Today we have twelve games on. The first two are matinees, and we begin with...
The Boston Bruins hosting the New York Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist and Tuukka Rask took to the nets. New York took the initial lead with a Derek Stepan goal in the first period, his 20th of the campaign, with help from Mike Sauer and Vinny Prospal. This turned out to be the only goal in the game after scoreless second and third periods, giving the Rangers a 1-0 win. Lundqvist (26 save shutout), Dan Girardi, and Rask (22 for 23 saves) collected the three stars.
Moving to the second of the matinees, with the Los Angeles Kings hosting the Colorado Avalanche. Peter Budaj and Jonathan Quick took control of the cages. Los Angeles opened the scoring with Willie Mitchell potting his fifth of the season, with help from Anze Kopitar. The Kings extended their lead with a power play goal by Michal Handzus, his eleventh of the year, getting help from Dustin Brown and Drew Doughty. Colorado got on the board in the second period with Milan Hejduk notching his 20th of the campaign, assisted by Paul Stastny. Ryan Smyth got the goal back for Los Angeles on his 21st of the season, coming off of Trevor Lewis and Brown. Lewis made it 4-1 Kings with his third of the year, via Smyth, which would make the score final. The three stars were awarded to Smyth, Lewis, Quick (20 for 21 saves).
To the regularly timed games, with the Montreal Canadiens hosting the Washington Capitals. Braden Holtby and Carey Price tended the twines. Washington got in front first with Marco Sturm netting his fifth of the season, with help from Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Semin. In the third period, the Capitals went up 2-0 with Semin notching his 26th of the year, courtesy of Backstrom and Sturm. This score was the final, with the three stars given to Price (31 for 33 saves), Holtby (18 save shutout), and Sturm.
Onto Long Island, with the New York Islanders hosting the Philadelphia Flyers. Sergei Bobrovsky and Rick DiPietro played in the blue paint. Philadelphia opened the scoring with a Jeff Carter goal, his 34th of the season, coming via Claude Giroux. James van Riemsdyk extended the Flyer lead with his 17th of the year, thanks to Kris Versteeg, just twenty-two seconds after the earlier goal. New York got on the board with a Blake Comeau tally, his 21st of the campaign made possible by Josh Bailey and Radek Martinek. Van Riemsdyk got the goal back for Philadelphia with his second of the game and 18th of the season, fueled by Andrej Meszaros and Sean O'Donnell. Van Riemsdyk sealed a 4-1 victory for the Flyers in the third period by completing his hat trick with his 19th of the year, helped along by Giroux and Danny Briere on the power play. The three stars were given to van Riemsdyk, Bobrovsky (36 for 37 saves), and Carter.
To Buffalo, where the Sabres hosted the New Jersey Devils. Martin Brodeur and Ryan Miller played between the pipes. Buffalo went up first with a Nathan Gerbe goal, his 14th of the season, helped into the mesh by Paul Gaustad and Brad Boyes. Thomas Vanek extended the Sabres lead to 2-0 with his 26th of the year, thanks to Jason Pominville and Tim Connolly. After the silent second and third periods, this was a final score, with the three stars going to Miller (30 save shutout), Gerbe, and Pominville.
Southward to Carolina, with the Hurricanes hosting the Tampa Bay Lightning. Mike Smith and Cam Ward took control of the creases. Eric Staal used his 31st of the season on the power play to put Carolina up first, with helpers provided by Cory Stillman and Jamie McBain. Tampa Bay tied it on a Martin St. Louis goal, his 27th of the year, with Vincent Lecavalier picking up the lone assist. The Lightning took the lead with a Simon Gagne goal, his 15th of the season requiring no help to find twine. Erik Cole tied it for the Hurricanes with his 23rd of the year, assisted by Stillman and Bryan Allen. Dominic Moore gave Tampa Bay the lead back with his 15th of the season, a power play goal made possible by Lecavalier and St. Louis. Gagne wrapped up the game for the Lightning at a 4-2 score with his second of the game and 16th of the year, going unassisted once again into the empty net. The three stars went to St. Louis, Lecavalier, and Stillman.
To the Motor City of Detroit, where the Red Wings hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs. James Reimer and Jimmy Howard got the starting nods. Detroit opened the scoring with Henrik Zetterberg, his 22nd of the season a power play goal powered by Nicklas Lidstrom and Jiri Hudler. Toronto replied with the second of the year by Nazem Kadri, with guidance provided by Joey Crabb. The Red Wings replied in the second period by Tomas Holmstrom netting a power play goal, his 15th of the season, created by Niklas Kronwall and Brian Rafalski. Howard came out of the game due to injury, and Joey MacDonald came on in time to relinquish a goal to the Maple Leafs, as Joffrey Lupul sank his eleventh of the year, and Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf picked up the assists. Thirty-eight seconds later, Detroit got the goal back with Hudler potting his tenth of the season, and Zetterberg grabbing the assist. Todd Bertuzzi solidified the game for the Red wings with his empty-netter from Kronwall, his 15th of the year making the score 4-2. The three stars went out to Hudler, Zetterberg, and Phaneuf.
West to Minnesota, where the Wild hosted the St. Louis Blues. Ty Conklin and Niklas Backstrom played in front of the goalmouths. Minnesota broke the game open with a Marek Zidlicky goal, his sixth of the season, made possible by Andrew Brunette and Mikko Koivu. St. Louis replied with a Matt D'Agostini goal, his 19th of the year, guided in by Kevin Shattenkirk and Andy McDonald. The Wild retook the lead with an Antti Miettinen goal, his 13th of the campaign coming on the power play from Brunette and Koivu. The Blues tied it again, releasing Adam the Cracknell for his third of the season, an unassisted goal. St. Louis took the lead with Chris Stewart potting his 24th of the year in the second period, assisted by T.J. Oshie and Roman Polak. Twenty-three seconds later, the Blues got another goal, this time the 27th of the season by David Backes, powered by Alex Pietrangelo. Pietrangelo tallied for himself and St. Louis in the third period, his eleventh of the year getting the favored returned by Backes. The Blues scored yet again with a Patrik Berglund marker, his 19th of the season, helped along by Nikita Nikitin. Minnesota made it 6-3 with another Miettinen goal ,his second of the game and 14th of the year, finding twine thanks to Koivu and Brunette, both of whom completed sock tricks in the loss. The three stars went to Backes, Pietrangelo, and Oshie.
Back to Nashville, where the Predators hosted the Dallas Stars in a country music showdown. Kari Lethonen and Pekka Rinne took their place in front of the cages. Dallas opened with a power play goal by Alex Goligoski, his 13th of the season coming off of Loui Eriksson and Mike Ribeiro. Nashville replied with a David Legwand goal, the 16th of the year for him made possible by Martin Erat and Shea Weber. The Predators took the lead in the second period with Mike Fisher's 16th of the season, assisted by Patric Hornqvist and Sergei Kostitsyn. The Stars retied it with Brenden Morrow recording his 28th of the year courtesy of Jamie Benn and Ribeiro. Fisher put Nashville back in front with his second of the game and 17th of the season, helped in by Ryan Suter (finally getting credit for his work) and Hornqvist. Legwand secured a 4-2 victory for the Predators with his second of the game and 17th of the year, an empty net goal that went without assistance. The three stars were awarded to Fisher, Hornqvist, and Suter.
To the Windy City, where the Chicago Blackhawks welcomed the Anaheim Ducks to the United Center. Ray Emery and Corey Crawford took care of the nets. Chicago opened up with a Marian Hossa tally, his 22nd of the season coming off of Viktor Stalberg and Michael Frolik. The second period was silent, but Anaheim took a 2-1 lead with a pair of Corey Perry third period goals, his 43rd and 44th of the year, with both Ryan Getzlaf and Bobby Ryan picking up two assists. This would be the final, and the three stars went to Perry, Hossa, and Emery (27 for 28 saves).
Out west to Phoenix, where the Coyotes hosted the San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi and Ilya Bryzgalov were called on as starters. Logan Couture used his 29th of the season to put San Jose ahead first, gathering steam off of Ryane Clowe and Dany Heatley. Phoenix replied with Mikkel Boedker notching his fourth of the year, courtesy of Derek Morris and Kyle Turris. Joe Pavelski restored the lead for the Sharks on his 18th of the campaign, assisted by Joe Thornton and Jamal Mayers. Clowe notched his 24th of the season as well for San Jose, with helpers provided by Couture and Devin Setoguchi. Couture made it 4-1 with his second of the game and 30th of the year, guided in by Clowe and Ian White. The last event of the game had Paul Bissonnette help Clowe complete a Gordie Howe hat trick by taking a dance late in the third period. The final was as listed above, and the three stars went to Couture, Clowe, and Niemi (26 for 27 saves).
