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NEW YORK RANGERS 3 @ NEW JERSEY DEVILS 1
Goaltending match-up: Henrik Lundqvist (43/44, .977 SV%) vs. Martin Brodeur (23/25, .920 SV%)
Combos: Mats Zuccarello - Derek Stepan - Marian Gaborik/ Brandon Dubinsky - Artem Anisimov - Chris Drury/ Ruslan Fedotenko - Brian Boyle - Brandon Prust/ Sean Avery - Erik Christensen - Alexander Frolov/ Marc Staal - Dan Girardi/ Steve Eminger - Michal Rozsival/ Matt Gilroy - Michael Sauer
Scratches: Del Zotto, Boogaard
Top PP times: Gaborik (5:11), Dubinsky (4:32), Girardi (4:04), Staal (4:02), Frolov (3:58), Rozsival (3:58)
Trending: Brandon Dubinsky (1G, 1A, +2, 2 SOG) had 10 points in December coming in and Derek Stepan’s (1A, +1, 2 PIM, 3:52 PP, 1 SOG) point streak stretched to five games here. Brian Boyle (1G, 5 PIM, 0:49 PP, 6 SOG) had added eight points in six affairs prior to this evening, while Ruslan Fedotenko (1A, +1, 0:46 PP, 4 SOG) has points in six of nine. Brandon Prust (1A, 0:25 PP, 1 SOG) already had seven points and 14 PIM in 11 GP this month.
Combos: Ilya Kovalchuk - Travis Zajac - Mattias Tedenby/ Patrik Elias - Jason Arnott - Jamie Langenbrunner/ Vladimir Zharkov - Dainius Zubrus - David Clarkson/ Rod Pelley - Tim Sestito - Adam Mair/ Andy Greene - Anton Volchenkov/ Colin White - Henrik Tallinder/ Anssi Salmela - Matthew Corrente
Scratches: Fayne
Top PP times: Kovalchuk (8:00), Elias (4:44), Langenbrunner (4:23), Zubrus (3:53), Zajac (3:51)
Trending: Travis Zajac (1G, 2 PIM, 3 SOG) had chipped in nine points in 10 GP before tonight and Ilya Kovalchuk (1A, 4 SOG) ended a brief three-game pointless spell. He had seven points in the five games prior. Mattias Tedenby (1A, 3:16 PP, 5 SOG) had just two points on the month coming in here.
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS 1 @ NEW YORK ISLANDERS 2 (SO)
Goaltending match-up: Marc-Andre Fleury (25/26, .962 SV%) vs. Rick DiPietro (37/38, .974 SV%)
Combos: Chris Kunitz - Sidney Crosby - Pascal Dupuis/ Matt Cooke - Evgeni Malkin - Max Talbot/ Chris Conner - Mark Letestu - Tyler Kennedy/ Michael Rupp - Craig Adams - Arron Asham/ Paul Martin - Zbynek Michalek/ Brooks Orpik - Kris Letang/ Alex Goligoski - Deryk Engelland
Scratches: Lovejoy, Godard
Top PP times: Crosby (3:14), Malkin (3:14), Letang (3:14), Kunitz (3:03), Martin (1:45)
Trending: Could Sidney Crosby (-1, 2 SOG) extend his league-leading point streak to 26 games? No. What an amazing run it was though, eh? He was stopped on his shootout attempt too. Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin scored in the shootout.
Combos: Matt Moulson - John Tavares - P.A. Parenteau/ Blake Comeau - Rob Schremp - Jon Sim/ Michael Grabner - Frans Nielsen - Josh Bailey/ Matt Martin - Zenon Konopka - Trevor Gillies/ Andrew MacDonald - Travis Hamonic/ Mark Eaton - Milan Jurcina/ Jack Hillen - Bruno Gervais.
Scratches: Martinek
Top PP times: MacDonald (3:35), Schremp (3:18), Bailey (3:12), Comeau (3:02), Parenteau (2:58)
Trending: Josh Bailey (1G, +1, 2 PIM, 5 SOG) had that three-pointer @NJD as his only output in four tries before tonight. Rob Schremp, Frans Nielsen, P.A. Parenteau scored in the shootout. As expected, Andrew MacDonald received a nice bump in PP responsibilities with James Wisniewski now with the Habs.
CAROLINA HURRICANES 4 @ OTTAWA SENATORS 0
Goaltending match-up: Cam Ward (37/37) vs. Brian Elliott (27/31, .871 SV%)
Combos: Sergei Samsonov - Eric Staal - Erik Cole/ Chad LaRose - Jeff Skinner - Tuomo Ruutu/ Zach Boychuk - Brandon Sutter - Pat Dwyer/ Ryan Carter - Jon Matsumoto - Troy Bodie/ Tim Gleason - Joe Corvo/ Bryan Rodney - Jamie McBain/ Ian White - Jay Harrison
Scratches: Tlusty, Pitkanen, Jokinen
Top PP times: Corvo (3:33), McBain (3:15), Skinner (2:53), Ruutu (2:53), Staal (2:39)
Trending: Zach Boychuk (2G, +1, 2:33 PP, 5 SOG) has points in B2B games after none in his first four on this call-up. Tuomo Ruutu (1A, no SOG) has points in three straight after three without one. He had eight December points coming in. Joe Corvo (1A< +2, 2 SOG) had just three points on the month before this tilt. Erik Cole (1G, +1, 2:03 PP, 8 SOG) has scored in two of four and has points in five of eight.
