Eleven games on today, beginning in...
DC, as the Washington Capitals host the Boston Bruins. Chad Johnson and Braden Holtby are given the starting nods. Boston got going in the second period with a Jarome Iginla goal, his twenty-ninth of the season, fueled by Carl Soderberg and David Krejci. The Bruins added on with a Soderberg power play goal, his fifteenth of the year, powered by Patrice Bergeron and Loui Eriksson. Boston extended the lead as Iginla scored his second of the game and thirtieth of the season, thanks to Milan Lucic and Krejci. Washington got on the board with a Jason Chimera goal, his fourteenth of the year, via Mike Green and Joel Ward. The Bruins shot back in the third period with a Bergeron goal, his twenty-sixth of the season, with assists provided by Soderberg and Dougie Hamilton. The Capitals got one back on an Evgeny Kuznetsov goal, his second of the year, going in unassisted. The final was 4-2, an the three stars were Iginla, Soderberg, and Bergeron, while Krejci gets an honorable mention.
Out west, the Colorado Avalanche welcome the San Jose Sharks. Alex Stalock and Semyon Varlamov draw the starts. Colorado began in the first period with a Paul Stastny goal, his twenty-first of the season, assisted by Gabriel Landeskog and Nathan MacKinnon. San Jose tied it with a Joe Pavelski power play goal, his thirty-eighth of the year, powered by Joe Thornton and Brent Burns. The Avalanche retook the lead on a Cody McLeod shorthanded goal, his fifth of the season, set up by Nick Holden and John Mitchell. Colorado added on in the second period with a Mitchell goal, his tenth of the year, a power play goal coming off of Jamie McGinn and Holden. The Sharks got one back as Dan Boyle scored his tenth of the season, thanks to James Sheppard. This was as close as it got, with the final being 3-2. The three stars were awarded to Varlamov (47 for 49 in saves), Mitchell, and Holden.
Back east, the Buffalo Sabres bring in the Tampa Bay Lightning. Ben Bishop faces a lesser foe in Matt Hackett. Buffalo started in the first period with a Matt D'Agostini goal, his fifth of the season, assisted by Rasmus Ristolainen and Johan Larsson. The Sabres added on with a Cody Hodgson goal, his seventeenth of the year, with a lone assist by Christian Ehrhoff. Tampa Bay got on the board with an Alex Killorn goal, his sixteenth of the season, helped along by Nikita Kucherov and Matthew Carle. The Lightning tied it on a Steven Stamkos goal, his twenty-second of the year, via J.T. Brown and Radko Gudas. Buffalo took the lead back in the third period with a Cory Conacher goal, his seventh of the season, an unassisted goal. Tampa Bay tied it on a Ryan Callahan power play goal, his sixteenth of the year, powered by Teddy Purcell and Stamkos. The Lightning won 4-3 in overtime on a power play goal by Stamkos, his twenty-third of the campaign, thanks to Valtteri Filppula and Purcell. Stamkos, Purcell, and Callahan received the three stars.
Crossing into Toronto, with the Maple Leafs host the Detroit Red Wings. Jimmy Howard and Jonathan Bernier protect the nets. Toronto led off in the first period with a Cody Franson goal, his fifth of the season, courtesy of Jake Gardiner and Jay McClement. Detroit tied it in the second period on a shorthanded goal by Darren Helm, his eighth of the year, set up by Joakim Andersson. The Red Wings took the lead with a Gustav Nyquist goal, his twenty-sixth of the season, coming off of Johan Franzen and Jakub Kindl. Detroit added on as Helm scored his second of the game and ninth of the year, via Kindl and Daniel Alfredsson. The Maple Leafs got one back on a Joffrey Lupul goal, his twenty-second of the season, passed from Morgan Rielly and Gardiner. The Red Wings responded in the third period on a Helm goal, finishing his hat trick with his tenth of the year, made possible by Danny DeKeyser. This produced the 4-2 final, with Helm, Kindl, and Gardiner getting the three stars.