Lastly, the Battle of Alberta, in Edmonton, with the Oilers hosting the Calgary Flames. Miikka Kiprusoff and Devan Dubnyk took the starts. Edmonton opened with Magnus Paajarvi notching his 12th of the season, with Andrew Cogliano and Linus Omark providing the necessary assistance. Calgary evened it in the second period with a Jarome Iginla power play goal, his 35th of the year powered by Mark Giordano and Tom Kostopolous. Fifty-nine seconds later, Teemu Hartikainen sank his first of the season for the Oilers, with help from Jordan Eberle and Theo Peckham. Edmonton extended their lead with a Colin Fraser goal, his third of the year coming shorthanded and unassisted. Ryan Jones kept the Oilers going with his 17th of the season, fueled by Ryan O'Marra and Liam Reddox. The Flames got a jumpstart with Iginla's second of the game and 36th of the year, another power play goal, aided by Giordano and Mikael Backlund. Calgary cut the deficit to a goal with Curtis Glencross sinking his 23rd of the season, thanks to Iginla and a sock trick recipient named Giordano. The Flames tied it with the third of the year by Steve Staios, guided along by Rene Bourque and Olli Jokinen. The tie lasted into a shootout, where Calgary completed the comeback with the lone Alex Tanguay tally to put them on top of Edmonton by a 5-4 margin. The three stars went to Hartikainen, Iginla, and Paajarvi.
There's four games for Sunday and a Sandwich Showdown as well.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Friday NHL coverage
We have five games in the NHL on Friday, and I think I might finally be caught up. We start in...
Pittsburgh, with the Penguins hosting the New Jersey Devils. Martin Brodeur and Marc-Andre Fleury played between the pipes. The game went scoreless throughout the 65 minutes of regulation and overtime, and Pittsburgh defeated New Jersey on the lone James Neal tally in the shootout. Fleury (21 save shutout), Brodeur (26 save "shutout") and Neal were the easily-chosen three stars.
Along to Buffalo, where the Sabres hosted the Florida Panthers. Tomas Vokoun and Ryan Miller wore the masks. Buffalo led off with a Jason Pominville goal, his 19th of the season, with help from Thomas Vanek and Andrej Sekera. Florida answered with Sergei Samsonov, his 13th of the year coming unassisted. The Sabres retook the lead with the 27th of the season for Drew Stafford, helped in by Brad Boyes and Tyler Ennis. Buffalo continued with a Jordan Leopold tally on the power play, his 13th of the year powered by Pominville and Stafford. Thirteen seconds later, Stafford tallied again for the Sabres with his 28th of the season and second of the game, assisted by Ennis. With three seconds left, Evgeny Dadonov brought the final to 4-2 for the Panthers with his seventh of the year, helped along by Niclas Bergfors. Stafford, Pominville, and Ennis collected the three stars.
Up to Ottawa, with the Senators hosting the Washington Capitals. Semyon Varlamov and Craig Anderson took control of the cages. Ottawa opened the scoring in the second period with a Colin Greening goal, his fourth of the season, with help from Jason Spezza and Bobby Butler. The Senators made it 2-0 with Erik Condra potting his fifth of the year in the third period, courtesy of Milan Michalek. This would be the final, with Anderson (31 save shutout), Chris Phillips, and Condra earning the three stars.
Down to Atlanta, where the Thrashers hosted the Vancouver Canucks. Roberto Luongo and Chris Mason tended the twines. Vancouver broke the scoring open in the second period with a goal by Mason Raymond, his 13th of the season gathering steam off of Raffi Torres. The Canucks extended their lead with Alexandre Bolduc notching his second of the year, with help from Victor Oreskovich and Keith Ballard. Atlanta got on the board with Bryan Little in the third period, his 16th of the season coming unassisted. Vancouver clinched victory at 3-1 with Alexandre Burrows putting his 22nd of the year away into the empty net, via Ryan Kesler. The three stars went to Luongo (30 for 31 saves), Bolduc, and Little.
Finally, the Tampa Bay Lightning hosted the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward and Dwayne Roloson played in the blue paint. Tampa Bay opened the scoring on the power play with the 13th of the season from Simon Gagne, powered by Martin St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier. Carolina replied with the 26th of the year from Jeff Skinner, assisted by Tuomo Ruutu and Joni Pitkanen. The Hurricanes took the lead 3-1 with a pair of Erik Cole goals in the second and third periods, with help from Cory Stillman and Eric Staal on the earlier power play goal, and unassisted in the third period at even strength. They were his 21st and 22nd of the season. Staal tacked on his own power play goal for Carolina, his 30th of the year, made possible by Joe Corvo and Pitkanen. Fifty-seven seconds later, Lecavalier notched his 20th of the season for the Lightning, with the help of Victor Hedman. Gagne added on his second of the game and 14th of the year for Tampa Bay to put them at a 4-3 deficit, with helpers coming on the power play from St. Louis and Brett Clark. This wouldn't be enough, as the score lasted the rest of the game, and the three stars went to Cole, Gagne, and Staal.
Twelve games on Saturday, starting at 10 A.M. Pacific.
Pittsburgh, with the Penguins hosting the New Jersey Devils. Martin Brodeur and Marc-Andre Fleury played between the pipes. The game went scoreless throughout the 65 minutes of regulation and overtime, and Pittsburgh defeated New Jersey on the lone James Neal tally in the shootout. Fleury (21 save shutout), Brodeur (26 save "shutout") and Neal were the easily-chosen three stars.
Along to Buffalo, where the Sabres hosted the Florida Panthers. Tomas Vokoun and Ryan Miller wore the masks. Buffalo led off with a Jason Pominville goal, his 19th of the season, with help from Thomas Vanek and Andrej Sekera. Florida answered with Sergei Samsonov, his 13th of the year coming unassisted. The Sabres retook the lead with the 27th of the season for Drew Stafford, helped in by Brad Boyes and Tyler Ennis. Buffalo continued with a Jordan Leopold tally on the power play, his 13th of the year powered by Pominville and Stafford. Thirteen seconds later, Stafford tallied again for the Sabres with his 28th of the season and second of the game, assisted by Ennis. With three seconds left, Evgeny Dadonov brought the final to 4-2 for the Panthers with his seventh of the year, helped along by Niclas Bergfors. Stafford, Pominville, and Ennis collected the three stars.
Up to Ottawa, with the Senators hosting the Washington Capitals. Semyon Varlamov and Craig Anderson took control of the cages. Ottawa opened the scoring in the second period with a Colin Greening goal, his fourth of the season, with help from Jason Spezza and Bobby Butler. The Senators made it 2-0 with Erik Condra potting his fifth of the year in the third period, courtesy of Milan Michalek. This would be the final, with Anderson (31 save shutout), Chris Phillips, and Condra earning the three stars.
Down to Atlanta, where the Thrashers hosted the Vancouver Canucks. Roberto Luongo and Chris Mason tended the twines. Vancouver broke the scoring open in the second period with a goal by Mason Raymond, his 13th of the season gathering steam off of Raffi Torres. The Canucks extended their lead with Alexandre Bolduc notching his second of the year, with help from Victor Oreskovich and Keith Ballard. Atlanta got on the board with Bryan Little in the third period, his 16th of the season coming unassisted. Vancouver clinched victory at 3-1 with Alexandre Burrows putting his 22nd of the year away into the empty net, via Ryan Kesler. The three stars went to Luongo (30 for 31 saves), Bolduc, and Little.
Finally, the Tampa Bay Lightning hosted the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward and Dwayne Roloson played in the blue paint. Tampa Bay opened the scoring on the power play with the 13th of the season from Simon Gagne, powered by Martin St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier. Carolina replied with the 26th of the year from Jeff Skinner, assisted by Tuomo Ruutu and Joni Pitkanen. The Hurricanes took the lead 3-1 with a pair of Erik Cole goals in the second and third periods, with help from Cory Stillman and Eric Staal on the earlier power play goal, and unassisted in the third period at even strength. They were his 21st and 22nd of the season. Staal tacked on his own power play goal for Carolina, his 30th of the year, made possible by Joe Corvo and Pitkanen. Fifty-seven seconds later, Lecavalier notched his 20th of the season for the Lightning, with the help of Victor Hedman. Gagne added on his second of the game and 14th of the year for Tampa Bay to put them at a 4-3 deficit, with helpers coming on the power play from St. Louis and Brett Clark. This wouldn't be enough, as the score lasted the rest of the game, and the three stars went to Cole, Gagne, and Staal.
Twelve games on Saturday, starting at 10 A.M. Pacific.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Thursday Hockey recap
There were a total of nine games available for Thursday.
The New York Rangers opened things at home against the Ottawa Senators. Craig Anderson and Henrik Lundqvist played goal. Ottawa opened the scoring with Ryan Shannon in the second period, his tenth of the season coming off Bobby Butler and Nick Foligno. New York tied it in the third period with the 12th of the year by Brandon Prust, assisted by Marc Staal and Ruslan Fedotenko. The tie lasted into the shootout, where Erik Karlsson won it for the Senators with his lone fifth round tally. Anderson (29 for 30 saves), Karlsson, and Lundqvist (29 for 30 saves) picked up the three stars.
To the Battle of Pennsylvania, with the Philadelphia Flyers hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury and Sergei Bobrovsky took to the creases. Philadelphia opened the scoring with Mike Richards netting his 21st of the season, with help from James van Riemsdyk and Matt Carle. Pittsburgh answered in the second period with a power play goal by Tyler Kennedy, his 18th of the year powered by Chris Kunitz and Kris Letang. The tie lasted into the shootout, where Alex Kovalev traded a barb with Danny Briere before Kunitz propelled the Penguins over the Flyers. Bobrovsky (30 for 31 saves), Kennedy, and Kunitz got the three stars.
