A 15-game Saturday is up, including two matinees. First off...
The Ottawa Senators host the Detroit Red Wings. Ville Husso and Joonas Korpisalo are the Finnish goalies. Ottawa led off in the first period with a Jake Sanderson power play goal, his third of the season, powered by Brady Tkachuk and Josh Norris. Detroit tied it on a Shayne Gostisbehere power play goal, his second of the year, with assists provided by Dylan Larkin and David Perron. The Red Wings took the lead in the second period with a Joe Veleno goal, helped along by Christian Fischer. Detroit added on with a Perron power play goal, his second of the season, made possible by Larkin and Moritz Seider. The Red Wings extended the lead in the third period as Larkin scored his second of the year on the power play, thanks to Gostisbehere and Seider. Detroit padded the lead with another Veleno goal, his second of the game, fueled by Daniel Sprong. The Senators pulled one back on a Ridly Greig goal, coming off of Mathieu Joseph and Jakob Chychrun. This made it 5-2, the final, with the three stars handed to Larkin, Veleno, and Perron, while Gostisbehere and Seider get the honorable mentions.
Southwest to Arizona, as the Coyotes welcome the Anaheim Ducks. Lukas Dostal and Karel Vejmelka are in the creases. Arizona began in the first period with a Jason Zucker power play goal, his second of the season, powered by Juuso Valimaki and Matias Maccelli. The Coyotes added on in the second period with a Clayton Keller goal, his third of the year, guided in by Nick Schmaltz and Sean Durzi. Anaheim got on the board with a Frank Vatrano power play goal in the third period, his fourth of the season, with assists provided by Jakob Silfverberg and Adam Henrique. This only made it 2-1, the final, with the three stars handed to Vejmelka (32 for 33 in saves), Keller, and Zucker.
At the regular time, the Buffalo Sabres bring in the New York Islanders. Semyon Varlamov and Eric Comrie man the nets. Buffalo got going in the second period with a Jeff Skinner goal, his second of the season, coming off of Casey Mittelstadt. The Sabres added on with a Mattias Samuelsson goal, via Mittelstadt and Skinner. Buffalo extended the lead in the third period as Dylan Cozens scored his second of the year on the power play, thanks to Rasmus Dahlin and Jordan Greenway. New York got on the board with a Noah Dobson goal, courtesy of Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat. The Sabres won 3-1, with the three stars going to Mittelstadt, Skinner, and Comrie (23 for 24 in saves).
Down in Florida, the Panthers host the Vancouver Canucks. Casey DeSmith and Sergei Bobrovsky are in the blue paint. Vancouver started in the first period with a Quinn Hughes power play goal, powered by J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson. Florida tied it on an Aleksander Barkov goal, going in unassisted. The Canucks took the lead back in the second period with a Carson Soucy power play goal, made possible by Conor Garland. Vancouver added on with a Pettersson goal, his second of the season, via Andrei Kuzmenko and Ilya Mikheyev. The Panthers got one back in the third period with a Sam Reinhart goal, his fifth of the year, coming off of Evan Rodrigues and Barkov. Florida tied it on another Reinhart goal, his second of the game and sixth of the season, guided in by Rodrigues and Josh Mahura. The Canucks retook the lead with a Kuzmenko goal, his second of the year, helped along by Phillip Di Giuseppe and Miller. Vancouver iced it at 5-3 with a Brock Boeser empty net goal, his sixth of the campaign, an unassisted goal. The three stars were Kuzmenko, Pettersson, and Reinhart, while Miller, Barkov, and Rodrigues get the honorable mentions.
Back north, the Montreal Canadiens welcome the Washington Capitals. Darcy Kuemper and Jake Allen are the veterans in goal. Montreal struck first in the first period with a Sean Monahan power play goal, his second of the season, powered by Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki. The Canadiens added on in the second period with a Brendan Gallagher goal, guided in by Monahan and Tanner Pearson. Washington got on the board in the third period with a Dylan Strome goal, assisted by Alex Ovechkin and Matthew Phillips. The Capitals tied it another Strome goal, his second of the game, via Evgeny Kuznetsov and John Carlson. Montreal won 3-2 in overtime with a Caufield goal, his third of the year, helped along by Suzuki and Michael Matheson. The three stars were Caufield, Monahan, and Strome, while Suzuki gets an honorable mention.
South again to Tampa Bay, as the Lightning bring in the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ilya Samsonov and Jonas Johansson are set to start in goal. Toronto opened in the first period with a William Nylander goal, his fourth of the season, passed from Matthew Knies and John Tavares. Tampa Bay tied it on a Nikita Kucherov power play goal, his fifth of the year, powered by Brayden Point and Victor Hedman. The Lightning took the lead with an Alex Barre-Boulet goal, via Kucherov and Point. Tampa Bay added on with a Kucherov power play goal, his second of the game and sixth of the season, with assists provided by Mikhail Sergachev and Steven Stamkos. Joseph Woll replaced Samsonov in goal. The Maple Leafs got closer in the third period with a Knies goal, made possible by Max Domi. Toronto tied it on another Knies goal, with helpers from Domi and David Kampf. The Maple Leafs won 4-3 in overtime on a Tavares goal, his second of the year, assisted by Nylander. The three stars were Knies, Kucherov, and Tavares, while Nylander, Domi, and Point get the honorable mentions.
