Six games on tonight, beginning in...
Pittsburgh, as the Penguins host the New York Islanders. Evgeni Nabokov and Jeff Zatkoff are set to start. New York struck first in the first period with a Matt Moulson power play goal, his sixth of the season, powered by Frans Nielsen and John Tavares. Pittsburgh tied it on a Jussi Jokinen goal, his fifth of the year, courtesy of Brandon Sutter and Matt Niskanen. The Penguins took the lead in the second period as Sidney Crosby notched his eighth of the season, assisted by Chris Kunitz. The Islanders tied it again as Nielsen recorded his sixth of the year, fueled by Thomas Hickey and Radek Martinek. Pittsburgh took the lead back as Deryk Engelland scored, thanks to Joe Vitale and Niskanen. New York once again tied it on a Pierre-Marc Bouchard goal, made possible by Martinek. The Islanders took the lead late on a Josh Bailey goal, his fourth of the campaign, set up by Nielsen and Kyle Okposo. They held on for a 4-3 win, with Nielsen, Martinek, and Niskanen getting the three stars.
A little west, the Columbus Blue Jackets welcome the Toronto Maple Leafs. Jonathan Bernier and Sergei Bobrovsky are the young goalies. Columbus was first to score in the first period on a power play goal by Ryan Murray, powered by R.J. Umberger and James Wisniewski. Toronto tied it in the second period as Phil Kessel scored his sixth of the season, fueled by Tyler Bozak and James van Riemsdyk. The Blue Jackets took the lead back in the third period as Marian Gaborik scored his fifth of the year, thanks to Nick Foligno and Artem Anisimov. Columbus added on as Brandon Dubinsky scored his third of the season, a shorthanded and unassisted goal. The Maple Leafs got one back as Dave Bolland scored his fourth of the year, guided in by Paul Ranger and Mason Raymond. The Blue Jackets replied on an empty net goal by Ryan Johansen, his third of the season, set up by Dubinsky and Fedor Tyutin. Columbus wrapped it up at 5-2 with a Foligno goal, his third of the year, passed from Mark Letestu and Tyutin. The three stars were Dubinsky, Foligno, and Tyutin.
Up in Ottawa, the Senators bring in the Anaheim Ducks. Frederik Andersen and the similarly named Craig Anderson are in between the pipes. Anaheim started in the first period with a Pat Maroon goal, his second of the season, via Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf. The Ducks added on as Getzlaf scored his fourth of the year, courtesy of Perry. Ottawa got on the board with a Mika Zibanejad power play goal in the second period, powered by Chris Phillips and Milan Michalek. They couldn't get an equalizer, falling 2-1, with the three stars being Getzlaf, Andersen (26 for 27 in saves), and Perry.
South to Florida, the Panthers host the Buffalo Sabres. Jhonas Enroth and Jacob Markstrom are given the starting nods. Florida opened in the first period with a Jesse Winchester goal, his second of the season, coming off of Sean Bergenheim and Erik Gudbranson. Buffalo tied it in the second period as Rasmus Ristolainen scored, with the help of Thomas Vanek and Jamie McBain. The Sabres took the lead in the third period as Steve Ott scored, thanks to Christian Ehrhoff and Marcus Foligno. Buffalo iced it at 3-1 with an empty net goal by Cody Hodgson, his fourth of the year, set up by Cody McCormick. The three stars were Enroth (44 for 45 in saves), Ott, and Ristolainen.
Back to the northwest, the St. Louis Blues welcome the Vancouver Canucks. Eddie Lack is mismatched with Jaroslav Halak in goal. Vancouver dented the scoreboard in the first period with a Chris Higgins goal, his fourth of the season, guided in by Brad Richardson and Mike Santorelli. The Canucks added on as Ryan Kesler scored his sixth of the year in the second period, with a lone helper by Santorelli. St. Louis tied it with a power play goal by Alexander Steen, his eighth of the season, powered by T.J. Oshie and Kevin Shattenkirk. The Blues tied it in the third period on a Vladimir Sobotka goal, his second of the year, passed from Steen and Shattenkirk. Vancouver won 3-2 in overtime as Kesler scored his second of the game and seventh of the campaign, a power play goal, helped along by Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin. Kesler, Steen, and Santorelli were given the three stars, while Shattenkirk gets an honorable mention.