To New York again, with the Islanders hosting the Atlanta Thrashers. Chris Mason and Al Montoya made the starts. Atlanta opened the scoring with the 27th of the season by Andrew Ladd, fueled by Blake Wheeler and Bryan Little. New York replied with the 27th of the campaign for John Tavares, with P.A. Parenteau and Travis Hamonic picking up the assists. The Thrashers retook the lead at 2-1 with a power play goal by Rob Schremp, his 12th of the year getting aided by Wheeler and Dustin Byfuglien. This eventually would be the final, with the three stars given out to Wheeler, Schremp, and Tavares.
To a hostile Boston, with the Bruins hosting the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and Tim Thomas put on the masks. Boston opened the scoring on a Johnny Boychuk tally, his second of the season, assisted by Zdeno Chara and David Krejci. Gregory Campbell extended the Bruins lead with his eleventh of the year, with Chara helping out alongside Boychuk. Nathan Horton had the next two goals for Boston, coming in the first and third periods, his 21st and 22nd of the season, with the early power play goal made possible by Milan Lucic and Krejci, and the latter reversing that order, allowing Krejci to earn a sock trick of three assists. Twenty-six seconds later in the third frame, Adam McQuaid tallied his third of the year, with both Chara and Lucic picking up sock-trick-clinching assists, bringing in Alex Auld in relief of Carey Price. In essence, the Bruins had a trick of sock tricks, or a hat full of socks, which I'll leave for the readers here to determine. Boston rolled on with Tomas Kaberle notching his fourth of the season, thanks to Mark Recchi and Brad Marchand. Campbell closed the scoring with his second of the game and 12th of the year, a shorthanded and unassisted goal to finish up at 7-0. The three stars went to Chara, Krejci, and Horton in a "statement game."
To St. Louis for the Blues hosting the Edmonton Oilers. Nikolai Khabibulin and Jaroslav Halak tended the twines. The first period was scoreless, but scarred by three fights, with Jim Vandermeer dancing with Cam Janssen, followed a second later by Theo Peckham and Ryan Reaves showing off their fists, and much later in the frame, Jean-Francois Jacques and B.J. Crombeen dropping the mitts. T.J. Oshie put St. Louis on the board in the second period with his tenth of the season, an unassisted goal. Matt D'Agostini extended the lead with his 18th of the year for the Blues, a power play goal from T.J. Hensick. St. Louis kept going with a Chris Stewart power play goal, his 23rd of the season, helped along by Oshie and Andy McDonald. Adam Cracknell secured a 4-0 Blues victory with his second of the year, thanks to Kevin Shattenkirk. The three stars were handed to Oshie, Chris Porter, and Crombeen.
To Nashville, where the Predators hosted the Anaheim Ducks. Jonas Hiller returned from vertigo to oppose Pekka Rinne. Nashville led off with a Sergei Kostitsyn goal, his 18th of the season made possible by Patric Hornqvist and Cody Franson. The Predators extended the lead with a Nick Spaling goal, his eighth of the year, coming via Jonathon Blum and Jordin Tootoo. Nineteen seconds later, Kostitsyn struck again for Nashville, adding on his second of the game and 19th of the season, with help from Hornqvist and Kevin Klein. Anaheim got on the board with the 41st of the year by Corey Perry, courtesy of Bobby Ryan and Ryan Getzlaf. Tootoo got the goal back for the Predators in the second period, his fifth of the season, thanks to Shane O'Brien and Spaling. Nashville rolled on with a shorthanded goal by David Legwand, his 15th of the year getting some help from Joel Ward and Klein. Teemu Selanne potted a pair of goals, to follow this, pulling within two with his 24th and 25th of the season, both on the power play, with Getzlaf and Perry producing the first, and Getzlaf finishing his sock trick on the second alongside Lubomir Visnovsky, with Ryan Suter lending a hand. With twenty-seven seconds left in the game, Perry added his second of the night and 42nd of the year, officially unassisted, but with a "distinct kicking motion" by Suter once again, his second deflection past the now-appalled Pekka Rinne (it was later said that Rinne said Suter should take Chad Ochocinco's place in the MLS). Despite help from the enemy, Anaheim still lost 5-4 to Nashville, with the three stars awarded to Kostitsyn, Spaling, and Perry.
Colorado was the next stop, with the Avalanche hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs. James Reimer and Brian Elliott started, with Peter Budaj also seeing time in the Colorado crease. Colorado opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal by Daniel Winnik, assisted by Jay McClement and Erik Johnson as his eleventh of the season. Toronto took the lead with a pair of Nikolai Kulemin goals, his 27th and 28th of the year, with help from Mikhail Grabovski and Clarke MacArthur on the first, and MacArthur again with Dion Phaneuf on the second. The Maple Leafs extended their lead with a Tyler Bozak tally, his 13th of the season, guided in by Luke Schenn and Carl Gunnarsson. The Avalanche replied with a Ryan O'Reilly power play goal, his tenth of the year, powered by Ryan Stoa and Johnson. Toronto restored the two-goal lead on the power play with Phil Kessel, his 29th of the season gathering steam off of Joffrey Lupul and Phaneuf. Colorado pulled back within one at 4-3 with Matt Duchene registering his 26th of the year, coming off of Johnson and O'Reilly, the former securing a sock trick. Colorado found no more twine, so the score was final, and the three stars were awarded to Kulemin, Johnson, and Phaneuf.
Into Phoenix, where the Coyotes hosted the Columbus Blue Jackets. Mathieu Garon and Ilya bryzgalov took control of the cages. Paul Bissonnette and Jared Boll provided the first period entertainment with a nice dance. Phoenix started the scoring with Michal Rozsival on the power play in the second period, his sixth of the season made possible by Vernon Fiddler and David Schlemko. The Coyotes extended their lead with Derek Morris netting his fifth of the campaign via Shane Doan and Taylor Pyatt. Phoenix secured a 3-0 victory in the third period with Mikkel Boedker's third of the year, fueled by Keith Yandle and Lee Stempniak. Bryzgalov (28 svae shutout), Rozsival, and Rostislav Klesla earned the three stars.
Finally, a California battle between the hosting Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi and Jonathan Quick took control of the goalmouths. The scoring began with San Jose in the second period, a power play goal by Joe Pavelski, his 17th of the season, assisted by Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton. Los Angeles replied with Dustin Brown, also on the power play, his 24th of the year powered by Alexei Ponikarovsky and Alec Martinez. Willie Mitchell put the Kings ahead on his fourth of the season, with help from Oscar Moller and Ryan Smyth. The Sharks retied it in the third period with Marleau, his 32nd of the year coming off of Jason Demers. Brown struck again on the power play for Los Angeles, his second of the night and 25th of the season, with helpers provided by Michal Handzus and Martinez. With five seconds left in regulation, Marleau tallied his second of the game and 33rd of the year, with timely assistance from Ryane Clowe and Logan Couture, to tie the game again for San Jose. The tie lasted into a shootout, where Dan Boyle and Jarret Stoll swapped tallies before the Kings toppled the Sharks with Brown. The three stars went to Brown, Marleau, and Quick (25 for 28 saves).
The New York Rangers opened things at home against the Ottawa Senators. Craig Anderson and Henrik Lundqvist played goal. Ottawa opened the scoring with Ryan Shannon in the second period, his tenth of the season coming off Bobby Butler and Nick Foligno. New York tied it in the third period with the 12th of the year by Brandon Prust, assisted by Marc Staal and Ruslan Fedotenko. The tie lasted into the shootout, where Erik Karlsson won it for the Senators with his lone fifth round tally. Anderson (29 for 30 saves), Karlsson, and Lundqvist (29 for 30 saves) picked up the three stars.
To the Battle of Pennsylvania, with the Philadelphia Flyers hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury and Sergei Bobrovsky took to the creases. Philadelphia opened the scoring with Mike Richards netting his 21st of the season, with help from James van Riemsdyk and Matt Carle. Pittsburgh answered in the second period with a power play goal by Tyler Kennedy, his 18th of the year powered by Chris Kunitz and Kris Letang. The tie lasted into the shootout, where Alex Kovalev traded a barb with Danny Briere before Kunitz propelled the Penguins over the Flyers. Bobrovsky (30 for 31 saves), Kennedy, and Kunitz got the three stars.
To New York again, with the Islanders hosting the Atlanta Thrashers. Chris Mason and Al Montoya made the starts. Atlanta opened the scoring with the 27th of the season by Andrew Ladd, fueled by Blake Wheeler and Bryan Little. New York replied with the 27th of the campaign for John Tavares, with P.A. Parenteau and Travis Hamonic picking up the assists. The Thrashers retook the lead at 2-1 with a power play goal by Rob Schremp, his 12th of the year getting aided by Wheeler and Dustin Byfuglien. This eventually would be the final, with the three stars given out to Wheeler, Schremp, and Tavares.
