A heavy schedule today sees 14 games to be played. First up...
The Dallas Stars host the Calgary Flames. Dan Vladar and Scott Wedgewood are the backups in goal. Calgary led off in the first period with an Andrew Mangiapane goal, his ninth of the season, via Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman. The Flames added on with a Trevor Lewis power play goal, his eighth of the year, powered by MacKenzie Weegar and Chris Tanev. Dallas got on the board with a Jamie Benn shorthanded goal, his sixteenth of the season, set up by Ty Dellandrea. Calgary replied in the second period with an Elias Lindholm power play goal, his fourteenth of the year, with assists provided by Tyler Toffoli and Rasmus Andersson. The Flames extended the lead as Nazem Kadri scored his seventeenth of the season, thanks to Jonathan Huberdeau and Michael Stone. Calgary padded the lead on an Andersson goal, his sixth of the year, courtesy of Kadri and Huberdeau. The Flames continued with a Tanev goal, made possible by Weegar. The Stars got one back with a Tyler Seguin goal, his eleventh of the season, with helpers from Jason Robertson and Joe Pavelski. Dallas got closer in the third period with a Pavelski goal, his thirteenth of the year, helped along by Robertson and Esa Lindell. The Stars pulled closer with another Pavelski goal, his second of the game and fourteenth of the season, coming off of Miro Heiskanen and Seguin. Dallas chipped closer on a Colin Miller goal, his third of the year, passed from Heiskanen. The final stayed at 6-5, with the three stars being Kadri, Andersson, and Tanev, while Pavelski, Huberdeau, Weegar, Seguin, Robertson, and Heiskanen get the honorable mentions.
At the regular time, the Boston Bruins welcome the Toronto Maple Leafs. Matt Murray and Linus Ullmark are the goalies. Toronto struck first in the first period with a Michael Bunting power play goal, his fourteenth of the season, powered by John Tavares and Mitch Marner. Boston tied it on a Patrice Bergeron goal, his sixteenth of the year, fueled by Brad Marchand. The Maple Leafs took the lead with a Pierre Engvall goal in the second period, his ninth of the season, going in unassisted. The Bruins tied it on a David Pastrnak goal, his thirty-third of the year, going in unassisted. Boston took the lead with an A.J. Greer goal, his fourth of the season, helped along by Nick Foligno and Tomas Nosek. Toronto retied it in the third period with an Auston Matthews goal, his twenty-first of the year, passed from Bunting and Marner. The Bruins took the lead with a Matt Grzelcyk goal, his second of the campaign, via Taylor Hall and Brandon Carlo. The final held at 4-3, with the three stars being Grzelcyk, Bunting, and Marner.
Over in Detroit, the Red Wings bring in the Columbus Blue Jackets. Elvis Merzlikins and Ville Husso start in goal. Columbus kicked off the scoring in the first period with a Patrik Laine goal, his tenth of the season, via Johnny Gaudreau and Jack Roslovic. The Blue Jackets added on with a Vladislav Gavrikov goal, his third of the year, assisted by Kent Johnson and Emil Bemstrom. Columbus extended the lead as Laine scored his second of the game and eleventh of the season, passed from Roslovic and Nick Blankenburg. The Blue Jackets padded the lead as Laine completed his hat trick in the second period with his twelfth of the year, thanks to Adam Boqvist and Gaudreau. Detroit got on the board in the third period with an Olli Maatta goal, his fourth of the season, coming off of Dominik Kubalik and Dylan Larkin. The Red Wings got closer with a Jake Walman goal, his fifth of the year, going in unassisted. Detroit pulled closer with a Lucas Raymond goal, his thirteenth of the season, with helpers from Filip Hronek and Ben Chiarot. The final stayed at 4-3, with the three stars being Laine, Gaudreau, and Roslovic.
Down in Florida, the Panthers host the Vancouver Canucks. Spencer Martin and Sergei Bobrovsky receive the starting nods in goal. Vancouver opened in the first period on a Jack Studnicka goal, his fourth of the season, going in unassisted. Florida tied it on a Ryan Lomberg goal, his fifth of the year, coming off of Givani Smith and Gustav Forsling. The Canucks took the lead in the second period with a Tyler Myers goal, via Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser. The Panthers tied it on an Eric Staal goal, his seventh of the season, made possible by Josh Mahura and Nick Cousins. Florida took the lead on an Aaron Ekblad goal, his seventh of the year, courtesy of Brandon Montour and Matthew Tkachuk. The Panthers added on with an Aleksander Barkov power play goal, his eleventh of the season, powered by Sam Reinhart and Ekblad. Vancouver pulled one back with a Bo Horvat power play goal, his thirtieth of the year, with assists provided by Quinn Hughes and Pettersson. The final remained at 4-3, with the three stars given to Ekblad, Pettersson, and Barkov.
