It's another nine-game day this time. First up...
The Philadelphia Flyers host the Minnesota Wild. Cam Talbot and Carter Hart are the goalies. Philadelphia led off in the first period with a Scott Laughton goal, his eleventh of the season, going in unassisted. Minnesota tied it on a Ryan Hartman goal, his twentieth of the year, passed from Mats Zuccarello and Kirill Kaprizov. The Flyers retook the lead on a Patrick Brown goal, his third of the season, assisted by Zack MacEwen and Max Willman. The Wild tied it again on a Frederick Gaudreau goal, his eighth of the year, an unassisted goal. Philadelphia took the lead in the second period on a Travis Konecny goal, his ninth of the season, coming off of Laughton. Minnesota tied it again with another Hartman goal, his second of the game and twenty-first of the year, guided in by Kevin Fiala and Calen Addison. The Flyers regained the lead on a power play goal by James van Riemsdyk, his twelfth of the season, powered by Claude Giroux and Keith Yandle. The Wild tied it once more with a Matthew Boldy goal, his ninth of the year, helped along by Fiala. Minnesota took the lead with a Jonas Brodin goal, his fourth of the season, made possible by Dmitry Kulikov. The final was 5-4, with the three stars given to Hartman, Fiala, and Laughton.
Down in Tampa Bay, the Lightning welcome the Pittsburgh Penguins. Tristan Jarry and Andrei Vasilevskiy tend the twines. Pittsburgh began in the first period with a Danton Heinen goal, his twelfth of the season, via Kasperi Kapanen and Evgeni Malkin. The Penguins added on with a Sidney Crosby power play goal, his seventeenth of the year, powered by Jake Guentzel and Malkin. Tampa Bay got on the board in the second period with a Pierre-Edouard Bellemare goal, his seventh of the season, courtesy of Pat Maroon. Pittsburgh replied with a Brock McGinn goal, his eleventh of the year, fueled by Evan Rodrigues. The Penguins extended the lead as Malkin scored in the third period, his tenth of the season, with the help of Heinen. Pittsburgh padded the lead on a Guentzel empty net goal, his twenty-sixth of the year, set up by Kris Letang and Crosby. This made it 5-1, the final, with the three stars being Malkin, Heinen, and Crosby, while Guentzel gets an honorable mention.
Also in Florida, the Panthers bring in the Ottawa Senators. Anton Forsberg and Sergei Bobrovsky are set to start in goal. Florida opened in the first period with a power play goal by Mason Marchment, his twelfth of the season, powered by Patric Hornqvist and Sam Bennett. The Panthers added on in the third period with a Hornqvist power play goal, his eighth of the year, with assists provided by Marchment and Bennett. Florida extended the lead as Ryan Lomberg scored his fifth of the season, thanks to Frank Vatrano and Eetu Luostarinen. The final held at 3-0, with the three stars given to Bobrovsky (18 save shutout), Marchment, and Hornqvist, while Bennett gets an honorable mention.
Back north, the Washington Capitals host the Carolina Hurricanes. Frederik Andersen and Vitek Vanecek man the nets. Washington started in the first period with an Evgeny Kuznetsov power play goal, his sixteenth of the season, going in unassisted. The Capitals added on in the second period with a Martin Fehervary goal, his fourth of the year, via Conor Sheary and Garnet Hathaway. Washington extended the lead as Alex Ovechkin scored his thirty-third of the season on the power play, thanks to John Carlson and T.J. Oshie. The Capitals padded the lead in the third period on a Dmitry Orlov goal, his eighth of the year, guided in by Sheary and Justin Schultz. The final was 4-0, with the three stars awarded to Vanecek (36 save shutout), Sheary, and Kuznetsov.
Up in New York, the Islanders welcome the Vancouver Canucks. Thatcher Demko and Semyon Varlamov protect the nets. New York got going in the second period with a Noah Dobson goal, his tenth of the season, assisted by Brock Nelson and Andy Greene. Vancouver tied it on a Brad Hunt goal, going in unassisted. The Canucks took the lead with a J.T. Miller goal, his twenty-first of the year, passed from Brock Boeser and Quinn Hughes. The Islanders tied it on a Kyle Palmieri goal, his seventh of the season, courtesy of Adam Pelech and Jean-Gabriel Pageau. New York took the lead in the third period with an Anthony Beauvillier goal, his ninth of the year, going in unassisted. Vancouver tied it on a Nils Hoglander goal, his ninth of the season, helped along by Conor Garland and Hughes. The Canucks pulled ahead with a Vasily Podkolzin goal, his tenth of the year, coming off of Bo Horvat. The final held at 4-3, with the three stars handed to Hughes, Podkolzin, and Hoglander.
