Thirteen games fill the schedule today, beginning with three matinees. The first is in...
Montreal, where the Canadiens host the Washington Capitals. Braden Holtby and Carey Price tend the twines. Washington led off in the first period with a Jay Beagle goal, his eleventh of the season, via Daniel Winnik and Tom Wilson. Montreal tied it on an Alexander Radulov goal, his thirteenth of the year, passed from Phillip Danault and Max Pacioretty. The Capitals took the lead in the second period on an Andre Burakovsky goal, his eleventh of the season, assisted by Brett Connolly and Lars Eller. Washington added on in the third period with a Nicklas Backstrom power play goal, his fifteenth of the year, powered by Matt Niskanen. The Canadiens got one back with a Pacioretty goal, his twenty-fifth of the season, with a lone helper by Radulov. The final stayed at 3-2, with the three stars going to Backstrom, Pacioretty, and Radulov.
Down in Philadelphia, the Flyers welcome the Los Angeles Kings. Peter Budaj and Michal Neuvirth are the goalies. Los Angeles took the game 1-0 in overtime with a Jeff Carter goal, his twenty-seventh of the season, assisted by Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty.
West to Colorado, where the Avalanche bring in the Winnipeg Jets. Ondrej Pavelec and Calvin Pickard are the poor goalies. Colorado began in the first period with a Jarome Iginla power play goal, his seventh of the season, powered by Francois Beauchemin and Matt Duchene. Winnipeg tied it on an Adam Lowry goal, his eighth of the year, via Joel Armia. The Avalanche retook the lead with a Nathan MacKinnon goal, his twelfth of the season, coming off of Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog. The Jets tied it again in the second period with Lowry's second of the game and ninth of the year, a power play goal made possible by Blake Wheeler and Dustin Byfuglien. Colorado retook the lead with a Matt Nieto goal, his third of the season, helped along by Patrick Wiercioch and Duchene. The Avalanche added on with a Carl Soderberg goal in the third period, his fifth of the year, assisted by Iginla and Blake Comeau. Colorado iced it at 5-2 with an empty net goal by Nieto, his second of the game and fourth of the campaign, set up by Duchene, who got a sock trick, and Nikita Zadorov. The three stars were Iginla, Duchene, and Lowry, while Nieto gets an honorable mention.
At the usual time, the Boston Bruins host the Toronto Maple Leafs. Frederik Andersen and Tuukka Rask draw the starts in goal. Boston opened in the first period with a David Pastrnak goal, his twenty-first of the season, coming off of Patrice Bergeron and Zdeno Chara. Toronto tied it on a William Nylander goal, his eleventh of the year, courtesy of Nazem Kadri and Auston Matthews. The Maple Leafs took the lead in the second period with a James van Riemsdyk goal, his eighteenth of the season, with a lone assist by Mitchell Marner. Toronto added on with a Nylander goal, his second of the game and twelfth of the year, going in unassisted. The Maple Leafs extended the lead as Nylander finished his hat trick with his thirteenth of the season, with the help of Connor Brown and Matthews on the power play. Zane McIntyre replaced Rask in goal. The Bruins got one back with Pastrnak's second of the game and twenty-second of the year, with helpers from Bergeron and Chara. Boston got closer with a Torey Krug power play goal, his fifth of the season, powered by Pastrnak and Ryan Spooner. The Bruins tied it in the third period with a Spooner goal, his eighth of the year, guided in by Chara, who got a sock trick, and Dominic Moore. Toronto retook the lead with a Brown goal, his twelfth of the season, via Zach Hyman and Matthews, the latter earning a hat trick. Boston tied it again on a Bergeron goal, his thirteenth of the year, a power play goal made possible by Krug and Brad Marchand. The Maple Leafs won 6-5 with a van Riemsdyk goal, his second of the game and nineteenth of the campaign, fueled by Tyler Bozak and Marner. The three stars were Nylander, van Riemsdyk, and Pastrnak, while Matthews, Brown, Marner, Bergeron, Chara, Spooner, and Krug receive the honorable mentions.
