The NHL goes for eight games tonight, starting in...
New York, as the Islanders host the Phoenix Coyotes. Mike Smith and Evgeni Nabokov are given the starting nods. New York began in the first period with a Peter Regin goal, with a lone assist by Brock Nelson. The Islanders added on with a John Tavares power play goal, powered by Frans Nielsen and Kyle Okposo. New York extended the lead in the second period on a Matt Donovan power play goal, guided in by Regin and Josh Bailey. Phoenix got on the board with a Martin Hanzal goal, fueled by Mikkel Boedker and Radim Vrbata. The Islanders replied on Tavares' second of the night, coming off of Michael Grabner and Bailey. New York padded the lead with a Colin McDonald goal, made possible by Nielsen and Grabner. Thomas Greiss relieved Smith for the third period. The Islanders struck again in the third period with a Bailey goal, with assists provided by Nielsen and Grabner, both of whom got a sock trick. The score was final at this time, with the Islanders winning 6-1, and the three stars were Tavares, Bailey, and Regin, while Nabokov (33 for 34 in saves), Nielsen, and Grabner got the honorable mentions.
Over in Philadelphia, the Flyers welcome the Florida Panthers. Tim Thomas and Steve Mason will play goal. Philadelphia struck first in the first period with the second of the season by Brayden Schenn, assisted by Jakub Voracek and Vincent Lecavalier. The Flyers added on as Braydon Coburn scored, with a lone assist by Sean Couturier. Thomas was replaced by Jacob Markstrom at this time. Florida got on the board in the second period with a Brad Boyes goal, guided in by Brian Campbell and Aleksander Barkov. They got no closer, losing 2-1, with the three stars being Mason (33 for 34 in saves), Coburn, and Markstrom (25 for 25 in saves in relief).
Across the state, the Pittsburgh Penguins host the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward and Marc-Andre Fleury will protect the nets. Pittsburgh started in the first period with a Jussi Jokinen goal, assisted by Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz on the power play. The Penguins added on in the second period as Paul Martin scored, thanks to Brooks Orpik and Crosby. Carolina got one back as Eric Staal scored, with the help of Justin Faulk and Andrej Sekera. The Hurricanes tied it in the third period with a Nathan Gerbe goal, his second of the season, made possible by Patrick Dwyer and Sekera. Pittsburgh took the lead back as Jokinen scored his second of the game, with assists from Evgeni Malkin and Olli Maatta. The Penguins extended the lead with a Tanner Glass goal, with a lone assist by Joe Vitale. Pittsburgh padded the lead as Jokinen finished his hat trick with his third of the game, a power play goal, powered by Maatta and Brandon Sutter. This produced the 5-2 final score, with the three stars being Jokinen, Crosby, and Maatta, while Sekera gets an honorable mention.
Up in Ontario, the Toronto Maple Leafs bring in the Colorado Avalanche. Semyon Varlamov and Jonathan Bernier are the young goalies. Toronto got going in the second period with a Joffrey Lupul goal, his second of the season, assisted by Carter Ashton. Colorado tied it with a Cory Sarich goal, thanks to Steve Downie and Matt Duchene. The Avalanche took the lead in the third period on a P.A. Parenteau goal, his third of the year, set up by Jamie McGinn and Nathan MacKinnon. They held on for a 2-1 win, with the three stars belonging to Varlamov (27 for 28 in saves), Parenteau, and Bernier (31 for 33 in saves).
Back stateside, the Buffalo Sabres host the Tampa Bay Lightning. Ben Bishop and Jhonas Enroth are the backups making spot starts. Buffalo was first to score in the second period on a Cody Hodgson power play goal, powered by Thomas Vanek and Jamie McBain. Tampa Bay tied it with a Tyler Johnson goal, fueled by Victor Hedman and Ondrej Palat. The Sabres took the lead with a power play goal by McBain, set up by Hodgson and Vanek. The Lightning retied the game in the third period on a power play goal by Teddy Purcell, his second of the season, helped along by Ryan Malone and Martin St. Louis. Tampa Bay won 3-2 in overtime on an Alex Killorn goal, passed from Eric Brewer and Valtteri Filppula. The three stars were Hodgson, McBain, and Vanek.
South to Nashville, where the Predators bring in the Minnesota Wild. Niklas Backstrom and Pekka Rinne are the veteran goalies. Minnesota led off with a power play goal by Zach Parise, his third of the season, powered by Mikko Koivu and Ryan Suter. Nashville tied it as Filip Forsberg scored a power play goal, assisted by Patric Hornqvist and Seth Jones. The Predators took the lead with a power play goal by Colin Wilson, coming off of Matt Cullen and Mike Fisher. Backstrom was pulled with an injury midway through the first period, and Josh Harding came on in relief. Harding promptly gave up a Nashville goal as Eric Nystrom converted a penalty shot. The Wild replied in the second period with a power play goal by Jared Spurgeon, via Nino Neiderreiter and Mikael Granlund. This was it for the scoring, with the three stars going to Rinne (32 for 34 in saves), Harding (19 for 20 in saves in relief), and Nystrom.
Northwest to Vancouver, as the Canucks host the New Jersey Devils. Cory Schneider and Roberto Luongo finally get to actually oppose each other in goal. New Jersey opened in the first period with the second of the season by Jaromir Jagr, assisted by Patrik Elias and Marek Zidlicky. The Devils added on with an Elias goal in the second period, his second of the year, fueled by Anton Volchenkov and Jagr. Vancouver got on the board as Daniel Sedin scored his second of the campaign, via Christopher Tanev and Ryan Stanton. The Canucks tied it with an Alexander Edler goal, set up by Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin. Vancouver won 3-2 in overtime as Jason Garrison potted his third of the year, coming off of David Booth. Daniel Sedin, Jagr, and Elias were given the three stars.
Finally, in San Jose, the Sharks welcome the New York Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist and Antti Niemi tend the twines. New York started in the first period with the third of the season by Brad Richards, a power play goal powered by Derick Brassard and Derek Stepan. San Jose tied it on a Marc-Edouard Vlasic shorthanded goal, set up by Joe Pavelski. The Sharks took the lead as Dan Boyle scored, thanks to Matthew Nieto and Pavelski. San Jose added on in the second period as Nieto scored, with the help of Tommy Wingels and Pavelski, the latter getting a natural sock trick. The Sharks extended the lead as Tomas Hertl scored his third of the year, via Andrew Desjardins and Jason Demers. Martin Biron replaced Lundqvist at this time. San Jose padded the lead with a Logan Couture goal, his second of the season, guided in by Patrick Marleau and Matt Irwin. The Sharks struck again with another Hertl goal, his second of the game and fourth of the year, passed from Joe Thornton. The Rangers answered in the third period when Derek Dorsett scored, with helpers from Brian Boyle and Anton Stralman. San Jose shot back as Hertl completed his hat trick on his fifth of the season, with assists provided by Demers and Tyler Kennedy on the power play. The Sharks kept going as Hertl scored his fourth of the game and sixth of the year, pushed through by Demers, who got a sock trick, and the goalie Niemi. San Jose added insult to injury with Justin Braun's second of the season, a power play goal made possible by Nieto and Wingels. This proved to be plenty good for a 9-2 win, with the three stars belonging to Hertl, Nieto, and Pavelski, while Wingels and Demers get the honorable mentions.
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