NHL 2023-24 - Day 4

There's two games on for this Friday slate. First up...

The New Jersey Devils welcome the Arizona Coyotes. Karel Vejmelka and Akira Schmid man the nets. Arizona struck first in the first period with a Matt Dumba goal, assisted by Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz. The Coyotes added on with a Sean Durzi power play goal, powered by Keller and Logan Cooley in the second period. New Jersey got on the board with a Jesper Bratt goal, via Jack Hughes and Dougie Hamilton. The Devils tied it on a Hamilton power play goal, his second of the season, with assists provided by Hughes and Bratt. New Jersey pulled ahead on a Bratt power play goal, his second of the game, helped along by Hughes and Tyler Toffoli. Arizona retied it in the third period with a Schmaltz power play goal, with a lone helper by Cooley. The tie went to a shootout, where Nick Bjugstad and Schmaltz tallied to give the Coyotes a 4-3 win. The three stars were Schmaltz, Bratt, and Hughes, while Keller, Cooley and Hamilton get the honorable mentions.

Along to DC, as the Washington Capitals bring in the Pittsburgh Penguins. Tristan Jarry and Charlie Lindgren are the goalies. Pittsburgh got going in the second period with an Evgeni Malkin goal, via Rickard Rakell and Erik Karlsson. The Penguins added on with a Sidney Crosby power play goal, his second of the season, powered by Jake Guentzel and Malkin. Pittsburgh extended the lead in the second period as Crosby scored his second of the game and third of the year on the power play, with the help of Malkin and Guentzel. The Penguins iced it at 4-0 with a Reilly Smith goal, guided in by Malkin. The three stars were Crosby, Malkin, and Jarry (19 save shutout), while Guentzel gets an honorable mention. 

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NHL 2023-24 - Day 3

Seven games on for this evening as more teams debut and some play their second games. First up...

The Buffalo Sabres host the New York Rangers. Igor Shesterkin and Devon Levi man the nets. New York opened in the first period with an Alexis Lafreniere goal, coming off of Artemi Panarin and Filip Chytil. The Rangers added on with a Chris Kreider power play goal, powered by Adam Fox and Mika Zibanejad. New York extended the lead in the second period as Panarin scored an unassisted goal. Buffalo got on the board with a JJ Peterka goal, via Owen Power and Henri Jokiharju. The Rangers fired back in the third period with a Kreider shorthanded goal, his second of the game, set up by Zibanejad and K'Andre Miller. New York iced it at 5-1 with a Jacob Trouba empty net goal, passed from Kreider and Zibanejad. The three stars were Kreider, Panarin, and Zibanejad.

Over in Columbus, the Blue Jackets welcome the Philadelphia Flyers. Carter Hart and Elvis Merzlikins are in the blue paint. Philadelphia started in the first period with a Joel Farabee goal, courtesy of Sean Couturier and Egor Zamula. Columbus tied it with a Jake Bean goal, assisted by Adam Fantilli and Kirill Marchenko. The Flyers retook the lead with a Travis Konecny goal, helped along by Scott Laughton. Philadelphia added on in the third period with a Cam Atkinson empty net goal, set up by the goalie Hart. The Blue Jackets got one back with a Patrik Laine goal, passed from Marchenko and Boone Jenner. The Flyers finished it at 4-2 with a Konecny empty net goal, his second of the game, guided in by Laughton and Travis Sanheim. The three stars were Konecny, Laughton, and Hart (31 for 33 in saves), while Marchenko gets an honorable mention.

East to New Jersey, as the Devils bring in the Detroit Red Wings. Ville Husso and Vitek Vanecek are between the pipes. Detroit got going in the second period with a Daniel Sprong goal, going in unassisted. New Jersey tied it on a Jack Hughes power play goal, powered by Ondrej Palat. The Devils took the lead with another Hughes goal, helped along by Tyler Toffoli and Jonas Siegenthaler. The Red Wings retied it in the third period with an Alex DeBrincat power play goal, assisted by Dylan Larkin and Shayne Gostisbehere. New Jersey gained the lead with a Dougie Hamilton goal, coming off of Siegenthaler. The Devils added on with an Erik Haula empty net goal, set up by Siegenthaler and John Marino. Detroit got one back with a Robby Fabbri power play goal, with assists provided by J.T. Compher and Jake Walman. The three stars went to Hughes, Siegenthaler, and Hamilton.