To a hostile Boston, with the Bruins hosting the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and Tim Thomas put on the masks. Boston opened the scoring on a Johnny Boychuk tally, his second of the season, assisted by Zdeno Chara and David Krejci. Gregory Campbell extended the Bruins lead with his eleventh of the year, with Chara helping out alongside Boychuk. Nathan Horton had the next two goals for Boston, coming in the first and third periods, his 21st and 22nd of the season, with the early power play goal made possible by Milan Lucic and Krejci, and the latter reversing that order, allowing Krejci to earn a sock trick of three assists. Twenty-six seconds later in the third frame, Adam McQuaid tallied his third of the year, with both Chara and Lucic picking up sock-trick-clinching assists, bringing in Alex Auld in relief of Carey Price. In essence, the Bruins had a trick of sock tricks, or a hat full of socks, which I'll leave for the readers here to determine. Boston rolled on with Tomas Kaberle notching his fourth of the season, thanks to Mark Recchi and Brad Marchand. Campbell closed the scoring with his second of the game and 12th of the year, a shorthanded and unassisted goal to finish up at 7-0. The three stars went to Chara, Krejci, and Horton in a "statement game."
To St. Louis for the Blues hosting the Edmonton Oilers. Nikolai Khabibulin and Jaroslav Halak tended the twines. The first period was scoreless, but scarred by three fights, with Jim Vandermeer dancing with Cam Janssen, followed a second later by Theo Peckham and Ryan Reaves showing off their fists, and much later in the frame, Jean-Francois Jacques and B.J. Crombeen dropping the mitts. T.J. Oshie put St. Louis on the board in the second period with his tenth of the season, an unassisted goal. Matt D'Agostini extended the lead with his 18th of the year for the Blues, a power play goal from T.J. Hensick. St. Louis kept going with a Chris Stewart power play goal, his 23rd of the season, helped along by Oshie and Andy McDonald. Adam Cracknell secured a 4-0 Blues victory with his second of the year, thanks to Kevin Shattenkirk. The three stars were handed to Oshie, Chris Porter, and Crombeen.
To Nashville, where the Predators hosted the Anaheim Ducks. Jonas Hiller returned from vertigo to oppose Pekka Rinne. Nashville led off with a Sergei Kostitsyn goal, his 18th of the season made possible by Patric Hornqvist and Cody Franson. The Predators extended the lead with a Nick Spaling goal, his eighth of the year, coming via Jonathon Blum and Jordin Tootoo. Nineteen seconds later, Kostitsyn struck again for Nashville, adding on his second of the game and 19th of the season, with help from Hornqvist and Kevin Klein. Anaheim got on the board with the 41st of the year by Corey Perry, courtesy of Bobby Ryan and Ryan Getzlaf. Tootoo got the goal back for the Predators in the second period, his fifth of the season, thanks to Shane O'Brien and Spaling. Nashville rolled on with a shorthanded goal by David Legwand, his 15th of the year getting some help from Joel Ward and Klein. Teemu Selanne potted a pair of goals, to follow this, pulling within two with his 24th and 25th of the season, both on the power play, with Getzlaf and Perry producing the first, and Getzlaf finishing his sock trick on the second alongside Lubomir Visnovsky, with Ryan Suter lending a hand. With twenty-seven seconds left in the game, Perry added his second of the night and 42nd of the year, officially unassisted, but with a "distinct kicking motion" by Suter once again, his second deflection past the now-appalled Pekka Rinne (it was later said that Rinne said Suter should take Chad Ochocinco's place in the MLS). Despite help from the enemy, Anaheim still lost 5-4 to Nashville, with the three stars awarded to Kostitsyn, Spaling, and Perry.
Colorado was the next stop, with the Avalanche hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs. James Reimer and Brian Elliott started, with Peter Budaj also seeing time in the Colorado crease. Colorado opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal by Daniel Winnik, assisted by Jay McClement and Erik Johnson as his eleventh of the season. Toronto took the lead with a pair of Nikolai Kulemin goals, his 27th and 28th of the year, with help from Mikhail Grabovski and Clarke MacArthur on the first, and MacArthur again with Dion Phaneuf on the second. The Maple Leafs extended their lead with a Tyler Bozak tally, his 13th of the season, guided in by Luke Schenn and Carl Gunnarsson. The Avalanche replied with a Ryan O'Reilly power play goal, his tenth of the year, powered by Ryan Stoa and Johnson. Toronto restored the two-goal lead on the power play with Phil Kessel, his 29th of the season gathering steam off of Joffrey Lupul and Phaneuf. Colorado pulled back within one at 4-3 with Matt Duchene registering his 26th of the year, coming off of Johnson and O'Reilly, the former securing a sock trick. Colorado found no more twine, so the score was final, and the three stars were awarded to Kulemin, Johnson, and Phaneuf.
Into Phoenix, where the Coyotes hosted the Columbus Blue Jackets. Mathieu Garon and Ilya bryzgalov took control of the cages. Paul Bissonnette and Jared Boll provided the first period entertainment with a nice dance. Phoenix started the scoring with Michal Rozsival on the power play in the second period, his sixth of the season made possible by Vernon Fiddler and David Schlemko. The Coyotes extended their lead with Derek Morris netting his fifth of the campaign via Shane Doan and Taylor Pyatt. Phoenix secured a 3-0 victory in the third period with Mikkel Boedker's third of the year, fueled by Keith Yandle and Lee Stempniak. Bryzgalov (28 svae shutout), Rozsival, and Rostislav Klesla earned the three stars.
Finally, a California battle between the hosting Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi and Jonathan Quick took control of the goalmouths. The scoring began with San Jose in the second period, a power play goal by Joe Pavelski, his 17th of the season, assisted by Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton. Los Angeles replied with Dustin Brown, also on the power play, his 24th of the year powered by Alexei Ponikarovsky and Alec Martinez. Willie Mitchell put the Kings ahead on his fourth of the season, with help from Oscar Moller and Ryan Smyth. The Sharks retied it in the third period with Marleau, his 32nd of the year coming off of Jason Demers. Brown struck again on the power play for Los Angeles, his second of the night and 25th of the season, with helpers provided by Michal Handzus and Martinez. With five seconds left in regulation, Marleau tallied his second of the game and 33rd of the year, with timely assistance from Ryane Clowe and Logan Couture, to tie the game again for San Jose. The tie lasted into a shootout, where Dan Boyle and Jarret Stoll swapped tallies before the Kings toppled the Sharks with Brown. The three stars went to Brown, Marleau, and Quick (25 for 28 saves).
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Wednesday NHL action
Wednesday only had four games of hockey on the schedule. They began in...
Detroit, where the Red Wings hosted the Vancouver Canucks. Roberto Luongo and Jimmy Howard played in front of the nets. Vancouver opened the scoring with Daniel Sedin, his 39th of the season coming in the second period off of Henrik Sedin and Dan Hamhuis. The Canucks extended their lead with another Daniel tally, his second of the game and 40th of the campaign, coming on the power play thanks to Henrik and Ryan Kesler. Detroit pulled within one goal at a 2-1 score with Jiri Hudler on the power play, his ninth of the year powered by Danny Cleary and Nicklas Lidstrom. This would be the final, with Daniel, Luongo (39 for 40 saves), and Howard (31 for 33 saves) getting the three stars.
To Dallas, where the Stars hosted the Anaheim Ducks. Ray Emery and Kari Lehtonen played goaltender. Anaheim opened the scoring in the second period with Lubomir Visnovsky notching his 15th of the season on the power play, with help from Ryan Getzlaf and Cam Fowler. Dallas answered with Alex Goligoski potting his 12th of the year, also a power play goal, powered by Mike Ribeiro and Brad Richards. The Stars took the lead in the third period with a Loui Eriksson tally, his 24th of the season, helped along by Jamie Langenbrunner and Richards. Eleven seconds later, Corey Perry found twine for the Ducks with his 40th of the year, assisted by Bobby Ryan. Dallas retook the lead with Trevor Daley registering his eighth of the season, courtesy of Ribeiro and Steve Ott. With seven seconds left in regulation, Teemu Selanne struck to tie for Anaheim, his timely 23rd of the year made possible by Saku Koivu and Visnovsky. The Ducks defeated the Stars 4-3 in overtime with Fowler recording his eighth of the campaign, helped in by Ryan and Getzlaf. Fowler, Selanne, and Daley gathered the three stars.
Moving into Chicago, where the Blackhawks hosted the Florida Panthers. Tomas Vokoun and Corey Crawford played in the blue paint. Chicago opened the scoring in the second period with Brent Seabrook's fifth of the season on the power play from Duncan Keith and Jonathan Toews. The Blackhawks extended the lead with Viktor Stalberg notching his 12th of the year, with help from Toews and Patrick Kane. Kane kept Chicago going with his 25th of the season, assisted by Keith and Seabrook. The Blackhawks wrapped it up 4-0 with Tomas Kopecky recording his 14th of the year, helped in by Michael Frolik and Marian Hossa. Seabrook, Toews, and Crawford (23 save shutout) were the three stars.
