Ten games for tonight, with the first in...
New Jersey, as the Devils host the Buffalo Sabres. Jhonas Enroth and Cory Schneider are given the starting nods. New Jersey began in the first period with a Patrik Elias goal, his sixth of the season, coming off of Michael Cammalleri and Adam Larsson. The Devils added on as Jordin Tootoo scored his third of the year, thanks to Marek Zidlicky and the goalie Schneider. New Jersey extended the lead on a shorthanded Travis Zajac goal, his sixth of the season, set up by Elias and Mark Fraser. Buffalo got on the board in the second period with a Mikhail Grigorenko power play goal, powered by Chris Stewart. The Devils replied on a third period empty net goal by Cammalleri, his thirteenth of the year, courtesy of Zajac and Elias. This made it 4-1, the final, with the three stars going to Elias, Zajac, and Cammalleri.
Over in Philadelphia, the Flyers welcome the Ottawa Senators. Craig Anderson and Steve Mason are the average goalies. Ottawa dented the scoreboard in the third period on a Mike Hoffman goal, his thirteenth of the season, via Jared Cowen. Philadelphia tied it on a Wayne Simmonds power play goal, his sixteenth of the year, powered by Claude Giroux and Mark Streit. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Simmonds and Jakub Voracek led the Flyers to a 2-1 win over a lone tally by Mika Zibanejad. The three stars went to Mason (41 for 42 in saves), Anderson (33 for 34 in saves), and Simmonds.
Up in Montreal, the Canadiens bring in the Tampa Bay Lightning. Ben Bishop and Carey Price protect the nets. Montreal led off in the first period on a Dale Weise goal, his fifth of the season, via Tomas Plekanec and Sergei Gonchar. Tampa Bay tied it in the second period as J.T. Brown scored his second of the year, with the help of Jonathan Drouin and Brian Boyle. The Lightning took the lead on a Tyler Johnson power play goal, his sixteenth of the season, powered by Nikita Kucherov and Ondrej Palat. Tampa Bay added on with a Brett Connolly goal, his eighth of the year, courtesy of Valtteri Filppula and Cedric Paquette. The Lightning extended the lead on Johnson's second power play goal of the game, his seventeenth of the season, assisted by Palat and Kucherov. The Canadiens got one back in the third period on a Max Pacioretty goal, his seventeenth of the year, made possible by Brendan Gallagher and Gonchar. The final stood from here at 4-2, with the three stars being Johnson, Palat, and Kucherov, while Gonchar gets an honorable mention.
Down to Nashville, where the Predators host the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward and Pekka Rinne are the veteran goalies. Carolina was first to score in the first period on an Eric Staal power play goal, his eleventh of the season, powered by Elias Lindholm and Justin Faulk. Nashville tied it in the third period on a Ryan Ellis goal, his fifth of the year, with a lone assist from Viktor Stalberg. The Hurricanes retook the lead on a Faulk power play goal, his seventh of the season, passed from Victor Rask and Staal. The Predators tied it again with a Mike Fisher goal, his sixth of the year, made possible by Colin Wilson and Filip Forsberg. Nashville took the lead on a Roman Josi goal, his seventh of the campaign, via Stalberg and Eric Nystrom. This was good for a 3-2 win, with the three stars given to Staal, Faulk, and Stalberg.
North to Minnesota, where the Wild welcome the San Jose Sharks. Alex Stalock and Darcy Kuemper are the young goalies. Minnesota struck first in the first period on a Jason Zucker goal, his thirteenth of the season, assisted by Jason Pominville. The Wild added on with a Jared Spurgeon goal, his fifth of the year, guided in by Zucker and Pominville. San Jose got on the board in the second period with a Melker Karlsson goal, his fourth of the season, passed from Brent Burns and Joe Pavelski. The Sharks tied it in the third period as Pavelski scored his twenty-first of the year, with a lone assist by Logan Couture. San Jose took the lead on a Tommy Wingels goal, his tenth of the season, coming off of James Sheppard and Burns. Minnesota tied it again with another Zucker goal, his second of the game and fourteenth of the year, fueled by Charlie Coyle. The Sharks won 4-3 in overtime on a Marc-Edouard Vlasic goal, his sixth of the campaign, helped along by Justin Braun. The three stars were Zucker, Pavelski, and Burns, while Pominville gets an honorable mention.
