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ATLANTA THRASHERS 1 @ NEW JERSEY DEVILS 3
Goaltending match-up: Chris Mason (25/28, .893 SV%) vs. Johan Hedberg (28/29, .966 SV%)
Combos: Andrew Ladd - Rich Peverley - Anthony Stewart/ Tim Stapleton - Alex Burmistrov - Bryan Little/ Evander Kane - Patrice Cormier - Niclas Bergfors/ Eric Boulton - Jim Slater - Chris Thorburn/ Dustin Byfuglien - Tobias Enstrom/ Freddy Meyer - Johnny Oduya/ Ron Hainsey - Brent Sopel
Scratches: Bogosian, Modin, Eager
Top PP times: Enstrom (2:33), Byfuglien (2:51), Stewart (2:19), Burmistrov (2:01), Kane (2:01)
Trending: This is going to shock you, but Dustin Byfuglien (1G, 4 SOG) scored another point for his owners tonight. Anthony Stewart (1A, -1, 1 SOG) had two points when these teams met Dec. 18 and this has been a really good breakout season for him. His hard work and attention to the details over the summer have really paid off.
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/ Henrik Tallinder - Mark Fayne/ Anssi Salmela - Matt Corrente
Scratches: White, Rolston, Palmieri
Top PP times: Kovalchuk (4:00), Elias (3:04), Langenbrunner (2:28), Zajac (2:24), Zubrus (1:48)
Trending: Ilya Kovalchuk (1G, 2 SOG) scored against the Thrashers a few weeks ago and had just one helper in the four games since. Jamie Langenbrunner (1G, +2, 8 SOG) has picked up points in three of five now and he potted his first goal since Nov. 10. Jason Arnott (2A, +2, 1:36 PP, 2 SOG) broke a nine-game pointless skid here. Mark Fayne (1G, +2, 5 PIM, no PP, 1 SOG) has points in three of his past seven on D.
MONTREAL CANADIENS 3 @ FLORIDA PANTHERS 2 (OT)
Goaltending match-up: Alex Auld (20/22, .909 SV%) vs. Tomas Vokoun (47/50, .940 SV%)
Combos: Michael Cammalleri - Tomas Plekanec - Andrei Kostitsyn/ Max Pacioretty - Scott Gomez - Brian Gionta/ Mathieu Darche - Jeff Halpern - Tom Pyatt/ Travis Moen - Lars Eller - Benoit Pouliot/ P.K. Subban - Hal Gill/ James Wisniewski - Roman Hamrlik/ Jaroslav Spacek - Yannick Weber
Scratches: Lapierre, Picard, Desharnais
Top PP times: Hamrlik (4:34), Wisniewski (3:47), Gomez (3:28), Gionta (3:16), Cammalleri (3:13)
Trending: James Wisniewski (2G, 1A, 6 SOG) was blanked in his first game with the Habs, but connected on the PP here and then again for the OT GWG! He has points in seven of his past eight overall. Michael Cammalleri (1A, +1, 3 SOG) took the original shot in OT that led to the rebound and he has 13 points in 15 GP to wrap up the month. Roman Hamrlik (1A, -1, 1 SOG) had just one point in 10 coming in, while Scott Gomez (2A, -1, 3 SOG) began the evening with nine points in eight contests. Brian Gionta (1G, -1, 3 SOG) had been blanked in his past four. Tomas Plekanec (1A, +1, 2 PIM, 4 SOG) has 31 points on the season.
Combos: Chris Higgins - Stephen Weiss - Michael Frolik/ David Booth - Mike Santorelli - Evgeny Dadonov/ Cory Stillman - Marty Reasoner - Radek Dvorak/ Rostislav Olesz - Shawn Matthias - Steve Bernier/ Bryan Allen - Dennis Wideman/ Dmitry Kulikov - Bryan McCabe/ Mike Weaver - Jason Garrison
Scratches: Hordichuk, Reinprecht
Top PP times: Wideman (7:34), McCabe (7:27), Weiss (6:30), Santorelli (6:02), Booth (3:54)
Trending: Stephen Weiss (1G, 5 SOG) has goals in four of six and his past three weeks have been really productive offensively. David Booth (1A, +1, 1 SOG) had just six December points coming in and Dmitry Kulikov (1G, +1, 2:41 PP, 2 SOG) had just four points on the month headed in here.