Way south to Florida, as the Panthers welcome the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and Dan Ellis draw the starts. Montreal was first to score in the first period with a Thomas Vanek goal, his twenty-seventh of the season, courtesy of P.K. Subban. The Canadiens added on with a Max Pacioretty goal, his thirty-fourth of the year, via Alexei Emelin and Daniel Briere. Montreal extended the lead in the second period as Pacioretty scored his second of the game and thirty-fifth of the season, thanks to David Desharnais and Vanek. Florida got on the board with a Brad Boyes goal, his nineteenth of the year, passed from Sean Bergenheim and Brian Campbell. The Canadiens shot back in the third period with a Desharnais goal, his fifteenth of the campaign, assisted by Pacioretty and Mike Weaver. This stood for a 4-1 win, with the three stars going to Pacioretty, Vanek, and Desharnais.
Backtracking to New York, as the Islanders bring in the New Jersey Devils. Cory Schneider and Anders Nilsson are in the blue paint. New York dented the scoreboard in the second period with a Frans Nielsen goal, his twenty-third of the season, made possible by Josh Bailey. New Jersey tied it on an Adam Henrique goal, his twenty-fifth of the year, via Damien Brunner and Patrik Elias. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Nielsen and Brock Nelson scored to seal a 2-1 Islanders win. The three stars were Nielsen, Nilsson (23 for 24 in saves), and Schneider (19 for 20 in saves).
Back south, the Carolina Hurricanes host the Columbus Blue Jackets. Curtis McElhinney and Anton Khudobin. Carolina struck first in the second period with a Jeff Skinner goal, his nineteenth of the season, passed from Elias Lindholm and Riley Nash. Columbus tied it on a Matt Calvert goal, his eighth of the year, with an unassisted goal. The Hurrcianes retook the lead in the third period as Andrei Loktionov scored his seventh of the season, a power play goal powered by Nash and Jay Harrison. The Blue Jackets tied it again with an Artem Anisimov goal, his twentieth of the year, guided in by Nathan Horton and Nick Foligno. Columbus won 3-2 in overtime on a power play goal by Ryan Johansen goal, his thirtieth of the campaign, coming off of Anisimov and James Wisniewski. Johansen, Anisimov, and Nash.
Northwest to St. Louis, where the Blues welcome the Dallas Stars. Kari Lehtonen and Ryan Miller guard the cages. Dallas opened in the first period with a Colton Sceviour goal, his sixth of the season, with a lone assist by Shawn Horcoff. The Stars added on in the second period with a Sceviour goal, his second of the game and seventh of the year, passed from Horcoff and Vernon Fiddler. St. Louis got on the board with an Alexander Steen goal, his thirty-second of the season, a power play goal powered by Alex Pietrangelo and Kevin Shattenkirk. Dallas shot back as Cody Eakin scored his sixteenth of the year, thanks to Jordie Benn and Antoine Roussel. The Blues pulled back in the third period on a Steen power play goal, his second of the game and thirty-third of the season, made possible by David Backes and Shattenkirk. The Stars finished it at 4-2 with a Roussel goal, his thirteenth of the year, helped along by Jordie Benn and Eakin. The three stars were given to Sceviour, Steen, and Eakin, while Roussel, Jordie Benn, Horcoff, and Shattenkirk get the honorable mentions.
Southwest to Phoenix, as the Coyotes bring in the Minnesota Wild. Ilya Bryzgalov and Thomas Greiss are set to start. Phoenix began in the first period with a power play goal by Mikkel Boedker, his nineteenth of the season, powered by Shane Doan and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Minnesota tied it on a Zach Parise goal, his twenty-sixth of the year, via Mikko Koivu. The Wild took the lead with a Jared Spurgeon goal, his fifth of the season, passed from Jason Pominville and Mikael Granlund. Minnesota added on as Parise scored his second of the game and twenty-seventh of the year, with a lone assist by Koivu. The three stars belonged to Parise, Bryzgalov (23 for 24 in saves), and Koivu.