Backtracking to Chicago, where the Blackhawks bring in the Colorado Avalanche. Semyon Varlamov and Corey Crawford are in the blue paint. Colorado opened in the first period on a Nathan MacKinnon goal, his seventh of the season, coming off of John Mitchell and Gabriel Landeskog. The Avalanche added on with a Max Talbot goal, his third of the year, passed from MacKinnon and Mitchell. This was all they needed for a 2-0 win, with the three stars given to Varlamov (54 save shutout), MacKinnon, and Mitchell.
South to Dallas, where the Stars host the Columbus Blue Jackets. Sergei Bobrovsky faces a lesser foe in Anders Lindback in goal. Columbus started in the first period on a James Wisniewski goal, his fourth of the season, guided in by Scott Hartnell and Nick Foligno. The Blue Jackets added on with a Ryan Johansen power play goal, his thirteenth of the year, powered by Hartnell and Foligno. Columbus extended the lead on a Kevin Connauton goal in the second period, his sixth of the season, via Johansen and Foligno, the latter getting a natural sock trick. Dallas got on the board with an Ales Hemsky goal, his fifth of the year, with a lone assist by Jamie Oleksiak. The Stars pulled closer on an Antoine Roussel goal, his tenth of the season, made possible by Ryan Garbutt. The Blue Jackets finished it at 4-2 in the third period on a Mark Letestu goal, his fourth of the yea, coming off of Alexander Wennberg and Sean Collins. The three stars belonged to Johansen, Foligno, and Hartnell.
Over to Arizona, where the Coyotes welcome the St. Louis Blues. Brian Elliott and Mike Smith are between the pipes. St. Louis got going in the first period on a Paul Stastny goal, his eighth of the season, via Dmitrij Jaskin and Patrik Berglund. The Blues added on in the second period with a David Backes goal, his tenth of the year, a power play goal powered by T.J. Oshie and Stastny. St. Louis extended the lead on a Backes power play goal, his second of the game and eleventh of the season, with a lone assist by Oshie. The Blues padded the lead as Backes completed a natural hat trick on his twelfth of the year, coming off of Berglund. St. Louis kept going in the third period on another Backes goal, his fourth of the game and thirteenth of the season, assisted by Alexander Steen and Oshie, the latter getting a sock trick. The Blues won 6-0 after a Jaden Schwartz power play goal, his thirteenth of the year, with assists provided by Alex Pietrangelo and Steen. The three stars were Backes, Oshie, and Stastny, while Berglund and Steen get the honorable mentions.
Northward to Edmonton, as the Oilers bring in the Detroit Red Wings. Jimmy Howard and Viktor Fasth receive the starting nods. Edmonton led off in the first period with a Jordan Eberle power play goal, his ninth of the season, powered by Jeff Petry and Anton Lander. Detroit tied it in the second period on a Kyle Quincey goal, his second of the year, with a lone assist by Justin Abdelkader. The Red Wings took the lead as Abdelkader scored his tenth of the season, a power play goal made possible by Niklas Kronwall and Pavel Datsyuk. The Oilers retied it in the third period on an Eberle goal, his second of the game and tenth of the year, assisted by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Taylor Hall. Detroit retook the lead on a Datsyuk power play goal, his fourteenth of the season, coming off of Henrik Zetterberg and Gustav Nyquist. The Red Wings iced it at 4-2 with a Luke Glendening power play goal into an empty net, his fourth of the year, going in unassisted. The three stars went to Eberle, Datsyuk, and Abdelkader.
