1. Erik Karlsson 4 G, 8 A, +5, 2 PIM, 4 PPP, 13 SOG
2. P.A. Parenteau, 3 G, 2 A, +1, 28 PIM, 1 PPP, 12 SOG
3. Steven Stamkos, 3 G, 5 A, +1, 6 PIM, 4 PPP, 14 SOG
4. Evgeni Malkin, 5 G, 2 A, +3, 4 PIM, 3 PPP, 17 SOG
5. Teddy Purcell, 3 G, 7 A, +1, 0 PIM, 5 PPP, 10 SOG
Good luck to everyone trying to close in on their playoff spot in the next 2-3 weeks, depending on your league set up. It was a bit of a rocky week for me this week, so hopefully I will right the ship and get in the playoffs.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Sunday, February 26, 2012
NHL Day 144 2011-2012
Seven games are going on this Sunday, from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. Pacific. We begin with a pair of games, the first in...
New Jersey, as the Devils host the Tampa Bay Lightning. Mathieu Garon and Martin Brodeur are in goal. New Jersey started the scoring with Alexei Ponikarovsky netting his twelfth of the season, an unassisted goal. Tampa Bay tied it in the second period with the twentieth of the year by Martin St. Louis, fueled by Steven Stamkos and the goalie Garon. St. Louis gave the Lightning a lead with his second of the game and twenty-first of the season, a power play goal powered by Purcell and Stamkos. The Devils tied the game in the third period with a Petr Sykora goal, his fifteenth of the year, courtesy of Steve Bernier and Dainius Zubrus. Matt Gilroy took the lead back for Tampa with his third of the season, made possible by St. Louis and Purcell. Tampa Bay added on with St. Louis finishing his hat trick on his twenty-second of the year, guided in by Purcell, who got a sock trick, and Eric Brewer. New Jersey pulled back on Zach Parise's twenty-third of the campaign, assisted by Ilya Kovalchuk and Patrik Elias. The final was 4-3, and the three stars were St. Louis, Purcell, and Parise, while the honorable mention went to Stamkos.
Also, the Pittsburgh Penguins host the Columbus Blue Jackets. Curtis Sanford and Brad Thiessen get the spot starts. Columbus led off in the second period with a Rick Nash shorthanded goal, his twenty-first of the season, made possible by Nikita Niktin. Pittsburgh tied it on an Evgeni Malkin power play goal, his thirty-seventh of the year, powered by James Neal and Steve Sullivan. The Penguins took a third period lead with a Pascal Dupuis goal, his fifteenth of the season, coming off of Sullivan and Jordan Staal. Pittsburgh extended the lead with a Kris Letang power play goal, his ninth of the year, set up by Richard Park and Matt Cooke. The Penguins added on again with Joe Vitale notching his fourth of the season, assisted by Eric Tangradi and Cooke. The Blue Jackets got one back with Vinny Prospal recording his eleventh of the year, and Cam Atkinson picked up the assist. This was it for scoring, leaving a final score at 4-2, and Thiessen (22 for 24 in saves), Sullivan, and Dupuis earned the three stars, while Cooke gets an honorable mention.
Down in Dallas, the Stars hosted the Vancouver Canucks. Roberto Luongo and Kari Lehtonen tended the twines. Vancouver struck first with a second period Ryan Kesler goal, his nineteenth of the season, coming off of Chris Higgins and Dan Hamhuis. The Canucks added on with a Mason Raymond goal, his eighth of the year, thanks to Higgins and Aaron Rome. Dallas got one back with Michael Ryder scoring his twenty-fifth of the season, with the help of Mike Ribeiro and Loui Eriksson on the power play. The Stars tied it late in the third period on a Ribeiro goal, his fourteenth of the year, pushed through by Alex Goligoski and Sheldon Souray. Eriksson secured a Dallas victory in overtime with his twenty-first of the campaign making it 3-2, helped along by Trevor Daley and Steve Ott. The three stars were awarded to Ribeiro, Kesler, and Eriksson, with an honorable mention for Higgins.
Back east a bit, the Florida Panthers welcome the Montreal Canadiens. Peter Budaj and Scott Clemmensen play in place of the usual starters in front of the nets. Montreal was first on the board due to a David Desharnais goal, his twelfth of the season, with an assist provided by Erik Cole. The Canadiens added on with a P.K. Subban power play goal, his fourth of the year, guided in by Tomas Kaberle and Desharnais. Florida got one back as Stephen Weiss recorded his fourteenth of the season, with the help of Keaton Ellerby. The Panthers tied it in the second period, as Sean Bergenheim netted his fourteenth of the year, a power play goal powered by Mikael Samuelsson and the goalie Clemmensen. Florida took the lead when Weiss struck again, his second of the game and fifteenth of the season, assisted by Samuelsson and Bergenheim. The Panthers added on when Brian Campbell sank his fourth of the year in the third period, thanks to Weiss and Bergenheim. This made it 4-2, a final, with Weiss, Bergenheim, and Samuelsson getting the three stars and Desharnais collecting the honorable mention.
In Canada, the Ottawa Senators host the New York Islanders. Evgeni Nabokov and Robin Lehner received the starting nods. New York led off with a John Tavares goal, his twenty-fifth of the season, assisted by P.A. Parenteau and Travis Hamonic. Ottawa tied it with a second period Milan Michalek power play goal, his twenty-eighth of the year, powered by Erik Karlsson and Kyle Turris. The Senators took the lead with a Jason Spezza power play goal, his twenty-eighth of the season, guided in by Karlsson and Filip Kuba. Jim O'Brien helped Ottawa extend the lead in the third period with his second of the year, made possible by Chris Neil. The Islanders got one back when Parenteau put away his fifteenth of the season, thanks to Hamonic and Matt Moulson. The Senators shot back when Neil made his tenth of the year, courtesy of Nick Foligno. Ottawa iced it at 5-2 on a Turris empty net goal, his sixth of the campaign, set up by Foligno and Colin Greening. The three stars of the game were Lehner (28 for 30 in saves), Karlsson, and Neil, while Parenteau, Turris, Hamonic, and Foligno get the honorable mentions.
Back stateside, the Minnesota Wild bring in the San Jose Sharks. Thomas Greiss and Niklas Backstrom will be in the blue paint. San Jose opened as Tommy Wingels potted his third of the season, with the help of Jamie McGinn and Patrick Marleau. The Sharks added on with a Joe Thornton goal, his fourteenth of the year, guided in by Torrey Mitchell and Brent Burns. Minnesota got on the board with a Cal Clutterbuck goal, his fourteenth of the season, an unassisted tally. The Wild tied it in the second period as Nick Schultz potted a power play goal with a helper provided by Kyle Brodziak. Burns gave San Jose the lead again in the third period with his tenth of the year, courtesy of Thornton and Marleau on the power play. Minnesota retied it with Matt Cullen depositing his fourteenth of the season, thanks to Marco Scandella. The Wild took the lead with a Jed Ortmeyer goal, passed through Jared Spurgeon. They held on for a 4-3 win, and handed the three stars to Scandella, Nick Palmieri, and Spurgeon, while better selections would be Thornton, Marleau, Burns, or anyone who actually scored a goal.
Finally, in Anaheim, the Ducks host the Chicago Blackhawks. Ray Emery and Jonas Hiller guard the cages. Chicago got things going with a Patrick Kane goal, his fourteenth of the season, a power play goal made possible by Nick Leddy and Marian Hossa. Anaheim tied it late in the first period on a Andrew Cogliano goal, his twelfth of the year, guided in by Nick Bonino. The Ducks took the lead in the second period when Sheldon Brookbank netted his second of the season, thanks to Teemu Selanne and Francois Beauchemin. Selanne extended the Anaheim lead in the third period with his twenty-first of the year, a power play goal powered by Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. This made the score 3-1, a final, with the three stars being Selanne, Brookbank, and Devante Smith-Pelly, while any point earner can take the third slot.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
New Jersey, as the Devils host the Tampa Bay Lightning. Mathieu Garon and Martin Brodeur are in goal. New Jersey started the scoring with Alexei Ponikarovsky netting his twelfth of the season, an unassisted goal. Tampa Bay tied it in the second period with the twentieth of the year by Martin St. Louis, fueled by Steven Stamkos and the goalie Garon. St. Louis gave the Lightning a lead with his second of the game and twenty-first of the season, a power play goal powered by Purcell and Stamkos. The Devils tied the game in the third period with a Petr Sykora goal, his fifteenth of the year, courtesy of Steve Bernier and Dainius Zubrus. Matt Gilroy took the lead back for Tampa with his third of the season, made possible by St. Louis and Purcell. Tampa Bay added on with St. Louis finishing his hat trick on his twenty-second of the year, guided in by Purcell, who got a sock trick, and Eric Brewer. New Jersey pulled back on Zach Parise's twenty-third of the campaign, assisted by Ilya Kovalchuk and Patrik Elias. The final was 4-3, and the three stars were St. Louis, Purcell, and Parise, while the honorable mention went to Stamkos.
Also, the Pittsburgh Penguins host the Columbus Blue Jackets. Curtis Sanford and Brad Thiessen get the spot starts. Columbus led off in the second period with a Rick Nash shorthanded goal, his twenty-first of the season, made possible by Nikita Niktin. Pittsburgh tied it on an Evgeni Malkin power play goal, his thirty-seventh of the year, powered by James Neal and Steve Sullivan. The Penguins took a third period lead with a Pascal Dupuis goal, his fifteenth of the season, coming off of Sullivan and Jordan Staal. Pittsburgh extended the lead with a Kris Letang power play goal, his ninth of the year, set up by Richard Park and Matt Cooke. The Penguins added on again with Joe Vitale notching his fourth of the season, assisted by Eric Tangradi and Cooke. The Blue Jackets got one back with Vinny Prospal recording his eleventh of the year, and Cam Atkinson picked up the assist. This was it for scoring, leaving a final score at 4-2, and Thiessen (22 for 24 in saves), Sullivan, and Dupuis earned the three stars, while Cooke gets an honorable mention.
Down in Dallas, the Stars hosted the Vancouver Canucks. Roberto Luongo and Kari Lehtonen tended the twines. Vancouver struck first with a second period Ryan Kesler goal, his nineteenth of the season, coming off of Chris Higgins and Dan Hamhuis. The Canucks added on with a Mason Raymond goal, his eighth of the year, thanks to Higgins and Aaron Rome. Dallas got one back with Michael Ryder scoring his twenty-fifth of the season, with the help of Mike Ribeiro and Loui Eriksson on the power play. The Stars tied it late in the third period on a Ribeiro goal, his fourteenth of the year, pushed through by Alex Goligoski and Sheldon Souray. Eriksson secured a Dallas victory in overtime with his twenty-first of the campaign making it 3-2, helped along by Trevor Daley and Steve Ott. The three stars were awarded to Ribeiro, Kesler, and Eriksson, with an honorable mention for Higgins.
Back east a bit, the Florida Panthers welcome the Montreal Canadiens. Peter Budaj and Scott Clemmensen play in place of the usual starters in front of the nets. Montreal was first on the board due to a David Desharnais goal, his twelfth of the season, with an assist provided by Erik Cole. The Canadiens added on with a P.K. Subban power play goal, his fourth of the year, guided in by Tomas Kaberle and Desharnais. Florida got one back as Stephen Weiss recorded his fourteenth of the season, with the help of Keaton Ellerby. The Panthers tied it in the second period, as Sean Bergenheim netted his fourteenth of the year, a power play goal powered by Mikael Samuelsson and the goalie Clemmensen. Florida took the lead when Weiss struck again, his second of the game and fifteenth of the season, assisted by Samuelsson and Bergenheim. The Panthers added on when Brian Campbell sank his fourth of the year in the third period, thanks to Weiss and Bergenheim. This made it 4-2, a final, with Weiss, Bergenheim, and Samuelsson getting the three stars and Desharnais collecting the honorable mention.
