Slower day for hockey, with only five games on, beginning in...
Raleigh, North Carolina, where the Hurricanes host the Florida Panthers. Jose Theodore and Cam Ward are in the creases. Carolina started off with an Eric Staal goal, his twenty-second of the season, going in unassisted. The Hurricanes added on in the second period with a Joni Pitkanen goal, his fourth of the year, fueled by Tuomo Ruutu and Jeff Skinner. Florida got one back as Tomas Fleischmann netted his twenty-third of the season, thanks to Ed Jovanovski and Stephen Weiss. Carolina answered in the third period with the second of the night and twenty-third of the year by Staal, a power play goal powered by Pitkanen and Jiri Tlusty. This was all for the scoring, leaving the final at 3-1, where Staal, Pitkanen, and Ward (30 for 31 in saves) got the three stars.
Up north in Buffalo, the Sabres bring in the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and Ryan Miller guard the cages. Buffalo opened with a Cody Hodgson goal, his seventeenth of the season, assisted by Christian Ehrhoff and Corey Tropp. The Sabres extended the lead in the second period when Jason Pominville put away his twenty-eighth of the year, with the help of Ville Leino and Derek Roy. Buffalo added on with a third period Hodgson goal, his second of the game and eighteenth of the season, a power play goal powered by Roy and Thomas Vanek. The final stood at 3-0, with Hodgson, Miller (34 save shutout), and Roy getting the three stars.
Staying in the state, the New York Rangers host the Detroit Red Wings. Ty Conklin and Henrik Lundqvist are the masked men. Detroit led off with a Henrik Zetterberg goal, his nineteenth of the season, fueled by Ian White and Gustav Nyquist. New York tied it on a Brad Richards goal, his twenty-fourth of the year, coming off of the goalie Lundqvist on the power play. The Rangers ended up winning 2-1 in overtime with the twenty-seventh of the campaign for Ryan Callahan, set up by Michael Del Zotto and Brandon Dubinsky. Lundqvist (26 for 27 in saves), Conklin (32 for 34 in saves), and Callahan earned the three stars.
Out west, the Chicago Blackhawks welcome their fierce rivals from the northwest, the Vancouver Canucks. Roberto Luongo and Corey Crawford tend the twines. Vancouver got things started with a Jannik Hansen goal, his fifteenth of the season, made possible by Samuel Pahlsson. Chicago tied it in the second period as Patrick Kane shelved his twentieth of the year, thanks to Marian Hossa and Andrew Brunette. The Blackhawks sealed a 2-1 win in overtime with Andrew Shaw's fourth of the campaign, courtesy of Johnny Oduya and Dave Bolland. The three stars were given to Kane, Hansen, and Shaw.
Finally, in southern California, the Anaheim Ducks host the St. Louis Blues. Jaroslav Halak and Jonas Hiller play between the pipes. St. Louis struck first as Jaden Schwartz notched his second of the season, with the help of Alex Pietrangelo. Anaheim tied it as Cam Fowler netted his fifth of the year, a power play goal, set up by Ryan Getzlaf and Bobby Ryan. The Blues took the lead back with the twenty-second of the season for David Backes, going down unassisted. The Ducks tied it in the second period as Nick Bonino potted his fifth of the year, via Kyle Palmieri and Saku Koivu. St. Louis gained the lead again in the third period with David Perron recording his sixteenth of the season, powered by Kevin Shattenkirk and Pietrangelo. Anaheim got another equalizer as Devante Smith-Pelly registered his sixth of the year, with the help of Getzlaf and Corey Perry. The Ducks took the lead with the seventh of the season for Jason Blake, via Sheldon Brookbank and Lubomir Visnovsky. Anaheim held on from here for a 4-3 win. Smith-Pelly, Backes, and Getzlaf got the three stars, while Pietrangelo gets an honorable mention.
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Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
NHL Day 167 2011-2012
Nine games today as the playoff races start to gain some serious heat. We begin in...
Philadelphia, as the Flyers bring in the Florida Panthers. Scott Clemmensen and Ilya Bryzgalov get the starts. Florida opened with a Stephen Weiss goal, his eighteenth of the season, assisted by Dmitry Kulikov and Brian Campbell. The Panthers added on in the second period with a power play goal off the tape of Sean Bergenheim, his seventeenth of the year, powered by Campbell and Mikael Samuelsson. Philadelphia took one back as Eric Wellwood notched his fourth of the season, thanks to Kimmo Timonen. The third period was quiet, so Florida held on for a 2-1 win, and the three stars were given to Clemmensen (35 for 36 in saves), Wellwood, and Campbell.
A bit to the west, the Columbus Blue Jackets host the Chicago Blackhawks. Corey Crawford and Steve Mason played goal. Chicago led off with an Andrew Shaw goal, his tenth of the season, helped along by Bryan Bickell and Duncan Keith. The Blackhawks added on when Patrick Sharp recorded his twenty-ninth of the year, thanks to Viktor Stalberg and Marcus Kruger. Chicago extended the lead again on a Brent Seabrook goal, his seventh of the season, set up by Keith and Dave Bolland. The Blackhawks rolled on in the third period as Sharp scored his second of the game and thirtieth of the year, a power play goal powered by Marian Hossa and Keith, the latter earning a sock trick. Chicago kept going as Hossa put down his twenty-ninth of the season, another power play goal with helpers provided by Shaw and Keith. Columbus got on the board when Rick Nash put away his twenty-fifth of the year, guided in by Jack Johnson and Aaron Johnson. This left the final at 5-1, with the three stars being Keith, Sharp, and Shaw, while Hossa earns the honorable mention.
Back in Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh Penguins host the Winnipeg Jets. Ondrej Pavelec and Brad Thiessen started the game in the nets. Pittsburgh struck first on a Tyler Kennedy goal, his seventh of the season, fueled by Sidney Crosby and Matt Cooke. Winnipeg answered with a Jim Slater goal, his tenth of the year, courtesy of Tanner Glass and Spencer Machacek. The Jets took a lead with Bryan Little's twentieth of the season, a power play goal coming off of Andrew Ladd and Tobias Enstrom. The Penguins retied it as James Neal potted his thirty-third of the year, also a power play goal, powered by Evgeni Malkin and Crosby. Pittsburgh took the lead again in the second period with Neal's second of the game and thirty-fourth of the season, with a lone Malkin helper. Winnipeg shot back with Little's second of the game and twenty-first of the year, via Ladd and Enstrom. The Penguins again took the lead as Kennedy blasted in his second of the game and eighth of the season, with assistance from Crosby, who got a sock trick, and Cooke. Malkin extended the Pittsburgh lead with his forty-second of the year, thanks to Crosby and Paul Martin. Pavelec was relieved by Chris Mason. The Jets got one back with a Tim Stapleton goal, his ninth of the season, set up by Ben Maxwell and Machacek. The Penguins took it back when Neal finished his hat trick with his thirty-fifth of the year, guided in by Malkin, for a sock trick, and Brooks Orpik. Pittsburgh rolled along in the third period when Malkin shelved his second of the game and forty-third of the season, guided in by Chris Kunitz and Neal. The Penguins continued the late attack with a Pascal Dupuis goal, his twenty-first of the year, passed off of Jordan Staal and Steve Sullivan. This was it in the scoring-heavy game, ending at 8-4, with Neal, Malkin, and Crosby getting the three stars, and the honorable mentions including Kennedy, Little, Cooke, Enstrom, Ladd, and Machacek.
Moving north, the Toronto Maple Leafs welcome the New York Islanders. Evgeni Nabokov and James Reimer are between the pipes. Toronto started the scoring when Phil Kessel recorded his thirty-sixth of the season, assisted by Tyler Bozak and Mike Komisarek. New York tied it as Josh Bailey potted his eleventh of the year, via John Tavares and P.A. Parenteau. The Maple Leafs replied in the second period as Matthew Lombardi made his eighth of the season, made possible by Jake Gardiner and Colby Armstrong. The Islanders tied it again on a David Ullstrom goal, his third of the year, fueled by Michael Grabner and Casey Cizikas. New York took the lead in the third period with a Matt Moulson power play goal, his thirty-first of the season, powered by Tavares and Mark Streit. The Islanders extended their lead with a Parenteau goal, his sixteenth of the year, with Streit picking up the only assist. New York iced it at 5-2 when Moulson put his second of the game and thirty-second of the campaign into the empty net, courtesy of Parenteau and Tavares, the latter getting a sock trick. The three stars were Moulson, Tavares, and Parenteau, while Streit gets an honorable mention.
Staying in Ontario, the Ottawa Senators host the New Jersey Devils. Johan Hedberg and Ben Bishop are under the masks. New Jersey was first on the board in the second period as Ilya Kovalchuk netting thirty-first of the season, a power play goal powered by Marek Zidlicky and Patrik Elias. This was it for the scoring, with the Devils winning 1-0 and the three stars being handed to Hedberg (34 save shutout), Bishop (33 for 34 in saves), and Kovalchuk.
Well to the south, the Nashville Predators host the Edmonton Oilers. Devan Dubnyk and Pekka Rinne guard the cages. Edmonton got going with a Darcy Hordichuk goal, set up by Ben Eager and Eric Belanger. The Oilers extended the lead with an Ales Hemsky goal, his seventh of the season, coming off of Jeff Petry and Teemu Hartikainen. Nashville took one back as David Legwand registered his seventeenth of the year, fueled by Gabriel Bourque and Shea Weber. Hemsky answered for Edmonton in the second period with his second of the night and eighth of the season, assisted by Hartikainen and Sam Gagner, and Rinne was pulled in favor of Anders Lindback. The Oilers added on again with a Ryan Jones power play goal, his fifteenth of the year, powered by Petry and Ryan Whitney. The Predators got one back as Patric Hornqvist sank his twenty-fourth of the season, a power play goal via Mike Fisher and Martin Erat. Edmonton took it away with Hemsky completing his hat trick on his ninth of the year, an unassisted goal. Nashville tried to come back again as Legwand made his second of the night and eighteenth of the season, with the help of Hornqvist and Bourque. The Oilers iced it at 6-3 with Gagner's sixteenth of the year, an empty net goal made possible by Hemsky. The three stars were Hemsky, Legwand, and Dubnyk (41 for 44 in saves), while Gagner, Petry, Hartikainen, Hornqvist, and Bourque get the honorable mentions.
