One of the biggest days of the season is here with 14 games on. First up...
The Buffalo Sabres host the Boston Bruins. Jeremy Swayman and Aaron Dell are set to start in goal. Buffalo started in the first period with a Kyle Okposo goal, his fifth of the season, coming off of Rasmus Asplund. Boston tied it on a Patrice Bergeron goal, his seventh of the year, fueled by Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak. The Bruins took the lead with a Charlie Coyle goal, his sixth of the season, with a lone helper by Nick Foligno. Boston added on with a Pastrnak power play goal, his sixth of the year, powered by Charlie McAvoy and Bergeron. The Bruins extended the lead as Mike Reilly scored his second of the season, with the help of and Jakub Zboril. Dustin Tokarski replaced Dell in goal. Boston padded the lead in the third period with a Taylor Hall power play goal, his fifth of the year, with assists provided by Craig Smith and Coyle. This made it 5-1, the final, with the three stars going to Pastrnak, Coyle, and Foligno.
Down in Florida, the Panthers welcome the Philadelphia Flyers. Martin Jones is mismatched with Sergei Bobrovsky in goal. Philadelphia opened with a Joel Farabee goal, his fifth of the season, via Travis Konecny and Ivan Provorov. Florida tied it in the third period with a Sam Bennett power play goal, his seventh of the year, powered by Anthony Duclair and Aaron Ekblad. The Panthers won 2-1 in overtime on an Ekblad goal, his sixth of the season, assisted by Jonathan Huberdeau and Bennett. The three stars belonged to Ekblad, Bennett, and Bobrovsky (32 for 33 in saves).
Along to New Jersey, as the Devils bring in the Minnesota Wild. Cam Talbot and MacKenzie Blackwood are in the creases. Minnesota struck first in the first period with a Ryan Hartman goal, his tenth of the season, guided in by Dmitry Kulikov and Mats Zuccarello. The Wild added on with a Nico Sturm shorthanded goal, his fourth of the year, set up by Frederick Gaudreau and Jonas Brodin. New Jersey got on the board in the third period with a Pavel Zacha goal, his eighth of the season, via Nico Hischier and Tomas Tatar. The Devils tied it with a Yegor Sharangovich goal, his third of the year, passed from Hischier and Jesper Bratt. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Kevin Fiala's lone tally gave the Wild a 3-2 win. The three stars were Hischier, Sturm, and Talbot (40 for 42 in saves).
To Pittsburgh, as the Penguins host the Vancouver Canucks. Thatcher Demko and Tristan Jarry protect the nets. Pittsburgh got going in the second period with a Bryan Rust power play goal, his second of the season, powered by Kris Letang and Jake Guentzel. The Penguins added on with an Evan Rodrigues goal, his seventh of the year, going in unassisted. Pittsburgh extended the lead as Zach Aston-Reese scored, thanks to Brock McGinn and Teddy Blueger. Vancouver got on the board with a Bo Horvat goal, his sixth of the season, made possible by Luke Schenn. The Penguins iced it at 4-1 with a McGinn empty net goal, his fifth of the year, set up by Blueger and Marcus Pettersson. The three stars were McGinn, Jarry (36 for 37 in saves), and Blueger.
In DC, the Washington Capitals welcome the Montreal Canadiens. Jake Allen and Ilya Samsonov are the masked men. Washington led off in the first period with a Nic Dowd goal, his second of the season, via Dmitry Orlov and Nick Jensen. The Capitals added on with a John Carlson power play goal, his fourth of the year, powered by Evgeny Kuznetsov and Alex Ovechkin. Washington extended the lead as Michael Sgarbossa scored an unassisted goal. Montreal got on the board with a Jake Evans goal, his fourth of the season, assisted by Artturi Lehkonen. The Capitals answered in the second period with a Kuznetsov goal, his seventh of the year, coming off of Carlson and Ovechkin. The Canadiens got one back with a Cole Caufield goal, made possible by Jonathan Drouin and Nick Suzuki. Washington replied in the third period with a Tom Wilson goal, his seventh of the season, courtesy of Ovechkin and Connor McMichael. The Capitals padded the lead on an Orlov goal, his third of the year, guided in by Dowd. Montreal got one back on a Lehkonen goal, his second of the campaign, with helpers from Brendan Gallagher and Evans. This only made it 6-3, the final, with the three stars going to Kuznetsov, Ovechkin, and Orlov, while Dowd, Carlson, Lehkonen, and Evans get the honorable mentions.