In Canada, the Ottawa Senators host the New York Islanders. Evgeni Nabokov and Robin Lehner received the starting nods. New York led off with a John Tavares goal, his twenty-fifth of the season, assisted by P.A. Parenteau and Travis Hamonic. Ottawa tied it with a second period Milan Michalek power play goal, his twenty-eighth of the year, powered by Erik Karlsson and Kyle Turris. The Senators took the lead with a Jason Spezza power play goal, his twenty-eighth of the season, guided in by Karlsson and Filip Kuba. Jim O'Brien helped Ottawa extend the lead in the third period with his second of the year, made possible by Chris Neil. The Islanders got one back when Parenteau put away his fifteenth of the season, thanks to Hamonic and Matt Moulson. The Senators shot back when Neil made his tenth of the year, courtesy of Nick Foligno. Ottawa iced it at 5-2 on a Turris empty net goal, his sixth of the campaign, set up by Foligno and Colin Greening. The three stars of the game were Lehner (28 for 30 in saves), Karlsson, and Neil, while Parenteau, Turris, Hamonic, and Foligno get the honorable mentions.
Back stateside, the Minnesota Wild bring in the San Jose Sharks. Thomas Greiss and Niklas Backstrom will be in the blue paint. San Jose opened as Tommy Wingels potted his third of the season, with the help of Jamie McGinn and Patrick Marleau. The Sharks added on with a Joe Thornton goal, his fourteenth of the year, guided in by Torrey Mitchell and Brent Burns. Minnesota got on the board with a Cal Clutterbuck goal, his fourteenth of the season, an unassisted tally. The Wild tied it in the second period as Nick Schultz potted a power play goal with a helper provided by Kyle Brodziak. Burns gave San Jose the lead again in the third period with his tenth of the year, courtesy of Thornton and Marleau on the power play. Minnesota retied it with Matt Cullen depositing his fourteenth of the season, thanks to Marco Scandella. The Wild took the lead with a Jed Ortmeyer goal, passed through Jared Spurgeon. They held on for a 4-3 win, and handed the three stars to Scandella, Nick Palmieri, and Spurgeon, while better selections would be Thornton, Marleau, Burns, or anyone who actually scored a goal.
Finally, in Anaheim, the Ducks host the Chicago Blackhawks. Ray Emery and Jonas Hiller guard the cages. Chicago got things going with a Patrick Kane goal, his fourteenth of the season, a power play goal made possible by Nick Leddy and Marian Hossa. Anaheim tied it late in the first period on a Andrew Cogliano goal, his twelfth of the year, guided in by Nick Bonino. The Ducks took the lead in the second period when Sheldon Brookbank netted his second of the season, thanks to Teemu Selanne and Francois Beauchemin. Selanne extended the Anaheim lead in the third period with his twenty-first of the year, a power play goal powered by Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. This made the score 3-1, a final, with the three stars being Selanne, Brookbank, and Devante Smith-Pelly, while any point earner can take the third slot.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
NHL Day 143 2011-2012
Big set of games on the Saturday schedule, as usual. We start with three matinees, the first of which is in Pittsburgh...
With the Penguins hosting the Tampa Bay Lightning. Dwayne Roloson and Marc-Andre Fleury play in goal. Pittsburgh opened on a Chris Kunitz goal, his seventeenth of the season, assisted by Evgeni Malkin and James Neal. The Penguins added on with a Matt Cooke goal, his twelfth of the year, guided in by Joe Vitale and Zbynek Michalek. Pittsburgh kept going with a Jordan Staal shorthanded and unassisted goal, his twentieth of the season. Staal kept the Penguins strong in the second period with his second of the game and twenty-first of the year, a power play goal powered by Steve Sullivan and Neal. Pittsburgh extended the lead with Evgeni Malkin netting his thirty-fourth of the season, with the help of Kunitz and Deryk Engelland. Tampa Bay got on the board with Teddy Purcell scoring on the power play, with Ryan Malone and Brett Clark helping out on his seventeenth of the year. Malkin took it back for the Penguins in the third period with his second of the game and thirty-fifth of the season, thanks to Matt Niskanen. Malkin finished his hat trick on a power play goal, his thirty-sixth of the year, set up by Neal, who got a sock trick, and Sullivan. The Penguins iced it at 8-1 with a Pascal Dupuis goal, his fourteenth of the campaign, coming off of Staal and Sullivan, the latter getting a sock trick. The three stars went to Malkin, Staal, and Fleury (34 for 35 in saves), while the honorable mentions include Sullivan, Neal, and Kunitz.
Up in central Canada, the Winnipeg Jets welcome the St. Louis Blues. Jaroslav Halak and Chris Mason got the starting nods. St. Louis opened with a David Backes goal, his eighteenth of the season, fueled by T.J. Oshie and Andy McDonald. David Perron extended the Blues lead with his twelfth of the year, thanks to Patrik Berglund and Oshie. Winnipeg got on the board in the second period with a Blake Wheeler goal, his twelfth of the season, made possible by Evander Kane and Dustin Byfuglien. The Jets tied it with another Wheeler goal, his second of the game and thirteenth of the year, a power play goal powered by Andrew Ladd and Byfuglien. The game was decided in the shootout, with St. Louis winning as McDonald answered Wheeler to allow Perron the game winner. The three stars were given to Wheeler, Halak (39 for 41 in saves), and Byfuglien, while Perron, Oshie, and McDonald also played well.
A little to the west, we end the matinee period with the Edmonton Oilers hosting the Phoenix Coyotes. Mike Smith and Devan Dubnyk are padded up. Phoenix started off with an Oliver Ekman-Larsson goal, his eighth of the season, with a lone Martian Hanzal assist. The Coyotes added on with Ray Whitney potting his eighteenth of the year, courtesy of Radim Vrbata and Hanzal. Edmonton got one back in the third period when Ryan Nugent-Hopkins put away his fourteenth of the season, with the help of Ales Hemsky and Taylor Hall. Phoenix iced it at 3-1 with a Shane Doan goal, his twentieth of the year, guided in by Keith Yandle and Adrian Aucoin. The three stars went to Whitney, Hanzal, and Hall.
At the regularly scheduled time, we had a wave of five games to lead us off. The first had the Carolina Hurricanes hosting the Florida Panthers. Jose Theodore and Justin Peters played in the blue paint. Carolina opened with a Justin Faulk power play goal, his seventh of the season, powered by Eric Staal and Jerome Samson. The Hurricanes added on in the second period with Jussi Jokinen recording his ninth of the year, thanks to Jeff Skinner. Florida got on the board in the third period with a Tomas Fleischmann goal, his twentieth of the season, coming off of Kris Versteeg and Keaton Ellerby. The Panthers tied it with a Wojtek Wolski goal, fueled by Shawn Matthias and Jason Garrison. Florida took the game 3-2 in the shootout with Mikael Samuelsson and Stephen Weiss overpowering Carolina's only tally by Skinner. The three stars were given out to Staal, Wolski, and Faulk.
Up in Canada again, the Ottawa Senators hosted the Boston Bruins. Tim Thomas and Alex Auld would be between the pipes. Ottawa began the scoring as Erik Karlsson notched his fourteenth of the season, with help from Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek. Boston answered with Patrice Bergeron netting his eighteenth of the year, courtesy of Zdeno Chara and Tyler Seguin. The Bruins added on with a Brad Marchand tally, his twenty-second of the season, made possible by Bergeron and Chara. Boston kept going in the second period when Chris Camper scored, assisted by Adam McQuaid. The Bruins extended the lead in the third period as David Krejci put his thirteenth of the year away, a power play goal powered by Dennis Seidenberg and Joe Corvo. The Senators pulled back with a Daniel Alfredsson goal, his twenty-first of the season, fueled by Spezza and Karlsson. Ottawa got even closer when Alfredsson scored again, his second of the game and twenty-second of the year, guided in by Karlsson and Spezza, the latter earning a sock trick. Boston iced it with another Bergeron goal, his nineteenth of the campaign and second of the night finding empty twine to make it 5-3, and in went in unassisted. The three stars of the game went to Bergeron, Alfredsson, and Chris Neil, while Chara, Karlsson, and Spezza get the honorable mentions
Stateside, the New York Rangers hosted the Buffalo Sabres. Stud goalies Ryan Miller and Henrik Lundqvist tended the twines. Buffalo led off with a Drew Stafford goal, his eleventh of the season, with the help of Tyler Ennis and Andrej Sekera. New York replied in the second period on a Carl Hagelin goal, his tenth of the year, made possible by Marc Staal and Brad Richards. The Sabres took the lead again with a Stafford third period goal, his second of the game and twelfth of the season coming on the power play from Thomas Vanek and Derek Roy. The Rangers retied it with a Marian Gaborik goal, his twenty-ninth of the year, thanks to Michael Del Zotto and Hagelin. New York won it 3-2 in the overtime period, with Ryan Callahan sinking his twenty-fourth of the campaign with a lone Ryan McDonagh assist. The three stars were awarded to Callahan, Stafford, and Hagelin.
North again to Toronto, where the Maple Leafs host the Washington Capitals. Michal Neuvirth and James Reimer get a chance to stop the puck. Washington started off with a Marcus Johansson goal thirty-two seconds into the game, his twelfth of the season, assisted by Alex Ovechkin and Keith Aucoin. Alexander Semin added on for the Capitals with his seventeenth of the year, an unassisted goal. Washington extended the lead in the second period as Jeff Halpern registered his fourth of the season, thanks to Joel Ward and Dmitry Orlov. The Capitals kept it up with Aucoin's goal, made possible by Johansson and Ovechkin. Toronto got on the board in the third period as Colby Armstrong scored an unassisted goal. The Maple Leafs cut further into the deficit with a Tim Connolly goal, his tenth of the year, pushed through by Matthew Lombardi and Nikolai Kulemin. This made it a 4-2 final score, and the three stars were given to Johansson, Aucoin, and Semin, with an honorable mention for Ovechkin.
Back to the U.S., with the Detroit Red Wings welcoming the Colorado Avalanche. Jean-Sebastien Giguere and Jimmy Howard were in front of the goals. Colorado struck first with a Gabriel Landeskog goal, his seventeenth of the season, assisted by Steve Downie and Ryan O'Reilly. The Avalanche added on with a shorthanded and unassisted David Jones goal, his fifteenth of the year. Colorado extended the lead in the second period with another Landeskog goal, his second of the game and eighteenth of the season, fueled by O'Reilly and Downie. Detroit got on the board in the third period when Jiri Hudler notched his nineteenth of the year, a power play goal powered by Valtteri Filppula and Henrik Zetterberg. The Avalanche took it back when Downie netted his fourteenth of the season, thanks to Ryan Wilson and O'Reilly, the latter getting a sock trick. The Red Wings answered with another Hudler goal, his second of the game and twentieth of the year, coming off of Zetterberg and Brad Stuart. Detroit got as close as 4-3 but couldn't score again after Filppula made his eighteenth of the campaign, with the helpers provided by Hudler and Zetterberg, the latter getting a sock trick. Landeskog, Downie, and Hudler took home the three stars, while honorable mentions are in place for Zetterberg, O'Reilly, and Filppula.
