Five games tonight. I would like to inform everyone that tomorrow's posts will be late. I am volunteering at the local Special Olympics all day and will not be back to begin working on these until the evening. Today's games begin in...
New Jersey, as the Devils host the Toronto Maple Leafs. James Reimer and Cory Schneider are in the blue paint. New Jersey began in the first period on a Tuomo Ruutu goal, his sixth of the season, courtesy of Mark Fraser and Jordin Tootoo. The Devils added on with a Patrik Elias goal in the second period, his seventh of the year, assisted by Travis Zajac and Jon Merrill. New Jersey extended the lead on a Steve Bernier goal, his ninth of the season, passed from Adam Larsson and Scott Gomez. Toronto got on the board with a third period Tyler Bozak power play goal, his fifteenth of the year, powered by Phil Kessel and Jake Gardiner. The Devils shot back on a Jaromir Jagr goal, his eleventh of the campaign, coming off of Larsson. This made it 4-1, the final, with the three stars given to Schneider (33 for 34 in saves), Larsson, and Elias.
Over in DC, the Washington Capitals welcome the Anaheim Ducks. Ilya Bryzgalov and Philipp Grubauer are the backups making spot starts. Anaheim was first to score in the first period on a Ryan Kesler power play goal, his fifteenth of the season, powered by Jakob Silfverberg and Hampus Lindholm. Washington tied it in the second period on a Jason Chimera goal, his fifth of the year, via Evgeny Kuznetsov and Troy Brouwer. The Capitals took the lead in the third period on a John Carlson goal, his sixth of the season, courtesy of Kuznetsov and Chimera. The Ducks retied it with a Corey Perry goal, his twenty-third of the year, with a lone assist by Kesler. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Kuznetsov and Nicklas Backstrom topped Silfverberg for a 3-2 Capitals win. The three stars went to Kuznetsov, Chimera, and Kesler.
West to Columbus, as the Blue Jackets host the St. Louis Blues. Brian Elliott and Curtis McElhinney are between the pipes. Columbus struck first in the first period on a Nick Foligno goal, his nineteenth of the season, assisted by Brandon Dubinsky and Corey Tropp. The Blue Jackets added on with a Cam Atkinson goal, his tenth of the year, via Scott Hartnell and Ryan Johansen. Columbus extended the lead as Johansen scored his twentieth of the season, a shorthanded goal set up by Artem Anisimov. The Blue Jackets chased Elliott with a Tropp goal, his first of the year, coming off of Fedor Tyutin and Foligno. Jake Allen came on in relief. St. Louis got on the board with a Paul Stastny power play goal, his tenth of the season, powered by Jay Bouwmeester and Carl Gunnarsson. Columbus answered on a Foligno goal, his second of the game and twentieth of the year, fueled by James Wisniewski and Dubinsky. The Blue Jackets padded the lead in the third period on a Matt Calvert goal, his seventh of the season, helped along by Jack Johnson and Jared Boll. Columbus finished it at 7-1 with a Hartnell goal, his eleventh of the year, with a lone helper from Johansen. The three stars belonged to Foligno, Johansen, and Tropp, while Dubinsky and Hartnell get the honorable mentions.
Up in Winnipeg, the Jets bring in the Chicago Blackhawks. Corey Crawford and Michael Hutchinson protect the nets. Winnipeg led off in the first period on a Mark Scheifele goal, his eighth of the season, coming off of Mathieu Perreault. Chicago tied it on a second period goal by Patrick Kane, his twenty-sixth of the year, made possible by Brad Richards and Patrick Sharp. The Blackhawks won 2-1 in overtime with a Brandon Saad goal, his sixteenth of the campaign, assisted by Kane and Michal Rozsival. The three stars were handed to Kane, Crawford (20 for 21 in saves), and Saad.