NASHVILLE PREDATORS 4 @ MINNESOTA WILD 1
Goaltending match-up: Pekka Rinne (22/23, .957 SV%) vs. Niklas Backstrom (28/30, .933 SV%)
Combos: J.P. Dumont - Cal O'Reilly - Patric Hornqvist/ Colin Wilson - David Legwand - Marek Svatos/ Sergei Kostitsyn - Marcel Goc - Linus Klasen/ Jerred Smithson - Nick Spaling - Joel Ward/ Shea Weber - Ryan Suter/ Kevin Klein - Francis Bouillon/ Cody Franson - Shane O'Brien
Scratches: Belak, Sulzer, Mueller
Top PP times: Suter (1:56), Weber (1:27), Goc (1:08), Klasen (1:08), 3 with 0:52
Trending: Marek Svatos (2 PIM, 9:59 TOI, 0:24 PP, 3 SOG) made his debut with the Preds tonight on a scoring line, which is where he’ll need to be in order to succeed. He’s had major consistency issues in the past, but best of luck to him in his latest stint after spending time in the KHL. David Legwand (2A, +2, no PP, 1 SOG) was back in the line-up tonight and he hadn’t played since Dec. 08. Cody Franson (1G, +1, 0:33 PP, 4 SOG) had four points in seven games headed in here. Patric Hornqvist (1G, +1, 0:52 PP, 4 SOG) had just 15 points on the season and three on the month coming in here. He had 14 SOG in his last game though, so give the guy credit for trying to score. Shea Weber (2A, +2, 2 SOG) had been blanked in his prior five outings. J.P. Dumont (1A, +1, 0:44 PP, 2 SOG) had points in B2B games for the first time since mid-November. Sergei Kostitsyn (1G, 0:52 PP, 5 SOG) scored one of two ENG for the Preds and his December has been incredible, so hopefully he can carry that over into January.
Combos: Andrew Brunette - Mikko Koivu - Antti Miettinen/ Pierre-Marc Bouchard - Kyle Brodziak - Martin Havlat/ Eric Nystrom - John Madden - Chuck Kobasew/Patrick O'Sullivan - Matt Cullen - Brad Staubitz/ Greg Zanon - Nick Schultz/ Jared Spurgeon - Cam Barker/ Marco Scandella - Brent Burns
Scratches: Zidlicky, Stoner, Clutterbuck
Top PP times: Cullen (4:29), Koivu (4:20), Burns (4:19), Havlat (4:16), Brunette (4:10)
Trending: Chuck Kobasew (1G, no PP, 1 SOG) has scored in three straight games and Martin Havlat (1A, 7 SOG) netted his 34th point already. Matt Cullen (1A, -1, 1 SOG) had a three-pointer @COL several games ago, but otherwise had just five total points in December.
NEW YORK ISLANDERS 4 @ DETROIT RED WINGS 3 (OT)
Goaltending match-up: Dwayne Roloson (38/41, .927 SV%) vs. Jimmy Howard (19/23, .826 SV%)
Combos: Matt Moulson - John Tavares - P.A. Parenteau/ Jon Sim - Rob Schremp - Blake Comeau/ Michael Grabner - Frans Nielsen - Josh Bailey/ Matt Martin - Zenon Konopka - Jesse Joensuu/ Andrew MacDonald - Travis Hamonic/ Mark Eaton - Milan Jurcina/ Bruno Gervais - Dylan Reese
Scratches: Gillies, Hillen
Top PP times: Tavares (1:04), Parenteau (1:04), MacDonald (1:02), Moulson (0:55), Comeau (0:09)
Trending: P.A. Parenteau (1G, +1, 2 SOG) netted the OT GWG and has markers in five of eight. Andrew MacDonald (2A, -2, 2 PIM, 2 SOG) had five points in six games on D headed in here, while John Tavares (1G, 2A, +1, 3 SOG) is heating up and has points in seven of eight with no +/- issues in that span. Matt Moulson (1G, 2 PIM, 2 SOG) had gone six games without a goal.