Out west, the Los Angeles Kings host the Chicago Blackhawks. Corey Crawford and Jonathan Quick played in the creases. Los Angeles started off with a Dustin Brown goal, his fifteenth of the season coming on the power play from Jarret Stoll. The Kings added on with another Brown goal, his second of the game and sixteenth of the year, also on the power play, powered by Alec Martinez and Stoll. Los Angeled extended the lead in the second period with a shorthanded Brown goal, finishing off his natural hat trick with his seventeenth of the season, thanks to Willie Mitchell. The Kings kept going with Mitchell potting his fourth of the year, helped along by Brown and Stoll, the latter getting a sock trick. Ray Emery relieved Crawford at this time. There was no more scoring here, resulting a 4-0 final. The three stars were awarded to Brown, Stoll, and Mitchell, while Quick (19 save shutout) gets the only honorable mention.
Back east, the Nashville Predators brought in the San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi and Pekka Rinne started as the Finnish goalies. Nashville led off with a Colin Wilson goal, his fourteenth of the season, thanks to Jordin Tootoo. The Predators kept going with a Shea Weber goal, his thirteenth of the year, guided in by Martin Erat and Sergei Kostitsyn. Patrick Marleau answered for San Jose on his twenty-sixth of the season, fueled by Joe Pavelski and Joe Thornton. Nashville chased Niemi when Kevin Kelin registered his fourth of the year, with the help of Roman Josi and Mike Fisher. Thomas Greiss relieved Niemi. The Sharks got one back in the second period with a Pavelski goal, his twenty-third of the season, made possible by Marleau and Thornton. Weber shot back for the Predators with his second of the game and fourteenth of the year, a power play goal powered by David Legwand and Ryan Suter. Erat added on for Nashville with his fourteenth of the season going into the empty net after touching the tape of Gabriel Bourque and Josi. The final was 6-2 when the Predators got a Nick Spaling goal late, his tenth of the year, helped along by Tootoo and Wilson. The three stars were handed out to Weber, Marleau, and Wilson, while Pavelski, Thornton, Erat, Josi, and Tootoo get the honorable mentions.
Wrapping up the day, we are in Calgary, where the Flames welcome the Philadelphia Flyers. Ilya Bryzgalov and Miikka Kiprusoff guard the cages. Calgary started off with a Mark Giordano power play goal, his fifth of the season, going in unassisted. The Flames added on when Matt Stajan recorded his third of the year, thanks to Lance Bouma. Calgary kept going in the second period with a Tom Kostopoulos goal, a shorthanded goal, his fourth of the season, with a lone assist by Alex Tanguay. Philadelphia got on the board with Jakub Voracek netting his eleventh of the year, via Andrej Meszaros and Nicklas Grossman. The Flyers pulled closer with a Braydon Coburn goal, his third of the season, made possible by Matt Carle and Matt Read. Philadelphia tied it in the third period with a Kimmo Timonen power play goal, his third of the year, powered by Claude Giroux and Jaromir Jagr. The Flames retook the lead when Alex Tanguay converted a penalty shot for his ninth of the season, which was the result of a Pavel Kubina slash on breakaway. The Flyers retied it with a Grossman goal, set up by Giroux and Scott Hartnell. The game lasted to a shootout, where Michael Cammalleri and Giroux traded tallies before Read put the game away at 5-4 for good for Philadelphia. The three stars went out to Tanguay, Giroux, and Kostopoulos, while Hartnell and Grossman got the honorable mentions.
With the Penguins hosting the Tampa Bay Lightning. Dwayne Roloson and Marc-Andre Fleury play in goal. Pittsburgh opened on a Chris Kunitz goal, his seventeenth of the season, assisted by Evgeni Malkin and James Neal. The Penguins added on with a Matt Cooke goal, his twelfth of the year, guided in by Joe Vitale and Zbynek Michalek. Pittsburgh kept going with a Jordan Staal shorthanded and unassisted goal, his twentieth of the season. Staal kept the Penguins strong in the second period with his second of the game and twenty-first of the year, a power play goal powered by Steve Sullivan and Neal. Pittsburgh extended the lead with Evgeni Malkin netting his thirty-fourth of the season, with the help of Kunitz and Deryk Engelland. Tampa Bay got on the board with Teddy Purcell scoring on the power play, with Ryan Malone and Brett Clark helping out on his seventeenth of the year. Malkin took it back for the Penguins in the third period with his second of the game and thirty-fifth of the season, thanks to Matt Niskanen. Malkin finished his hat trick on a power play goal, his thirty-sixth of the year, set up by Neal, who got a sock trick, and Sullivan. The Penguins iced it at 8-1 with a Pascal Dupuis goal, his fourteenth of the campaign, coming off of Staal and Sullivan, the latter getting a sock trick. The three stars went to Malkin, Staal, and Fleury (34 for 35 in saves), while the honorable mentions include Sullivan, Neal, and Kunitz.
Up in central Canada, the Winnipeg Jets welcome the St. Louis Blues. Jaroslav Halak and Chris Mason got the starting nods. St. Louis opened with a David Backes goal, his eighteenth of the season, fueled by T.J. Oshie and Andy McDonald. David Perron extended the Blues lead with his twelfth of the year, thanks to Patrik Berglund and Oshie. Winnipeg got on the board in the second period with a Blake Wheeler goal, his twelfth of the season, made possible by Evander Kane and Dustin Byfuglien. The Jets tied it with another Wheeler goal, his second of the game and thirteenth of the year, a power play goal powered by Andrew Ladd and Byfuglien. The game was decided in the shootout, with St. Louis winning as McDonald answered Wheeler to allow Perron the game winner. The three stars were given to Wheeler, Halak (39 for 41 in saves), and Byfuglien, while Perron, Oshie, and McDonald also played well.
A little to the west, we end the matinee period with the Edmonton Oilers hosting the Phoenix Coyotes. Mike Smith and Devan Dubnyk are padded up. Phoenix started off with an Oliver Ekman-Larsson goal, his eighth of the season, with a lone Martian Hanzal assist. The Coyotes added on with Ray Whitney potting his eighteenth of the year, courtesy of Radim Vrbata and Hanzal. Edmonton got one back in the third period when Ryan Nugent-Hopkins put away his fourteenth of the season, with the help of Ales Hemsky and Taylor Hall. Phoenix iced it at 3-1 with a Shane Doan goal, his twentieth of the year, guided in by Keith Yandle and Adrian Aucoin. The three stars went to Whitney, Hanzal, and Hall.
At the regularly scheduled time, we had a wave of five games to lead us off. The first had the Carolina Hurricanes hosting the Florida Panthers. Jose Theodore and Justin Peters played in the blue paint. Carolina opened with a Justin Faulk power play goal, his seventh of the season, powered by Eric Staal and Jerome Samson. The Hurricanes added on in the second period with Jussi Jokinen recording his ninth of the year, thanks to Jeff Skinner. Florida got on the board in the third period with a Tomas Fleischmann goal, his twentieth of the season, coming off of Kris Versteeg and Keaton Ellerby. The Panthers tied it with a Wojtek Wolski goal, fueled by Shawn Matthias and Jason Garrison. Florida took the game 3-2 in the shootout with Mikael Samuelsson and Stephen Weiss overpowering Carolina's only tally by Skinner. The three stars were given out to Staal, Wolski, and Faulk.
Up in Canada again, the Ottawa Senators hosted the Boston Bruins. Tim Thomas and Alex Auld would be between the pipes. Ottawa began the scoring as Erik Karlsson notched his fourteenth of the season, with help from Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek. Boston answered with Patrice Bergeron netting his eighteenth of the year, courtesy of Zdeno Chara and Tyler Seguin. The Bruins added on with a Brad Marchand tally, his twenty-second of the season, made possible by Bergeron and Chara. Boston kept going in the second period when Chris Camper scored, assisted by Adam McQuaid. The Bruins extended the lead in the third period as David Krejci put his thirteenth of the year away, a power play goal powered by Dennis Seidenberg and Joe Corvo. The Senators pulled back with a Daniel Alfredsson goal, his twenty-first of the season, fueled by Spezza and Karlsson. Ottawa got even closer when Alfredsson scored again, his second of the game and twenty-second of the year, guided in by Karlsson and Spezza, the latter earning a sock trick. Boston iced it with another Bergeron goal, his nineteenth of the campaign and second of the night finding empty twine to make it 5-3, and in went in unassisted. The three stars of the game went to Bergeron, Alfredsson, and Chris Neil, while Chara, Karlsson, and Spezza get the honorable mentions
Stateside, the New York Rangers hosted the Buffalo Sabres. Stud goalies Ryan Miller and Henrik Lundqvist tended the twines. Buffalo led off with a Drew Stafford goal, his eleventh of the season, with the help of Tyler Ennis and Andrej Sekera. New York replied in the second period on a Carl Hagelin goal, his tenth of the year, made possible by Marc Staal and Brad Richards. The Sabres took the lead again with a Stafford third period goal, his second of the game and twelfth of the season coming on the power play from Thomas Vanek and Derek Roy. The Rangers retied it with a Marian Gaborik goal, his twenty-ninth of the year, thanks to Michael Del Zotto and Hagelin. New York won it 3-2 in the overtime period, with Ryan Callahan sinking his twenty-fourth of the campaign with a lone Ryan McDonagh assist. The three stars were awarded to Callahan, Stafford, and Hagelin.
North again to Toronto, where the Maple Leafs host the Washington Capitals. Michal Neuvirth and James Reimer get a chance to stop the puck. Washington started off with a Marcus Johansson goal thirty-two seconds into the game, his twelfth of the season, assisted by Alex Ovechkin and Keith Aucoin. Alexander Semin added on for the Capitals with his seventeenth of the year, an unassisted goal. Washington extended the lead in the second period as Jeff Halpern registered his fourth of the season, thanks to Joel Ward and Dmitry Orlov. The Capitals kept it up with Aucoin's goal, made possible by Johansson and Ovechkin. Toronto got on the board in the third period as Colby Armstrong scored an unassisted goal. The Maple Leafs cut further into the deficit with a Tim Connolly goal, his tenth of the year, pushed through by Matthew Lombardi and Nikolai Kulemin. This made it a 4-2 final score, and the three stars were given to Johansson, Aucoin, and Semin, with an honorable mention for Ovechkin.
Back to the U.S., with the Detroit Red Wings welcoming the Colorado Avalanche. Jean-Sebastien Giguere and Jimmy Howard were in front of the goals. Colorado struck first with a Gabriel Landeskog goal, his seventeenth of the season, assisted by Steve Downie and Ryan O'Reilly. The Avalanche added on with a shorthanded and unassisted David Jones goal, his fifteenth of the year. Colorado extended the lead in the second period with another Landeskog goal, his second of the game and eighteenth of the season, fueled by O'Reilly and Downie. Detroit got on the board in the third period when Jiri Hudler notched his nineteenth of the year, a power play goal powered by Valtteri Filppula and Henrik Zetterberg. The Avalanche took it back when Downie netted his fourteenth of the season, thanks to Ryan Wilson and O'Reilly, the latter getting a sock trick. The Red Wings answered with another Hudler goal, his second of the game and twentieth of the year, coming off of Zetterberg and Brad Stuart. Detroit got as close as 4-3 but couldn't score again after Filppula made his eighteenth of the campaign, with the helpers provided by Hudler and Zetterberg, the latter getting a sock trick. Landeskog, Downie, and Hudler took home the three stars, while honorable mentions are in place for Zetterberg, O'Reilly, and Filppula.