Finally, we head west to finish in Colorado, as the Avalanche bring in the Carolina Hurricanes. Justin Peters and Semyon Varlamov are the masked men. Colorado got going in the first period with an Erik Johnson goal, his second of the season, assisted by Paul Stastny and Alex Tanguay. The Avalanche added on as Matt Duchene scored his seventh of the year, thanks to Ryan O'Reilly and Steve Downie. Carolina got on the board in the second period with a Drayson Bowman goal, fueled by Jordan Staal and Andrej Sekera. Colorado answered as Tanguay scored his third of the season, with helpers provided by Duchene and Andre Benoit. The Avalanche extended the lead on an unassisted power play goal by Duchene, his second of the game and eighth of the year. The Hurricanes got one back as Sekera scored, via Jiri Tlusty and Alexander Semin. They got no closer, dropping a 4-2 result, with the three stars being Duchene, Tanguay, and Sekera.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
Pittsburgh, as the Penguins host the New York Islanders. Evgeni Nabokov and Jeff Zatkoff are set to start. New York struck first in the first period with a Matt Moulson power play goal, his sixth of the season, powered by Frans Nielsen and John Tavares. Pittsburgh tied it on a Jussi Jokinen goal, his fifth of the year, courtesy of Brandon Sutter and Matt Niskanen. The Penguins took the lead in the second period as Sidney Crosby notched his eighth of the season, assisted by Chris Kunitz. The Islanders tied it again as Nielsen recorded his sixth of the year, fueled by Thomas Hickey and Radek Martinek. Pittsburgh took the lead back as Deryk Engelland scored, thanks to Joe Vitale and Niskanen. New York once again tied it on a Pierre-Marc Bouchard goal, made possible by Martinek. The Islanders took the lead late on a Josh Bailey goal, his fourth of the campaign, set up by Nielsen and Kyle Okposo. They held on for a 4-3 win, with Nielsen, Martinek, and Niskanen getting the three stars.
A little west, the Columbus Blue Jackets welcome the Toronto Maple Leafs. Jonathan Bernier and Sergei Bobrovsky are the young goalies. Columbus was first to score in the first period on a power play goal by Ryan Murray, powered by R.J. Umberger and James Wisniewski. Toronto tied it in the second period as Phil Kessel scored his sixth of the season, fueled by Tyler Bozak and James van Riemsdyk. The Blue Jackets took the lead back in the third period as Marian Gaborik scored his fifth of the year, thanks to Nick Foligno and Artem Anisimov. Columbus added on as Brandon Dubinsky scored his third of the season, a shorthanded and unassisted goal. The Maple Leafs got one back as Dave Bolland scored his fourth of the year, guided in by Paul Ranger and Mason Raymond. The Blue Jackets replied on an empty net goal by Ryan Johansen, his third of the season, set up by Dubinsky and Fedor Tyutin. Columbus wrapped it up at 5-2 with a Foligno goal, his third of the year, passed from Mark Letestu and Tyutin. The three stars were Dubinsky, Foligno, and Tyutin.
Up in Ottawa, the Senators bring in the Anaheim Ducks. Frederik Andersen and the similarly named Craig Anderson are in between the pipes. Anaheim started in the first period with a Pat Maroon goal, his second of the season, via Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf. The Ducks added on as Getzlaf scored his fourth of the year, courtesy of Perry. Ottawa got on the board with a Mika Zibanejad power play goal in the second period, powered by Chris Phillips and Milan Michalek. They couldn't get an equalizer, falling 2-1, with the three stars being Getzlaf, Andersen (26 for 27 in saves), and Perry.
South to Florida, the Panthers host the Buffalo Sabres. Jhonas Enroth and Jacob Markstrom are given the starting nods. Florida opened in the first period with a Jesse Winchester goal, his second of the season, coming off of Sean Bergenheim and Erik Gudbranson. Buffalo tied it in the second period as Rasmus Ristolainen scored, with the help of Thomas Vanek and Jamie McBain. The Sabres took the lead in the third period as Steve Ott scored, thanks to Christian Ehrhoff and Marcus Foligno. Buffalo iced it at 3-1 with an empty net goal by Cody Hodgson, his fourth of the year, set up by Cody McCormick. The three stars were Enroth (44 for 45 in saves), Ott, and Ristolainen.
Back to the northwest, the St. Louis Blues welcome the Vancouver Canucks. Eddie Lack is mismatched with Jaroslav Halak in goal. Vancouver dented the scoreboard in the first period with a Chris Higgins goal, his fourth of the season, guided in by Brad Richardson and Mike Santorelli. The Canucks added on as Ryan Kesler scored his sixth of the year in the second period, with a lone helper by Santorelli. St. Louis tied it with a power play goal by Alexander Steen, his eighth of the season, powered by T.J. Oshie and Kevin Shattenkirk. The Blues tied it in the third period on a Vladimir Sobotka goal, his second of the year, passed from Steen and Shattenkirk. Vancouver won 3-2 in overtime as Kesler scored his second of the game and seventh of the campaign, a power play goal, helped along by Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin. Kesler, Steen, and Santorelli were given the three stars, while Shattenkirk gets an honorable mention.
Finally, we head west to finish in Colorado, as the Avalanche bring in the Carolina Hurricanes. Justin Peters and Semyon Varlamov are the masked men. Colorado got going in the first period with an Erik Johnson goal, his second of the season, assisted by Paul Stastny and Alex Tanguay. The Avalanche added on as Matt Duchene scored his seventh of the year, thanks to Ryan O'Reilly and Steve Downie. Carolina got on the board in the second period with a Drayson Bowman goal, fueled by Jordan Staal and Andrej Sekera. Colorado answered as Tanguay scored his third of the season, with helpers provided by Duchene and Andre Benoit. The Avalanche extended the lead on an unassisted power play goal by Duchene, his second of the game and eighth of the year. The Hurricanes got one back as Sekera scored, via Jiri Tlusty and Alexander Semin. They got no closer, dropping a 4-2 result, with the three stars being Duchene, Tanguay, and Sekera.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.