Lastly, the San Jose Sharks hosted the Calgary Flames. Miikka Kiprusoff and Antti Niemi tended the twines. San Jose opened the scoring with the eighth of the season by Torrey Mitchell, helped in by Jamal Mayers and Joe Thornton. Calgary evened the score with Jarome Iginla notching his 34th of the year, thanks to Olli Jokinen and Alex Tanguay on the power play. The Sharks retook the lead with Andrew Desjardins' first of the season, coming off of Ben Eager and Dan Boyle. The Flames tied it again with Cory Sarich potting his fourth of the year, with the help of Ales Kotalik and Robyn Regehr. San Jose made it 4-2 with a pair of Patrick Marleau goals, his 30th and 31st of the season, with Douglas Murray collecting the lone assist on the first and Devin Setoguchi and Joe Pavelski earning the helpers on the latter power play tally. Rene Bourque cut the deficit to a goal for Calgary with his 26th of the year, aided by Tom Kostopolous. Mitchell restored the goal for the Sharks with his second of the game and ninth of the season, made possible by Pavelski. San Jose wrapped it up at 6-3 with Logan Couture notching his 28th of the year, fueled by Ryane Clowe and Justin Braun. The three stars went to Mitchell, Marleau, and Pavelski.
Detroit, where the Red Wings hosted the Vancouver Canucks. Roberto Luongo and Jimmy Howard played in front of the nets. Vancouver opened the scoring with Daniel Sedin, his 39th of the season coming in the second period off of Henrik Sedin and Dan Hamhuis. The Canucks extended their lead with another Daniel tally, his second of the game and 40th of the campaign, coming on the power play thanks to Henrik and Ryan Kesler. Detroit pulled within one goal at a 2-1 score with Jiri Hudler on the power play, his ninth of the year powered by Danny Cleary and Nicklas Lidstrom. This would be the final, with Daniel, Luongo (39 for 40 saves), and Howard (31 for 33 saves) getting the three stars.
To Dallas, where the Stars hosted the Anaheim Ducks. Ray Emery and Kari Lehtonen played goaltender. Anaheim opened the scoring in the second period with Lubomir Visnovsky notching his 15th of the season on the power play, with help from Ryan Getzlaf and Cam Fowler. Dallas answered with Alex Goligoski potting his 12th of the year, also a power play goal, powered by Mike Ribeiro and Brad Richards. The Stars took the lead in the third period with a Loui Eriksson tally, his 24th of the season, helped along by Jamie Langenbrunner and Richards. Eleven seconds later, Corey Perry found twine for the Ducks with his 40th of the year, assisted by Bobby Ryan. Dallas retook the lead with Trevor Daley registering his eighth of the season, courtesy of Ribeiro and Steve Ott. With seven seconds left in regulation, Teemu Selanne struck to tie for Anaheim, his timely 23rd of the year made possible by Saku Koivu and Visnovsky. The Ducks defeated the Stars 4-3 in overtime with Fowler recording his eighth of the campaign, helped in by Ryan and Getzlaf. Fowler, Selanne, and Daley gathered the three stars.
Moving into Chicago, where the Blackhawks hosted the Florida Panthers. Tomas Vokoun and Corey Crawford played in the blue paint. Chicago opened the scoring in the second period with Brent Seabrook's fifth of the season on the power play from Duncan Keith and Jonathan Toews. The Blackhawks extended the lead with Viktor Stalberg notching his 12th of the year, with help from Toews and Patrick Kane. Kane kept Chicago going with his 25th of the season, assisted by Keith and Seabrook. The Blackhawks wrapped it up 4-0 with Tomas Kopecky recording his 14th of the year, helped in by Michael Frolik and Marian Hossa. Seabrook, Toews, and Crawford (23 save shutout) were the three stars.
Lastly, the San Jose Sharks hosted the Calgary Flames. Miikka Kiprusoff and Antti Niemi tended the twines. San Jose opened the scoring with the eighth of the season by Torrey Mitchell, helped in by Jamal Mayers and Joe Thornton. Calgary evened the score with Jarome Iginla notching his 34th of the year, thanks to Olli Jokinen and Alex Tanguay on the power play. The Sharks retook the lead with Andrew Desjardins' first of the season, coming off of Ben Eager and Dan Boyle. The Flames tied it again with Cory Sarich potting his fourth of the year, with the help of Ales Kotalik and Robyn Regehr. San Jose made it 4-2 with a pair of Patrick Marleau goals, his 30th and 31st of the season, with Douglas Murray collecting the lone assist on the first and Devin Setoguchi and Joe Pavelski earning the helpers on the latter power play tally. Rene Bourque cut the deficit to a goal for Calgary with his 26th of the year, aided by Tom Kostopolous. Mitchell restored the goal for the Sharks with his second of the game and ninth of the season, made possible by Pavelski. San Jose wrapped it up at 6-3 with Logan Couture notching his 28th of the year, fueled by Ryane Clowe and Justin Braun. The three stars went to Mitchell, Marleau, and Pavelski.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Tuesday Hockey games
There were a total of ten games of hockey for Tuesday. The first of these games was in...
Raleigh, North Carolina, where the Hurricanes hosted the Ottawa Senators. Curtis McElhinney and Cam Ward took to the nets. Ottawa opened the scoring with Colin Greening notching his third of the season, courtesy of Jason Spezza and Bobby Butler. The Senators extended their lead with the second of the year by Marek Svatos, guided in by Erik Condra and David Hale. Twenty-seven seconds later, Carolina answered with a Tuomo Ruutu goal, his 18th of the season getting help from Jussi Jokinen and Jeff Skinner. Twenty-five seconds after that, the game was tied, as Chad LaRose netted his 14th of the year for the Hurricanes, with the lone assist by Joni Pitkanen. LaRose put Carolina ahead in the second period on his 15th of the campaign and second of the game, with helpers provided by Brandon Sutter and Tim Gleason. The Hurricanes extended their lead with Cory Stillman notching his tenth of the season, fueled by Eric Staal and Erik Cole. Ottawa pulled back within a goal at 4-3 with Erik Karlsson potting his 13th of the year, thanks to Spezza and Nick Foligno. This would be the final, with LaRose, Ward (36 for 39 saves), and Cole getting the three stars.
Moving into New York, where the Rangers hosted the Florida Panthers. Tomas Vokoun and Henrik Lundqvist took their spots in front of the cages. New York tallied the game's only goal with the 22nd of the season by Brandon Dubinsky, assisted by Ryan Callahan and Artem Anisimov. Dubinsky, Lundqvist (22 save shutout), and Vokoun (32 for 33 saves) earned the three stars.
Heading to Boston, where the Bruins welcomed the New Jersey Devils to the TD Garden. Martin Brodeur and Tim Thomas stood between the pipes. New Jersey opened the scoring with Ilya Kovalchuk netting his 27th of the year on the power play with help from Mattias Tedenby and Jacob Josefson. Boston replied with Shawn Thornton nailing his ninth of the season courtesy of Dennis Seidenberg and Tomas Kaberle. Zdeno Chara gave the Bruins the lead in the second period with his 13th of the year, a power play goal powered by Milan Lucic and Kaberle. Lucic also tallied his 30th of the season for Boston, with guidance from Patrice Bergeron and Chara. Mark Recchi gave the Bruins a 4-1 victory with his 13th of the year, an empty net goal coming off of Bergeron and Chara. Lucic, Chara, and Thomas (30 for 31 saves) earned the three stars for the game.
Nest up, the Philadelphia Flyers hosted the Washington Capitals. Michal Neuvirth and Sergei Bobrovsky picked up the starts. Nicklas Backstrom put Washington up first with his 18th of the season, assisted by Brooks Laich. Mike Knuble extended the lead for the Capitals with his 20th of the year, with help from Jason Chimera and Marcus Johansson. Washington continued on the power play with Dennis Wideman sinking his tenth of the season, powered by Backstrom and Knuble, prompting Sergei Bobrovsky to be pulled in favor of Brian Boucher. Kris Versteeg got Philadelphia on the board with his 19th of the year, helped along by Matt Carle and Andrej Meszaros. The Flyers pulled within a goal on Claude Giroux's 24th of the season, guided in by Andreas Nodl and Braydon Coburn. Philadelphia tied it on Nodl potting his eleventh of the year, courtesy of Giroux. Danny Briere put the Flyers out in front with his 32nd of the season, made possible by Kimmo Timonen and Ville Leino. Johansson retied it for the Capitals with his 12th of the year, thanks to Knuble and Scott Hannan. The tie lasted into the shootout, where Leino and Matt Hendricks exchanged goals, Backstrom and Briere had offsetting tallies, but Washington clinched victory with Alexander Semin's marker, making it 5-4 Washington over Philadelphia. The three stars went to Semin, Backstrom, and Nodl.
Tampa Bay followed with the Lightning hosting the New York Islanders. Al Montoya and Dwayne Roloson took charge of the creases. Tampa Bay opened with the ninth of the campaign by Nate Thompson, assisted by Teddy Purcell and Vincent Lecavalier. New York replied on the power play with Josh Bailey netting his eleventh of the season, with help from Milan Jurcina. The Islanders took the lead with Kyle Okposo notching his fifth of the year, courtesy of Jurcina and Michael Grabner. New York extended their lead with the fifth of the season by Matt Martin, fueled by Jack Hillen and Zenon Konopka. The Islanders rolled on with Frans Nielsen sinking his eleventh of the year shorthanded and unassisted. The Lightning got a goal back on the power play, with the 14th of the season from Dominic Moore being a product of Sean Bergenheim and Thompson. Grabner ended the scoring with his 31st of the year, an empty net goal going unassisted to bring a 5-2 final. Jurcina, Thompson, and Nielsen got the three stars.
