Wednesday, February 8, 2012

NHL Day 126 2011-2012

Only four games on a pretty quiet Wednesday. We lead off with the...

Detroit Red Wings hosting the Edmonton Oilers. Nikolai Khabibulin and Joey MacDonald played in goal. Detroit opened with a Johan Franzen power play goal, his twenty-first of the season, powered by Ian White and Pavel Datsyuk. The Red Wings added on in the second period as Cory Emmerton netted his sixth of the year, thanks to Justin Abdelkader and Danny Cleary. Sam Gagner got one back for Edmonton with his twelfth of the season, and Ryan Jones and Jeff Petry provided the helpers. The Oilers tied it in the third period with another Gagner goal, his second of the game and thirteenth of the year, a power play goal made possible by Magnus Paajarvi. Drew Miller gave Detroit the lead again with his eleventh of the season, guided in by Abdelkader. The Red Wings extended the lead with Henrik Zetterberg sinking his tenth of the year, fueled by Brad Stuart and Niklas Kronwall. This resulted in a 4-2 final, where the three stars were Datsyuk, Gagner, and Abdelkader.

Back east a bit, the Buffalo Sabres welcome the Boston Bruins. Tuukka Rask and Ryan Miller will handle the nets. Buffalo struck first on Christian Ehrhoff's fourth of the season, assisted by Tyler Myers. The Sabres added on with a Jason Pominville goal, his eighteenth of the year, courtesy of Ville Leino and Mike Weber. Buffalo extended the lead with a Tyler Ennis goal in the second period, his fourth of the season, set up by Andrej Sekera, chasing Rask in favor of Tim Thomas. The Sabres piled on another with Patrick Kaleta recording his fifth of the year, with the help of Paul Gaustad. Buffalo kept strong in the third period when Pominville's second of the game and nineteenth of the season, coming off of Leino and Sekera. The Sabres iced it at 6-0 with a Drew Stafford goal, his ninth of the year, guided in by Ennis and Nathan Gerbe. The three stars went to Miller (36 save shutout), Pominville, and Kaleta, while Ennis, Sekera, and Leino earn honorable mentions.

Westward to San Jose, with the Sharks hosting the Calgary Flames. Miikka Kiprusoff and Antti Niemi are the Finnish goaltenders. Calgary led off with an Olli Jokinen goal, his fourteenth of the season, assisted by Chris Butler and Jarome Iginla. The Flames added on in the second period with another Jokinen goal, his second of the game and fifteenth of the year, a power play goal coming off of Alex Tanguay and Michael Cammalleri. San Jose got one back with a Logan Couture goal, his twenty-third of the season, courtesy of Ryane Clowe and Joe Thornton. The Sharks evened the score on a Joe Pavelski goal, his twentieth of the year, made possible by Thornton and Patrick Marleau. Iginla gave Calgary the lead back with his twenty-first of the season, fueled by Jokinen. San Jose retied it on a Michal Handzus power play goal, his sixth of the year, powered by Brent Burns. Jokinen gave the Flames the lead back by completing his hat trick with his sixteenth of the season, thanks to Tanguay. This was it for the scoring, giving Calgary a 4-3 win, and the three stars went to Jokinen, Iginla, and Thornton, while Tanguay gets an honorable mention.

Farther down the California coast, the Anaheim Ducks welcomed the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward and Jonas Hiller get the starting nods. Carolina opened the scoring with a Tuomo Ruutu goal, his seventeenth of the season, assisted by Jiri Tlusty and Justin Faulk. Anaheim evened it in the second period as Nick Bonino netted his fourth of the year, courtesy of Lubomir Visnovsky and Andrew Cogliano. The Hurricanes regained the lead in the third period as Eric Staal notched his thirteenth of the season, an unassisted goal. The Ducks got another equalizer as Saku Koivu potted his tenth of the year, with Luca Sbisa and Matt Beleskey providing the helpers. Anaheim took the game 3-2 in overtime as Corey Perry recorded his twenty-third of the campaign, via Sheldon Brookbank. The three stars were Perry, Bonino, and Jeff Skinner, while any other point earner could take the third slot.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

NHL Day 125 2011-2012

Eleven games packed into about five hours time tonight, as we go blitz-mode with hockey. First up...

