Seven games to see tonight, and we begin by wrapping up a certain Atlantic Division home-and-home with the...
New York Islanders hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury and Al Montoya were between the pipes. New York started with a Marty Reasoner goal, via Mark Streit and Josh Bailey. Pascal Dupuis tied it for Pittsburgh in the second period with his twenty-fourth of the season, coming shorthanded after being passed from Craig Adams and Paul Martin. The Islanders took the lead back on a Kyle Okposo power play goal, his nineteenth of the year, powered by Bailey and Travis Hamonic. New York added on as Bailey potted his twelfth of the season, a shorthanded goal made possible by Jay Pandolfo. Okposo kept the Islanders going in the third period with his second of the game and twentieth of the year, courtesy of Bailey for a sock trick and Frans Nielsen. The Penguins took one back with a Jordan Staal goal, his twenty-fourth of the season, via Zbynek Michalek and Martin. Pittsburgh got even closer as Evgeni Malkin shelved his forty-seventh of the year, with the help of Tyler Kennedy and Matt Cooke. New York iced it at 5-3 with Bailey's second of the game and thirteenth of the campaign going into the empty, an unassisted goal. Bailey, Okposo, and Dupuis got the three stars, while Martin gets an honorable mention.
Up to Toronto, with the Maple Leafs hosting the Philadelphia Flyers. Sergei Bobrovsky and Jussi Rynnas are in the blue paint. Philadelphia got going with a Brayden Schenn goal, his tenth of the season, assisted by Wayne Simmonds and Danny Briere. Schenn added on for the Flyers with his second of the game and eleventh of the year, a power play goal powered by Briere and Jaromir Jagr. Toronto got one back as Mikhail Grabovski netted his twenty-third of the season, thanks to Tim Connolly and Joey Crabb. Simmonds took it back for Philadelphia in the second period on his twenty-fourth of the year, coming off of Briere, who got a sock trick, and Braydon Coburn. The Flyers extended the lead as Matt Read registered his twenty-third of the season, a shorthanded goal passed from Max Talbot and Erik Gustafsson. Philadelphia kept going in the third period with an Eric Wellwood goal, his fifth of the year, with helpers provided by Read and Jakub Voracek. The Flyers rolled along as Voracek put down his fifteenth of the season, courtesy of Jagr and Pavel Kubina. Philadelphia continued the attack as Simmonds scored his second of the night and twenty-fifth of the year, via Briere and Jagr, the latter getting a sock trick. The final stood at 7-1, with the three stars being Briere, Schenn, and Simmonds, while the honorable mentions go to Jagr, Read, and Voracek.
Back stateside, the New Jersey Devils host the Tampa Bay Lightning. Dwayne Roloson and Martin Brodeur are the masked men. Tampa Bay opened the scoring with a Ryan Malone goal, his sixteenth of the season, via Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman. New Jersey answered in the second period when Dainius Zubrus notched his seventeenth of the year, a shorthanded goal made possible by Patrik Elias. The Lightning struck back as Malone recorded his second of the game and seventeenth of the season, with a lone Eric Brewer assist. The Devils retied it as Jacob Josefson made his second of the year, with the help of Ryan Carter and David Clarkson. Malone gave Tampa Bay the lead back when he finished his hat trick on his eighteenth of the season, and the only helper went to Hedman. New Jersey got another equalizer with an Ilya Kovalchuk goal, his thirty-third of the year, courtesy of Adam Henrique and Zach Parise. The Devils got the lead with the second of the season for Marek Zidlicky, a power play goal, powered by Kovalchuk and Elias. New Jersey extended the lead on a Alexei Ponikarovsky goal, his thirteenth of the year, going in off of Bryce Salvador. The Devils added on again with a Clarkson goal, his twenty-ninth of the season, assisted by Henrique and Ponikarovsky. Sebastien Caron relieved Roloson at this time. The Lightning got as close as 6-4 with the second of the year for Trevor Smith, passed from Tim Wallace and Keith Aulie. The three stars of the game were Elias, Malone, and Kovalchuk, while Ponikarovsky, Hedman, Clarkson, and Henrique get the honorable mentions.
Heading north to Boston, where the Bruins host the Washington Capitals. Tomas Vokoun and Tim Thomas got the starting nods in goal, but Vokoun was replaced by Michal Neuvirth late in the first period due to injury. Washington cut the game open in the third period with a Dennis Wideman goal, his eleventh of the season, thanks to Marcus Johansson and Alex Ovechkin. The Capitals extended the lead as Johansson notched his fourteenth of the year, and Ovechkin had the only assist. Boston got one back with the twenty-first of the season for David Krejci, fueled by Zdeno Chara and Milan Lucic. The Bruins tied it on the sixth of the year by Andrew Ference, and Krejci tallied the lone helper. Washington took the game by a 3-2 score in the shootout as Matt Hendricks, Alexander Semin, and Brooks Laich scored to overpower Boston's Tyler Seguin and Patrice Bergeron. The three stars were given to Johansson and Krejci and Ovechkin.
Out west, the Minnesota Wild welcome the Florida Panthers. Jose Theodore and Niklas Backstrom protect the nets. Florida was first to score in the second period as Scottie Upshall made his second of the season, a power play goal made possible by Tomas Fleischmann and Brian Campbell. Minnesota tied it in the third period with a Kyle Brodziak goal, his twenty-first of the year, with a lone Cal Clutterbuck assist. Fleischmann gave the Panthers the lead again with his twenty-fifth of the season, a power play goal powered by Jason Garrison and Campbell. The Wild tied it late with an Erik Christensen goal, his sixth of the year, via Tom Gilbert and Mikko Koivu. Minnesota took the game in the overtime period as Koivu put away his twelfth of the season, with the help of Gilbert and Clayton Stoner for a 3-2 win. The three stars were Campbell, Darroll Powe, and Fleischmann, while Koivu or Gilbert could take the second star.
A little to the south, the Chicago Blackhawks bring in the St. Louis Blues. Jaroslav Halak and Corey Crawford tend the twines. Chicago began with a Bryan Bickell goal, his ninth of the season, set up by Nick Leddy and Sean O'Donnell. St. Louis tied it nine seconds later as Alex Steen notched his fourteenth of the year, thanks to Kris Russell and Kent Huskins. The Blackhawks re-established their lead in the third period on an Andrew Brunette goal, his twelfth of the season, fueled by Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa. Chicago added on with a Patrick Sharp goal, his thirty-first of the year, courtesy of Viktor Stalberg. The Blues pulled back on an unassisted Jason Arnott goal, his seventeenth of the season. St. Louis tied it late in the third period with a David Perron goal, his eighteenth of the year, coming off of Russell and Chris Stewart. The Blackhawks would win in the shootout as Dave Bolland's lone tally led them 4-3 over the Blues. Brunette, Perron, and Sharp got the three stars, and Russell gets an honorable mention.
Finally, we head to the southwest, where the Phoenix Coyotes host the San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi and Mike Smith guard the cages. Phoenix led off with a second period Radim Vrbata power play goal, his thirty-first of the season, made possible by Ray Whitney and Martin Hanzal. Vrbata extended the Coyotes lead in the third period with his second of the game and thirty-second of the year, guided in by Whitney and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The final stood at 2-0, with Vrbata, Smith (38 save shutout), and Whitney getting the three stars.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion and check out this YouTube video of me doing a poem at my school's Grand Slam.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
NHL Day 175 2011-2012
Six games on tonight everyone, as I am finally back on track from the past three crazy days. We begin...
