We've got 12 games on to close out 2022. The action begins in...
Boston, with the Bruins hosting the Buffalo Sabres. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Jeremy Swayman are set to start in goal. Boston began in the first period with a David Pastrnak goal, his twenty-fifth of the season, assisted by David Krejci and Pavel Zacha. Buffalo tied it on a Tage Thompson goal, his twenty-seventh of the year, courtesy of Jeff Skinner and Alex Tuch. The Sabres took the lead in the second period with a Tuch goal, his sixteenth of the season, passed from Ilya Lyubushkin. The Bruins retied it in the third period with a Patrice Bergeron power play goal, his fifteenth of the year, powered by Brad Marchand and Jake DeBrusk. Boston pulled ahead with a Marchand goal, his tenth of the season, coming off of Pastrnak and Krejci. Buffalo tied it again with a Dylan Cozens goal, his twelfth of the year, made possible by Tuch and Rasmus Dahlin. The Sabres won 4-3 in overtime with a Tuch goal, his seventeenth of the campaign, helped along by Cozens. The three stars were Tuch, Cozens, and Marchand, while Pastrnak and Krejci get the honorable mentions.
Over in Columbus, the Blue Jackets welcome the Chicago Blackhawks. Alex Stalock and Joonas Korpisalo are the goalies. Chicago led off in the first period with an Andreas Athanasiou goal, his eighth of the season, via Isaak Phillips and Sam Lafferty. Columbus tied it on an Emil Bemstrom power play goal, his fourth of the year, powered by Johnny Gaudreau and Adam Boqvist. The Blue Jackets took the lead in the second period with a shorthanded Gustav Nyquist goal, his seventh of the season, set up by Jack Roslovic. Columbus added on with a Kirill Marchenko goal, his fifth of the year, guided in by Gaudreau and Gavin Bayreuther. The Blue Jackets iced it at 4-1 with a Nyquist shorthanded empty net goal, his second of the game and eighth of the campaign, with a lone assist by Sean Kuraly. The three stars belonged to Nyquist, Gaudreau, and Marchenko.
Further west, the Vegas Golden Knights bring in the Nashville Predators. Kevin Lankinen and Logan Thompson are in the creases. Nashville opened in the first period with a Filip Forsberg goal, his twelfth of the season, going in unassisted. The Predators added on with a Jeremy Lauzon goal, via Mikael Granlund and Dante Fabbro. Vegas got on the board with a Keegan Kolesar goal, his fourth of the year, made possible by Daniil Miromanov and Brayden McNabb. The Golden Knights tied it on a Michael Amadio goal, his fifth of the season, helped along by Mark Stone and Chandler Stephenson. Vegas took the lead with a Reilly Smith goal, his eighteenth of the year, fueled by Kolesar and William Karlsson. The Golden Knights extended the lead as Stephenson scored his tenth of the season, thanks to Stone. Nashville got one back with a Forsberg goal, his second of the game and thirteenth of the year, guided in by Ryan McDonagh and Colton Sissons. The Predators tied it with a Forsberg power play goal, completing his hat trick on his fourteenth of the season, powered by Matt Duchene and Roman Josi. Vegas won 5-4 in overtime with a Nicolas Hague goal, his second of the year, assisted by Stone and Stephenson. The three stars were Stephenson, Stone, and Forsberg, while Kolesar gets an honorable mention.
Out in Los Angeles, the Kings host the Philadelphia Flyers. Samuel Ersson is mismatched with Jonathan Quick in goal. Los Angeles struck first in the first period with an Adrian Kempe power play goal, his fourteenth of the season, powered by Drew Doughty and Kevin Fiala. Philadelphia tied it on a Scott Laughton power play goal, his eighth of the year, with assists provided by Cam York and Owen Tippett. The Kings took the lead back with a Phillip Danault goal, his twelfth of the season, passed from Viktor Arvidsson. The Flyers tied it in the second period with a Tippett goal, his twelfth of the year, coming off of James van Riemsdyk and Tony DeAngelo. Philadelphia pulled ahead in the third period with a Noah Cates shorthanded goal, his fourth of the season, going in unassisted. The Flyers iced it at 4-2 with a Travis Konecny empty net goal, his eighteenth of the year, an unassisted goal. The three stars were Tippett, Cates, and Ersson (27 for 29 in saves).