The Philadelphia Flyers bring in the New York Islanders. Evgeni Nabokov and Ilya Bryzgalov are the Russian netminders. The game was decided in New York's favor in the shootout, as Frans Nielsen and John Tavares tallied to down Philadelphia 1-0. The three stars went out to Nabokov (45 save shutout), Nielsen, and Bryzgalov (18 save "shutout" shootout loss).

Out west a bit, the Columbus Blue Jackets host the Minnesota Wild. Niklas Backstrom and Curtis Sanford will be in the creases. Columbus led off with a David Savard goal, made possible by Vinny Prospal and Grant Clitsome. Minnesota tied it with a Nate Prosser goal, courtesy of Justin Falk and Carson McMillan. The Blue Jackets retook the lead in the second period as Antoine Vermette notched his seventh of the season, a power play goal powered by Rick Nash and Fedor Tyutin. Columbus extended the lead in the third period on a Jeff Carter goal, his twelfth of the year, coming off of Colton Gillies and Savard. This left the score at 3-1, a final, with the three stars being Savard, Sanford (28 for 29 in saves), and Vermette.

Eastward to New York, where the Rangers host the New Jersey Devils. Martin Brodeur and Henrik Lundqvist tended the twines. New Jersey opened with David Clarkson recording his twenty-first of the season, a power play goal coming off of Zach Parise and Patrik Elias. This was the only goal, so the Devils won 1-0 and the three stars were Brodeur (30 save shutout), Lundqvist (21 for 22 in saves), and Clarkson.

In the national capital, the Washington Capitals hosted the Florida Panthers. Scott Clemmensen and Tomas Vokoun played in the blue paint. Washington struck first with a Mathieu Perreault goal, his ninth of the season, set up by Jason Chimera and Alexander Semin. The Capitals added on with an Alex Ovechkin power play goal, his twenty-first of the year, powered by Dennis Wideman and Marcus Johansson. Washington kept going in the second period as Chimera registered his fifteenth of the season, a shorthanded goal passed along by John Carlson and Matt Hendricks. The Capitals extended the lead with Ovechkin's second of the game and twenty-second of the year, going down unassisted. The third period was silent, and the final was 4-0. The three stars were awarded to Vokoun (42 save shutout), Ovechkin, and Chimera.

South to Tampa Bay, where the Lightning welcome the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick and Dwayne Roloson will be in goal. Los Angeles opened the scoring on an Anze Kopitar goal, his seventeenth of the season, assisted by Matt Greene and Justin Williams. Tampa Bay tied it in the second period as Steven Stamkos put away his thirty-fifth of the year, thanks to Teddy Purcell and Eric Brewer. The Kings regained the lead with a Kyle Clifford goal, his fourth of the season, going in with a lone Rob Scuderi assist. Los Angeles added on with a Dustin Penner goal, his fifth of the year, guided in by Mike Richards and Jarret Stoll. This was the last goal, resulting in a 3-1 final. The three stars went out to Kopitar, Quick (24 for 25 in saves), and Stamkos.

Crossing into Canada, where the Montreal Canadiens bring in the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury and Carey Price get the starting nods. Montreal struck first in the second period as Louis Leblanc made his third of the season, thanks to Andrei Kostitsyn and Chris Campoli. Pittsburgh tied it in the third period with a Pascal Dupuis shorthanded goal, his twelfth of the year, made possible by Joe Vitale. The Canadiens took the lead back with a Lars Eller goal, his eleventh of the season, guided in by Alexei Emelin. James Neal gave the Penguins another equalizer with his twenty-eighth of the year, fueled by Evgeni Malkin and Paul Martin. The game went to a shootout, where Rene Bourque and Malkin traded goals before Eller and Chris Kunitz did the same. Tomas Plekanec eventually scored the winner for Montreal, beating Pittsburgh 3-2. The three stars were Plekanec, Leblanc, and Price (32 for 34 in saves).