Combos: Johan Franzen - Henrik Zetterberg - Tomas Holmstrom/ Jiri Hudler - Valtteri Filppula - Todd Bertuzzi/ Kris Draper - Darren Helm - Tomas Tatar/ Drew Miller - Justin Abdelkader - Jan Mursak/ Nicklas Lidstrom - Brad Stuart/ Jonathan Ericsson - Brian Rafalski/ Niklas Kronwall - Ruslan Salei
Scratches: Kindl, Datsyuk, Eaves
Top PP times: Lidstrom (7:24), Zetterberg (6:00), Franzen (6:00), Kronwall (5:43), Rafalski (4:54)
Trending: It was the NHL debut for Tomas Tatar (1G, +1, 0:04 PP, 1 SOG), who scored a clutch third period goal. He has 9-20-29 in 35 GP in the AHL. Johan Franzen (1G, +1, 3 SOG) has a five-game point streak rolling along, which matches his season high. He has found the back of the net in four of seven. Henrik Zetterberg (1A, +1, 2 PIM, 4 SOG) has points in six in a row and had 18 in 15 this month headed in here. Tomas Holmstrom (1A, +1, 4:34 PP, 5 SOG) had two points in nine games before tonight. Valtteri Filppula (1G, 3:22 PP, 4 SOG) has added points in four straight and six of seven now. Nicklas Lidstrom (1A, 4 SOG) is just shy of the point-per-game mark and Brian Rafalski (1A, +1, 1 SG) had racked up nine points in seven games before tonight.
OTTAWA SENATORS 3 @ COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS 4 (OT)
Goaltending match-up: Brian Elliott (19/23, .826 SV%) vs. Steve Mason (35/38, .921 SV%)
Combos: Nick Foligno - Mike Fisher - Daniel Alfredsson/ Ryan Shannon - Peter Regin Alex Kovalev/ Milan Michalek - Chris Kelly - Chris Neil/ Zack Smith - Jesse Winchester - Jim O'Brien/ Chris Campoli - Matt Carkner/ Chris Phillips - Erik Karlsson/ Brian Lee - Sergei Gonchar
Scratches: Kuba, Ruutu, Leclaire
Top PP times: Gonchar (4:05), Kovalev (3:03), Foligno (2:43), Karlsson (2:37), Fisher (2:35)
Trending: Daniel Alfredsson (1G, 2 PIM, 2:05 PP, 6 SOG) tied the game in the last minute of the third, which also snapped a period of four games without a point. Mike Fisher (1G, -1, 4 SOG) has scored in two of three with points in four of seven. Nick Foligno (1G, -1, 5 SOG) has goals in three of seven. Alex Kovalev (1A, 2 PIM, 3 SOG) ... points here and there... pull your hair out... yadda, yadda, yadda. Milan Michalek (1A, 2:14 PP, 2 SOG) has points in three of his past six.
Combos: Rick Nash - Antoine Vermette - Kristian Huselius/ R.J. Umberger - Derick Brassard - Jakub Voracek/ Ethan Moreau - Samuel Pahlsson - Chris Clark/ Derek Dorsett - Derek MacKenzie - Jared Boll / Kris Russell - Jan Hejda/ Marc Methot - Rostislav Klesla/ Anton Stralman - Fedor Tyutin
Scratches: Murray, Commodore, Wilson
Top PP times: Russell (4:28), Umberger (4:28), Nash (4:24), Vermette (4:24), Brassard (3:06)
Trending: Jakub Voracek (1G, 1A, +1, 4 SOG) was back in the line-up after being a healthy scratch a few times, so his was a huge result from him with the OT GWG in a multi-point performance. R.J. Umberger (1G, 3 SOG) had the GWG in the last game and had three goals in four games coming in. Fedor Tyutin (1A, +3, 2:45 PP, no SOG) already had five points from the back end coming in here.
VANCOUVER CANUCKS 4 @ DALLAS STARS 1
Goaltending match-up: Cory Schneider (44/45, .978 SV%) vs. Kari Lehtonen (10/14, .714 SV%) & Andrew Raycroft (8/8)
Combos: Daniel Sedin - Henrik Sedin - Alexandre Burrows/ Jeff Tambellini - Ryan Kesler - Jannik Hansen/ Raffi Torres - Manny Malhotra - Mikael Samuelsson/ Tanner Glass - Alexandre Bolduc - Aaron Volpatti/ Alexander Edler - Christian Ehrhoff/ Dan Hamhuis - Kevin Bieksa/ Keith Ballard - Andrew Alberts
Scratches: Raymond, Rome
Top PP times: D. Sedin (4:41), Kesler (4:08), Ehrhoff (4:08), H. Sedin (4:08), Edler (3:28)
Trending: Henrik Sedin (1G, 1A, 2 SOG) already had 20 points in December and needed three tonight to hit the 50-point plateau. Daniel Sedin (1G, 1A, 3 SOG) had 18 this month coming in and 45 on the season before registering yet another multi-pointer on the season. Christian Ehrhoff (1A, 4 PIM, 1 SOG) had chipped in eight points in 10 GP before this evening, while Alexander Edler (1A, 1 SOG) seems a lock for his third straight season with at least 37 points and he stands a legit shot of besting last year’s career mark of 42 points. Kevin Bieksa (1G, 1A, +1, 2:27 PP, 1 SOG) has scored in two of three with points in three in a row.
