Five games on the second to last day before the Olympic Break for the NHL, beginning in...
New Jersey, where the Devils host the Edmonton Oilers. Ilya Bryzgalov and Cory Schneider are set to start. New Jersey opened in the first period with an Andrei Loktionov goal, his fourth of the season, courtesy of Bryce Salvador and Jaromir Jagr. Edmonton tied it on a Taylor Hall goal, his twentieth of the year, via Nail Yakupov and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. The Devils won 2-1 in overtime on a Jon Merrill goal, assisted by Michael Ryder and Adam Henrique. The three stars were handed to Merrill, Schneider (19 for 20 in saves), and Loktionov.
West a bit to Pittsburgh, with the Penguins welcoming the New York Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist and Marc-Andre Fleury tend the twines. New York was first to score in the first period with a Benoit Pouliot goal, his tenth of the season, made possible by Mats Zuccarello and Marc Staal. Pittsburgh tied it on an Olli Maatta power play goal, his sixth of the year, powered by Sidney Crosby and Jussi Jokinen. The Rangers retook the lead in the second period on a Dan Girardi power play goal, his fourth of the season, coming off of Derick Brassard. The Penguins tied it again on an Evgeni Malkin goal, his eighteenth of the year, coming on the power play via James Neal and Matt Niskanen. New York regained the lead in the third period as Pouliot scored his second of the game and eleventh of the season, a power play goal guided in by Girardi and Brad Richards. Pittsburgh tied it on a Neal goal, his twentieth of the year, passed from Maatta and Jayson Megna. The Rangers won 4-3 on goals by Zuccarello and Richards in the shootout, topping a lone Malkin tally. The three stars were Pouliot, Zuccarello, and Girardi, while Richards, Neal, Maatta, and Malkin get the honorable mentions.
South to Raleigh, where the Carolina Hurricanes host the Florida Panthers. Tim Thomas faces a former understudy in Anton Khudobin in goal. Carolina struck first in the first period with a Riley Nash goal, his eighth of the season, assisted by Tuomo Ruutu. The Hurricanes added on with an Alexander Semin unassisted goal, his fourteenth of the year. Florida got on the board with a Nick Bjugstad goal, his thirteenth of the season, made possible by Dylan Olsen and Scottie Upshall. Carolina responded with a Brett Bellemore goal, his second of the year, thanks to Elias Lindholm and Jeff Skinner. The Hurricanes extended the lead in the second period on a Jiri Tlusty goal, his ninth of the season, with a lone assist by Eric Staal. Scott Clemmensen relieved Thomas at this time. Carolina padded the lead in the third period on a power play goal by Andrej Sekera, his ninth of the year, powered by Skinner and Jordan Staal. This was good for a 5-1 win, with the three stars being Khudobin (34 for 35 in saves), Skinner, and Semin.
Out west, the Phoenix Coyotes bring in the Chicago Blackhawks. Corey Crawford and Mike Smith are the veteran goalies. Phoenix started in the first period with a Keith Yandle power play goal, his seventh of the season, powered by Mikkel Boedker and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The Coyotes added on in the second period with a Radim Vrbata power play goal, his fourteenth of the year, guided in by Mike Ribeiro and Yandle.
Finally, in San Jose, the Sharks host the Columbus Blue Jackets. Sergei Bobrovsky and Antti Niemi guard the cages. San Jose led off in the first period with a John McCarthy goal, passed from James Sheppard. The Sharks added on with a Patrick Marleau goal, his twenty-third of the season, with a lone helper by Scott Hannan. Columbus got on the board in the second period on a Ryan Johansen goal, his twenty-fourth of the year, going in unassisted. San Jose replied in the third period as Tommy Wingels scored his twelfth of the season, thanks to Jason Demers and Marc-Edouard Vlasic. The Blue Jackets got one back on a Boone Jenner goal, his tenth of the year, guided in by Nathan Horton and Johansen. This was as close as it got, with the three stars going to Wingels, Johansen, and Demers.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
New Jersey, where the Devils host the Edmonton Oilers. Ilya Bryzgalov and Cory Schneider are set to start. New Jersey opened in the first period with an Andrei Loktionov goal, his fourth of the season, courtesy of Bryce Salvador and Jaromir Jagr. Edmonton tied it on a Taylor Hall goal, his twentieth of the year, via Nail Yakupov and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. The Devils won 2-1 in overtime on a Jon Merrill goal, assisted by Michael Ryder and Adam Henrique. The three stars were handed to Merrill, Schneider (19 for 20 in saves), and Loktionov.