Staying in the country, we head to Ottawa, with the Senators welcoming the St. Louis Blues. Brian Elliott and Craig Anderson were sent out to play goal. St. Louis scored early with a Chris Porter goal, his fourth of the season, coming off of Roman Polak. The Blues added on and chased Anderson with David Perron netting his fifth of the year, via Patrik Berglund and Barret Jackman. Ottawa got one back in the second period as Daniel Alfredsson potted his eighteenth of the season, a power play goal powered by Sergei Gonchar and Jason Spezza. St. Louis responded on another Perron goal, his second of the game and sixth of the year, with assists from David Backes and T.J. Oshie. The third period was silent, leaving the final at 3-1, and the three stars belonged to Perron, Oshie, and Alfredsson.

Back stateside, the Nashville Predators take on the Vancouver Canucks. Roberto Luongo and Pekka Rinne are the masked men. Ryan Kesler got things going for Vancouver with his seventeenth of the season, a power play goal powered by Alexandre Burrows and Dan Hamhuis. Nashville evened the score with a Colin Wilson goal, his eleventh of the year, courtesy of David Legwand and Patric Hornqvist. The Canucks regained the lead as Byron Bitz scored, with the help of Henrik Sedin. Vancouver extended the lead as Daniel Sedin notched his twenty-third of the season, assisted by Bitz and Henrik. The Predators got one back in the second period with a Sergei Kostitsyn goal, his fourteenth of the year, made possible by Kevin Klein and Martin Erat. Nashville evened the score again on Mike Fisher's sixteenth of the season, with a lone Shea Weber assist. The game was decided in the shootout, where Burrows traded tallies with David Legwand before Alexander Edler clinched a 4-3 Canucks victory over the Predators. The three stars went to Henrik, Wilson, and Bitz.

Farther southwest, the Dallas Stars take on the Phoenix Coyotes from American Airlines Center. Mike Smith and Kari Lehtonen padded up to stop pucks. Keith Yandle opened the scoring for Phoenix with his seventh of the season, assisted by Kyle Chipchura and Gilbert Brule. Dallas tied it in the second period on Michael Ryder's nineteenth of the year, with a lone assist Philip Larsen. The Coyotes gained the lead when Radim Vrbata put away his twenty-fifth of the season, thanks to Rostislav Klesla and Ray Whitney. Phoenix took the lead with a Raffi Torres goal, his ninth of the year, set up by Mikkel Boedker and Michal Rozsival. The Coyotes made it 4-1 with a Derek Morris goal, fueled by Vrbata and Whitney. The three stars were Vrbata, Torres, and Smith (28 for 29 in saves), while Whitney gets honorable mention.

Back in Canada, the Winnipeg Jets hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs. Jonas Gustavsson and Ondrej Pavelec protected the cages. Toronto opened with Phil Kessel netting his thirtieth of the season, and Joffrey Lupul and Tyler Bozak had the assists. Winnipeg evened the score with a Chris Thorburn goal, his second of the year, courtesy of Zach Bogosian and Jim Slater. The Jets took the lead in the second period with Bryan Little's thirteenth of the season, thanks to Blake Wheeler and Johnny Oduya. This was the last goal when the third period was silent, and the three stars went to Wheeler, Little, and Kessel.

Finally, the Colorado Avalanche host the Chicago Blackhawks. Ray Emery and Jean-Sebastien Giguere got the green light to play goal. Chicago got on the board first in the second period as Brent Seabrook recorded his fifth of the season, assisted by Viktor Stalberg and Duncan Keith. Peter Mueller tied it for Colorado with his fifth of the year, courtesy of Ryan O'Reilly. The Avalanche gained the lead on a David Jones goal, his eleventh of the season, coming off of Milan Hejduk. The Blackhawks shot back to tie with a Patrick Kane goal, his twelfth of the year, made possible by Patrick Sharp and Keith. Colorado retook the lead in the third period as Gabriel Landeskog put away his twelfth of the season, thanks to Paul Stastny. Jones extended the Avalanche lead with his second of the game and twelfth of the year, pushed through by Stastny. Colorado iced it at 5-2 with Kyle Quincey's fifth of the campaign, an empty net goal going down unassisted. The three stars were given to Jones, Stastny, and Landeskog, and Keith gets the honorable mention.

Monday, February 6, 2012

NHL Day 124 2011-2012

Only three games on tonight. We start in...