Up in Canada, where the Winnipeg Jets host the New York Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist and Ondrej Pavelec are between the pipes. Winnipeg got things started in the second period with the second of the season for Spencer Machacek, assisted by Ben Maxwell and Mark Stuart. The Jets added on with a Bryan Little goal, his twenty-third of the year, courtesy of Blake Wheeler and Andrew Ladd. New York got one back with a Michael Del Zotto shorthanded goal, his eighth of the season, passed from Ryan Callahan. The Rangers tied it up on a Callahan power play goal, his twenty-eighth of the year, powered by Marian Gaborik and Del Zotto. New York gained the lead in the third period as Brian Boyle shelved his ninth of the season, thanks to Ruslan Fedotenko and Ryan McDonagh. The Rangers extended their lead with a Derek Stepan power play goal, his seventeenth of the year, coming off of Gaborik and Brad Richards. Del Zotto, Callahan, and Evander Kane got the three stars in the 4-2 game, while Gaborik earns an honorable mention.
Down to Columbus, where the Blue Jackets welcomed the Detroit Red Wings. Ty Conklin and Allen York played in goal. Columbus opened with a Vinny Prospal goal, his fourteenth of the season, coming off of Rick Nash. The Blue Jackets extended the lead with Derek Dorsett recording his eleventh of the year, with a lone Ryan Johansen assist. Detroit replied on a Henrik Zetterberg power play goal, his twenty-second of the season, powered by Pavel Datsyuk and Tomas Holmstrom. Columbus answered back in the second period with a Derick Brassard goal, his fourteenth of the year, set up by Nikita Nikitin and R.J. Umberger. The Blue Jackets added on with an Umberger goal, his fifteenth of the season, via Cam Atkinson and Nikitin. The Red Wings got one back as Niklas Kronwall potted his fifteenth of the year, a power play goal fueled by Nicklas Lidstrom and Datsyuk. The final stood at 4-2 Columbus, with York (29 for 31 in saves), Umberger, and Nikitin, had the three stars, while Datsyuk gets an honorable mention.
Back in Canada, the Edmonton Oilers host the Dallas Stars. Kari Lehtonen and Devan Dubnyk played in the blue paint. Dallas struck first with the thirty-fourth of the season for Michael Ryder, made possible by Mike Ribeiro and Stephane Robidas, Ribeiro extended the lead in the second period for the Stars with his eighteenth of the year, courtesy of Loui Eriksson and Ryder. Dallas kept going in the third period on another Ryder goal, his second of the game and thirty-fifth of the season, set up by Ribeiro and Eriksson. Edmonton got on the board with an Ales Hemsky goal, his tenth of the year, guided in by Ryan Smyth and Corey Potter. Ryder, Ribeiro, and Jordan Eberle claimed the three stars, while Lehtonen (31 for 32 in saves) or Eriksson could take the third star.
South but staying in Alberta, the Calgary Flames bring in the Los Angeles Kings for a crucial Sutter Cup battle. Jonathan Quick and Miikka Kiprusoff tend the twines. Los Angeles led off with a Willie Mitchell tally, his fifth of the season, assisted by Anze Kopitar and Slava Voynov. The Kings added on in the second period as Dustin Brown notched his twentieth of the year, courtesy of Kopitar and Drew Doughty. Los Angeles iced it at 3-0 with a Justin Williams empty net goal, his nineteenth of the campaign, going in unassisted. Quick (19 save shutout), Kopitar, and Jay Bouwmeester got the three stars, while any point earner deserves the third slot.
Westward to Vancouver, as the Canucks host the Colorado Avalanche. Semyon Varlamov and Cory Schneider got the starting nods. Vancouver got things going with a Chris Higgins goal, his sixteenth of the season coming shorthanded from Samuel Pahlsson. The Canucks made this stand up for a 1-0 win, with the three stars being Schneider (43 save shutout), Varlamov (21 for 22 in saves), and Higgins.
Finally, we end with another Battle of California game, as the Anaheim Ducks host the San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi and Jonas Hiller guard the cages. Anaheim was first to score in the second period with a Bobby Ryan goal, his twenty-eighth of the season, assisted by Devante Smith-Pelly and Nick Bonino. San Jose evened with as Ryane Clowe potter his fifteenth of the year, with the help of Logan Couture. The Ducks got the lead back in the third period with Teemu Selanne netting his twenty-fifth of the season, via Luca Sbisa and Saku Koivu. Anaheim extended their lead with the unassisted thirty-sixth of the year by Corey Perry. This held up for a 3-1 final, with the three stars going to Ryan, Hiller (28 for 29 in saves), and Joe Pavelski, while any point-earner deserves the third slot. Another Anaheim rant here, because you guys won and picked this time not to be homers in the three stars, so backwards.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
Up in Canada, where the Winnipeg Jets host the New York Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist and Ondrej Pavelec are between the pipes. Winnipeg got things started in the second period with the second of the season for Spencer Machacek, assisted by Ben Maxwell and Mark Stuart. The Jets added on with a Bryan Little goal, his twenty-third of the year, courtesy of Blake Wheeler and Andrew Ladd. New York got one back with a Michael Del Zotto shorthanded goal, his eighth of the season, passed from Ryan Callahan. The Rangers tied it up on a Callahan power play goal, his twenty-eighth of the year, powered by Marian Gaborik and Del Zotto. New York gained the lead in the third period as Brian Boyle shelved his ninth of the season, thanks to Ruslan Fedotenko and Ryan McDonagh. The Rangers extended their lead with a Derek Stepan power play goal, his seventeenth of the year, coming off of Gaborik and Brad Richards. Del Zotto, Callahan, and Evander Kane got the three stars in the 4-2 game, while Gaborik earns an honorable mention.
Down to Columbus, where the Blue Jackets welcomed the Detroit Red Wings. Ty Conklin and Allen York played in goal. Columbus opened with a Vinny Prospal goal, his fourteenth of the season, coming off of Rick Nash. The Blue Jackets extended the lead with Derek Dorsett recording his eleventh of the year, with a lone Ryan Johansen assist. Detroit replied on a Henrik Zetterberg power play goal, his twenty-second of the season, powered by Pavel Datsyuk and Tomas Holmstrom. Columbus answered back in the second period with a Derick Brassard goal, his fourteenth of the year, set up by Nikita Nikitin and R.J. Umberger. The Blue Jackets added on with an Umberger goal, his fifteenth of the season, via Cam Atkinson and Nikitin. The Red Wings got one back as Niklas Kronwall potted his fifteenth of the year, a power play goal fueled by Nicklas Lidstrom and Datsyuk. The final stood at 4-2 Columbus, with York (29 for 31 in saves), Umberger, and Nikitin, had the three stars, while Datsyuk gets an honorable mention.
Back in Canada, the Edmonton Oilers host the Dallas Stars. Kari Lehtonen and Devan Dubnyk played in the blue paint. Dallas struck first with the thirty-fourth of the season for Michael Ryder, made possible by Mike Ribeiro and Stephane Robidas, Ribeiro extended the lead in the second period for the Stars with his eighteenth of the year, courtesy of Loui Eriksson and Ryder. Dallas kept going in the third period on another Ryder goal, his second of the game and thirty-fifth of the season, set up by Ribeiro and Eriksson. Edmonton got on the board with an Ales Hemsky goal, his tenth of the year, guided in by Ryan Smyth and Corey Potter. Ryder, Ribeiro, and Jordan Eberle claimed the three stars, while Lehtonen (31 for 32 in saves) or Eriksson could take the third star.
South but staying in Alberta, the Calgary Flames bring in the Los Angeles Kings for a crucial Sutter Cup battle. Jonathan Quick and Miikka Kiprusoff tend the twines. Los Angeles led off with a Willie Mitchell tally, his fifth of the season, assisted by Anze Kopitar and Slava Voynov. The Kings added on in the second period as Dustin Brown notched his twentieth of the year, courtesy of Kopitar and Drew Doughty. Los Angeles iced it at 3-0 with a Justin Williams empty net goal, his nineteenth of the campaign, going in unassisted. Quick (19 save shutout), Kopitar, and Jay Bouwmeester got the three stars, while any point earner deserves the third slot.
