The New York Rangers hosting the New York Islanders. Jaroslav Halak and Henrik Lundqvist are the masked men. The Islanders began in the first period with an Anders Lee power play goal, his third of the season, powered by Ryan Pulock and Jordan Eberle. The Rangers tied it on a David Desharnais goal, his second of the year, courtesy of Kevin Shattenkirk and Marc Staal. The Islanders retook the lead with a Brock Nelson goal, his fourth of the season, passed from Andrew Ladd. The Islanders added on in the second period with a Mathew Barzal goal, assisted by Calvin de Haan and Josh Bailey. The Rangers got one back in the third period with a Mats Zuccarello goal, his second of the year, guided in by Brendan Smith. The Rangers tied it on a Kevin Hayes goal, his second of the season, coming off of Jesper Fast and Ryan McDonagh. The tie went to a shootout, where Eberle and John Tavares lifted the Islanders over Zuccarello and the Rangers. The three stars of the 4-3 game were Eberle, Zuccarello, and Barzal.
Over in Philadelphia, the Flyers welcome the Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne faces a lesser foe in Michal Neuvirth in goal. Nashville dented the scoreboard in the third period with a Colton Sissons goal, his second of the season, made possible by Kevin Fiala. This stood for a 1-0 win, with the three stars handed to Rinne (28 save shutout), Sissons, and Fiala.
Up in Boston, the Bruins bring in the Vancouver Canucks. Anders Nilsson and Anton Khudobin are the backups in goal. Vancouver led off in the first period with a Derek Dorsett goal, his second of the season, helped along by Michael Del Zotto and Christopher Tanev. Boston tied it on an Anders Bjork goal, his second of the year, fueled by Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. The Bruins took the lead with a David Pastrnak power play goal, his fourth of the season, going in unassisted. Boston added on with another Bjork power play goal, his second of the game and third of the year, powered by David Krejci and Charlie McAvoy. The Bruins extended the lead as Krejci scored a power play goal, thanks to Bergeron and Kenny Agostino. Nilsson was replaced by Jacob Markstrom in goal. Boston padded the lead in the second period as Marchand scored his fourth of the season, with the help of Bjork and Bergeron. The Canucks got one back with a Thomas Vanek power play goal, his third of the year, with assists provided by Sam Gagner and Del Zotto. Vancouver chipped closer with a Bo Horvat goal, his third of the season, assisted by Sven Baertschi and Brock Boeser. The Bruins answered in the third period with a Bergeron power play goal, made possible by Pastrnak and Marchand. The final held at 6-3, with the three stars given to Bergeron, Marchand, and Bjork, while Pastrnak, Krejci, and Del Zotto get the honorable mentions.
To the west, the Columbus Blue Jackets host the Tampa Bay Lightning. Andrei Vasilevskiy and Sergei Bobrovsky are the Russian goalies. Tampa Bay opened in the first period with a Mikhail Sergachev goal, coming off of Nikita Kucherov and Vladislav Namestnikov. The Lightning added on in the second period with another Sergachev goal, assisted by Kucherov and Steven Stamkos. This stood for the eventual 2-0 final, with the three stars awarded to Vasilevskiy (43 save shutout), Sergachev, and Kucherov.
In Canada, the Ottawa Senators welcome the New Jersey Devils. Cory Schneider and Craig Anderson protect the nets. New Jersey started in the first period with a Nico Hischier goal, guided in by Drew Stafford and Taylor Hall. Ottawa tied it on a Kyle Turris power play goal, his third of the season, powered by Erik Karlsson and Zack Smith. The Devils regained the lead with a Hischier goal, his second of the game, helped along by Hall and John Moore. The Senators retied it in the second period with a Derick Brassard goal, his fourth of the year, via Bobby Ryan and Karlsson. Ottawa took the lead with an Alexandre Burrows power play goal, with helpers by Karlsson, who got a sock trick, and Mike Hoffman. The Senators added on with a Tom Pyatt goal, with a lone assist from Jean-Gabriel Pageau. New Jersey got one back with a Kyle Palmieri goal in the third period, his third of the season, assisted by Hall, who got a sock trick. The Devils tied it on a Marcus Johansson goal, his third of the year, fueled by Palmieri. New Jersey won 5-4 in overtime with a Moore goal, his second of the campaign, passed from Hall and Hischier. The three stars belonged to Hall, Hischier, and Palmieri, while Moore and Karlsson get the honorable mentions.