Toronto, as they host cross-country rivals in the Edmonton Oilers. Devan Dubnyk and James Reimer played in goal. Edmonton began early with a Jordan Eberle goal, his twenty-third of the season, assisted by Taylor Hall and Sam Gagner. Clarke MacArthur tied it for Toronto on his seventeenth of the year, courtesy of Mikhail Grabovski and Phil Kessel. The Maple Leafs got the bead with Jake Gardiner making his second of the campaign, with the help of Grabovski. Eberle retied it for the Oilers on his second of the game and twenty-fourth of the season, made possible by Jeff Petry and Hall. Toronto took the lead again in the second period with a Kessel goal, his twenty-eighth of the year, thanks to Matthew Lombardi and Tim Connolly. The Maple Leafs extended the lead with a Tyler Bozak goal, his tenth of the campaign, going in unassisted. Edmonton got one back when Petry registered his second of the season, requiring no assistance. Toronto took it back on a Joffrey Lupul goal, his twenty-first of the year, with a lone helper from Dion Phaneuf. The Maple Leafs iced it at 6-3 in the third period when Kessel's second of the game and twenty-ninth of the campaign found the empty cage, with assists provided by Phaneuf and MacArthur. The three stars were Grabovski, Eberle, and Kessel, while Petry, Hall, MacArthur, and Phaneuf earn honorable mentions.

Well to the southwest, the Phoenix Coyotes welcome the Detroit Red Wings. Joey MacDonald and Mike Smith earned the starts. Phoenix led off with a Boyd Gordon shorthanded goal, his sixth of the season, an unassisted goal. The Coyotes added on in the second period with a power play goal by Martin Hanzal, his seventh of the year, coming off of Ray Whitney and Radim Vrbata. Detroit got on the board with Johan Franzen notching his twentieth of the season, a power play goal powered by Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk. Hanzal iced it for Phoenix at 3-1 with his second of the game and eighth of the year going into the empty net, made possible by Whitney. The three stars went to Smith (30 for 31 in saves), Gordon, and Hanzal, while Whitney earns honorable mention.

Finishing off the day, the Anaheim Ducks bring in the Calgary Flames. Miikka Kiprusoff and Jonas Hiller guard the cages. Anaheim began with a Bobby Ryan goal, his twentieth of the season, guided in by Lubomir Visnovsky and Ryan Getzlaf. The Ducks extended the lead with Matt Beleskey notching his fourth of the year, with the help of Sheldon Brookbank and Teemu Selanne. Calgary got one back in the second period as Alex Tanguay sank his sixth of the season, thanks to Blair Jones and Scott Hannan. The Flames tied it in the third period with a Jarome Iginla power play goal, his twentieth of the year, powered by Olli Jokinen and Mark Giordano. The tie lasted into a shootout, where Jokinen and Corey Perry exchanged goals, followed by another matching set by Ryan and Blair Jones. Niklas Hagman had the last laugh in the game, scoring an unanswered tally for Anaheim to win 3-2 over Calgary. The three stars were awarded to Francois Beauchemin, Iginla, and Cam Fowler, while anyone earning a point or scoring in the shootout also deserves recognition.

Fantasy Hockey All-stars week 16

About another month before clinching season begins. Here's the players who went off around the all-star break.

1. Sam Gagner, 6 G, 7 A, +5, 0 PIM, 3 PPP, 19 SOG
2. Ilya Kovalchuk, 3 G, 7 A, +4, 7 PIM, 4 PPP, 20 SOG
3. James Reimer, 2 W, 0.00 GAA, 74 SV, 1.000 SV%, 2 SO
4. Henrik Lundqvist, 3 W, 0.65 GAA, 77 SV, .975 SV%, 2 SO
5. Mikhail Grabovski, 3 G, 7 A, +4, 2 PIM, 1 PPP, 10 SOG

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Super Bowl XLVI

This is it for the NFL until next September, as the New England Patriots do battle with the New York Giants for the title of Super Bowl Champions, from Indianapolis, Indiana. New York "led off" with a safety due to Tom Brady intentionally grounding the ball. The Giants added on with an Eli Manning touchdown pass of 2 yards to Victor Cruz, and Lawrence Tynes added the extra point. New England got on the board with a 29 yard Stephen Gostkowski field goal in the second quarter. The Patriots would lead 10-9 at halftime when Brady found Danny Woodhead in the end zone for a 4 yard touchdown reception, and Gostkowski handled the extra point. New England extended their lead in the third quarter with Brady tossing a 12 yard touchdown pass to Aaron Hernandez, and Gostkowski would make another PAT. New York got some back with Tynes making a 38 yard field goal. Tynes pulled the Giants even closer with a 33 yard field goal. New York made it 21-17 on an Ahmad Bradshaw touchdown run of 6 yards, and they failed the two-point attempt. They held on late to win by this score.