A tad to the southwest, the Dallas Stars host the Phoenix Coyotes. Mike Smith and Kari Lehtonen will try to stop the puck. Dallas opened with a Loui Eriksson goal, his twenty-sixth of the season, coming off of Michael Ryder and Mike Ribeiro. Phoenix tied it on a Lauri Korpikoski goal, his sixteenth of the year, fueled by Ray Whitney and Antoine Vermette. The Stars took the lead again in the second period as Ryder potted his thirty-first of the season, a power play goal powered by Eriksson and Ribeiro. Dallas added on with Ryder's second of the game and thirty-second of the year, courtesy of Eriksson and Ribeiro, the latter getting a sock trick. The Coyotes got one back in the third period as Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored his twelfth of the season, a shorthanded goal passed from Daymond Langkow and Shane Doan. Phoenix tied it with a Whitney power play goal, his twenty-third of the year, assisted by Doan. The Stars topped the Coyotes 4-3 due to a lone Ribeiro tally in the shootout. The three stars were awarded to Eriksson, Ryder, and Ribeiro, while Doan gets an honorable mention.
Northwest a bit, as the Colorado Avalanche bring in the Calgary Flames. Miikka Kiprusoff and Semyon Varlamov tend the twines. Calgary struck early with a Matt Stajan goal, his eighth of the season, helped along by Alex Tanguay and Anton Babchuk. Colorado tied it as Paul Stastny nailed his nineteenth of the year, thanks to Shane O'Brien and David Jones. The Avalanche took the game 2-1 in overtime with a Jones goal, his eighteenth of the campaign, fueled by Stastny and Matt Hunwick. The three stars were named as Varlamov (31 for 32 in saves), Jones, and Kiprusoff (31 for 33 in saves).
We end the night with another edition of the Battle of California, as the Los Angeles Kings welcome the San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi and Jonathan Quick are in the blue paint. Los Angeles started off with a shorthanded goal by Mike Richards, his sixteenth of the season, assisted by Willie Mitchell. San Jose responded twenty-two seconds later with a power play goal off the tape of Martin Havlat, his sixth of the year, with a lone Brent Burns helper. The Kings gained the lead in the second period as Alec Martinez made his fourth of the season, thanks to Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams. Kopitar extended the Los Angeles lead with a third period power play goal, his twenty-fourth of the year, powered by Richards and Dustin Brown. The Sharks took one back with Dan Boyle making his seventh of the campaign, via Logan Couture and Havlat. The Kings replied with a Dustin Penner goal, his seventh of the season, with a lone assist from Slava Voynov. Los Angeles iced it at 5-2 with a Jeff Carter empty net goal, his twenty-first of the year, passed from Richards and Kopitar. The three stars were Kopitar, Mitchell, and Havlat, while Richards gets an honorable mention.
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Philadelphia, as the Flyers bring in the Florida Panthers. Scott Clemmensen and Ilya Bryzgalov get the starts. Florida opened with a Stephen Weiss goal, his eighteenth of the season, assisted by Dmitry Kulikov and Brian Campbell. The Panthers added on in the second period with a power play goal off the tape of Sean Bergenheim, his seventeenth of the year, powered by Campbell and Mikael Samuelsson. Philadelphia took one back as Eric Wellwood notched his fourth of the season, thanks to Kimmo Timonen. The third period was quiet, so Florida held on for a 2-1 win, and the three stars were given to Clemmensen (35 for 36 in saves), Wellwood, and Campbell.
A bit to the west, the Columbus Blue Jackets host the Chicago Blackhawks. Corey Crawford and Steve Mason played goal. Chicago led off with an Andrew Shaw goal, his tenth of the season, helped along by Bryan Bickell and Duncan Keith. The Blackhawks added on when Patrick Sharp recorded his twenty-ninth of the year, thanks to Viktor Stalberg and Marcus Kruger. Chicago extended the lead again on a Brent Seabrook goal, his seventh of the season, set up by Keith and Dave Bolland. The Blackhawks rolled on in the third period as Sharp scored his second of the game and thirtieth of the year, a power play goal powered by Marian Hossa and Keith, the latter earning a sock trick. Chicago kept going as Hossa put down his twenty-ninth of the season, another power play goal with helpers provided by Shaw and Keith. Columbus got on the board when Rick Nash put away his twenty-fifth of the year, guided in by Jack Johnson and Aaron Johnson. This left the final at 5-1, with the three stars being Keith, Sharp, and Shaw, while Hossa earns the honorable mention.
Back in Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh Penguins host the Winnipeg Jets. Ondrej Pavelec and Brad Thiessen started the game in the nets. Pittsburgh struck first on a Tyler Kennedy goal, his seventh of the season, fueled by Sidney Crosby and Matt Cooke. Winnipeg answered with a Jim Slater goal, his tenth of the year, courtesy of Tanner Glass and Spencer Machacek. The Jets took a lead with Bryan Little's twentieth of the season, a power play goal coming off of Andrew Ladd and Tobias Enstrom. The Penguins retied it as James Neal potted his thirty-third of the year, also a power play goal, powered by Evgeni Malkin and Crosby. Pittsburgh took the lead again in the second period with Neal's second of the game and thirty-fourth of the season, with a lone Malkin helper. Winnipeg shot back with Little's second of the game and twenty-first of the year, via Ladd and Enstrom. The Penguins again took the lead as Kennedy blasted in his second of the game and eighth of the season, with assistance from Crosby, who got a sock trick, and Cooke. Malkin extended the Pittsburgh lead with his forty-second of the year, thanks to Crosby and Paul Martin. Pavelec was relieved by Chris Mason. The Jets got one back with a Tim Stapleton goal, his ninth of the season, set up by Ben Maxwell and Machacek. The Penguins took it back when Neal finished his hat trick with his thirty-fifth of the year, guided in by Malkin, for a sock trick, and Brooks Orpik. Pittsburgh rolled along in the third period when Malkin shelved his second of the game and forty-third of the season, guided in by Chris Kunitz and Neal. The Penguins continued the late attack with a Pascal Dupuis goal, his twenty-first of the year, passed off of Jordan Staal and Steve Sullivan. This was it in the scoring-heavy game, ending at 8-4, with Neal, Malkin, and Crosby getting the three stars, and the honorable mentions including Kennedy, Little, Cooke, Enstrom, Ladd, and Machacek.
Moving north, the Toronto Maple Leafs welcome the New York Islanders. Evgeni Nabokov and James Reimer are between the pipes. Toronto started the scoring when Phil Kessel recorded his thirty-sixth of the season, assisted by Tyler Bozak and Mike Komisarek. New York tied it as Josh Bailey potted his eleventh of the year, via John Tavares and P.A. Parenteau. The Maple Leafs replied in the second period as Matthew Lombardi made his eighth of the season, made possible by Jake Gardiner and Colby Armstrong. The Islanders tied it again on a David Ullstrom goal, his third of the year, fueled by Michael Grabner and Casey Cizikas. New York took the lead in the third period with a Matt Moulson power play goal, his thirty-first of the season, powered by Tavares and Mark Streit. The Islanders extended their lead with a Parenteau goal, his sixteenth of the year, with Streit picking up the only assist. New York iced it at 5-2 when Moulson put his second of the game and thirty-second of the campaign into the empty net, courtesy of Parenteau and Tavares, the latter getting a sock trick. The three stars were Moulson, Tavares, and Parenteau, while Streit gets an honorable mention.
Staying in Ontario, the Ottawa Senators host the New Jersey Devils. Johan Hedberg and Ben Bishop are under the masks. New Jersey was first on the board in the second period as Ilya Kovalchuk netting thirty-first of the season, a power play goal powered by Marek Zidlicky and Patrik Elias. This was it for the scoring, with the Devils winning 1-0 and the three stars being handed to Hedberg (34 save shutout), Bishop (33 for 34 in saves), and Kovalchuk.
Well to the south, the Nashville Predators host the Edmonton Oilers. Devan Dubnyk and Pekka Rinne guard the cages. Edmonton got going with a Darcy Hordichuk goal, set up by Ben Eager and Eric Belanger. The Oilers extended the lead with an Ales Hemsky goal, his seventh of the season, coming off of Jeff Petry and Teemu Hartikainen. Nashville took one back as David Legwand registered his seventeenth of the year, fueled by Gabriel Bourque and Shea Weber. Hemsky answered for Edmonton in the second period with his second of the night and eighth of the season, assisted by Hartikainen and Sam Gagner, and Rinne was pulled in favor of Anders Lindback. The Oilers added on again with a Ryan Jones power play goal, his fifteenth of the year, powered by Petry and Ryan Whitney. The Predators got one back as Patric Hornqvist sank his twenty-fourth of the season, a power play goal via Mike Fisher and Martin Erat. Edmonton took it away with Hemsky completing his hat trick on his ninth of the year, an unassisted goal. Nashville tried to come back again as Legwand made his second of the night and eighteenth of the season, with the help of Hornqvist and Bourque. The Oilers iced it at 6-3 with Gagner's sixteenth of the year, an empty net goal made possible by Hemsky. The three stars were Hemsky, Legwand, and Dubnyk (41 for 44 in saves), while Gagner, Petry, Hartikainen, Hornqvist, and Bourque get the honorable mentions.
