Nine games on this Saturday, beginning with a matinee in...
Boston, as the Bruins host the Carolina Hurricanes. Backups Cam Ward and Chad Johnson are called on to start. Boston opened in the first period on a Milan Lucic goal, his twenty-first of the season, with a lone assist by David Krejci. The Bruins added on in the second period with a Jarome Iginla goal, his twenty-second of the year, coming off of Lucic and Krejci. Carolina got on the board in the third period with an Alexander Semin goal, his eighteenth of the season, passed from Jordan Staal. Boston shot back with a Chris Kelly goal, his seventh of the year, made possible by Krejci, who got a sock trick, and Dougie Hamilton. The Bruins extended the lead on another Iginla goal, his second of the game and twenty-third of the season, fueled by Kevan Miller and Lucic. Boston iced it at 5-1 with a Torey Krug goal, his fourteenth of the year, via Carl Soderberg and Gregory Campbell. The three stars went to Iginla, Lucic, and Krejci.
Over in Philadelphia, the Flyers welcome their in-state rivals, the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury and Steve Mason are between the pipes. Philadelphia began with a Scott Hartnell power play goal in the first period, his sixteenth of the season, powered by Claude Giroux and Wayne Simmonds. The Flyers added on as Matt Read scored a shorthanded goal, his seventeenth of the year, set up by Sean Couturier. Philadelphia extended the lead in the second period on a Vincent Lecavalier goal, his fifteenth of the season, passed from Luke Schenn and Nicklas Grossmann. The Flyers padded the lead with another Read goal, his second of the game and eighteenth of the year, assisted by Couturier and Giroux. This was it for the scoring, leaving the final at 4-0, with the three stars being Mason (25 save shutout), Read, and Giroux, while Couturier gets an honorable mention.
Up in Canada, the Montreal Canadiens bring in the Ottawa Senators. Robin Lehner welcomes Carey Price back to the crease. Montreal was first to score in the first period with a Daniel Briere goal, his twelfth of the season, an unassisted goal. Ottawa tied it on a Jason Spezza goal, his eighteenth of the year, guided in by Clarke MacArthur and Erik Karlsson. The Senators took the lead in the second period on a Zack Smith goal, his eleventh of the season, with a lone helper from Karlsson. Ottawa added on in the third period with an Ales Hemsky goal, his tenth of the year, coming off of Spezza. The Senators extended the lead with a MacArthur goal, his twentieth of the season, via Kyle Turris and Bobby Ryan. The Canadiens got one back on a Lars Eller goal, his eleventh of the year, assisted by Brian Gionta and P.K. Subban. Montreal pulled closer with a Gionta goal, his fourteenth of the season, courtesy of Subban and Eller. The Canadiens tied it with a David Desharnais goal, his thirteenth of the year, pushed through by Subban, who got a sock trick, and Andrei Markov. Montreal completed the comeback with a 5-4 in overtime on a Francis Bouillon goal, with assists provided by Max Pacioretty and Desharnais. The three stars went to Desharnais, Subban, and Gionta, while Eller, Spezza, Karlsson, and MacArthur get the honorable mentions.
Back stateside, the Tampa Bay Lightning host the New Jersey Devils. Martin Brodeur and Ben Bishop are the masked men. Tampa Bay got going in the second period on a B.J. Crombeen goal, his third of the season, assisted by Mike Kostka and Valtteri Filppula. The Lightning added on as Kostka scored his fourth of the year, thanks to Ondrej Palat and Filppula. Tampa Bay extended the lead in the third period on a Nate Thompson goal, his ninth of the campaign, with a lone assist from J.T. Brown. This made it 3-0, the final, with the three stars going to Bishop (23 save shutout), Kostka, and Filppula.
