We've got a big 14 games on the schedule today, beginning with...
The Boston Bruins hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ilya Samsonov and Jeremy Swayman are the masked men. Toronto got going in the second period with a Sam Lafferty goal, his twelfth of the season, fueled by Zach Aston-Reese. Boston tied it in the third period with a Charlie Coyle goal, his fourteenth of the year, guided in by Brandon Carlo. The Bruins won 2-1 in overtime with a David Pastrnak goal, his fifty-seventh of the campaign, assisted by Dmitry Orlov and Coyle. The three stars were Coyle, Pastrnak, and Swayman (31 for 32 in saves).
Over in Detroit, the Red Wings welcome the Buffalo Sabres. Devon Levi and Ville Husso man the nets. Buffalo led off in the first period with a Tage Thompson goal, his forty-fifth of the season, coming off of Dylan Cozens and Owen Power. Detroit tied it on an Austin Czarnik goal, his third of the year, via Jonatan Berggren and Jake Walman. The Red Wings took the lead with a Dylan Larkin power play goal, his thirty-second of the season, powered by Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider. The Sabres retied it on a Henri Jokiharju goal, his second of the year, fueled by Alex Tuch and Casey Mittelstadt. Buffalo took the lead with a Cozens power play goal, his thirtieth of the season, with assists provided by Peyton Krebs and Power. The Sabres added on with a Zemgus Girgensons goal in the second period, his tenth of the year, guided in by Kyle Okposo and Power. Detroit got one back with an Alex Chiasson power play goal, his sixth of the season, made possible by Larkin and Raymond. The Red Wings tied it on a Simon Edvinsson goal, his second of the year, going in unassisted. Buffalo regained the lead with a Jordan Greenway goal, his sixth of the season, assisted by Mittelstadt and Jokiharju. The Sabres added on with a Cozens goal, his second of the game and thirty-first of the year, helped along by Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin. Detroit got one back with a Berggren goal, his fifteenth of the season, passed from Matt Luff. The Red Wings tied it on a David Perron goal, his twenty-third of the year, with apples from Seider and Raymond. The tie went to a shootout, where Tuch and Jack Quinn lifted the Sabres 7-6 over Raymond and the Red Wings. The three stars belonged to Cozens, Thompson, and Power, while Jokiharju, Mittelstadt, Raymond, Larkin, Berggren, and Seider get the honorable mentions.
Down in Florida, the Panthers bring in the Ottawa Senators. Leevi Merilainen and Alex Lyon are the backups in goal. Florida started in the first period with a Brandon Montour goal, his fifteenth of the season, via Matthew Tkachuk and Marc Staal. The Panthers added on with an Aleksander Barkov power play goal, his twenty-first of the year, powered by Tkachuk and Montour. Florida extended the lead in the second period with a Barkov shorthanded goal, his second of the game and twenty-second of the season, set up by Sam Reinhart and Gustav Forsling. Mads Sogaard replaced Merilainen in goal. Ottawa got on the board with a Claude Giroux goal, his thirty-first of the year, guided in by Drake Batherson. The Panthers shot back with a Reinhart power play goal, his thirtieth of the season, with assists provided by Montour and Barkov. Florida padded the lead as Eetu Luostarinen scored his seventeenth of the year, courtesy of Aaron Ekblad and Montour. The Panthers continued with a Nick Cousins goal, his ninth of the season, with helpers from Ekblad and Radko Gudas. Florida kept going with a Forsling goal, his thirteenth of the year, going in unassisted. The Senators got one back with a Ridly Greig goal in the third period, his second of the campaign, made possible by Patrick Brown and Erik Brannstrom. The final held at 7-2, with the three stars handed to Montour, Barkov, and Forsling, while Reinhart, Tkachuk, and Ekblad get the honorable mentions.
Up in Montreal, the Canadiens host the Washington Capitals. Darcy Kuemper and Sam Montembeault are set to start in goal. Washington began in the first period with a Dylan Strom goal, his twentieth of the season, via Nick Jensen and Alex Ovechkin. Montreal tied it on a Nick Suzuki shorthanded goal, his twenty-fourth of the year, set up by Joel Edmundson and Mike Matheson. The Canadiens took the lead with a Joel Armia shorthanded goal, his fifth of the season, passed from Matheson and Jake Evans. Montreal added on with a Brendan Gallagher goal, his eighth of the year, guided in by Jonathan Drouin. The Canadiens extended the lead as Armia scored his second of the game and sixth of the season, thanks to Matheson and Suzuki. The Capitals got closer in the third period with a Nicklas Backstrom power play goal, his seventh of the year, powered by Strome and John Carlson. Montreal fired back with an Armia empty net goal to finish his hat trick on his seventh of the season, with a helper from Rafael Harvey-Pinard. The Canadiens finished it at 6-2 with a Mike Hoffman goal, his fourteenth of the year, with a lone assist by Evans. The three stars were Armia, Suzuki, and Strome, while Matheson and Evans get the honorable mentions.