Back east, the Washington Capitals welcome the Montreal Canadiens. Jake Allen and Charlie Lindgren patrol the creases. Washington started in the first period with an Erik Gustafsson goal, his sixth of the season, assisted by Evgeny Kuznetsov and Conor Sheary. The Capitals added on with a Garnet Hathaway goal, his fourth of the year, via Aliaksei Protas and Nic Dowd. Montreal got on the board in the second period with a Cole Caufield power play goal, his twentieth of the season, powered by Nick Suzuki and Kirby Dach. Washington answered on a Dowd goal, his ninth of the year, fueled by Protas and Gustafsson. The Capitals extended the lead as Alex Ovechkin scored his twenty-fourth of the season, thanks to Trevor van Riemsdyk and Lars Eller. The Canadiens got one back with another Caufield goal, his second of the game and twenty-first of the year, going in unassisted. Washington answered on a Dylan Strome power play goal, his eighth of the season, with assists provided by Kuznetsov and Marcus Johansson. The Capitals padded the lead on an Ovechkin power play goal, his second of the game and twenty-fifth of the year, passed from Gustafsson and Johansson. Washington continued with a Johansson goal, his tenth of the season, with helpers from Kuznetsov and Martin Fehervary. The Capitals struck again with an Anthony Mantha goal, his ninth of the year, an unassisted goal. Washington kept going as Ovechkin completed his hat trick on his twenty-sixth of the season, with the help of Sheary. The final held at 9-2, with the three stars given to Ovechkin, Johansson, and Kuznetsov, while Caufield, Gustafsson, Dowd, Sheary, and Protas get the honorable mentions.
Down in Tampa Bay, the Lightning bring in the Arizona Coyotes. Karel Vejmelka and Andrei Vasilevskiy protect the nets. Arizona kicked off the scoring in the first period with a Travis Boyd goal, his fourth of the season, via Clayton Keller. The Coyotes added on with a Christian Fischer goal, his seventh of the year, passed from Nick Ritchie and Barrett Hayton. Tampa Bay got on the board with a Brayden Point goal, his twenty-first of the season, guided in by Nikita Kucherov. The Lightning tied it with a Mikhail Sergachev goal, his sixth of the year, assisted by Point and Victor Hedman. Tampa Bay took the lead with a Steven Stamkos power play goal, his seventeenth of the season, powered by Hedman and Kucherov. Arizona tied it on a Nick Bjugstad goal, his ninth of the year, with a lone helper from Lawson Crouse. The Lightning retook the lead on an unassisted Alex Killorn goal, his eleventh of the season. Tampa Bay extended the lead as Brandon Hagel scored his fourteenth of the year on the power play, thanks to Hedman and Stamkos. The final held at 5-3, with the three stars going to Hedman, Point, and Stamkos, while Kucherov gets an honorable mention.
Northwest to St. Louis, as the Blues host the Minnesota Wild. Marc-Andre Fleury and Jordan Binnington are between the pipes. St. Louis drew first blood in the first period with a Calle Rosen goal, his fifth of the season, via Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou. Minnesota tied it on a Matt Dumba goal, his fourth of the year, passed from Mats Zuccarello and Sam Steel. The Wild took the lead in the second period with a Ryan Hartman goal, his third of the season, courtesy of Frederick Gaudreau and Marcus Foligno. The Blues retied it on a Robert Bortuzzo goal, assisted by Pavel Buchnevich and Kyrou. Minnesota regained the lead on another Hartman goal, his second of the game and fourth of the year, going in unassisted. The Wild added on in the third period with a Jared Spurgeon goal, his fifth of the season, coming off of Joel Eriksson Ek and Jordan Greenway. Minnesota iced it at 5-2 with a Greenway empty net goal, his second of the year, set up by Spurgeon. The three stars were Hartman, Spurgeon, and Greenway, while Kyrou got the honorable mention.