Westward to Vancouver, as the Canucks host the Colorado Avalanche. Semyon Varlamov and Cory Schneider got the starting nods. Vancouver got things going with a Chris Higgins goal, his sixteenth of the season coming shorthanded from Samuel Pahlsson. The Canucks made this stand up for a 1-0 win, with the three stars being Schneider (43 save shutout), Varlamov (21 for 22 in saves), and Higgins.
Finally, we end with another Battle of California game, as the Anaheim Ducks host the San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi and Jonas Hiller guard the cages. Anaheim was first to score in the second period with a Bobby Ryan goal, his twenty-eighth of the season, assisted by Devante Smith-Pelly and Nick Bonino. San Jose evened with as Ryane Clowe potter his fifteenth of the year, with the help of Logan Couture. The Ducks got the lead back in the third period with Teemu Selanne netting his twenty-fifth of the season, via Luca Sbisa and Saku Koivu. Anaheim extended their lead with the unassisted thirty-sixth of the year by Corey Perry. This held up for a 3-1 final, with the three stars going to Ryan, Hiller (28 for 29 in saves), and Joe Pavelski, while any point-earner deserves the third slot. Another Anaheim rant here, because you guys won and picked this time not to be homers in the three stars, so backwards.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
MLB Day 1 and 2 2012
Welcome to baseball season everybody. As I said, I will try to keep up with these, but I can't guarantee I will, so bear with me. The baseball season began in the wee hours of the morning on March 28th, with the Oakland Athletics "hosting" the Seattle Mariners in Tokyo. Felix Hernandez and Brandon McCarthy were the starting pitchers. Dustin Ackley ripped the first home run for Seattle in the top of the fourth, a solo shot. Oakland tied it up in the bottom of the inning with Kurt Suzuki's double, allowing Cliff Pennington to score. The game went into extra innings, and was decided by a pair of singles off the Mariners' bats of Ackley and Ichiro Suzuki, scoring Brendan Ryan and Ackley himself. Brandon League closed out the game for a save, and Tom Wilhelmson was in position for the 3-1 win, while the loss was pinned on Andrew Carignan.
The next day, the two teams went at it again, with Jason Vargas on the hill for Seattle against Oakland's Bartolo Colon. Seattle opened the scoring with a Justin Smoak solo home run in the seventh inning. Oakland shot back with a Yoenis Cespedes homer in the bottom of the inning, a two-run shot also scoring in Kurt Suzuki. The Athletics followed this up with Josh Reddick's one-run homer. Oakland finished ahead 4-1 with an eighth inning Jonny Gomes home run, another solo shot. Colon was credited with the win, while Grant Balfour closed things out for the save, and the loss was pinned on Shawn Kelley.
More baseball action returns next week when everyone else gets their debuts on.
The next day, the two teams went at it again, with Jason Vargas on the hill for Seattle against Oakland's Bartolo Colon. Seattle opened the scoring with a Justin Smoak solo home run in the seventh inning. Oakland shot back with a Yoenis Cespedes homer in the bottom of the inning, a two-run shot also scoring in Kurt Suzuki. The Athletics followed this up with Josh Reddick's one-run homer. Oakland finished ahead 4-1 with an eighth inning Jonny Gomes home run, another solo shot. Colon was credited with the win, while Grant Balfour closed things out for the save, and the loss was pinned on Shawn Kelley.
More baseball action returns next week when everyone else gets their debuts on.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
NHL Day 174 2011-2012
Eight games on tonight as the playoff push is in full swing. We begin with a less-relevant game in...
Toronto, as the Maple Leafs host the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward and Jonas Gustavsson were called for the starts. Carolina opened with a Jussi Jokinen goal, his twelfth of the season, made possible by Tuomo Ruutu and Justin Faulk. The Hurricanes extended the lead with the twelfth of the year for Tim Brent, set up by Derek Joslin and Bryan Allen. Carolina chased Gustavsson in the early second period when Jay Harrison scored thirty-seven seconds in with his ninth of the season, on assists from Ruutu and Jokinen. Jussi Rynnas came on in relief. This was it for the scoring, leaving the final at 3-0, and the three stars went to Ward (31 save shutout), Ruutu, and Harrison, while Jokinen gets honorable mention.
Stateside, the New Jersey Devils bring in the Chicago Blackhawks. Corey Crawford and Martin Brodeur earned the starts in net. Petr Sykora put New Jersey on the board first with his eighteenth of the season, a power play goal powered by Adam Henrique and Mark Fayne. Brent Seabrook tied it for Chicago in the third period with his eighth of the year, thanks to Dave Bolland. The Devils went on to win 2-1 in the shootout when Patrik Elias and Travis Zajac overpowering the Blackhawks' only Patrick Sharp tally. The three stars were Brodeur (37 for 38 in saves), Seabrook, and Sykora.
Nearby, the Washington Capitals hosted the Buffalo Sabres in a very important game. Ryan Miller and Braden Holtby started in the blue paint. Buffalo started with a Cody McCormick goal set up by Brad Boyes. The Sabres added on when Drew Stafford tipped in his eighteenth of the season, thanks to Tyler Myers and Tyler Ennis. Thomas Vanek helped Buffalo chase Holtby in the second period with his twenty-fifth of the year, guided in by Cody Hodgson and Corey Tropp. Michal Neuvirth came on in relief. Washington finally found the back of the net with Alexander Semin registering his nineteenth of the season, assisted by Jason Chimera and Mathieu Perreault. The Sabres got it back on Jason Pominville's twenty-ninth of the year, a shorthanded and unassisted goal. Buffalo extended the lead again in the third period with another Stafford goal, his second of the game and nineteenth of the season, courtesy of Ennis and Robyn Regehr. The final was 5-1, and the three stars were named as Stafford, Miller (44 for 45 in saves), and Pominville, while Ennis gets an honorable mention.
Into Pennsylvania, as the Pittsburgh Penguins host the New York Islanders. Evgeni Nabokov and Marc-Andre Fleury got the starts, but Al Montoya and Brad Thiessen relieved them for the third period, respectively. New York started with a Frans Nielsen goal, his sixteenth of the season, thanks to Dylan Reese and Josh Bailey. The Islanders added on when Michael Grabner made his seventeenth of the year, guided in by Nielsen. Pittsburgh got one back with the tenth of the season for Tyler Kennedy, assisted by Pascal Dupuis and Brian Strait. The Penguins tied it up with the thirty-sixth of the year by James Neal, courtesy of Chris Kunitz and Evgeni Malkin. New York retook the lead with a Kyle Okposo goal, his eighteenth of the season, an unassisted goal. The Islanders extended their lead when David Ullstrom made his fourth of the year, a power play goal, powered by Bailey and Okposo. Nielsen kept New York on the attack with his second of the game and seventeenth of the season, made possible by Bailey, who got a sock trick, and Reese. Pittsburgh got one back in the third period with the second of the night and thirty-seventh of the year for Neal, a power play goal with helpers from Malkin and Steve Sullivan. This made it 5-3, the eventual final, with the three stars being Nielsen, Bailey, and Neal, while Reese, Okposo, and Malkin get the honorable mentions.
Heading toward Boston, as the Bruins host the Tampa Bay Lightning. Dwayne Roloson and Tim Thomas are in the creases. Tampa Bay was first on the board with the fifty-fourth of the season by Steven Stamkos, thanks to Martin St. Louis. Boston answered with a Shawn Thornton goal, his fifth of the year, made possible by Zdeno Chara. The Bruins took the lead in the second period with a Dennis Seidenberg goal, his fourth of the season, assisted by Chara and David Krejci. The Lightning retied it in the third period as Stamkos registered his second of the game and fifty-fifth of the year, a power play goal powered by Victor Hedman and St. Louis. Boston retook the lead with a Benoit Pouliot goal, his fourteenth of the season, going in off of Brian Rolston and Chara, the latter getting a sock trick. The Bruins gained separation with a Brad Marchand goal, his twenty-sixth of the year, guided in by Patrice Bergeron and Tyler Seguin. Boston finished it at 5-2 with a Rich Peverley empty net goal, his tenth of the campaign, pushed through by Krejci. The three stars were given to Chara, Stamkos, and Thornton. St. Louis and Krejci are the honorable mentions.
