Eleven games today, beginning with...
The Boston Bruins hosting the San Jose Sharks. Martin Jones and Tuukka Rask guard the cages. Boston opened in the first period with a David Backes goal, his twelfth of the season, passed from Torey Krug and David Krejci. San Jose tied it on a Joe Thornton goal, his fourth of the year, coming off of Tomas Hertl. The Bruins took the lead back with a Patrice Bergeron goal, his fourteenth of the season, assisted by Backes and Brandon Carlo. Boston added on with a David Pastrnak power play goal, his twenty-third of the year, powered by Bergeron. The Sharks got one back with a Justin Braun goal, his third of the season, made possible by Logan Couture and Patrick Marleau in the second period. Aaron Dell relieved Jones in goal. The Bruins answered with a Tim Schaller goal, his seventh of the year, fueled by Riley Nash and Dominic Moore. Boston extended the lead as Pastrnak scored his second of the game and twenty-fourth of the season, with helpers provided by Bergeron and Brad Marchand. San Jose got on the board with a Timo Meier goal, his third of the year, with assists from Joel Ward and Hertl. The Bruins finished it at 6-3 with a Marchand empty net goal, his twenty-fourth of the campaign, set up by Bergeron and Backes. The three stars were Pastrnak, Bergeron, and Backes, while Marchand and Hertl get the honorable mentions.
Out to Buffalo, where the Sabres welcome the Anaheim Ducks. John Gibson and Robin Lehner are the goalies. Anaheim led off in the first period with a Corey Perry goal, his tenth of the season, going in unassisted. Buffalo tied it on a Jack Eichel power play goal, his thirteenth of the year, powered by Kyle Okposo and Ryan O'Reilly. The Ducks took the lead with a third period goal by Rickard Rakell goal, his twenty-second of the season, via Perry and Hampus Lindholm. Anaheim added on with an Antoine Vermette power play goal, his eighth of the year, assisted by Brandon Montour and Lindholm. The Ducks extended the lead as Perry scored his second of the game and eleventh of the season, thanks to Rakell and Cam Fowler. The Sabres got one back with a Rasmus Ristolainen goal, his fourth of the year, helped along by Justin Bailey and Sam Reinhart. Anaheim iced it at 5-2 with an Andrew Cogliano empty net goal, his eleventh of the campaign, set up by Ryan Kesler and Logan Shaw. The three stars were given to Perry, Rakell, and Lindholm,
Along to Manhattan, where the New York Rangers bring in the Nashville Predators. Juuse Saros and Henrik Lundqvist draw the starts in goal. Nashville started in the first period with a Cody McLeod goal, his fourth of the season, guided in by P.K. Subban and Austin Watson. The Predators added on with a Calle Jarnkrok power play goal, his tenth of the year, powered by Mike Fisher and Subban in the second period. New York got on the board with a Michael Grabner goal, his twenty-sixth of the season, via Kevin Hayes. The Rangers tied it on a J.T. Miller goal, his seventeenth of the year, with a lone assist by Hayes. New York took the lead in the third period with a Chris Kreider goal, his twenty-second of the season, passed from Mats Zuccarello and Mika Zibanejad. The Rangers extended the lead as Miller scored his second of the game and eighteenth of the year, thanks to Ryan McDonagh and Hayes, the latter earning a sock trick. Nashville got one back with a Roman Josi power play goal, his sixth of the season, with assists provided by Ryan Johansen and Ryan Ellis. This only made it 4-3, with the three stars going to Miller, Hayes, and Subban.
West to Philadelphia, where the Flyers host the New York Islanders. Thomas Greiss and Steve Mason are in the blue paint. Philadelphia began in the first period with a Wayne Simmonds power play goal, his twenty-second of the season, powered by Shayne Gostisbehere and Jakub Voracek. New York tied it on a John Tavares goal, his twenty-first of the year, helped along by Ryan Strome and Josh Bailey on the power play. The Islanders took the lead with a Jason Chimera goal, his twelfth of the season, via Andrew Ladd and Dennis Seidenberg. New York added on in the third period with a Casey Cizikas goal, his sixth of the year, passed from Johnny Boychuk. This made it 3-1, the final, with the three stars going to Chimera, Griess (33 for 34 in saves), and Cizikas.
Next up, the Washington Capitals welcome the Detroit Red Wings. Petr Mrazek and Braden Holtby are the masked men. Washington struck first in the first period with a Marcus Johansson goal, his eighteenth of the season, passed from Evgeny Kuznetsov and Justin Williams. Detroit tied it on an Andreas Athanasiou goal, his twelfth of the year, via Ryan Sproul and Thomas Vanek. The Red Wings took the lead with an Athanasiou power play goal, his thirteenth of the season, powered by Vanek. The Capitals tied it on a Brett Connolly goal, his twelfth of the year, assisted by Lars Eller and Karl Alzner. Washington took the lead in the second period on a T.J. Oshie goal, his twenty-first of the season, guided in by John Carlson and Nicklas Backstrom. Detroit tied it on a third period goal by Henrik Zetterberg, his twelfth of the year, made possible by Anthony Mantha and Gustav Nyquist. The Capitals took the lead back with a Carlson goal, his sixth of the season, helped along by Oshie. Washington added on with Oshie's second of the game and twenty-second of the year, a power play goal with assists provided by Backstrom and Johansson. The Capitals iced it at 6-3 with a Backstrom empty net goal, his sixteenth of the campaign, set up by Jay Beagle. The three stars belonged to Oshie, Backstrom, and Carlson, while Johansson, Athanasiou, and Vanek get the honorable mentions.