Along to Detroit, as the Red Wings welcome the Ottawa Senators. Cam Talbot and Magnus Hellberg start in goal. Ottawa was first to score in the first period with an Austin Watson goal, his third of the season, via Alex DeBrincat and Drake Batherson. The Senators added on with a Claude Giroux goal, his fifteenth of the year, courtesy of Tim Stutzle and Brady Tkachuk. Detroit got on the board in the second period with a Pius Suter goal, his fifth of the season, made possible by Lucas Raymond. The Red Wings tied it in the third period with a Raymond goal, his ninth of the year, passed from Olli Maatta and Jonatan Berggren. Detroit pulled ahead on an Elmer Soderblom goal, his fifth of the season, guided in by Joe Veleno and Jake Walman. The Red Wings extended the lead as Michael Rasmussen scored his seventh of the year, going in unassisted. The final was 4-2, and the three stars went to Raymond, Soderblom, and Rasmussen.
Over in Colorado, the Avalanche bring in the Toronto Maple Leafs. Matt Murray and Alexandar Georgiev are in the blue paint. Toronto led off in the first period with a Mitch Marner goal, his fourteenth of the season, via Calle Jarnkrok and John Tavares. The Maple Leafs added on with a Pierre Engvall goal, his seventh of the year, courtesy of David Kampf and Alexander Kerfoot. Colorado got on the board with a J.T. Compher goal, his seventh of the season, made possible by Logan O'Connor and Evan Rodrigues. Toronto replied in the second period with a Michael Bunting power play goal, his tenth of the year, powered by Tavares and Auston Matthews. The Avalanche got one back with a Devon Toews goal, his third of the season, assisted by Compher and Denis Malgin. The Maple Leafs shot back on a Matthews goal, his eighteenth of the year, coming off of William Nylander. Toronto extended the lead as T.J. Brodie scored his second of the season, going in unassisted. Jonas Johansson replaced Georgiev in goal. The Maple Leafs padded the lead on a Bunting empty net goal, his second of the game and eleventh of the year, set up by Nylander. The final was 6-2, and the three stars belonged to Bunting, Matthews, and Compher, while Tavares and Nylander get the honorable mentions.
Southeast to Dallas, where the Stars host the San Jose Sharks. James Reimer and Jake Oettinger receive the starting nods in goal. San Jose began in the first period with an Alexander Barabanov goal, his fifth of the season, via Matt Benning and Erik Karlsson. Dallas tied it on a Joe Pavelski power play goal, his twelfth of the year, powered by Jason Robertson and Miro Heiskanen. The Stars took the lead with a Robertson power play goal, his twenty-fifth of the season, with assists provided by Heiskanen and Pavelski. The Sharks tied it in the second period with an Oskar Lindblom goal, his third of the year, fueled by Nico Sturm and Marc-Edouard Vlasic. Dallas took the lead back with a Fredrik Olofsson goal, coming off of Pavelski and Radek Faksa. The Stars added on in the third period with a Roope Hintz shorthanded goal, his nineteenth of the season, set up by Jamie Benn. Dallas iced it at 5-2 with an Esa Lindell empty net goal, his fourth of the year, going in unassisted. The three stars were Pavelski, Robertson, and Heiskanen.
Up in Calgary, the Flames welcome the Vancouver Canucks. Spencer Martin and Jacob Markstrom play in goal. Calgary got going in the second period with an Elias Lindholm goal, his twelfth of the season, via Tyler Toffoli. The Flames added on with a Blake Coleman shorthanded goal, his sixth of the year, set up by Rasmus Andersson and MacKenzie Weegar. Calgary extended the lead as Weegar scored, thanks to Chris Tanev and Nazem Kadri. Vancouver got on the board with a Sheldon Dries goal, his fourth of the season, going in unassisted. The Caucks got closer in the third period with an Elias Pettersson goal, his seventeenth of the year, courtesy of Bo Horvat and Ethan Bear. This only made it 3-2, the final, with the three stars given to Weegar, Coleman, and Lindholm.
Finally, the Edmonton Oilers bring in the Winnipeg Jets. Connor Hellebuyck and Jack Campbell guard the cages. Winnipeg opened in the first period with a Neal Pionk power play goal, his sixth of the season, powered by Kyle Connor and Pierre-Luc Dubois. Edmonton tied it in the third period with a Klim Kostin goal, his fifth of the year, courtesy of Mattias Janmark. The Jets retook the lead on a Connor goal, his sixteenth of the season, assisted by Pionk and Kristian Reichel. The final held at 2-1, with the three stars going to Connor, Pionk, and Hellebuyck (31 for 32 in saves).
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