Out west, the Los Angeles Kings host the Chicago Blackhawks. Corey Crawford and Jonathan Quick played in the creases. Los Angeles started off with a Dustin Brown goal, his fifteenth of the season coming on the power play from Jarret Stoll. The Kings added on with another Brown goal, his second of the game and sixteenth of the year, also on the power play, powered by Alec Martinez and Stoll. Los Angeled extended the lead in the second period with a shorthanded Brown goal, finishing off his natural hat trick with his seventeenth of the season, thanks to Willie Mitchell. The Kings kept going with Mitchell potting his fourth of the year, helped along by Brown and Stoll, the latter getting a sock trick. Ray Emery relieved Crawford at this time. There was no more scoring here, resulting a 4-0 final. The three stars were awarded to Brown, Stoll, and Mitchell, while Quick (19 save shutout) gets the only honorable mention.
Back east, the Nashville Predators brought in the San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi and Pekka Rinne started as the Finnish goalies. Nashville led off with a Colin Wilson goal, his fourteenth of the season, thanks to Jordin Tootoo. The Predators kept going with a Shea Weber goal, his thirteenth of the year, guided in by Martin Erat and Sergei Kostitsyn. Patrick Marleau answered for San Jose on his twenty-sixth of the season, fueled by Joe Pavelski and Joe Thornton. Nashville chased Niemi when Kevin Kelin registered his fourth of the year, with the help of Roman Josi and Mike Fisher. Thomas Greiss relieved Niemi. The Sharks got one back in the second period with a Pavelski goal, his twenty-third of the season, made possible by Marleau and Thornton. Weber shot back for the Predators with his second of the game and fourteenth of the year, a power play goal powered by David Legwand and Ryan Suter. Erat added on for Nashville with his fourteenth of the season going into the empty net after touching the tape of Gabriel Bourque and Josi. The final was 6-2 when the Predators got a Nick Spaling goal late, his tenth of the year, helped along by Tootoo and Wilson. The three stars were handed out to Weber, Marleau, and Wilson, while Pavelski, Thornton, Erat, Josi, and Tootoo get the honorable mentions.
Wrapping up the day, we are in Calgary, where the Flames welcome the Philadelphia Flyers. Ilya Bryzgalov and Miikka Kiprusoff guard the cages. Calgary started off with a Mark Giordano power play goal, his fifth of the season, going in unassisted. The Flames added on when Matt Stajan recorded his third of the year, thanks to Lance Bouma. Calgary kept going in the second period with a Tom Kostopoulos goal, a shorthanded goal, his fourth of the season, with a lone assist by Alex Tanguay. Philadelphia got on the board with Jakub Voracek netting his eleventh of the year, via Andrej Meszaros and Nicklas Grossman. The Flyers pulled closer with a Braydon Coburn goal, his third of the season, made possible by Matt Carle and Matt Read. Philadelphia tied it in the third period with a Kimmo Timonen power play goal, his third of the year, powered by Claude Giroux and Jaromir Jagr. The Flames retook the lead when Alex Tanguay converted a penalty shot for his ninth of the season, which was the result of a Pavel Kubina slash on breakaway. The Flyers retied it with a Grossman goal, set up by Giroux and Scott Hartnell. The game lasted to a shootout, where Michael Cammalleri and Giroux traded tallies before Read put the game away at 5-4 for good for Philadelphia. The three stars went out to Tanguay, Giroux, and Kostopoulos, while Hartnell and Grossman got the honorable mentions.
Friday, February 24, 2012
NHL Day 142 2011-2012
Six games on a slightly above-average Friday night. We begin in Ohio...
As the Columbus Blue Jackets are hosting the Colorado Avalanche. Semyon Varlamov and Steve Mason were the goalies. Colorado led off with a David Jones goal, his thirteenth of the season, going in unassisted. The Avalanche added on in the second period as Gabriel Landeskog netted his sixteenth of the year, courtesy of Steve Downie and Ryan O'Reilly. Colorado kept going in the third period with Jones potting his second of the game and fourteenth of the season, with the help of Mark Olver and Daniel Winnik. The Avalanche extended the lead on a Downie goal, his thirteenth of the year, guided in by Erik Johnson and Landeskog. Matt Hunwick also scored for Colorado, set up by Jones to make it 5-0. This was a final, with the three stars being Jones, Downie, and Landeskog.
Back east, the Washington Capitals hosted the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and Michal Neuvirth received the starting nods. Washington opened on a Mathieu Perreault goal, his eleventh of the season, with a lone assist by Jason Chimera. The Capitals extended the lead in the second period when Chimera notched his sixteenth of the year, and Alexander Semin had the only helper. Sixteen seconds later, Washington struck again with Alex Ovechkin putting his twenty-fifth of the season into the cage, thanks to Dmitry Orlov and Marcus Johansson. Montreal got one back in the third period with a Rene Bourque shorthanded goal, passed from Alexei Emelin and Tomas Plekanec as his seventeenth of the year. The Capitals iced it at 4-1 with a Joel Ward empty net goal, his sixth of the campaign, coming off of Brooks Laich and John Carlson. Neuvirth (30 for 31 in saves), Chimera, and Ovechkin collected the three stars.
Along the coast a little more, the New Jersey Devils welcome the Vancouver Canucks. Cory Schneider and Martin Brodeur are in the blue paint. Vancouver struck first with Aaron Rome sinking his fourth of the season, guided in by Chris Tanev and Alexandre Burrows. The Canucks added on with a second period Mason Raymond goal, his seventh of the year, made possible by David Booth and Dan Hamhuis. New Jersey took one back on David Clarkson's twenty-fourth of the season, assisted by Patrik Elias and Petr Sykora. They never tied the game, losing 2-1, with the three stars being Schneider (30 for 31 in saves), Raymond, and Zach Parise, while any point earner can take the third slot.
Out on Long Island, the battle for New York supremacy is in full swing, as the New York Islanders host the New York Rangers. Martin Biron and Evgeni Nabokov guard the cages. The Islanders opened on a Matt Moulson goal, his twenty-sixth of the season, fueled by John Tavares and Andrew MacDonald. The Islanders continued with a P.A. Parenteau goal, his thirteenth of the year, helped along by Tavares and Travis Hamonic. The Rangers took one back with a Marc Staal power play goal, his second of the season, pushed through by Anton Stralman and John Mitchell. The Islanders replied in the second period as Parenteau scored his second of the night and fourteenth of the year, a power play goal set up by Moulson and MacDonald. The Rangers answered on a Marian Gaborik goal, his twenty-eighth of the season, guided in by Artem Anisimov and Stu Bickel. The Rangers tied it with a Derek Stepan power play goal, his thirteenth of the year, powered by Gaborik and Ryan Callahan. The game went in favor of the Islanders in the shootout, as Frans Nielsen matched Gaborik before Moulson took the game by a 4-3 margin. Parenteau, Gaborik, and Tavares were named the three stars, while Moulson and MacDonald earn the honorable mentions.
Staying in the same state, the Buffalo Sabres welcome the Boston Bruins. Tuukka Rask and Ryan Miller oppose each other between the pipes. Buffalo got things started in the second period with Andrej Sekera netting his third of the season, with help from Tyler Ennis and Drew Stafford. Boston tied it in the third period with an unassisted power play goal off thecannon stick of Zdeno Chara, his ninth of the year. The Sabres ended up on top, getting shootout tallies from Thomas Vanek and Derek Roy to topple a lone Bruins tally by David Krejci. The three stars of the 2-1 game were Miller (35 for 36 in saves), Ennis, and Chara.
We'll finish the games tonight in Texas, as the Dallas Stars bring in the Minnesota Wild. Niklas Backstrom and Kari Lehtonen tend the twines. Dallas led off with a Tom Wandell goal, his fifth of the season, assisted by Adam Burish and Trevor Daley. The Stars added on with a Loui Eriksson goal, his twentieth of the year, set up by Michael Ryder and Mike Ribeiro. Dallas kept going in the second period with an Eric Nystrom goal, his sixteenth of the season, guided in by Radek Dvorak and Vernon Fiddler. Backstrom was pulled for Matt Hackett at this time. Minnesota took one back in the third period as Devin Setoguchi scored his fifteenth of the year, a power play goal powered by Dany Heatley and Jared Spurgeon. The Stars iced it at 4-1 with another Wandell goal, his second of the night and sixth of the campaign, an empty net goal made possible by Steve Ott and Stephane Robidas. Lehtonen (28 for 29 in saves), Nystrom, and Wandell were the three stars.
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As the Columbus Blue Jackets are hosting the Colorado Avalanche. Semyon Varlamov and Steve Mason were the goalies. Colorado led off with a David Jones goal, his thirteenth of the season, going in unassisted. The Avalanche added on in the second period as Gabriel Landeskog netted his sixteenth of the year, courtesy of Steve Downie and Ryan O'Reilly. Colorado kept going in the third period with Jones potting his second of the game and fourteenth of the season, with the help of Mark Olver and Daniel Winnik. The Avalanche extended the lead on a Downie goal, his thirteenth of the year, guided in by Erik Johnson and Landeskog. Matt Hunwick also scored for Colorado, set up by Jones to make it 5-0. This was a final, with the three stars being Jones, Downie, and Landeskog.
Back east, the Washington Capitals hosted the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and Michal Neuvirth received the starting nods. Washington opened on a Mathieu Perreault goal, his eleventh of the season, with a lone assist by Jason Chimera. The Capitals extended the lead in the second period when Chimera notched his sixteenth of the year, and Alexander Semin had the only helper. Sixteen seconds later, Washington struck again with Alex Ovechkin putting his twenty-fifth of the season into the cage, thanks to Dmitry Orlov and Marcus Johansson. Montreal got one back in the third period with a Rene Bourque shorthanded goal, passed from Alexei Emelin and Tomas Plekanec as his seventeenth of the year. The Capitals iced it at 4-1 with a Joel Ward empty net goal, his sixth of the campaign, coming off of Brooks Laich and John Carlson. Neuvirth (30 for 31 in saves), Chimera, and Ovechkin collected the three stars.
Along the coast a little more, the New Jersey Devils welcome the Vancouver Canucks. Cory Schneider and Martin Brodeur are in the blue paint. Vancouver struck first with Aaron Rome sinking his fourth of the season, guided in by Chris Tanev and Alexandre Burrows. The Canucks added on with a second period Mason Raymond goal, his seventh of the year, made possible by David Booth and Dan Hamhuis. New Jersey took one back on David Clarkson's twenty-fourth of the season, assisted by Patrik Elias and Petr Sykora. They never tied the game, losing 2-1, with the three stars being Schneider (30 for 31 in saves), Raymond, and Zach Parise, while any point earner can take the third slot.
Out on Long Island, the battle for New York supremacy is in full swing, as the New York Islanders host the New York Rangers. Martin Biron and Evgeni Nabokov guard the cages. The Islanders opened on a Matt Moulson goal, his twenty-sixth of the season, fueled by John Tavares and Andrew MacDonald. The Islanders continued with a P.A. Parenteau goal, his thirteenth of the year, helped along by Tavares and Travis Hamonic. The Rangers took one back with a Marc Staal power play goal, his second of the season, pushed through by Anton Stralman and John Mitchell. The Islanders replied in the second period as Parenteau scored his second of the night and fourteenth of the year, a power play goal set up by Moulson and MacDonald. The Rangers answered on a Marian Gaborik goal, his twenty-eighth of the season, guided in by Artem Anisimov and Stu Bickel. The Rangers tied it with a Derek Stepan power play goal, his thirteenth of the year, powered by Gaborik and Ryan Callahan. The game went in favor of the Islanders in the shootout, as Frans Nielsen matched Gaborik before Moulson took the game by a 4-3 margin. Parenteau, Gaborik, and Tavares were named the three stars, while Moulson and MacDonald earn the honorable mentions.