Farther to the north, the Montreal Canadiens host the Florida Panthers. Scott Clemmensen and Carey Price are the masked men. Florida opened with a Wojtek Wolski goal, his fourth of the season, going in unassisted. Montreal tied it with the thirty-first of the year for Erik Cole, a power play goal powered by Max Pacioretty and David Desharnais. The Canadiens took the lead in the second period on a Louis Leblanc goal, his fifth of the season, with a lone Frederic St-denis helper. The Panthers got an equalizer in the third period when Mikael Samuelsson shelved his twelfth of the year, courtesy of Erik Gudbranson and Marcel Goc. Florida won in the shootout with a lone Wolski tally for a 3-2 win. The three stars went to Wolski, Leblanc, and Cole.
Southwest to St. Louis, where the Blues welcomed the Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne and Brian Elliott tended the twines. St. Louis started in the second period with a Jamie Langenbrunner goal, his sixth of the season, sent to him by Jason Arnott and Alex Steen (alliteration!). The Blues extended the lead in the third period on a David Perron goal, his seventeenth of the year, guided in by David Backes and T.J. Oshie. Oshie iced it at 3-0 for St. Louis with his nineteenth of the campaign, via Alex Pietrangelo and Backes. The three stars were awarded to Elliott (24 save shutout), Langenbrunner, and Steen, while Backes and Oshie get the honorable mentions.
Finally, we end in Minnesota, where the Wild host the New York Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist and Josh Harding are protecting the nets. New York began on a Brian Boyle goal, his eighth of the season, fueled by Brandon Dubinsky and Anton Stralman. Minnesota tied it with a Kyle Brodziak goal, his twentieth of the year coming in the second period on the power play from Cal Clutterbuck and Marco Scandella. The Rangers retook the lead with a Marian Gaborik, his thirty-eighth of the season, thanks to Brad Richards and Ryan McDonagh. Mikko Koivu retied it for the Wild with his eleventh of the year, a power play goal powered by Dany Heatley and Devin Setoguchi. New York got the lead back in the third period with a Ruslan Fedotenko goal, his ninth of the season, assisted by McDonagh and Dan Girardi. The final held at 3-2 with the three stars being McDonagh, Scandella, and Brodziak.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion. Busiest three days I've ever had, and happy baseball season at 3:10 AM PDT! I will try to do mini capsules during MLB, but no promises.
Toronto, as the Maple Leafs host the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward and Jonas Gustavsson were called for the starts. Carolina opened with a Jussi Jokinen goal, his twelfth of the season, made possible by Tuomo Ruutu and Justin Faulk. The Hurricanes extended the lead with the twelfth of the year for Tim Brent, set up by Derek Joslin and Bryan Allen. Carolina chased Gustavsson in the early second period when Jay Harrison scored thirty-seven seconds in with his ninth of the season, on assists from Ruutu and Jokinen. Jussi Rynnas came on in relief. This was it for the scoring, leaving the final at 3-0, and the three stars went to Ward (31 save shutout), Ruutu, and Harrison, while Jokinen gets honorable mention.
Stateside, the New Jersey Devils bring in the Chicago Blackhawks. Corey Crawford and Martin Brodeur earned the starts in net. Petr Sykora put New Jersey on the board first with his eighteenth of the season, a power play goal powered by Adam Henrique and Mark Fayne. Brent Seabrook tied it for Chicago in the third period with his eighth of the year, thanks to Dave Bolland. The Devils went on to win 2-1 in the shootout when Patrik Elias and Travis Zajac overpowering the Blackhawks' only Patrick Sharp tally. The three stars were Brodeur (37 for 38 in saves), Seabrook, and Sykora.
Nearby, the Washington Capitals hosted the Buffalo Sabres in a very important game. Ryan Miller and Braden Holtby started in the blue paint. Buffalo started with a Cody McCormick goal set up by Brad Boyes. The Sabres added on when Drew Stafford tipped in his eighteenth of the season, thanks to Tyler Myers and Tyler Ennis. Thomas Vanek helped Buffalo chase Holtby in the second period with his twenty-fifth of the year, guided in by Cody Hodgson and Corey Tropp. Michal Neuvirth came on in relief. Washington finally found the back of the net with Alexander Semin registering his nineteenth of the season, assisted by Jason Chimera and Mathieu Perreault. The Sabres got it back on Jason Pominville's twenty-ninth of the year, a shorthanded and unassisted goal. Buffalo extended the lead again in the third period with another Stafford goal, his second of the game and nineteenth of the season, courtesy of Ennis and Robyn Regehr. The final was 5-1, and the three stars were named as Stafford, Miller (44 for 45 in saves), and Pominville, while Ennis gets an honorable mention.
Into Pennsylvania, as the Pittsburgh Penguins host the New York Islanders. Evgeni Nabokov and Marc-Andre Fleury got the starts, but Al Montoya and Brad Thiessen relieved them for the third period, respectively. New York started with a Frans Nielsen goal, his sixteenth of the season, thanks to Dylan Reese and Josh Bailey. The Islanders added on when Michael Grabner made his seventeenth of the year, guided in by Nielsen. Pittsburgh got one back with the tenth of the season for Tyler Kennedy, assisted by Pascal Dupuis and Brian Strait. The Penguins tied it up with the thirty-sixth of the year by James Neal, courtesy of Chris Kunitz and Evgeni Malkin. New York retook the lead with a Kyle Okposo goal, his eighteenth of the season, an unassisted goal. The Islanders extended their lead when David Ullstrom made his fourth of the year, a power play goal, powered by Bailey and Okposo. Nielsen kept New York on the attack with his second of the game and seventeenth of the season, made possible by Bailey, who got a sock trick, and Reese. Pittsburgh got one back in the third period with the second of the night and thirty-seventh of the year for Neal, a power play goal with helpers from Malkin and Steve Sullivan. This made it 5-3, the eventual final, with the three stars being Nielsen, Bailey, and Neal, while Reese, Okposo, and Malkin get the honorable mentions.
Heading toward Boston, as the Bruins host the Tampa Bay Lightning. Dwayne Roloson and Tim Thomas are in the creases. Tampa Bay was first on the board with the fifty-fourth of the season by Steven Stamkos, thanks to Martin St. Louis. Boston answered with a Shawn Thornton goal, his fifth of the year, made possible by Zdeno Chara. The Bruins took the lead in the second period with a Dennis Seidenberg goal, his fourth of the season, assisted by Chara and David Krejci. The Lightning retied it in the third period as Stamkos registered his second of the game and fifty-fifth of the year, a power play goal powered by Victor Hedman and St. Louis. Boston retook the lead with a Benoit Pouliot goal, his fourteenth of the season, going in off of Brian Rolston and Chara, the latter getting a sock trick. The Bruins gained separation with a Brad Marchand goal, his twenty-sixth of the year, guided in by Patrice Bergeron and Tyler Seguin. Boston finished it at 5-2 with a Rich Peverley empty net goal, his tenth of the campaign, pushed through by Krejci. The three stars were given to Chara, Stamkos, and Thornton. St. Louis and Krejci are the honorable mentions.
Farther to the north, the Montreal Canadiens host the Florida Panthers. Scott Clemmensen and Carey Price are the masked men. Florida opened with a Wojtek Wolski goal, his fourth of the season, going in unassisted. Montreal tied it with the thirty-first of the year for Erik Cole, a power play goal powered by Max Pacioretty and David Desharnais. The Canadiens took the lead in the second period on a Louis Leblanc goal, his fifth of the season, with a lone Frederic St-denis helper. The Panthers got an equalizer in the third period when Mikael Samuelsson shelved his twelfth of the year, courtesy of Erik Gudbranson and Marcel Goc. Florida won in the shootout with a lone Wolski tally for a 3-2 win. The three stars went to Wolski, Leblanc, and Cole.