In Chicago, the Blackhawks bring in the Edmonton Oilers. Mikko Koskinen and Marc-Andre Fleury are the masked men. Chicago struck first in the first period with a Sam Lafferty goal, his second of the season, passed from Philipp Kurashev and Ryan Carpenter. Edmonton tied it on a Leon Draisaitl power play goal, his thirty-eighth of the year, powered by Connor McDavid and Tyson Barrie. The Blackhawks retook the lead with a Patrick Kane goal, his seventeenth of the season, assisted by Dylan Strome and Caleb Jones. The Oilers tied it again on an Evander Kane goal, his sixth of the year, guided in by Draisaitl and Darnell Nurse. Chicago pulled ahead with a Dominik Kubalik goal, his eleventh of the season, going in unassisted. Edmonton tied it on a Evander Kane goal, his second of the game and seventh of the year, fueled by McDavid and Evan Bouchard. The Blackhawks won 4-3 in overtime with an Alex DeBrincat power play goal, his thirtieth of the campaign, set up by Patrick Kane and Seth Jones. The three stars were Evander Kane, Patrick Kane, and Draisaitl, while McDavid gets an honorable mention.
Northwest to Calgary, as the Flames host the Montreal Canadiens. Andrew Hammond is mismatched with Jacob Markstrom in goal. Calgary kicked off the scoring in the first period with a Blake Coleman goal, his twelfth of the season, via Andrew Mangiapane and Mikael Backlund. Montreal tied it on a Jeff Petry goal, his fourth of the year, guided in by Nick Suzuki and Artturi Lehkonen. The Flames retook the lead in the second period with a Johnny Gaudreau goal, his twenty-first of the season, going in unassisted. Calgary added on with a Mangiapane shorthanded goal, his twenty-ninth of the year, set up by Tyler Toffoli and the goalie Markstrom. The Canadiens got one back with a Suzuki power play goal, his twelfth of the season, powered by Mike Hoffman and Cole Caufield. Montreal tied it on a Ben Chiarot goal, his sixth of the year, made possible by Hoffman and Suzuki. The Canadiens took the lead on a Hoffman goal, his tenth of the season, coming off of Laurent Dauphin and Chiarot. The Flames tied it again on an Elias Lindholm goal, his twenty-fifth of the year, courtesy of Mangiapane and Rasmus Andersson. Montreal won 5-4 in overtime with a Chiarot goal, his second of the game and seventh of the campaign, with helpers from Rem Pitlick and Hoffman. The three stars were Hoffman, Chiarot, and Suzuki, while Mangiapane gets an honorable mention.
Back stateside, the Arizona Coyotes welcome the Colorado Avalanche. Pavel Francouz and Karel Vejmelka are the Czech goalies. Colorado dented the scoreboard in the second period with a Devon Toews goal, his eleventh of the season, assisted by Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon. Arizona tied it on a Loui Eriksson goal, his second of the year, via Antoine Roussel and Janis Moser. The Coyotes took the lead in the third period with a Nick Schmaltz goal, his twelfth of the season, guided in by Clayton Keller and Jakob Chychrun. The final held at 2-1, with the three stars given to Vejmelka (42 for 43 in saves), Schmaltz, and Eriksson.
Finally, the Vegas Golden Knights bring in the Boston Bruins. Jeremy Swayman and Robin Lehner guard the cages. Boston was first to score in the first period with a Craig Smith goal, his seventh of the season, coming off of Trent Frederic and Derek Forbort. The Bruins added on in the second period with another Smith goal, his second of the game and eighth of the year, assisted by Charlie Coyle and Frederic. Vegas got on the board with a Jack Eichel goal, his second of the season, going in unassisted. Boston replied in the third period with a David Pastrnak goal, his thirtieth of the year, fueled by Frederic and Erik Haula. The Bruins extended the lead as Smith completed his hat trick on his ninth of the season, guided in by Matt Grzelcyk and Brandon Carlo. The Golden Knights got one back with a Jonathan Marchessault goal, his twenty-second of the year, with a lone helper by Alex Pietrangelo. Boston iced it at 5-2 with a Pastrnak empty net goal, his second of the game and thirty-first of the campaign, set up by Haula. The three stars were Smith, Pastrnak, and Frederic, while Haula gets an honorable mention.
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