Big night tonight with eleven games on. We begin in...
Boston, where the Bruins host the Toronto Maple Leafs. Jonathan Bernier and Tuukka Rask protect the nets. Boston led off with a first period goal by Brad Marchand, his eleventh of the season, assisted by Reilly Smith and Patrice Bergeron. Toronto tied it on a Tyler Bozak goal, his eighth of the year, thanks to Carl Gunnarsson and Phil Kessel. The Bruins took the lead back on a Bergeron goal, his eleventh of the season, passed from Zdeno Chara and Marchand. The Maple Leafs tied it again on another Bozak goal, his ninth of the year and second of the game, a power play goal powered by James van Riemsdyk and Kessel. Toronto took the lead in the second period on a power play goal by Jake Gardiner, his third of the season, guided in by Kessel, who got a sock trick, and Dion Phaneuf. The Maple Leafs added on in the third period with a van Riemsdyk goal, his eighteenth of the year, made possible by Bozak and Joffrey Lupul. Boston got one back with a Gregory Campbell goal, his third of the campaign, with a lone assist from Daniel Paille. They failed to tie the game, losing 4-3, with the three stars going to Bozak, Kessel, and van Riemsdyk, while Marchand and Bergeron get the honorable mentions.
Down in New York, the Rangers welcome the Tampa Bay Lightning. Ben Bishop and Henrik Lundqvist are the masked men. New York began in the first period with a Brad Richards goal, his twelfth of the season, coming off of Ryan Callahan and Carl Hagelin. Tampa Bay tied it in the second period with a Victor Hedman goal, his tenth of the year, a power play goal powered by Martin St. Louis and Teddy Purcell. The Lightning took the lead on a Nikita Kucherov goal, his seventh of the campaign, via Radko Gudas and J.T. Brown. This held up for a 2-1 win, with the three stars being Kucherov, Bishop (33 for 34 in saves), and Hedman.
Along to DC, as the Washington Capitals bring in the San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi and Philipp Grubauer are in goal. San Jose dented the scoreboard in the first period with a Tyler Kennedy goal, his fourth of the season, coming off of Jason Demers and Andrew Desjardins. Washington tied it in the second period as Alex Ovechkin scored his thirty-third of the year, assisted by Karl Alzner and Mikhail Grabovski. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Patrick Marleau scored the only goal for a 2-1 win for the Sharks. The three stars went to Niemi (35 for 36 in saves), Grubauer (28 for 29 in saves), and Ovechkin.
Over in Buffalo, the Sabres host the Philadelphia Flyers. Steve Mason and Jhonas Enroth draw the starts. Buffalo was first to score in the first period on a Cody Hodgson goal, his ninth of the season, assisted by Steve Ott and Matt D'Agostini. Philadelphia tied it on a second period Jakub Voracek goal, his thirteenth of the year, a power play goal coming off of Wayne Simmonds and Scott Hartnell. The Sabres took the lead back in the third period on a D'Agostini goal, his second of the season, via Ott and Hodgson. The Flyers retied it on a Brayden Schenn goal, his twelfth of the year, passed from Hartnell and Andrej Meszaros. Philadelphia took the lead on a Hartnell power play goal, his eleventh of the season, powered by Simmonds and Claude Giroux. Buffalo retied it with a Tyler Ennis goal, his tenth of the year, guided in by Matt Moulson and Christian Ehrhoff. The Flyers took the lead on a Vincent Lecavalier goal, his tenth of the campaign, fueled by Matt Read and Sean Couturier. This was good for a 4-3 win, with the three stars being Hartnell, Simmonds, and Hodgson, while Ott and D'Agostini got the honorable mentions.
Up in Montreal, the Canadiens welcome the New Jersey Devils. Martin Brodeur and Carey Price are in the blue paint. Montreal struck first in the first period with a Max Pacioretty goal, his twentieth of the season, assisted by Josh Gorges. New Jersey tied it on a Jaromir Jagr goal, his fourteenth of the year, guided in by Dainius Zubrus and Adam Henrique. The Devils took the lead in the second period with an Eric Gelinas power play goal, his fifth of the season, powered by Ryane Clowe and Jon Merrill. New Jersey added on as Henrique scored his twelfth of the year, thanks to Clowe and Michael Ryder. The Devils iced it at 4-1 in the third period on an empty net goal by Zubrus, his ninth of the campaign, set up by Jagr. The three stars were given to Brodeur (29 for 30 in saves), Jagr, and Henrique, while Zubrus and Clowe get the honorable mentions.