Back north, the New York Islanders welcome the Montreal Canadiens. Sam Montembeault is mismatched with Ilya Sorokin in goal. New York began in the first period with a Casey Cizikas goal, his fourth of the season, coming off of Noah Dobson and Cal Clutterbuck. The Islanders added on with an Anthony Beauvillier goal, his ninth of the year, guided in by Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Scott Mayfield. Montreal got on the board in the third period with a Nick Suzuki goal, his sixteenth of the season, courtesy of Jonathan Drouin. The final was 2-1, with the three stars given to Sorokin (22 for 23 in saves), Beauvillier, and Cizikas.
To DC, as the Washington Capitals bring in the Philadelphia Flyers. Carter Hart and Darcy Kuemper guard the cages. Philadelphia was first to score in the first period with a Scott Laughton power play goal, his eleventh of the season, powered by Tony DeAngelo and Joel Farabee. Washington tied it on an Alex Ovechkin goal, his thirtieth of the year, going in unassisted. The Flyers retook the lead in the second period with a James van Riemsdyk goal, his seventh of the season, coming off of Owen Tippett and Morgan Frost. Philadelphia added on with a Wade Allison goal, his sixth of the year, made possible by Kevin Hayes and Laughton. This made it 3-1, the final, with the three stars being Laughton, Hart (39 for 40 in saves), and van Riemsdyk.
Next up, the Carolina Hurricanes host the Pittsburgh Penguins. Casey DeSmith and Frederik Andersen are set to start in goal. Carolina drew first blood in the first period with a Brady Skjei goal, his ninth of the season, assisted by Brett Pesce and Jordan Martinook. The Hurricanes added on in the second period with a Jalen Chatfield goal, his fourth of the year, courtesy of Sebastian Aho and Jesper Fast. Pittsburgh got on the board in the third period with a Rickard Rakell power play goal, his fifteenth of the season, going in unassisted. The final remained at 2-1, with the three stars being Andersen (32 for 33 in saves), Chatfield, and Skjei.
Out west, the Colorado Avalanche welcome the Ottawa Senators. Anton Forsberg and Pavel Francouz draw the starts in goal. Colorado started in the first period with a Mikko Rantanen goal, his twenty-eighth of the season, assisted by Nathan MacKinnon and Evan Rodrigues. The Avalanche added on with an Alex Newhook goal, his eighth of the year, via Logan O'Connor and Andrew Cogliano. Colorado extended the lead in the second period as Artturi Lehkonen scored his tenth of the season, thanks to Devon Toews. The Avalanche padded the lead on a Rantanen goal, his second of the game and twenty-ninth of the year, with helpers from Newhook and Samuel Girard. Colorado kept going in the third period with a Lehkonen goal, his second of the game and eleventh of the season, helped along by MacKinnon and Cale Makar on the power play. The Avalanche continued with a Brad Hunt goal, his second of the year, coming off of Andreas Englund and Lehkonen. Colorado struck again with another Newhook goal, his second of the game and ninth of the campaign, with an assist provided by O'Connor. The final stood at 7-0, with the three stars being Rantanen, Lehkonen, and Newhook, while Francouz (29 save shutout), MacKinnon, and O'Connor get the honorable mentions.
Backtracking to Chicago, where the Blackhawks bring in the Seattle Kraken. Martin Jones and Petr Mrazek are in the creases. Seattle led off in the first period with a Daniel Sprong goal, his fourteenth of the season, assisted by Morgan Geekie and Brandon Tanev. Chicago tied it on a Jonathan Toews goal, his twelfth of the year, via Taylor Raddysh and Seth Jones. The Kraken retook the lead with a Matty Beniers goal, his seventeenth of the season, passed from Vince Dunn. Seattle added on with a Jared McCann goal, his twentieth of the year, coming off of Ryan Donato. The Kraken extended the lead as Andre Burakovsky scored his twelfth of the season, thanks to Beniers and Eberle. Alex Stalock replaced Mrazek in goal. Seattle padded the lead on an Eeli Tolvanen goal, his seventh of the year, made possible by Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand. The Kraken kept going with a McCann goal, his second of the game and twenty-first of the season, guided in by Donato and Alexander Wennberg. The Blackhawks got one back in the second period with an Isaak Phillips goal, courtesy of Jason Dickinson. Chicago got closer in the third period with a Max Domi power play goal, his thirteenth of the year, powered by Raddysh and Seth Jones. Seattle replied with a McCann goal to complete his hat trick on his twenty-second of the season, with the help of Adam Larsson and Wennberg. The Kraken piled on with a Bjorkstrand goal, his seventh of the year, helped along by Jamie Oleksiak and Gourde. The Blackhawks answered with a Raddysh power play goal, his twelfth of the season, with assists provided by Toews and Seth Jones. Chicago got one back with a Patrick Kane goal, his eighth of the year, fueled by Domi. The final was 8-5, and the three stars were McCann, Beniers, and Raddysh, while Bjorkstrand, Donato, Gourde, Wennberg, Domi, Toews, and Seth Jones get the honorable mentions.