Going to Montreal, where the Canadiens hosted the Buffalo Sabres. Ryan Miller and Carey Price tended the twines. Buffalo opened the scoring with Nathan Gerbe in the second period, his 12th of the season coming off of Tyler Myers and Andrej Sekera. Gerbe wrapped it up 2-0 for the Sabres with his 13th of the year and second of the game into the empty net unassisted. Miller (31 save shutout), Price (22 for 23 saves), and Gerbe picked up the three stars.
Over to Minnesota, where the Wild hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs. James Reimer and Niklas Backstrom were in the creases. Joffrey Lupul put Toronto out front with his tenth of the season, with help from Tyler Bozak and Phil Kessel. The Maple Leafs extended their lead with the 28th of the campaign by Mikhail Grabovski, assisted by Clarke MacArthur and Nikolai Kulemin. Toronto wrapped it up 3-0 with the fourth of the year by Carl Gunnarsson, a power play goal powered by Grabovski and Kulemin. The three stars were awarded to Grabovski, Reimer (29 save shutout), and Kulemin.
Nashville was next on the slate, as the Predators hosted the Edmonton Oilers. Devan Dubnyk and Pekka Rinne put on the goalie masks. Nashville opened the scoring with Martin Erat notching his 15th of the season from Joel Ward and David Legwand. The Predators kept going with Patric Hornqvist on the power play, his 19th of the year gathering steam off of Sergei Kostitsyn and Ryan Suter. Nashville rolled on with Legwand recording his 14th of the season, with help from Suter and Shea Weber. Edmonton got a goal to make it 3-1 with Jordan Eberle on the power play, his 17th of the year powered by Andrew Cogliano and Jim Vandermeer. Legwand, Suter, and Hornqvist earned the three star honors.
Going to Colorado, where the Avalanche hosted the Columbus Blue Jackets. Steve Mason and Brian Elliott played the nets. Columbus opened the scoring with the 32nd of the season for Rick Nash, with helpers provided by Derick Brassard and Kris Russell. Colorado tied it with Ryan O'Reilly sinking his ninth of the year, thanks to Kevin Porter and Matt Hunwick. The Blue Jackets retook the lead with Derek MacKenzie sinking his ninth of the season, a shorthanded goal via Derek Dorsett. R.J. Umberger kept Columbus going with his 22nd of the year, a shorthanded goal as well, with help from Jan Hejda and MacKenzie. The Avalanche tied it with a pair of Matt Duchene goals, his 24th and 25th of the campaign, with Mark Olver and Daniel Winnik getting the first pair of assists and the second pair going to Hunwick and Olver. Umberger gave the lead back to the Blue Jackets with his second of the game and 23rd of the season, guided along by Scottie Upshall and Hejda. With four seconds left in the game, Winnik tied it for Colorado with a power play goal powered by Erik Johnson and Paul Stastny, good as his tenth of the year. The Avalanche took the game in the shootout by a 5-4 margin, on the lone tally from Milan Hejduk. The three stars were given to Duchene, Umberger, and Winnik.
Finally, the Phoenix Coyotes hosted the St. Louis Blues. Jaroslav Halak and Ilya Bryzgalov tended twine. Paul Bissonnette and Ryan Reaves dropped the gloves first, opening the game with some fighting energy. St. Louis replied with Kevin Shattenkirk opening the scoring with his eighth of the season, thanks to Chris Stewart and Ian Cole. Bissonnette had not had enough, taking on Tyson Strachan in the early second period. Phoenix tied the game with with Ray Whitney notching his 15th of the campaign, courtesy of Lauri Korpikoski and Radim Vrbata. Korpikoski gave the Coyotes a 2-1 lead on his 18th of the year, with help from David Schlemko and Vrbata. This was enough for Phoenix to win the game, giving Korpikoski, Bryzgalov (29 for 30 saves), and Vernon Fiddler the three stars.
Raleigh, North Carolina, where the Hurricanes hosted the Ottawa Senators. Curtis McElhinney and Cam Ward took to the nets. Ottawa opened the scoring with Colin Greening notching his third of the season, courtesy of Jason Spezza and Bobby Butler. The Senators extended their lead with the second of the year by Marek Svatos, guided in by Erik Condra and David Hale. Twenty-seven seconds later, Carolina answered with a Tuomo Ruutu goal, his 18th of the season getting help from Jussi Jokinen and Jeff Skinner. Twenty-five seconds after that, the game was tied, as Chad LaRose netted his 14th of the year for the Hurricanes, with the lone assist by Joni Pitkanen. LaRose put Carolina ahead in the second period on his 15th of the campaign and second of the game, with helpers provided by Brandon Sutter and Tim Gleason. The Hurricanes extended their lead with Cory Stillman notching his tenth of the season, fueled by Eric Staal and Erik Cole. Ottawa pulled back within a goal at 4-3 with Erik Karlsson potting his 13th of the year, thanks to Spezza and Nick Foligno. This would be the final, with LaRose, Ward (36 for 39 saves), and Cole getting the three stars.
Moving into New York, where the Rangers hosted the Florida Panthers. Tomas Vokoun and Henrik Lundqvist took their spots in front of the cages. New York tallied the game's only goal with the 22nd of the season by Brandon Dubinsky, assisted by Ryan Callahan and Artem Anisimov. Dubinsky, Lundqvist (22 save shutout), and Vokoun (32 for 33 saves) earned the three stars.
Heading to Boston, where the Bruins welcomed the New Jersey Devils to the TD Garden. Martin Brodeur and Tim Thomas stood between the pipes. New Jersey opened the scoring with Ilya Kovalchuk netting his 27th of the year on the power play with help from Mattias Tedenby and Jacob Josefson. Boston replied with Shawn Thornton nailing his ninth of the season courtesy of Dennis Seidenberg and Tomas Kaberle. Zdeno Chara gave the Bruins the lead in the second period with his 13th of the year, a power play goal powered by Milan Lucic and Kaberle. Lucic also tallied his 30th of the season for Boston, with guidance from Patrice Bergeron and Chara. Mark Recchi gave the Bruins a 4-1 victory with his 13th of the year, an empty net goal coming off of Bergeron and Chara. Lucic, Chara, and Thomas (30 for 31 saves) earned the three stars for the game.
Nest up, the Philadelphia Flyers hosted the Washington Capitals. Michal Neuvirth and Sergei Bobrovsky picked up the starts. Nicklas Backstrom put Washington up first with his 18th of the season, assisted by Brooks Laich. Mike Knuble extended the lead for the Capitals with his 20th of the year, with help from Jason Chimera and Marcus Johansson. Washington continued on the power play with Dennis Wideman sinking his tenth of the season, powered by Backstrom and Knuble, prompting Sergei Bobrovsky to be pulled in favor of Brian Boucher. Kris Versteeg got Philadelphia on the board with his 19th of the year, helped along by Matt Carle and Andrej Meszaros. The Flyers pulled within a goal on Claude Giroux's 24th of the season, guided in by Andreas Nodl and Braydon Coburn. Philadelphia tied it on Nodl potting his eleventh of the year, courtesy of Giroux. Danny Briere put the Flyers out in front with his 32nd of the season, made possible by Kimmo Timonen and Ville Leino. Johansson retied it for the Capitals with his 12th of the year, thanks to Knuble and Scott Hannan. The tie lasted into the shootout, where Leino and Matt Hendricks exchanged goals, Backstrom and Briere had offsetting tallies, but Washington clinched victory with Alexander Semin's marker, making it 5-4 Washington over Philadelphia. The three stars went to Semin, Backstrom, and Nodl.
Tampa Bay followed with the Lightning hosting the New York Islanders. Al Montoya and Dwayne Roloson took charge of the creases. Tampa Bay opened with the ninth of the campaign by Nate Thompson, assisted by Teddy Purcell and Vincent Lecavalier. New York replied on the power play with Josh Bailey netting his eleventh of the season, with help from Milan Jurcina. The Islanders took the lead with Kyle Okposo notching his fifth of the year, courtesy of Jurcina and Michael Grabner. New York extended their lead with the fifth of the season by Matt Martin, fueled by Jack Hillen and Zenon Konopka. The Islanders rolled on with Frans Nielsen sinking his eleventh of the year shorthanded and unassisted. The Lightning got a goal back on the power play, with the 14th of the season from Dominic Moore being a product of Sean Bergenheim and Thompson. Grabner ended the scoring with his 31st of the year, an empty net goal going unassisted to bring a 5-2 final. Jurcina, Thompson, and Nielsen got the three stars.
Going to Montreal, where the Canadiens hosted the Buffalo Sabres. Ryan Miller and Carey Price tended the twines. Buffalo opened the scoring with Nathan Gerbe in the second period, his 12th of the season coming off of Tyler Myers and Andrej Sekera. Gerbe wrapped it up 2-0 for the Sabres with his 13th of the year and second of the game into the empty net unassisted. Miller (31 save shutout), Price (22 for 23 saves), and Gerbe picked up the three stars.