South to Florida, as the Panthers bring in the New York Islanders. Kevin Poulin and Tim Thomas are in the creases. Florida opened in the first period on an Aleksander Barkov goal, his eighth of the season, courtesy of Brad Boyes. The Panthers added on with a Drew Shore goal, coming off of Krys Barch and Ed Jovanovski. Florida extended the lead on a Nick Bjugstad goal, his tenth of the year, via Scottie Upshall. The Panthers padded the lead in the second period as Upshall scored his seventh of the season, a shorthanded goal set up by Brian Campbell and Jovanovski. New York got on the board with a Colin McDonald goal, his third of the year, passed from Matt Martin and Calvin de Haan. The Islanders got closer as Thomas Vanek scored in the third period, his sixteenth of the campaign, made possible by Frans Nielsen and Kyle Okposo. This only made it 4-2, with the three stars going to Upshall, Jovanovski, and Thomas (31 for 33 in saves).
Northwest to Nashville, as the Predators host the Calgary Flames. Karri Ramo and Carter Hutton are the inconsistent goalies. Nashville started in the first period on a Shea Weber power play goal, his eleventh of the season, powered by Roman Josi and David Legwand. Calgary tied it on a Lee Stempniak goal, his seventh of the year, coming off of Jiri Hudler and T.J. Brodie. The Predators took the lead again in the third period with a Ryan Ellis goal, his second of the season, via Legwand and Kevin Klein. Nashville added on with a Craig Smith power play goal, his fourteenth of the year, guided in by Nick Spaling and Seth Jones. The Predators extended the lead as Viktor Stalberg scored his sixth of the season, courtesy of Ellis and Legwand, the latter getting a sock trick. The Flames got one back on a Mikael Backlund goal, his eighth of the year, assisted by Mark Giordano and Hudler. They still lost 4-2, with the three stars being Legwand, Ellis, and Hudler.
Up in Chicago, the Blackhawks welcome the Colorado Avalanche. Semyon Varlamov and Corey Crawford guard the cages. Colorado led off in the first period on a Tyson Barrie goal, his fourth of the season, made possible by Ryan Wilson and John Mitchell. The Avalanche added on as Ryan O'Reilly scored his seventeenth of the year, a power play goal powered by Nick Holden and Jamie McGinn. Chicago got on the board in the second period as Johnny Oduya scored his third of the season, thanks to Brandon Saad and Andrew Shaw. The Blackhawks tied it in the third period with a Shaw goal, his thirteenth of the year, passed from Saad and Marian Hossa. Colorado won 3-2 in overtime on another Barrie goal, his second of the game and fifth of the campaign, a power play goal with a lone assist by Matt Duchene. Barrie, Shaw, and Saad received the three stars.
Backtracking to St. Louis, where the Blues bring in the Phoenix Coyotes. Mike Smith and Jaroslav Halak are between the pipes. St. Louis dented the scoreboard in the first period with a T.J. Oshie goal, his ninth of the season, coming off of Alex Pietrangelo and David Backes. The Blues added on in the second period as Oshie scored his second of the game and tenth of the year, a power play goal powered by Backes and Kevin Shattenkirk. Phoenix got on the board with an Oliver Ekman-Larsson goal, his sixth of the campaign, coming on the power play via Keith Yandle and Mikkel Boedker. They failed to tie it, losing 2-1, with Oshie, Halak (20 for 21 in saves), and Backes getting the three stars.
Further north to Minnesota, where the Wild host the Ottawa Senators. Robin Lehner and Darcy Kuemper make the spot starts. Ottawa got going in the first period with a Clarke MacArthur goal, his sixteenth of the season, a power play goal powered by Kyle Turris and Erik Karlsson. The Senators added on in the third period with an unassisted Erik Condra goal, his fifth of the year. Ottawa extended the lead on a Turris power play goal, his thirteenth of the campaign, via Jared Cowen and Karlsson. This made it 3-0, the final, with Lehner (27 save shutout), Turris, and Karlsson getting the three stars.