NHL Day 123 2011-2012

Four games of hockey to prelude your sporting events before the Super Bowl. First off...

The Washington Capitals host the Boston Bruins. Tim Thomas and Tomas Vokoun guard the cages. Milan Lucic opened the scoring on his nineteenth of the season, with a lone assist by Rich Peverley. The Bruins added on with the nineteenth of the year by Brad Marchand, courtesy of Patrice Bergeron and Adam McQuaid. Boston extended the lead again in the third period as Tyler Seguin sank his twentieth of the season, thanks to Marchand and Bergeron. Washington got one back as Marcus Johansson netted his eleventh of the year, with assists from Mathieu Perreault and Joel Ward. The Bruins iced it at 4-1 with a Peverley empty netter, his ninth of the campaign, made possible by Chris Kelly and Zdeno Chara. Thomas (35 for 36 in saves), Marchand, and Alex Ovechkin had the three stars, while Bergeron or Peverley could fill the third slot well.

Up to New York, where the Rangers welcome the Philadelphia Flyers. Ilya Bryzgalov and Henrik Lundqvist get the starting nods. Artem Anisimov put New York ahead first with his eighth of the season, assisted by Dan Girardi and Derek Stepan. Philadelphia tied it in the second period as Brayden Schenn scored his fifth of the year, thanks to Jakub Voracek and Max Talbot. The Rangers retook the lead with Marian Gaborik recording his twenty-sixth of the season, with the help of Stepan and Anisimov. The Flyers tied it in the third period with  Wayne Simmonds goal, his seventeenth of the year, set up by Scott Hartnell and Claude Giroux on the power play. New York wasted no time in retaking the lead with a Michael Del Zotto, his seventh of the season, made possible by Gaborik and Anisimov. The Rangers extended their lead with a Brandon Dubinsky goal, his sixth of the year, courtesy of Brian Boyle and Brandon Prust. New York iced it off at 5-2 with a Ruslan Fedotenko empty net goal, his seventh of the campaign, guided in by Carl Hagelin and Brad Richards. The three stars belonged to Gaborik, Lundqvist (21 for 23 in saves), and Dubinsky, while Anisimov and Stepan also played well.

In the same region, the New Jersey Devils hosted the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury and Martin Brodeur started between the pipes, but Fleury was replaced by Brent Johnson early in the second period. New Jersey started the scoring with a Ilya Kovalchuk goal, his twenty-second of the season, via Patrik Elias and Zach Parise. The Devils added on when Anton Volchenkov scored, with helpers provided by Kovalchuk and Alexei Ponikarovsky. New Jersey rolled on in the second period as Dainius Zubrus struck shorthanded with his fifteenth of the year, coming off of Kovalchuk. Pittsburgh got one back as Matt Niskanen made his third of the season, a power play goal powered by Cal O'Reilly and Matt Cooke. The Devils replied on a Parise goal, his twentieth of the year, made possible by Steve Bernier and Andy Greene. The Penguins got one back in the third period as Evgeni Malkin scored his twenty-ninth of the season on the power play, pushed through by Steve Sullivan. New Jersey iced it at 5-2 with David Clarkson registering his twentieth of the year, an empty net goal with a lone helper by the goalie Brodeur. Kovalchuk, Parise, and Volchenkov earned the three stars.

Finally, we end early with the Montreal Canadiens hosting the Winnipeg Jets. Ondrej Pavelec and Carey Price collected the starts in goal. Montreal opened with a David Desharnais goal, his eleventh of the season, set up by Yannick Weber and Aaron Palushaj. The Canadiens added on with an Alexei Emelin shorthanded goal in the second period, his second of the year, via Tomas Plekanec and Mathieu Darche. Montreal made it 3-0 on Plekanec's eleventh of the campaign, a power play goal powered by Tomas Kaberle and P.K. Subban. They held this lead to the end, and the three stars were Price (23 save shutout), Plekanec, and Emelin.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

NHL Day 122 2011-2012

A fairly long slate of games today, beginning with 4 matinee matches, the first of which is in...