Southwest to Dallas, as the Stars host the St. Louis Blues. Jordan Binnington and Jake Oettinger guard the cages. Dallas dented the scoreboard in the second period with a Jamie Benn goal, via Ty Dellandrea and Wyatt Johnston. St. Louis tied it on a Tyler Tucker goal, coming off of Jakub Vrana and Sammy Blais. The tie went to a shootout, where Jason Robertson and Matt Duchene lifted the Stars to a 2-1 win over Brayden Schenn and the Blues. The three stars were Oettinger (23 for 24 in saves), Binnington (34 for 35 in saves), and Benn.

Backtracking to Nashville, as the Predators welcome the Seattle Kraken. Philipp Grubauer and Juuse Saros are the veteran goalies. Nashville cracked the scoresheet in the second period with a shorthanded Colton Sissons goal, set up by Cole Smith. The Predators added on with a Gustav Nyquist goal in the third period, via Alexandre Carrier and Ryan McDonagh. Nashville iced it at 3-0 with a Juuso Parssinen empty net goal, his second of the season, going in unassisted. The three stars were Saros (23 save shutout), Sissons, and Nyquist.

North to Minnesota, as the Wild bring in the Florida Panthers. Sergei Bobrovsky and Filip Gustavsson are the goalies. Minnesota led off in the first period with a Brock Faber goal, assisted by Matt Boldy and Joel Eriksson Ek. The Wild added on in the second period with an Eriksson Ek power play goal, powered by Mats Zuccarello and Kirill Kaprizov. This held for a 2-0 win, with the three stars awarded to Gustavsson (41 save shutout), Eriksson Ek, and Faber.

Finally, the San Jose Sharks host the Vegas Golden Knights. Logan Thompson and Kaapo Kahkonen patrol the creases. Vegas began in the first period with a Michael Amadio goal, coming off of William Karlsson and Nicolas Hague. San Jose tied it on a Filip Zadina goal, via Tomas Hertl and Henry Thrun. The Golden Knights took the lead in the second period with a Hague goal, assisted by Alex Pietrangelo and Jack Eichel. Vegas added on with a Nicolas Roy goal, passed from Jonas Rondbjerg and Ben Hutton. The Golden Knights extended the lead in the third period as Brayden Pachal scored, thanks to Pavel Dorofeyev and Karlsson. This held for a 4-1 win, with the three stars going to Hague, Karlsson, and Thompson (22 for 23 in saves). 

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NHL 2023-24 - Day 2

Six games are on for the second day of the season. First up...

The Carolina Hurricanes host the Ottawa Senators. Joonas Korpisalo and Frederik Andersen are the goalies. Ottawa opened in the first period with a Mathieu Joseph goal, assisted by Artem Zub and Parker Kelly. Carolina tied it in the second period on a Michael Bunting power play goal, powered by Sebastian Aho and Tony DeAngelo. The Hurricanes took the lead with a Teuvo Teravainen goal, coming off of Martin Necas and Brady Skjei. Carolina added on in the third period with a Jordan Staal goal, helped along by Jordan Martinook. The Senators got one back with a Kelly shorthanded goal, set up by Joseph. Ottawa tied it on a Tim Stutzle goal, going in unassisted. The Hurricanes regained the lead on a Skjei goal, made possible by Jesper Fast and Jordan Staal. Carolina extended the lead on a Jaccob Slavin shorthanded goal, helped along by Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Seth Jarvis. The final stood at 5-3, with the three stars going to Skjei, Staal, and Joseph.