Finally, in Dallas, the Stars host the Edmonton Oilers. Ilya Bryzgalov and Kari Lehtonen have the green light to start. Dallas quickly began in the first period on an Erik Cole goal, his twelfth of the season, assisted by Trevor Daley and Jamie Benn. Edmonton tied it on a Justin Schultz goal, his fifth of the year, coming off of Taylor Hall and Andrew Ference. The Stars retook the lead with a Ryan Garbutt goal, his ninth of the season, passed from Ray Whitney and Kevin Connauton. Dallas added on with a Benn goal, his sixteenth of the year, courtesy of Tyler Seguin and Alex Goligoski on the power play. The Stars extended the lead as Cody Eakin scored his tenth of the season in the second period, thanks to Antoine Roussel and Garbutt. The Oilers got one back on a Sam Gagner power play goal, his sixth of the year, powered by Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Dallas wrapped it up at 5-2 in the third period on a Daley empty net goal, his second of the campaign, set up by Garbutt. The three stars were given to Garbutt, Benn, and Daley, while Hall receives an honorable mention.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
Boston, where the Bruins host the Toronto Maple Leafs. Jonathan Bernier and Tuukka Rask protect the nets. Boston led off with a first period goal by Brad Marchand, his eleventh of the season, assisted by Reilly Smith and Patrice Bergeron. Toronto tied it on a Tyler Bozak goal, his eighth of the year, thanks to Carl Gunnarsson and Phil Kessel. The Bruins took the lead back on a Bergeron goal, his eleventh of the season, passed from Zdeno Chara and Marchand. The Maple Leafs tied it again on another Bozak goal, his ninth of the year and second of the game, a power play goal powered by James van Riemsdyk and Kessel. Toronto took the lead in the second period on a power play goal by Jake Gardiner, his third of the season, guided in by Kessel, who got a sock trick, and Dion Phaneuf. The Maple Leafs added on in the third period with a van Riemsdyk goal, his eighteenth of the year, made possible by Bozak and Joffrey Lupul. Boston got one back with a Gregory Campbell goal, his third of the campaign, with a lone assist from Daniel Paille. They failed to tie the game, losing 4-3, with the three stars going to Bozak, Kessel, and van Riemsdyk, while Marchand and Bergeron get the honorable mentions.
Down in New York, the Rangers welcome the Tampa Bay Lightning. Ben Bishop and Henrik Lundqvist are the masked men. New York began in the first period with a Brad Richards goal, his twelfth of the season, coming off of Ryan Callahan and Carl Hagelin. Tampa Bay tied it in the second period with a Victor Hedman goal, his tenth of the year, a power play goal powered by Martin St. Louis and Teddy Purcell. The Lightning took the lead on a Nikita Kucherov goal, his seventh of the campaign, via Radko Gudas and J.T. Brown. This held up for a 2-1 win, with the three stars being Kucherov, Bishop (33 for 34 in saves), and Hedman.
Along to DC, as the Washington Capitals bring in the San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi and Philipp Grubauer are in goal. San Jose dented the scoreboard in the first period with a Tyler Kennedy goal, his fourth of the season, coming off of Jason Demers and Andrew Desjardins. Washington tied it in the second period as Alex Ovechkin scored his thirty-third of the year, assisted by Karl Alzner and Mikhail Grabovski. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Patrick Marleau scored the only goal for a 2-1 win for the Sharks. The three stars went to Niemi (35 for 36 in saves), Grubauer (28 for 29 in saves), and Ovechkin.
Over in Buffalo, the Sabres host the Philadelphia Flyers. Steve Mason and Jhonas Enroth draw the starts. Buffalo was first to score in the first period on a Cody Hodgson goal, his ninth of the season, assisted by Steve Ott and Matt D'Agostini. Philadelphia tied it on a second period Jakub Voracek goal, his thirteenth of the year, a power play goal coming off of Wayne Simmonds and Scott Hartnell. The Sabres took the lead back in the third period on a D'Agostini goal, his second of the season, via Ott and Hodgson. The Flyers retied it on a Brayden Schenn goal, his twelfth of the year, passed from Hartnell and Andrej Meszaros. Philadelphia took the lead on a Hartnell power play goal, his eleventh of the season, powered by Simmonds and Claude Giroux. Buffalo retied it with a Tyler Ennis goal, his tenth of the year, guided in by Matt Moulson and Christian Ehrhoff. The Flyers took the lead on a Vincent Lecavalier goal, his tenth of the campaign, fueled by Matt Read and Sean Couturier. This was good for a 4-3 win, with the three stars being Hartnell, Simmonds, and Hodgson, while Ott and D'Agostini got the honorable mentions.
Up in Montreal, the Canadiens welcome the New Jersey Devils. Martin Brodeur and Carey Price are in the blue paint. Montreal struck first in the first period with a Max Pacioretty goal, his twentieth of the season, assisted by Josh Gorges. New Jersey tied it on a Jaromir Jagr goal, his fourteenth of the year, guided in by Dainius Zubrus and Adam Henrique. The Devils took the lead in the second period with an Eric Gelinas power play goal, his fifth of the season, powered by Ryane Clowe and Jon Merrill. New Jersey added on as Henrique scored his twelfth of the year, thanks to Clowe and Michael Ryder. The Devils iced it at 4-1 in the third period on an empty net goal by Zubrus, his ninth of the campaign, set up by Jagr. The three stars were given to Brodeur (29 for 30 in saves), Jagr, and Henrique, while Zubrus and Clowe get the honorable mentions.