Boston, as the Bruins host the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury and Tim Thomas tend the twines. Pittsburgh opened the scoring with nine seconds remaining in the opening frame as Evgeni Malkin recorded his twenty-eighth of the season on the power play, powered by Chris Kunitz and James Neal. The Penguins added on in the third period with a Matt Cooke goal, his ninth of the year, courtesy of Dustin Jeffrey and Pascal Dupuis. Boston got one back when Joe Corvo sank his third of the season, with the help of Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. They never tied it, losing 2-1, with Fleury (28 for 29 in saves), Zdeno Chara, and Neal taking the three stars, and any point earner could slide into the second slot.

Also, the Philadelphia Flyers welcome the New Jersey Devils. Johan Hedberg and Sergei Bobrovsky get spot starts ahead of their usual mentors. Kurtis Foster got New Jersey ahead early with his third of the season, a power play goal powered by Patrik Elias and Ilya Kovalchuk. The Devils added on with a Kovalchuk shorthanded goal, his twenty-first of the year, with a lone assist by Dainius Zubrus. New Jersey rolled along with a Zubrus goal on the power play, his fourteenth of the season, made possible by Anton Volchenkov and Alexei Ponikarovsky. The Devils extended the lead with a second period Zach Parise goal, his nineteenth of the year coming on the power play from David Clarkson and Foster. Ponikarvosky kept New Jersey moving with his ninth of the season, fueled by Steve Bernier and Jacob Josefson. Foster added on again for the Devils with his second of the game and fourth of the year, coming off of Elias and Kovalchuk. This chased away Bobrovsky, and Ilya Bryzgalov came on in relief. Philadelphia finally scored in the third period as Wayne Simmonds netted his sixteenth of the season, thanks to Zac Rinaldo and Marc-Andre Bourdon. The Flyers got another back as Jaromir Jagr registered his thirteenth of the year, assisted by Matt Carle and Claude Giroux. After this, a fight between Philadelphia's Brayden Schenn and New Jersey's Kovalchuk broke out, resulting in a Kovalchuk Gordie Howe Hat Trick. Giroux kept Philadelphia's crazy charge up, notching his twentieth of the season on the power play, set up by Jagr and Jakub Voracek. The Flyers inched closer when Voracek scored his ninth of the year, guided in by Carle and Sean Couturier. The comeback ended when the score said 6-4, and the three stars went to Kovalchuk, Elias, and Jagr, while the numerous honorable mentions include Foster, Ponikarovsky, Zubrus, Giroux, Voracek, and Carle.

Up to Montreal, where the Canadiens host the Washington Capitals. Tomas Vokoun and Peter Budaj played in the blue paint. Dennis Wideman started the scoring in Washington's favor, with his tenth of the season, helped along by Brooks Laich. The Capitals added on in the third period with a Matt Hendricks goal, his third of the year, assisted by Laich and Alexander Semin. Semin iced it at 3-0 for Washington with his thirteenth of the campaign coming on a penalty shot. Vokoun (30 save shutout), Wideman, and Semin were the three stars, with honorable mention for Laich.

Out west a bit, the Colorado Avalanche end the matinee sessions with their hosting of the Vancouver Canucks. Roberto Luongo and Jean-Sebastien Giguere will get the starting nods. Vancouver opened as Ryan Kesler potted his sixteenth of the season, thanks to Alexander Edler and David Booth. Colorado tied it with a Ryan Jones goal, his tenth of the year coming on the power play from Paul Stastny and Ryan O'Reilly. The Avalanche gained the lead with Jay McClement's seventh of the season in the second period, set up by Daniel Winnik. The Canucks tied it with thirty-five seconds left in regulation on Kevin Bieksa's fifth of the year, with a lone helper by Henrik Sedin. The game required a shootout to determine the winner, which was Vancouver on a lone tally by Mason Raymond. The three stars of the 3-2 game were Giguere (27 for 29 in saves), Luongo (44 for 46 in saves), and Gabriel Landeskog, while any point earner or Raymond would be just as good to pick.

