We're back with a big day of games, beginning with a matinee in...
Ottawa, as the Senators host the Vegas Golden Knights. Maxime Lagace and Craig Anderson are in goal. Vegas led off in the first period with an Alex Tuch power play goal, his fourth of the season, powered by William Karlsson. Ottawa tied it on a Mark Stone goal, his ninth of the year, courtesy of Mike Hoffman and Dion Phaneuf. The Golden Knights retook the lead with an Erik Haula goal, his third of the season, via Jonathan Marchessault and David Perron. The Senators tied it again with an Alexandre Burrows goal, his third of the year, helped along by Tom Pyatt and Chris Wideman. Vegas regained the lead with a Marchessault power play goal, his fourth of the season, with assists provided by Nate Schmidt and Haula. The Golden Knights added on in the third period with a Karlsson goal, his fourth of the year, with helpers from Marchessault and Reilly Smith. Vegas extended the lead as Haula scored his second of the game and fourth of the season on the power play, thanks to Perron and James Neal. Ottawa got one back with a Ryan Dzingel goal, his fifth of the year, passed from Derick Brassard and Stone. The Senators pulled closer with an Erik Karlsson goal, coming off of Brassard and Kyle Turris. This only made it 5-4, the final, with the three stars going to Haula, William Karlsson, and Marchessault, while Perron, Stone, and Brassard get the honorable mentions.
At the normal time, the Boston Bruins welcome the Washington Capitals. Braden Holtby and Tuukka Rask tend the twines. Washington began in the first period with a Tom Wilson goal, via Lars Eller and Chandler Stephenson. The Capitals added on with an Alex Ovechkin goal, his eleventh of the season, assisted by Evgeny Kuznetsov and Dmitry Orlov. Boston got on the board in the second period with a David Pastrnak goal, his seventh of the year, courtesy of Patrice Bergeron and Torey Krug. Washington replied with a Wilson goal, his second of the game, coming off of Brooks Orpik. The Bruins got one back in the third period with a Pastrnak power play goal, his second of the game and eighth of the campaign, powered by Brad Marchand and Krug. This only made it 3-2, the final, with the three stars going to Wilson, Pastrnak, and Krug.
Down in Philadelphia, the Flyers bring in the Colorado Avalanche. Semyon Varlamov and Michal Neuvirth are the Russian goalies. Colorado started in the first period with a Matt Duchene power play goal, his fourth of the season, powered by Nathan MacKinnon and Tyson Barrie. Philadelphia tied it on a Valtteri Filppula goal, his sixth of the year, guided in by Travis Konecny and Wayne Simmonds in the second period. The Flyers took the lead with a Claude Giroux power play goal, his eighth of the season, with assists provided by Shayne Gostisbehere and Jakub Voracek. The Avalanche retied it on a shorthanded Blake Comeau goal, his third of the year, set up by MacKinnon and Patrik Nemeth. Colorado took the lead with a Mikko Rantanen power play goal, his fifth of the season, passed from Alexander Kerfoot and Barrie. Philadelphia retied it in the third period with a Voracek goal, his third of the year, via Sean Couturier and Robert Hagg. The Avalanche regained the lead with a Nail Yakupov goal, his fourth of the season, with a lone assist by Duchene. The Flyers tied it again on a Dale Weise goal, his second of the year, coming off of Jordan Weal and Travis Sanheim. The tie went to a shootout, where Weal got bested by MacKinnon and Rantanen as the Avalanche won 5-4. The three stars were MacKinnon, Duchene, and Rantanen, while Weal, Barrie, and Voracek get the honorable mentions.
Over in St. Louis, the Blues host the Toronto Maple Leafs. Frederik Andersen and Jake Allen are the masked men. Toronto opened in the first period with an Andreas Borgman goal, his second of the season, courtesy of Matt Martin and Connor Carrick. St. Louis tied it in the second period with a Vladimir Tarasenko goal, his seventh of the year, passed from Jaden Schwartz and Brayden Schenn. The Blues took the lead with a Joel Edmundson goal, his fourth of the season, coming off of Schenn and Schwartz. St. Louis added on with an Alex Pietrangelo goal, his fifth of the year, assisted by Schenn and Schwartz, both of whom earned sock tricks. The Blues extended the lead as Magnus Paajarvi scored an unassisted goal in the third period, his second of the season. The Maple Leafs got one back with a Tyler Bozak goal, his third of the year, helped along by Mitchell Marner and Martin. St. Louis answered on a Vladimir Sobotka goal, his third of the season, fueled by Alexander Steen and Paul Stastny. The Blues padded the lead with a power play goal by Pietrangelo, his sixth of the year, powered by Schenn and Tarasenko. Toronto chipped back on a Connor Brown goal, his sixth of the season, guided in by Zach Hyman and Borgman. The Maple Leafs got closer with Bozak's second of the game and fourth of the year, with a lone assist from Martin, who earned a sock trick. The final held at 6-4, with the three stars being Pietrangelo, Schenn, and Schwartz, while Tarasenko, Martin, Borgman, and Bozak get the honorable mentions.