Combos: James Neal - Brad Richards - Loui Eriksson/ Brenden Morrow - Mike Ribeiro - Jamie Benn/ Steve Ott - Brian Sutherby - Adam Burish/ Toby Petersen - Tom Wandell - Brandon Segal / Nicklas Grossman - Stephane Robidas/ Karlis Skrastins- Mark Fistric/ Jeff Woywitka - Trevor Daley
Scratches: Niskanen, Barch
Top PP times: Richards (7:15), Ribeiro (4:30), Eriksson (4:17), Morrow (4:17), Robidas (4:13)
Trending: Brenden Morrow (1G, 3 SOG) has chipped in points in six of his past 11 and had 12 PIM in that stretch coming in too. Mike Ribeiro (1A, 2 PIM, 3 SOG) had 18 points in 20 GP at home prior to this outing. Loui Eriksson’s (1A, -1, 4 SOG) past 12 GP had seen his owners collect 15 points.
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS 2 @ ANAHEIM DUCKS 5
Goaltending match-up: Sergei Bobrovsky (22/27, .815 SV%) vs. Jonas Hiller (35/37, .946 SV%)
Combos: Andreas Nodl - Mike Richards - Claude Giroux/ Scott Hartnell - Danny Briere - Ville Leino/ James van Riemsdyk - Jeff Carter - Nikolay Zherdev/ Dan Carcillo - Blair Betts - Darroll Powe/ Kimmo Timonen - Braydon Coburn/ Matt Carle - Andrej Meszaros/ Oskars Bartulis - Sean O'Donnell
Scratches: Gustafsson, Shelley, Leighton
Top PP times: Carter (2:14), JVR (2:14), Giroux (2:09), Timonen (2:09), Briere (2:09)
Trending: Andreas Nodl (1G, +1, no PP, no SOG) has points in three of five now after five without one. Matt Carle (1A, 1:51 PP, 3 SOG) already had eight points in 12 GP this month. Jeff Carter (1G, 1A, +2, 4 SOG) only had one point in four career games vs. ANH coming in, but had 12 points in his last 12 starts overall.
Combos: Matt Beleskey - Bobby Ryan - Corey Perry/ Jason Blake - Saku Koivu - Teemu Selanne/ Brandon McMillan - Todd Marchant - Joffrey Lupul/ Nick Bonino - Kyle Chipchura - George Parros/ Toni Lydman - Lubomir Visnovsky/ Luca Sbisa - Andy Sutton/ Andreas Lilja - Cam Fowler
Scratches: Brookbank, Mara, Lapierre
Top PP times: Fowler (3:10), Visnovsky (3:10), Selanne (2:40), Ryan (2:14), Perry (2:14)
Trending: Bobby Ryan (1G, 3 SOG) hadn’t scored in his past seven starts and had one point in that span too. Remember though, he tweeted the other night that he was starting to feel the puck well again. Good things should be coming and the Ducks will need it sans Ryan Getzlaf. Corey Perry (1A, -1, 2 SOG) headed into this one with 16 points in his past 14 GP. Good night for Jason Blake (2G, +2, 0:56 PP, 4 SOG), but it needs to be a deep league for him to be on your roster. Saku Koivu (2A, +2, 0:56 PP, 1 SOG) has picked up points in four of seven, while Teemu Selanne (2A, +3, 4 SOG) added to the stellar total of 27 points in 19 career GP he had vs. PHI before tonight. Lubomir Visnovsky (2G, +3, 3 SOG) had put together a stretch of 16 points in 18 home games coming in here. Joffrey Lupul (1A, 2 PIM, 0:26 PP, 4 SOG) has points in B2B games for the second time in his comeback, which has now spanned 15 GP.
PHOENIX COYOTES 3 @ ST. LOUIS BLUES 4
Goaltending match-up: Ilya Bryzgalov (18/22, .818 SV%) vs. Jaroslav Halak (30/33, .909 SV%)
Combos: Scottie Upshall - Eric Belanger - Shane Doan/ Ray Whitney - Martin Hanzal - Radim Vrbata/ Lauri Korpikoski - Kyle Turris - Lee Stempniak/ Taylor Pyatt - Vernon Fiddler - Paul Bissonnette/ Ed Jovanovski - Adrian Aucoin/ Keith Yandle - Derek Morris/ - Sami Lepisto - Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Scratches: Schlemko, Wolski, Boedker
Top PP times: Yandle (3:56), Whitney (3:55), Vrbata (3:55), Doan (3:43), Hanzal (2:42)
Trending: Shane Doan (2G, 6 SOG) has goals in three straight with points in five in a row and he had 14 points in 13 GP this month coming in too. He nearly had a hat trick in his last start and scored two big goals here. Eric Belanger (1A, +1, no PP, 2 SOG) had only three December points before tonight, while Scottie Upshall (1A, +1, 2:04 PP, 2 SOG) had a pair of three-pointers to his name on the month headed in here. Keith Yandle (1A, +2, 1 SOG) already had 14 points in his 13 starts this month.
