We're up for six games tonight. First up...
The Buffalo Sabres host the Columbus Blue Jackets. Joonas Korpisalo and Dustin Tokarski start in goal. Buffalo led off in the first period with a Tage Thompson goal, his seventh of the season, coming off of Victor Olofsson and Henri Jokiharju. Columbus tied it on a Jack Roslovic goal, assisted by Zach Werenski and Gregory Hofmann. The Blue Jackets took the lead with another Roslovic goal, passed from Max Domi and Gavin Bayreuther. The Sabres tied it on a Zemgus Girgensons power play goal, his fourth of the year, powered by Colin Miller and Rasmus Dahlin. Columbus retook the lead in the second period with an Oliver Bjorkstrand goal, his sixth of the season, courtesy of Gustav Nyquist and Boone Jenner. The Blue Jackets added on with a Domi goal, his second of the year, via Hofmann and Roslovic. Aaron Dell replaced Tokarski in goal. Columbus extended the lead as Vladislav Gavrikov scored, thanks to Andrew Peeke and Domi. Buffalo got one back with a Dylan Cozens goal, his fourth of the season, made possible by Jeff Skinner and Miller. The Sabres pulled closer on a Thompson power play goal, his second of the game and eighth of the year, with assists provided by Dahlin and Cozens. The Blue Jackets responded in the third period with a Gavrikov empty net goal, his second of the game, set up by Jenner. Columbus finished it at 7-4 with a Sean Kuraly empty net goal, his third of the campaign, going in unassisted. The three stars were Roslovic, Gavrikov, and Domi, while Jenner, Hofmann, Thompson, Cozens, Dahlin, and Miller get the honorable mentions.
Over in St. Louis, the Blues welcome the Vegas Golden Knights. Robin Lehner and Jordan Binnington guard the cages. Vegas began in the first period with a Chandler Stephenson goal, his sixth of the season, coming off of Alex Pietrangelo. The Golden Knights added on with a Reilly Smith goal, his eighth of the year, guided in by Ben Hutton. St. Louis got on the board with a Ryan O'Reilly goal, his third of the season, via David Perron and Colton Parayko. The Blues tied it on a Tyler Bozak goal, fueled by Klim Kostin and Justin Faulk. St. Louis took the lead with a Faulk goal, his third of the year, going in unassisted. The Blues extended the lead in the second period on a Brandon Saad power play goal, his eighth of the season, powered by Vladimir Tarasenko and Perron. St. Louis padded the lead in the third period as Niko Mikkola scored, thanks to Robert Thomas and Tarasenko. This stood for a 5-2 win, with the three stars given to Faulk, Tarasenko, and Perron.
Back in Nashville, the Predators bring in the Anaheim Ducks. John Gibson and Juuse Saros tend the twines. Nashville started in the first period with a Ryan Johansen goal, his sixth of the season, courtesy of Yakov Trenin and Tanner Jeannot. Anaheim tied it in the second period with a Rickard Rakell goal, his fifth of the year, assisted by Trevor Zegras and Sonny Milano. The Predators retook the lead with a Mikael Granlund power play goal, his fourth of the season, powered by Johansen. The Ducks tied it again in the third period with a Jamie Drysdale goal, his second of the year, going in unassisted. Nashville pulled ahead on an unassisted Trenin goal, his second of the campaign. This held for a 3-2 win, with the three stars being Trenin, Johansen, and Granlund.
Up in Winnipeg, the Jets host the Pittsburgh Penguins. Tristan Jarry and Connor Hellebuyck protect the nets. Winnipeg struck first in the first period with a Dominic Toninato goal, his second of the season, fueled by Neal Pionk and Brenden Dillon. Pittsburgh tied it in the second period with a Jason Zucker goal, his fourth of the year, coming off of Evan Rodrigues and John Marino. The Penguins took the lead in the third period with a Danton Heinen goal, his sixth of the season, via Chad Ruhwedel and Dominik Simon. Pittsburgh added on with a Jake Guentzel empty net goal, his eighth of the year, set up by Jeff Carter and the goalie Jarry. This made it 3-1, the final, with the three stars going to Jarry (30 for 31 in saves), Heinen, and Zucker.
Back stateside, the Colorado Avalanche welcome the Ottawa Senators. Filip Gustavsson and Darcy Kuemper man the nets. Colorado opened in the first period with a Valeri Nichushkin goal, his third of the season, assisted by Nazem Kadri and Andre Burakovsky. Ottawa tied it with a Zach Sanford power play goal, his third of the year, powered by Lassi Thomson and Michael Del Zotto. The Avalanche retook the lead with a Cale Makar goal, his sixth of the season, via Gabriel Landeskog. The Senators tied it again on an Artem Zub goal, helped along by Brady Tkachuk. Colorado pulled ahead again in the second period with a Devon Toews goal, his third of the year, coming off of Kadri and Burakovsky. Ottawa even it with another Sanford goal, his second of the game and fourth of the season, with a lone helper by Tyler Ennis. The Senators gained the lead in the third period with a Josh Norris power play goal, his seventh of the year, with assists provided by Tim Stutzle and Connor Brown. The Avalanche retied it on a Makar goal, his second of the game and seventh of the season, going in unassisted. Ottawa took the lead again with Sanford completing his hat trick on his fifth of the year, guided in by Tkachuk and Logan Shaw. Colorado evened it again with a Mikko Rantanen power play goal, his seventh of the season, made possible by Burakovsky and Kadri. The Avalanche pulled ahead with an Alex Newhook goal, his second of the year, passed from Logan O'Connor and Nichushkin. Colorado iced it at 7-5 with a Kadri empty net goal, his sixth of the campaign, set up by Toews. The three stars belonged to Kadri, Makar, and Sanford, while Nichushkin, Toews, Burakovsky, and Tkachuk get the honorable mentions.
Finally, the San Jose Sharks bring in the Carolina Hurricanes. Antti Raanta and James Reimer are the veterans in goal. Carolina got going in the second period with a Tony DeAngelo goal, his fourth of the season, via Teuvo Teravainen and Seth Jarvis. San Jose tied it in the third period with a Kevin Labanc goal, his third of the year, courtesy of Jasper Weatherby. The Sharks won 2-1 in overtime with an Alexander Barabanov goal, his third of the campaign, assisted by Tomas Hertl and Mario Ferraro. The three stars went to Reimer (22 for 23 in saves), Barabanov, and Labanc.
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