Combos: Nick Foligno - Mike Fisher - Daniel Alfredsson/ Milan Michalek - Peter Regin - Alex Kovalev/ Jarkko Ruutu - Chris Kelly - Chris Neil/ Ryan Shannon - Brad Winchester - Zack Smith/ Filip Kuba - Matt Carkner/ Chris Phillips - Erik Karlsson/ Chris Campoli - Sergei Gonchar
Scratches: Lee, Leclaire
Top PP times:
Trending: Gonchar (5:19), Karlsson (4:20), Alfredsson (4:20), Fisher (4:20), Michalek (2:39)
SAN JOSE SHARKS 3 @ MINNESOTA WILD 5
Goaltending match-up: Antero Niittymaki (19/24, .792 SV%) vs. Niklas Backstrom (29/32, .906 SV%)
Combos: Benn Ferriero - Joe Thornton - Dany Heatley/ Ryane Clowe - Logan Couture - Devin Setoguchi/ Jamie McGinn - Patrick Marleau- Tommy Wingels/ Brandon Mashinter - Scott Nichol - Jamal Mayers/ Douglas Murray - Dan Boyle/ Marc-Edouard Vlasic - Niclas Wallin/ Kent Huskins - Jason Demers/
Scratches: Pavelski, Mitchell, Joslin
Top PP times: Boyle (3:42), Demers (3:22), Thornton (3:01), Marleau (3:01), Heatley (2:34)
Trending: Joe Thornton (1G, 1A, -1, 2 PIM, 1 SOG) has scored a PPG in two of three and he has points in three of four after having two in six. Dan Boyle (1A, 5 SOG) had five points in five games headed into this one and Ryane Clowe (2A, -1, 1:56 PP, 7 SOG) chipped in more for his poolies, as he’s done all season long across the board. Devin Setoguchi (1G, -1, 1:29 PP, 2 SOG) had three points in his six starts this month coming in. Logan Couture (1A, -1, 1:29 PP, 1 SOG) had 12 of his 25 points in 13 GP this month before another box score appearance here. Patrick Marleau’s (1G, -1, 4 SOG) game has slowly been coming around and he had five points in four clashes coming in. Dany Heatley (1A, -1, 1 SOG) has a point in four of seven.
Combos: Andrew Brunette - Mikko Koivu - Antti Miettinen/ Pierre-Marc Bouchard - Kyle Brodziak - Martin Havlat/ Eric Nystrom - John Madden - Cal Clutterbuck/Brad Staubitz - Matt Cullen - Chuck Kobasew/ Greg Zanon - Nick Schultz/ Marek Zidlicky - Cam Barker/ Marco Scandella - Brent Burns
Scratches: Stoner, O'Sullivan
Top PP times: Miettinen (4:50), Koivu (4:48), Brunette (4:41), Burns (4:36), PMB (4:21)
Trending: Brent Burns (1G, 1A, +2, 2 PIM, 2 SOG) had already added nine points in his 12 GP this month before this multi-pointer. Martin Havlat (2A, +1, 2 PIM, 3:37 PP, 4 SOG) had collected 19 points in 18 home games before this evening and Pierre-Marc Bouchard (1A, +1, 1 SOG) had just one point in seven affairs before tonight. He began his comeback with points in four of five. Mikko Koivu (1G, +1, 6 SOG) had just 1-7-8 in 18 GP vs. SJ before tonight, but had 11 points in 12 December GP. Antti Miettinen (1A, +1, 1 SOG) has struck for points in four of six and Andrew Brunette (1A, +1, no SOG) has them in six of 10 now. Chuck Kobasew (1G, +2, no PP, 2 SOG) was coming off a two-pointer @CBJ.
DETROIT RED WINGS 7 @ DALLAS STARS 3
Goaltending match-up: Jimmy Howard (28/31, .903 SV%) vs. Kari Lehtonen (19/25, .760 SV%)
Combos: Johan Franzen - Henrik Zetterberg - Tomas Holmstrom/ Jiri Hudler - Valtteri Filppula - Todd Bertuzzi/ Jan Mursak - Justin Abdelkader - Drew Miller/ Kris Draper - Darren Helm - Patrick Eaves/ Nicklas Lidstrom - Brad Stuart/ Jonathan Ericsson - Brian Rafalski/ Ruslan Salei - Niklas Kronwall
Scratches: Kindl, Cleary, Datsyuk
Top PP times: Rafalski (2:11), Holmstrom (1:14), Filppula (1:09), Lidstrom (1:09), Hudler (1:09)
Trending: Jiri Hudler (1G, 1A, +1, 1 SOG) has PPGs in B2B games as he looks to gain some offensive traction for his team after what’s been a disappointing NHL comeback to date. Todd Bertuzzi (2A, -1, 0:46 PP, no SOG) has points in three of five after a big dry spell. Nicklas Lidstrom (1G, 1A, +2, 2 SOG) had 57 points in 87 GP vs. DAL coming in. Valtteri Filppula (1A, 1 SOG) has points in five of six, while Brian Rafalski(1A, -1, 2 PIM, 1 SOG) immediately returned to his point-producing ways after missing brief time with a back issue. Johan Franzen (2A, +1, 2 PIM, no SOG) had 11 points in his 14 GP this month coming in. Patrick Eaves (3G, 1A, +1, 0:11 PP, 4 SOG) has goals in four of seven and his ENG came into the empty net. He had 15 SOG in 6 GP headed in here too.