West to Dallas, as the Stars host the Philadelphia Flyers. Samuel Ersson and Scott Wedgewood are the backups in goal. Dallas kicked off the scoring in the first period with a Wyatt Johnston goal, helped along by Jamie Benn. The Stars added on with a Tyler Seguin goal, coming off of Ryan Suter and Miro Heiskanen. Philadelphia got on the board with a Joel Farabee goal, his third of the season, via Bobby Brink and Noah Cates. The Flyers tied it on a shorthanded Travis Konecny goal, his fourth of the year, set up by Cates. Dallas retook the lead in the second period with a Roope Hintz goal, his second of the season, assisted by Jason Robertson and Joe Pavelski. The Stars extended the lead in the third period as Benn scored his second of the year, thanks to Johnston. Philadelphia got one back with a Konecny shorthanded goal, his second of the game and fifth of the season, with helpers from Travis Sanheim and Scott Laughton. The Flyers tied it on a Sean Walker shorthanded goal, his second of the year, fueled by Egor Zamula. Dallas won 5-4 in overtime on a Pavelski goal, his third of the campaign, guided in by Johnston. The three stars were Johnston, Pavelski, and Benn, while Konecny and Cates get the honorable mentions.
Up in Chicago, the Blackhawks welcome the Vegas Golden Knights. Adin Hill and Arvid Soderblom start in goal. Chicago was first to score in the first period with a Connor Bedard power play goal, his second of the season, powered by Taylor Hall. Vegas tied it on a William Karlsson power play goal, his second of the year, courtesy of Paul Cotter and Kaedan Korczak. The Golden Knights took the lead in the second period with a Jonathan Marchessault goal, his third of the season, coming off of Jack Eichel and Shea Theodore. The Blackhawks tied it on a Reese Johnson goal, passed from Connor Murphy and Ryan Donato. Vegas took the lead in the third period with a Nicolas Roy goal, his third of the year, via Keegan Kolesar and Brayden McNabb. The Golden Knights added on with a Mark Stone goal, helped along by Michael Amadio and Chandler Stephenson. Vegas extended the lead as Cotter scored on the power play, with the help of Amadio and Alec Martinez. Chicago got one back with a Corey Perry goal, his second of the campaign, made possible by Nick Foligno and Kevin Korchinski. The final was 5-3, with the three stars given to Cotter, Amadio, and Stone.
Further north, the Minnesota Wild bring in the Columbus Blue Jackets. Elvis Merzlikins and Filip Gustavsson are the masked men. Columbus cracked the scoresheet in the first period with a Justin Danforth goal, his third of the season, via David Jiricek and Mathieu Olivier. The Blue Jackets added on in the second period with a Kent Johnson goal, assisted by Cole Sillinger. Minnesota got on the board with a Dakota Mermis goal, passed from Marcus Johansson and Joel Eriksson Ek. The Wild tied it on a Mats Zuccarello goal, courtesy of Ryan Hartman. Minnesota took the lead in the third period with a Jonas Brodin goal, helped along by Eriksson Ek and Pat Maroon. Columbus tied it on a Boone Jenner goal, his fourth of the year, fueled by Zach Werenski and Damon Severson. The Blue Jackets pulled ahead on an Adam Fantilli power play goal, powered by Ivan Provorov and Danforth. The Wild tied it on a Johansson goal, guided in by Maroon and Mermis. Columbus won 5-4 in overtime with a Jack Roslovic goal, coming off of Johnny Gaudreau. The three stars were handed to Danforth, Johansson, and Mermis, while Eriksson Ek and Maroon get the honorable mentions.
Next up, the Nashville Predators host the San Jose Sharks. Mackenzie Blackwood and Juuse Saros protect the nets. Nashville dented the scoreboard in the first period with a Samuel Fagemo power play goal, powered by Gustav Nyquist and Alexandre Carrier. The Predators added on in the second period with a Thomas Novak goal, his third of the season, guided in by Kiefer Sherwood and Roman Josi. Nashville extended the lead as Sherwood scored, thanks to Luke Evangelista and Tyson Barrie. The Predators padded the lead in the third period on a Novak power play goal, his second of the game and fourth of the year, powered by Nyquist and Juuso Parssinen. San Jose got on the board with a Tomas Hertl goal, passed from Mario Ferraro and Nikolai Knyzhov. Nashville fired back with an Evangelista goal, helped along by Dante Fabbro. This stood for a 5-1 win, with the three stars being Novak, Evangelista, and Sherwood, while Nyquist gets an honorable mention.