Staying in the same state, the Buffalo Sabres welcome the Boston Bruins. Tuukka Rask and Ryan Miller oppose each other between the pipes. Buffalo got things started in the second period with Andrej Sekera netting his third of the season, with help from Tyler Ennis and Drew Stafford. Boston tied it in the third period with an unassisted power play goal off the
We'll finish the games tonight in Texas, as the Dallas Stars bring in the Minnesota Wild. Niklas Backstrom and Kari Lehtonen tend the twines. Dallas led off with a Tom Wandell goal, his fifth of the season, assisted by Adam Burish and Trevor Daley. The Stars added on with a Loui Eriksson goal, his twentieth of the year, set up by Michael Ryder and Mike Ribeiro. Dallas kept going in the second period with an Eric Nystrom goal, his sixteenth of the season, guided in by Radek Dvorak and Vernon Fiddler. Backstrom was pulled for Matt Hackett at this time. Minnesota took one back in the third period as Devin Setoguchi scored his fifteenth of the year, a power play goal powered by Dany Heatley and Jared Spurgeon. The Stars iced it at 4-1 with another Wandell goal, his second of the night and sixth of the campaign, an empty net goal made possible by Steve Ott and Stephane Robidas. Lehtonen (28 for 29 in saves), Nystrom, and Wandell were the three stars.
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Thursday, February 23, 2012
NHL Day 141 2011-2012
We have nine games going amidst the swirling rumors of trade. We begin on the Atlantic coast with...
The Carolina Hurricanes hosting the Anaheim Ducks. Jonas Hiller and Justin Peters will get the starting nods. Caroling led off with a Jerome Samson goal, his second of the season, courtesy of Eric Staal and Jiri Tlusty. Anaheim tied it on a Luca Sbisa goal, his fourth of the year, with the help of Nick Bonino and Devante Smith-Pelly. The Hurricanes regained the lead in the second period with a Jamie McBain goal, his sixth of the season, a power play goal powered by Jaroslav Spacek and Anthony Stewart. The Ducks tied it again in the third period with Corey Perry sinking his thirtieth of the year, a power play goal made possible by Ryan Getzlaf and Cam Fowler. The game went to a shootout, where Anaheim took the win with a lone Saku Koivu goal, toppling Carolina 3-2. The three stars were given to Perry, Hiller (30 for 32 in saves), and McBain.
Up in Canada, the Toronto Maple Leafs host the San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi and James Reimer will play goal. San Jose got going in the second period with a Patrick Marleau goal, his twenty-fourth of the season, coming off of Joe Thornton and Tommy Wingels. The Sharks added on with Marleau scoring his second of the game and twenty-fifth of the year, a power play goal made possible by Logan Couture and Dan Boyle. Toronto got one back in the third period when Jake Gardiner put away his fourth of the season, via Phil Kessel and Luke Schenn. The Maple Leafs failed to tie the game, losing 2-1, with the three stars going to Marleau, Niemi (29 for 30 in saves), and Gardiner.
Back stateside, the Detroit Red Wings welcome the Vancouver Canucks in a Western Conference showdown. Roberto Luongo and Jimmy Howard guard the cages. Detroit took an early lead with Darren Helm recording his seventh of the season, an unassisted goal. Vancouver tied the game in the second period as Daniel Sedin potted his twenty-seventh of the year, with the help of Henrik Sedin and Alexander Edler. The Red Wings retook the lead in the third period with Kyle Quincey depositing his sixth of the season, thanks to Justin Abdelkader and Helm. The Canucks tied it again with a Cody Hodgson goal, his sixteenth of the year, going down unassisted. Detroit took it back with Abdelkader putting his seventh of the season away, via Helm and Drew Miller. Daniel saved the game late for Vancouver, tying it with his second of the game and twenty-eighth of the year, helped along by Henrik and Ryan Kesler. The Canucks won it in the shootout, with Alexandre Burrows putting the only dagger into the Red Wings' now dead home win streak, as the Canucks take a 4-3 win. The three stars belong to Helm, Daniel, and Howard (40 for 43 in saves), while Henrik and Abdelkader take the honorable mentions.
Down south in Florida, the Panthers host the Minnesota Wild. Niklas Backstrom and Jose Theodore were in the blue paint. Florida got things going with a second period power play goal off of Mikael Samuelsson's tape, his eighth of the season, made possible by Stephen Weiss and Tomas Fleischmann. Minnesota tied it on Kyle Brodziak's sixteenth of the year, guided in by Dany Heatley and Marek Zidlicky. The Wild took the lead in the third period with a Matt Cullen power play goal, his thirteenth of the season, powered by Heatley and Jared Spurgeon. The Panthers tied it late with a Sean Bergenheim goal, his thirteenth of the year, assisted by Brian Campbell and Samuelsson. Minnesota won the game 3-2 in the shootout with Erik Christensen and Cullen scoring to defeat Florida. The three stars were handed out to Christensen, Heatley, and Bergenheim, while Samuelsson and Cullen get the honorable mentions.
Out west a tad, the Nashville Predators bring in the St. Louis Blues. Jaroslav Halak and Pekka Rinne were the masked men. St. Louis opened with a Chris Stewart goal, his thirteenth of the season, assisted by Jason Arnott and Kris Russell. Nashville tied it in the second period as Roman Josi nailed his third of the year, with the help of Brandon Yip and Matt Halischuk. The Predators took the lead with a Colin Wilson goal, his thirteenth of the season, pushed through by Jordin Tootoo and Nick Spaling. The Blues answered with a Vladimir Sobotka goal, his fourth of the year, from David Perron and Patrik Berglund. St. Louis won the game in the shootout with tallies by T.J. Oshie and Andy McDonald for a 3-2 win over Nashville. The three stars were awarded to Sobotka, Wilson, and Josi.
Back north to Winnipeg, with the Jets hosting the Tampa Bay Lightning. Mathieu Garon and Ondrej Pavelec will play from the creases. Winnipeg started off with an Andrew Ladd goal, his twentieth of the season, courtesy of Bryan Little and Blake Wheeler. The Jets added on with a Tanner Glass goal, his fifth of the year, set up by Chris Thorburn and Mark Flood. Winnipeg rolled on in the second period as Evander Kane netted his twenty-fourth of the season, a power play goal powered by Dustin Byfuglien and Ladd. Byfuglien pushed the Jets farther ahead with a power play goal of his own, his tenth of the year, guided in by Wheeler and Ladd. Dwayne Roloson relieved Garon at this time. Tampa Bay got on the board in the third period with a Steven Stamkos power play goal, his forty-third of the season, helped along by Ryan Malone and Teddy Purcell. The Lightning pulled closer with fifty-four seconds left in the game as Purcell potted his sixteenth of the year, via Stamkos. Tampa Bay made it 4-3 with nine seconds left as Martin St. Louis recorded his nineteenth of the campaign, a power play goal going in unassisted. The three stars of this chaotic game were Ladd, Byfuglien, and St. Louis, while Stamkos, Purcell, and Wheeler get the honorable mentions.
Southward to Chicago, as the Blackhawks host the Dallas Stars. Richard Bachman and Corey Crawford will try to stop the puck. Chicago was first on the scoreboard with a Marian Hossa goal in the second period, his twenty-fourth of the season, guided in by Jamal Mayers and Michael Frolik. Dallas tied the game in the third period with a Steve Ott goal, his tenth of the year, with a lone assist by Trevor Daley. The Stars took the lead with a Michael Ryder goal, his twenty-fourth of the season, getting assistance from Mike Ribeiro. Dallas iced it at 3-1 with Loui Eriksson notching his nineteenth of the year, thanks to Ryder and Ribeiro. The three stars went to Bachman (26 for 27 in saves), Ryder, and Hossa, while Ribeiro gets an honorable mention.
Northwest to Alberta, where the Calgary Flames play host to the Phoenix Coyotes. Mike Smith and Miikka Kiprusoff tend the twines. Calgary led off with an Alex Tanguay goal, his eighth of the season, going in unassisted. The Flames extended the lead with a Matt Stajan goal, his second of the year, fueled by Tanguay and Cory Sarich. Phoenix tied it in the second period with a Daymond Langkow goal, his eighth of the season, made possible by Ray Whitney and Mikkel Boedker. The Coyotes tied it with Shane Doan scoring his nineteenth of the year, thanks to Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Keith Yandle. Phoenix gained the lead in the third period with a Whitney goal, his seventeenth of the season, an unassisted tally. Calgary retied it on Olli Jokinen's nineteenth of the year, with Jarome Iginla and Michael Cammalleri recording the assists on the power play goal. The game was decided in the shootout with a lone Whitney tally for a 4-3 Coyotes over Flames result. The three stars were awarded to Tanguay, Whitney, and Lance Bouma, while any other point earner is a viable third slot candidate.
In the same province, we wrap up the day's games in Edmonton, where the Oilers welcome the Philadelphia Flyers. Ilya Bryzgalov and Devan Dubnyk are all padded up. Edmonton got things going in the second period with a power play goal by Taylor Hall, his twenty-second of the season, powered by Ryan Whitney and Jordan Eberle. The Oilers added on with an Eberle goal, his twenty-seventh of the year, going in unassisted. These goals held up for a 2-0 Edmonton win, with the three stars being named as Dubnyk (35 save shutout), Eberle, and Whitney.
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The Carolina Hurricanes hosting the Anaheim Ducks. Jonas Hiller and Justin Peters will get the starting nods. Caroling led off with a Jerome Samson goal, his second of the season, courtesy of Eric Staal and Jiri Tlusty. Anaheim tied it on a Luca Sbisa goal, his fourth of the year, with the help of Nick Bonino and Devante Smith-Pelly. The Hurricanes regained the lead in the second period with a Jamie McBain goal, his sixth of the season, a power play goal powered by Jaroslav Spacek and Anthony Stewart. The Ducks tied it again in the third period with Corey Perry sinking his thirtieth of the year, a power play goal made possible by Ryan Getzlaf and Cam Fowler. The game went to a shootout, where Anaheim took the win with a lone Saku Koivu goal, toppling Carolina 3-2. The three stars were given to Perry, Hiller (30 for 32 in saves), and McBain.
Up in Canada, the Toronto Maple Leafs host the San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi and James Reimer will play goal. San Jose got going in the second period with a Patrick Marleau goal, his twenty-fourth of the season, coming off of Joe Thornton and Tommy Wingels. The Sharks added on with Marleau scoring his second of the game and twenty-fifth of the year, a power play goal made possible by Logan Couture and Dan Boyle. Toronto got one back in the third period when Jake Gardiner put away his fourth of the season, via Phil Kessel and Luke Schenn. The Maple Leafs failed to tie the game, losing 2-1, with the three stars going to Marleau, Niemi (29 for 30 in saves), and Gardiner.