Out in Los Angeles, the Kings host the Winnipeg Jets. Ondrej Pavelec returns from injury to face Jonathan Quick in goal. Los Angeles led off with a Trevor Lewis goal, his sixth of the season, passed from Kyle Clifford and Jake Muzzin. The Kings added on as Anze Kopitar potted his twenty-third of the year, via Marian Gaborik. Los Angeles extended the lead with another Kopitar goal, his second of the game and twenty-fourth of the season, guided in by Gaborik and Willie Mitchell. Pavelec was pulled for Al Montoya in the second period. Winnipeg got on the board with a Matt Halischuk goal in the third period, his fourth of the year, assisted by Evander Kane and Eric O'Dell. The Kings shot back with a Tyler Toffoli goal, his twelfth of the season, coming off of Tanner Pearson and Mitchell. The Jets got one back with a Blake Wheeler power play goal, his twenty-sixth of the year, powered by Bryan Little and Dustin Byfuglien. This only made it 4-2, the final, with the three stars being Kopitar, Gaborik, and Mitchell.
Finally, in Vancouver, the Canucks host the Anaheim Ducks. Frederik Andersen and Eddie Lack are the inexperienced goalies. Anaheim started with a Luca Sbisa goal in the first period, via Sami Vatanen and Pat Maroon. The Ducks added on with a Matt Beleskey goal, his sixth of the season, made possible by Richard Rakell and Daniel Winnik. Vancouver got on the board with a Brad Richardson goal, his tenth of the year, coming off of Ryan Stanton and Zack Kassian. Anaheim shot back in the second period as Saku Koivu scored his tenth of the season, thanks to Winnik and Andrew Cogliano. The Ducks extended the lead in the third period on a Corey Perry goal, his thirty-eighth of the year, passed from Koivu and Cogliano. Anaheim finished it at 5-1 with a Mathieu Perreault power play goal, his eighteenth of the campaign, powered by Perry and Ryan Getzlaf. The three stars went to Koivu, Perry, and Winnik, while Cogliano gets an honorable mention.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
DC, as the Washington Capitals host the Boston Bruins. Chad Johnson and Braden Holtby are given the starting nods. Boston got going in the second period with a Jarome Iginla goal, his twenty-ninth of the season, fueled by Carl Soderberg and David Krejci. The Bruins added on with a Soderberg power play goal, his fifteenth of the year, powered by Patrice Bergeron and Loui Eriksson. Boston extended the lead as Iginla scored his second of the game and thirtieth of the season, thanks to Milan Lucic and Krejci. Washington got on the board with a Jason Chimera goal, his fourteenth of the year, via Mike Green and Joel Ward. The Bruins shot back in the third period with a Bergeron goal, his twenty-sixth of the season, with assists provided by Soderberg and Dougie Hamilton. The Capitals got one back on an Evgeny Kuznetsov goal, his second of the year, going in unassisted. The final was 4-2, an the three stars were Iginla, Soderberg, and Bergeron, while Krejci gets an honorable mention.
Out west, the Colorado Avalanche welcome the San Jose Sharks. Alex Stalock and Semyon Varlamov draw the starts. Colorado began in the first period with a Paul Stastny goal, his twenty-first of the season, assisted by Gabriel Landeskog and Nathan MacKinnon. San Jose tied it with a Joe Pavelski power play goal, his thirty-eighth of the year, powered by Joe Thornton and Brent Burns. The Avalanche retook the lead on a Cody McLeod shorthanded goal, his fifth of the season, set up by Nick Holden and John Mitchell. Colorado added on in the second period with a Mitchell goal, his tenth of the year, a power play goal coming off of Jamie McGinn and Holden. The Sharks got one back as Dan Boyle scored his tenth of the season, thanks to James Sheppard. This was as close as it got, with the final being 3-2. The three stars were awarded to Varlamov (47 for 49 in saves), Mitchell, and Holden.