Down in Buffalo, the Sabres welcome the Ottawa Senators. Mike Condon and Robin Lehner are the solid goalies. Buffalo started in the first period with a Kyle Okposo goal, his sixteenth of the season, coming off of Justin Falk and Josh Gorges. The Sabres added on with a Ryan O'Reilly goal in the second period, his tenth of the year, via Rasmus Ristolainen and Tyler Ennis. Buffalo extended the lead as Sam Reinhart scored his eleventh of the season in the third period, thanks to Jack Eichel. The Sabres padded the lead as Marcus Foligno scored his ninth of the year, with the help of Eichel. This made it 4-0, the final, with the three stars being Lehner (37 save shutout), Okposo, and Eichel.
Across the state, the New York Islanders bring in the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward and Jean-Francois Berube are in the blue paint. Carolina struck first in the first period with a Jaccob Slavin goal, his second of the season, made possible by Brett Pesce and Elias Lindholm. New York tied it on an Anders Lee goal, his eighteenth of the year, helped along by Dennis Seidenberg and Josh Bailey. The Islanders took the lead with a Casey Cizikas goal, his fifth of the season, assisted by Ryan Strome and Shane Prince in the second period. The Hurricanes retied it on a Ron Hainsey goal, his third of the year, passed from Lindholm and Jordan Staal. Carolina took the lead with a Lee Stempniak goal, his tenth of the season, with a lone assist by Jeff Skinner. New York tied it on a Brock Nelson goal, his eleventh of the year, fueled by Strome and Adam Pelech. The Hurricanes retook the lead with a Teuvo Teravainen goal, his eleventh of the season, guided in by Brock McGinn. The Islanders tied it in the third period with a Bailey power play goal, his tenth of the year, powered by Lee. Carolina won 5-4 in overtime on Hainsey's second goal of the game and fourth of the campaign, with helpers from Justin Faulk and Staal. The three stars were handed to Hainsey, Bailey, and Lee, while Lindholm, Staal, and Strome get the honorable mentions.
Down in Florida, the Tampa Bay Lightning host the Anaheim Ducks. Jonathan Bernier is mismatched with Ben Bishop in goal. Anaheim was first to score in the first period with a Brandon Montour goal, via Jakob Silfverberg and Ryan Kesler. Tampa Bay tied it on a Jonathan Drouin goal, his fifteenth of the season, assisted by Tyler Johnson and Nikita Kucherov. The Lightning took the lead in the second period with an Alex Killorn goal, his sixteenth of the year, a power play goal powered by Kucherov. The Ducks retied it in the third period with a Ryan Getzlaf goal, his eighth of the campaign, helped along by Kevin Bieksa and Kesler. The tie went to a shootout, where Brayden Point, Kucherov, and Brian Boyle topped Silfverberg and Getzlaf to give the Lightning a 3-2 win. The three stars went to Kucherov, Kesler, and Getzlaf, while Silfverberg gets an honorable mention.
Back to the north, where the Columbus Blue Jackets welcome the New Jersey Devils. Cory Schneider and Sergei Bobrovsky guard the cages. New Jersey led off in the first period with a Taylor Hall goal, his twelfth of the season, made possible by Travis Zajac and Kyle Palmieri. The Devils added on in the second period with a Jacob Josefson goal, with a lone assist by Andy Greene. New Jersey extended the lead as Zajac scored a power play goal, his tenth of the year, powered by Adam Henrique and P.A. Parenteau. Columbus got on the board in the third period with a shorthanded Matt Calvert goal, his eighth of the season, set up by William Karlsson. The Devils shot back as Hall scored an empty net goal, his second of the game and thirteenth of the year, thanks to Ben Lovejoy. New Jersey iced it at 5-1 with a Seth Helgeson goal, with helpers from Steven Santini and Henrique. The three stars belonged to Hall, Zajac, and Henrique, while Schneider (31 for 32 in saves) gets an honorable mention.