Finally, the Vancouver Canucks host the New York Islanders. Jaroslav Halak and Eddie Lack are the goalies with rhyming names. New York began in the first period on a Matt Martin goal, his fifth of the season, courtesy of Travis Hamonic. Vancouver tied it with a Ryan Stanton goal, via Brad Richardson. The Canucks took the lead in the second period on a Nick Bonino goal, his ninth of the year, coming off of Kevin Bieksa. Vancouver added on with a Linden Vey goal, his seventh of the season, passed from Derek Dorsett. The Islanders got one back on a Mikhail Grabovski goal, his sixth of the year, helped along by Kyle Okposo. This made it 3-2, the final, with the three stars going to Vey, Bonino, and Stanton.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
New Jersey, as the Devils host the Buffalo Sabres. Jhonas Enroth and Cory Schneider are given the starting nods. New Jersey began in the first period with a Patrik Elias goal, his sixth of the season, coming off of Michael Cammalleri and Adam Larsson. The Devils added on as Jordin Tootoo scored his third of the year, thanks to Marek Zidlicky and the goalie Schneider. New Jersey extended the lead on a shorthanded Travis Zajac goal, his sixth of the season, set up by Elias and Mark Fraser. Buffalo got on the board in the second period with a Mikhail Grigorenko power play goal, powered by Chris Stewart. The Devils replied on a third period empty net goal by Cammalleri, his thirteenth of the year, courtesy of Zajac and Elias. This made it 4-1, the final, with the three stars going to Elias, Zajac, and Cammalleri.
Over in Philadelphia, the Flyers welcome the Ottawa Senators. Craig Anderson and Steve Mason are the average goalies. Ottawa dented the scoreboard in the third period on a Mike Hoffman goal, his thirteenth of the season, via Jared Cowen. Philadelphia tied it on a Wayne Simmonds power play goal, his sixteenth of the year, powered by Claude Giroux and Mark Streit. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Simmonds and Jakub Voracek led the Flyers to a 2-1 win over a lone tally by Mika Zibanejad. The three stars went to Mason (41 for 42 in saves), Anderson (33 for 34 in saves), and Simmonds.
Up in Montreal, the Canadiens bring in the Tampa Bay Lightning. Ben Bishop and Carey Price protect the nets. Montreal led off in the first period on a Dale Weise goal, his fifth of the season, via Tomas Plekanec and Sergei Gonchar. Tampa Bay tied it in the second period as J.T. Brown scored his second of the year, with the help of Jonathan Drouin and Brian Boyle. The Lightning took the lead on a Tyler Johnson power play goal, his sixteenth of the season, powered by Nikita Kucherov and Ondrej Palat. Tampa Bay added on with a Brett Connolly goal, his eighth of the year, courtesy of Valtteri Filppula and Cedric Paquette. The Lightning extended the lead on Johnson's second power play goal of the game, his seventeenth of the season, assisted by Palat and Kucherov. The Canadiens got one back in the third period on a Max Pacioretty goal, his seventeenth of the year, made possible by Brendan Gallagher and Gonchar. The final stood from here at 4-2, with the three stars being Johnson, Palat, and Kucherov, while Gonchar gets an honorable mention.
Down to Nashville, where the Predators host the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward and Pekka Rinne are the veteran goalies. Carolina was first to score in the first period on an Eric Staal power play goal, his eleventh of the season, powered by Elias Lindholm and Justin Faulk. Nashville tied it in the third period on a Ryan Ellis goal, his fifth of the year, with a lone assist from Viktor Stalberg. The Hurricanes retook the lead on a Faulk power play goal, his seventh of the season, passed from Victor Rask and Staal. The Predators tied it again with a Mike Fisher goal, his sixth of the year, made possible by Colin Wilson and Filip Forsberg. Nashville took the lead on a Roman Josi goal, his seventh of the campaign, via Stalberg and Eric Nystrom. This was good for a 3-2 win, with the three stars given to Staal, Faulk, and Stalberg.
North to Minnesota, where the Wild welcome the San Jose Sharks. Alex Stalock and Darcy Kuemper are the young goalies. Minnesota struck first in the first period on a Jason Zucker goal, his thirteenth of the season, assisted by Jason Pominville. The Wild added on with a Jared Spurgeon goal, his fifth of the year, guided in by Zucker and Pominville. San Jose got on the board in the second period with a Melker Karlsson goal, his fourth of the season, passed from Brent Burns and Joe Pavelski. The Sharks tied it in the third period as Pavelski scored his twenty-first of the year, with a lone assist by Logan Couture. San Jose took the lead on a Tommy Wingels goal, his tenth of the season, coming off of James Sheppard and Burns. Minnesota tied it again with another Zucker goal, his second of the game and fourteenth of the year, fueled by Charlie Coyle. The Sharks won 4-3 in overtime on a Marc-Edouard Vlasic goal, his sixth of the campaign, helped along by Justin Braun. The three stars were Zucker, Pavelski, and Burns, while Pominville gets an honorable mention.
