Eleven games to go with today. The first comes from...
Buffalo, as the Sabres host the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick and Ryan Miller guard the cages. Los Angeles was first to score in the first period on a Justin Williams goal, his seventh of the season, with a lone assist by Slava Voynov. Buffalo answered with a second period goal by Cody Hodgson, his sixth of the year, via Steve Ott and Matt Moulson. The Sabres took the lead in the third period as Hodgson scored his second of the game and seventh of the season, courtesy of Tyler Ennis and Moulson on the power play. The Kings tied it again as Dwight King scored his fifth of the year, with the help of Tyler Toffoli and Mike Richards. The tie lasted to a shootout, where goals by Moulson and Ennis gave Buffalo a 3-2 win. Moulson, Hodgson, and Ennis were given the three stars.
Down in Raleigh, the Carolina Hurricanes welcome the Colorado Avalanche. Semyon Varlamov and Justin Peters are set to start. Carolina led off in the first period on a Jordan Staal goal, his third of the season, made possible by Nathan Gerbe and Patrick Dwyer. The Hurricanes added on as Dwyer scored in the second period, thanks to Gerbe and Jordan Saal. Colorado got on the board as Paul Stastny scored his seventh of the year, a power play goal powered by Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog. They failed to tie it, losing 2-1, with the three stars being handed to Jordan Staal, Dwyer, and Peters (33 for 34 in saves), while Gerbe gets the honorable mention.
Back north, the New York Islanders bring in the Nashville Predators. Marek Mazanec and Kevin Poulin are the backups making spot starts. New York began in the first period as John Tavares scored his eighth of the season, a power play goal, coming off of Frans Nielsen. The Islanders added on as Pierre-Marc Bouchard scored his fourth of the year, with the help of Nielsen. New York extended the lead in the second period on a Kyle Okposo goal, his sixth of the season, guided in by Tavares and Brock Nelson. Nashville got on the board in the third period as Patric Hornqvist scored his fifth of the year, assisted by David Legwand and Shea Weber. This only made it 3-1, the final, with Tavares, Poulin (32 for 33 in saves), and Nielsen getting the honorable mentions.
Into New York City, as the Rangers host the New Jersey Devils. Martin Brodeur and Henrik Lundqvist tend the twines. New Jersey got going in the second period with a Ryan Carter goal, made possible by Andy Greene. New York tied it on a Marc Staal goal, his second of the season, fueled by Mats Zuccarello and Chris Kreider. The Devils took the lead back as Carter scored his second of the game, with the help of Adam Larsson and Peter Harrold. The Rangers retied it in the third period on a Dan Girardi goal, passed from Kreider and Ryan McDonagh. New Jersey took the lead as Dainius Zubrus scored his third of the year, thanks to Travis Zajac and Jaromir Jagr. This was good for a 3-2 win, with Carter, Kreider, and Brodeur (33 for 35 in saves) getting the three stars.
Down into Washington, as the Capitals welcome the Columbus Blue Jackets. Sergei Bobrovsky and Braden Holtby are given the starting nods. Columbus dented the scoreboard in the second period as Brandon Dubinsky scored a shorthanded goal, his fifth of the season, with a lone helper by Mark Letestu. Washington got on the board as John Carlson netted his fourth of the year, fueled by Martin Erat and Mikhail Grabovski. The Capitals took the lead in the third period as Joel Ward notched his ninth of the season, a shorthanded goal, set up by Alexander Urbom and Brooks Laich. The Blue Jackets retied it as Jared Boll scored, with the help of James Wisniewski and Sean Collins. Columbus took the lead as Cam Atkinson scored his fifth of the year, passed from Dubinsky. Washington tied it again with a Grabovski goal, his sixth of the season, with assists provided by Jason Chimera and Mike Green. The Capitals won it 4-3 in overtime with the fourteenth of the year by Alex Ovechkin, guided in by Marcus Johansson and Carlson. The three stars were Carlson, Grabovski, and Dubinsky.