At a more normal time, the New York Islanders hosted the Buffalo Sabres. Ryan Miller and Al Montoya were wearing the pads. New York struck first as Frans Nielsen sank his eighth of the season, assisted by Michael Grabner. Nathan Gerbe answered for Buffalo by nailing his fifth of the year, with help from Drew Stafford. The Islanders took the lead back with a Josh Bailey goal, his sixth of the season, fueled by Nielsen. Nielsen added on for New York with his second of the game and ninth of the year, courtesy of Kyle Okposo and Mark Streit. The Sabres got one back in the second period when Derek Roy found twine with his tenth of the season, coming off of Ville Leino and Jason Pominville. Buffalo tied it in the third period with a Paul Gaustad goal, his sixth of the year, guided in by Tyler Myers and Brad Boyes. The game went to the shootout, where the Sabres used Boyes and Pominville goals to down the Islanders 4-3. The three stars were Nielsen, Gaustad, and Montoya (34 for 37 in saves).

Southward to Carolina, where the Hurricanes host the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Bernier and Cam Ward will be in the blue paint. Los Angeles led off with an Anze Kopitar goal, his sixteenth of the season coming on the power play, powered by Justin Williams and Jack Johnson. Carolina tied it in the second period on a Jiri Tlusty tally, his eleventh of the year, an unassisted goal. The Hurricanes gained a 2-1 lead they wouldn't let go in the third period as Jeff Skinner potted his fifteenth of the campaign, with helpers provided by Jussi Jokinen and Drayson Bowman. The three stars belonged to Skinner, Ward (24 for 25 in saves), and Tlusty.

Farther to the south, the battle of Florida is in the northern region of the state, where the Tampa Bay Lightning welcome the Florida Panthers. Scott Clemmensen and Mathieu Garon took care of the nets, but Clemmensen was removed from the net in the third period due to injury, and Brian Foster took over. Tampa Bay opened with a Nate Thompson goal, his seventh of the season, going in unassisted. Florida answered with a Tomas Fleischmann goal, his seventeenth of the year, courtesy of Kris Versteeg and Mike Weaver. The Lightning regained the lead in the second period when Vincent Lecavalier scored his twentieth of the campaign, another unassisted tally. Tampa Bay extended the lead with a Martin St. Louis goal, his fourteenth of the season, fueled by Ryan Shannon and Lecavalier. The Panthers got one back as Mikael Samuelsson notched his sixth of the year, with a helper from Sean Bergenheim. The Lightning answered when Steven Stamkos recorded his thirty-fourth of the campaign, via Steve Downie and Victor Hedman. St. Louis added on for Tampa Bay with his second of the game and fifteenth of the season, thanks to Lecavalier and Shannon. Bergenheim helped Florida claw one back with his ninth of the year, set up by Marcel Goc and Tyson Strachan. The Lightning iced it 6-3 in the third period as St. Louis finished off his hat trick with his sixteenth of the campaign, an empty net goal moved along by Stamkos and Lecavalier, the latter earning a sock trick. The three stars were St. Louis, Lecavalier, and Hedman, while Stamkos, Shannon, and Bergenheim earn honorable mentions.

Well to the north, the Ottawa Senators host the Toronto Maple Leafs. James Reimer and Craig Anderson took to the cages. Phil Kessel got Toronto going with his twenty-seventh of the season, thanks to Tyler Bozak and Jake Gardiner. The Maple Leafs added on with a Dion Phaneuf power play goal, his eighth of the year, powered by Kessel and Joffrey Lupul. Toronto extended the lead again in the second period with Bozak depositing his ninth of the campaign, with the help of Kessel and Cody Franson. The Maple Leafs rolled on in the third period as Luke Schenn sank his second of the season, courtesy of Lupul and Bozak. Toronto iced it at 5-0 with a power play goal by Franson, his fourth of the year, assisted by Mikhail Grabovski and Clarke MacArthur. The three stars went out to Reimer (49 save shutout), Kessel, and Bozak, with Franson and Lupul getting the honorable mentions.