Southwest to St. Louis, where the Blues welcomed the Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne and Brian Elliott tended the twines. St. Louis started in the second period with a Jamie Langenbrunner goal, his sixth of the season, sent to him by Jason Arnott and Alex Steen (alliteration!). The Blues extended the lead in the third period on a David Perron goal, his seventeenth of the year, guided in by David Backes and T.J. Oshie. Oshie iced it at 3-0 for St. Louis with his nineteenth of the campaign, via Alex Pietrangelo and Backes. The three stars were awarded to Elliott (24 save shutout), Langenbrunner, and Steen, while Backes and Oshie get the honorable mentions.
Finally, we end in Minnesota, where the Wild host the New York Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist and Josh Harding are protecting the nets. New York began on a Brian Boyle goal, his eighth of the season, fueled by Brandon Dubinsky and Anton Stralman. Minnesota tied it with a Kyle Brodziak goal, his twentieth of the year coming in the second period on the power play from Cal Clutterbuck and Marco Scandella. The Rangers retook the lead with a Marian Gaborik, his thirty-eighth of the season, thanks to Brad Richards and Ryan McDonagh. Mikko Koivu retied it for the Wild with his eleventh of the year, a power play goal powered by Dany Heatley and Devin Setoguchi. New York got the lead back in the third period with a Ruslan Fedotenko goal, his ninth of the season, assisted by McDonagh and Dan Girardi. The final held at 3-2 with the three stars being McDonagh, Scandella, and Brodziak.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion. Busiest three days I've ever had, and happy baseball season at 3:10 AM PDT! I will try to do mini capsules during MLB, but no promises.
Monday, March 26, 2012
NHL Day 173 2011-2012
Six games on tonight, and this post is running late thanks to a poetry event I had the utmost pleasure in attending. I will post my contributions and writings at a later date for everyone on here to see. As for the hockey...
The Detroit Red Wings opened things by hosting the Columbus Blue Jackets. Steve Mason and Ty Conklin played in goal. Detroit led off with a Tomas Holmstrom power play goal, his ninth of the season, set up by Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas Kronwall. The Red Wings added on as Gustav Nyquist scored, with the help of Pavel Datsyuk and Todd Bertuzzi. Holmstrom struck again for Detroit with his second of the game and tenth of the year, another power play goal, powered by Zetterberg and Kronwall. The Red Wings kept going on a Jiri Hudler goal, his twenty-third of the season, via Valtteri Filppula and Bertuzzi. Detroit extended the lead in the second period with a Nicklas Lidstrom goal, his eleventh of the year, coming off of Zetterberg for a sock trick and Ian White. The Red Wings rolled along with a Brad Stuart goal, his sixth of the season, chasing Mason in faovr of Allen York, and with assists provided by Bertuzzi for a sock trick and Filppula. Datsyuk later struck for Detroit in the third period with his eighteenth of the year, guided in by Zetterberg and Bertuzzi. Columbus finally got on the board as Mark Letestu netted his eleventh of the season, thanks to Rick Nash and Nikita Nikitin. The Blue Jackets made it 7-2 with a Nash goal, his twenty-seventh of the year, assisted by Vinny Prospal and Jack Johnson. Zetterberg, Bertuzzi, and Holmstrom had the three stars, while Datsyuk, Filppula, Kronwall, and Nash got the honorable mentions.
Moving eastward, the Philadelphia Flyers hosted the Tampa Bay Lightning. Dwayne Roloson and Ilya Bryzgalov handled the goaltending duties. Tampa Bay struck first as Ryan Malone put down his fifteenth of the season, a shorthanded goal passed through by Trevor Smith. The Lightning added on as Steven Stamkos notched his fifty-third of the year, a power play goal powered by Martin St. Louis and Teddy Purcell. Philadelphia got on the board in the second period with a Wayne Simmonds goal, coming off of Brayden Schenn and Pavel Kubina as his twenty-third of the season. Matt Read tied it for the Flyers on his twenty-second of the year, guided in by Kimmo Timonen and Jakub Voracek. St. Louis gave Tampa Bay the lead back in the third period with his twenty-fourth of the season, set up by Tim Wallace and Eric Brewer. The Lightning extended the lead with an unassisted J.T. Wyman goal, his second of the year. Philadelphia took one back on a Scott Hartnell tally, his thirty-sixth of the season, a power play goal made possible by Danny Briere and Jakub Voracek. Tampa Bay iced it at 5-3 with an empty net goal off the tape of Tom Pyatt, his twelfth of the year, with a lone Brewer helper. The three stars were given to Roloson (35 for 37 in saves), St. Louis, and Simmonds, while the honorable mentions include Stamkos, Brewer, and Voracek.
Northwest of there, the Winnipeg Jets welcomed their eastern neighbors, the Ottawa Senators. Craig Anderson and Ondrej Pavelec attempted to stop the pucks. Ottawa opened with a Chris Neil goal, via Jason Spezza and Erik Karlsson as his twelfth of the season. The Senators added on in the second period when Kaspars Daugavins netted his fifth of the year, thanks to Erik Condra and Zack Smith. Antti Miettinen got one back for Winnipeg with his third of the season, a power play goal powered by Zach Bogosian and Kyle Wellwood. Wellwood tied it for the Jets with his sixteenth of the year, made possible by Evander Kane and Ron Hainsey. Kyle Turris reclaimed the Ottawa lead on his tenth of the season, fueled by Spezza and Karlsson. Twenty-seconds later, Miettinen recorded his second of the night and fourth of the year, with he help of Jim Slater and Tanner Glass, putting Winnipeg in another tie. Daniel Alfredsson broke it for the Senators in the third period on his twenty-fifth of the season, set up by Karlsson, who got a sock trick. Kane retied it for the Jets with his twenty-ninth of the year, courtesy of Wellwood. Ottawa took the lead again twenty-four seconds later as Alfredsson potted his second of the game and twenty-sixth of the season, assisted by Filip Kuba and Turris. The Senators iced it at 6-4 with an empty net goal by Milan Michalek, his thirty-fourth of the year, helped along by Spezza, who got a sock trick. Karlsson, Miettinen, and Anderson (44 for 48 in saves) got the three stars, while the honorable mentions include Spezza, Wellwood, Alfredsson, Turris, and Kane.
Westward to Calgary, as the Flames host the Dallas Stars. Kari Lehtonen and Miikka Kiprusoff again tended the twines. Dallas scored twenty-six seconds in with a Jamie Benn goal, his twenty-fifth of the season, assisted by Steve Ott. Calgary tied it on a power play goal by Olli Jokinen, his twenty-second of the year, coming off of Lee Stempniak and Curtis Glencross. Benn answered in the second period for the Stars with his second of the game and twenty-sixth of the campaign, guided in by Adam Burish and Adam Pardy forty-four seconds into the period. The Flames retied it as Blake Comeau netted his fifth of the season, an unassisted goal. Calgary gained the lead with a Michael Cammalleri goal, his seventeenth of the year, fueled by Jarome Iginla and Anton Babchuk. Dallas answered with the seventeenth of the campaign for Mike Ribeiro, pushed through by Michael Ryder and Alex Goligoski. The Flames again went ahead with a Mark Giordano power play goal, his ninth of the season, powered by Iginla and Cammalleri. Calgary extended their lead with an Alex Tanguay power play goal, his thirteenth of the year, thanks to Cammalleri and Giordano. The Stars attempted a comeback in the third period on a Philip Larsen power play goal, his second of the campaign, passed from Sheldon Souray and Ott, but they never got the equalizer, falling 5-4. Cammalleri, Benn, and Giordano earned the three stars, while Iginla and Ott get the honorable mentions.
