Today is the smallest remaining day on the schedule. Seven games, beginning in...
DC, as the Washington Capitals host the Chicago Blackhawks. Corey Crawford and Jaroslav Halak protect the nets. Washington led off in the first period with an Alex Ovechkin power play goal, his fifty-first of the season, powered by John Carlson and Nicklas Backstrom. The Capitals added on as Jay Beagle notched his third of the year, thanks to Dmitry Orlov and Evgeny Kuznetsov. Washington extended the lead in the second period on a Backstrom goal, his eighteenth of the season, assisted by Ovechkin and Karl Alzner. The Capitals padded the lead as Beagle scored his second of the game and fourth of the year, guided in by Jason Chimera and Joel Ward. Crawford was pulled for Antti Raanta for the third period. This was good enough for a 4-0 win, with the three stars going to Beagle, Ovechkin, and Halak (34 save shutout), while Backstrom gets an honorable mention.
Over in Detroit, the Red Wings welcome the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward and Jimmy Howard are the veteran goalies. Carolina opened in the first period with an Elias Lindholm power play goal, his ninth of the season, powered by Andrei Loktionov and Jay Harrison. The Hurricanes added on with a Jiri Tlusty goal, his sixteenth of the year, courtesy of Eric Staal and Justin Faulk. Detroit got on the board in the third period with a Riley Sheahan goal, his eighth of the campaign, a power play goal coming off of Tomas Jurco and Tomas Tatar. This wasn't enough to complete a comeback, and they lost 2-1, with the three stars going to Ward (28 for 29 in saves), Tlusty, and Lindholm.
Down in Tampa Bay, the Lightning bring in the Columbus Blue Jackets. Curtis McElhinney and Kristers Gudlevskis are the backups making spot starts. Tampa Bay got going in the second period on an Ondrej Palat power play goal, his twenty-third of the season, powered by Alex Killorn. Columbus tied it on a power play goal by Boone Jenner, his sixteenth of the year, guided in by Jack Johnson and Ryan Johansen. The Lightning retook the lead with an Eric Brewer goal, his third of the season, with a lone assist by Cedric Paquette. Tampa Bay added on with another Brewer goal, his second of the game and fourth of the year, made possible by Mike Kostka and Richard Panik. The Blue Jackets got one back in the third period on a David Savard goal, his fifth of the campaign, passed from Jenner and Blake Comeau. This was as close as it got, with the final being 3-2, and the three stars went to Brewer, Gudlevskis (36 for 38 in saves), and Jenner.
Back north, the New Jersey Devils host the New York Islanders. Anders Nilsson is mismatched with Martin Brodeur in goal. New York began in the first period on an Anders Lee goal, his seventh of the season, via Frans Nielsen. New Jersey tied it on a Ryan Carter goal, his seventh of the year, coming off of Steve Bernier and Stephen Gionta. The Devils took the lead on a Patrik Elias goal, his eighteenth of the season, made possible by Travis Zajac and Jaromir Jagr. The Islanders tied it on a third period goal by Ryan Strome, his seventh of the year, a power play goal powered by Nielsen and Matt Donovan. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Nielsen, Josh Bailey, and Strome all scored to top a lone tally by Damien Brunner for a 3-2 New York win. The three stars were Nielsen, Strome, and Nilsson (25 for 27 in saves).
Southwest to Dallas, as the Stars bring in the St. Louis Blues. Ryan Miller and Kari Lehtonen guard the cages. Dallas dented the scoreboard in the second period on a Trevor Daley, his ninth of the season, via Jamie Benn. The Stars added on as Tyler Seguin scored his thirty-seventh of the year, a power play goal powered by Benn and Daley. Dallas iced it at 3-0 in the third period with a Ryan Garbutt goal, his seventeenth of the campaign, made possible by Alex Goligoski and Vernon Fiddler. The three stars were Lehtonen (22 save shutout), Daley, and Benn.
