We've got nine games on for today, beginning with two matinees. The first is in...
Manhattan, as the New York Rangers host crosstown rivals, the New York Islanders. Jaroslav Halak and Ondrej Pavelec are the experienced goalies. The Islanders opened in the first period with an Anthony Beauvillier goal, his sixth of the season, passed from Jordan Eberle and Mathew Barzal. The Rangers tied it on a Kevin Hayes power play goal, his tenth of the year, powered by Rick Nash. The Islanders retook the lead on a Shane Prince goal, made possible by Scott Mayfield. The Islanders added on in the second period with a Barzal goal, his fourteenth of the season, assisted by Eberle and Mayfield. The Islanders extended the lead as Barzal scored his second of the game and fifteenth of the year, thanks to Beauvillier and Eberle, the latter earning a sock trick. The Islanders padded the lead on another Beauvillier goal, his second of the game and seventh of the season, helped along by John Tavares and Thomas Hickey. Henrik Lundqvist replaced Pavelec in goal. The Rangers got one back in the third period on a Mika Zibanejad goal, his fourteenth of the year, coming off of Mats Zuccarello and Ryan McDonagh. The Islanders countered on a Hickey goal, his second of the season, with helpers from Eberle and Barzal. The Islanders iced it at 7-2 with a Cal Clutterbuck goal, his eighth of the year, fueled by Jason Chimera and Barzal. The three stars were Barzal, Eberle, and Beauvillier, while Hickey and Mayfield get the honorable mentions.
West to Pittsburgh, where the Penguins welcome the Detroit Red Wings. Jimmy Howard and Tristan Jarry make the starts in goal. Pittsburgh started in the first period with an Evgeni Malkin goal, his eighteenth of the season, via Carl Hagelin and Olli Maatta. Detroit tied it on a Justin Abdelkader power play goal, his eighth of the year, powered by Tomas Tatar and Henrik Zetterberg. The Penguins retook the lead on a Phil Kessel power play goal, his nineteenth of the season, guided in by Sidney Crosby and Malkin. Pittsburgh added on in the second period with a Malkin goal, his second of the game and nineteenth of the year, with a lone assist by Kessel. The Penguins extended the lead as Crosby scored a power play goal, his sixteenth of the season, thanks to Kessel and Malkin. This made it 4-1, the final, with the three stars given to Malkin, Kessel, and Crosby.
In Canada, the Montreal Canadiens bring in the Boston Bruins. Tuukka Rask and Carey Price tend the twines. Montreal led off in the first period with a Max Pacioretty goal, his eleventh of the season, made possible by Victor Mete and Phillip Danault. Boston tied it on a Brad Marchand power play goal, his eighteenth of the year, powered by Patrice Bergeron and Danton Heinen. The Bruins took the lead with a Jake DeBrusk goal, his tenth of the season, via Charlie McAvoy and Zdeno Chara in the second period. The Canadiens retied it on a Nicolas Deslauriers goal, his fifth of the year, going in unassisted. Montreal took the lead back with an Alex Galchenyuk power play goal, his eleventh of the season, with assists provided by Jonathan Drouin and Jeff Petry. Boston tied it on a David Krejci goal, his seventh of the year, coming off of McAvoy and DeBrusk. The Bruins won 4-3 in the shootout with tallies by DeBrusk and Marchand to top Paul Byron and the Canadiens. The three stars were given to DeBrusk, McAvoy, and Marchand.
Back stateside, the New Jersey Devils host the Philadelphia Flyers. Brian Elliott and Cory Schneider man the nets. New Jersey began in the first period with a Jesper Bratt goal, his eleventh of the season, coming off of Nico Hischier and Taylor Hall. Philadelphia tied it on a Sean Couturier goal, his twenty-fourth of the year, via Jordan Weal and Andrew MacDonald. The Devils retook the lead on a second period Kyle Palmieri power play goal, his seventh of the season, powered by Will Butcher and Hall. The Flyers retied it on a Wayne Simmonds power play goal, his fifteenth of the year, with helpers from Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek. Philadelphia gained the lead on a Couturier power play goal, his second of the game and twenty-fifth of the season, assisted by Giroux and Ivan Provorov. The Flyers added on in the third period with a Travis Konecny goal, his sixth of the year, guided in by Provorov and Couturier. Philadelphia extended the lead as Michael Raffl scored his eighth of the season, thanks to Voracek and Valtteri Filppula. New Jersey got one back with a Drew Stafford power play goal, his sixth of the year, helped along by Damon Severson and John Moore. This only made it 5-3, the final, with the three stars going to Couturier, Voracek, and Giroux, while Provorov and Hall get the honorable mentions.