South to Florida, as the Panthers bring in the New York Islanders. Kevin Poulin and Tim Thomas are in the creases. Florida opened in the first period on an Aleksander Barkov goal, his eighth of the season, courtesy of Brad Boyes. The Panthers added on with a Drew Shore goal, coming off of Krys Barch and Ed Jovanovski. Florida extended the lead on a Nick Bjugstad goal, his tenth of the year, via Scottie Upshall. The Panthers padded the lead in the second period as Upshall scored his seventh of the season, a shorthanded goal set up by Brian Campbell and Jovanovski. New York got on the board with a Colin McDonald goal, his third of the year, passed from Matt Martin and Calvin de Haan. The Islanders got closer as Thomas Vanek scored in the third period, his sixteenth of the campaign, made possible by Frans Nielsen and Kyle Okposo. This only made it 4-2, with the three stars going to Upshall, Jovanovski, and Thomas (31 for 33 in saves).
Northwest to Nashville, as the Predators host the Calgary Flames. Karri Ramo and Carter Hutton are the inconsistent goalies. Nashville started in the first period on a Shea Weber power play goal, his eleventh of the season, powered by Roman Josi and David Legwand. Calgary tied it on a Lee Stempniak goal, his seventh of the year, coming off of Jiri Hudler and T.J. Brodie. The Predators took the lead again in the third period with a Ryan Ellis goal, his second of the season, via Legwand and Kevin Klein. Nashville added on with a Craig Smith power play goal, his fourteenth of the year, guided in by Nick Spaling and Seth Jones. The Predators extended the lead as Viktor Stalberg scored his sixth of the season, courtesy of Ellis and Legwand, the latter getting a sock trick. The Flames got one back on a Mikael Backlund goal, his eighth of the year, assisted by Mark Giordano and Hudler. They still lost 4-2, with the three stars being Legwand, Ellis, and Hudler.
Up in Chicago, the Blackhawks welcome the Colorado Avalanche. Semyon Varlamov and Corey Crawford guard the cages. Colorado led off in the first period on a Tyson Barrie goal, his fourth of the season, made possible by Ryan Wilson and John Mitchell. The Avalanche added on as Ryan O'Reilly scored his seventeenth of the year, a power play goal powered by Nick Holden and Jamie McGinn. Chicago got on the board in the second period as Johnny Oduya scored his third of the season, thanks to Brandon Saad and Andrew Shaw. The Blackhawks tied it in the third period with a Shaw goal, his thirteenth of the year, passed from Saad and Marian Hossa. Colorado won 3-2 in overtime on another Barrie goal, his second of the game and fifth of the campaign, a power play goal with a lone assist by Matt Duchene. Barrie, Shaw, and Saad received the three stars.
Backtracking to St. Louis, where the Blues bring in the Phoenix Coyotes. Mike Smith and Jaroslav Halak are between the pipes. St. Louis dented the scoreboard in the first period with a T.J. Oshie goal, his ninth of the season, coming off of Alex Pietrangelo and David Backes. The Blues added on in the second period as Oshie scored his second of the game and tenth of the year, a power play goal powered by Backes and Kevin Shattenkirk. Phoenix got on the board with an Oliver Ekman-Larsson goal, his sixth of the campaign, coming on the power play via Keith Yandle and Mikkel Boedker. They failed to tie it, losing 2-1, with Oshie, Halak (20 for 21 in saves), and Backes getting the three stars.
Further north to Minnesota, where the Wild host the Ottawa Senators. Robin Lehner and Darcy Kuemper make the spot starts. Ottawa got going in the first period with a Clarke MacArthur goal, his sixteenth of the season, a power play goal powered by Kyle Turris and Erik Karlsson. The Senators added on in the third period with an unassisted Erik Condra goal, his fifth of the year. Ottawa extended the lead on a Turris power play goal, his thirteenth of the campaign, via Jared Cowen and Karlsson. This made it 3-0, the final, with Lehner (27 save shutout), Turris, and Karlsson getting the three stars.
Finally, in Dallas, the Stars host the Edmonton Oilers. Ilya Bryzgalov and Kari Lehtonen have the green light to start. Dallas quickly began in the first period on an Erik Cole goal, his twelfth of the season, assisted by Trevor Daley and Jamie Benn. Edmonton tied it on a Justin Schultz goal, his fifth of the year, coming off of Taylor Hall and Andrew Ference. The Stars retook the lead with a Ryan Garbutt goal, his ninth of the season, passed from Ray Whitney and Kevin Connauton. Dallas added on with a Benn goal, his sixteenth of the year, courtesy of Tyler Seguin and Alex Goligoski on the power play. The Stars extended the lead as Cody Eakin scored his tenth of the season in the second period, thanks to Antoine Roussel and Garbutt. The Oilers got one back on a Sam Gagner power play goal, his sixth of the year, powered by Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Dallas wrapped it up at 5-2 in the third period on a Daley empty net goal, his second of the campaign, set up by Garbutt. The three stars were given to Garbutt, Benn, and Daley, while Hall receives an honorable mention.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.