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VANCOUVER CANUCKS 4 @ WASHINGTON CAPITALS 2
Goaltending match-up: Roberto Luongo (25/27, .926 SV%) vs. Semyon Varlamov (31/34, .912 SV%)
Combos: Daniel Sedin - Henrik Sedin - Alexandre Burrows/ Mason Raymond - Ryan Kesler - Jeff Tambellini/ Raffi Torres - Manny Malhotra - Mikael Samuelsson/ Tanner Glass - Alexandre Bolduc - Jannik Hansen/ Dan Hamhuis - Kevin Bieksa/ Alexander Edler - Christian Ehrhoff/ Keith Ballard - Aaron Rome
Scratches: Alberts, Volpatti
Top PP times: Edler (2:26), Kesler (2:26), Sedins (2:17), Ehrhoff (2:05)
Trending: Christian Ehrhoff (1G, 1A, +1, 3 SOG) hadn’t scored since just before Christmas and he had three January helpers coming in here. Alexander Edler (1G, 1A, 2 PIM, 2 SOG) had two points this month before this multi-pointer and Ryan Kesler (1A, -1, 2 SOG), who had 16 points in 22 road GP coming in, chipped in for his owners again. Daniel Sedin (2G, +1, 3 SOG) actually only had 2G, 0A in 9 GP vs. WAS before this outing and his second goal went into the empty net. Alexandre Burrows (1A, 2 PIM, 0:27 PP, 4 SOG) and Kevin Bieksa (1A, +1, 2 SOG) added a little sumthin' sumthin' for their owners on that ENG. Jannik Hansen (2A< +2, 0:27 PP, 2 SOG) only had one point this month coming in.
Combos: Alex Ovechkin - Nicklas Backstrom - Eric Fehr/ Brooks Laich - Marcus Johansson - Mike Knuble/ Jason Chimera - Mathieu Perreault - Jay Beagle/ Matt Hendricks - Dave Steckel - Boyd Gordon/ Scott Hannan - Mike Green/ Karl Alzner - John Carlson/ John Erskine - Jeff Schultz
Scratches: Poti, Semin, Sloan
Top PP times: Ovechkin (3:48), Backstrom (2:17), Laich (2:17), Knuble (2:17), Green (2:07)
Trending: John Carlson (1A, +1, 1:59 PP, 1 SOG) ended an eight-game pointless stretch here. Marcus Johansson (1G, 1:36 PP, 3 SOG) hit double-digits in points on the season and had a two-goal game only two games ago. Nickas Backstrom (1A, 5 SOG) had no points in three prior tries vs. VAN. Brooks Laich (1A, 2 SOG) has points in two of three after four without one. Eric Fehr is out with an upper-body injury.
DETROIT RED WINGS 2 @ COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS 3 (SO)
Goaltending match-up: Jimmy Howard (9/11, .818 SV%, left with bruised knee) & Joey MacDonald (21/21) vs. Steve Mason (26/28, .929 SV%)
Combos: Johan Franzen - Henrik Zetterberg - Tomas Holmstrom/ Jiri Hudler - Valtteri Filppula - Todd Bertuzzi/ Kris Draper - Darren Helm - Eaves/ Drew Miller - Justin Abdelkader - Jan Mursak/ Nicklas Lidstrom - Niklas Kronwall/ Jonathan Ericsson - Brian Rafalski/ Jakub Kindl - Ruslan Salei
Scratches: Stuart, Osgood
Top PP times: Lidstrom (4:40), Zetterberg (4:11), Franzen (4:05), Rafalski (3:36), Holmstrom (3:23)
Trending: Jiri Hudler (1G, 2 PIM, 0:59 PP, 2 SOG) had six points in eight tries before tonight and Valtteri Filppula (1A, 1:56 PP, no SOG) has points in nine of his past 11. Tomas Holmstrom apparently broke his hand tonight, so Detroit's injury woes continue to mount.