Combos: Vladimir Sobotka - David Backes - Matt D'Agostini/ Alex Steen - Patrik Berglund - Brad Boyes/ Brad Winchester - Jay McClement - B.J. Crombeen/ Chris Porter - Adam Cracknell - Cam Janssen/ Barret Jackman - Alex Pietrangelo/ Eric Brewer - Roman Polak/ Erik Johnson - Carlo Colaiacovo
Scratches: Strachan
Top PP times: Colaiacovo (2:26), Backes (2:04), Pietrangelo (1:53), Sobotka (1:17), Boyes (1:15)
Trending: Erik Johnson (1G, -1, 0:22 PP, 2 SOG) secured his first career SHG and has points in three of four. He had six December points coming in here. David Backes (1A, -2, 2 SOG) had accumulated 11 points in 10 GP coming in, while Brad Boyes (1G, +2, 1:15 PP, 1 SOG) has tickled the twine in three of five with points in four of those affairs. Alex Steen (1G, 1A, +1, 1:09 PP, 3 SOG) already had 12 points in 13 GP this month. Alex Pietrangelo (1G, +1, 1 SOG) had been blanked his past three and had three points on the month. Carlo Colaiacovo (1A, -1, no SOG) already had six points this month coming in and he’s been a point-per-game player against the Coyotes over nine games now. Patrik Berglund (1A, 1:09 PP, 2 SOG) had a two-goal game a few starts back, but had no points in four before that.
COLORADO AVALANCHE 2 @ CALGARY FLAMES 3
Goaltending match-up: Craig Anderson (20/23, .870 SV%) vs. Miikka Kiprusoff (19/21, .905 SV%)
Combos: Tomas Fleischmann - Matt Duchene - Milan Hejduk/ T.J. Galiardi - Paul Stastny - David Jones/ Kevin Porter - Ryan O'Reilly - Daniel Winnik/ Brandon Yip - Philippe Dupuis - Greg Mauldin/ John-Michael Liles - Ryan O'Byrne/ Kevin Shattenkirk - Matt Hunwick/ Ryan Wilson - Adam Foote
Scratches: Holos, Koci, McLeod
Top PP times: Shattenkirk (2:28), Hunwick (2:08), Jones (2:01), Porter (1:39), Fleischmann (1:37)
Trending: Daniel Winnik (1G, +1, 0:12 PP, 4 SOG) has points in six of 12 and he scored his first goal since Nov. 19. He broke the shutout with his first career SHG. Tomas Fleischmann (1G, 2 SOG) is still averaging a point-per-game with the Avs after 14 GP and he scored on a delayed penalty late in the third period to make things interesting. Matt Duchene (1A, 2 SOG) maintained his point-per-game pace for the entire season and his production has just been really consistent. His longest point streak of the season is only four games, which he has done twice.
Combos: Alex Tanguay - Olli Jokinen - Jarome Iginla/ Niklas Hagman - Matt Stajan - Ales Kotalik/ Curtis Glencross - Brendan Morrison - Rene Bourque/ Tom Kostopoulos - David Moss - Tim Jackman/ Robyn Regehr - Jay Bouwmeester/ Mark Giordano - Cory Sarich/ Adam Pardy - Anton Babchuk
Scratches: Backlund, Conroy, Mikkelson
Top PP times: JB (4:13), Giordano (4:13), Jokinen (4:04), Iginla (4:03), Tanguay (3:58), Babchuk (3:58)
Trending: The line of Jarome Iginla (1G, -1, 2 PIM, 3 SOG) with old-is-new Alex Tanguay (1A, -1, 1 SOG) and Olli Jokinen (1A, -1, 3 SOG) had issues earlier in the season, but have produced recently during this latest reunion. IMO, they were broken up too early in the season. Anton Babchuk (1A, +1, no SOG) has his first three-game point streak with the Flames and he’s been a decent play in recent weeks.