Down in Florida, the Tampa Bay Lightning welcome the Columbus Blue Jackets. Sergei Bobrovsky and Andrei Vasilevskiy guard the cages. Columbus struck first in the first period with a Seth Jones goal, his third of the season, going in unassisted. Tampa Bay tied it on a Brayden Point goal, his seventh of the year, helped along by J.T. Brown and Dan Girardi. The Lightning took the lead with a Nikita Kucherov goal, his fourteenth of the season, assisted by Mikhail Sergachev and Vladislav Namestnikov. The Blue Jackets retied it on a Zach Werenski goal, his fourth of the year, coming off of Pierre-Luc Dubois and Markus Hannikainen. Tampa Bay regained the lead in the second period with a Steven Stamkos power play goal, his seventh of the season, powered by Kucherov and Victor Hedman. The Lightning added on with a Yanni Gourde goal, his fourth of the year, via Alex Killorn and Hedman. Columbus got one back in the third period with a Hannikainen goal, his second of the season, passed from Sonny Milano and Jones. The Blue Jackets tied it as Brandon Dubinsky scored, thanks to Boone Jenner and Oliver Bjorkstrand. The tie went into a shootout, where Stamkos won it 5-4 for the Lightning. The three stars were Stamkos, Kucherov, and Hedman, while Hannikainen and Jones get the honorable mentions.
Also in Florida, the Panthers bring in the New York Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist and Roberto Luongo are the formerly great goalies. Florida got going in the second period with a Colton Sceviour goal, his second of the season, assisted by Micheal Haley and Derek MacKenzie. New York tied it on a Nick Holden goal, via Ryan McDonagh and Jesper Fast. The Panthers retook the lead with another Sceviour goal, his second of the game and third of the year, passed from MacKenzie and Haley. The Rangers tied it again with a Kevin Shattenkirk goal, his third of the season, coming off of J.T. Miller. New York took the lead with a Michael Grabner goal, his fifth of the year, helped along by Fast. Florida tied it on a Keith Yandle goal, his second of the season, made possible by Jamie McGinn and Aleksander Barkov. The Rangers regained the lead on a Rick Nash power play goal, his third of the year, powered by McDonagh and Miller. The Panthers tied it again as Vincent Trocheck scored his sixth of the season, thanks to Jonathan Huberdeau. New York won 5-4 in overtime with a Shattenkirk goal, his second of the game and fourth of the year, fueled by Nash and Miller, the latter earning a sock trick. The three stars went to Shattenkirk, Miller, and Sceviour, while Nash, Fast, McDonagh, MacKenzie, and Haley all get honorable mentions.
Way to the north, the Winnipeg Jets host the Montreal Canadiens. Al Montoya and Connor Hellebuyck occupy the creases. Winnipeg was first to score in the first period with a Patrik Laine power play goal, his sixth of the season, powered by Blake Wheeler and Dustin Byfuglien. Montreal tied it on an Andrew Shaw power play goal, his second of the year, via Jonathan Drouin and Max Pacioretty. The Canadiens took the lead in the second period with a Shaw power play goal, his second of the game and third of the season, with assists provided by Shea Weber and Pacioretty. The Jets retied it on an Andrew Copp goal, his second of the year, with a lone assist by Brandon Tanev. Winnipeg took the lead back with a Nikolaj Ehlers power play goal in the third period, his eighth of the season, coming off of Tyler Myers and Jacob Trouba. The Jets added on with a Wheeler power play goal, his fifth of the year, with a lone helper from Byfuglien. Montreal responded with a Tomas Plekanec goal, his third of the season, made possible by Brendan Gallagher. The Canadiens tied it again with a Jeff Petry goal, his second of the year, going in unassisted. Montreal won 5-4 in overtime on a Pacioretty power play goal, his fifth of the campaign, helped along by Alex Galchenyuk and Weber. The three stars were Pacioretty, Shaw, and Weber, while Wheeler and Byfuglien get the honorable mentions.