Back stateside, the Detroit Red Wings welcome the Vancouver Canucks in a Western Conference showdown. Roberto Luongo and Jimmy Howard guard the cages. Detroit took an early lead with Darren Helm recording his seventh of the season, an unassisted goal. Vancouver tied the game in the second period as Daniel Sedin potted his twenty-seventh of the year, with the help of Henrik Sedin and Alexander Edler. The Red Wings retook the lead in the third period with Kyle Quincey depositing his sixth of the season, thanks to Justin Abdelkader and Helm. The Canucks tied it again with a Cody Hodgson goal, his sixteenth of the year, going down unassisted. Detroit took it back with Abdelkader putting his seventh of the season away, via Helm and Drew Miller. Daniel saved the game late for Vancouver, tying it with his second of the game and twenty-eighth of the year, helped along by Henrik and Ryan Kesler. The Canucks won it in the shootout, with Alexandre Burrows putting the only dagger into the Red Wings' now dead home win streak, as the Canucks take a 4-3 win. The three stars belong to Helm, Daniel, and Howard (40 for 43 in saves), while Henrik and Abdelkader take the honorable mentions.
Down south in Florida, the Panthers host the Minnesota Wild. Niklas Backstrom and Jose Theodore were in the blue paint. Florida got things going with a second period power play goal off of Mikael Samuelsson's tape, his eighth of the season, made possible by Stephen Weiss and Tomas Fleischmann. Minnesota tied it on Kyle Brodziak's sixteenth of the year, guided in by Dany Heatley and Marek Zidlicky. The Wild took the lead in the third period with a Matt Cullen power play goal, his thirteenth of the season, powered by Heatley and Jared Spurgeon. The Panthers tied it late with a Sean Bergenheim goal, his thirteenth of the year, assisted by Brian Campbell and Samuelsson. Minnesota won the game 3-2 in the shootout with Erik Christensen and Cullen scoring to defeat Florida. The three stars were handed out to Christensen, Heatley, and Bergenheim, while Samuelsson and Cullen get the honorable mentions.
Out west a tad, the Nashville Predators bring in the St. Louis Blues. Jaroslav Halak and Pekka Rinne were the masked men. St. Louis opened with a Chris Stewart goal, his thirteenth of the season, assisted by Jason Arnott and Kris Russell. Nashville tied it in the second period as Roman Josi nailed his third of the year, with the help of Brandon Yip and Matt Halischuk. The Predators took the lead with a Colin Wilson goal, his thirteenth of the season, pushed through by Jordin Tootoo and Nick Spaling. The Blues answered with a Vladimir Sobotka goal, his fourth of the year, from David Perron and Patrik Berglund. St. Louis won the game in the shootout with tallies by T.J. Oshie and Andy McDonald for a 3-2 win over Nashville. The three stars were awarded to Sobotka, Wilson, and Josi.
Back north to Winnipeg, with the Jets hosting the Tampa Bay Lightning. Mathieu Garon and Ondrej Pavelec will play from the creases. Winnipeg started off with an Andrew Ladd goal, his twentieth of the season, courtesy of Bryan Little and Blake Wheeler. The Jets added on with a Tanner Glass goal, his fifth of the year, set up by Chris Thorburn and Mark Flood. Winnipeg rolled on in the second period as Evander Kane netted his twenty-fourth of the season, a power play goal powered by Dustin Byfuglien and Ladd. Byfuglien pushed the Jets farther ahead with a power play goal of his own, his tenth of the year, guided in by Wheeler and Ladd. Dwayne Roloson relieved Garon at this time. Tampa Bay got on the board in the third period with a Steven Stamkos power play goal, his forty-third of the season, helped along by Ryan Malone and Teddy Purcell. The Lightning pulled closer with fifty-four seconds left in the game as Purcell potted his sixteenth of the year, via Stamkos. Tampa Bay made it 4-3 with nine seconds left as Martin St. Louis recorded his nineteenth of the campaign, a power play goal going in unassisted. The three stars of this chaotic game were Ladd, Byfuglien, and St. Louis, while Stamkos, Purcell, and Wheeler get the honorable mentions.
Southward to Chicago, as the Blackhawks host the Dallas Stars. Richard Bachman and Corey Crawford will try to stop the puck. Chicago was first on the scoreboard with a Marian Hossa goal in the second period, his twenty-fourth of the season, guided in by Jamal Mayers and Michael Frolik. Dallas tied the game in the third period with a Steve Ott goal, his tenth of the year, with a lone assist by Trevor Daley. The Stars took the lead with a Michael Ryder goal, his twenty-fourth of the season, getting assistance from Mike Ribeiro. Dallas iced it at 3-1 with Loui Eriksson notching his nineteenth of the year, thanks to Ryder and Ribeiro. The three stars went to Bachman (26 for 27 in saves), Ryder, and Hossa, while Ribeiro gets an honorable mention.
Northwest to Alberta, where the Calgary Flames play host to the Phoenix Coyotes. Mike Smith and Miikka Kiprusoff tend the twines. Calgary led off with an Alex Tanguay goal, his eighth of the season, going in unassisted. The Flames extended the lead with a Matt Stajan goal, his second of the year, fueled by Tanguay and Cory Sarich. Phoenix tied it in the second period with a Daymond Langkow goal, his eighth of the season, made possible by Ray Whitney and Mikkel Boedker. The Coyotes tied it with Shane Doan scoring his nineteenth of the year, thanks to Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Keith Yandle. Phoenix gained the lead in the third period with a Whitney goal, his seventeenth of the season, an unassisted tally. Calgary retied it on Olli Jokinen's nineteenth of the year, with Jarome Iginla and Michael Cammalleri recording the assists on the power play goal. The game was decided in the shootout with a lone Whitney tally for a 4-3 Coyotes over Flames result. The three stars were awarded to Tanguay, Whitney, and Lance Bouma, while any other point earner is a viable third slot candidate.
In the same province, we wrap up the day's games in Edmonton, where the Oilers welcome the Philadelphia Flyers. Ilya Bryzgalov and Devan Dubnyk are all padded up. Edmonton got things going in the second period with a power play goal by Taylor Hall, his twenty-second of the season, powered by Ryan Whitney and Jordan Eberle. The Oilers added on with an Eberle goal, his twenty-seventh of the year, going in unassisted. These goals held up for a 2-0 Edmonton win, with the three stars being named as Dubnyk (35 save shutout), Eberle, and Whitney.
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Wednesday, February 22, 2012
NHL Day 140 2011-2012
Only three games tonight, beginning with a battle of national capitals in...
Ottawa, where the Senators host the Washington Capitals. Tomas Vokoun and Craig Anderson managed the nets. Ottawa opened with an Erik Karlsson goal, his thirteenth of the season, courtesy of Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek. The Senators added on with a Michalek goal, his twenty-sixth of the year, with a lone assist by Karlsson. Michalek kept Ottawa going in the second period with his second of the game and twenty-seventh of the season, a power play goal set up by Karlsson and Daniel Alfredsson. Chris Phillips helped the Senators chase Vokoun with a power play goal of his, own, his fourth of the year, powered by Nick Foligno and Chris Neil. Michal Neuvirth came on in relief. Washington woke up in the third period when John Carlson put his eighth of the season away, a power play goal with help from Alexander Semin. The Capitals pulled closer with a Mathieu Perreault goal (off his face), his tenth of the year, fueled by Jason Chimera and Semin. Ottawa iced it at 5-2 with Foligno sinking his thirteenth of the campaign into the empty net, with helpers from Neil and Sergei Gonchar. The three stars went to Michalek, Karlsson, and Anderson (33 for 35 in saves), while Foligno, Neil, and Semin get the honorable mentions.
Out west a bit, the St. Louis Blues welcome the Boston Bruins. Tim Thomas and Brian Elliott got the starting nods. Boston led off with a Brad Marchand goal, his twentieth of the season, going down unassisted. The Bruins added on with Milan Lucic netting his twenty-first of the year, thanks to Joe Corvo and Chris Kelly. St. Louis answered with Chris Stewart making his twelfth of the season, with the help of Chris Porter and Jason Arnott. The Blues evened the score with a Ryan Reaves goal, his second of the year, made possible by B.J. Crombeen and Kevin Shattenkirk. Boston took the lead again with Kelly recording his fifteenth of the season, assisted by Lucic and Johnny Boychuk. The Bruins extended their lead in the third period with another Marchand goal, his second of the game and twenty-first of the year, courtesy of Tyler Seguin and Patrice Bergeron. This made it 4-2, a final, with the three stars going to Marchand, Lucic, and Stewart, while Kelly gets the honorable mention.
Finishing off the day, we head to Denver, where the Colorado Avalanche host the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick and Semyon Varlamov are in the creases. Colorado was first to score on a Mark Olver goal, his second of the season, with assists provided by David Jones and Daniel Winnik. The Avalanche added on with an unassisted Paul Stastny goal, his fifteenth of the year. Colorado extended their lead with a Jay McClement goal, his eighth of the season, guided in by Ryan O'Reilly and Chuck Kobasew. Jonathan Bernier relieved Quick for the second period onward. Stastny kept the Avalanche going with a power play goal in the second period, his second of the game and sixteenth of the year, powered by Gabriel Landeskog and Matt Duchene. Los Angeles got going in the third period with a Dustin Brown goal, his fifteenth of the season, assisted by Drew Doughty and Mike Richards. The final ended up at 4-1, and the three stars were Varlamov (32 for 33 in saves), Stastny, and Jan Hejda, while any other point earner could slide into the third slot.
Ottawa, where the Senators host the Washington Capitals. Tomas Vokoun and Craig Anderson managed the nets. Ottawa opened with an Erik Karlsson goal, his thirteenth of the season, courtesy of Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek. The Senators added on with a Michalek goal, his twenty-sixth of the year, with a lone assist by Karlsson. Michalek kept Ottawa going in the second period with his second of the game and twenty-seventh of the season, a power play goal set up by Karlsson and Daniel Alfredsson. Chris Phillips helped the Senators chase Vokoun with a power play goal of his, own, his fourth of the year, powered by Nick Foligno and Chris Neil. Michal Neuvirth came on in relief. Washington woke up in the third period when John Carlson put his eighth of the season away, a power play goal with help from Alexander Semin. The Capitals pulled closer with a Mathieu Perreault goal (off his face), his tenth of the year, fueled by Jason Chimera and Semin. Ottawa iced it at 5-2 with Foligno sinking his thirteenth of the campaign into the empty net, with helpers from Neil and Sergei Gonchar. The three stars went to Michalek, Karlsson, and Anderson (33 for 35 in saves), while Foligno, Neil, and Semin get the honorable mentions.
Out west a bit, the St. Louis Blues welcome the Boston Bruins. Tim Thomas and Brian Elliott got the starting nods. Boston led off with a Brad Marchand goal, his twentieth of the season, going down unassisted. The Bruins added on with Milan Lucic netting his twenty-first of the year, thanks to Joe Corvo and Chris Kelly. St. Louis answered with Chris Stewart making his twelfth of the season, with the help of Chris Porter and Jason Arnott. The Blues evened the score with a Ryan Reaves goal, his second of the year, made possible by B.J. Crombeen and Kevin Shattenkirk. Boston took the lead again with Kelly recording his fifteenth of the season, assisted by Lucic and Johnny Boychuk. The Bruins extended their lead in the third period with another Marchand goal, his second of the game and twenty-first of the year, courtesy of Tyler Seguin and Patrice Bergeron. This made it 4-2, a final, with the three stars going to Marchand, Lucic, and Stewart, while Kelly gets the honorable mention.