Combos: Tom Wandell - Brad Richards - Loui Eriksson/ Brenden Morrow - Mike Ribeiro - Jamie Benn/ James Neal - Steve Ott - Adam Burish/ Krys Barch - Toby Petersen - Aaron Gagnon / Nicklas Grossman - Stephane Robidas/ Karlis Skrastins- Mark Fistric/ Jeff Woywitka - Trevor Daley
Scratches: Niskanen, Sutherby, Segal
Top PP times: Richards (5:44), Morrow (4:28), Robidas (4:00), Ribeiro (3;42), Neal (3:05), Eriksson (3:05)
Trending: Brad Richards (1G, -1, 6 SOG) had a goal the last time these teams met and has a point-per-game average against the Wings after 20 career contests. Loui Eriksson (1A, +1, 1 SOG) had racked up 11 points in his prior seven starts. Jamie Benn (1G, 1A, 2:50 PP, 6 SOG) had five points in five tilts before tonight, while Mike Ribeiro (1A, no SOG) added to the 17 points in 19 home games he had coming into this one. Brenden Morrow (1A, -1, 2 PIM, 4 SOG) began the evening with six points and 10 PIM in his 14 December GP.
LOS ANGELES KINGS 3 @ PHOENIX COYOTES 6
Goaltending match-up: Jonathan Quick (12/18, .667 SV%) & Jonathan Quick (13/13) vs. Ilya Bryzgalov (23/26, .885 SV%)
Combos: Marco Sturm - Anze Kopitar - Dustin Brown/ Ryan Smyth - Jarret Stoll - Justin Williams/ Kyle Clifford - Michal Handzus - Wayne Simmonds/ Brad Richardson- Trevor Lewis - Kevin Westgarth/ Jack Johnson - Drew Doughty / Alec Martinez - Davis Drewiske / Matt Greene - Rob Scuderi
Scratches: Harrold, Ponikarovsky, Mitchell
Top PP times: Doughty (2:51), Smyth (2:51), Brown (2:33), Stoll (2:33), Kopitar (2:28)
Trending: Marco Sturm (1G, +1, no PP, 1 SOG) has points in three in a row and while I don’t really think his production will last at this level (or before he gets hurt again), he’s a good play these days on the wing as long as he’s on L1. Anze Kopitar (2A, +2, 2 SOG) has seven multi-pointers this month with at least two SOG in every single game of December. Drew Doughty (1A, -1, no SOG) has really been coming on strong over the past two weeks and Ryan Smyth (1G, -2, 3 SOG) ended a period of one point in five tries.
Combos: Scottie Upshall - Eric Belanger - Shane Doan/ Ray Whitney - Lauri Korpikoski - Lee Stempniak/ Mikkel Boedker - Kyle Turris - Brett MacLean/ Wojtek Wolski - Vernon Fiddler - Paul Bissonnette/ Ed Jovanovski - Adrian Aucoin/ Keith Yandle - Derek Morris/ - Sami Lepisto - Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Scratches: Schlemko, Hanzal, Vrbata
Top PP times: Doan (6:50), Yandle (5:50), Whitney (5:22), Stempniak (5:04), Korpikoski (5:04)
Trending: Brett McLean (1G, +1, 2:37 PP, 2 SOG) was a second rounder in 2007 and he made his NHL debut tonight, scoring on his first shot. He had 14-17-31 in 32 GP in the AHL before the call-up and 65 points in 76 GP last year. He was on a kid line with Kyle Turris (1G, +2, 2:40 PP, 2 SOG) and Mikkel Boedker (+1, 2 PIM, 1:24 PP, 2 SOG), with whom he’s spent time on the farm. Shane Doan (2G, 8 SOG) has really been turning it on since coming back in the line-up in late November, chipping in a nice mix of points, PIM and SOG. He nearly tipped in his hat trick goal, but it hit the post. He's never had a career trick, believe it or not. Scottie Upshall (1G, 2A, +1, 2:55 PP, 3 SOG) had no points between his three-pointer at the start of December and this large night. Keith Yandle (3A, +2, 1 SOG) has been piling on the points this month, adding to the 11 in 12 already accumulated before this multi-pointer. Ray Whitney (1G, 1A, +1, 3 SOG) had a decent seven points in 12 GP coming in, but also had 29 SOG in that span.
