzie. Columbus tied it with the eighth of the year by Rick Nash, guided in by Nikitin and James Wisniewski. The Blue Jackets finished the comeback in the shootout with the lone tally by Nash to beat the Flames 4-3. The three stars go to Comeau, Bourque, and Nikitin, while Nash gets honorable mention.
Westward to Vancouver, where the Canucks host the Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne will oppose Cory Schneider in the nets. Nashville opened with a power play goal by David Legwand, his sixth of the season, powered by Colin Wilson and Craig Smith. The Predators extended their lead with a Mike Fisher goal, his fourth of the year, assisted by Martin Erat and Shea Weber. Vancouver got on the board when Cody Hodgson recorded his fifth of the season, a power play goal set up by Chris Higgins and Kevin Bieksa. Nashville got it back with Weber striking on the power play, his fifth of the year, fueled by Wilson and Smith. Roberto Luongo took over for Schneider in the second period onward. The Canucks got one back in the second period when the eighth of the season by Daniel Sedin found twine, and helpers on this power play goal went to Henrik Sedin and Alexander Edler. Aaron Volpatti tied it for the Canucks with a goal, via Maxim Lapierre and Andrew Alberts. Vancouver took the lead on the ninth of the year for Alexandre Burrows, and helping him along were Henrik and Daniel. Vancouver extended the lead with the sixth of the season by Jannik Hansen, with passes going through Dan Hamhuis and Bieksa. Anders Lindback relieved Rinne after this goal. The Predators struck back with the third of the year for Jordin Tootoo, pushed through by Matt Halischuk and Nick Spaling. Nashville tied it on a Wilson power play goal, his sixth of the season, received from David Legwand and Smith, the latter wrapping up a sock trick. The Predators took it 6-5 with a third period goal by Fisher, his second of the game and fifth of the year, coming off the tape of Erat and Ryan Suter. The three stars were Fisher, Henrik, and Daniel. Honorable mentions include Wilson, Legwand, Weber, Erat, Bieksa, and Smith.
Down to San Jose with the Sharks hosting the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and Antti Niemi were given the starting nods. Montreal struck first with a Michael Cammalleri goal, his sixth of the season, via David Desharnais and P.K. Subban. San Jose replied quickly with a Jamie McGinn goal, his third of the year, made possible by Michal Handzus and Jason Demers. The Canadiens grabbed the lead with Desharnais registering his fourth of the season, assisted by Erik Cole. The Sharks retied the score on the eighth of the year for Logan Couture, thanks to Ryane Clowe and Marc-Edouard Vlasic. Montreal edged ahead with Cole sinking his eighth of the season, courtesy of Desharnais and Cammalleri. Clowe saved the game for San Jose late in the third period with his fifth of the year, fueled by Couture and Martin Havlat. In the shootout, it took Havlat, Handzus, and Joe Pavelski of the Sharks to defeat Brian Gionta and Desharnais of the Canadiens by a 4-3 score. The three stars were Clowe, Desharnais, and Couture, while Cole and Cammalleri earn the honorable mention.
Southward farther to Los Angeles, with the Kings hosting the Florida Panthers. In goal we have Jose Theodore and Jonathan Quick. Los Angeles led off with the fifth of the season by Jack Johnson, coming off of Matt Greene and Anze Kopitar. The Kings extended the lead with the fifth of the year by Dustin Brown, a power play goal powered by Slava Voynov and the goalie Quick. Florida answered with a Sean Bergenheim goal, his third of the season, thanks to Erik Gudbranson and Tomas Kopecky. The third period was silent, resulting in a 2-1 game. The three stars were awarded to Quick (41 for 42 in saves), Rob Scuderi, and Bergenheim. Other point earners are welcome to make a case.