A tad to the southwest, the Dallas Stars host the Phoenix Coyotes. Mike Smith and Kari Lehtonen will try to stop the puck. Dallas opened with a Loui Eriksson goal, his twenty-sixth of the season, coming off of Michael Ryder and Mike Ribeiro. Phoenix tied it on a Lauri Korpikoski goal, his sixteenth of the year, fueled by Ray Whitney and Antoine Vermette. The Stars took the lead again in the second period as Ryder potted his thirty-first of the season, a power play goal powered by Eriksson and Ribeiro. Dallas added on with Ryder's second of the game and thirty-second of the year, courtesy of Eriksson and Ribeiro, the latter getting a sock trick. The Coyotes got one back in the third period as Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored his twelfth of the season, a shorthanded goal passed from Daymond Langkow and Shane Doan. Phoenix tied it with a Whitney power play goal, his twenty-third of the year, assisted by Doan. The Stars topped the Coyotes 4-3 due to a lone Ribeiro tally in the shootout. The three stars were awarded to Eriksson, Ryder, and Ribeiro, while Doan gets an honorable mention.
Northwest a bit, as the Colorado Avalanche bring in the Calgary Flames. Miikka Kiprusoff and Semyon Varlamov tend the twines. Calgary struck early with a Matt Stajan goal, his eighth of the season, helped along by Alex Tanguay and Anton Babchuk. Colorado tied it as Paul Stastny nailed his nineteenth of the year, thanks to Shane O'Brien and David Jones. The Avalanche took the game 2-1 in overtime with a Jones goal, his eighteenth of the campaign, fueled by Stastny and Matt Hunwick. The three stars were named as Varlamov (31 for 32 in saves), Jones, and Kiprusoff (31 for 33 in saves).
We end the night with another edition of the Battle of California, as the Los Angeles Kings welcome the San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi and Jonathan Quick are in the blue paint. Los Angeles started off with a shorthanded goal by Mike Richards, his sixteenth of the season, assisted by Willie Mitchell. San Jose responded twenty-two seconds later with a power play goal off the tape of Martin Havlat, his sixth of the year, with a lone Brent Burns helper. The Kings gained the lead in the second period as Alec Martinez made his fourth of the season, thanks to Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams. Kopitar extended the Los Angeles lead with a third period power play goal, his twenty-fourth of the year, powered by Richards and Dustin Brown. The Sharks took one back with Dan Boyle making his seventh of the campaign, via Logan Couture and Havlat. The Kings replied with a Dustin Penner goal, his seventh of the season, with a lone assist from Slava Voynov. Los Angeles iced it at 5-2 with a Jeff Carter empty net goal, his twenty-first of the year, passed from Richards and Kopitar. The three stars were Kopitar, Mitchell, and Havlat, while Richards gets an honorable mention.
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Monday, March 19, 2012
NHL Day 166 2011-2012
We have six games on today, with *spoiler alert* one very lopsided game. We begin in...
Massachusetts, as the Boston Bruins host the Toronto Maple Leafs. James Reimer and Tim Thomas received the starting nods. Boston started with a Chris Kelly goal, his eighteenth of the season, fueled by Benoit Pouliot. The Bruins added on with a Gregory Campbell goal, his eighth of the year, with assists provided by Andrew Ference and Daniel Paille. Boston kept going with a Pouliot goal, his eleventh of the season, set up by Johnny Boychuk and Brian Rolston. The Bruins chased Reimer with Brad Marchand notching his twenty-fourth of the year, a power play goal powered by Tyler Seguin and Dennis Seidenberg. Jonas Gustavsson replaced Reimer. Pouliot struck again for Boston in the second period with his second of the game and twelfth of the season, made possible by Rolston and Kelly. The Bruins padded the lead further with a Zdeno Chara power play goal, his tenth of the year, with a lone assist off the tape of Rolston, who got a sock trick for his effort. Rolston scored a goal of his own later in the period, his sixth of the season, thanks to David Krejci and Adam McQuaid. The Bruins iced it at 8-0 with a Seguin goal, his twenty-sixth of the year, set up by Krejci and Milan Lucic. Rolston, Pouliot, and Kelly were the three stars, while Krejci, Seguin, and Thomas (13 save shutout) get the honorable mentions.
Down the coast, the Tampa Bay Lightning welcome the Buffalo Sabres. Ryan Miller and Dustin Tokarski made the starts. Buffalo led off with a Drew Stafford goal, his fifteenth of the season, assisted by Christian Ehrhoff. The Sabres extended the lead as Jason Pominville put down his twenty-sixth of the year, a power play goal powered by Cody Hodgson and Thomas Vanek. Buffalo rolled on in the second period with the fourth of the season for Marcus Foligno, helped along by Tyler Ennis and Stafford. Tampa Bay got on the board as Bruno Gervais potted his fifth of the year, thanks to Teddy Purcell. The Sabres chased Tokarski with a Corey Tropp goal, his third of the season, made possible by Vanek and Hodgson. The Lightning took one back as Trevor Smith scored, via Ryan Malone and Gervais. Buffalo replied when Foligno put away his second of the game and fifth of the year, courtesy of Stafford and Ennis on the power play. Thirty-eight seconds later, the Sabres potted another goal as Brad Boyes registered his sixth of the season, coming off of Cody McCormick and Alexander Sulzer. Buffalo continued the attack in the third period with another Pominville goal, his second of the game and twenty-seventh of the year, going down unassisted. Tampa Bay got one back with Malone's fourteenth of the campaign, and Eric Brewer had the only helper. The final stuck at 7-3, with Pominville, Stafford, and Foligno taking the three stars, and Gervais, Malone, Ennis, Hodgson, and Vanek got the honorable mentions.
Northwest to Detroit, where the Red Wings host the Washington Capitals. Braden Holtby and Jimmy Howard are between the pipes. Washington opened with an Alex Ovechkin power play goal, his thirty-first of the season, made possible by Marcus Johansson and Dennis Wideman. The Capitals added on with a Mike Knuble goal, his sixth of the year, fueled by Jason Chimera and Mathieu Perreault. Washington kept going with another Ovechkin power play goal, his second of the game and thirty-second of the season, powered by Brooks Laich and Alexander Semin. Detroit got on the board in the second period as Kyle Quincey netted his seventh of the year, a power play goal coming off of Brendan Smith and Jiri Hudler. The Capitals answered with a Keith Aucoin goal, his third of the season, courtesy of Semin and Johansson.The Red Wings replied again in the third period when Todd Bertuzzi shelved his thirteenth of the year, thanks to Gustav Nyquist and Brad Stuart. Detroit pulled closer as Danny Cleary sank his twelfth of the season, with the help of Smith and Drew Miller. Washington iced it at 5-3 with a Chimera empty net goal, his seventeenth of the year, passed from Knuble and Mike Green. Ovechkin, Cleary, and Knuble got the three stars, while Chimera, Smith, Semin, and Johansson got the honorable mentions.
Back east, the New York Rangers host their fierce rivals, the New Jersey Devils. Martin Brodeur and Henrik Lundqvist tend the twines. New York led of with a Brandon Dubinsky goal, his eighth of the season, fueled by Derek Stepan and Ryan Callahan. The Rangers added on in the second period with a Dan Girardi goal, his fifth of the year, made possible by Carl Hagelin. New Jersey got one back with a Patrik Elias goal, his twenty-fifth of the season, with a lone Petr Sykora assist. New York shot back on a Mats Zuccarello power play goal, his second of the year, powered by Callahan and Brad Richards. The Devils answered on a Sykora tally, his seventeenth of the season, passed from Marek Zidlicky and Ilya Kovalchuk. Stepan iced it at 4-2 for the Rangers with his sixteenth of the year late in the third period, coming off of Dubinsky and Hagelin. Callahan, Dubinsky, and Zuccarello claimed the three stars, while Hagelin, Stepan, and Sykora get honorable mentions.
Westward again, as the Minnesota Wild bring in the Vancouver Canucks. Cory Schneider and Josh Harding are under the masks. Minnesota started with an Erik Christensen power play goal, his fifth of the season, powered by Kyle Brodziak and Cal Clutterbuck. The Wild iced it at 2-0 with a Brodziak empty net goal, his nineteenth of the year, an unassisted goal. Harding (33 save shutout), Brodziak, and Christensen earned the three stars.
Finally, we hit the Pacific coast, for a Battle of California showdown between the host San Jose Sharks and visiting Anaheim Ducks. Jeff Deslauriers and Antti Niemi will be in the blue paint. San Jose scored first as Martin Havlat potted his fifth of the season, a power play goal made possible by Brent Burns and Ryane Clowe. Anaheim quickly tied it with a Bobby Ryan goal, his twenty-seventh of the year, via Kyle Palmieri and Nick Bonino. Clowe shot back for the Sharks with his thirteenth of the season, assisted by Havlat and Dan Boyle. The Ducks retied it as Francois Beauchemin shelved his eighth of the year, a power play goal set up by Bonino and Lubomir Visnovsky. Anaheim took the lead in the second period as Corey Perry netted his thirty-fifth of the season, with a lone Ryan Getzlaf helper. The Ducks extended the lead with Nate Guenin recording his second of the year, thanks to Ryan and Bonino, the latter getting a sock trick. Niemi was pulled in favor of Thomas Greiss. San Jose got one back with Joe Pavelski potting his twenty-sixth of the season, with the help of Burns and Clowe. Anaheim answered quickly on a Palmieri goal, his fourth of the year, guided in by Ryan and Visnovsky. This was it for the scoring after a surprisingly quiet third period, closing the game at 5-3 with the three stars being Ryan, Palmieri, and Bonino, and the honorable mentions go to Clowe, Havlat, Visnovsky, and Burns.
