Seven games on for a Monday slate. First up...
The Buffalo Sabres host the Tampa Bay Lightning. Brian Elliott and Craig Anderson are the veterans in goal. Buffalo led off in the first period with a Victor Olofsson goal, his third of the season, made possible by Tage Thompson and Robert Hagg. Tampa Bay tied it on an Alex Killorn goal, his third of the year, guided in by Ryan McDonagh and Mathieu Joseph. The Sabres took the lead in the second period with a Drake Caggiula goal, going in unassisted. Buffalo added on in the third period with an unassisted Vinnie Hinostroza goal. The Sabres extended the lead as Hagg scored an empty net goal, thanks to Zemgus Girgensons. Buffalo iced it at 5-1 with an Olofsson empty net goal, his second of the game and fourth of the campaign, set up by Rasmus Asplund and Thompson. The three stars were Olofsson, Anderson (35 for 36 in saves), and Hagg, while Thompson gets an honorable mention.
Down in Raleigh, the Carolina Hurricanes welcome the Toronto Maple Leafs. Jack Campbell and Frederik Andersen are the former teammates in goal. Toronto began in the first period with an Auston Matthews goal, via Michael Bunting. Carolina tied it on a Sebastian Aho goal, his fourth of the season, made possible by Ethan Bear and Andrei Svechnikov. The Hurricanes took the lead with a Steven Lorentz goal, coming off of Jordan Martinook. Carolina added on with a Nino Niederreiter goal, his second of the year, guided in by Jaccob Slavin. The Hurricanes finished it at 4-1 with a Svechnikov empty net goal in the third period, his fifth of the campaign, set up by Slavin. The three stars went to Andersen (24 for 25 in saves), Svechnikov, and Slavin.
Back north, the New York Rangers bring in the Calgary Flames. Jacob Markstrom and Igor Shesterkin guard the cages. Calgary opened in the first period with a Christopher Tanev goal, assisted by Johnny Gaudreau and Elias Lindholm. The Flames added on in the second period with an Andrew Mangiapane goal, his fourth of the season, going in unassisted. New York got on the board in the third period with a Dryden Hunt goal, via Jacob Trouba and K'Andre Miller. Calgary shot back with a Blake Coleman goal, his second of the year, helped along by Mikael Backlund and Tyler Pitlick. The Flames extended the lead as Backlund scored, thanks to Coleman and Noah Hanifin. Calgary iced it at 5-1 with a Mangiapane power play goal, his second of the game and fifth of the campaign, powered by Rasmus Andersson and Dillon Dube. The three stars belonged to Mangiapane, Coleman, and Backlund.
In Canada, the Ottawa Senators host the Washington Capitals. Ilya Samsonov and Anton Forsberg receive the starting nods in goal. Ottawa started in the first period with an unassisted Drake Batherson goal, his second of the season. Washington tied it on a T.J. Oshie goal, his second of the year, guided in by Trevor van Riemsdyk. The Capitals took the lead on another Oshie goal, his second of the game and third of the season, fueled by Anthony Mantha and Connor McMichael. Washington added on with a Nick Jensen goal, his second of the year, coming off of Dmitry Orlov and Conor Sheary. The Capitals extended the lead as John Carlson scored, thanks to Lars Eller and Martin Fehervary. Filip Gustavsson replaced Forsberg in goal. The Senators got one back in the second period with a Josh Norris goal, his third of the season, helped along by Artem Zub and Batherson. Ottawa got closer with a Chris Tierney power play goal, his fourth of the year, powered by Tyler Ennis and Thomas Chabot. The Senators tied it on another Batherson goal, his second of the game and third of the season, courtesy of Brady Tkachuk. Washington retook the lead with an Alex Ovechkin goal, his sixth of the year, going in unassisted. The Capitals padded the lead when Oshie completed his hat trick on his fourth of the season, with a helper from McMichael. Ottawa pulled one back in the third period when Batherson completed his hat trick on his fourth of the year, with the help of Norris and Chabot. Washington capped it at 7-5 with another Ovechkin goal, his second of the game and seventh of the campaign, with a lone assist by Tom Wilson. The three stars went to Oshie, Batherson, and Ovechkin, while Norris, McMichael, and Chabot get the honorable mentions.
Way south to Florida, as the Panthers welcome the Arizona Coyotes. Carter Hutton is mismatched with Spencer Knight in goal. Arizona struck first in the first period with a Clayton Keller goal, his third of the season, made possible by Nick Schmaltz. Florida tied it on a Joe Thornton power play goal, powered by Sam Reinhart and Brandon Montour. Karel Vejmelka relieved an injured Hutton in the second period. The Panthers took the lead in the second period with a Frank Vatrano goal, via Montour and Patric Hornqvist. Florida added on with an Aaron Ekblad power play goal, his third of the year, assisted by Jonathan Huberdeau and Sam Bennett. The Panthers extended the lead in the third period as Huberdeau scored his third of the season, thanks to Bennett and Owen Tippett. The Coyotes got one back with a Liam O'Brien goal, passed from Christian Fischer and Anton Stralman. Arizona got closer with a Phil Kessel goal, coming off of Ilya Lyubushkin and Johan Larsson. Florida iced it at 5-3 with an Anthony Duclair empty net goal, his fourth of the year, set up by MacKenzie Weegar and Aleksander Barkov. The three stars were Huberdeau, Bennett, and Montour.
Along to Columbus, as the Blue Jackets bring in the Dallas Stars. Braden Holtby and Elvis Merzlikins man the nets. Columbus kicked off the scoring in the first period with an Oliver Bjorkstrand goal, his third of the season, helped along by Jack Roslovic and Gregory Hofmann. The Blue Jackets added on in the second period with a Hofmann goal, fueled by Bjorkstrand. Columbus extended the lead in the third period as Zach Werenski scored his second of the year, thanks to Sean Kuraly and Eric Robinson. Dallas got on the board with a Tyler Seguin goal, his second of the season, via Esa Lindell and Ryan Suter. The Blue Jackets iced it at 4-1 with an Alexandre Texier empty net goal, his second of the year, set up by Werenski. The three stars were handed to Bjorkstrand, Hofmann, and Werenski.
Finally, the St. Louis Blues host the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick and Ville Husso are the backups in goal. St. Louis dented the scoreboard in the third period with a Vladimir Tarasenko goal, his second of the season, assisted by Torey Krug and Robert Thomas. The Blues added on with another Tarasenko goal, his second of the game and third of the year, with a lone helper by Ivan Barbashev. St. Louis iced it at 3-0 with a David Perron empty net goal, his sixth of the campaign, set up by Ryan O'Reilly and Marco Scandella. The three stars were awarded to Husso (34 save shutout), Tarasenko, and Perron.
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