Back stateside, the New Jersey Devils welcome the Columbus Blue Jackets. Michael Hutchinson and Vitek Vanecek are in the blue paint. New Jersey opened in the first period with a Jack Hughes goal, his forty-first of the season, going in unassisted. The Devils added on in the second period with a Tomas Tatar goal, his eighteenth of the year, fueled by Nico Hischier and Ryan Graves. New Jersey extended the lead as Hughes scored his second of the game and forty-second of the season, thanks to Timo Meier and Hischier on the power play. Columbus got on the board with a Joona Luoto goal, passed from Sean Kuraly and Eric Robinson. The Devils replied with a Meier power play goal, his thirty-ninth of the year, made possible by Hughes and Jesper Bratt. New Jersey pulled ahead in the third period with an Erik Haula goal, his twelfth of the season, coming off of John Marino and Jesper Boqvist. Jon Gillies replaced Hutchinson in goal. The Devils answered with another Meier goal, his second of the game and fortieth of the year, with helpers from Marino and Hughes. New Jersey kept going with a Damon Severson goal, his seventh of the season, a shorthanded tally set up by Haula. The Devils continued with a Graves goal, his eighth of the year, assisted by Michael McLeod and Marino. The final stood at 8-1, with the three stars going to Hughes, Meier, and Marino, while Haula, Graves, and Hischier get the honorable mentions.
Over in Pittsburgh, the Penguins bring in the Minnesota Wild. Marc-Andre Fleury and Tristan Jarry guard the cages. Pittsburgh struck first in the first period with a Kris Letang goal, his eleventh of the season, assisted by Brian Dumoulin and Jake Guentzel. The Penguins added on with a Rickard Rakell power play goal, his twenty-eighth of the year, powered by Letang and Guentzel in the second period. Pittsburgh extended the lead in the third period as Jason Zucker scored his twenty-seventh of the season, thanks to Evgeni Malkin and Rakell. Minnesota got on the board with a Marcus Johansson power play goal, his seventeenth of the year, with assists provided by Mats Zuccarello and Matt Boldy. The Penguins shot back on a Jeff Carter goal, his thirteenth of the season, coming off of Drew O'Connor and Dumoulin. This stood for a 4-1 win, with the three stars being Rakell, Dumoulin, and Letang, while Guentzel gets an honorable mention.
East again to New York, as the Islanders host the Tampa Bay Lightning. Brian Elliott and Ilya Sorokin have the green light to start in goal. New York dented the scoreboard in the second period with an Adam Pelech goal, his sixth of the season, courtesy of Hudson Fasching and Jean-Gabriel Pageau. The Islanders added on with a Brock Nelson goal, his thirty-third of the year, coming off of Samuel Bolduc. New York extended the lead as Kyle Palmieri scored his sixteenth of the season, thanks to Nelson and Ryan Pulock. Tampa Bay got on the board with a Nikita Kucherov goal, his thirtieth of the year, fueled by Brayden Point. The Islanders shot back with a Pulock goal, his fifth of the season, guided in by Nelson and Pierre Engvall. New York padded the lead in the third period as Simon Holmstrom scored his sixth of the year, with the help of Bo Horvat and Zach Parise. The Islanders finished it at 6-1 with a Horvat goal, his thirty-eighth of the season, with a lone helper from Noah Dobson. The three stars were Nelson, Pulock, and Horvat.
Out west, the St. Louis Blues welcome the New York Rangers. Jaroslav Halak and Jordan Binnington draw the starts in goal. St. Louis cracked the scoresheet in the second period with an Alexey Toropchenko goal, his tenth of the season, going in unassisted. New York tied it in the third period with a Vladimir Tarasenko power play goal in the third period, his eighteenth of the year, powered by Mika Zibanejad and Adam Fox. The Blues took the lead with a Tyler Pitlick goal, his seventh of the season, fueled by Torey Krug. The Rangers tied it on a Vincent Trocheck power play goal, his twenty-first of the year, with assists provided by Tarasenko and Artemi Panarin. St. Louis won 3-2 in overtime with a Kasperi Kapanen goal, his fifteenth of the campaign, guided in by Brayden Schenn and Justin Faulk. The three stars were handed to Tarasenko, Kapanen, and Pitlick.
To Nashville, where the Predators bring in the Carolina Hurricanes. Frederik Andersen and Juuse Saros tend the twines. Nashville was first to score in the first period with a Mark Jankowski shorthanded goal, his sixth of the season, set up by Spencer Stastney. The Predators added on with a Michael McCarron goal, his second of the year, via Jankowski and Ryan McDonagh. Nashville extended the lead in the third period on a Dante Fabbro empty net goal, his second of the campaign, set up by Stastney. This stood for a 3-0 win, with the three stars being Saros (32 save shutout), Stastney, and Jankowski.