Northwest to Detroit, as the Red Wings bring in the Winnipeg Jets. Ondrej Pavelec and Jimmy Howard are between the pipes. Winnipeg struck first in the first period on a Bryan Little goal, his eleventh of the season, assisted by Blake Wheeler and Andrew Ladd. Detroit tied it with a Pavel Datsyuk power play goal, his eighth of the year, powered by Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas Kronwall. The Jets took the lead back in the third period with a Zach Bogosian goal, fueled by Olli Jokinen and Evander Kane. The Red Wings pulled even as Datsyuk scored his second of the game and ninth of the campaign, another power play goal, made possible by Johan Franzen and Daniel Alfredsson. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Winnipeg won the game 3-2 as Devin Setoguchi and Ladd scored to top a lone tally by Alfredsson. The three stars were Datsyuk, Ladd, and Alfredsson.
Into Canada, as the Montreal Canadiens host the Tampa Bay Lightning. Ben Bishop and Carey Price are in the creases. Tampa Bay started in the first period as Ryan Malone scored his third of the season, assisted by Eric Brewer and B.J. Crombeen. Montreal tied it in the third period on a Daniel Briere goal, his second of the year, with a lone assist from Max Pacioretty. The tie lasted to a shootout, where the only goal was scored by Valtteri Filppula, giving the Lightning a 2-1 win. The three stars were Price (44 for 45 in saves), Bishop (28 for 29 in saves), and Filppula.
Over in Ontario, the Ottawa Senators welcome the Philadelphia Flyers. Steve Mason and Craig Anderson are the overrated goalies. Philadelphia opened in the first period with a Matt Read goal, his fourth of the season, courtesy of Steve Downie and Sean Couturier. The Flyers added on as Jakub Voracek scored his second of the year in the second period, thanks to Scott Hartnell and Claude Giroux. Philadelphia extended the lead as Voracek scored his second of the game and third of the season, helped along by Wayne Simmonds and Giroux on the power play. The Flyers padded the lead in the third period as Vincent Lecavalier scored his seventh of the year, via Brayden Schenn. Philadelphia iced it at 5-0 with a Schenn power play goal, his fourth of the campaign, powered by Lecavalier and Erik Gustafsson. The three stars were Voracek, Mason (24 save shutout), and Lecavalier, while Schenn and Giroux were given the honorable mentions.
Way to the south, the Florida Panthers bring in the Anaheim Ducks. Frederik Andersen and Tim Thomas have the green light to play goal. Anaheim led off in the first period with an Andrew Cogliano goal, his sixth of the season, coming off of Daniel Winnik and Devante Smith-Pelly. The Ducks added on as Hampus Lindholm scored his second of the year, via Nick Bonino and Emerson Etem. Florida got on the board in the second period with a Shawn Matthias goal, his second of the season, passed from Brian Campbell and Krys Barch. The Panthers tied it as Scottie Upshall scored his third of the year, thanks to Erik Gudbranson and Jonathan Huberdeau. Florida gained the lead in the third period as Brad Boyes potted his sixth of the campaign, assisted by Upshall. This was good for a 3-2 win, with the three stars being Upshall, Boyes, and Thomas (32 for 34 in saves).
Backtracking to St. Louis, as the Blues host the Phoenix Coyotes. Mike Smith and Jaroslav Halak protect the nets. St. Louis was first to score in the first period on a Maxim Lapierre goal, his second of the season, courtesy of Jay Bouwmeester and Alex Pietrangelo. Phoenix tied it with a David Moss goal, helped along by Mike Ribeiro and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The Coyotes took the lead as Mikkel Boedker scored his fourth of the year, with helpers provided by Rob Klinkhammer and Rostislav Klesla. The Blues tied it in the third period as Roman Polak put away his second of the season, via Alexander Steen and David Backes. Phoenix won the game 3-2 in overtime as Ekman-Larsson scored his fourth of the year, assisted by Ribeiro and Shane Doan. The three stars were Ekman-Larsson, Ribeiro, and Smith (37 for 39 in saves).
Finally, in Calgary, the Flames welcome the San Jose Sharks. Alex Stalock and Reto Berra are the little-known goalies. San Jose struck first in the first period as Logan Couture scored his eighth of the season, assisted by Patrick Marleau and Tyler Kennedy. The Sharks added on as Marleau scored his ninth of the year, a power play goal powered by Joe Pavelski and Joe Thornton. Calgary got on the board in the third period with a Kris Russell goal, his third of the season, coming on the power play with a lone assist from Sean Monahan. The Flames tied it with a Michael Cammalleri goal, his eighth of the year, passed from Chris Butler. San Jose won 3-2 in overtime as Brad Stuart scored, with the help of Thornton and Dan Boyle. The three stars were Marleau, Stuart, and Thornton.