Down to Carolina, where the Hurricanes will host the New York Rangers. Carolina struck early with Jiri Tlusty's fifth of the season, while Brandon Sutter had the lone assist. New York replied with a power play goal by Ryan Callahan, his tenth of the year, powered by Brad Richards and Michael Del Zotto. The Hurricanes took the lead again late in the period on a Jeff Skinner goal, his eleventh of the season, fueled by Joni Pitkanen and Eric Staal. The Rangers retied it on the fourth of the year from Ryan McDonagh, coming off of Brandon Dubinsky and Dan Girardi. New York grabbed the lead with the twelfth of the season for Marian Gaborik, assisted by Artem Anisimov and Jeff Woywitka. Sean Avery extended the lead for the Rangers on his third of the year, and the helpers were handed out to Gaborik and Derek Stepan. Carolina cut into the deficit with a Derek Joslin goal, via Staal and Tuomo Ruutu. New York took it back in the third period with a Mike Sauer goal, courtesy of Brian Boyle and Carl Hagelin. This was good for a 5-3 final, and the three stars were awarded to Gaborik, Skinner, and McDonagh. Staal gets honorable mention.
Next up, the new Winnipeg Jets host the old Winnipeg Jets, the Phoenix Coyotes, in the homecoming of Shane Doan. Mike Smith and Ondrej Pavelec have the goaltending honors. Winnipeg was first to score with a Bryan Little goal, his seventh of the season, made possible by Evander Kane and Blake Wheeler. This held up as the only goal for a 1-0 Jets win. The three stars were Pavelec (33 save shutout), Little, and Smith (30 for 31 in saves).
Down deep in the south, the Dallas Stars host the Ottawa Senators. Craig Anderson and Andrew Raycroft take their places in the creases. Ottawa was first to score with the third of the season by Erik Condra, and the lone assist went to Jared Cowen. Dallas tied it with a power play goal off Steve Ott's tape, his fifth of the year, powered by Toby Petersen and Stephane Robidas. The Senators took the lead in the third period on a Milan Michalek goal, his fifteenth of the season, assisted by Daniel Alfredsson and Nick Foligno. The Stars retied it with a Radek Dvorak tally, his third of the year, thanks to Mike Ribeiro and Tomas Vincour. Dallas took the game 3-2 with an Eric Nystrom goal, his ninth of the campaign, guided in by Vernon Fiddler and Dvorak. The three stars were Nystrom, Ribeiro, and Michalek, although Dvorak has a good case.
To the north again, as the Calgary Flames host the Columbus Blue Jackets. Curtis Sanford and Miikka Kiprusoff will be in front of the cages. Columbus led off with an Antoine Vermette goal, his third of the season, with help from Nikita Nikitin and Samuel Pahlsson. Calgary tied it with a Lee Stempniak goal, his sixth of the year, assisted by Jay Bouwmeester and Blake Comeau. The Flames took a late second period lead with the seventh of the season for Rene Bourque, courtesy of Alex Tanguay and Chris Butler. Calgary extended the lead in the third period with Comeau's unassisted goal. The Blue Jackets got one back as Nikitin netted the puck, with the help of Vinny Prospal and Derek MacKenzie. Columbus tied it with the eighth of the year by Rick Nash, guided in by Nikitin and James Wisniewski. The Blue Jackets finished the comeback in the shootout with the lone tally by Nash to beat the Flames 4-3. The three stars go to Comeau, Bourque, and Nikitin, while Nash gets honorable mention.