Back stateside, the Chicago Blackhawks bring in the Edmonton Oilers. Cam Talbot and Anton Forsberg receive the green light to play goal. Chicago struck first in the first period with a Patrick Kane goal, his third of the season, via Jan Rutta and Duncan Keith. Edmonton tied it on a Patrick Maroon goal, coming off of Connor McDavid and Kailer Yamamoto. The Oilers won 2-1 in overtime with a Mark Letestu power play goal, his second of the year, powered by Oscar Klefbom and McDavid. The three stars were McDavid, Letestu, and Talbot (30 for 31 in saves).
In Alberta, the Calgary Flames host the Carolina Hurricanes. Scott Darling and Mike Smith guard the cages. Carolina got going in the second period with a Jeff Skinner goal, his third of the season, coming off of Derek Ryan and Brock McGinn. The Hurricanes added on with a Justin Williams power play goal in the third period, powered by Skinner and Noah Hanifin. Calgary got on the board with a Sean Monahan goal, his fourth of the year, assisted by Johnny Gaudreau and Jaromir Jagr. This only made it 2-1, the final, with the three stars going to Skinner, Darling (25 for 26 in saves), and Williams.
South to Colorado, where the Avalanche welcome the St. Louis Blues. Carter Hutton and Jonathan Bernier are in the blue paint. Colorado was first to score in the first period with an Alexander Kerfoot power play goal, his second of the season, powered by J.T. Compher and Mikko Rantanen. St. Louis tied it in the second period with a Paul Stastny goal, his third of the year, via Vladimir Tarasenko and Alex Pietrangelo. The Blues took the lead on a Jaden Schwartz goal, his sixth of the season, courtesy of Pietrangelo and Vladimir Sobotka. St. Louis added on with a Vince Dunn goal, his second of the year, passed from Stastny. The Avalanche got one back in the third period with a Blake Comeau goal, helped along by Colin Wilson and Kerfoot. The Blues countered with a Robert Bortuzzo goal, assisted by Sobotka and Sammy Blais. Colorado chipped back with a Kerfoot goal, his second of the game and third of the campaign, with assists provided by Matt Duchene and Tyson Barrie. This only made it 4-3, the final, with the three stars handed to Kerfoot, Stastny, and Pietrangelo, while Sobotka gets an honorable mention.
Finally, the Arizona Coyotes bring in the Dallas Stars. Ben Bishop and Adin Hill are between the pipes. Arizona drew first blood in the first period with a Derek Stepan goal, via Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Clayton Keller. Dallas tied it on an unassisted Jamie Benn power play goal, his third of the season. The Stars took the lead with a Radek Faksa goal, his second of the year, made possible by Tyler Pitlick. The Coyotes retied it in the second period with a Stepan goal, coming off of Max Domi and Jason Demers. Dallas regained the lead in the third period with an unassisted Stephen Johns goal. Arizona tied it on a Keller goal, his fourth of the season, going in unassisted. The Stars pulled ahead with a Tyler Seguin goal, his fourth of the year, guided in by Benn and John Klingberg. Dallas added on with another Seguin goal, his second of the game and fifth of the season, passed from Benn and Klingberg. The Coyotes pulled one back on Keller's second of the game and fifth of the year, with helpers from Christian Dvorak and Stepan. The final was 5-4, with the three stars given to Seguin, Keller, and Benn, while Stepan and Klingberg get the honorable mentions.
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