Fourteen games on a massive schedule tonight, beginning with...
The Montreal Canadiens hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs. Frederik Andersen and Carey Price draw the starts in goal. Montreal opened in the first period with a Jeff Petry goal, assisted by Jonathan Drouin and Artturi Lehkonen. Toronto tied it on a James van Riemsdyk goal, his fourth of the season, going in unassisted. The Maple Leafs took the lead with an unassisted Auston Matthews goal, his fourth of the year. The Canadiens retied it with an Alex Galchenyuk goal, passed from Charles Hudon on the power play. Montreal took the lead in the second period with a Drouin goal, with a lone assist by Karl Alzner. Toronto tied it again with a Patrick Marleau goal, his third of the season, coming off of Nazem Kadri. The Maple Leafs won 4-3 in overtime with a Matthews goal, his second of the game fifth of the year, helped along by William Nylander. The three stars went to Matthews, Drouin, and Marleau.
Down in New York, the Rangers welcome the New Jersey Devils. Keith Kinkaid and Ondrej Pavelec are the backups in goal. New York got going in the second period with a Rick Nash goal, via David Desharnais. New Jersey tied it on an Adam Henrique goal, his second of the season, made possible by Brian Gibbons. The Devils took the lead with a Miles Wood goal, his third of the year, coming off of Ben Lovejoy and Will Butcher. New Jersey added on with a Drew Stafford power play goal in the third period, powered by Butcher and Nico Hischier. The Rangers got one back with a Kevin Shattenkirk goal, his second of the campaign, guided in by J.T. Miller. This only made it 3-2, with the three stars going to Butcher, Stafford, and Kinkaid (29 for 31 in saves).
Over in Philadelphia, the Flyers bring in the Washington Capitals. Philipp Grubauer is mismatched with Brian Elliott in goal. Philadelphia started in the first period with a Sean Couturier goal, his second of the season, coming off of Jakub Voracek and Claude Giroux. Washington tied it on a Jakub Vrana goal, his second of the year, guided in by Evgeny Kuznetsov and John Carlson. The Flyers took the lead back with a shorthanded and unassisted Scott Laughton goal. Philadelphia added on in the second period with a Wayne Simmonds power play goal, his fifth of the season, powered by Voracek and Shayne Gostisbehere. The Flyers extended the lead as Giroux scored his second of the year, thanks to Sean Couturier and Voracek, the latter earning a sock trick. The Capitals got one back with a Nicklas Backstrom goal, his third of the season, made possible by T.J. Oshie and Brooks Orpik. Philadelphia replied with a Valtteri Filppula goal, his third of the year, helped along by Jordan Weal and Simmonds. The Flyers continued in the third period with a Laughton goal, his second of the game, dished from Ivan Provorov. Philadelphia struck again with a Couturier goal, his third of the season, with helpers from Giroux and Gostisbehere. The Flyers padded the lead on a Giroux goal, his third of the year, fueled by Brandon Manning and Gostisbehere, the latter earning a sock trick. The three stars were Voracek, Couturier, and Giroux, while Gostisbehere, Simmonds, and Laughton get the honorable mentions.
Across Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh Penguins host the Florida Panthers. James Reimer and Matt Murray are in the blue paint. Pittsburgh led off in the first period with a Sidney Crosby power play goal, his second of the season, powered by Phil Kessel and Kris Letang. Florida tied it on a Jonathan Huberdeau goal, his second of the year, helped along by Evgenii Dadonov in the second period. The Penguins took the lead back with a Greg McKegg shorthanded goal, set up by Tom Kuhnhackl. The Panthers tied it again with a Huberdeau power play goal, his second of the game and third of the season, assisted by Dadonov and Keith Yandle. Pittsburgh took the lead with a Patric Hornqvist goal, his second of the year, passed from Olli Maatta and Bryan Rust. The Penguins added on in the third period with a Crosby goal, his second of the game and third of the season, guided in by Letang and Conor Sheary. Florida got one back with an Aaron Ekblad goal, his second of the year, fueled by Vincent Trocheck and Jamie McGinn. This only made it 4-3, the final, with the three stars handed to Crosby, Huberdeau, and Letang, while Dadonov gets an honorable mention.