Up in Toronto, the Maple Leafs welcome the Montreal Canadiens. Jake Allen and Ilya Samsonov start in goal. Montreal started in the first period with a Jake Evans goal, going in unassisted. The Canadiens added on in the second period with an Alex Newhook goal, passed from Juraj Slafkovsky and Kirby Dach. Toronto got on the board with a Noah Gregor goal, courtesy of John Klingberg. The Maple Leafs tied it on an Auston Matthews power play goal, assisted by Mitchell Marner and John Tavares. Toronto took the lead on a William Nylander power play goal, powered by Klingberg and Tavares. Montreal retied it on a Cole Caufield goal in the third period, with assists provided by Michael Matheson and Nick Suzuki. The Canadiens pulled ahead on a Newhook goal, his second of the game, made possible by Arber Xhekaj and Dach. Montreal extended the lead as Jesse Ylonen scored, thanks to Rafael Harvey-Pinard. The Maple Leafs got one back with a Matthews goal, his second of the game with helpers from Tavares and Morgan Rielly. Toronto tied it on a Matthews goal to complete his hat trick, fueled by Nylander. The tie went to a shootout, where Marner's lone tally gave the Maple Leafs a 6-5 win. The three stars were Matthews, Tavares, and Newhook, while Nylander, Klingberg, and Dach get the honorable mentions.

Back stateside, the Boston Bruins bring in the Chicago Blackhawks. Arvid Soderblom and Linus Ullmark man the nets. Chicago led off in the first period with a Connor Bedard goal, courtesy of Taylor Hall and Ryan Donato. Boston tied it on a Trent Frederic goal, via Brandon Carlo and Matthew Poitras. The Bruins took the lead in the second period with a David Pastrnak goal, fueled by Milan Lucic. Boston iced it at 3-1 in the third period with a Pastrnak empty net goal, his second of the game, set up by Brad Marchand and Charlie McAvoy. The three stars were Pastrnak, Ullmark (20 for 21 in saves), and Frederic.

Out in Vancouver, the Canucks host the Edmonton Oilers. Jack Campbell and Thatcher Demko are in the creases. Vancouver began in the first period with a Conor Garland goal, guided in by Elias Pettersson and Noah Juulsen. The Canucks added on with a Brock Boeser goal, via J.T. Miller and Phillip Di Giuseppe. Vancouver extended the lead in the second period as Boeser scored again, with the help of Miller and Filip Hronek. The Canucks padded the lead on a Boeser power play goal to complete his hat trick, powered by Pettersson and Andrei Kuzmenko. Stuart Skinner replaced Campbell in goal. Edmonton got on the board with a Leon Draisaitl power play goal, helped along by Connor McDavid and Evan Bouchard. Vancouver shot back with a Pettersson power play goal, with assists provided by Quinn Hughes and Miller. The Canucks kept going in the third period with Boeser's fourth goal of the game, assisted by Miller and Hughes. Vancouver struck again with a Miller power play goal, passed from Hughes and Pettersson. The Canucks continued with a Dakota Joshua goal, made possible by Sam Lafferty and Nils Hoglander. The final held at 8-1, with the three stars handed to Boeser, Miller, and Pettersson, while Hughes gets an honorable mention.

Backtracking to Calgary, where the Flames welcome the Winnipeg Jets. Connor Hellebuyck and Jacob Markstrom guard the cages. Calgary was first to score in the first period with an Andrew Mangiapane power play goal, powered by Adam Ruzicka and Noah Hanifin. Winnipeg tied it on a Kyle Connor goal, via Dylan Samberg and Neal Pionk. The Flames retook the lead with a MacKenzie Weegar goal, passed from Nikita Zadorov and Walker Duehr. The Jets tied it in the second period on an Alex Iafallo goal, coming off of Dylan DeMelo and Adam Lowry. Calgary pulled ahead with a shorthanded Rasmus Andersson goal, set up by Elias Lindholm. Winnipeg tied it on a Mark Scheifele goal in the third period, assisted by Josh Morrissey. The Flames took the lead with a Lindholm goal, courtesy of Mangiapane and Jonathan Huberdeau. Calgary iced it at 5-3 with a Mangiapane empty net goal, his second of the game, fueled by Huberdeau and Lindholm. The three stars were Mangiapane, Lindholm, and Huberdeau.