Into British Columbia, where the Vancouver Canucks bring in the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick and Roberto Luongo guarded the cages. Vancouver started the scoring with a Manny Malhotra goal, his seventh of the season, assisted by Maxim Lapierre and Alexander Edler. This goal held up throughout the game for a 1-0 Canucks win. The three stars were handed to Luongo (38 save shutout), Quick (24 for 25 in saves), and Malhotra.
We end the day in San Jose, where the Sharks welcomed the Colorado Avalanche. Semyon Varlamov and Antti Niemi went between the pipes. San Jose got things going in the second period with the twenty-eighth of the season by Joe Pavelski, guided in by Justin Braun and Dan Boyle. The Sharks added on with a Andrew Desjardins netting his fourth of the year, via Tommy Wingels and Boyle. Colorado got one back as Shane O'Brien registered his third of the season, thanks to Ryan O'Reilly and Gabriel Landeskog. San Jose answered with a Torrey Mitchell goal, his ninth of the year, made possible by Michal Handzus and Dominic Moore. The Sharks extended the lead in the third period with Pavelski's second of the night and twenty-ninth of the season, a power play goal powered by Logan Couture and Joe Thornton. San Jose iced it at 5-1 with Ryane Clowe putting his fourteenth of the year into the empty net, with the help of Martin Havlat. The three stars of the game were Pavelski, Desjardins, and Boyle.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
The Detroit Red Wings opened things by hosting the Columbus Blue Jackets. Steve Mason and Ty Conklin played in goal. Detroit led off with a Tomas Holmstrom power play goal, his ninth of the season, set up by Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas Kronwall. The Red Wings added on as Gustav Nyquist scored, with the help of Pavel Datsyuk and Todd Bertuzzi. Holmstrom struck again for Detroit with his second of the game and tenth of the year, another power play goal, powered by Zetterberg and Kronwall. The Red Wings kept going on a Jiri Hudler goal, his twenty-third of the season, via Valtteri Filppula and Bertuzzi. Detroit extended the lead in the second period with a Nicklas Lidstrom goal, his eleventh of the year, coming off of Zetterberg for a sock trick and Ian White. The Red Wings rolled along with a Brad Stuart goal, his sixth of the season, chasing Mason in faovr of Allen York, and with assists provided by Bertuzzi for a sock trick and Filppula. Datsyuk later struck for Detroit in the third period with his eighteenth of the year, guided in by Zetterberg and Bertuzzi. Columbus finally got on the board as Mark Letestu netted his eleventh of the season, thanks to Rick Nash and Nikita Nikitin. The Blue Jackets made it 7-2 with a Nash goal, his twenty-seventh of the year, assisted by Vinny Prospal and Jack Johnson. Zetterberg, Bertuzzi, and Holmstrom had the three stars, while Datsyuk, Filppula, Kronwall, and Nash got the honorable mentions.
Moving eastward, the Philadelphia Flyers hosted the Tampa Bay Lightning. Dwayne Roloson and Ilya Bryzgalov handled the goaltending duties. Tampa Bay struck first as Ryan Malone put down his fifteenth of the season, a shorthanded goal passed through by Trevor Smith. The Lightning added on as Steven Stamkos notched his fifty-third of the year, a power play goal powered by Martin St. Louis and Teddy Purcell. Philadelphia got on the board in the second period with a Wayne Simmonds goal, coming off of Brayden Schenn and Pavel Kubina as his twenty-third of the season. Matt Read tied it for the Flyers on his twenty-second of the year, guided in by Kimmo Timonen and Jakub Voracek. St. Louis gave Tampa Bay the lead back in the third period with his twenty-fourth of the season, set up by Tim Wallace and Eric Brewer. The Lightning extended the lead with an unassisted J.T. Wyman goal, his second of the year. Philadelphia took one back on a Scott Hartnell tally, his thirty-sixth of the season, a power play goal made possible by Danny Briere and Jakub Voracek. Tampa Bay iced it at 5-3 with an empty net goal off the tape of Tom Pyatt, his twelfth of the year, with a lone Brewer helper. The three stars were given to Roloson (35 for 37 in saves), St. Louis, and Simmonds, while the honorable mentions include Stamkos, Brewer, and Voracek.
Northwest of there, the Winnipeg Jets welcomed their eastern neighbors, the Ottawa Senators. Craig Anderson and Ondrej Pavelec attempted to stop the pucks. Ottawa opened with a Chris Neil goal, via Jason Spezza and Erik Karlsson as his twelfth of the season. The Senators added on in the second period when Kaspars Daugavins netted his fifth of the year, thanks to Erik Condra and Zack Smith. Antti Miettinen got one back for Winnipeg with his third of the season, a power play goal powered by Zach Bogosian and Kyle Wellwood. Wellwood tied it for the Jets with his sixteenth of the year, made possible by Evander Kane and Ron Hainsey. Kyle Turris reclaimed the Ottawa lead on his tenth of the season, fueled by Spezza and Karlsson. Twenty-seconds later, Miettinen recorded his second of the night and fourth of the year, with he help of Jim Slater and Tanner Glass, putting Winnipeg in another tie. Daniel Alfredsson broke it for the Senators in the third period on his twenty-fifth of the season, set up by Karlsson, who got a sock trick. Kane retied it for the Jets with his twenty-ninth of the year, courtesy of Wellwood. Ottawa took the lead again twenty-four seconds later as Alfredsson potted his second of the game and twenty-sixth of the season, assisted by Filip Kuba and Turris. The Senators iced it at 6-4 with an empty net goal by Milan Michalek, his thirty-fourth of the year, helped along by Spezza, who got a sock trick. Karlsson, Miettinen, and Anderson (44 for 48 in saves) got the three stars, while the honorable mentions include Spezza, Wellwood, Alfredsson, Turris, and Kane.
Westward to Calgary, as the Flames host the Dallas Stars. Kari Lehtonen and Miikka Kiprusoff again tended the twines. Dallas scored twenty-six seconds in with a Jamie Benn goal, his twenty-fifth of the season, assisted by Steve Ott. Calgary tied it on a power play goal by Olli Jokinen, his twenty-second of the year, coming off of Lee Stempniak and Curtis Glencross. Benn answered in the second period for the Stars with his second of the game and twenty-sixth of the campaign, guided in by Adam Burish and Adam Pardy forty-four seconds into the period. The Flames retied it as Blake Comeau netted his fifth of the season, an unassisted goal. Calgary gained the lead with a Michael Cammalleri goal, his seventeenth of the year, fueled by Jarome Iginla and Anton Babchuk. Dallas answered with the seventeenth of the campaign for Mike Ribeiro, pushed through by Michael Ryder and Alex Goligoski. The Flames again went ahead with a Mark Giordano power play goal, his ninth of the season, powered by Iginla and Cammalleri. Calgary extended their lead with an Alex Tanguay power play goal, his thirteenth of the year, thanks to Cammalleri and Giordano. The Stars attempted a comeback in the third period on a Philip Larsen power play goal, his second of the campaign, passed from Sheldon Souray and Ott, but they never got the equalizer, falling 5-4. Cammalleri, Benn, and Giordano earned the three stars, while Iginla and Ott get the honorable mentions.
Into British Columbia, where the Vancouver Canucks bring in the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick and Roberto Luongo guarded the cages. Vancouver started the scoring with a Manny Malhotra goal, his seventh of the season, assisted by Maxim Lapierre and Alexander Edler. This goal held up throughout the game for a 1-0 Canucks win. The three stars were handed to Luongo (38 save shutout), Quick (24 for 25 in saves), and Malhotra.