South to St. Louis, as the Blues host the Tampa Bay Lightning. Andrei Vasilevskiy and Jordan Binnington protect the nets. St. Louis began in the first period with a Tyler Pitlick goal, his second of the season, via Alexey Toropchenko. Tampa Bay tied it on a Brayden Point goal, his twenty-fourth of the year, coming off of Nick Perbix. The Lightning took the lead with a Point power play goal, his second of the game and twenty-fifth of the season, powered by Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov. Tampa Bay added on with a Perbix goal, his fourth of the year, courtesy of Mikhail Sergachev and Point. The Blues got one back with a Pavel Buchnevich goal, his fifteenth of the season, helped along by Jordan Kyrou and Robert Thomas. The Lightning replied with an Alex Killorn goal, his fourteenth of the year, assisted by Brandon Hagel. This held up for the eventual 4-2 final, with the three stars being Point, Perbix, and Killorn.
Over in Nashville, the Predators welcome the Buffalo Sabres. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Juuse Saros are the Finnish goalies. Buffalo started in the first period with a Jeff Skinner goal, his eighteenth of the season, coming off of Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin. Nashville tied it on a Roman Josi power play goal, his eleventh of the year, powered by Ryan Johansen and Juuso Parssinen. The Sabres took the lead back in the second period with a Dylan Cozens goal, his fourteenth of the season, assisted by JJ Peterka and Jack Quinn. Buffalo added on with a Victor Olofsson power play goal, his seventeenth of the year, with assists provided by Owen Power and Casey Mittelstadt. The Predators pulled one back on a Jeremy Lauzon goal, his third of the season, made possible by Cody Glass and Colton Sissons. Nashville tied it on a Johansen goal, his tenth of the year, via Dante Fabbro and Mattias Ekholm. The Sabres took the lead with a Kyle Okposo shorthanded goal, his seventh of the season, set up by Ilya Lyubushkin and Mattias Samuelsson. Buffalo extended the lead as Quinn scored his seventh of the year, going in unassisted. The final was 5-3, with the three stars being Quinn, Johansen, and Okposo.
North to Minnesota, as the Wild bring in the Arizona Coyotes. Connor Ingram and Marc-Andre Fleury have the green light to start in goal. Minnesota got going in the second period with a Mats Zuccarello power play goal, his eighteenth of the season, powered by Calen Addison and Kirill Kaprizov. The Wild added on with a Frederick Gaudreau goal, his eleventh of the year, via Ryan Hartman and Sam Steel. Arizona got on the board with a Lawson Crouse goal, his sixteenth of the season, assisted by Jack McBain and Jakob Chychrun. The final stood at 2-1, with the three stars being Fleury (27 for 28 in saves), Gaudreau, and Zuccarello.
Westward to Vegas, as the Golden Knights host the Edmonton Oilers. Jack Campbell and Logan Thompson are the masked men. Edmonton opened in the first period with a Mattias Janmark goal, his fourth of the season, made possible by Tyson Barrie and Brett Kulak. The Oilers added on with a Leon Draisaitl goal, his twenty-fifth of the year, assisted by Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman. Vegas got on the board with a Keegan Kolesar goal, his fifth of the season, coming off of William Carrier and Brayden McNabb. Edmonton shot back with a Draisaitl goal in the second period, his second of the game and twenty-sixth of the year, via Hyman. The Golden Knights got one back on a Paul Cotter goal, his sixth of the season, courtesy of Byron Froese and Phil Kessel. The Oilers answered with a Klim Kostin goal, his ninth of the year, helped along by Janmark. Vegas shot back with a William Karlsson goal, his ninth of the season, with helpers from Jonathan Marchessault and Alec Martinez. The final stayed at 4-3, with the three stars given to Draisaitl, Janmark, and Hyman.
Finally, the Los Angeles Kings host the New Jersey Devils. Mackenzie Blackwood and Jonathan Quick play in goal. Los Angeles struck first in the first period with a Kevin Fiala power play goal, his sixteenth of the season, powered by Adrian Kempe and Drew Doughty. New Jersey tied it on a Tomas Tatar power play goal, his tenth of the year, with assists provided by Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes. The Devils took the lead in the second period with an Erik Haula goal, his third of the season, made possible by Dawson Mercer. The Kings tied it again with an Anze Kopitar power play goal, his twelfth of the year, helped along by Doughty and Gabriel Vilardi. New Jersey regained the lead on a Nikita Okhotiuk goal, via Ondrej Palat and Hughes. The Devils added on with a Ryan Graves goal, his fourth of the season, coming off of Yegor Sharangovich. New Jersey iced it at 5-2 with a Jesper Bratt empty net goal, his eighteenth of the year, set up by Sharangovich and Graves. The three stars were Graves, Hughes, and Sharangovich, while Doughty gets an honorable mention.
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