Finishing off the day, we head to Denver, where the Colorado Avalanche host the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick and Semyon Varlamov are in the creases. Colorado was first to score on a Mark Olver goal, his second of the season, with assists provided by David Jones and Daniel Winnik. The Avalanche added on with an unassisted Paul Stastny goal, his fifteenth of the year. Colorado extended their lead with a Jay McClement goal, his eighth of the season, guided in by Ryan O'Reilly and Chuck Kobasew. Jonathan Bernier relieved Quick for the second period onward. Stastny kept the Avalanche going with a power play goal in the second period, his second of the game and sixteenth of the year, powered by Gabriel Landeskog and Matt Duchene. Los Angeles got going in the third period with a Dustin Brown goal, his fifteenth of the season, assisted by Drew Doughty and Mike Richards. The final ended up at 4-1, and the three stars were Varlamov (32 for 33 in saves), Stastny, and Jan Hejda, while any other point earner could slide into the third slot.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
NHL Day 139 2011-2012
After a mid-afternoon trade to shake things up, especially for Steve Downie and Kyle Quincey, we roll with eleven games tonight. The first cluster is led by...
The Columbus Blue Jackets hosting the San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi and Steve Mason guard the goals. Columbus led off with an R.J. Umberger goal, his tenth of the season, assisted by Grant Clitsome and Derick Brassard. The Blue Jackets added on with the thirteenth of the year for Jeff Carter, a power play goal set up by Vinny Prospal and Mark Letestu. Columbus kept going with a Rick Nash sinking his twentieth of the season, via Brassard and Umberger. Niemi was pulled in favor of Thomas Greiss at this time. This did little to stop the Blue Jackets, who got another goal on the power play from Carter, his second of the game and fourteenth of the year, powered by Prospal and David Savard. San Jose got going in the second period as Joe Thornton netted his thirteenth of the season, with the help of Colin White and Andrew Desjardins. The Sharks pulled closer as Logan Couture scored his twenty-sixth of the year, thanks to Michal Handzus and Justin Braun. Columbus answered with Savard potting his second of the season, helped along by Nikita Nikitin and Antoine Vermette, a power play goal. The Blue Jackets remained in control in the third period with a Carter goal, icing his hat trick with his fifteenth of the year, courtesy of Nash and Prospal, the latter getting a sock trick as well. San Jose got one back with Couture's second of the game and twenty-seventh of the season coming off of Joe Pavelski and Dan Boyle. The final stuck at 6-3, with Carter, Umberger, and Mason (38 for 41 in saves), getting the three stars, while Couture, Nash, Prospal, Savard, and Brassard get the honorable mentions.
Also, the Winnipeg Jets host the Philadelphia Flyers (says prayers no repeats of earlier this season). Ilya Bryzgalov and Ondrej Pavelec were the masked men. Winnipeg led off with a Dustin Byfuglien power play goal, his ninth of the season, set up by Tim Stapleton and Bryan Little. Philadelphia tied it up with a Claude Giroux goal, his twenty-third of the year, courtesy of Scott Hartnell and Matt Carle. The Flyers took the lead in the second period with Hartnell recording his twenty-eighth of the season, a power play goal powered by Wayne Simmonds and Kimmo Timonen. The Jets retied it with Andrew Ladd's eighteenth of the year, a power play goal coming off of Blake Wheeler and Stapleton. Winnipeg took the lead with another Ladd goal, his second of the game and nineteenth of the season, fueled by Little and Byfuglien. Philadelphia tied it back up with a Max Talbot goal, his seventeenth of the year, guided in by Andrej Meszaros and Nicklas Grossman. Evander Kane gave the Jets the lead again in the third period by registering his twenty-third of the season, a power play goal with a helper provided by Stapleton, who got a sock trick. The Flyers saved their game late with Simmonds netting his twenty-second of the year, via James van Riemsdyk and Giroux. Philadelphia completed the comeback in overtime as Jaromir Jagr put down his sixteenth of the campaign for a 5-4 win over Winnipeg, and the assist was from the tape of Danny Briere. The three stars were given to Pavelec (50 for 55 in saves, holy cow that's a lot of saves ain't it?), Ladd, and Hartnell, while Stapleton, Giroux, Simmonds, Little, and Byfuglien get the honorable mentions.
A little to the east, the Toronto Maple Leafs welcome the New Jersey Devils. Martin Brodeur and Jonas Gustavsson received the starting nods. New Jersey opened on a Petr Sykora goal, his fourteenth of the season, fueled by Adam Henrique and Matt Taormina. The Devils added on with the twenty-third of the year by David Clarkson, guided in by Patrik Elias and Sykora. Toronto shot back with a Tim Connolly goal, his ninth of the season, courtesy of Cody Franson and Joey Crabb. The Maple Leafs tied it in the second period with a Clarke MacArthur goal, his eighteenth of the year, via Nikolai Kulemin and Mikhail Grabovski. New Jersey regained the lead with Alexei Ponikarovsky goal, his eleventh of the season, made possible by Dainius Zubrus and Anton Volchenkov. Toronto tied it late in the third period on Phil Kessel's thirty-first of the year, assisted by Tyler Bozak and Joffrey Lupul. The Devils toppled the Maple Leafs in the overtime frame with Mark Fayne scoring his fourth of the campaign for a 4-3 victory, and the assists were credited to Henrique and Ilya Kovalchuk. The three stars were awarded to Fayne, Kessel, and Sykora, while Henrique gets the honorable mention.
Crossing into the U.S., the Buffalo Sabres host the New York Islanders. Kevin Poulin and Ryan Miller are in the blue paint. Buffalo started the scoring with a Tyler Myers goal, his sixth of the season, assisted by Derek Roy Jason Pominville. The Sabres added on in the second period as Thomas Vanek recorded his twenty-second of the year, via Roy and Pominville. New York got as close as 2-1 with Frans Nielsen recording his thirteenth of the campaign, thanks to P.A. Parenteau and the goalie Poulin. The three stars of the game were Myers, Christian Ehrhoff, and Miller (30 for 31 in saves), while Roy and Pominville earn the honorable mentions.
Finishing off the first major wave, the Pittsburgh Penguins bring in the New York Rangers. Stud goalies Henrik Lundqvist and Marc-Andre Fleury tend the twines. Pittsburgh opened with a second period Evgeni Malkin goal, his thirty-third of the season, coming off of Kris Letang and Pascal Dupuis. The Penguins added on with a Steve Sullivan goal, his eleventh of the year, a power play goal made possible by Malkin and Matt Cooke. This made it 2-0, a final score after a scoreless third period, with the three stars being selected as Fleury (27 save shutout), Malkin, and Sullivan.
Down in Tampa Bay, the Lightning welcome the Anaheim Ducks. Jonas Hiller and Mathieu Garon played between the pipes. Tampa Bay struck just twenty-eight seconds in with Steven Stamkos netting his forty-first of the season on the power play from Ryan Malone and Teddy Purcell. Stamkos helped extend the Lightning lead with his second of the game and forty-second of the year, courtesy of Brett Clark and Purcell. Anaheim got on the board with a Saku Koivu goal in the second period, his eleventh of the season, helped along by Bobby Ryan and Cam Fowler. Tampa Bay took it back with Purcell netting his fifteenth of the year, thanks to Stamkos and Matt Gilroy. The Ducks replied with Ryan notching his twenty-second of the season, with a lone helper by Koivu. The Lightning held on from here to win 3-2, with the three stars being Garon (28 for 30 in saves), Purcell, and Stamkos.
Back north in Canada, the Montreal Canadiens host the Dallas Stars. Kari Lehtonen and Carey Price have control of the nets. Dallas opened with a Ryan Garbutt goal, fueled by Jake Dowell and Toby Petersen. The Stars added on in the third period with a Mike Ribeiro goal, his thirteenth of the season, coming off of Trevor Daley and Mark Fistric. Dallas extended the lead with Tom Wandell recording his fourth of the year, courtesy of Tomas Vincour. This was all for the scoring, ending the game at 3-0, and the three stars belonged to Ribeiro, Lehtonen (31 save shutout), and Garbutt.
Continuing on, the Nashville Predators welcome the Vancouver Canucks. Roberto Luongo and Pekka Rinne were in the creases. Mike Fisher got Nashville on the board first with his eighteenth of the season in the second period, a power play goal powered by Ryan Suter and Martin Erat. The Predators added on with a shorthanded Sergei Kostitsyn goal, his fifteenth of the year, thanks to Fisher and Hal Gill. Vancouver got one back as Dale Weise netted his fourth of the season, with the help of Manny Malhotra and Maxim Lapierre. Nashville iced it in the third period at 3-1 with a David Legwand goal, his fourteenth of the year, made possible by Erat and Fisher. Fisher, Rinne (32 for 33 in saves), and Erat got the three stars.
A little northwest of there, the Chicago Blackhawks host their fiercest rivals, the Detroit Red Wings. Jimmy Howard returns from injury to oppose Corey Crawford in net. Detroit wasted little time in opening the scoring as Valtteri Filppula netted his seventeenth of the season, with assists from Jakub Kindl and Jiri Hudler on the power play. Chicago tied it up on a Jimmy Hayes goal, his fifth of the year, fueled by Bryan Bickell and Duncan Keith. The Blackhawks took a lead in the third period with Marcus Kruger scoring his seventh of the season, helped along by Hayes and Andrew Brunette. This was all it took for Chicago to win 2-1, and the three stars went to Hayes, Kruger, and Howard (27 for 29 in saves).
Southwest of that, the Phoenix Coyotes host the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick and Mike Smith attempted to stop the puck. Los Angeles opened with a Drew Doughty goal, his sixth of the season, coming off of Dustin Brown and Dwight King. The Kings extended the lead as Andrei Loktionov registered his third of the year, thanks to Alec Martinez and Matt Greene. Los Angeles kept going with Brown putting his fourteenth of the season into the twine, with the help of Willie Mitchell and Mike Richards. Phoenix got one back with Radim Vrbata recording his twenty-ninth of the year in the second period, a power play goal assisted by Martin Hanzal and Ray Whitney. The Coyotes pulled closer with Shane Doan notching his seventeenth of the season, also a power play goal, powered by Hanzal and Vrbata. The Kings slowed their bleeding with a power play goal off the tape of Justin Williams, his twelfth of the year, courtesy of Anze Kopitar and Richards. Phoenix answered with a Doan goal, his second of the game and eighteenth of the season, with Hanzal and Lauri Korpikoski getting the helpers, the former earning a sock trick. Vrbata tied it for the Coyotes in the third period with his second of the game and thirtieth of the year, a power play goal going down unassisted. The game lasted to a shootout, where Whitney and Mikkel Boedker lifted Phoenix to a 5-4 win over Los Angeles, whose only tally came from Brown. The three stars were Vrbata, Doan, and Hanzal, while Whitney, Brown, and Richards also played well.
Finally, we have the battle of Alberta, with the Calgary Flames hosting their northern neighbors, the Edmonton Oilers. Devan Dubnyk and Miikka Kiprusoff will be in front of the goalmouths. Calgary started off with Scott Hannan sinking his second of the season, with assists from Paul Byron and Krystofer Kolanos. Edmonton tied it with a Jordan Eberle goal, his twenty-sixth of the year, guided in by Sam Gagner and Corey Potter. The Oilers took the lead in the second period as the fifth of the season by Ales Hemsky went across the goal line, thanks to Taylor Hall and Shawn Horcoff. Edmonton extended the lead with an Eric Belanger goal, his third of the year, made possible by Ben Eager. The Oilers added on with Gagner netting his fourteenth of the season, via Eberle and Ryan Smyth. Smyth kept it going for Edmonton with his seventeenth of the year, fueled by Gagner and Jeff Petry. Henrik Karlsson relieved Kiprusoff for the third period. The Oilers iced it at 6-1 with a Hall goal, his twenty-first of the campaign coming on the power play, powered by Eberle and Ryan Whitney. The three stars were given to Eberle, Gagner, and Smyth, while Hall gets an honorable mention.