Down in Dallas, the Stars host the Philadelphia Flyers. Carter Hart and Jake Oettinger protect the nets. Dallas kicked off the scoring in the first period with a Jason Robertson goal, his forty-fourth of the season, assisted by Tyler Seguin and Joe Pavelski on the power play. The Stars added on with a Pavelski power play goal, his twenty-sixth of the year, powered by Jamie Benn and Miro Heiskanen. Dallas extended the lead as Colin Miller scored his sixth of the season, thanks to Wyatt Johnston and Evgenii Dadonov. The Stars padded the lead on a Robertson goal, his second of the game and forty-fifth of the year, passed from Pavelski. Philadelphia got on the board with a Kevin Hayes goal, his eighteenth of the season, guided in by Owen Tippett and Rasmus Ristolainen. This only made it 4-1, the final, with the three stars being Robertson, Pavelski, and Oettinger (24 for 25 in saves).
Northwest to Vancouver, where the Canucks welcome the Chicago Blackhawks. Alex Stalock and Thatcher Demko receive the starts in goal. Vancouver opened in the first period with an Andrei Kuzmenko goal, his thirty-eighth of the season, via Elias Pettersson and Akito Hirose. The Canucks added on in the second period with a Vitali Kravtsov power play goal, his fourth of the year, powered by Conor Garland and Hirose. Vancouver iced it at 3-0 in the third period with an empty net goal by J.T. Miller, his thirtieth of the campaign, set up by Brock Boeser and Tyler Myers. The three stars were Demko (33 save shutout), Hirose, and Kuzmenko.
South to Nevada, as the Vegas Golden Knights bring in the Los Angeles Kings. Joonas Korpisalo and Laurent Brossoit patrol the creases. Vegas started in the first period with a Phil Kessel goal, his fourteenth of the season, coming off of Chandler Stephenson and Ivan Barbashev. The Golden Knights added on with a Barbashev goal, his sixteenth of the year, via Stephenson. Vegas extended the lead on a Stephenson goal, his fifteenth of the season, assisted by Kessel and Zach Whitecloud. The Golden Knights padded the lead on a Nicolas Roy power play goal, his fourteenth of the year, powered by Jack Eichel and Alex Pietrangelo. Vegas kept going in the second period with a Jonathan Marchessault goal, his twenty-seventh of the season, going in unassisted. Pheonix Copley replaced Korpisalo in goal. Los Angeles got on the board with an Anze Kopitar power play goal, his twenty-seventh of the year, with assists provided by Drew Doughty and Adrian Kempe. The Kings got closer with a Vladislav Gavrikov shorthanded goal, his fifth of the season, going in unassisted. The final stayed at 5-2, with the three stars going to Stephenson, Kessel, and Barbashev.
Over in San Jose, the Sharks host the Colorado Avalanche. Alexandar Georgiev and Kaapo Kahkonen are the starting goalies. San Jose led off in the first period with an Erik Karlsson goal, his twenty-third of the season, via Kevin Labanc and Jacob Peterson. Colorado tied it on a Mikko Rantanen goal, his fiftieth of the year, coming off of Nathan MacKinnon and Samuel Girard. The Avalanche took the lead with another Rantanen goal in the second period, his second of the game and fifty-first of the season, passed from Evan Rodrigues and MacKinnon. Colorado added on with a MacKinnon goal, his thirty-seventh of the year, fueled by Girard and Rantanen. The Avalanche extended the lead as Rantanen finished his hat trick on his fifty-second of the season, thanks to MacKinnon and Devon Toews. James Reimer replaced Kahkonen in goal. The Sharks got one back with a Steven Lorentz goal, his ninth of the year, guided in by Karlsson and Jacob MacDonald. Colorado shot back with a Ben Meyers goal, his second of the season, helped along by Matt Nieto. The Avalanche padded the lead on another Meyers goal, his second of the game and third of the year, made possible by Alex Newhook and Nieto. This made it 6-2, the final, with the three stars being Rantanen, MacKinnon, and Meyers, while Karlsson, Nieto, and Girard get the honorable mentions.
Finally, the Seattle Kraken host the Arizona Coyotes. Karel Vejmelka and Philipp Grubauer are between the pipes. Seattle began in the first period with a Jared McCann goal, his thirty-eighth of the season, assisted by Jordan Eberle and Matty Beniers. The Kraken added on in the second period with a Vince Dunn goal, his fourteenth of the year, an unassisted goal. Seattle extended the lead as Eberle scored his nineteenth of the season, passed from McCann. Arizona got on the board with a Barrett Hayton goal, his eighteenth of the year, fueled by Matias Maccelli and Lawson Crouse. The Kraken replied with a Beniers goal, his twenty-third of the season, coming off of Eberle and McCann. The Coyotes got one back with a Laurent Dauphin goal, via Clayton Keller. The final held at 4-2, with the three stars going to Eberle, McCann, and Beniers.
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