Over in Columbus, the Blue Jackets bring in the Winnipeg Jets. Connor Hellebuyck and Elvis Merzlikins are called on to start. Columbus began in the first period with a Gregory Hofmann goal, his second of the season, made possible by Max Domi. The Blue Jackets added on in the third period with a Zach Werenski power play goal, his fifth of the year, powered by Jakub Voracek and Adam Boqvist. Columbus iced it at 3-0 with an Andrew Peeke empty net goal, set up Vladislav Gavrikov and Alexandre Texier. The three stars were awarded to Merzlikins (36 save shutout), Hofmann, and Werenski.
Up in Detroit, the Red Wings host the St. Louis Blues. Ville Husso and Alex Nedeljkovic patrol the creases. St. Louis drew first blood in the first period with a Pavel Buchnevich power play goal, his fifth of the season, powered by Jordan Kyrou and Brandon Saad. Detroit tied it on a Lucas Raymond goal, his eighth of the season, passed from Tyler Bertuzzi and Dylan Larkin. The Red Wings took the lead on a Larkin goal in the second period, his tenth of the year, via Filip Zadina and Robby Fabbri. The Blues tied it on a David Perron goal, his seventh of the season, made possible by Scott Perunovich and Kyrou. Detroit retook the lead with an Adam Erne goal, his third of the year, coming off of Vladislav Namestnikov. The Red Wings iced it at 4-2 with a Fabbri empty net goal, his fourth of the campaign, set up by Filip Hronek. The three stars were Larkin, Fabbri, and Kyrou.
Back east, the New York Islanders welcome their crosstown rivals, the New York Rangers. Igor Shesterkin and Semyon Varlamov are the goalies. The Rangers dented the scoreboard in the second period with a Chris Kreider power play goal, his fourteenth of the season, powered by Ryan Strome and Adam Fox. The Rangers added on with a Kevin Rooney goal, his fourth of the year, passed from Barclay Goodrow and Ryan Reaves. The Islanders got on the board with an Andy Andreoff goal, helped along by Otto Koivula and Sebastian Aho. The Rangers replied with another Rooney goal, his second of the game and fifth of the season, assisted by Reaves. The Rangers extended the lead as Kreider scored his second of the game and fifteenth of the year, thanks to Mika Zibanejad and Kaapo Kakko. This stood for a 4-1 win, with the three stars handed to Kreider, Rooney, and Reaves.
South to Nashville, as the Predators bring in the Vegas Golden Knights. Robin Lehner and Juuse Saros tend the twines. Vegas kicked off the scoring in the first period with a Chandler Stephenson goal, his seventh of the season, assisted by Mark Stone. The Golden Knights added on in the second period with a Jonas Rondbjerg goal, his second of the year, going in unassisted. Vegas extended the lead as Adam Brooks scored, thanks to Keegan Kolesar and Mattias Janmark. Nashville got on the board in the third period with a Filip Forsberg goal, his fifth of the season, made possible by Matt Duchene. The Golden Knights answered with a shorthanded goal by Alex Pietrangelo, his fourth of the year, set up by Stephenson. The Predators shot back with a Forsberg power play goal, his second of the game and sixth of the season, powered by Roman Josi. Vegas iced it at 5-2 with an empty net goal by Stone, helped along by Max Pacioretty. The three stars went to Stephenson, Forsberg, and Stone.
Out west, the Colorado Avalanche host the Anaheim Ducks. John Gibson and Darcy Kuemper are between the pipes. Anaheim opened in the first period with a Sonny Milano power play goal, his fourth of the season, powered by Rickard Rakell and Jamie Drysdale. Colorado tied it on a Cale Makar goal, his eighth of the year, via Nazem Kadri and Gabriel Landeskog. Jonas Johansson entered the game multiple times as Kuemper battled equipment issues. The Avalanche pulled ahead in the second period on an Alex Newhook goal, his third of the season, assisted by Devon Toews and Tyson Jost. Colorado added on with a Nicolas Aube-Kubel goal, his second of the year, passed from Jayson Megna and Ryan Murray. The Avalanche extended the lead as Kadri scored on the power play, his seventh goal of the season, with the help of Mikko Rantanen and Landeskog. Colorado padded the lead on a Valeri Nichushkin goal, his fourth of the year, helped along by Andre Burakovsky and Erik Johnson. The Ducks got one back with another Milano power play goal, his second of the game and fifth of the season, with helpers from Drysdale and Trevor Zegras. This made it 5-2, the final, with the three stars going to Kadri, Milano, and Landeskog, while Drysdale gets an honorable mention.