Over to Minnesota, where the Wild hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs. James Reimer and Niklas Backstrom were in the creases. Joffrey Lupul put Toronto out front with his tenth of the season, with help from Tyler Bozak and Phil Kessel. The Maple Leafs extended their lead with the 28th of the campaign by Mikhail Grabovski, assisted by Clarke MacArthur and Nikolai Kulemin. Toronto wrapped it up 3-0 with the fourth of the year by Carl Gunnarsson, a power play goal powered by Grabovski and Kulemin. The three stars were awarded to Grabovski, Reimer (29 save shutout), and Kulemin.
Nashville was next on the slate, as the Predators hosted the Edmonton Oilers. Devan Dubnyk and Pekka Rinne put on the goalie masks. Nashville opened the scoring with Martin Erat notching his 15th of the season from Joel Ward and David Legwand. The Predators kept going with Patric Hornqvist on the power play, his 19th of the year gathering steam off of Sergei Kostitsyn and Ryan Suter. Nashville rolled on with Legwand recording his 14th of the season, with help from Suter and Shea Weber. Edmonton got a goal to make it 3-1 with Jordan Eberle on the power play, his 17th of the year powered by Andrew Cogliano and Jim Vandermeer. Legwand, Suter, and Hornqvist earned the three star honors.
Going to Colorado, where the Avalanche hosted the Columbus Blue Jackets. Steve Mason and Brian Elliott played the nets. Columbus opened the scoring with the 32nd of the season for Rick Nash, with helpers provided by Derick Brassard and Kris Russell. Colorado tied it with Ryan O'Reilly sinking his ninth of the year, thanks to Kevin Porter and Matt Hunwick. The Blue Jackets retook the lead with Derek MacKenzie sinking his ninth of the season, a shorthanded goal via Derek Dorsett. R.J. Umberger kept Columbus going with his 22nd of the year, a shorthanded goal as well, with help from Jan Hejda and MacKenzie. The Avalanche tied it with a pair of Matt Duchene goals, his 24th and 25th of the campaign, with Mark Olver and Daniel Winnik getting the first pair of assists and the second pair going to Hunwick and Olver. Umberger gave the lead back to the Blue Jackets with his second of the game and 23rd of the season, guided along by Scottie Upshall and Hejda. With four seconds left in the game, Winnik tied it for Colorado with a power play goal powered by Erik Johnson and Paul Stastny, good as his tenth of the year. The Avalanche took the game in the shootout by a 5-4 margin, on the lone tally from Milan Hejduk. The three stars were given to Duchene, Umberger, and Winnik.
Finally, the Phoenix Coyotes hosted the St. Louis Blues. Jaroslav Halak and Ilya Bryzgalov tended twine. Paul Bissonnette and Ryan Reaves dropped the gloves first, opening the game with some fighting energy. St. Louis replied with Kevin Shattenkirk opening the scoring with his eighth of the season, thanks to Chris Stewart and Ian Cole. Bissonnette had not had enough, taking on Tyson Strachan in the early second period. Phoenix tied the game with with Ray Whitney notching his 15th of the campaign, courtesy of Lauri Korpikoski and Radim Vrbata. Korpikoski gave the Coyotes a 2-1 lead on his 18th of the year, with help from David Schlemko and Vrbata. This was enough for Phoenix to win the game, giving Korpikoski, Bryzgalov (29 for 30 saves), and Vernon Fiddler the three stars.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Monday's two games
Monday only had a pair of games, beginning with the Detroit Red Wings hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins. Brent Johnson and Jimmy Howard were called on to start. Pittsburgh opened the scoring with Pascal Dupuis netting his 12th of the season, with help from Chris Conner and Jordan Staal. Chris Kunitz extended the Penguins lead with his 22nd of the year, assisted by Dupuis and Kris Letang. Dupuis struck again in the second period with a shorthanded goal for Pittsburgh, his second of the game and 13th of the season fueled by Staal and Ben Lovejoy. Tyler Kennedy made it 4-0 Penguins with his 17th of the year, with help from Kunitz and Craig Adams, prompting Joey MacDonald to replace Jimmy Howard. Detroit got on the board with Henrik Zetterberg notching his 21st of the season off of Danny Cleary and Brad Stuart. Valtteri Filppula also tallied for the Red Wings, his third period goal made possible by Stuart and Tomas Holmstrom for his 16th of the year. Detroit pulled to within a goal on a Cleary tally, his 24th of the season coming with the mad advantage via Niklas Kronwall and Nicklas Lidstrom. The Red Wings tied it with the third of the year from Mike Modano, also on the power play, powered along by Filppula and Lidstrom. The tie lasted into the shootout, where the lone tally by James Neal put Pittsburgh on top 5-4 over Detroit. Neal, Dupuis, and Filppula earned the three stars.
On the West Coast, the Los Angeles Kings hosted the Calgary Flames. Miikka Kiprusoff and Jonathan Quick played between the pipes. Los Angeles tallied first in the third period with Jarret Stoll notching his 19th of the season off of Brad Richardson and Wayne Simmonds. Just over a minute later, Calgary tied the game with Olli Jokinen recording his 16th of the year, thanks to Steve Staios and Cory Sarich. The tie lasted into the shootout, where Alex Tanguay exchanged a goal with Stoll before the Kings topped the Flames 2-1 with Anze Kopitar's marker. The three stars went to Quick (27 for 28 saves), Stoll, and Kiprusoff (26 for 27 saves).
Many more games on Tuesday. I have a lot of work left to do, but it will be much less after the week ends.
On the West Coast, the Los Angeles Kings hosted the Calgary Flames. Miikka Kiprusoff and Jonathan Quick played between the pipes. Los Angeles tallied first in the third period with Jarret Stoll notching his 19th of the season off of Brad Richardson and Wayne Simmonds. Just over a minute later, Calgary tied the game with Olli Jokinen recording his 16th of the year, thanks to Steve Staios and Cory Sarich. The tie lasted into the shootout, where Alex Tanguay exchanged a goal with Stoll before the Kings topped the Flames 2-1 with Anze Kopitar's marker. The three stars went to Quick (27 for 28 saves), Stoll, and Kiprusoff (26 for 27 saves).
Many more games on Tuesday. I have a lot of work left to do, but it will be much less after the week ends.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Sunday Hockey games
Sunday brought a total of six games, with the NBC game of the week opening the series. Hosting it was the...
Pittsburgh Penguins with the New York Rangers visiting. Henrik Lundqvist and Marc-Andre Fleury took to the creases. New York opened the scoring with Artem Anisimov netting his 18th of the season, with help from Ryan Callahan and Brandon Dubinsky. Pittsburgh answered with Jordan Staal notching his tenth of the year, James Neal and Ben Lovejoy provided the helpers. The scoring resumed in the third period with the Penguins potting a shorthanded goal from Chris Kunitz, his 21st of the campaign coming unassisted. Marian Gaborik tied it again for the Rangers with a power play goal, his 22nd of the season guided in by Dubinsky and Bryan McCabe. Eleven seconds later, New York took the lead with another power play goal, the 23rd of the year by Callahan powered by Erik Christensen and Mats Zuccarello. The Rangers continued with Derek Stepan registering his 19th of the season courtesy of Ryan McDonagh and Anisimov. Thirty-five seconds later, New York solidified their 5-2 victory with Dubinsky finding the empty twine with his 21st of the year, coming via Callahan. Callahan, Lundqvist (38 for 40 saves), and Dubinsky gathered the three stars.
Buffalo hosted the next game, with the Sabres welcoming the Nashville Predators to HSBC Arena. Andres Lindback and Ryan Miller were called in to guard the cages. Nashville entered the scoring with Blake Geoffrion notching his fourth of the season, assisted by Colin Wilson and J.P. Dumont. Buffalo replied in the second period with the eleventh of the year by Nathan Gerbe, courtesy of Paul Gaustad and Mark Mancari. The Sabres took the lead with Tim Connolly's eleventh of the season, guided in by Thomas Vanek and Tyler Myers. Buffalo extended their lead with the 19th of the year by Tyler Ennis, a power play goal powered by Drew Stafford and the goalie Ryan Miller. In a span of one minute and four seconds, Geoffrion tied the game for the Predators with his fifth and sixth goals of the season, with assists provided by Cody Franson and Sergei Kostitsyn on the second goal, as the first went unassisted. Nashville won the game 4-3 in the overtime that followed with a Martin Erat tally, his 14th of the year coming via Ryan Suter and David Legwand. Geoffrion, Gerbe, and Erat collected the three stars.
The Columbus Blue Jackets hosted the New Jersey Devils as well. Martin Brodeur and Steve Mason played between the pipes. New Jersey took a 2-0 lead with David Clarkson's tallies in the first and second period, his 11th and 12th of the season getting assistance from Jacob Josefson, Mattias Tedenby (twice), and Andy Greene. Nick Palmieri tacked on his seventh of the year for the Devils with no assistance. This would be the final, with Clarkson, Brodeur (13 save shutout), and Palmieri gaining the three stars.