Backtracking to Chicago, where the Blackhawks bring in the Colorado Avalanche. Semyon Varlamov and Corey Crawford are in the blue paint. Colorado opened in the first period on a Nathan MacKinnon goal, his seventh of the season, coming off of John Mitchell and Gabriel Landeskog. The Avalanche added on with a Max Talbot goal, his third of the year, passed from MacKinnon and Mitchell. This was all they needed for a 2-0 win, with the three stars given to Varlamov (54 save shutout), MacKinnon, and Mitchell.
South to Dallas, where the Stars host the Columbus Blue Jackets. Sergei Bobrovsky faces a lesser foe in Anders Lindback in goal. Columbus started in the first period on a James Wisniewski goal, his fourth of the season, guided in by Scott Hartnell and Nick Foligno. The Blue Jackets added on with a Ryan Johansen power play goal, his thirteenth of the year, powered by Hartnell and Foligno. Columbus extended the lead on a Kevin Connauton goal in the second period, his sixth of the season, via Johansen and Foligno, the latter getting a natural sock trick. Dallas got on the board with an Ales Hemsky goal, his fifth of the year, with a lone assist by Jamie Oleksiak. The Stars pulled closer on an Antoine Roussel goal, his tenth of the season, made possible by Ryan Garbutt. The Blue Jackets finished it at 4-2 in the third period on a Mark Letestu goal, his fourth of the yea, coming off of Alexander Wennberg and Sean Collins. The three stars belonged to Johansen, Foligno, and Hartnell.
Over to Arizona, where the Coyotes welcome the St. Louis Blues. Brian Elliott and Mike Smith are between the pipes. St. Louis got going in the first period on a Paul Stastny goal, his eighth of the season, via Dmitrij Jaskin and Patrik Berglund. The Blues added on in the second period with a David Backes goal, his tenth of the year, a power play goal powered by T.J. Oshie and Stastny. St. Louis extended the lead on a Backes power play goal, his second of the game and eleventh of the season, with a lone assist by Oshie. The Blues padded the lead as Backes completed a natural hat trick on his twelfth of the year, coming off of Berglund. St. Louis kept going in the third period on another Backes goal, his fourth of the game and thirteenth of the season, assisted by Alexander Steen and Oshie, the latter getting a sock trick. The Blues won 6-0 after a Jaden Schwartz power play goal, his thirteenth of the year, with assists provided by Alex Pietrangelo and Steen. The three stars were Backes, Oshie, and Stastny, while Berglund and Steen get the honorable mentions.
Northward to Edmonton, as the Oilers bring in the Detroit Red Wings. Jimmy Howard and Viktor Fasth receive the starting nods. Edmonton led off in the first period with a Jordan Eberle power play goal, his ninth of the season, powered by Jeff Petry and Anton Lander. Detroit tied it in the second period on a Kyle Quincey goal, his second of the year, with a lone assist by Justin Abdelkader. The Red Wings took the lead as Abdelkader scored his tenth of the season, a power play goal made possible by Niklas Kronwall and Pavel Datsyuk. The Oilers retied it in the third period on an Eberle goal, his second of the game and tenth of the year, assisted by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Taylor Hall. Detroit retook the lead on a Datsyuk power play goal, his fourteenth of the season, coming off of Henrik Zetterberg and Gustav Nyquist. The Red Wings iced it at 4-2 with a Luke Glendening power play goal into an empty net, his fourth of the year, going in unassisted. The three stars went to Eberle, Datsyuk, and Abdelkader.
Finally, the Vancouver Canucks host the New York Islanders. Jaroslav Halak and Eddie Lack are the goalies with rhyming names. New York began in the first period on a Matt Martin goal, his fifth of the season, courtesy of Travis Hamonic. Vancouver tied it with a Ryan Stanton goal, via Brad Richardson. The Canucks took the lead in the second period on a Nick Bonino goal, his ninth of the year, coming off of Kevin Bieksa. Vancouver added on with a Linden Vey goal, his seventh of the season, passed from Derek Dorsett. The Islanders got one back on a Mikhail Grabovski goal, his sixth of the year, helped along by Kyle Okposo. This made it 3-2, the final, with the three stars going to Vey, Bonino, and Stanton.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.