Seven games on a rather busy Sunday, beginning with...
The New York Rangers hosting the Seattle Kraken. Philipp Grubauer and Igor Shesterkin protect the nets. New York led off in the first period with a Mika Zibanejad power play goal, his seventeenth of the season, powered by Artemi Panarin and Jacob Trouba. The Rangers added on in the second period with an Alexis Lafreniere goal, his ninth of the year, coming off of Zibanejad and Zac Jones. Seattle got on the board with a Jared McCann goal, his eighteenth of the season, passed from Jordan Eberle and Marcus Johansson. The Kraken tied it on a Yanni Gourde power play goal, his tenth of the year, with assists provided by Mark Giordano and McCann in the third period. New York regained the lead with a K'Andre Miller goal, his third of the campaign, helped along by Zibanejad. This made it 3-2, the final, with the three stars given to Zibanejad, McCann, and Miller.
Over in Pittsburgh, the Penguins welcome the Los Angeles Kings. Cal Petersen and Tristan Jarry are between the pipes. Los Angeles got going in the second period with an Alex Iafallo goal, his fourteenth of the season, assisted by Anze Kopitar. Pittsburgh tied it on a Sidney Crosby power play goal, his twelfth of the year, powered by Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang. The Kings took the lead back with a Trevor Moore goal, his sixth of the season, via Jacob Moverare. Los Angeles added on with a Drew Doughty goal, his fifth of the year, passed from Kopitar and Adrian Kempe. The Penguins got one back with a Bryan Rust goal, his eleventh of the season, with a lone assist by Letang. Pittsburgh tied it on a Rust power play goal, his second of the game and twelfth of the year, with assists provided by Crosby and Jake Guentzel. The Kings retook the lead on another Moore goal, his second of the game and seventh of the season, helped along by Blake Lizotte. This stood for a 4-3 win, with the three stars going to Moore, Rust, and Kopitar, while Crosby and Letang get the honorable mentions.
Down in Raleigh, the Carolina Hurricanes bring in the San Jose Sharks. James Reimer and Frederik Andersen guard the cages. Carolina began in the first period with a Vincent Trocheck goal, his eleventh of the season, coming off of Ian Cole and Ethan Bear. San Jose tied it in the third period on a Rudolfs Balcers goal, his fifth of the year, guided in by Jonathan Dahlen and Nicolas Meloche. The Hurricanes took the lead with an Andrei Svechnikov goal, his sixteenth of the season, fueled by Brett Pesce and Sebastian Aho. The three stars of the 2-1 game were handed to Svechnikov, Trocheck, and Andersen (27 for 28 in saves).
Back north, the Montreal Canadiens host the Columbus Blue Jackets. Joonas Korpisalo and Samuel Montembeault are in goal. Montreal opened in the first period with a Nick Suzuki goal, his ninth of the season, made possible by Tyler Toffoli and Artturi Lehkonen. Columbus tied it on a Patrik Laine goal, his seventh of the year, coming off of Gustav Nyquist and Vladislav Gavrikov. The Blue Jackets took the lead with a Jack Roslovic goal, his seventh of the season, via Gavin Bayreuther. Columbus added on with a shorthanded and unassisted Eric Robinson goal, his sixth of the year. Cayden Primeau took over for Montembeault in goal. The Blue Jackets extended the lead as Yegor Chinakhov scored his fifth of the season, going in unassisted. The Canadiens got one back in the second period with a Toffoli goal, his ninth of the year, assisted by Lehkonen and Suzuki. Montreal got closer on a shorthanded Lehkonen goal, his seventh of the season, set up by Jake Evans and Jeff Petry in the third period. Columbus responded with a Cole Sillinger goal, his seventh of the year, passed from Andrew Peeke. The Blue Jackets iced it at 6-3 with an empty net goal by Laine, his second of the game and eighth of the campaign, set up by Sillinger and Nyquist. The three stars were Laine, Lehkonen, and Sillinger, while Suzuki, Toffoli, and Nyquist get the honorable mentions.
Way south to Dallas, as the Stars welcome the Boston Bruins. Linus Ullmark and Jake Oettinger are the masked men. Dallas started in the first period with a Tyler Seguin goal, his thirteenth of the season, going in unassisted. The Stars added on with an Alexander Radulov goal, his second of the year, via Esa Lindell. Dallas extended the lead in the second period as Luke Glendening scored his sixth of the season, thanks to Miro Heiskanen and Jason Robertson. The Stars chased Ullmark with a Jamie Benn goal, his tenth of the year, assisted by Seguin and Denis Gurianov. Jeremy Swayman took over in goal. Dallas padded the lead in the third period with a Roope Hintz power play goal, his twentieth of the season, powered by John Klingberg. Boston got on the board with a Craig Smith goal, his sixth of the year, helped along by Charlie Coyle and Jake DeBrusk. The Stars countered with a Seguin goal, his second of the game and fourteenth of the campaign, courtesy of Gurianov and Benn. The three stars of the 6-1 game were Seguin, Benn, and Gurianov.
North again to New York, as the Islanders bring in the Minnesota Wild. Kaapo Kahkonen and Ilya Sorokin patrol the creases. Minnesota kicked off the scoring in the first period with a Brandon Duhaime goal, his fifth of the season, coming off of Joel Eriksson Ek and Matt Dumba. The Wild added on with an Eriksson Ek power play goal, his thirteenth of the year, powered by Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy. New York got on the board with a Brock Nelson goal, his fourteenth of the season, passed from Robin Salo and Adam Pelech. Minnesota replied in the second period with a Boldy goal, his fourth of the year, courtesy of Victor Rask and Kevin Fiala. The Islanders got one back with a Ross Johnston goal, going in unassisted. The Wild answered in the third period with a Kaprizov goal, his eighteenth of the season, helped along by Dumba and Jonas Brodin. New York got one back with an Oliver Wahlstrom power play goal, his ninth of the year, going in unassisted. This only made it 4-3, the final, and the three stars were Kaprizov, Boldy, and Eriksson Ek, while Dumba gets an honorable mention.
Finally, the Colorado Avalanche host the Buffalo Sabres. Dustin Tokarski and Darcy Kuemper are in the blue paint. Colorado struck first in the first period with a Gabriel Landeskog goal, his nineteenth of the season, assisted by Mikko Rantanen and Valeri Nichushkin. Buffalo tied it in the second period with a Dylan Cozens goal, his eleventh of the year, via Jeff Skinner. The Avalanche retook the lead on a Nazem Kadri goal, his eighteenth of the season, coming off of Dylan Sikura and Alex Newhook. Colorado added on with a Rantanen power play goal, his twenty-third of the year, powered by Cale Makar and Samuel Girard. The Avalanche iced it at 4-1 in the third period with a Nichushkin empty net goal, his twelfth of the campaign, set up by Logan O'Connor. The three stars were Rantanen, Nichushkin, and Kuemper (30 for 31 in saves).
Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.