Into Minnesota, where the Wild hosted the Montreal Canadiens. Alex Auld and Jose Theodore were given the starting nods. Montreal opened the scoring with the first of the season by Ryan White, with help from Benoit Pouliot and P.K. Subban. A fight later broke out between Clayton Stoner and White. The Canadiens quickly replied with an Andrei Kostitsyn tally, his 19th of the year coming off of Pouliot. Subban kept Montreal going with his ninth of the season, with David Desharnais and Pouliot collecting the assists, the latter finishing his sock trick. James Wisniewski made it 4-0 Canadiens with his tenth of the year, fueled by Michael Cammalleri and the goalie Alex Auld. Montreal rolled on with Travis Moen notching his sixth of the season, with helpers provided by Scott Gomez and Roman Hamrlik, causing Theodore to be yanked for Niklas Backstrom. Subban completed his hat trick with a second and third period goal, his tenth and eleventh of the year, the first being on the power play via Wisniewski and Cammalleri, and the latter being at even strength from White and Desharnais, with the first of those two finishing a Gordie Howe hat trick. Mikko Koivu saved Minnesota from a shutout with his 17th of the season, coming on a penalty shot. Montreal wrapped it up by a final of 8-1 with the second of the year by Tom Pyatt, with help from Brian Gionta and Desharnais, the latter wrapping up a sock trick. The three stars went to Subban, White, and Pouliot, with props to Desharnais for the game's fourth "trick."
Down to Anaheim, where the Ducks hosted the Calgary Flames. Miikka Kiprusoff and Dan Ellis made the starts. Anaheim opened the scoring with Ryan Getzlaf notching his 18th of the season thanks to Corey Perry. Perry extended the Ducks lead with his 38th of the year, a power play goal fueled by Teemu Selanne and Getzlaf. Francois Beauchemin made it 3-0 Anaheim with his fourth of the season, assisted by Saku Koivu and Selanne, chasing Miikka Kiprusoff in favor of Henrik Karlsson. Calgary got on the board with a Tom Kostopolous goal, his seventh of the year guided in by Matt Stajan and Tim Jackman. The Flames pulled within a goal on Rene Bourque's 25th of the season, assisted by Curtis Glencross and Kostopolous. Kostopolous tied it for Calgary with his second of the game and eighth of the year, helped along by Steve Staios and Glencross. The Flames took the lead with a power play goal by Jarome Iginla, his 33rd of the season made possible by Alex Tanguay and Mark Giordano. The Ducks tied it with Selanne notching his 22nd of the year on the power play, courtesy of Getzlaf and Lubomir Visnovsky. Perry secured the 5-4 victory for Anaheim over Calgary in overtime with his second of the game and 39th of the campaign, helped in by Toni Lydman and Getzlaf, the latter claiming a sock trick. Perry, Selanne, and Kostopolous gained the three stars.
Finally, the Phoenix Coyotes hosted the Chicago Blackhawks. Corey Crawford and Ilya Bryzgalov tended the twines. Duncan Keith put Chicago ahead first with his sixth of the season, assisted by Nick Leddy and Marian Hossa on the power play. Phoenix tied it in the second period with the 13th of the campaign by Eric Belanger, guided in by Michal Rozsival and Mikkel Boedker. The Blackhawks retook the lead 2-1 with the fourth of the year by Chris Campoli, his power play tally made possible by Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. This was the final, with Bryzgalov (26 for 28 saves), Crawford (22 for 23 saves), and Keith gathering in the three stars.
Two games for Monday, and a lot of extra work around that.
Pittsburgh Penguins with the New York Rangers visiting. Henrik Lundqvist and Marc-Andre Fleury took to the creases. New York opened the scoring with Artem Anisimov netting his 18th of the season, with help from Ryan Callahan and Brandon Dubinsky. Pittsburgh answered with Jordan Staal notching his tenth of the year, James Neal and Ben Lovejoy provided the helpers. The scoring resumed in the third period with the Penguins potting a shorthanded goal from Chris Kunitz, his 21st of the campaign coming unassisted. Marian Gaborik tied it again for the Rangers with a power play goal, his 22nd of the season guided in by Dubinsky and Bryan McCabe. Eleven seconds later, New York took the lead with another power play goal, the 23rd of the year by Callahan powered by Erik Christensen and Mats Zuccarello. The Rangers continued with Derek Stepan registering his 19th of the season courtesy of Ryan McDonagh and Anisimov. Thirty-five seconds later, New York solidified their 5-2 victory with Dubinsky finding the empty twine with his 21st of the year, coming via Callahan. Callahan, Lundqvist (38 for 40 saves), and Dubinsky gathered the three stars.
Buffalo hosted the next game, with the Sabres welcoming the Nashville Predators to HSBC Arena. Andres Lindback and Ryan Miller were called in to guard the cages. Nashville entered the scoring with Blake Geoffrion notching his fourth of the season, assisted by Colin Wilson and J.P. Dumont. Buffalo replied in the second period with the eleventh of the year by Nathan Gerbe, courtesy of Paul Gaustad and Mark Mancari. The Sabres took the lead with Tim Connolly's eleventh of the season, guided in by Thomas Vanek and Tyler Myers. Buffalo extended their lead with the 19th of the year by Tyler Ennis, a power play goal powered by Drew Stafford and the goalie Ryan Miller. In a span of one minute and four seconds, Geoffrion tied the game for the Predators with his fifth and sixth goals of the season, with assists provided by Cody Franson and Sergei Kostitsyn on the second goal, as the first went unassisted. Nashville won the game 4-3 in the overtime that followed with a Martin Erat tally, his 14th of the year coming via Ryan Suter and David Legwand. Geoffrion, Gerbe, and Erat collected the three stars.
The Columbus Blue Jackets hosted the New Jersey Devils as well. Martin Brodeur and Steve Mason played between the pipes. New Jersey took a 2-0 lead with David Clarkson's tallies in the first and second period, his 11th and 12th of the season getting assistance from Jacob Josefson, Mattias Tedenby (twice), and Andy Greene. Nick Palmieri tacked on his seventh of the year for the Devils with no assistance. This would be the final, with Clarkson, Brodeur (13 save shutout), and Palmieri gaining the three stars.
Into Minnesota, where the Wild hosted the Montreal Canadiens. Alex Auld and Jose Theodore were given the starting nods. Montreal opened the scoring with the first of the season by Ryan White, with help from Benoit Pouliot and P.K. Subban. A fight later broke out between Clayton Stoner and White. The Canadiens quickly replied with an Andrei Kostitsyn tally, his 19th of the year coming off of Pouliot. Subban kept Montreal going with his ninth of the season, with David Desharnais and Pouliot collecting the assists, the latter finishing his sock trick. James Wisniewski made it 4-0 Canadiens with his tenth of the year, fueled by Michael Cammalleri and the goalie Alex Auld. Montreal rolled on with Travis Moen notching his sixth of the season, with helpers provided by Scott Gomez and Roman Hamrlik, causing Theodore to be yanked for Niklas Backstrom. Subban completed his hat trick with a second and third period goal, his tenth and eleventh of the year, the first being on the power play via Wisniewski and Cammalleri, and the latter being at even strength from White and Desharnais, with the first of those two finishing a Gordie Howe hat trick. Mikko Koivu saved Minnesota from a shutout with his 17th of the season, coming on a penalty shot. Montreal wrapped it up by a final of 8-1 with the second of the year by Tom Pyatt, with help from Brian Gionta and Desharnais, the latter wrapping up a sock trick. The three stars went to Subban, White, and Pouliot, with props to Desharnais for the game's fourth "trick."
Down to Anaheim, where the Ducks hosted the Calgary Flames. Miikka Kiprusoff and Dan Ellis made the starts. Anaheim opened the scoring with Ryan Getzlaf notching his 18th of the season thanks to Corey Perry. Perry extended the Ducks lead with his 38th of the year, a power play goal fueled by Teemu Selanne and Getzlaf. Francois Beauchemin made it 3-0 Anaheim with his fourth of the season, assisted by Saku Koivu and Selanne, chasing Miikka Kiprusoff in favor of Henrik Karlsson. Calgary got on the board with a Tom Kostopolous goal, his seventh of the year guided in by Matt Stajan and Tim Jackman. The Flames pulled within a goal on Rene Bourque's 25th of the season, assisted by Curtis Glencross and Kostopolous. Kostopolous tied it for Calgary with his second of the game and eighth of the year, helped along by Steve Staios and Glencross. The Flames took the lead with a power play goal by Jarome Iginla, his 33rd of the season made possible by Alex Tanguay and Mark Giordano. The Ducks tied it with Selanne notching his 22nd of the year on the power play, courtesy of Getzlaf and Lubomir Visnovsky. Perry secured the 5-4 victory for Anaheim over Calgary in overtime with his second of the game and 39th of the campaign, helped in by Toni Lydman and Getzlaf, the latter claiming a sock trick. Perry, Selanne, and Kostopolous gained the three stars.
Finally, the Phoenix Coyotes hosted the Chicago Blackhawks. Corey Crawford and Ilya Bryzgalov tended the twines. Duncan Keith put Chicago ahead first with his sixth of the season, assisted by Nick Leddy and Marian Hossa on the power play. Phoenix tied it in the second period with the 13th of the campaign by Eric Belanger, guided in by Michal Rozsival and Mikkel Boedker. The Blackhawks retook the lead 2-1 with the fourth of the year by Chris Campoli, his power play tally made possible by Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. This was the final, with Bryzgalov (26 for 28 saves), Crawford (22 for 23 saves), and Keith gathering in the three stars.
Two games for Monday, and a lot of extra work around that.
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