Eleven games in North America today after ten from the Russia area. We begin with a matinee in...
Phoenix, where the Coyotes host the Edmonton Oilers. Jason LaBarbera and Mike Smith are set to start. Edmonton was first to score in the first period with an unassisted goal by Tyler Pitlick. Phoenix tied it in the second period on a Martin Hanzal goal, his fifth of the season, assisted by Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Shane Doan. The Coyotes took the lead on a Michael Stone goal, his second of the year. Phoenix added on as David Schlemko scored, thanks to Tim Kennedy and Radim Vrbata. The Oilers got one back as Will Acton scored his second of the season, via Ben Eager and Luke Gazdic. Edmonton tied it on a David Perron goal, his second of the year, courtesy of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Justin Schultz. The Oilers took the lead on a third period goal by Ryan Jones, his second of the season, made possible by Nugent-Hopkins and Nail Yakupov. The Coyotes retied it on a Keith Yandle power play goal, powered by Ekman-Larsson and Vrbata. Phoenix took the lead as Ekman-Larsson scored a power play goal, set up by Yandle and Vrbata. They would win 5-4, with the three stars being Ekman-Larsson, Vrbata, and Yandle, while Nugent-Hopkins gets an honorable mention.
To the northeast, the Boston Bruins welcome the New Jersey Devils. Martin Brodeur and Tuukka Rask are in the creases. Boston led off in the first period as Torey Krug scored his fourth of the season, a power play goal powered by Jarome Iginla and David Krejci. The Bruins added on with Iginla's second of the year, via Dougie Hamilton and the goalie Rask. New Jersey got on the board with an Adam Henrique goal, his third of the season, made possible by Eric Gelinas and Jaromir Jagr on the power play. Boston answered with a Milan Lucic goal, his sixth of the year, guided in by Krejci and Iginla. The Devils shot back in the second period with a power play goal by Damien Brunner, his fourth of the season, passed from Steve Bernier and Andy Greene. New Jersey tied it in the third period on a Marek Zidlicky power play goal, courtesy of Patrik Elias and Michael Ryder. The Devils took the lead late as Greene scored a power play goal, coming off of Brunner and Jagr. They would go on to win 4-3, with Greene, Brunner, and Jagr getting the three stars, while Iginla and Krejci got the honorable mentions.
Back west a bit, the Detroit Red Wings bring in the New York Rangers. Cam Talbot is mismatched with Jimmy Howard in goal. Detroit struck first in the first period on a Drew Miller goal, assisted by Joakim Andersson and Danny DeKeyser. New York tied it in the second period as Benoit Pouliot scored a power play goal, powered by Brian Boyle and Ryan McDonagh. The Red Wings took the lead back with a power play goal by Daniel Alfredsson, his second of the season, with a lone assist by Pavel Datsyuk. The Rangers retied it in the third period on a Mats Zuccarello goal, fueled by Dominic Moore and Marc Staal. New York won it 3-2 in overtime as Derick Brassard scored, thanks to Pouliot. The three stars were given to Brassard, Pouliot, and Talbot (32 for 34 in saves).
Down in Tampa Bay, the Lightning host the Buffalo Sabres. Ryan Miller and Ben Bishop make the starts. Tampa Bay began in the first period on at Tyler Johnson goal, his third of the season, coming on the power play from Valtteri Filppula and Matthew Carle. Buffalo tied it in the second period as Brian Flynn scored his second of the year, courtesy of Cody McCormick and Ville Leino. The Sabres took the lead in the third period as Thomas Vanek netted his fourth of the season, via Marcus Foligno and Zemgus Girgensons. The Lightning tied it again with a Martin St. Louis goal, his sixth of the year, guided in by Steven Stamkos and Radko Gudas. Tampa Bay took the lead as Ondrej Palat scored his third of the campaign, with a lone assist by Johnson. This held up for a 3-2 win, with the three stars being Johnson, Palat, and Miller (36 for 39 in saves).
West to Dallas, as the Stars welcome the Winnipeg Jets. Ondrej Pavelec and Kari Lehtonen are the solid starters. Winnipeg got going in the second period on an Evander Kane goal, his sixth of the season, assisted by Dustin Byfuglien and Mark Stuart. Dallas tied it in the third period as Stephane Robidas scored, thanks to Vernon Fiddler and Lane MacDermid. The Jets won 2-1 in the shootout with a lone tally by Andrew Ladd. The three stars were Pavelec (35 for 36 in saves), Lehtonen (37 for 38 in saves), and Ladd.
Back northeast, the Montreal Canadiens bring in the San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi and Carey Price tend the twines. San Jose dented the scoreboard in the second period as Logan Couture scored his fifth of the season, a power play goal powered by Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau. The Sharks added on in the third period as Couture scored his second of the game and sixth of the year, passed from Marleau and Tyler Kennedy. The final stood at 2-0, with the three stars awarded to Couture, Niemi (22 save shutout), and Marleau.