The Columbus Blue Jackets hosting the San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi and Steve Mason guard the goals. Columbus led off with an R.J. Umberger goal, his tenth of the season, assisted by Grant Clitsome and Derick Brassard. The Blue Jackets added on with the thirteenth of the year for Jeff Carter, a power play goal set up by Vinny Prospal and Mark Letestu. Columbus kept going with a Rick Nash sinking his twentieth of the season, via Brassard and Umberger. Niemi was pulled in favor of Thomas Greiss at this time. This did little to stop the Blue Jackets, who got another goal on the power play from Carter, his second of the game and fourteenth of the year, powered by Prospal and David Savard. San Jose got going in the second period as Joe Thornton netted his thirteenth of the season, with the help of Colin White and Andrew Desjardins. The Sharks pulled closer as Logan Couture scored his twenty-sixth of the year, thanks to Michal Handzus and Justin Braun. Columbus answered with Savard potting his second of the season, helped along by Nikita Nikitin and Antoine Vermette, a power play goal. The Blue Jackets remained in control in the third period with a Carter goal, icing his hat trick with his fifteenth of the year, courtesy of Nash and Prospal, the latter getting a sock trick as well. San Jose got one back with Couture's second of the game and twenty-seventh of the season coming off of Joe Pavelski and Dan Boyle. The final stuck at 6-3, with Carter, Umberger, and Mason (38 for 41 in saves), getting the three stars, while Couture, Nash, Prospal, Savard, and Brassard get the honorable mentions.
Also, the Winnipeg Jets host the Philadelphia Flyers (says prayers no repeats of earlier this season). Ilya Bryzgalov and Ondrej Pavelec were the masked men. Winnipeg led off with a Dustin Byfuglien power play goal, his ninth of the season, set up by Tim Stapleton and Bryan Little. Philadelphia tied it up with a Claude Giroux goal, his twenty-third of the year, courtesy of Scott Hartnell and Matt Carle. The Flyers took the lead in the second period with Hartnell recording his twenty-eighth of the season, a power play goal powered by Wayne Simmonds and Kimmo Timonen. The Jets retied it with Andrew Ladd's eighteenth of the year, a power play goal coming off of Blake Wheeler and Stapleton. Winnipeg took the lead with another Ladd goal, his second of the game and nineteenth of the season, fueled by Little and Byfuglien. Philadelphia tied it back up with a Max Talbot goal, his seventeenth of the year, guided in by Andrej Meszaros and Nicklas Grossman. Evander Kane gave the Jets the lead again in the third period by registering his twenty-third of the season, a power play goal with a helper provided by Stapleton, who got a sock trick. The Flyers saved their game late with Simmonds netting his twenty-second of the year, via James van Riemsdyk and Giroux. Philadelphia completed the comeback in overtime as Jaromir Jagr put down his sixteenth of the campaign for a 5-4 win over Winnipeg, and the assist was from the tape of Danny Briere. The three stars were given to Pavelec (50 for 55 in saves, holy cow that's a lot of saves ain't it?), Ladd, and Hartnell, while Stapleton, Giroux, Simmonds, Little, and Byfuglien get the honorable mentions.
A little to the east, the Toronto Maple Leafs welcome the New Jersey Devils. Martin Brodeur and Jonas Gustavsson received the starting nods. New Jersey opened on a Petr Sykora goal, his fourteenth of the season, fueled by Adam Henrique and Matt Taormina. The Devils added on with the twenty-third of the year by David Clarkson, guided in by Patrik Elias and Sykora. Toronto shot back with a Tim Connolly goal, his ninth of the season, courtesy of Cody Franson and Joey Crabb. The Maple Leafs tied it in the second period with a Clarke MacArthur goal, his eighteenth of the year, via Nikolai Kulemin and Mikhail Grabovski. New Jersey regained the lead with Alexei Ponikarovsky goal, his eleventh of the season, made possible by Dainius Zubrus and Anton Volchenkov. Toronto tied it late in the third period on Phil Kessel's thirty-first of the year, assisted by Tyler Bozak and Joffrey Lupul. The Devils toppled the Maple Leafs in the overtime frame with Mark Fayne scoring his fourth of the campaign for a 4-3 victory, and the assists were credited to Henrique and Ilya Kovalchuk. The three stars were awarded to Fayne, Kessel, and Sykora, while Henrique gets the honorable mention.
Crossing into the U.S., the Buffalo Sabres host the New York Islanders. Kevin Poulin and Ryan Miller are in the blue paint. Buffalo started the scoring with a Tyler Myers goal, his sixth of the season, assisted by Derek Roy Jason Pominville. The Sabres added on in the second period as Thomas Vanek recorded his twenty-second of the year, via Roy and Pominville. New York got as close as 2-1 with Frans Nielsen recording his thirteenth of the campaign, thanks to P.A. Parenteau and the goalie Poulin. The three stars of the game were Myers, Christian Ehrhoff, and Miller (30 for 31 in saves), while Roy and Pominville earn the honorable mentions.
Finishing off the first major wave, the Pittsburgh Penguins bring in the New York Rangers. Stud goalies Henrik Lundqvist and Marc-Andre Fleury tend the twines. Pittsburgh opened with a second period Evgeni Malkin goal, his thirty-third of the season, coming off of Kris Letang and Pascal Dupuis. The Penguins added on with a Steve Sullivan goal, his eleventh of the year, a power play goal made possible by Malkin and Matt Cooke. This made it 2-0, a final score after a scoreless third period, with the three stars being selected as Fleury (27 save shutout), Malkin, and Sullivan.
Down in Tampa Bay, the Lightning welcome the Anaheim Ducks. Jonas Hiller and Mathieu Garon played between the pipes. Tampa Bay struck just twenty-eight seconds in with Steven Stamkos netting his forty-first of the season on the power play from Ryan Malone and Teddy Purcell. Stamkos helped extend the Lightning lead with his second of the game and forty-second of the year, courtesy of Brett Clark and Purcell. Anaheim got on the board with a Saku Koivu goal in the second period, his eleventh of the season, helped along by Bobby Ryan and Cam Fowler. Tampa Bay took it back with Purcell netting his fifteenth of the year, thanks to Stamkos and Matt Gilroy. The Ducks replied with Ryan notching his twenty-second of the season, with a lone helper by Koivu. The Lightning held on from here to win 3-2, with the three stars being Garon (28 for 30 in saves), Purcell, and Stamkos.
Back north in Canada, the Montreal Canadiens host the Dallas Stars. Kari Lehtonen and Carey Price have control of the nets. Dallas opened with a Ryan Garbutt goal, fueled by Jake Dowell and Toby Petersen. The Stars added on in the third period with a Mike Ribeiro goal, his thirteenth of the season, coming off of Trevor Daley and Mark Fistric. Dallas extended the lead with Tom Wandell recording his fourth of the year, courtesy of Tomas Vincour. This was all for the scoring, ending the game at 3-0, and the three stars belonged to Ribeiro, Lehtonen (31 save shutout), and Garbutt.
Continuing on, the Nashville Predators welcome the Vancouver Canucks. Roberto Luongo and Pekka Rinne were in the creases. Mike Fisher got Nashville on the board first with his eighteenth of the season in the second period, a power play goal powered by Ryan Suter and Martin Erat. The Predators added on with a shorthanded Sergei Kostitsyn goal, his fifteenth of the year, thanks to Fisher and Hal Gill. Vancouver got one back as Dale Weise netted his fourth of the season, with the help of Manny Malhotra and Maxim Lapierre. Nashville iced it in the third period at 3-1 with a David Legwand goal, his fourteenth of the year, made possible by Erat and Fisher. Fisher, Rinne (32 for 33 in saves), and Erat got the three stars.
A little northwest of there, the Chicago Blackhawks host their fiercest rivals, the Detroit Red Wings. Jimmy Howard returns from injury to oppose Corey Crawford in net. Detroit wasted little time in opening the scoring as Valtteri Filppula netted his seventeenth of the season, with assists from Jakub Kindl and Jiri Hudler on the power play. Chicago tied it up on a Jimmy Hayes goal, his fifth of the year, fueled by Bryan Bickell and Duncan Keith. The Blackhawks took a lead in the third period with Marcus Kruger scoring his seventh of the season, helped along by Hayes and Andrew Brunette. This was all it took for Chicago to win 2-1, and the three stars went to Hayes, Kruger, and Howard (27 for 29 in saves).
Southwest of that, the Phoenix Coyotes host the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick and Mike Smith attempted to stop the puck. Los Angeles opened with a Drew Doughty goal, his sixth of the season, coming off of Dustin Brown and Dwight King. The Kings extended the lead as Andrei Loktionov registered his third of the year, thanks to Alec Martinez and Matt Greene. Los Angeles kept going with Brown putting his fourteenth of the season into the twine, with the help of Willie Mitchell and Mike Richards. Phoenix got one back with Radim Vrbata recording his twenty-ninth of the year in the second period, a power play goal assisted by Martin Hanzal and Ray Whitney. The Coyotes pulled closer with Shane Doan notching his seventeenth of the season, also a power play goal, powered by Hanzal and Vrbata. The Kings slowed their bleeding with a power play goal off the tape of Justin Williams, his twelfth of the year, courtesy of Anze Kopitar and Richards. Phoenix answered with a Doan goal, his second of the game and eighteenth of the season, with Hanzal and Lauri Korpikoski getting the helpers, the former earning a sock trick. Vrbata tied it for the Coyotes in the third period with his second of the game and thirtieth of the year, a power play goal going down unassisted. The game lasted to a shootout, where Whitney and Mikkel Boedker lifted Phoenix to a 5-4 win over Los Angeles, whose only tally came from Brown. The three stars were Vrbata, Doan, and Hanzal, while Whitney, Brown, and Richards also played well.
Finally, we have the battle of Alberta, with the Calgary Flames hosting their northern neighbors, the Edmonton Oilers. Devan Dubnyk and Miikka Kiprusoff will be in front of the goalmouths. Calgary started off with Scott Hannan sinking his second of the season, with assists from Paul Byron and Krystofer Kolanos. Edmonton tied it with a Jordan Eberle goal, his twenty-sixth of the year, guided in by Sam Gagner and Corey Potter. The Oilers took the lead in the second period as the fifth of the season by Ales Hemsky went across the goal line, thanks to Taylor Hall and Shawn Horcoff. Edmonton extended the lead with an Eric Belanger goal, his third of the year, made possible by Ben Eager. The Oilers added on with Gagner netting his fourteenth of the season, via Eberle and Ryan Smyth. Smyth kept it going for Edmonton with his seventeenth of the year, fueled by Gagner and Jeff Petry. Henrik Karlsson relieved Kiprusoff for the third period. The Oilers iced it at 6-1 with a Hall goal, his twenty-first of the campaign coming on the power play, powered by Eberle and Ryan Whitney. The three stars were given to Eberle, Gagner, and Smyth, while Hall gets an honorable mention.
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