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Massachusetts, as the Boston Bruins host the Toronto Maple Leafs. James Reimer and Tim Thomas received the starting nods. Boston started with a Chris Kelly goal, his eighteenth of the season, fueled by Benoit Pouliot. The Bruins added on with a Gregory Campbell goal, his eighth of the year, with assists provided by Andrew Ference and Daniel Paille. Boston kept going with a Pouliot goal, his eleventh of the season, set up by Johnny Boychuk and Brian Rolston. The Bruins chased Reimer with Brad Marchand notching his twenty-fourth of the year, a power play goal powered by Tyler Seguin and Dennis Seidenberg. Jonas Gustavsson replaced Reimer. Pouliot struck again for Boston in the second period with his second of the game and twelfth of the season, made possible by Rolston and Kelly. The Bruins padded the lead further with a Zdeno Chara power play goal, his tenth of the year, with a lone assist off the tape of Rolston, who got a sock trick for his effort. Rolston scored a goal of his own later in the period, his sixth of the season, thanks to David Krejci and Adam McQuaid. The Bruins iced it at 8-0 with a Seguin goal, his twenty-sixth of the year, set up by Krejci and Milan Lucic. Rolston, Pouliot, and Kelly were the three stars, while Krejci, Seguin, and Thomas (13 save shutout) get the honorable mentions.
Down the coast, the Tampa Bay Lightning welcome the Buffalo Sabres. Ryan Miller and Dustin Tokarski made the starts. Buffalo led off with a Drew Stafford goal, his fifteenth of the season, assisted by Christian Ehrhoff. The Sabres extended the lead as Jason Pominville put down his twenty-sixth of the year, a power play goal powered by Cody Hodgson and Thomas Vanek. Buffalo rolled on in the second period with the fourth of the season for Marcus Foligno, helped along by Tyler Ennis and Stafford. Tampa Bay got on the board as Bruno Gervais potted his fifth of the year, thanks to Teddy Purcell. The Sabres chased Tokarski with a Corey Tropp goal, his third of the season, made possible by Vanek and Hodgson. The Lightning took one back as Trevor Smith scored, via Ryan Malone and Gervais. Buffalo replied when Foligno put away his second of the game and fifth of the year, courtesy of Stafford and Ennis on the power play. Thirty-eight seconds later, the Sabres potted another goal as Brad Boyes registered his sixth of the season, coming off of Cody McCormick and Alexander Sulzer. Buffalo continued the attack in the third period with another Pominville goal, his second of the game and twenty-seventh of the year, going down unassisted. Tampa Bay got one back with Malone's fourteenth of the campaign, and Eric Brewer had the only helper. The final stuck at 7-3, with Pominville, Stafford, and Foligno taking the three stars, and Gervais, Malone, Ennis, Hodgson, and Vanek got the honorable mentions.
Northwest to Detroit, where the Red Wings host the Washington Capitals. Braden Holtby and Jimmy Howard are between the pipes. Washington opened with an Alex Ovechkin power play goal, his thirty-first of the season, made possible by Marcus Johansson and Dennis Wideman. The Capitals added on with a Mike Knuble goal, his sixth of the year, fueled by Jason Chimera and Mathieu Perreault. Washington kept going with another Ovechkin power play goal, his second of the game and thirty-second of the season, powered by Brooks Laich and Alexander Semin. Detroit got on the board in the second period as Kyle Quincey netted his seventh of the year, a power play goal coming off of Brendan Smith and Jiri Hudler. The Capitals answered with a Keith Aucoin goal, his third of the season, courtesy of Semin and Johansson.The Red Wings replied again in the third period when Todd Bertuzzi shelved his thirteenth of the year, thanks to Gustav Nyquist and Brad Stuart. Detroit pulled closer as Danny Cleary sank his twelfth of the season, with the help of Smith and Drew Miller. Washington iced it at 5-3 with a Chimera empty net goal, his seventeenth of the year, passed from Knuble and Mike Green. Ovechkin, Cleary, and Knuble got the three stars, while Chimera, Smith, Semin, and Johansson got the honorable mentions.
Back east, the New York Rangers host their fierce rivals, the New Jersey Devils. Martin Brodeur and Henrik Lundqvist tend the twines. New York led of with a Brandon Dubinsky goal, his eighth of the season, fueled by Derek Stepan and Ryan Callahan. The Rangers added on in the second period with a Dan Girardi goal, his fifth of the year, made possible by Carl Hagelin. New Jersey got one back with a Patrik Elias goal, his twenty-fifth of the season, with a lone Petr Sykora assist. New York shot back on a Mats Zuccarello power play goal, his second of the year, powered by Callahan and Brad Richards. The Devils answered on a Sykora tally, his seventeenth of the season, passed from Marek Zidlicky and Ilya Kovalchuk. Stepan iced it at 4-2 for the Rangers with his sixteenth of the year late in the third period, coming off of Dubinsky and Hagelin. Callahan, Dubinsky, and Zuccarello claimed the three stars, while Hagelin, Stepan, and Sykora get honorable mentions.
Westward again, as the Minnesota Wild bring in the Vancouver Canucks. Cory Schneider and Josh Harding are under the masks. Minnesota started with an Erik Christensen power play goal, his fifth of the season, powered by Kyle Brodziak and Cal Clutterbuck. The Wild iced it at 2-0 with a Brodziak empty net goal, his nineteenth of the year, an unassisted goal. Harding (33 save shutout), Brodziak, and Christensen earned the three stars.
Finally, we hit the Pacific coast, for a Battle of California showdown between the host San Jose Sharks and visiting Anaheim Ducks. Jeff Deslauriers and Antti Niemi will be in the blue paint. San Jose scored first as Martin Havlat potted his fifth of the season, a power play goal made possible by Brent Burns and Ryane Clowe. Anaheim quickly tied it with a Bobby Ryan goal, his twenty-seventh of the year, via Kyle Palmieri and Nick Bonino. Clowe shot back for the Sharks with his thirteenth of the season, assisted by Havlat and Dan Boyle. The Ducks retied it as Francois Beauchemin shelved his eighth of the year, a power play goal set up by Bonino and Lubomir Visnovsky. Anaheim took the lead in the second period as Corey Perry netted his thirty-fifth of the season, with a lone Ryan Getzlaf helper. The Ducks extended the lead with Nate Guenin recording his second of the year, thanks to Ryan and Bonino, the latter getting a sock trick. Niemi was pulled in favor of Thomas Greiss. San Jose got one back with Joe Pavelski potting his twenty-sixth of the season, with the help of Burns and Clowe. Anaheim answered quickly on a Palmieri goal, his fourth of the year, guided in by Ryan and Visnovsky. This was it for the scoring after a surprisingly quiet third period, closing the game at 5-3 with the three stars being Ryan, Palmieri, and Bonino, and the honorable mentions go to Clowe, Havlat, Visnovsky, and Burns.
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Fantasy Hockey All-Stars week 22
Here's your top five for the week, with some helping playoff performance and others with the last push.
1. Ilya Bryzgalov, 3 W, 1.44 GAA, 115 SV, .950 SV%, 1 SO
2. Devan Dubnyk, 2 W, 1.48 GAA, 110 SV, .948 SV%, 1 SO
3. Martin Erat, 2 G, 5 A, +3, 2 PIM, 2 PPP, 7 SOG
4. Eric Staal, 2 G, 3 A, +3, 4 PIM, 2 PPP, 11 SOG
5. Joe Thornton, 2 G, 4 A, 0+/-, 0 PIM, 4 PPP, 5 SOG
Busy week ahead, good luck to everyone.
1. Ilya Bryzgalov, 3 W, 1.44 GAA, 115 SV, .950 SV%, 1 SO
2. Devan Dubnyk, 2 W, 1.48 GAA, 110 SV, .948 SV%, 1 SO
3. Martin Erat, 2 G, 5 A, +3, 2 PIM, 2 PPP, 7 SOG
4. Eric Staal, 2 G, 3 A, +3, 4 PIM, 2 PPP, 11 SOG
5. Joe Thornton, 2 G, 4 A, 0+/-, 0 PIM, 4 PPP, 5 SOG
Busy week ahead, good luck to everyone.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
NHL Day 165 2011-2012
Only one matinee today, along with five regularly-timed games. We begin with a...
Battle of Pennsylvania classic, as the Philadelphia Flyers host the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury and Ilya Bryzgalov tend the twines. Pittsburgh started with a Craig Adams goal, his fifth of the season, assisted by Kris Letang and Pascal Dupuis. The Penguins added on in the second period with an Evgeni Malkin goal, his forty-first of the year, with a lone Letang helper. Philadelphia got going in the third period as Kimmo Timonen notched his third of the season, a power play goal powered by Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek. The Flyers tied it as Scott Hartnell drilled his thirty-fourth of the year, via Giroux and Wayne Simmonds. Philadelphia completed the comeback with just two seconds left in overtime as Hartnell put away his second of the game and thirty-fifth of the campaign, with the help of Danny Briere and Timonen to win 3-2. The three stars were awarded to Hartnell, Letang, and Simmonds, while Giroux and Timonen pick up honorable mentions.