Over in Columbus, the Blue Jackets bring in the Vancouver Canucks. Ryan Miller and Sergei Bobrovsky are between the pipes. Vancouver got going in the second period on a Daniel Sedin goal, his twelfth of the season, helped along by Markus Granlund and Henrik Sedin. The Canucks added on with a Loui Eriksson power play goal, his eleventh of the year, powered by Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin. Vancouver extended the lead in the third period as Jayson Megna scored his fourth of the season, thanks to Troy Stecher and Alexander Edler. The three stars of the 3-0 game belonged to Miller (33 save shutout), Daniel Sedin, and Henrik Sedin.
Up in Ottawa, the Senators host the Dallas Stars. Kari Lehtonen and Mike Condon are in the creases. Ottawa was first to score in the first period with a Dion Phaneuf goal, his seventh of the season, a shorthanded goal set up by Jean-Gabriel Pageau. The Senators added on with an empty net goal credited to Chris Kelly as his fifth of the year. Dallas got on the board in the second period with an Antoine Roussel goal, his eighth of the season, assisted by Radek Faksa and Jordie Benn. The Stars tied it on a Jamie Benn goal, his seventeenth of the year, with a lone assist by Esa Lindell. Ottawa took the lead with a Mark Stone goal in the third period, his nineteenth of the season, passed from Ryan Dzingel and Cody Ceci. The three stars of the 3-2 game were Stone, Condon (31 for 33 in saves), and Phaneuf.
Also in Ontario, the Toronto Maple Leafs welcome the St. Louis Blues. Jake Allen and Frederik Andersen protect the nets. St. Louis began in the first period with a Patrik Berglund goal, his fourteenth of the season, via Magnus Paajarvi and Jaden Schwartz. Toronto tied it on a second period goal by Morgan Rielly goal, his second of the year, helped along by William Nylander and Nazem Kadri. The Blues won 2-1 in overtime with a Vladimir Tarasenko goal, his twenty-sixth of the campaign, assisted by Jori Lehtera and Kevin Shattenkirk. The three stars belonged to Allen (31 for 32 in saves), Tarasenko, and Berglund.
South to Florida, where the Panthers bring in the Los Angeles Kings. Peter Budaj and James Reimer are the goalies. Los Angeles opened in the first period with a Dustin Brown power play goal, his eighth of the season, powered by Alec Martinez and Jeff Carter. The Kings added on with a Carter goal, his twenty-eighth of the year, via Tanner Pearson. Florida got on the board with a Jussi Jokinen goal, his sixth of the season, coming off of Nick Bjugstad and Vincent Trocheck. Los Angeles replied with a Tyler Toffoli goal, his ninth of the year, assisted by Drew Doughty and Carter. The Kings extended the lead as Pearson scored his sixteenth of the season in the second period, with the help of Brown. Los Angeles padded the lead with a Dwight King goal, his seventh of the year, helped along by Trevor Lewis and Paul Ladue. The Kings continued with a Carter goal, his second of the game and twenty-ninth of the season, fueled by Pearson and Brayden McNabb. The Panthers got closer in the third period with a Jonathan Marchessault goal, his sixteenth of the year, guided in by Michael Sgarbossa and Jokinen. Florida got closer with an Aleksander Barkov goal, his tenth of the season, via Jaromir Jagr and Jonathan Huberdeau. This only made it 6-3, the final, with the three stars given to Carter, Brown, and Pearson, while Jokinen gets an honorable mention.
Out in Colorado, the Avalanche host the Pittsburgh Penguins. Matt Murray and Calvin Pickard are the young goalies. Pittsburgh started in the first period with a Phil Kessel goal, his eighteenth of the season, made possible by Matt Cullen. The Penguins added on in the second period with a Patric Hornqvist power play goal, his sixteenth of the year, powered by Kessel and Justin Schultz. Pittsburgh extended the lead as Hornqvist scored his second of the game and seventeenth of the season, thanks to Schultz. Colorado got on the board in the third period with a Gabriel Landeskog power play goal, his tenth of the year, via Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen. The Penguins iced it at 4-1 with a Chris Kunitz goal, his eighth of the campaign, an empty net goal set up by Cullen. The three stars were Hornqvist, Kessel, and Schultz, while Cullen gets an honorable mention.
Finally, the Arizona Coyotes host the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and Mike Smith are the veterans in goal. Montreal led off in the first period with a Max Pacioretty goal, his twenty-sixth of the season, assisted by Phillip Danault and Jeff Petry. The Canadiens added on with an Andrei Markov goal, his third of the year, via Michael McCarron and Daniel Carr.Arizona got on the board in the second period with a Christian Dvorak power play goal, his sixth of the season, powered by Max Domi and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The Coyotes tied it on a Domi goal, his sixth of the year, passed from Peter Holland and Connor Murphy. Arizona took the lead with an Alex Goligoski goal, his second of the season, a shorthanded goal set up by Jordan Martinook. Montreal tied it again in the third period on a Pacioretty power play goal, his second of the game and twenty-seventh of the year, with assists provided by Markov and Petry. The Canadiens took the lead with an Alexander Radulov goal, his fourteenth of the season, made possible by Danault and Pacioretty. The Coyotes tied it again with a Dvorak goal, his second of the game and seventh of the year, going in unassisted. Montreal iced it at 5-4 in overtime with an Alec Galchenyuk goal, his twelfth of the campaign, dished from Pacioretty. The three stars were Pacioretty, Dvorak, and Markov, while Domi, Petry, and Danault get the honorable mentions.
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