Over in St. Louis, the Blues welcome the Pittsburgh Penguins. Tristan Jarry and Jordan Binnington guard the cages. St. Louis drew first blood in the first period with a Brandon Saad goal, via Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou. Pittsburgh tied it on an Evgeni Malkin goal, his fourth of the season, fueled by Kris Letang. The Blues took the lead back in the second period with a Jake Neighbours goal, passed from Kasperi Kapanen and Justin Faulk. St. Louis added on with a Colton Parayko goal, guided in by Alexey Toropchenko and Oskar Sundqvist. The Blues extended the lead in the third period as Saad scored his second of the game, thanks to Kapanen and Thomas. The Penguins got one back with a Radim Zohorna goal, assisted by Lars Eller and Drew O'Connor. The Blues held on for a 4-2 win, with the three stars handed to Saad, Thomas, and Kapanen.
Westward to Colorado, as the Avalanche bring in the Carolina Hurricanes. Pyotr Kochetkov and Alexandar Georgiev patrol the creases. Carolina opened in the first period with a Jesperi Kotkaniemi goal, his third of the season, coming off of Stefan Noesen and Jack Drury. Colorado tied it on a Ryan Johansen power play goal, his second of the year, powered by Nathan MacKinnon and Artturi Lehkonen. The Avalanche took the lead in the second period with a Logan O'Connor shorthanded goal, his third of the season, set up by Andrew Cogliano. The Hurricanes retied it on a Brent Burns power play goal, his second of the year, with assists provided by Dmitry Orlov and Noesen. Carolina pulled ahead on a Michael Bunting goal, his second of the season, passed from Martin Necas and Jaccob Slavin. Colorado retied it on a Fredrik Olofsson goal, helped along by O'Connor and Bowen Byram. The Avalanche gained the lead on a Lehkonen power play goal, his second of the year, with helpers from Johansen and Cale Makar. Colorado added on with a MacKinnon goal, his third of the season, guided in by Lehkonen and Valeri Nichushkin. The Avalanche extended the lead as Mikko Rantanen scored his fourth of the year on the power play, going in unassisted. The Hurricanes got one back with a Slavin goal, his third of the season, made possible by Kotkaniemi and Seth Jarvis. This was as close as it got, with the Avalanche winning 6-4. The three stars were awarded to Lehkonen, MacKinnon, and O'Connor, while Johansen, Slavin, Kotkaniemi, and Noesen get the honorable mentions.
In Canada, the Edmonton Oilers host the Winnipeg Jets. Connor Hellebuyck and Stuart Skinner tend the twines. Edmonton started in the first period with a Darnell Nurse goal, coming off of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. The Oilers added on with an Evan Bouchard power play goal, powered by Draisaitl and McDavid. Winnipeg got on the board with a Josh Morrissey power play goal, via Dylan DeMelo and Morgan Barron. The Jets tied it in the second period on a shorthanded Vladislav Namestnikov goal, set up by Alex Iafallo. Winnipeg won 3-2 in overtime with a Mark Scheifele goal, his fourth of the season, guided in by Morrissey and Kyle Connor. The three stars were Morrissey, Draisaitl, and Hellebuyck (38 for 40 in saves), while McDavid gets an honorable mention.
Back stateside, the Seattle Kraken welcome the New York Rangers. Jonathan Quick and Philipp Grubauer draw the starts in goal. Seattle led off in the first period with a Justin Schultz goal, via Brian Dumoulin and Eeli Tolvanen. New York tied it on an Artemi Panarin goal, his second of the season, courtesy of Filip Chytil. The Rangers took the lead in the second period with a Kaapo Kakko goal, assisted by Jacob Trouba and K'Andre Miller. New York added on with an Alexis Lafreniere goal, his second of the year, passed from Chytil. The Rangers extended the lead in the third period as Panarin scored his second of the game and third of the season, thanks to Chytil and Miller. This held for a 4-1 win, with the three stars going to Panarin, Chytil, and Miller.
Finally, the Los Angeles Kings bring in the Boston Bruins. Jeremy Swayman and Cam Talbot are between the pipes. Boston began in the first period with a David Pastrnak power play goal, his fifth of the season, assisted by Brad Marchand and James van Riemsdyk. Los Angeles tied it in the second period with an Alex Laferriere goal, via Pierre-Luc Dubois and Kevin Fiala. The Bruins took the lead on a Morgan Geekie goal, passed from Milan Lucic and Derek Forbort. Boston added on with a Marchand goal, his second of the year, courtesy of Pastrnak and Forbort. The Bruins extended the lead in the third period on a Marchand goal, his second of the game and third of the campaign, set up by Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha. The Kings got one back with a Carl Grundstrom power play goal, his third of the campaign, with assists provided by Matt Roy and Trevor Lewis. This only made it 4-2, the final, with the three stars being Marchand, Pastrnak, and Forbort.
Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0 and on Bluesky @outsidersports0.bsky.social.