Back east, the Buffalo Sabres bring in the Tampa Bay Lightning. Ben Bishop faces a lesser foe in Matt Hackett. Buffalo started in the first period with a Matt D'Agostini goal, his fifth of the season, assisted by Rasmus Ristolainen and Johan Larsson. The Sabres added on with a Cody Hodgson goal, his seventeenth of the year, with a lone assist by Christian Ehrhoff. Tampa Bay got on the board with an Alex Killorn goal, his sixteenth of the season, helped along by Nikita Kucherov and Matthew Carle. The Lightning tied it on a Steven Stamkos goal, his twenty-second of the year, via J.T. Brown and Radko Gudas. Buffalo took the lead back in the third period with a Cory Conacher goal, his seventh of the season, an unassisted goal. Tampa Bay tied it on a Ryan Callahan power play goal, his sixteenth of the year, powered by Teddy Purcell and Stamkos. The Lightning won 4-3 in overtime on a power play goal by Stamkos, his twenty-third of the campaign, thanks to Valtteri Filppula and Purcell. Stamkos, Purcell, and Callahan received the three stars.
Crossing into Toronto, with the Maple Leafs host the Detroit Red Wings. Jimmy Howard and Jonathan Bernier protect the nets. Toronto led off in the first period with a Cody Franson goal, his fifth of the season, courtesy of Jake Gardiner and Jay McClement. Detroit tied it in the second period on a shorthanded goal by Darren Helm, his eighth of the year, set up by Joakim Andersson. The Red Wings took the lead with a Gustav Nyquist goal, his twenty-sixth of the season, coming off of Johan Franzen and Jakub Kindl. Detroit added on as Helm scored his second of the game and ninth of the year, via Kindl and Daniel Alfredsson. The Maple Leafs got one back on a Joffrey Lupul goal, his twenty-second of the season, passed from Morgan Rielly and Gardiner. The Red Wings responded in the third period on a Helm goal, finishing his hat trick with his tenth of the year, made possible by Danny DeKeyser. This produced the 4-2 final, with Helm, Kindl, and Gardiner getting the three stars.
Way south to Florida, as the Panthers welcome the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and Dan Ellis draw the starts. Montreal was first to score in the first period with a Thomas Vanek goal, his twenty-seventh of the season, courtesy of P.K. Subban. The Canadiens added on with a Max Pacioretty goal, his thirty-fourth of the year, via Alexei Emelin and Daniel Briere. Montreal extended the lead in the second period as Pacioretty scored his second of the game and thirty-fifth of the season, thanks to David Desharnais and Vanek. Florida got on the board with a Brad Boyes goal, his nineteenth of the year, passed from Sean Bergenheim and Brian Campbell. The Canadiens shot back in the third period with a Desharnais goal, his fifteenth of the campaign, assisted by Pacioretty and Mike Weaver. This stood for a 4-1 win, with the three stars going to Pacioretty, Vanek, and Desharnais.
Backtracking to New York, as the Islanders bring in the New Jersey Devils. Cory Schneider and Anders Nilsson are in the blue paint. New York dented the scoreboard in the second period with a Frans Nielsen goal, his twenty-third of the season, made possible by Josh Bailey. New Jersey tied it on an Adam Henrique goal, his twenty-fifth of the year, via Damien Brunner and Patrik Elias. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Nielsen and Brock Nelson scored to seal a 2-1 Islanders win. The three stars were Nielsen, Nilsson (23 for 24 in saves), and Schneider (19 for 20 in saves).
Back south, the Carolina Hurricanes host the Columbus Blue Jackets. Curtis McElhinney and Anton Khudobin. Carolina struck first in the second period with a Jeff Skinner goal, his nineteenth of the season, passed from Elias Lindholm and Riley Nash. Columbus tied it on a Matt Calvert goal, his eighth of the year, with an unassisted goal. The Hurrcianes retook the lead in the third period as Andrei Loktionov scored his seventh of the season, a power play goal powered by Nash and Jay Harrison. The Blue Jackets tied it again with an Artem Anisimov goal, his twentieth of the year, guided in by Nathan Horton and Nick Foligno. Columbus won 3-2 in overtime on a power play goal by Ryan Johansen goal, his thirtieth of the campaign, coming off of Anisimov and James Wisniewski. Johansen, Anisimov, and Nash.