West to Minnesota, where the Wild welcome the Winnipeg Jets. Connor Hellebuyck and Devan Dubnyk guard the cages. Minnesota struck first in the first period with a Mikael Granlund power play goal, his thirteenth of the season, powered by Ryan Suter and Jared Spurgeon. The Wild added on with a Jason Zucker goal in the second period, his sixteenth of the year, via Mikko Koivu and Granlund. Winnipeg got on the board in the third period with a Mathieu Perreault power play goal, his thirteenth of the season, with assists provided by Blake Wheeler and Dustin Byfuglien. Minnesota answered on a Matt Dumba goal, his eighth of the year, passed from Marcus Foligno and Charlie Coyle. The Wild extended the lead as Dumba scored his second of the game and ninth of the campaign, with the help of Coyle and Foligno. The final stood from here at 4-1, with the three stars given to Dumba, Granlund, and Dubnyk (32 for 33 in saves), while Foligno and Coyle get the honorable mentions.
Down in Dallas, the Stars bring in the Colorado Avalanche. Jonathan Bernier and Ben Bishop are in the blue paint. Colorado was first to score in the first period with an Alexander Kerfoot goal, his eleventh of the season, courtesy of A.J. Greer and Samuel Girard. Dallas tied it in the second period with a Jamie Benn goal, his eighteenth of the year, fueled by John Klingberg and Alexander Radulov. The Avalanche retook the lead in the third period with a Nathan MacKinnon goal, his nineteenth of the season, made possible by Kerfoot and Nikita Zadorov. Colorado added on with a Blake Comeau goal, his eighth of the year, with a lone helper by Zadorov. The Avalanche finished it at 4-1 with a Mark Barberio shorthanded empty net goal, his third of the campaign, set up by Patrik Nemeth and the goalie Bernier. The three stars were Kerfoot, Zadorov, and Bernier (27 for 28 in saves).
Over in Vegas, the Golden Knights host the Edmonton Oilers. Cam Talbot and Marc-Andre Fleury are the masked men. Edmonton got going in the second period with a Patrick Maroon goal, his eleventh of the season, assisted by Darnell Nurse and Connor McDavid. Vegas tied it on a Reilly Smith goal, his twelfth of the year, going in unassisted. The Golden Knights took the lead with a William Karlsson goal, his twenty-third of the season, helped along by Jonathan Marchessault. The Oilers retied it in the third period with a Drake Caggiula goal, his sixth of the year, coming off of Maroon and McDavid. Edmonton won 3-2 in overtime on a Nurse goal, his sixth of the campaign, passed from Caggiula and Leon Draisaitl. The three stars belonged to Nurse, Caggiula, and Maroon, while McDavid gets an honorable mention.
In California, the Los Angeles Kings welcome the Anaheim Ducks. John Gibson and Jonathan Quick protect the nets. Anaheim drew first blood in the first period with an Ondrej Kase goal, his tenth of the season, coming off of Rickard Rakell and Ryan Getzlaf. The Ducks added on with a Ryan Kesler power play goal, his second of the year, powered by Brandon Montour and Kase. Anaheim extended the lead in the third period as Kase scored his second of the game and eleventh of the season, with the help of Nick Ritchie. Los Angeles got on the board with a Nick Shore goal, his third of the year, made possible by Christian Folin and Trevor Lewis. The Kings got closer with an Anze Kopitar goal, his eighteenth of the season, via Derek Forbort and Alex Iafallo. The Ducks iced it at 4-2 with a Corey Perry empty net goal, his seventh of the year, set up by Hampus Lindholm. The three stars went to Kase, Kesler, and Gibson (23 for 25 in saves).
Finally, the San Jose Sharks bring in the Arizona Coyotes. Scott Wedgewood and Martin Jones are between the pipes. San Jose kicked off the scoring in the first period with a Joe Thornton goal, his ninth of the season, coming off of Joe Pavelski. Arizona tied it on a Derek Stepan goal, his ninth of the year, via Brendan Perlini and Richard Panik. The Sharks retook the lead on a Pavelski power play goal, his ninth of the season, powered by Brent Burns and Thornton. The Coyotes tied it again with an Alex Goligoski goal, his fifth of the year, guided in by Stepan. San Jose retook the lead with a Logan Couture goal, his seventeenth of the season, made possible by Joonas Donskoi and Burns. Arizona tied it once more with a Christian Fischer goal, his twelfth of the year, with a lone assist by Kevin Connauton. The Sharks reclaimed the lead in the second period on a Donskoi goal, his ninth of the season, passed from Mikkel Boedker and the relief goalie Aaron Dell. The Coyotes equalized in the third period on an Oliver Ekman-Larsson goal, his seventh of the year, helped along by Christian Dvorak and Clayton Keller. Arizona took the lead on a Josh Archibald goal, his third of the season, with assists from Jakob Chychrun and Dvorak. San Jose pulled even on a Donskoi goal, his second of the game and tenth of the year, courtesy of Burns, who got a sock trick, and Chris Tierney. The Sharks won 6-5 in overtime on a Marc-Edouard Vlasic goal, his fifth of the campaign, fueled by Pavelski and Thornton. The three stars were Donskoi, Pavelski, and Burns, while Thornton, Stepan, and Dvorak get the honorable mentions.
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