Finally, the Los Angeles Kings bring in the Colorado Avalanche. Alexandar Georgiev and Cam Talbot protect the nets. Colorado struck first in the first period with a Nathan MacKinnon goal, assisted by Mikko Rantanen and Jonathan Drouin. The Avalanche added on in the second period with a Cale Makar power play goal, powered by MacKinnon and Rantanen. Colorado extended the lead as Rantanen scored, thanks to Devon Toews and MacKinnon. Los Angeles got on the board with a Carl Grundstrom goal, courtesy of Phillip Danault. The Kings got closer with a Quinton Byfield goal, going in unassisted. The Avalanche answered with a Rantanen goal, his second of the game, helped along by Jack Johnson and Makar. Colorado finished it at 5-2 with a Miles Wood empty net goal, set up Ross Colton and Tomas Tatar. The three stars were Rantanen, MacKinnon, and Makar. 

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NHL 2023-24 - Day 1

We're back for another NHL season, or at least we'll give it a start here. The first day of the campaign has three games, beginning with...

The Tampa Bay Lightning hosting the Nashville Predators. Juuse Saros faces a lesser foe in Jonas Johansson in goal. Tampa Bay led off in the first period with a Nikita Kucherov goal, assisted by Victor Hedman and Brayden Point. Nashville tied it in the second period with a Ryan O'Reilly goal, via Filip Forsberg and Ryan McDonagh. The Predators took the lead in the third period with a Juuso Parssinen goal, coming off of Forsberg and O'Reilly. The Lightning tied it with a Nicholas Paul power play goal, powered by Point and Steven Stamkos. Tampa Bay took the lead back with a Brandon Hagel penalty shot goal. Nashville retied it on a Thomas Novak power play goal, fueled by Philip Tomasino and Gustav Nyquist. The Lightning pulled ahead again with a Paul power play goal, his second of the game, with assists provided by Mikhail Sergachev and Point. Tampa Bay iced it at 5-3 with a Kucherov empty net goal, his second of the game, set up by Paul and Sergachev. The three stars were Paul, Kucherov, and Point, while O'Reilly, Forsberg, and Sergachev get the honorable mentions.

Over in Pittsburgh, the Penguins welcome the Chicago Blackhawks. Petr Mrazek and Tristan Jarry start in goal. Pittsburgh began in the first period with a Bryan Rust goal, via Kris Letang and Lars Eller. The Penguins added on in the second period with a Sidney Crosby goal, assisted by Jake Guentzel and Marcus Pettersson. Chicago got on the board with a Ryan Donato goal, guided in by Alex Vlasic and Connor Bedard. The Blackhawks tied it in the third period with a Cole Guttman power play goal, helped along by Andreas Athanasiou and Seth Jones. Chicago took the lead with a Jason Dickinson goal, coming off of Corey Perry and Nick Foligno. The Blackhawks finished it at 4-2 with a Foligno empty net goal, set up by Perry and Dickinson. The three stars were Dickinson, Foligno, and Perry.

Finally, the Vegas Golden Knights bring in the Seattle Kraken. Philipp Grubauer and Adin Hill are between the pipes. Vegas struck first in the first period with a Chandler Stephenson goal, passed from Brett Howden and Mark Stone. The Golden Knights added on with a Jonathan Marchessault goal, going in unassisted. Vegas extended the lead in the second period as Ivan Barbashev scored, thanks to Brayden McNabb. Seattle got on the board with a Jared McCann goal, helped along by Jordan Eberle. The Golden Knights finished it at 4-1 with a Jack Eichel empty net goal, set up by Stone and Stephenson. The three stars were Stephenson, Hill (32 for 33 in saves), and Stone. 