We end the day in San Jose, where the Sharks welcomed the Colorado Avalanche. Semyon Varlamov and Antti Niemi went between the pipes. San Jose got things going in the second period with the twenty-eighth of the season by Joe Pavelski, guided in by Justin Braun and Dan Boyle. The Sharks added on with a Andrew Desjardins netting his fourth of the year, via Tommy Wingels and Boyle. Colorado got one back as Shane O'Brien registered his third of the season, thanks to Ryan O'Reilly and Gabriel Landeskog. San Jose answered with a Torrey Mitchell goal, his ninth of the year, made possible by Michal Handzus and Dominic Moore. The Sharks extended the lead in the third period with Pavelski's second of the night and twenty-ninth of the season, a power play goal powered by Logan Couture and Joe Thornton. San Jose iced it at 5-1 with Ryane Clowe putting his fourteenth of the year into the empty net, with the help of Martin Havlat. The three stars of the game were Pavelski, Desjardins, and Boyle.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
Fantasy Hockey All-Stars week 23
Playoffs are in full force and the teams left in them dwindle rapidly. Here's who may have had a key role in keeping you afloat this week.
1. Evgeni Malkin, 5 G, 4 A, +3, 8 PIM, 1 PPP, 21 SOG
2. Alex Ovechkin, 6 G, 1 A, +1, 0 PIM, 3 PPP, 22 SOG
3. Brian Elliott, 1 W, 0.00 GAA, 57 SV, 1.000 SV%, 2 SO
4. James Neal, 3 G, 5 A, +5, 4 PIM, 1 PPP, 19 SOG
5. Cody Hodgson, 3 G, 3 A, +2, 0 PIM, 3 PPP, 19 SOG
Best of luck this week for everyone still in the running.
1. Evgeni Malkin, 5 G, 4 A, +3, 8 PIM, 1 PPP, 21 SOG
2. Alex Ovechkin, 6 G, 1 A, +1, 0 PIM, 3 PPP, 22 SOG
3. Brian Elliott, 1 W, 0.00 GAA, 57 SV, 1.000 SV%, 2 SO
4. James Neal, 3 G, 5 A, +5, 4 PIM, 1 PPP, 19 SOG
5. Cody Hodgson, 3 G, 3 A, +2, 0 PIM, 3 PPP, 19 SOG
Best of luck this week for everyone still in the running.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
NHL Day 172 2011-2012
Another seven games to see today. We begin in...
Columbus, where the Blue Jackets host the Edmonton Oilers. Devan Dubnyk and Steve Mason play in goal. Columbus opened with a Mark Letestu goal, his tenth of the season, fueled by Aaron Johnson. Edmonton tied it in the second period on a Ryan Jones goal, his seventeenth of the year, coming off of Ryan Whitney and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins for an all Ryan scoring combination. The Blue Jackets took the lead again on a Rick Nash goal, his twenty-sixth of the season, in the form of a successful penalty shot due to a Linus Omark hook. The Oilers tied it again as Chris VandeVelde scored, with the help of Jordan Eberle and Jeff Petry. Edmonton gained the lead with a Ladislav Smid goal, his fifth of the season, courtesy of Nugent-Hopkins and Jones. The Oilers extended the lead with an unassisted Ben Eager goal, his eighth of the year. Edmonton continued their attack with a Sam Gagner power play goal, his seventeenth of the year, powered by Eberle and Whitney. Aaron York relieved Mason from here on. Columbus got one back with a Derick Brassard goal, his thirteenth of the season, set up on the power play goal R.J. Umberger and Nash. The Oilers iced it with an Eric Belanger goal, his fourth of the year, going into the empty net off of Jones and Smid. Jones, Nash, and Smid had the three stars in the 6-3 game, while Eberle, Nugent-Hopkins, and Whitney got the honorable mentions.
Down in Florida, the Panthers host the New York Islanders. Evgeni Nabokov and Jose Theodore are in front of the nets. Stephen Weiss put Florida ahead early with his nineteenth of the season, fueled by Tomas Fleischmann and Tomas Kopecky. New York tied it on a Matt Moulson power play goal in the second period, his thirty-fourth of the year, powered by John Tavares and P.A. Parenteau. The Panthers took the lead again in the third period with Fleischmann's twenty-fourth of the season, coming off of Kopecky. The Islanders retied it on a Kyle Okposo goal, his seventeenth of the year, made possible by Frans Nielsen and Josh Bailey. The game was decided in New York's favor in the shootout with Nielsen's lone tally toppling Florida. The three stars were given to Nabokov (33 for 35 in saves), Fleischmann, and Theodore (35 for 37 in saves), while Nielsen and Kopecky get the honorable mentions.
Back up the coast, with the Washington Capitals welcoming the Minnesota Wild. Matt Hackett and Braden Holtby are the young goaltenders. Washington got on the board with a second period Jason Chimera goal, his nineteenth of the season, assisted by Alexander Semin. The Capitals added on with a Mathieu Perreault power play goal, his fourteenth of the year, powered by Troy Brouwer and Alex Ovechkin. Ovechkin iced it at 3-0 for Washington with a third period goal, his thirty-sixth of the season, set up by Marcus Johansson and John Carlson. Holtby (28 save shutout), Ovechkin, and Semin had the three stars.
Into Pennsylvania, where the Pittsburgh Penguins hosted the New Jersey Devils. Martin Brodeur and Marc-Andre Fleury tended the twines. Pittsburgh opened with a Chris Kunitz goal, his twenty-third of the season, with a lone Evgeni Malkin assist. New Jersey tied it on a Zach Parise goal, his thirtieth of the year going in unassisted. The Penguins got the lead back with a Jordan Staal goal, his twenty-third of the season, via Matt Cooke. Pittsburgh extended the lead with a second period Pascal Dupuis goal, his twenty-third of the year, courtesy of Sidney Crosby and Craig Adams. The Devils got one back in the third period as Ilya Kovalchuk registered his thirty-second of the season, with the help of Travis Zajac and Alexei Ponikarovsky. The Penguins quickly answered on the fourth of the year for Crosby, made possible by Zbynek Michalek and Dupuis. Pittsburgh finished with a 5-2 win, as Malkin put his forty-sixth of the campaign into the empty net, passed from Staal and Kunitz. Crosby, Dupuis, and Malkin earned the three stars, while Kunitz and Staal get the honorable mentions.
Out west, the Chicago Blackhawks welcome the Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne and Corey Crawford play between the pipes. Matt Halischuk started things for Nashville on his fourteenth of the season, assisted by Brandon Yip and Paul Gaustad. The Predators extended the lead with an Andrei Kostitsyn goal, his sixteenth of the year, fueled by David Legwand and Patric Hornqvist. Nashville kept going in the second period as Hornqvist potted his twenty-fifth of the season, a power play goal powered by Alexander Radulov and Shea Weber. Francis Bouillon added on in the third period for the Predators with his second of the year, courtesy of Ryan Ellis and Halischuk. Ray Emery relieved Crawford from here on. Chicago finally got on the board as Viktor Stalberg shelved his nineteenth of the season, with the help of Nick Leddy and Andrew Shaw. Nashville struck back on a Weber goal, his sixteenth of the year, with a lone helper by Mike Fisher. The Predators iced it at 6-1 with a Fisher goal, his twenty-fourth of the campaign, with the goalie Rinne getting the only assist. The three stars were named as Rinne (24 for 25 in saves), Weber, and Hornqvist, while Halischuk and Fisher get the honorable mentions.
Farther to the west, the Anaheim Ducks bring in the Boston Bruins. Marty Turco and Jonas Hiller play in the blue paint. Boston got on the board in the second period with the twelfth of the season for Zdeno Chara, an unassisted goal. The Bruins quickly padded the lead with a Benoit Pouliot goal, his thirteenth of the year, passed from Chris Kelly and Brian Rolston. Anaheim got one back as Teemu Selanne potted his twenty-fourth of the season, a power play goal powered by Cam Fowler and Ryan Getzlaf. Boston got it back in the third period as Rolston notched his seventh of the year, thanks to Kelly and Pouliot. The Ducks pulled back on a Lubomir Visnovsky goal, his sixth of the season, going in unassisted. The Bruins held on to win 3-2, with the three stars being Rolston, Selanne, and Chara, while Kelly and Pouliot get the honorable mentions.