Moving along to Chicago, as the Blackhawks host the Washington Capitals. Michal Neuvirth and Corey Crawford wear the goalie masks. Chicago struck early with an Andrew Shaw goal, his eighth of the season, fueled by Duncan Keith and Bryan Bickell. Viktor Stalberg added on for the Blackhawks with his eighteenth of the year, coming off of Patrick Sharp and Nick Leddy. Washington got on the board in the second period as Mike Knuble potted his fifth of the season, with the help of Keith Aucoin. Chicago answered on a Patrick Kane goal, his nineteenth of the year, guided in by Andrew Brunette and Marian Hossa. The Blackhawks extended the lead when Shaw netted his second of the game and ninth of the season, thanks to Brent Seabrook and Bickell. The Capitals took one back as Alex Ovechkin shelved his thirtieth of the year, courtesy of the goalie Neuvirth and Dmitry Orlov. Chicago iced it at 5-2 with a Bickell empty net goal, his eighth of the campaign, passed from Shaw. The three stars went to Shaw, Kane, and Stalberg, while Bickell gets an honorable mention.
Northwest to Alberta, where the Edmonton Oilers welcome the Phoenix Coyotes. Mike Smith and Devan Dubnyk will play goal. Edmonton got things started in the second period as Jordan Eberle netted his thirty-second of the season, thanks to Ryan Jones. The Oilers extended the lead on an Ales Hemsky goal, his sixth of the year, fueled by Jeff Petry and Ladislav Smid. Ray Whitney put Phoenix on the scoreboard in the third period with his twenty-second of the season, going in unassisted. The Coyotes tied it late when Raffi Torres nailed his fourteenth of the year, with a lone Gilbert Brule assist. Phoenix ended up winning in the shootout with tallies by Mikkel Boedker and Whitney to overpower Edmonton's lone tally by Sam Gagner for a 3-2 win. The three stars were given to Hemsky, Eberle, and Smith (36 for 38 in saves), while Whitney earns an honorable mention.
Down in California, the Anaheim Ducks host the Nashville Predators. Anders Lindback and Jonas Hiller are in the creases. Anaheim struck first with a shorthanded goal off the tape of Devante Smith-Pelly, his fifth of the season, set up by Ryan Getzlaf and Sheldon Brookbank. Nashville tied it in the third period as Patric Hornqvist put away his twenty-third of the year, thanks to David Legwand and Gabriel Bourque. The Predators gained the lead as Mike Fisher notched his twenty-third of the season, with the help of Ryan Suter and Martin Erat. Nashville iced it at 3-1 with a Legwand empty net goal, his sixteenth of the year, powered by Sergei Kostitsyn and Kevin Klein. The three stars were Lindback (30 for 31 in saves), Smith-Pelly, and Lubomir Visnovsky, while Legwand could take the third star.
Back in Alberta, the Calgary Flames bring in the Columbus Blue Jackets. Curtis Sanford and Miikka Kiprusoff made the starts, but Sanford left in the first period due to injury, and was replaced by Steve Mason. Columbus started the scoring on a Nikita Nikitin goal, his fifth of the season, assisted by Brett Lebda and Darryl Boyce. Calgary tied it in the third period when Matt Stajan deposited his seventh of year, with the help of Curtis Glencross and Blake Comeau. The Blue Jackets took the game with a lone Cam Atkinson goal in the shootout, for a 2-1 victory. The three stars went to Mason (28 for 29 in saves in relief), Stajan, and Comeau.
Finally, we end in Manitoba, as the Winnipeg Jets play host to the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward and Ondrej Pavelec guard the nets. Carolina started with a Jussi Jokinen goal, his eleventh of the season coming shorthanded and unassisted. Winnipeg answered with a Nik Antropov goal, his thirteenth of the year, with assists provided by Tim Stapleton and Mark Stuart. The Hurricanes reclaimed the lead in the second period as Eric Staal potted his twentieth of the season, a power play goal powered by Tim Brent and Jiri Tlusty. The Jets retied it as Antti Miettinen scored on the power play, from Evander Kane and Tobias Enstrom. Winnipeg took the lead as Miettinen struck again, his second of the game, set up by Spencer Machacek. Carolina evened it again in the third period as Staal put down his second of the night and twenty-first of the year, via Jokinen. The Hurricanes took a 4-3 lead they would hold on to through the end of the game as Chad LaRose scored his seventeenth of the campaign, guided in by Staal and Jokinen. The three stars were handed to Miettinen, Staal, and Ward (30 for 33 in saves), while Jokinen gets the honorable mention.
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Battle of Pennsylvania classic, as the Philadelphia Flyers host the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury and Ilya Bryzgalov tend the twines. Pittsburgh started with a Craig Adams goal, his fifth of the season, assisted by Kris Letang and Pascal Dupuis. The Penguins added on in the second period with an Evgeni Malkin goal, his forty-first of the year, with a lone Letang helper. Philadelphia got going in the third period as Kimmo Timonen notched his third of the season, a power play goal powered by Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek. The Flyers tied it as Scott Hartnell drilled his thirty-fourth of the year, via Giroux and Wayne Simmonds. Philadelphia completed the comeback with just two seconds left in overtime as Hartnell put away his second of the game and thirty-fifth of the campaign, with the help of Danny Briere and Timonen to win 3-2. The three stars were awarded to Hartnell, Letang, and Simmonds, while Giroux and Timonen pick up honorable mentions.
Moving along to Chicago, as the Blackhawks host the Washington Capitals. Michal Neuvirth and Corey Crawford wear the goalie masks. Chicago struck early with an Andrew Shaw goal, his eighth of the season, fueled by Duncan Keith and Bryan Bickell. Viktor Stalberg added on for the Blackhawks with his eighteenth of the year, coming off of Patrick Sharp and Nick Leddy. Washington got on the board in the second period as Mike Knuble potted his fifth of the season, with the help of Keith Aucoin. Chicago answered on a Patrick Kane goal, his nineteenth of the year, guided in by Andrew Brunette and Marian Hossa. The Blackhawks extended the lead when Shaw netted his second of the game and ninth of the season, thanks to Brent Seabrook and Bickell. The Capitals took one back as Alex Ovechkin shelved his thirtieth of the year, courtesy of the goalie Neuvirth and Dmitry Orlov. Chicago iced it at 5-2 with a Bickell empty net goal, his eighth of the campaign, passed from Shaw. The three stars went to Shaw, Kane, and Stalberg, while Bickell gets an honorable mention.
Northwest to Alberta, where the Edmonton Oilers welcome the Phoenix Coyotes. Mike Smith and Devan Dubnyk will play goal. Edmonton got things started in the second period as Jordan Eberle netted his thirty-second of the season, thanks to Ryan Jones. The Oilers extended the lead on an Ales Hemsky goal, his sixth of the year, fueled by Jeff Petry and Ladislav Smid. Ray Whitney put Phoenix on the scoreboard in the third period with his twenty-second of the season, going in unassisted. The Coyotes tied it late when Raffi Torres nailed his fourteenth of the year, with a lone Gilbert Brule assist. Phoenix ended up winning in the shootout with tallies by Mikkel Boedker and Whitney to overpower Edmonton's lone tally by Sam Gagner for a 3-2 win. The three stars were given to Hemsky, Eberle, and Smith (36 for 38 in saves), while Whitney earns an honorable mention.
Down in California, the Anaheim Ducks host the Nashville Predators. Anders Lindback and Jonas Hiller are in the creases. Anaheim struck first with a shorthanded goal off the tape of Devante Smith-Pelly, his fifth of the season, set up by Ryan Getzlaf and Sheldon Brookbank. Nashville tied it in the third period as Patric Hornqvist put away his twenty-third of the year, thanks to David Legwand and Gabriel Bourque. The Predators gained the lead as Mike Fisher notched his twenty-third of the season, with the help of Ryan Suter and Martin Erat. Nashville iced it at 3-1 with a Legwand empty net goal, his sixteenth of the year, powered by Sergei Kostitsyn and Kevin Klein. The three stars were Lindback (30 for 31 in saves), Smith-Pelly, and Lubomir Visnovsky, while Legwand could take the third star.
Back in Alberta, the Calgary Flames bring in the Columbus Blue Jackets. Curtis Sanford and Miikka Kiprusoff made the starts, but Sanford left in the first period due to injury, and was replaced by Steve Mason. Columbus started the scoring on a Nikita Nikitin goal, his fifth of the season, assisted by Brett Lebda and Darryl Boyce. Calgary tied it in the third period when Matt Stajan deposited his seventh of year, with the help of Curtis Glencross and Blake Comeau. The Blue Jackets took the game with a lone Cam Atkinson goal in the shootout, for a 2-1 victory. The three stars went to Mason (28 for 29 in saves in relief), Stajan, and Comeau.
Finally, we end in Manitoba, as the Winnipeg Jets play host to the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward and Ondrej Pavelec guard the nets. Carolina started with a Jussi Jokinen goal, his eleventh of the season coming shorthanded and unassisted. Winnipeg answered with a Nik Antropov goal, his thirteenth of the year, with assists provided by Tim Stapleton and Mark Stuart. The Hurricanes reclaimed the lead in the second period as Eric Staal potted his twentieth of the season, a power play goal powered by Tim Brent and Jiri Tlusty. The Jets retied it as Antti Miettinen scored on the power play, from Evander Kane and Tobias Enstrom. Winnipeg took the lead as Miettinen struck again, his second of the game, set up by Spencer Machacek. Carolina evened it again in the third period as Staal put down his second of the night and twenty-first of the year, via Jokinen. The Hurricanes took a 4-3 lead they would hold on to through the end of the game as Chad LaRose scored his seventeenth of the campaign, guided in by Staal and Jokinen. The three stars were handed to Miettinen, Staal, and Ward (30 for 33 in saves), while Jokinen gets the honorable mention.
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Saturday, March 17, 2012
NHl Day 164 2011-2012
We have eleven games today coming in three waves. First up are three matinees, beginning in...