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2023 Stanley Cup Finals - Game 5

The first elimination game of the series is here, as the Vegas Golden Knights host the Florida Panthers. Sergei Bobrovsky and Adin Hill patrol the creases. Vegas kicked off the scoring in the first period with a Mark Stone shorthanded goal, his ninth of the postseason, going in unassisted. The Golden Knights added on with a Nicolas Hague goal, his second of the playoffs, fueled by Jack Eichel and Jonathan Marchessault. Florida got on the board with an Aaron Ekblad goal, his second of the postseason, guided in by Nick Cousins. Vegas replied with an Alec Martinez goal, his second of the playoffs, assisted by Eichel and Alex Pietrangelo. The Golden Knights extended the lead as Reilly Smith scored his fourth of the postseason, thanks to William Karlsson and Shea Theodore. Vegas padded the lead on another Stone goal, his second of the game and tenth of the playoffs, passed from Brett Howden and Chandler Stephenson. The Golden Knights continued with a Michael Amadio goal, his fifth of the postseason, made possible by Smith. Vegas piled on in the third period with an Ivan Barbashev goal, his seventh of the playoffs, with helpers from Eichel and Theodore. The Panthers got one back with a Sam Reinhart goal, his eighth of the postseason, courtesy of Sam Bennett and Brandon Montour. Florida got closer with a Bennett goal, his fifth of the playoffs, coming off of Gustav Forsling and Reinhart. The Golden Knights answered on a Stone empty net goal, completing his hat trick on his eleventh of the postseason, an unassisted goal. Vegas iced it at 9-3 with a Nicolas Roy goal, his third of the playoffs, helped along by Theodore and Brayden McNabb. The Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup with a 4-1 series win, and Marchessault was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner. 

That's all for yet another season here. As usual, I'll take the offseason to consider whether or not I'll keep writing here for 2023-24. Thanks for reading, and follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.

2023 Stanley Cup Finals - Game 4

The Florida Panthers again host the Vegas Golden Knights. Adin Hill and Sergei Bobrovsky are between the pipes. Vegas led off in the first period with a Chandler Stephenson goal, his ninth of the postseason, via Zach Whitecloud and Mark Stone. The Golden Knights added on in the second period with a Stephenson goal, his second of the game and tenth of the playoffs, guided in by Stone and Nicolas Hague. Vegas extended the lead as William Karlsson scored his eleventh of the postseason, his eleventh of the postseason, coming off of Hague and Jonathan Marchessault. Florida got on the board with a Brandon Montour goal, his eighth of the playoffs, fueled by Aleksander Barkov. The Panthers got closer in the third period with a Barkov goal, his fifth of the postseason, courtesy of Montour and Anton Lundell. This only made it 3-2, the final, with the three stars going to Stephenson, Hague, and Stone, while Montour and Barkov get the honorable mentions. The Golden Knights head back home with a 3-1 series lead and a maximum of three chances to secure the Stanley Cup. 

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2023 Stanley Cup Finals - Game 3

The action has moved to Florida, as the Panthers bring in the Vegas Golden Knights. Adin Hill and Sergei Bobrovsky are the goalies. Florida began in the first period with a Brandon Montour goal, his seventh of the postseason, courtesy of Matthew Tkachuk and Eric Staal. Vegas tied it on a Mark Stone power play goal, his eighth of the playoffs, powered by Jonathan Marchessault and Shea Theodore. The Golden Knights took the lead in the second period with a Marchessault power play goal, his thirteenth of the postseason, with assists provided by Jack Eichel and Stone. The Panthers tied it on a Tkachuk goal in the third period, his eleventh of the playoffs, fueled by Carter Verhaeghe and Aaron Ekblad. Florida won 3-2 in overtime on a Verhaeghe goal, his seventh of the postseason, guided in by Sam Bennett and Gustav Forsling. The three stars were Verhaeghe, Tkachuk, and Marchessault, while Stone gets an honorable mention. The Golden Knights remain ahead 2-1 in the series. 

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