Finally we backtrack east a tad, as the Phoenix Coyotes host the St. Louis Blues. Brian Elliott and Jason LaBarbera get the starting nods. St. Louis was first on the board as Alex Pietrangelo netted his twelfth of the season, a second period power play goal powered by Kevin Shattenkirk and David Backes. The Blues added on in the third period when Backes scored on the power play, his twenty-third of the year, guided in by Shattenkirk and Pietrangelo. St. Louis added on when Patrik Berglund put down his eighteenth of the season, via Shattenkirk, who got a sock trick, and Chris Stewart. The Blues made it 4-0 with the third of the year by Ryan Reaves, fueled by Scott Nichol and Kent Huskins. This was a final, and the three stars were Elliott (20 save shutout), Pietrangelo, and Backes, while Shattenkirk earns an honorable mention.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
Columbus, where the Blue Jackets host the Edmonton Oilers. Devan Dubnyk and Steve Mason play in goal. Columbus opened with a Mark Letestu goal, his tenth of the season, fueled by Aaron Johnson. Edmonton tied it in the second period on a Ryan Jones goal, his seventeenth of the year, coming off of Ryan Whitney and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins for an all Ryan scoring combination. The Blue Jackets took the lead again on a Rick Nash goal, his twenty-sixth of the season, in the form of a successful penalty shot due to a Linus Omark hook. The Oilers tied it again as Chris VandeVelde scored, with the help of Jordan Eberle and Jeff Petry. Edmonton gained the lead with a Ladislav Smid goal, his fifth of the season, courtesy of Nugent-Hopkins and Jones. The Oilers extended the lead with an unassisted Ben Eager goal, his eighth of the year. Edmonton continued their attack with a Sam Gagner power play goal, his seventeenth of the year, powered by Eberle and Whitney. Aaron York relieved Mason from here on. Columbus got one back with a Derick Brassard goal, his thirteenth of the season, set up on the power play goal R.J. Umberger and Nash. The Oilers iced it with an Eric Belanger goal, his fourth of the year, going into the empty net off of Jones and Smid. Jones, Nash, and Smid had the three stars in the 6-3 game, while Eberle, Nugent-Hopkins, and Whitney got the honorable mentions.
Down in Florida, the Panthers host the New York Islanders. Evgeni Nabokov and Jose Theodore are in front of the nets. Stephen Weiss put Florida ahead early with his nineteenth of the season, fueled by Tomas Fleischmann and Tomas Kopecky. New York tied it on a Matt Moulson power play goal in the second period, his thirty-fourth of the year, powered by John Tavares and P.A. Parenteau. The Panthers took the lead again in the third period with Fleischmann's twenty-fourth of the season, coming off of Kopecky. The Islanders retied it on a Kyle Okposo goal, his seventeenth of the year, made possible by Frans Nielsen and Josh Bailey. The game was decided in New York's favor in the shootout with Nielsen's lone tally toppling Florida. The three stars were given to Nabokov (33 for 35 in saves), Fleischmann, and Theodore (35 for 37 in saves), while Nielsen and Kopecky get the honorable mentions.
Back up the coast, with the Washington Capitals welcoming the Minnesota Wild. Matt Hackett and Braden Holtby are the young goaltenders. Washington got on the board with a second period Jason Chimera goal, his nineteenth of the season, assisted by Alexander Semin. The Capitals added on with a Mathieu Perreault power play goal, his fourteenth of the year, powered by Troy Brouwer and Alex Ovechkin. Ovechkin iced it at 3-0 for Washington with a third period goal, his thirty-sixth of the season, set up by Marcus Johansson and John Carlson. Holtby (28 save shutout), Ovechkin, and Semin had the three stars.
Into Pennsylvania, where the Pittsburgh Penguins hosted the New Jersey Devils. Martin Brodeur and Marc-Andre Fleury tended the twines. Pittsburgh opened with a Chris Kunitz goal, his twenty-third of the season, with a lone Evgeni Malkin assist. New Jersey tied it on a Zach Parise goal, his thirtieth of the year going in unassisted. The Penguins got the lead back with a Jordan Staal goal, his twenty-third of the season, via Matt Cooke. Pittsburgh extended the lead with a second period Pascal Dupuis goal, his twenty-third of the year, courtesy of Sidney Crosby and Craig Adams. The Devils got one back in the third period as Ilya Kovalchuk registered his thirty-second of the season, with the help of Travis Zajac and Alexei Ponikarovsky. The Penguins quickly answered on the fourth of the year for Crosby, made possible by Zbynek Michalek and Dupuis. Pittsburgh finished with a 5-2 win, as Malkin put his forty-sixth of the campaign into the empty net, passed from Staal and Kunitz. Crosby, Dupuis, and Malkin earned the three stars, while Kunitz and Staal get the honorable mentions.
Out west, the Chicago Blackhawks welcome the Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne and Corey Crawford play between the pipes. Matt Halischuk started things for Nashville on his fourteenth of the season, assisted by Brandon Yip and Paul Gaustad. The Predators extended the lead with an Andrei Kostitsyn goal, his sixteenth of the year, fueled by David Legwand and Patric Hornqvist. Nashville kept going in the second period as Hornqvist potted his twenty-fifth of the season, a power play goal powered by Alexander Radulov and Shea Weber. Francis Bouillon added on in the third period for the Predators with his second of the year, courtesy of Ryan Ellis and Halischuk. Ray Emery relieved Crawford from here on. Chicago finally got on the board as Viktor Stalberg shelved his nineteenth of the season, with the help of Nick Leddy and Andrew Shaw. Nashville struck back on a Weber goal, his sixteenth of the year, with a lone helper by Mike Fisher. The Predators iced it at 6-1 with a Fisher goal, his twenty-fourth of the campaign, with the goalie Rinne getting the only assist. The three stars were named as Rinne (24 for 25 in saves), Weber, and Hornqvist, while Halischuk and Fisher get the honorable mentions.
Farther to the west, the Anaheim Ducks bring in the Boston Bruins. Marty Turco and Jonas Hiller play in the blue paint. Boston got on the board in the second period with the twelfth of the season for Zdeno Chara, an unassisted goal. The Bruins quickly padded the lead with a Benoit Pouliot goal, his thirteenth of the year, passed from Chris Kelly and Brian Rolston. Anaheim got one back as Teemu Selanne potted his twenty-fourth of the season, a power play goal powered by Cam Fowler and Ryan Getzlaf. Boston got it back in the third period as Rolston notched his seventh of the year, thanks to Kelly and Pouliot. The Ducks pulled back on a Lubomir Visnovsky goal, his sixth of the season, going in unassisted. The Bruins held on to win 3-2, with the three stars being Rolston, Selanne, and Chara, while Kelly and Pouliot get the honorable mentions.
Finally we backtrack east a tad, as the Phoenix Coyotes host the St. Louis Blues. Brian Elliott and Jason LaBarbera get the starting nods. St. Louis was first on the board as Alex Pietrangelo netted his twelfth of the season, a second period power play goal powered by Kevin Shattenkirk and David Backes. The Blues added on in the third period when Backes scored on the power play, his twenty-third of the year, guided in by Shattenkirk and Pietrangelo. St. Louis added on when Patrik Berglund put down his eighteenth of the season, via Shattenkirk, who got a sock trick, and Chris Stewart. The Blues made it 4-0 with the third of the year by Ryan Reaves, fueled by Scott Nichol and Kent Huskins. This was a final, and the three stars were Elliott (20 save shutout), Pietrangelo, and Backes, while Shattenkirk earns an honorable mention.
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