North to New York, as the Islanders welcome the Buffalo Sabres. Jhonas Enroth and Anders Nilsson are the unknown goalies. New York struck first in the first period on a Frans Nielsen goal, his twenty-second of the season, passed from Anders Lee and Kyle Okposo. The Islanders added on with an Okposo power play goal, his twenty-seventh of the year, powered by Brock Nelson and Lubomir Visnovsky. Buffalo got on the board in the third period with a Tyler Ennis power play goal, his eighteenth of the season, helped along by Drew Stafford and Christian Ehrhoff. New York answered on a Ryan Strome goal, his fourth of the year, guided in by Matt Martin and Visnovsky. The Islanders finished it at 4-1 with a Cal Clutterbuck goal, his ninth of the campaign, going into an empty net via Visnovsky and Thomas Hickey. The three stars were Okposo, Nilsson (33 for 34 in saves), and Visnovsky.
Southwest to Nashville, where the Predators bring in the St. Louis Blues. Ryan Miller and Pekka Rinne tend the twines. St. Louis led off in the first period with a Patrik Berglund goal, his thirteenth of the season, an unassisted goal. The Blues added on in the second period as Berglund scored his second of the game and fourteenth of the year, thanks to Steve Ott and Roman Polak. St. Louis extended the lead with a Vladimir Tarasenko goal, his twenty-first of the season, passed from T.J. Oshie and Alex Pietrangelo. Nashville got on the board with an Eric Nystrom goal, his thirteenth of the year, made possible by Colton Sissons and Paul Gaustad. The Blues replied in the third period with the thirtieth of the campaign for Alexander Steen, assisted by Jaden Schwartz and David Backes. This made it 4-1, the final, with Berglund, Miller (30 for 31 in saves), and Tarasenko earning the three stars.
Up north, the Minnesota Wild host the Columbus Blue Jackets. Sergei Bobrovsky and Darcy Kuemper are the young goalies. Columbus dented the scoreboard in the second period on a Dalton Prout goal, his second of the season, made possible by Jack Johnson and Matt Calvert. Minnesota tied it in the third period with a Jason Pominville goal, his twenty-fifth of the year, fueled by Zach Parise and Ryan Suter. In the shootout, Parise and Mikko Koivu tallied for the Wild, but the Blue Jackets answered back with goals from Artem Anisimov, Mark Letestu, and a winner from Ryan Johansen to take the game 2-1. The three stars went to Bobrovsky (32 for 33 in saves), Kuemper (28 for 29 in saves), and Parise.
Way to the south, the Phoenix Coyotes welcome the Calgary Flames. Joni Ortio and Mike Smith are in the blue paint. Phoenix started in the first period with a Chris Summers goal, via Lauri Korpikoski and David Moss. The Coyotes added on with a Rob Klinkhammer goal, his tenth of the season, passed from Paul Bissonnette and Keith Yandle. Calgary got on the board in the second period with a Curtis Glencross power play goal, his seventh of the season, powered by Michael Cammalleri and Mark Giordano. The Flames tied it on a Mikael Backlund power play goal, his seventeenth of the year, made possible by Cammalleri and Sean Monahan. Phoenix retook the lead in the third period with a power play goal by Shane Doan his, nineteenth of the season, coming off of Yandle and Antoine Vermette. This made it 3-2, good for a win, with the three stars going to Yandle, Cammalleri, and Doan.
Finally, in Los Angeles, the Kings bring in the Anaheim Ducks. Frederik Andersen and Martin Jones make the spot starts. Anaheim opened in the first period with a Tim Jackman goal, his fourth of the season, courtesy of Mathieu Perreault and Matt Beleskey. Los Angeles tied it on a Tyler Toffoli goal, his eleventh of the year, coming on the power play from Jarret Stoll and Alec Martinez. The Ducks retook the lead on a Pat Maroon goal, his sixth of the season, coming off of Kyle Palmieri and Hampus Lindholm. This was all they needed to win 2-1, with the three stars being Andersen (37 for 38 in saves), Maroon, and Jackman.
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