Out to the west, where the Phoenix Coyotes host the San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi and Mike Smith play in the creases. San Jose opened everything up in the second period with a Logan Couture goal, his twenty-second of the season, assisted by Ryane Clowe and Patrick Marleau. Phoenix tied it with a Raffi Torres goal, his eighth of the year, courtesy of Michal Rozsival and Daymond Langkow. The Coyotes gained the lead with a Lauri Korpikoski goal, his twelfth of the season, made possible by Shane Doan and Boyd Gordon. The Sharks retied it with a Jamie McGinn power play goal, his eleventh of the year, powered by Brent Burnsand Clowe. Phoenix stole the lead back with Martin Hanzal's sixth of the season, set up by Ray Whitney and Radim Vrbata. The Coyotes added some space in the third period with another Korpikoski goal, his second of the game and thirteenth of the year, helped along by Gordon and Doan. San Jose got one back as Marleau made his twentieth of the season, with assists provided by Clowe for a sock trick and Joe Thornton. Phoenix iced it at 5-3 with an empty netter by Vrbata, his twenty-fourth of the year, passed through by Whitney and Hanzal. The three stars were given to Korpikoski, Smith (32 for 35 in saves), and Doan, while honorable mentions include Clowe, Marleau, Hanzal, Vrbata, Whitney, and Gordon.

Backtracking east a bit, as the Dallas Stars hosted the Minnesota Wild. Niklas Backstrom and Kari Lehtonen guarded the cages. Dallas opened the scoring in the second period with a Mike Ribeiro power play goal, his eleventh of the season, powered by Alex Goligoski and Stephane Robidas. Minnesota tied it in the third period with a Kyle Brodziak goal, his fifteenth of the year, with a lone assist from Nick Johnson. The game was decided in favor of the Stars as Loui Eriksson and Jamie Benn overpowered Matt Cullen in the shootout. The three stars were Lehtonen (33 for 34 in saves), Ribeiro, and Dany Heatley, while any other poing earners or Backstrom (25 for 26 in saves) get honorable mentions.

A little to northeast, as the Nashville Predators welcome the St. Louis Blues. Jaroslav Halak and Pekka Rinne were sent out to stop the puck. Nashville led off with a Martin Erat power play goal, his twelfth of the season, powered by Patric Hornqvist and Ryan Suter. The Predators added on with a Mike Fisher goal, his fifteenth of the year, assisted by Sergei Kostitsyn and Erat. St. Louis got on the board in the third period with an unassisted Chris Porter goal, his third of the season. Nashville iced it at 3-1 with an empty net goal by Kostitsyn, his thirteenth of the year, guided in by David Legwand and Erat. Rinne (42 for 43 in saves), Erat, and Halak (34 for 36 in saves) were the three stars, while Kostitsyn earns an honorable mention.

Finally, the Edmonton Oilers host the Detroit Red Wings. Ty Conklin and Devan Dubnyk were between the pipes, but Joey MacDonald replaced Conklin after one period of play. Edmonton led off with a Sam Gagner goal, his tenth of the season coming on the power play from Ryan Whitney and Ales Hemsky. The Oilers added on with a Jordan Eberle goal, fueled by Gagner as his twenty-first of the year. Detroit got one back with a Valtteri Filppula shorthanded goal, his sixteenth of the season, set up by Henrik Zetterberg. Edmonton took it away when Gagner struck again, his second of the game and eleventh of the year, another power play goal, assisted by Ryan Smyth and Whitney. The Red Wings took one back in the third period as Todd Brtuzzi scored his eleventh of the season, with the help of Zetterberg and Johan Franzen. Detroit tied it on a Drew Miller goal, his tenth of the year, courtesy of Darren Helm and Danny Cleary. The Red Wings gained the lead with another Bertuzzi goal, his second of the game and twelfth of the season, guided in by Ian White. The Oilers got a late equalizer with Eberle notching his second of the game and twenty-second of the year, with assists by Hemsky and Smyth (and no Gagner). The game was decided in the shootout after Gagner and Bertuzzi matched goals, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored to give Edmonton the 5-4 win over Detroit. The three stars were Gagner, Zetterberg, and Eberle, while Smyth, Hemsky, Bertuzzi, and Whitney get honorable mentions.