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Buffalo, as the Sabres host the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick and Ryan Miller guard the cages. Los Angeles was first to score in the first period on a Justin Williams goal, his seventh of the season, with a lone assist by Slava Voynov. Buffalo answered with a second period goal by Cody Hodgson, his sixth of the year, via Steve Ott and Matt Moulson. The Sabres took the lead in the third period as Hodgson scored his second of the game and seventh of the season, courtesy of Tyler Ennis and Moulson on the power play. The Kings tied it again as Dwight King scored his fifth of the year, with the help of Tyler Toffoli and Mike Richards. The tie lasted to a shootout, where goals by Moulson and Ennis gave Buffalo a 3-2 win. Moulson, Hodgson, and Ennis were given the three stars.
Down in Raleigh, the Carolina Hurricanes welcome the Colorado Avalanche. Semyon Varlamov and Justin Peters are set to start. Carolina led off in the first period on a Jordan Staal goal, his third of the season, made possible by Nathan Gerbe and Patrick Dwyer. The Hurricanes added on as Dwyer scored in the second period, thanks to Gerbe and Jordan Saal. Colorado got on the board as Paul Stastny scored his seventh of the year, a power play goal powered by Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog. They failed to tie it, losing 2-1, with the three stars being handed to Jordan Staal, Dwyer, and Peters (33 for 34 in saves), while Gerbe gets the honorable mention.
Back north, the New York Islanders bring in the Nashville Predators. Marek Mazanec and Kevin Poulin are the backups making spot starts. New York began in the first period as John Tavares scored his eighth of the season, a power play goal, coming off of Frans Nielsen. The Islanders added on as Pierre-Marc Bouchard scored his fourth of the year, with the help of Nielsen. New York extended the lead in the second period on a Kyle Okposo goal, his sixth of the season, guided in by Tavares and Brock Nelson. Nashville got on the board in the third period as Patric Hornqvist scored his fifth of the year, assisted by David Legwand and Shea Weber. This only made it 3-1, the final, with Tavares, Poulin (32 for 33 in saves), and Nielsen getting the honorable mentions.
Into New York City, as the Rangers host the New Jersey Devils. Martin Brodeur and Henrik Lundqvist tend the twines. New Jersey got going in the second period with a Ryan Carter goal, made possible by Andy Greene. New York tied it on a Marc Staal goal, his second of the season, fueled by Mats Zuccarello and Chris Kreider. The Devils took the lead back as Carter scored his second of the game, with the help of Adam Larsson and Peter Harrold. The Rangers retied it in the third period on a Dan Girardi goal, passed from Kreider and Ryan McDonagh. New Jersey took the lead as Dainius Zubrus scored his third of the year, thanks to Travis Zajac and Jaromir Jagr. This was good for a 3-2 win, with Carter, Kreider, and Brodeur (33 for 35 in saves) getting the three stars.
Down into Washington, as the Capitals welcome the Columbus Blue Jackets. Sergei Bobrovsky and Braden Holtby are given the starting nods. Columbus dented the scoreboard in the second period as Brandon Dubinsky scored a shorthanded goal, his fifth of the season, with a lone helper by Mark Letestu. Washington got on the board as John Carlson netted his fourth of the year, fueled by Martin Erat and Mikhail Grabovski. The Capitals took the lead in the third period as Joel Ward notched his ninth of the season, a shorthanded goal, set up by Alexander Urbom and Brooks Laich. The Blue Jackets retied it as Jared Boll scored, with the help of James Wisniewski and Sean Collins. Columbus took the lead as Cam Atkinson scored his fifth of the year, passed from Dubinsky. Washington tied it again with a Grabovski goal, his sixth of the season, with assists provided by Jason Chimera and Mike Green. The Capitals won it 4-3 in overtime with the fourteenth of the year by Alex Ovechkin, guided in by Marcus Johansson and Carlson. The three stars were Carlson, Grabovski, and Dubinsky.
Northwest to Detroit, as the Red Wings bring in the Winnipeg Jets. Ondrej Pavelec and Jimmy Howard are between the pipes. Winnipeg struck first in the first period on a Bryan Little goal, his eleventh of the season, assisted by Blake Wheeler and Andrew Ladd. Detroit tied it with a Pavel Datsyuk power play goal, his eighth of the year, powered by Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas Kronwall. The Jets took the lead back in the third period with a Zach Bogosian goal, fueled by Olli Jokinen and Evander Kane. The Red Wings pulled even as Datsyuk scored his second of the game and ninth of the campaign, another power play goal, made possible by Johan Franzen and Daniel Alfredsson. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Winnipeg won the game 3-2 as Devin Setoguchi and Ladd scored to top a lone tally by Alfredsson. The three stars were Datsyuk, Ladd, and Alfredsson.