Westward to Vancouver, where the Canucks host the Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne will oppose Cory Schneider in the nets. Nashville opened with a power play goal by David Legwand, his sixth of the season, powered by Colin Wilson and Craig Smith. The Predators extended their lead with a Mike Fisher goal, his fourth of the year, assisted by Martin Erat and Shea Weber. Vancouver got on the board when Cody Hodgson recorded his fifth of the season, a power play goal set up by Chris Higgins and Kevin Bieksa. Nashville got it back with Weber striking on the power play, his fifth of the year, fueled by Wilson and Smith. Roberto Luongo took over for Schneider in the second period onward. The Canucks got one back in the second period when the eighth of the season by Daniel Sedin found twine, and helpers on this power play goal went to Henrik Sedin and Alexander Edler. Aaron Volpatti tied it for the Canucks with a goal, via Maxim Lapierre and Andrew Alberts. Vancouver took the lead on the ninth of the year for Alexandre Burrows, and helping him along were Henrik and Daniel. Vancouver extended the lead with the sixth of the season by Jannik Hansen, with passes going through Dan Hamhuis and Bieksa. Anders Lindback relieved Rinne after this goal. The Predators struck back with the third of the year for Jordin Tootoo, pushed through by Matt Halischuk and Nick Spaling. Nashville tied it on a Wilson power play goal, his sixth of the season, received from David Legwand and Smith, the latter wrapping up a sock trick. The Predators took it 6-5 with a third period goal by Fisher, his second of the game and fifth of the year, coming off the tape of Erat and Ryan Suter. The three stars were Fisher, Henrik, and Daniel. Honorable mentions include Wilson, Legwand, Weber, Erat, Bieksa, and Smith.
Down to San Jose with the Sharks hosting the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and Antti Niemi were given the starting nods. Montreal struck first with a Michael Cammalleri goal, his sixth of the season, via David Desharnais and P.K. Subban. San Jose replied quickly with a Jamie McGinn goal, his third of the year, made possible by Michal Handzus and Jason Demers. The Canadiens grabbed the lead with Desharnais registering his fourth of the season, assisted by Erik Cole. The Sharks retied the score on the eighth of the year for Logan Couture, thanks to Ryane Clowe and Marc-Edouard Vlasic. Montreal edged ahead with Cole sinking his eighth of the season, courtesy of Desharnais and Cammalleri. Clowe saved the game for San Jose late in the third period with his fifth of the year, fueled by Couture and Martin Havlat. In the shootout, it took Havlat, Handzus, and Joe Pavelski of the Sharks to defeat Brian Gionta and Desharnais of the Canadiens by a 4-3 score. The three stars were Clowe, Desharnais, and Couture, while Cole and Cammalleri earn the honorable mention.
Southward farther to Los Angeles, with the Kings hosting the Florida Panthers. In goal we have Jose Theodore and Jonathan Quick. Los Angeles led off with the fifth of the season by Jack Johnson, coming off of Matt Greene and Anze Kopitar. The Kings extended the lead with the fifth of the year by Dustin Brown, a power play goal powered by Slava Voynov and the goalie Quick. Florida answered with a Sean Bergenheim goal, his third of the season, thanks to Erik Gudbranson and Tomas Kopecky. The third period was silent, resulting in a 2-1 game. The three stars were awarded to Quick (41 for 42 in saves), Rob Scuderi, and Bergenheim. Other point earners are welcome to make a case.
Thursday Night Game week 13
This week, the Seattle Seahawks host the Philadelphia Eagles. Seattle led off with a 15 yard touchdown rush for Marshawn Lynch, and Steven Hauschka made the extra point. The Seahawks added on with a 40 yard rush for a touchdown by Lynch in the second quarter, and Hauschka again handled the extra point. Philadelphia got on the board with a 1 yard LeSean McCoy touchdown rush, and Alex Henery was there on the extra point. Seattle made it 17-7 before the half with Hauschka kicking a field goal of 49 yards. The Seahawks kept going in the third quarter with a Tavaris Jackson touchdown pass to Golden Tate, an 11 yard play, capped off with a Hauschka PAT. The Eagles got a few back when Vince Young tossed a 2 yard touchdown pass to McCoy, and Henery made the extra point, all in the fourth quarter. Seattle replied with David Hawthorne intercepting Young and returning it 77 yards for a touchdown, allowing another extra point for Hauschka. This made it 31-14, the final, and the Seahawks go to 5-7 while Philadelphia falls to 4-8.
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