Northwest to St. Louis, where the Blues welcome the Dallas Stars. Kari Lehtonen and Ryan Miller guard the cages. Dallas opened in the first period with a Colton Sceviour goal, his sixth of the season, with a lone assist by Shawn Horcoff. The Stars added on in the second period with a Sceviour goal, his second of the game and seventh of the year, passed from Horcoff and Vernon Fiddler. St. Louis got on the board with an Alexander Steen goal, his thirty-second of the season, a power play goal powered by Alex Pietrangelo and Kevin Shattenkirk. Dallas shot back as Cody Eakin scored his sixteenth of the year, thanks to Jordie Benn and Antoine Roussel. The Blues pulled back in the third period on a Steen power play goal, his second of the game and thirty-third of the season, made possible by David Backes and Shattenkirk. The Stars finished it at 4-2 with a Roussel goal, his thirteenth of the year, helped along by Jordie Benn and Eakin. The three stars were given to Sceviour, Steen, and Eakin, while Roussel, Jordie Benn, Horcoff, and Shattenkirk get the honorable mentions.
Southwest to Phoenix, as the Coyotes bring in the Minnesota Wild. Ilya Bryzgalov and Thomas Greiss are set to start. Phoenix began in the first period with a power play goal by Mikkel Boedker, his nineteenth of the season, powered by Shane Doan and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Minnesota tied it on a Zach Parise goal, his twenty-sixth of the year, via Mikko Koivu. The Wild took the lead with a Jared Spurgeon goal, his fifth of the season, passed from Jason Pominville and Mikael Granlund. Minnesota added on as Parise scored his second of the game and twenty-seventh of the year, with a lone assist by Koivu. The three stars belonged to Parise, Bryzgalov (23 for 24 in saves), and Koivu.
Out in Los Angeles, the Kings host the Winnipeg Jets. Ondrej Pavelec returns from injury to face Jonathan Quick in goal. Los Angeles led off with a Trevor Lewis goal, his sixth of the season, passed from Kyle Clifford and Jake Muzzin. The Kings added on as Anze Kopitar potted his twenty-third of the year, via Marian Gaborik. Los Angeles extended the lead with another Kopitar goal, his second of the game and twenty-fourth of the season, guided in by Gaborik and Willie Mitchell. Pavelec was pulled for Al Montoya in the second period. Winnipeg got on the board with a Matt Halischuk goal in the third period, his fourth of the year, assisted by Evander Kane and Eric O'Dell. The Kings shot back with a Tyler Toffoli goal, his twelfth of the season, coming off of Tanner Pearson and Mitchell. The Jets got one back with a Blake Wheeler power play goal, his twenty-sixth of the year, powered by Bryan Little and Dustin Byfuglien. This only made it 4-2, the final, with the three stars being Kopitar, Gaborik, and Mitchell.
Finally, in Vancouver, the Canucks host the Anaheim Ducks. Frederik Andersen and Eddie Lack are the inexperienced goalies. Anaheim started with a Luca Sbisa goal in the first period, via Sami Vatanen and Pat Maroon. The Ducks added on with a Matt Beleskey goal, his sixth of the season, made possible by Richard Rakell and Daniel Winnik. Vancouver got on the board with a Brad Richardson goal, his tenth of the year, coming off of Ryan Stanton and Zack Kassian. Anaheim shot back in the second period as Saku Koivu scored his tenth of the season, thanks to Winnik and Andrew Cogliano. The Ducks extended the lead in the third period on a Corey Perry goal, his thirty-eighth of the year, passed from Koivu and Cogliano. Anaheim finished it at 5-1 with a Mathieu Perreault power play goal, his eighteenth of the campaign, powered by Perry and Ryan Getzlaf. The three stars went to Koivu, Perry, and Winnik, while Cogliano gets an honorable mention.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