Boston, where the Bruins welcome the Philadelphia Flyers. Ilya Bryzgalov and Tim Thomas are between the pipes. Boston struck first on a Chris Kelly goal, his seventeenth of the season, fueled by Benoit Pouliot and Brian Rolston. The Bruins added on with a Tyler Seguin netting his twenty-fifth of the year, guided in by Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. Philadelphia got on the board in the second period with a Matt Read power play goal, his twentieth of the season, powered by Danny Briere and Matt Carle. The Flyers evened the score in the third period as Jakub Voracek made his fourteenth of the year, with the help of Braydon Coburn and Read. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Boston needed David Krejci, Seguin, and Bergeron tallies to defeat Read and Claude Giroux of Philadelphia by a 3-2 margin. The three stars were given to Bergeron, Thomas (27 for 29 in saves), and Zdeno Chara, while Seguin or Read could take the third star easily.
A bit south, the New Jersey Devils bring in the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury and Martin Brodeur tend the twines. Pittsburgh started with a James Neal goal, his thirty-second of the season, assisted by Evgeni Malkin. New Jersey tied it as Andy Greene scored, with helpers from Ilya Kovalchuk and Mark Fayne. The Penguins regained the lead in the second period as Pascal Dupuis potted his twentieth of the year, thanks to Jordan Staal and Matt Niskanen. Pittsburgh extended the lead with a Matt Cooke goal, his fifteenth of the season, helped along by Sidney Crosby and Tyler Kennedy. The Penguins kept going with Malkin potting his fortieth of the year on the power play, powered by Crosby and Chris Kunitz. The Devils answered in the third period on a Petr Sykora goal, his sixteenth of the season, coming off of Patrik Elias and Dainius Zubrus. Pittsburgh took it back with Cooke's second of the game and sixteenth of the year, with assists provided by Kennedy and Crosby, the latter getting a sock trick. This was it for the scoring, leaving us with a 5-2 final, and Crosby, Malkin, and Cooke as the three stars, while Kennedy and Greene get the honorable mentions.
Wrapping up the matinees, the Minnesota Wild host the Carolina Hurricanes. Brian Boucher and Matt Hackett received the starting nods. Drayson Bowman put Carolina up first with his unassisted fourth of the season. Brandon Sutter of Carolina then fought with Nate Prosser of Minnesota. Minnesota answered when Kyle Brodziak scored his eighteenth of the year, a shorthanded goal passed from Steve Kampfer and Tom Gilbert. The Wild took the lead with a Nick Johnson goal, his seventh of the season, via Brodziak and Marco Scandella. Minnesota added on with an Erik Christensen power play goal, his fourth of the year, powered by Brodziak and Cal Clutterbuck. The Hurricanes took one back when Bowman put down his second of the game and fifth of the season, thanks to Sutter and Anthony Stewart. Carolina tied it in the third period as Sutter finished his Gordie Howe Hat Trick with his fifteenth of the year, made possible by Bowman. The Hurricanes gained the lead with a Tim Brent goal, his eleventh of the season, with helpers from Eric Staal and Jiri Tlusty. Carolina iced it at 5-3 with a Chad LaRose empty net goal, his sixteenth of the year, coming off of Jussi Jokinen. The three stars went to Bowman, Brodziak, and Sutter.
At the regular time for east coast games, we begin with the Montreal Canadiens hosting the New York Islanders. Al Montoya and Peter Budaj were in the blue paint. Montreal began with an Aaron Palushaj goal, with a lone Petteri Nokelainen assist. New York tied it in the second period with the sixth of the season for Mark Streit, a power play goal powered by Frans Nielsen. The Islanders took the lead on a Nielsen goal, his fourteenth of the year, guided in by Travis Hamonic and Josh Bailey. The Canadiens retied it in the third period when Louis Leblanc put down his fourth of the campaign, with help from P.K. Subban and the goalie Budaj. The game was decided in the shootout, with Nielsen and David Desharnais trading tallies, followed by another wash with Rene Bourque and Matt Moulson before New York took the game 3-2 on a Bailey goal. The three stars ended up with Bailey, Budaj (36 for 38 in saves), and Leblanc, while Nielsen gets an honorable mention.
A bit west of there, the Battle of Ontario resumed when the Ottawa Senators hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs. James Reimer and Ben Bishop were the masked men. Tim Connolly sparked Toronto to score first in the second period with his eleventh of the season, an unassisted goal. The Maple Leafs added on in the third period when Phil Kessel netted his thirty-fifth of the year, a power play goal powered by Jake Gardiner and Tyler Bozak. Toronto extended the lead again with a Dion Phaneuf goal, his tenth of the season also coming on the power play, via Kessel and Gardiner. Ottawa busted the shutout bid late with a Colin Greening goal, his sixteenth of the year, fueled by Filip Kuba and Jim O'Brien. Kessel, Reimer (29 for 30 in saves), and Gardiner got the three stars in the 3-1 game.
Farther to the south, the Tampa Bay Lightning welcomed the St. Louis Blues. Jaroslav Halak and Dwayne Roloson made the starts in goal. St. Louis led off with a Patrik Berglund shorthanded goal, his seventeenth of the season, assisted by Alex Pietrangelo and T.J. Oshie. The Blues added on with a Jaden Schwartz power play goal, powered by Chris Stewart and Carlo Colaiacovo. David Perron kept St. Louis going in the second period with his fifteenth of the year, courtesy of Oshie. Tampa Bay cut the deficit to 3-1 in the third period, an eventual final, on a Brendan Mikkelson goal, with Adam Hall and Tim Wallace picking up the helpers. Halak (22 for 23 in saves), Schwartz, and Mikkelson got the three stars, while Oshie earns an honorable mention.
Back up the coastline, the New York Rangers hosted the Colorado Avalanche. Semyon Varlamov and Henrik Lundqvist guarded the cages. New York struck first on a Mats Zuccarello goal, made possible by Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonagh. Colorado answered with a Matt Hunwick goal, his third of the season, fueled by Peter Mueller and Matt Duchene. The Avalanche took the lead in the second period on a Gabriel Landeskog goal, his twenty-first of the year, guided in by Ryan Wilson and Ryan O'Reilly. Colorado iced it at 3-1 in the third period with an empty net goal off the tape of Paul Stastny, his eighteenth of the campaign, passed from Wilson and Jamie McGinn. Varlamov (41 for 42 in saves), Landeskog, and Lundqvist (17 for 19 in saves) picked up the three stars, with an honorable mention to Wilson.
South again, as the Florida Panthers bring in the Buffalo Sabres. Ryan Miller and Jose Theodore are all padded up. Buffalo started the scoring with a Tyler Ennis goal, his eleventh of the season, fueled by Drew Stafford and Marcus Foligno. Florida answered with a Mikael Samuelsson power play goal, his eleventh of the year, powered by Tomas Fleischmann and Stephen Weiss. Thirty-eight seconds after that, John Madden netted his second of the season, thanks to Ed Jovanovski and Erik Gudbranson to give the Panthers a lead. The Sabres tied it again in the second period with Derek Roy potting his fifteenth of the year on the power play, with the help of Jason Pominville. Florida took the game in the shootout as Wojtek Wolski matched Ennis to allow a Dmitry Kulikov winner. The three stars were Kulikov, Theodore (24 for 26 in saves), and Roy.
On the third wave of games, we begin in British Columbia, as the Vancouver Canucks welcome the Columbus Blue Jackets. Steve Mason and Cory Schneider play from the creases. Columbus drew first blood with a Vinny Prospal goal, his twelfth of the season, assisted by Cam Atkinson and the goalie Mason. Vancouver tied it on a David Booth goal, his fifteenth of the year, coming off of Dan Hamhuis and Ryan Kesler. The Canucks took the lead as Daniel Sedin netted his twenty-ninth of the season, thanks to Henrik Sedin. Vancouver extended the lead in the second period on an Alexander Edler power play goal, his eleventh of the year, powered by the goalie Schneider. Jack Johnson shot back for the Blue Jackets with his eleventh of the season, made possible by Ryan Johansen. The Canucks replied in the third period with a Daniel power play goal, his second of the game and thirtieth of the year, assisted by Henrik and Edler. Columbus got as close as 4-3 with a James Wisniewski tally, his fifth of the campaign, fueled by Johnson and Mark Letestu, but couldn't tie the game. The three stars were Edler, Johnson, and Booth, while Daniel and Henrik get honorable mentions.
Down to Northern California, with the San Jose Sharks hosting the Detroit Red Wings. Jimmy Howard and Antti Niemi picked up the goalie starts. San Jose quickly opened with a Joe Pavelski goal, his twenty-fifth of the season, assisted by Logan Couture and Joe Thornton. The Sharks added on as Martin Havlat put away his third of the year, via Patrick Marleau. Twenty-three seconds later, Detroit got one back as Pavel Datsyuk shelved his seventeenth of the season, with the help of Niklas Kronwall. The Red Wings tied it in the third period on a Valtteri Filppula goal, his twenty-third of the year, with a lone Doug Janik helper. The game went into overtime, where San Jose salvaged a 3-2 win with Havlat's second of the night and fifth of the campaign, set up by Justin Braun and Dominic Moore. Havlat, Pavelski, and Kronwall earned the three stars.
Finally, in Southern California, the Los Angeles Kings host the Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne and Jonathan Bernier protect the goalmouths. Los Angeles scored first as Anze Kopitar potted his twenty-third of the season, thanks to Dustin Penner and Trevor Lewis. Nashville tied it in the second period with a Martin Erat power play goal, his eighteenth of the year, powered by Ryan Suter and Shea Weber. The Kings regained the lead in the third period when Penner potted his sixth of the season, with the help of Lewis and Rob Scuderi. Los Angeles extended the lead on a Dwight King goal, his fourth of the year, with a lone Jeff Carter assist. The Kings rolled on with a Kyle Clifford goal, his fifth of the season, pushed through by Jordan Nolan and Drew Doughty. The Predators cut the final deficit to 4-2 with a Mike Fisher goal, his twenty-second of the year, helped along by Kevin Klein and Erat. Lewis, Bernier (19 for 21 in saves), and Penner got the three stars, while Erat earns the honorable mention.