Down in the Tampa Bay, the Lightning welcome the St. Louis Blues. Jake Allen and Andrei Vasilevskiy are the masked men. Tampa Bay dented the scoreboard in the second period with a Tyler Johnson power play goal, his second of the season, powered by Mikhail Sergachev and Brayden Point. The Lightning added on with a Nikita Kucherov goal in the third period, his fifth of the year, assisted by Steven Stamkos and Vladislav Namestnikov. St. Louis got one back with a Vladimir Tarasenko goal, his fourth of the campaign, coming off of Jaden Schwartz and Brayden Schenn. This produced the 2-1 final, with the three stars going to Vasilevskiy (28 for 29 in saves), Kucherov, and Johnson.
In Canada again, the Winnipeg Jets bring in the Carolina Hurricanes. Scott Darling and Connor Hellebuyck are the inexperienced goalies. Winnipeg began in the first period with a Bryan Little goal, fueled by Nikolaj Ehlers and Patrik Laine. Carolina tied it on a Jeff Skinner power play goal, his second of the season, powered by Noah Hanifin and Justin Williams. The Jets took the lead back with an Ehlers goal in the third period, his fifth of the year, via Blake Wheeler and Dustin Byfuglien. This made it 2-1, the final, with the three stars awarded to Ehlers, Hellebuyck (28 for 29 in saves), and Little.
Down in Dallas, the Stars host the Colorado Avalanche. Semyon Varlamov and Ben Bishop are between the pipes. Dallas drew first blood in the second period with a Jamie Benn goal, his second of the season, with a lone assist from Tyler Seguin. The Stars added on with a Seguin power play goal, his third of the year, powered by Devin Shore and Benn. Colorado got on the board in the third period Matt Duchene goal, his third of the season, coming off of Tyson Barrie and Colin Wilson. Dallas iced it at 3-1 with an Esa Lindell empty net goal, set up by Shore and Stephen Johns. The three stars were given to Seguin, Benn, and Shore.
Back north to Minnesota, as the Wild welcome the Columbus Blue Jackets. Sergei Bobrovsky and Devan Dubnyk guard the cages. Minnesota struck first in the first period with an Eric Staal goal, his third of the season, passed from Chris Stewart and Matt Dumba. Columbus tied it on a Zach Werenski goal, his second of the year, guided in by Alexander Wennberg and Artemi Panarin. The Wild took the lead with a second period Tyler Ennis power play goal, powered by Jared Spurgeon and Ryan Suter. Minnesota added on with a Landon Ferraro goal, made possible by Zack Mitchell. The Blue Jackets pulled one back with a David Savard goal, assisted by Oliver Bjorkstrand and Nick Foligno. The Wild replied with another Ennis power play goal in the third period, with assists provided by Mikko Koivu and Suter. Columbus countered with a Cam Atkinson goal, his second of the season, fueled by Jack Johnson and Panarin.The Blue Jackets tied it with a Josh Anderson goal, coming off of Savard and Matt Calvert. Columbus won 5-4 in overtime with a Wennberg goal, with helpers from Panarin, who got a sock trick, and Seth Jones. The three stars were awarded to Wennberg, Panarin, and Ennis, while Savard and Suter get the honorable mentions.
In Chicago, the Blackhawks bring in the Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne and Corey Crawford tend the twines. Nashville cracked the scoresheet in the second period with a Filip Forsberg power play goal, his fifth of the season, powered by Scott Hartnell and P.K. Subban. Chicago tied it on a third period Patrick Sharp goal, his second of the year, via John Hayden and Cody Franson. The Blackhawks won 2-1 in overtime with a Brandon Saad goal, his sixth of the campaign, assisted by Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith. The three stars went to Crawford (37 for 38 in saves), Saad, and Sharp.