Finally, the Calgary Flames host the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury and Jonas Hiller are the veteran goalies. Pittsburgh got going in the first period on a David Perron goal, his thirteenth of the season, courtesy of Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz. The Penguins added on with a Brandon Sutter goal, his eleventh of the year, via Simon Despres and Rob Scuderi. Pittsburgh extended the lead in the second period on a Crosby goal, his sixteenth of the season, made possible by Kunitz and Perron. The Penguins wrapped it up at 4-0 on a Crosby goal in the third period, his second of the game and seventeenth of the year, coming off of Kunitz, who got a sock trick, and Kris Letang. The three stars were given to Fleury (21 save shutout), Crosby, and Kunitz, while Perron gets an honorable mention.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
New Jersey, as the Devils host the Toronto Maple Leafs. James Reimer and Cory Schneider are in the blue paint. New Jersey began in the first period on a Tuomo Ruutu goal, his sixth of the season, courtesy of Mark Fraser and Jordin Tootoo. The Devils added on with a Patrik Elias goal in the second period, his seventh of the year, assisted by Travis Zajac and Jon Merrill. New Jersey extended the lead on a Steve Bernier goal, his ninth of the season, passed from Adam Larsson and Scott Gomez. Toronto got on the board with a third period Tyler Bozak power play goal, his fifteenth of the year, powered by Phil Kessel and Jake Gardiner. The Devils shot back on a Jaromir Jagr goal, his eleventh of the campaign, coming off of Larsson. This made it 4-1, the final, with the three stars given to Schneider (33 for 34 in saves), Larsson, and Elias.
Over in DC, the Washington Capitals welcome the Anaheim Ducks. Ilya Bryzgalov and Philipp Grubauer are the backups making spot starts. Anaheim was first to score in the first period on a Ryan Kesler power play goal, his fifteenth of the season, powered by Jakob Silfverberg and Hampus Lindholm. Washington tied it in the second period on a Jason Chimera goal, his fifth of the year, via Evgeny Kuznetsov and Troy Brouwer. The Capitals took the lead in the third period on a John Carlson goal, his sixth of the season, courtesy of Kuznetsov and Chimera. The Ducks retied it with a Corey Perry goal, his twenty-third of the year, with a lone assist by Kesler. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Kuznetsov and Nicklas Backstrom topped Silfverberg for a 3-2 Capitals win. The three stars went to Kuznetsov, Chimera, and Kesler.
West to Columbus, as the Blue Jackets host the St. Louis Blues. Brian Elliott and Curtis McElhinney are between the pipes. Columbus struck first in the first period on a Nick Foligno goal, his nineteenth of the season, assisted by Brandon Dubinsky and Corey Tropp. The Blue Jackets added on with a Cam Atkinson goal, his tenth of the year, via Scott Hartnell and Ryan Johansen. Columbus extended the lead as Johansen scored his twentieth of the season, a shorthanded goal set up by Artem Anisimov. The Blue Jackets chased Elliott with a Tropp goal, his first of the year, coming off of Fedor Tyutin and Foligno. Jake Allen came on in relief. St. Louis got on the board with a Paul Stastny power play goal, his tenth of the season, powered by Jay Bouwmeester and Carl Gunnarsson. Columbus answered on a Foligno goal, his second of the game and twentieth of the year, fueled by James Wisniewski and Dubinsky. The Blue Jackets padded the lead in the third period on a Matt Calvert goal, his seventh of the season, helped along by Jack Johnson and Jared Boll. Columbus finished it at 7-1 with a Hartnell goal, his eleventh of the year, with a lone helper from Johansen. The three stars belonged to Foligno, Johansen, and Tropp, while Dubinsky and Hartnell get the honorable mentions.
Up in Winnipeg, the Jets bring in the Chicago Blackhawks. Corey Crawford and Michael Hutchinson protect the nets. Winnipeg led off in the first period on a Mark Scheifele goal, his eighth of the season, coming off of Mathieu Perreault. Chicago tied it on a second period goal by Patrick Kane, his twenty-sixth of the year, made possible by Brad Richards and Patrick Sharp. The Blackhawks won 2-1 in overtime with a Brandon Saad goal, his sixteenth of the campaign, assisted by Kane and Michal Rozsival. The three stars were handed to Kane, Crawford (20 for 21 in saves), and Saad.
Finally, the Calgary Flames host the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury and Jonas Hiller are the veteran goalies. Pittsburgh got going in the first period on a David Perron goal, his thirteenth of the season, courtesy of Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz. The Penguins added on with a Brandon Sutter goal, his eleventh of the year, via Simon Despres and Rob Scuderi. Pittsburgh extended the lead in the second period on a Crosby goal, his sixteenth of the season, made possible by Kunitz and Perron. The Penguins wrapped it up at 4-0 on a Crosby goal in the third period, his second of the game and seventeenth of the year, coming off of Kunitz, who got a sock trick, and Kris Letang. The three stars were given to Fleury (21 save shutout), Crosby, and Kunitz, while Perron gets an honorable mention.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.