Crossing the border to New York, as the Islanders host the Philadelphia Flyers. Steve Mason and Kevin Poulin are the weak goalies. Philadelphia opened in the first period with the second of the season by Vincent Lecavalier, a power play goal coming off of Mark Streit and Claude Giroux. The Flyers added on as Jakub Voracek scored, thanks to Brayden Schenn and Erik Gustafsson. New York got on the board with a Kyle Okposo goal, his fourth of the year, made possible by Thomas Hickey and John Tavares. Philadelphia replied as Lecavalier scored his second of the game and third of the season, passed from Michael Raffl and Streit. The Islanders got one back in the second period as Frans Nielsen scored his seventh of the year, a shorthanded goal set up by Peter Regin. The Flyers shot back in the third period as Lecavalier finished his hat trick with his fourth of the season, courtesy of Giroux and Max Talbot. Philadelphia wrapped it up at 5-2 with a Matt Read empty net goal, his second of the year, assisted by Nicklas Grossmann and Sean Couturier. Lecavalier, Giroux, and Streit were given the three stars.
To Canada again, as the Toronto Maple Leafs welcome the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury and James Reimer protect the nets. Pittsburgh started in the first period on a Kris Letang power play goal, powered by Evgeni Malkin and Paul Martin. Toronto tied it as Dave Bolland scored his fifth of the season, a shorthanded goal set up by Dion Phaneuf. The Maple Leafs took the lead in the third period on a Nazem Kadri goal, his fourth of the year, via Phil Kessel and Jamex van Riemsdyk. Toronto added on with a Kessel power play goal, his seventh of the season, assisted by van Riemsdyk and Cody Franson. The Maple Leafs iced it with an unassisted empty net goal by Bolland, his second of the game and sixth of the year making it 4-1. The three stars were Kessel, Bolland, and Reimer (37 for 38 in saves), while van Riemsdyk was given the honorable mention.
Southwest to Chicago, with the Blackhawks bringing in the Minnesota Wild. Niklas Backstrom and Corey Crawford guard the cages. Minnesota began in the first period with a Zach Parise power play goal, his sixth of the season, fueled by Ryan Suter. The Wild added on in the second period as Kyle Brodziak scored his second of the year, thanks to Marco Scandella and Matt Cooke. Chicago got on the board with a Bryan Bickell goal, his fourth of the season, made possible by Nick Leddy and Michal Rozsival. Minnesota replied with a Jason Pominville goal, his fifth of the year, guided in by Mikael Granlund and Suter. The Wild extended the lead in the third period as Pominville scored his second of the game and sixth of the season, with a lone assist by Granlund. The Blackhawks got one back as Patrick Kane recorded his sixth of the year, a power play goal powered by Jonathan Toews and Brent Seabrook. Minnesota shot back on a Justin Fontaine goal, his third of the season, helped along by Mikko Koivu and Nate Prosser. Chicago took one back late in the third period as Marcus Kruger scored, with helpers provided by Brandon Bollig and Leddy. They ended up losing 5-3, with the three stars being Pominville, Suter, and Granlund, while Leddy gets an honorable mention.
Over in Nashville, the Predators host the St. Louis Blues. Jaroslav Halak faces a lesser foe in Carter Hutton in goal. St. Louis led off in the first period with a power play goal by Alexander Steen, his ninth of the season, powered by Kevin Shattenkirk and Jaden Schwartz. The Blues added on as T.J. Oshie scored his second of the year in the second period, via Alex Pietrangelo. St. Louis extended the lead as Schwartz scored his second of the season, thanks to Vladimir Sobotka and Vladimir Tarasenko. Nashville got on the board in the third period with a Nick Spaling shorthanded goal, set up by Mattias Ekholm. The Blues answered with another Steen goal, his second of the game and tenth of the year, guided in by Oshie and David Backes. St. Louis chased Hutton on a Derek Roy goal, his third of the campaign, fueled by Tarasenko and Jay Bouwmeester. Magnus Hellberg relieved Hutton. The Blues wrapped it up at 6-1 with a Pietrangelo power play goal, pushed through by Backes and Bouwmeester. The three stars were awarded to Steen, Oshie, and Schwartz, while Pietrangelo, Tarasenko, Backes, and Bouwmeester get the honorable mentions.
Finally, in Calgary, the Flames welcome the Washington Capitals. Braden Holtby and Karri Ramo are in the blue paint. Calgary opened in the first period with a Kris Russell goal, assisted by Michael Cammalleri and Dennis Wideman. The Flames added on with a Jiri Hudler goal, his fifth of the season, passed from Sean Monahan and Sven Baertschi. Washington got on the board as Jason Chimera scored his third of the year, thanks to Mikhail Grabovski and Eric Fehr. Calgary replied as Cammalleri scored his second of the season, via Wideman and Russell. The Capitals chipped back in the second period on an Aaron Volpatti goal, courtesy of Nate Schmidt and Mike Green. The Flames replied in the third period as Cammalleri scored his second of the game and third of the year, made possible by Joe Colborne. Calgary iced it at 5-2 with a Curtis Glencross goal, his third of the campaign, helped along by Matt Stajan and T.J. Galiardi. The three stars were Cammalleri, Russell, and Wideman.
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