Southwest to Arizona, where the Coyotes host the Boston Bruins. Anton Khudobin and Louis Domingue are the mediocre goalies. Arizona was first to score in the first period with a Mario Kempe goal, made possible by Anthony Duclair and Luke Schenn. Boston tied it on a David Pastrnak goal, his second of the season, helped along by Zdeno Chara and Brandon Carlo. The Bruins took the lead in the second period with a Jake DeBrusk goal, his second of the year, via David Krejci and Charlie McAvoy. Boston added on with a Chara goal, courtesy of Brad Marchand and Pastrnak. The Bruins extended the lead as Marchand scored his third of the season, thanks to Chara and Adam McQuaid. The Coyotes got one back with an Oliver Ekman-Larsson power play goal, with assists provided by Jason Demers and Derek Stepan. Boston shot back with a Tim Schaller goal, his second of the year, coming off of Danton Heinen and Sean Kuraly. The Bruins finished it at 6-2 with an Anders Bjork goal on the power play, with helpers from Heinen and DeBrusk. The three stars were Chara, Marchand, and Pastrnak, while DeBrusk and Heinen get the honorable mentions.
Up in Edmonton, the Oilers welcome the Ottawa Senators. Mike Condon and Cam Talbot receive the green light to play goal. Ottawa opened in the first period with a Mike Hoffman goal, his second of the season, assisted by Tom Pyatt and Dion Phaneuf. The Senators added on with a Derick Brassard power play goal, his third of the year, powered by Mark Stone and Thomas Chabot. Ottawa extended the lead as Hoffman scored his second of the night and third of the season, thanks to Kyle Turris and Alexandre Burrows. The Senators chased Talbot in the third period with a Turris goal, via Zack Smith and Stone. Laurent Brossoit took over in goal. Ottawa padded the lead with a Chris Wideman power play goal, his third of the year, with assists provided by Hoffman and Smith. The Senators kept going with a Turris power play goal, with a lone assist by the goalie Condon. Edmonton got on the board with an Adam Larsson goal, made possible by Connor McDavid and Kailer Yamamoto. This made it 6-1, the final, with the three stars given to Hoffman, Turris, and Stone, while Smith gets an honorable mention.
West to British Columbia, as the Vancouver Canucks bring in the Calgary Flames. Mike Smith and Jacob Markstrom are the goalies. Calgary started with a shorthanded goal by Mark Giordano, set up by Freddie Hamilton and Troy Brouwer. Vancouver tied it on a Derek Dorsett goal, via Alex Burmistrov and Michael Del Zotto. The Flames retook the lead with a Travis Hamonic goal in the second period, going in unassisted. Calgary added on with a Dougie Hamilton goal, going in unassisted. The Flames extended the lead in the third period as Johnny Gaudreau scored a power play goal, his second of the season, thanks to Jaromir Jagr and T.J. Brodie. The Canucks got one back with a Brock Boeser goal, assisted by Sven Baertschi and Derrick Pouliot. Calgary countered with a Dougie Hamilton goal, his second of the year, passed from Matthew Tkachuk. This produced the 5-2 final, with the three stars named as Dougie Hamilton, Hamonic, and Gaudreau.
Down in Los Angeles, the Kings host the Buffalo Sabres. Robin Lehner and Jonathan Quick are in the creases. Buffalo began in the first period with a Zemgus Girgensons goal, via Jack Eichel and Jake McCabe. Los Angeles tied it on a Dustin Brown power play goal in the second period, his fourth of the season, powered by Jeff Carter and Drew Doughty. The Kings took the lead on a Tyler Toffoli power play goal in the third period, his second of the year, assisted by Jake Muzzin and Oscar Fantenberg. The Sabres retied it on an Eichel goal, his second of the campaign, passed from Evander Kane and Jason Pominville. Los Angeles pulled ahead with a Doughty power play goal, coming off of Alec Martinez and Anze Kopitar. The Kings iced it at 4-2 with a Tanner Pearson empty net goal, set up by Toffoli and Carter. The three stars belonged to Doughty, Eichel, and Toffoli, while Carter gets an honorable mention.
Finally, the San Jose Sharks host the New York Islanders. Thomas Greiss and Aaron Dell are the backups making spot starts. San Jose led off in the first period with a Kevin Labanc power play goal, his third of the season, powered by Mikkel Boedker and Marc-Edouard Vlasic. New York tied it on an Anders Lee goal, his second of the year, via Jordan Eberle and Adam Pelech. The Islanders took the lead in the second period on a Brock Nelson goal, his third of the campaign, assisted by Joshua Ho-Sang and Calvin de Haan. New York finished it at 3-1 with a Cal Clutterbuck empty net goal, set up by Nikolay Kulemin and Casey Cizikas. The three stars went to Greiss (40 for 41 in saves), Nelson, and Lee.
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