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Boston, where the Bruins welcome the Philadelphia Flyers. Ilya Bryzgalov and Tim Thomas are between the pipes. Boston struck first on a Chris Kelly goal, his seventeenth of the season, fueled by Benoit Pouliot and Brian Rolston. The Bruins added on with a Tyler Seguin netting his twenty-fifth of the year, guided in by Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. Philadelphia got on the board in the second period with a Matt Read power play goal, his twentieth of the season, powered by Danny Briere and Matt Carle. The Flyers evened the score in the third period as Jakub Voracek made his fourteenth of the year, with the help of Braydon Coburn and Read. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Boston needed David Krejci, Seguin, and Bergeron tallies to defeat Read and Claude Giroux of Philadelphia by a 3-2 margin. The three stars were given to Bergeron, Thomas (27 for 29 in saves), and Zdeno Chara, while Seguin or Read could take the third star easily.
A bit south, the New Jersey Devils bring in the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury and Martin Brodeur tend the twines. Pittsburgh started with a James Neal goal, his thirty-second of the season, assisted by Evgeni Malkin. New Jersey tied it as Andy Greene scored, with helpers from Ilya Kovalchuk and Mark Fayne. The Penguins regained the lead in the second period as Pascal Dupuis potted his twentieth of the year, thanks to Jordan Staal and Matt Niskanen. Pittsburgh extended the lead with a Matt Cooke goal, his fifteenth of the season, helped along by Sidney Crosby and Tyler Kennedy. The Penguins kept going with Malkin potting his fortieth of the year on the power play, powered by Crosby and Chris Kunitz. The Devils answered in the third period on a Petr Sykora goal, his sixteenth of the season, coming off of Patrik Elias and Dainius Zubrus. Pittsburgh took it back with Cooke's second of the game and sixteenth of the year, with assists provided by Kennedy and Crosby, the latter getting a sock trick. This was it for the scoring, leaving us with a 5-2 final, and Crosby, Malkin, and Cooke as the three stars, while Kennedy and Greene get the honorable mentions.
Wrapping up the matinees, the Minnesota Wild host the Carolina Hurricanes. Brian Boucher and Matt Hackett received the starting nods. Drayson Bowman put Carolina up first with his unassisted fourth of the season. Brandon Sutter of Carolina then fought with Nate Prosser of Minnesota. Minnesota answered when Kyle Brodziak scored his eighteenth of the year, a shorthanded goal passed from Steve Kampfer and Tom Gilbert. The Wild took the lead with a Nick Johnson goal, his seventh of the season, via Brodziak and Marco Scandella. Minnesota added on with an Erik Christensen power play goal, his fourth of the year, powered by Brodziak and Cal Clutterbuck. The Hurricanes took one back when Bowman put down his second of the game and fifth of the season, thanks to Sutter and Anthony Stewart. Carolina tied it in the third period as Sutter finished his Gordie Howe Hat Trick with his fifteenth of the year, made possible by Bowman. The Hurricanes gained the lead with a Tim Brent goal, his eleventh of the season, with helpers from Eric Staal and Jiri Tlusty. Carolina iced it at 5-3 with a Chad LaRose empty net goal, his sixteenth of the year, coming off of Jussi Jokinen. The three stars went to Bowman, Brodziak, and Sutter.
At the regular time for east coast games, we begin with the Montreal Canadiens hosting the New York Islanders. Al Montoya and Peter Budaj were in the blue paint. Montreal began with an Aaron Palushaj goal, with a lone Petteri Nokelainen assist. New York tied it in the second period with the sixth of the season for Mark Streit, a power play goal powered by Frans Nielsen. The Islanders took the lead on a Nielsen goal, his fourteenth of the year, guided in by Travis Hamonic and Josh Bailey. The Canadiens retied it in the third period when Louis Leblanc put down his fourth of the campaign, with help from P.K. Subban and the goalie Budaj. The game was decided in the shootout, with Nielsen and David Desharnais trading tallies, followed by another wash with Rene Bourque and Matt Moulson before New York took the game 3-2 on a Bailey goal. The three stars ended up with Bailey, Budaj (36 for 38 in saves), and Leblanc, while Nielsen gets an honorable mention.
A bit west of there, the Battle of Ontario resumed when the Ottawa Senators hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs. James Reimer and Ben Bishop were the masked men. Tim Connolly sparked Toronto to score first in the second period with his eleventh of the season, an unassisted goal. The Maple Leafs added on in the third period when Phil Kessel netted his thirty-fifth of the year, a power play goal powered by Jake Gardiner and Tyler Bozak. Toronto extended the lead again with a Dion Phaneuf goal, his tenth of the season also coming on the power play, via Kessel and Gardiner. Ottawa busted the shutout bid late with a Colin Greening goal, his sixteenth of the year, fueled by Filip Kuba and Jim O'Brien. Kessel, Reimer (29 for 30 in saves), and Gardiner got the three stars in the 3-1 game.
Farther to the south, the Tampa Bay Lightning welcomed the St. Louis Blues. Jaroslav Halak and Dwayne Roloson made the starts in goal. St. Louis led off with a Patrik Berglund shorthanded goal, his seventeenth of the season, assisted by Alex Pietrangelo and T.J. Oshie. The Blues added on with a Jaden Schwartz power play goal, powered by Chris Stewart and Carlo Colaiacovo. David Perron kept St. Louis going in the second period with his fifteenth of the year, courtesy of Oshie. Tampa Bay cut the deficit to 3-1 in the third period, an eventual final, on a Brendan Mikkelson goal, with Adam Hall and Tim Wallace picking up the helpers. Halak (22 for 23 in saves), Schwartz, and Mikkelson got the three stars, while Oshie earns an honorable mention.
Back up the coastline, the New York Rangers hosted the Colorado Avalanche. Semyon Varlamov and Henrik Lundqvist guarded the cages. New York struck first on a Mats Zuccarello goal, made possible by Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonagh. Colorado answered with a Matt Hunwick goal, his third of the season, fueled by Peter Mueller and Matt Duchene. The Avalanche took the lead in the second period on a Gabriel Landeskog goal, his twenty-first of the year, guided in by Ryan Wilson and Ryan O'Reilly. Colorado iced it at 3-1 in the third period with an empty net goal off the tape of Paul Stastny, his eighteenth of the campaign, passed from Wilson and Jamie McGinn. Varlamov (41 for 42 in saves), Landeskog, and Lundqvist (17 for 19 in saves) picked up the three stars, with an honorable mention to Wilson.
South again, as the Florida Panthers bring in the Buffalo Sabres. Ryan Miller and Jose Theodore are all padded up. Buffalo started the scoring with a Tyler Ennis goal, his eleventh of the season, fueled by Drew Stafford and Marcus Foligno. Florida answered with a Mikael Samuelsson power play goal, his eleventh of the year, powered by Tomas Fleischmann and Stephen Weiss. Thirty-eight seconds after that, John Madden netted his second of the season, thanks to Ed Jovanovski and Erik Gudbranson to give the Panthers a lead. The Sabres tied it again in the second period with Derek Roy potting his fifteenth of the year on the power play, with the help of Jason Pominville. Florida took the game in the shootout as Wojtek Wolski matched Ennis to allow a Dmitry Kulikov winner. The three stars were Kulikov, Theodore (24 for 26 in saves), and Roy.
On the third wave of games, we begin in British Columbia, as the Vancouver Canucks welcome the Columbus Blue Jackets. Steve Mason and Cory Schneider play from the creases. Columbus drew first blood with a Vinny Prospal goal, his twelfth of the season, assisted by Cam Atkinson and the goalie Mason. Vancouver tied it on a David Booth goal, his fifteenth of the year, coming off of Dan Hamhuis and Ryan Kesler. The Canucks took the lead as Daniel Sedin netted his twenty-ninth of the season, thanks to Henrik Sedin. Vancouver extended the lead in the second period on an Alexander Edler power play goal, his eleventh of the year, powered by the goalie Schneider. Jack Johnson shot back for the Blue Jackets with his eleventh of the season, made possible by Ryan Johansen. The Canucks replied in the third period with a Daniel power play goal, his second of the game and thirtieth of the year, assisted by Henrik and Edler. Columbus got as close as 4-3 with a James Wisniewski tally, his fifth of the campaign, fueled by Johnson and Mark Letestu, but couldn't tie the game. The three stars were Edler, Johnson, and Booth, while Daniel and Henrik get honorable mentions.
Down to Northern California, with the San Jose Sharks hosting the Detroit Red Wings. Jimmy Howard and Antti Niemi picked up the goalie starts. San Jose quickly opened with a Joe Pavelski goal, his twenty-fifth of the season, assisted by Logan Couture and Joe Thornton. The Sharks added on as Martin Havlat put away his third of the year, via Patrick Marleau. Twenty-three seconds later, Detroit got one back as Pavel Datsyuk shelved his seventeenth of the season, with the help of Niklas Kronwall. The Red Wings tied it in the third period on a Valtteri Filppula goal, his twenty-third of the year, with a lone Doug Janik helper. The game went into overtime, where San Jose salvaged a 3-2 win with Havlat's second of the night and fifth of the campaign, set up by Justin Braun and Dominic Moore. Havlat, Pavelski, and Kronwall earned the three stars.