Up in Calgary, the Flames welcome the Winnipeg Jets. Michael Hutchinson and Karri Ramo are the little known goalies. Winnipeg started in the first period on a Michael Frolik goal, his fifteenth of the season, assisted by Jacob Trouba and Mark Stuart. The Jets added on with an Evander Kane goal, his nineteenth of the year, courtesy of Bryan Little and Adam Pardy. Calgary got on the board with a Jiri Hudler goal, his seventeenth of the season, made possible by Matt Stajan and T.J. Brodie. Winnipeg responded with a Carl Klingberg goal, with assists provided by Patrice Cormier and Zach Redmond. The Flames shot back on a Sean Monahan goal, his twenty-second of the year, guided in by Hudler and Curtis Glencross on the power play. Calgary tied it with a power play goal by Kris Russell, his seventh of the season, powered by Paul Byron and Mark Giordano. The Jets retook the lead in the third period on a Paul Postma goal, via Anthony Peluso and Cormier. Winnipeg finished it at 5-3 with an empty net goal by Blake Wheeler, his twenty-eighth of the year, set up by Olli Jokinen. The three stars were Cormier, Hudler, and Postma.
Finally, in San Jose, the Sharks host the Colorado Avalanche. Reto Berra and Alex Stalock are the backups making spot starts. San Jose struck first in the first period on a Dan Boyle goal, his twelfth of the season, made possible by Joe Thornton and Brent Burns. The Sharks added on with a Patrick Marleau goal, his thirty-third of the year, guided in by Martin Havlat and Logan Couture. Berra was pulled for Jean-Sebastien Giguere at this time. Colorado got on the board in the second period on a Patrick Bordeleau goal, his sixth of the season, passed from Max Talbot and Ryan O'Reilly. San Jose shot back in the third period with a Havlat goal, his tenth of the year, assisted by Couture and Marleau. The Sharks extended the lead with another Havlat goal, his second of the game and eleventh of the season, fueled by Bracken Kearns and Andrew Desjardins. San Jose finished it at 5-1 with an empty net goal by Havlat to complete his natural hat trick on his twelfth of the year, set up by Couture, who got a sock trick. The three stars were Havlat, Marleau, and Couture.
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DC, as the Washington Capitals host the Chicago Blackhawks. Corey Crawford and Jaroslav Halak protect the nets. Washington led off in the first period with an Alex Ovechkin power play goal, his fifty-first of the season, powered by John Carlson and Nicklas Backstrom. The Capitals added on as Jay Beagle notched his third of the year, thanks to Dmitry Orlov and Evgeny Kuznetsov. Washington extended the lead in the second period on a Backstrom goal, his eighteenth of the season, assisted by Ovechkin and Karl Alzner. The Capitals padded the lead as Beagle scored his second of the game and fourth of the year, guided in by Jason Chimera and Joel Ward. Crawford was pulled for Antti Raanta for the third period. This was good enough for a 4-0 win, with the three stars going to Beagle, Ovechkin, and Halak (34 save shutout), while Backstrom gets an honorable mention.
Over in Detroit, the Red Wings welcome the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward and Jimmy Howard are the veteran goalies. Carolina opened in the first period with an Elias Lindholm power play goal, his ninth of the season, powered by Andrei Loktionov and Jay Harrison. The Hurricanes added on with a Jiri Tlusty goal, his sixteenth of the year, courtesy of Eric Staal and Justin Faulk. Detroit got on the board in the third period with a Riley Sheahan goal, his eighth of the campaign, a power play goal coming off of Tomas Jurco and Tomas Tatar. This wasn't enough to complete a comeback, and they lost 2-1, with the three stars going to Ward (28 for 29 in saves), Tlusty, and Lindholm.
Down in Tampa Bay, the Lightning bring in the Columbus Blue Jackets. Curtis McElhinney and Kristers Gudlevskis are the backups making spot starts. Tampa Bay got going in the second period on an Ondrej Palat power play goal, his twenty-third of the season, powered by Alex Killorn. Columbus tied it on a power play goal by Boone Jenner, his sixteenth of the year, guided in by Jack Johnson and Ryan Johansen. The Lightning retook the lead with an Eric Brewer goal, his third of the season, with a lone assist by Cedric Paquette. Tampa Bay added on with another Brewer goal, his second of the game and fourth of the year, made possible by Mike Kostka and Richard Panik. The Blue Jackets got one back in the third period on a David Savard goal, his fifth of the campaign, passed from Jenner and Blake Comeau. This was as close as it got, with the final being 3-2, and the three stars went to Brewer, Gudlevskis (36 for 38 in saves), and Jenner.