Down in Arizona, the Coyotes welcome the Edmonton Oilers. Mikko Koskinen and Scott Wedgewood draw the starts in goal. Arizona started in the first period with a Clayton Keller goal, his fifth of the season, via Phil Kessel. Edmonton tied it on a power play goal by Connor McDavid, his thirteenth of the year, powered by Leon Draisaitl and Tyson Barrie. The Oilers took the lead in the second period on a Draisaitl goal, his nineteenth of the season, coming off of Zack Kassian and Cody Ceci. Edmonton added on in the third period with a Kassian goal, his fourth of the year, courtesy of Draisaitl and McDavid. The Oilers extended the lead as Draisaitl scored his second of the game and twentieth of the season, thanks to McDavid and Barrie on the power play. The Coyotes got one back on a Travis Boyd goal, his fourth of the year, with helpers from Jakob Chychrun and Keller. Arizona got closer with a Shayne Gostisbehere goal, his third of the season, helped along by Keller and Anton Stralman. Edmonton iced it at 5-3 with a McDavid empty net goal, his second of the game and fourteenth of the year, set up by Kassian. The three stars were awarded to McDavid, Draisaitl, and Kassian, while Keller and Barrie get the honorable mentions.
Into California, where the Los Angeles Kings bring in the Toronto Maple Leafs. Jack Campbell faces his former team and Jonathan Quick in goal. Toronto led off in the first period with an Alexander Kerfoot goal, his third of the season, coming off of Ondrej Kase and Wayne Simmonds. Los Angeles tied it in the second period with a Viktor Arvidsson power play goal, his third of the year, powered by Sean Durzi and Anze Kopitar. The Maple Leafs took the lead back with a Pierre Engvall goal, his fifth of the season, assisted by Simmonds and Rasmus Sandin. Toronto added on with a John Tavares goal, his ninth of the year, via William Nylander and T.J. Brodie. The Maple Leafs extended the lead as Auston Matthews scored his eighth of the season, thanks to Tavares and Brodie. Toronto padded the lead on a Jason Spezza power play goal, his fourth of the year, with assists provided by Morgan Rielly and Envgall. The Maple Leafs continued in the third period with a Michael Bunting goal, his fifth of the season, made possible by Sandin and Matthews. The Kings got one back on a Durzi power play goal, courtesy of Arvidsson and Adrian Kempe. This only made it 6-2, the final, with the three stars being Matthews, Tavares, and Sandin, while Durzi, Arvidsson, Engvall, Simmonds, and Brodie get the honorable mentions.
North to Seattle, as the Kraken welcome the Carolina Hurricanes. Frederik Andersen and Philipp Grubauer guard the cages. Carolina began in the first period with a Brendan Smith goal, his second of the season, assisted by Tony DeAngelo. Seattle tied it in the second period with a Jared McCann power play goal, his eighth of the year, powered by Vince Dunn and Yanni Gourde. The Kraken pulled ahead in the third period with a Marcus Johansson goal, his second of the season, going in unassisted. The three stars were Grubauer (35 for 36 in saves), Johansson, and McCann.
Finally, the San Jose Sharks bring in the Ottawa Senators. Matt Murray and James Reimer are the veterans in goal. San Jose struck first in the first period with a Matt Nieto goal, fueled by Kevin Labanc and Erik Karlsson. Ottawa tied it on a Josh Norris goal, his eighth of the season, via Brady Tkachuk and Lassi Thomson. The Sharks took the lead in the second period with a Tomas Hertl goal, his eighth of the year, passed from Timo Meier and Mario Ferraro. The Senators tied it with a Tkachuk goal, his fourth of the season, assisted by Thomas Chabot and Artem Zub. Ottawa pulled ahead on a Connor Brown goal, his third of the year, coming off of Chabot and Tim Stutzle. San Jose tied it again with a Nick Bonino power play goal, powered by Meier and Logan Couture. The Sharks pulled ahead with a Meier goal, his seventh of the season, guided in by Rudolfs Balcers and Marc-Edouard Vlasic. San Jose added on with a Couture empty net goal, his seventh of the year, going in unassisted. The Sharks iced it at 6-3 with a Jacob Middleton empty net goal, set up by Andrew Cogliano and Erik Karlsson. The three stars were Meier, Tkachuk, and Couture, while Chabot and Karlsson get the honorable mentions.
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