Finally, in Southern California, the Los Angeles Kings host the Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne and Jonathan Bernier protect the goalmouths. Los Angeles scored first as Anze Kopitar potted his twenty-third of the season, thanks to Dustin Penner and Trevor Lewis. Nashville tied it in the second period with a Martin Erat power play goal, his eighteenth of the year, powered by Ryan Suter and Shea Weber. The Kings regained the lead in the third period when Penner potted his sixth of the season, with the help of Lewis and Rob Scuderi. Los Angeles extended the lead on a Dwight King goal, his fourth of the year, with a lone Jeff Carter assist. The Kings rolled on with a Kyle Clifford goal, his fifth of the season, pushed through by Jordan Nolan and Drew Doughty. The Predators cut the final deficit to 4-2 with a Mike Fisher goal, his twenty-second of the year, helped along by Kevin Klein and Erat. Lewis, Bernier (19 for 21 in saves), and Penner got the three stars, while Erat earns the honorable mention.
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Friday, March 16, 2012
NHL Day 163 2011-2012
Just five games to see tonight, but a few spirited rivalries among them. We begin with a Northeast Division battle in...
Ottawa, with the Senators hosting the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and Ben Bishop stand in the blue paint. Montreal opened with a Tomas Plekanec shorthanded goal, his fourteenth of the season, coming from Ryan White. Ottawa tied it in the third period when Colin Greening deposited his fifteenth of the year, with the help of Zack Smith and Erik Condra. The Senators won in overtime as Filip Kuba notched his sixth of the campaign, via Daniel Alfredsson and Erik Karlsson. Josh Gorges, Greening, and Kuba took the three stars, while any point earner can take the first slot, along with either goalie.
Down to Dallas, as the Stars bring in the Chicago Blackhawks. Corey Crawford and Kari Lehtonen got the starting nods. Chicago led off just ten seconds into the game as Dave Bolland sank his eighteenth of the season, thanks to Andrew Shaw and Bryan Bickell. The Blackhawks kept up the early blitz with a Patrick Sharp goal, his twenty-seventh of the year, made possible by Viktor Stalberg and Brent Seabrook. Chicago got things moving again in the third period on another quick goal, this time from the tape of Marian Hossa thirty-three seconds after the initial puck drop, his twenty-eighth of the season assisted by Patrick Kane. The Blackhawks followed their earlier pattern with another rapid goal, when Sharp potted his second of the game and twenty-eighth of the year, passed from Stalberg and Johnny Oduya. Dallas busted the shutout bid when Jamie Benn sank his twenty-second of the campaign, helped along by Steve Ott and Loui Eriksson. This left the final at 4-1, with the three stars going to Sharp, Bolland, and Hossa, while Stalberg gets an honorable mention.
Back in Canada, the Winnipeg Jets host the Washington Capitals. Tomas Vokoun and Ondrej Pavelec are in the creases. Winnipeg started the scoring with the twenty-fourth of the season by Andrew Ladd, courtesy of Blake Wheeler and Dustin Byfuglien. Washington answered quickly as Brooks Laich sank his fifteenth of the year, with a lone Marcus Johansson assist, only twenty-two seconds later. The Jets retook the lead in the second period as Nik Antropov shelved his twelfth of the season, with the help of Tim Stapleton and Antti Miettinen. The Capitals tied it early in the third period on a Mathieu Perreault power play goal just twenty-seven seconds into the frame, his thirteenth of the year, going in unassisted. Winnipeg took the lead back as Byfuglien put away his eleventh of the season, thanks to Evander Kane and Alex Burmistrov. They held on from here to earn a 3-2 victory, with Byfuglien, Antropov, and Vokoun (25 for 28 in saves) being named the three stars.
A tad west, we have another installment in the battle of Alberta, with the Edmonton Oilers hosting their southern rivals, the Calgary Flames. Leland Irving and Devan Dubnyk are the young masked men. Edmonton began with a Ryan Nugent-Hopkins goal, his seventeenth of the season, fueled by Jordan Eberle. The Oilers added on with an Eberle goal, his thirty-first of the year, made possible by Teemu Hartikainen and Jeff Petry. Calgary got one back in the second period as Mark Giordano put down his eighth of the season, an unassisted goal. Edmonton replied in the third period as Nugent-Hopkins made his second of the night and eighteenth of the year, guided in by Ryan Jones and Eberle. The final stood at 3-1, with Eberle, Nugent-Hopkins, and Petry earning the three stars.
Finally, another big rivalry on the night is a part of the Battle of California, with the Anaheim Ducks hosting Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick and Jonas Hiller tend the twines. Los Angeles started with an Alec Martinez goal, his third of the season, fueled by Matt Greene and Colin Fraser. The Kings extended the lead with the twenty-second of the year for Anze Kopitar, coming off of Justin Williams and Greene. Williams kept Los Angeles going, scoring his eighteenth of the season, with a lone Drew Doughty helper. Anaheim got on the board in the second period as Cam Fowler shelved his fourth of the year, a power play goal powered by Ryan Getzlaf and Teemu Selanne. The Ducks pulled closer in the third period when Luca Sbisa made his fifth of the season, courtesy of Fowler and Selanne. The Kings iced it at 4-2 with a Mike Richards empty netter, his fifteenth of the year, made possible by Dustin Brown and Doughty. The three stars were Hiller (39 for 42), Kopitar, and Richards, while Williams, Greene, Doughty, Selanne, or Fowler could take the third slot.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
Ottawa, with the Senators hosting the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and Ben Bishop stand in the blue paint. Montreal opened with a Tomas Plekanec shorthanded goal, his fourteenth of the season, coming from Ryan White. Ottawa tied it in the third period when Colin Greening deposited his fifteenth of the year, with the help of Zack Smith and Erik Condra. The Senators won in overtime as Filip Kuba notched his sixth of the campaign, via Daniel Alfredsson and Erik Karlsson. Josh Gorges, Greening, and Kuba took the three stars, while any point earner can take the first slot, along with either goalie.
Down to Dallas, as the Stars bring in the Chicago Blackhawks. Corey Crawford and Kari Lehtonen got the starting nods. Chicago led off just ten seconds into the game as Dave Bolland sank his eighteenth of the season, thanks to Andrew Shaw and Bryan Bickell. The Blackhawks kept up the early blitz with a Patrick Sharp goal, his twenty-seventh of the year, made possible by Viktor Stalberg and Brent Seabrook. Chicago got things moving again in the third period on another quick goal, this time from the tape of Marian Hossa thirty-three seconds after the initial puck drop, his twenty-eighth of the season assisted by Patrick Kane. The Blackhawks followed their earlier pattern with another rapid goal, when Sharp potted his second of the game and twenty-eighth of the year, passed from Stalberg and Johnny Oduya. Dallas busted the shutout bid when Jamie Benn sank his twenty-second of the campaign, helped along by Steve Ott and Loui Eriksson. This left the final at 4-1, with the three stars going to Sharp, Bolland, and Hossa, while Stalberg gets an honorable mention.
Back in Canada, the Winnipeg Jets host the Washington Capitals. Tomas Vokoun and Ondrej Pavelec are in the creases. Winnipeg started the scoring with the twenty-fourth of the season by Andrew Ladd, courtesy of Blake Wheeler and Dustin Byfuglien. Washington answered quickly as Brooks Laich sank his fifteenth of the year, with a lone Marcus Johansson assist, only twenty-two seconds later. The Jets retook the lead in the second period as Nik Antropov shelved his twelfth of the season, with the help of Tim Stapleton and Antti Miettinen. The Capitals tied it early in the third period on a Mathieu Perreault power play goal just twenty-seven seconds into the frame, his thirteenth of the year, going in unassisted. Winnipeg took the lead back as Byfuglien put away his eleventh of the season, thanks to Evander Kane and Alex Burmistrov. They held on from here to earn a 3-2 victory, with Byfuglien, Antropov, and Vokoun (25 for 28 in saves) being named the three stars.
A tad west, we have another installment in the battle of Alberta, with the Edmonton Oilers hosting their southern rivals, the Calgary Flames. Leland Irving and Devan Dubnyk are the young masked men. Edmonton began with a Ryan Nugent-Hopkins goal, his seventeenth of the season, fueled by Jordan Eberle. The Oilers added on with an Eberle goal, his thirty-first of the year, made possible by Teemu Hartikainen and Jeff Petry. Calgary got one back in the second period as Mark Giordano put down his eighth of the season, an unassisted goal. Edmonton replied in the third period as Nugent-Hopkins made his second of the night and eighteenth of the year, guided in by Ryan Jones and Eberle. The final stood at 3-1, with Eberle, Nugent-Hopkins, and Petry earning the three stars.
Finally, another big rivalry on the night is a part of the Battle of California, with the Anaheim Ducks hosting Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick and Jonas Hiller tend the twines. Los Angeles started with an Alec Martinez goal, his third of the season, fueled by Matt Greene and Colin Fraser. The Kings extended the lead with the twenty-second of the year for Anze Kopitar, coming off of Justin Williams and Greene. Williams kept Los Angeles going, scoring his eighteenth of the season, with a lone Drew Doughty helper. Anaheim got on the board in the second period as Cam Fowler shelved his fourth of the year, a power play goal powered by Ryan Getzlaf and Teemu Selanne. The Ducks pulled closer in the third period when Luca Sbisa made his fifth of the season, courtesy of Fowler and Selanne. The Kings iced it at 4-2 with a Mike Richards empty netter, his fifteenth of the year, made possible by Dustin Brown and Doughty. The three stars were Hiller (39 for 42), Kopitar, and Richards, while Williams, Greene, Doughty, Selanne, or Fowler could take the third slot.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
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