Back north, the New Jersey Devils host the New York Islanders. Anders Nilsson is mismatched with Martin Brodeur in goal. New York began in the first period on an Anders Lee goal, his seventh of the season, via Frans Nielsen. New Jersey tied it on a Ryan Carter goal, his seventh of the year, coming off of Steve Bernier and Stephen Gionta. The Devils took the lead on a Patrik Elias goal, his eighteenth of the season, made possible by Travis Zajac and Jaromir Jagr. The Islanders tied it on a third period goal by Ryan Strome, his seventh of the year, a power play goal powered by Nielsen and Matt Donovan. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Nielsen, Josh Bailey, and Strome all scored to top a lone tally by Damien Brunner for a 3-2 New York win. The three stars were Nielsen, Strome, and Nilsson (25 for 27 in saves).
Southwest to Dallas, as the Stars bring in the St. Louis Blues. Ryan Miller and Kari Lehtonen guard the cages. Dallas dented the scoreboard in the second period on a Trevor Daley, his ninth of the season, via Jamie Benn. The Stars added on as Tyler Seguin scored his thirty-seventh of the year, a power play goal powered by Benn and Daley. Dallas iced it at 3-0 in the third period with a Ryan Garbutt goal, his seventeenth of the campaign, made possible by Alex Goligoski and Vernon Fiddler. The three stars were Lehtonen (22 save shutout), Daley, and Benn.
Up in Calgary, the Flames welcome the Winnipeg Jets. Michael Hutchinson and Karri Ramo are the little known goalies. Winnipeg started in the first period on a Michael Frolik goal, his fifteenth of the season, assisted by Jacob Trouba and Mark Stuart. The Jets added on with an Evander Kane goal, his nineteenth of the year, courtesy of Bryan Little and Adam Pardy. Calgary got on the board with a Jiri Hudler goal, his seventeenth of the season, made possible by Matt Stajan and T.J. Brodie. Winnipeg responded with a Carl Klingberg goal, with assists provided by Patrice Cormier and Zach Redmond. The Flames shot back on a Sean Monahan goal, his twenty-second of the year, guided in by Hudler and Curtis Glencross on the power play. Calgary tied it with a power play goal by Kris Russell, his seventh of the season, powered by Paul Byron and Mark Giordano. The Jets retook the lead in the third period on a Paul Postma goal, via Anthony Peluso and Cormier. Winnipeg finished it at 5-3 with an empty net goal by Blake Wheeler, his twenty-eighth of the year, set up by Olli Jokinen. The three stars were Cormier, Hudler, and Postma.
Finally, in San Jose, the Sharks host the Colorado Avalanche. Reto Berra and Alex Stalock are the backups making spot starts. San Jose struck first in the first period on a Dan Boyle goal, his twelfth of the season, made possible by Joe Thornton and Brent Burns. The Sharks added on with a Patrick Marleau goal, his thirty-third of the year, guided in by Martin Havlat and Logan Couture. Berra was pulled for Jean-Sebastien Giguere at this time. Colorado got on the board in the second period on a Patrick Bordeleau goal, his sixth of the season, passed from Max Talbot and Ryan O'Reilly. San Jose shot back in the third period with a Havlat goal, his tenth of the year, assisted by Couture and Marleau. The Sharks extended the lead with another Havlat goal, his second of the game and eleventh of the season, fueled by Bracken Kearns and Andrew Desjardins. San Jose finished it at 5-1 with an empty net goal by Havlat to complete his natural hat trick on his twelfth of the year, set up by Couture, who got a sock trick. The three stars were Havlat, Marleau, and Couture.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.