Into Canada, as the Montreal Canadiens host the Tampa Bay Lightning. Ben Bishop and Carey Price are in the creases. Tampa Bay started in the first period as Ryan Malone scored his third of the season, assisted by Eric Brewer and B.J. Crombeen. Montreal tied it in the third period on a Daniel Briere goal, his second of the year, with a lone assist from Max Pacioretty. The tie lasted to a shootout, where the only goal was scored by Valtteri Filppula, giving the Lightning a 2-1 win. The three stars were Price (44 for 45 in saves), Bishop (28 for 29 in saves), and Filppula.
Over in Ontario, the Ottawa Senators welcome the Philadelphia Flyers. Steve Mason and Craig Anderson are the overrated goalies. Philadelphia opened in the first period with a Matt Read goal, his fourth of the season, courtesy of Steve Downie and Sean Couturier. The Flyers added on as Jakub Voracek scored his second of the year in the second period, thanks to Scott Hartnell and Claude Giroux. Philadelphia extended the lead as Voracek scored his second of the game and third of the season, helped along by Wayne Simmonds and Giroux on the power play. The Flyers padded the lead in the third period as Vincent Lecavalier scored his seventh of the year, via Brayden Schenn. Philadelphia iced it at 5-0 with a Schenn power play goal, his fourth of the campaign, powered by Lecavalier and Erik Gustafsson. The three stars were Voracek, Mason (24 save shutout), and Lecavalier, while Schenn and Giroux were given the honorable mentions.
Way to the south, the Florida Panthers bring in the Anaheim Ducks. Frederik Andersen and Tim Thomas have the green light to play goal. Anaheim led off in the first period with an Andrew Cogliano goal, his sixth of the season, coming off of Daniel Winnik and Devante Smith-Pelly. The Ducks added on as Hampus Lindholm scored his second of the year, via Nick Bonino and Emerson Etem. Florida got on the board in the second period with a Shawn Matthias goal, his second of the season, passed from Brian Campbell and Krys Barch. The Panthers tied it as Scottie Upshall scored his third of the year, thanks to Erik Gudbranson and Jonathan Huberdeau. Florida gained the lead in the third period as Brad Boyes potted his sixth of the campaign, assisted by Upshall. This was good for a 3-2 win, with the three stars being Upshall, Boyes, and Thomas (32 for 34 in saves).
Backtracking to St. Louis, as the Blues host the Phoenix Coyotes. Mike Smith and Jaroslav Halak protect the nets. St. Louis was first to score in the first period on a Maxim Lapierre goal, his second of the season, courtesy of Jay Bouwmeester and Alex Pietrangelo. Phoenix tied it with a David Moss goal, helped along by Mike Ribeiro and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The Coyotes took the lead as Mikkel Boedker scored his fourth of the year, with helpers provided by Rob Klinkhammer and Rostislav Klesla. The Blues tied it in the third period as Roman Polak put away his second of the season, via Alexander Steen and David Backes. Phoenix won the game 3-2 in overtime as Ekman-Larsson scored his fourth of the year, assisted by Ribeiro and Shane Doan. The three stars were Ekman-Larsson, Ribeiro, and Smith (37 for 39 in saves).
Finally, in Calgary, the Flames welcome the San Jose Sharks. Alex Stalock and Reto Berra are the little-known goalies. San Jose struck first in the first period as Logan Couture scored his eighth of the season, assisted by Patrick Marleau and Tyler Kennedy. The Sharks added on as Marleau scored his ninth of the year, a power play goal powered by Joe Pavelski and Joe Thornton. Calgary got on the board in the third period with a Kris Russell goal, his third of the season, coming on the power play with a lone assist from Sean Monahan. The Flames tied it with a Michael Cammalleri goal, his eighth of the year, passed from Chris Butler. San Jose won 3-2 in overtime as Brad Stuart scored, with the help of Thornton and Dan Boyle. The three stars were Marleau, Stuart, and Thornton.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.