South to Dallas, with the Stars bringing in the Chicago Blackhawks. Corey Crawford and Kari Lehtonen are called on to start in goal. Dallas dented the scoreboard in the second period with a Radek Faksa goal, his eighth of the season, courtesy of Devin Shore and Dan Hamhuis. Chicago tied it on a Ryan Hartman goal, his twelfth of the year, passed from Tanner Kero and Marian Hossa. The Blackhawks took the lead with a Gustav Forsling goal, his second of the season, coming off of Brent Seabrook and Marcus Kruger. The Stars retied it in the third period with a Jamie Benn goal, his sixteenth of the year, made possible by Cody Eakin and John Klingberg. Dallas took the lead with an unassisted Tyler Seguin goal, his nineteenth of the season. Chicago retied it with a Patrick Kane goal, his seventeenth of the year, assisted by Artem Anisimov. The Blackhawks regained the lead on a Trevor van Riemsdyk goal, his second of the season, fueled by Anisimov and Artemi Panarin. Chicago iced it at 5-3 with a Jonathan Toews power play goal into an empty net, his tenth of the year, set up by Hossa and Duncan Keith. The three stars went to Anisimov, Hossa, and van Riemsdyk.
Backtracking to St. Louis, where the Blues host the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury and Jake Allen are the solid goalies. Pittsburgh began in the first period with a Sidney Crosby goal, his twenty-ninth of the season, with a lone assist by Chris Kunitz. The Penguins added on in the second period with a Kris Letang goal, his fifth of the year, helped along by Carter Rowney and Bryan Rust. Pittsburgh extended the lead as Justin Schultz scored his ninth of the season, thanks to Crosby and Kunitz. St. Louis got on the board with a third period goal by Patrik Berglund, his twelfth of the year, via Colton Parayko and Joel Edmundson. The Penguins finished it at 4-1 with a Crosby empty net goal, his second of the game and thirtieth of the campaign, going in unassisted. The three stars were awarded to Crosby, Kunitz, and Fleury (22 for 23 in saves).
In Nashville, the Predators welcome the Detroit Red Wings. Petr Mrazek and Pekka Rinne protect the nets. Detroit opened in the first period with a Mike Green goal, his tenth of the season, assisted by Henrik Zetterberg and Anthony Mantha. This stood for a 1-0 win, with the three stars going to Mrazek (42 save shutout), Green, and Rinne (18 for 19 in saves).
Northwest to Vancouver, where the Canucks bring in the Minnesota Wild. Devan Dubnyk and Ryan Miller are the starting goalies. Minnesota started in the first period with a Mike Reilly goal, via Christian Folin and Jason Pominville. Vancouver tied it with a Brandon Sutter goal, his thirteenth of the season, helped along by Jannik Hansen. The Wild retook the lead with a Mikael Granlund goal, his thirteenth of the year, assisted by Jason Zucker and Matt Dumba. Minnesota added on in the second period with Granlund's second goal of the game and fourteenth of the season, a shorthanded goal set up by Dumba. The Canucks got one back with a Bo Horvat goal, his fifteenth of the year, with a lone assist by Sven Baertschi. The Wild replied with a Zach Parise goal, his tenth of the season, coming off of Jared Spurgeon and Eric Staal. Minnesota extended the lead as Mikko Koivu scored his sixteenth of the year, with the help of Granlund and Spurgeon. Vancouver got one back with a Sutter power play goal, his second of the game and fourteenth of the season, with helpers from Baertschi and Daniel Sedin. The Wild answered in the third period with Granlund completing his hat trick on his fifteenth of the year, made possible by Zucker and Koivu. The final held at 6-3, with the three stars being Granlund, Koivu, and Sutter, while Zucker, Spurgeon, and Dumba get the honorable mentions.
Finally, the San Jose Sharks host the Arizona Coyotes. Mike Smith and Martin Jones are between the pipes. Arizona drew first blood in the second period with a Shane Doan power play goal, his fifth of the season, powered by Jamie McGinn and Alex Goligoski. San Jose tied it on a Brenden Dillon goal, helped along by Patrick Marleau and Logan Couture. The Sharks took the lead with a Couture goal in the third period, his eighteenth of the year, coming off of Marleau and Mikkel Boedker. The Coyotes retied it on a Ryan White goal, his fifth of the season, going in unassisted. The tie went to a shootout, where Brendan Perlini and Radim Vrbata topped Couture to give the Coyotes a 3-2 win. The three stars were Couture, Marleau, and White.
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