Monday, December 5, 2011

NHL Day 61 2011-2012

Tonight we have five games being played, beginning in...

Pittsburgh, with the Penguins hosting the Boston Bruins. Tim Thomas and Marc-Andre Fleury will be playing goal. Boston got going with the second of the season by Gregory Campbell in the second period, assisted by Daniel Paille and Shawn Thornton. Benoit Pouliot extended the Bruins lead with his fourth of the year, coming off of Rich Peverley. Boston added on again in the third period with the thirteenth of the season by Tyler Seguin, a power play goal powered by Patrice Bergeron and Peverley. Pittsburgh got on the board with a Matt Cooke goal, his sixth of the year, set up by Joe Vitale. This made it 3-1, the eventual final, with the three stars being Thomas (45 for 46 in saves), Peverley, and Vitale.

Moving into New York, where the Rangers go at it with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Jonas Gustavsson and Henrik Lundqvist will try to stop the puck. Toronto struck first with a Cody Franson goal, his second of the season, thanks to John-Michael Liles and Phil Kessel. The Maple Leafs added on in the second period with a Tim Connolly goal, his fourth of the year, with a lone assist by Matt Frattin. Toronto kept rolling with Joffrey Lupul recording his thirteenth of the season on the power play from Tyler Bozak and Kessel. New York got on the board with Artem Anisimov notching his fourth of the year, courtesy of Brandon Prust and Michael Del Zotto. The Rangers pulled closer with Marian Gaborik's thirteenth of the season, also a power play goal, powered by Derek Stepan and Brad Richards. The Maple Leafs made it 4-2, the final, with a Dave Steckel empty net goal, his fifth of the year, pushed through by Luke Schenn. The three stars were awarded to Lupul, Anisimov, and Kessel.

Way down the coast, the Florida Panthers host the Washington Capitals. Michal Neuvirth takes on fellow backup Scott Clemmensen in the creases. Florida opened with a Stephen Weiss goal, his tenth of the season coming on the power play via Brian Campbell and Dmitry Kulikov. The Panthers added on with a Mike Santorelli goal, his fourth of the year, just thirteen seconds later, and he was helped out by Kulikov and Mike Weaver. Kulikov kept Florida going with his third of the season, another power play goal, fueled by Campbell and Weiss. Washington struck with a Mike Knuble goal, his third of the year, thanks to Marcus Johansson and Dmitry Orlov. The Panthers got going again in the second period with Sean Bergenheim sinking his fourth of the season, with the help of Shawn Matthias and Jason Garrison. Florida added on again with another Weiss goal, his second of the game and eleventh of the year, courtesy of Tomas Fleischmann and Campbell, the latter earning a sock trick for his effort. The Capitals got one back late in the period with Cody Eakin registering his third of the season, guided in by Mathieu Perreault and John Carlson. Washington got another one in the third period when Brooks Laich deposited his sixth of the year, thanks to the efforts of Joel Ward and Carlson. The Capitals made it 5-4 with the eleventh of the season by Jason Chimera, assisted by Carlson for the sock trick and Jeff Halpern. This was the final, and the three stars were Weiss, Kulikov, and Campbell, while Carlson earns the honorable mention.

Way to the north, the Ottawa Senators host the Tampa Bay Lightning. Dwayne Roloson and Craig Anderson get the starting nods. Tampa Bay struck first in the second period with a Bruno Gervais goal, his second of the season, assisted by Steven Stamkos and Marc-Andre Bergeron. Ottawa answered quickly with the seventh of the year for Zack Smith, courtesy of Jared Cowen and Kaspars Daugavins. The Lightning took the lead in the third period on a Martin St. Louis goal, his eighth of the season, made possible by Stamkos. The Senators retied it with a Daniel Alfredsson goal, his sixth of the year, guided in by Jason Spezza and the goalie Anderson. Ottawa grabbed the lead with Nick Foligno netting his eighth of the season, via Alfredsson and Jesse Winchester. The Senators made it 4-2 with a Smith goal, his second of the game and eighth of the year, and the assists were credited to Sergei Gonchar and Chris Phillips. This was a final, and Anderson (31 for 33 in saves), Smith, and Alfredsson got the three stars.

Finally, we end in Chicago, with the Blackhawks hosting the Phoenix Coyotes. Mike Smith and Corey Crawford were the starters, but Ray Emery relieved Crawford early in the second period. Phoenix struck first with the fourth of the season by Raffi Torres, assisted by Mikkel Boedker. The Coyotes added on when the thirteenth of the year by Radim Vrbata found twine, and Ray Whitney picked up the lone assist. Phoenix chased Crawford on a Keith Yandle goal, his third of the season, and the lone helper came from David Schlemko. Chicago got on the board with Jonathan Toews recording his sixteenth of the year, via Patrick Kane and Dan Carcillo. Toews pulled the Blackhawks closer with his second of the game and seventeenth of the season, a power play goal powered by Duncan Keith and Patrick Sharp. Chicago tied it on a Kane goal, his eighth of the year, and Toews and Viktor Stalberg were credited with the assists. The tie lasted through the third period and overtime, until Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Vrbata struck for the Coyotes in the shootout. In the 4-3 game, Toews, Vrbata, and Yandle got the three stars, while Kane earned an honorable mention.

Fantasy Hockey All-Stars week 8

1. Jonathan Quick, 2 W, 0.50 GAA, 74 SV, .987 SV%, 1 SO
2. Matt Moulson, 6 G, 1 A, +2, 0 PIM, 3 PPP, 16 SOG
3. Jordan Eberle, 3 G, 2 A, +4, 0 PIM, 2 PPP, 19 SOG
4. Ryan O'Reilly, 4 G, 3 A, +6, 2 PIM, 0 PPP, 13 SOG
5. Evander Kane, 4 G, 1 A, +6, 0 PIM, 1 PPP, 16 SOG

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Sunday Night game week 13

Tonight, the New Orleans Saints host the Detroit Lions. New Orleans opened with a 39 yard John Kasay field goal. Mark Ingram added on in the second quarter with a 14 yard rushing touchdown for the Saints, and Kasay iced it off with an extra point. New Orleans pushed onward with a 67 yard touchdown connection between Drew Brees and Robert Meachem, with Kasay adding another extra point. Detroit got on the board with a Kevin Smith touchdown run of 2 yards, and Jason Hanson supplied the extra point for a 17-7 score. Brees made it 24-7 at halftime for the Saints with a 20 yard touchdown pass to Lance Moore, and Kasay made the PAT. Hanson pulled the Lions a little closer with a 31 yard field goal. Detroit got even closer with a Matthew Stafford touchdown pass of 9 yards to Maurice Morris, and Hanson put them within 7 after the extra point. New Orleans pulled away again in the fourth quarter as Brees found Darren Sproles for a 6 yard touchdown, and Kasay kicked the extra point. The final was 31-17, and the Saints improved to 9-3 while the Lions fell to 7-5.

NHL Day 60 2011-2012

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.

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.

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.

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.