West a bit to Pittsburgh, with the Penguins welcoming the New York Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist and Marc-Andre Fleury tend the twines. New York was first to score in the first period with a Benoit Pouliot goal, his tenth of the season, made possible by Mats Zuccarello and Marc Staal. Pittsburgh tied it on an Olli Maatta power play goal, his sixth of the year, powered by Sidney Crosby and Jussi Jokinen. The Rangers retook the lead in the second period on a Dan Girardi power play goal, his fourth of the season, coming off of Derick Brassard. The Penguins tied it again on an Evgeni Malkin goal, his eighteenth of the year, coming on the power play via James Neal and Matt Niskanen. New York regained the lead in the third period as Pouliot scored his second of the game and eleventh of the season, a power play goal guided in by Girardi and Brad Richards. Pittsburgh tied it on a Neal goal, his twentieth of the year, passed from Maatta and Jayson Megna. The Rangers won 4-3 on goals by Zuccarello and Richards in the shootout, topping a lone Malkin tally. The three stars were Pouliot, Zuccarello, and Girardi, while Richards, Neal, Maatta, and Malkin get the honorable mentions.
South to Raleigh, where the Carolina Hurricanes host the Florida Panthers. Tim Thomas faces a former understudy in Anton Khudobin in goal. Carolina struck first in the first period with a Riley Nash goal, his eighth of the season, assisted by Tuomo Ruutu. The Hurricanes added on with an Alexander Semin unassisted goal, his fourteenth of the year. Florida got on the board with a Nick Bjugstad goal, his thirteenth of the season, made possible by Dylan Olsen and Scottie Upshall. Carolina responded with a Brett Bellemore goal, his second of the year, thanks to Elias Lindholm and Jeff Skinner. The Hurricanes extended the lead in the second period on a Jiri Tlusty goal, his ninth of the season, with a lone assist by Eric Staal. Scott Clemmensen relieved Thomas at this time. Carolina padded the lead in the third period on a power play goal by Andrej Sekera, his ninth of the year, powered by Skinner and Jordan Staal. This was good for a 5-1 win, with the three stars being Khudobin (34 for 35 in saves), Skinner, and Semin.
Out west, the Phoenix Coyotes bring in the Chicago Blackhawks. Corey Crawford and Mike Smith are the veteran goalies. Phoenix started in the first period with a Keith Yandle power play goal, his seventh of the season, powered by Mikkel Boedker and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The Coyotes added on in the second period with a Radim Vrbata power play goal, his fourteenth of the year, guided in by Mike Ribeiro and Yandle.
Finally, in San Jose, the Sharks host the Columbus Blue Jackets. Sergei Bobrovsky and Antti Niemi guard the cages. San Jose led off in the first period with a John McCarthy goal, passed from James Sheppard. The Sharks added on with a Patrick Marleau goal, his twenty-third of the season, with a lone helper by Scott Hannan. Columbus got on the board in the second period on a Ryan Johansen goal, his twenty-fourth of the year, going in unassisted. San Jose replied in the third period as Tommy Wingels scored his twelfth of the season, thanks to Jason Demers and Marc-Edouard Vlasic. The Blue Jackets got one back on a Boone Jenner goal, his tenth of the year, guided in by Nathan Horton and Johansen. This was as close as it got, with the three stars going to Wingels, Johansen, and Demers.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.