South again to Dallas, where the Stars welcome the Buffalo Sabres. Robin Lehner and Kari Lehtonen draw the starts in goal. Dallas drew first blood in the first period with a Remi Elie goal, via Antoine Roussel. The Stars added on with a Radek Faksa goal, his third of the season, made possible by Gemel Smith and John Klnigberg. Dallas extended the lead as Stephen Johns scored his second of the year, thanks to Smith and Faksa. Chad Johnson replaced Lehner in goal. The Stars padded the lead with a Tyler Seguin power play goal, his eighth of the season, powered by Klingberg and Alexander Radulov. Buffalo got on the board in the second period with a Ryan O'Reilly goal, his fifth of the year, going in unassisted. Dallas answered on a Roussel goal, coming off of Klingberg, who got a sock trick, and Seguin. The three stars were Faksa, Klingberg, and Roussel, while Smith and Seguin get the honorable mentions.
Back north, the Minnesota Wild bring in the Chicago Blackhawks. Corey Crawford and Devan Dubnyk protect the nets. Chicago dented the scoreboard in the third period with an Artem Anisimov power play goal, his fifth of the season, powered by Duncan Keith and Patrick Kane. The Blackhawks added on with an Alex DeBrincat empty net goal, his third of the year, set up by Jonathan Toews. This made it 2-0, the final, with the three stars being Crawford (24 save shutout), Anisimov, and DeBrincat.
Continuing the zig-zag pattern, the Arizona Coyotes are next as they host the Carolina Hurricanes. Scott Darling and Antti Raanta are the former backups in goal. Arizona cracked the scoresheet in the second period with a Clayton Keller goal, his tenth of the season, helped along by Brad Richardson. Carolina tied it on a Jordan Staal goal, his fourth of the year, via Sebastian Aho and Noah Hanifin in the third period. The tie went to a shootout, where Keller and Derek Stepan lifted the Coyotes over Brock McGinn and the Hurricanes 2-1. The three stars were Keller, Raanta (35 for 36 in saves), and Darling (23 for 24 in saves).
In British Columbia, the Vancouver Canucks welcome the Pittsburgh Penguins. Matt Murray and Jacob Markstrom man the nets. Pittsburgh led off in the first period with a Jake Guentzel power play goal, his fourth of the season, powered by Phil Kessel and Sidney Crosby. Vancouver tied it on a Brock Boeser goal, his third of the year, via Bo Horvat. The Canucks took the lead in the second period with another Boeser goal, his second of the game and fourth of the season, assisted by Sven Baertschi and Horvat. The Penguis tied it in the third period with a Greg McKegg goal, his second of the year, coming off of Ryan Reaves. Vancouver retook the lead with a Boeser goal, his fifth of the season completing his hat trick, with helpers from Horvat and Baertschi, the former earning a sock trick. The Canucks added on with a Horvat goal, his fifth of the year, helped along by Baertschi, who got a sock trick, and Boeser. This made it 4-2, the final, with the three stars awarded to Boeser, Horvat, and Baertschi.
In California, the Los Angeles Kings bring in the Nashville Predators. Juuse Saros and Darcy Kuemper are the backups in goal. Nashville began in the first period with a Miikka Salomaki goal, assisted by Yannick Weber and Calle Jarnkrok. The Predators added on with a P.K. Subban goal, his third of the season, passed from Scott Hartnell and Ryan Johansen. The Predators extended the lead as Craig Smith scored his fourth of the year in the second period, thanks to Filip Forsberg. Los Angeles got on the board with an Alex Iafallo goal in the third period, via Anze Kopitar and Tyler Toffoli. The Kings got closer with a Christian Folin goal, coming off of Derek Forbort and Tanner Pearson. Los Angeles tied it with an Alec Martinez power play goal, his second of the season, powered by Drew Doughty and Kopitar. The Predators won 4-3 in overtime on a Viktor Arvidsson goal, his fifth of the year, with a lone helper from Jarnkrok. The three stars went to Jarnkrok, Arvidsson, and Kopitar.
Finally, the San Jose Sharks host the Anaheim Ducks. Ryan Miller and Martin Jones are between the pipes. Anaheim struck first in the first period with a Corey Perry goal, his third of the season, passed from Derek Grant and Rickard Rakell. San Jose tied it in the third period with a Joel Ward goal, his second of the year, via Barclay Goodrow. The tie went to a shootout, where Joe Pavelski and Joonas Donskoi helped the Sharks top Rakell and the Ducks 2-1. The three stars were Rakell, Jones (25 for 26 in saves), and Miller (44 for 45 in saves).
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