Combos: Rick Nash - Derick Brassard - Jakub Voracek/ Kristian Huselius - Antoine Vermette - R.J. Umberger/ Chris Clark - Samuel Pahlsson - Derek Dorsett/ Matt Calvert - Kyle Wilson - Jared Boll / Kris Russell - Grant Clitsome/ Marc Methot - Jan Hejda/ Rostislav Klesla - Fedor Tyutin
Scratches: Stralman, Murray, MacKenzie
Top PP times: Tyutin (5:50), Nash (5:26), Clitsome (4:41), Voracek (4:27), Russell (3:46)
Trending: Rick Nash (1A, 4 SOG) had 38 points in 45 GP vs. DET coming in and Kristian Huselius (1A, -1, 3:39 PP, 2 SOG) has points in B2B games after four with none. Derick Brassard (1A, 3:41 PP, 1 SOG) ended a three-game pointless skid here. Fedor Tyutin (1A, 6 SOG) already had four points in four tilts coming in. Antoine Vermette scored the only goal of the shootout.
CALGARY FLAMES 3 @ OTTAWA SENATORS 2
Goaltending match-up: Henrik Karlsson (33/35, .943 SV%) vs. Brian Elliott (23/26, .885 SV%)
Combos: Alex Tanguay - Olli Jokinen - Jarome Iginla/ Rene Bourque - Brendan Morrison - David Moss/ Curtis Glencross - Matt Stajan - Niklas Hagman/ Ales Kotalik - Mikael Backlund - Tim Jackman/ Adam Pardy - Anton Babchuk/ Brendan Mikkelson - Jay Bouwmeester/ Mark Giordano - Cory Sarich
Scratches: Kostopoulos, Conroy, Regehr
Top PP times: Iginla (4:03), Giordano (3:55), Jokinen (3:41), Tanguay (3:23), Babchuk (2:56)
Trending: David Moss (2G, +2, 2 PIM, 2:01 PP, 3 SOG) had scored three times in his prior three games against the Sens. He had three points in five games this month coming in. Anton Babchuk (2A, +2, 2 PIM, 1 SOG) had four points in four games coming in and 11 over his prior 19. Rene Bourque (1A, +1, 2 PIM, 2:43 PP, 1 SOG) has points in B2B games after six without one. Tim Jackman (1A, +1, 0:02 PP, 1 SOG). Again. Seriously? Point-per-game average over his past eight starts. Jarome Iginla (1A, -2, 2 SOG) had 11 points in 19 GP vs. OTT before tonight and Olli Jokinen (1A, -2, 3 SOG) had 14 points in 19 GP coming into this start.
Combos: Milan Michalek - Mike Fisher - Daniel Alfredsson/ Nick Foligno - Corey Locke - Ryan Shannon/ Jarkko Ruutu- Chris Kelly - Chris Neil/ Zack Smith - Jesse Winchester - Peter Regin/ Brian Lee - Sergei Gonchar/ Chris Phillips - Erik Karlsson/ Filip Kuba - Matt Carkner
Scratches: Campoli, Leclaire
Top PP times: Gonchar (7:36), Karlsson (6:29), Fisher (6:01), Alfredsson (5:51), Foligno (4:16)
Trending: Nick Foligno (1G, 1A, +1, 5 SOG) broke the shutout bid and has goals in B2B games. Milan Michalek (1G, +1, 4:10 PP, 4 SOG) scored with one minute left and has goals in three of four, while Erik Karlsson (1A, +2, 4 SOG) has points in three of six this month. He was -9 in that stretch before tonight's +2 though.
NEW JERSEY DEVILS 5 @ TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING 2
Goaltending match-up: Martin Brodeur (30/32, .938 SV%) vs. Dwayne Roloson (5/9, .556 SV%) & Dan Ellis (15/16, .938 SV%)
Combos: Ilya Kovalchuk - Travis Zajac - Nick Palmieri/ Brian Rolston - Patrik Elias - Dainius Zubrus/ Vladimir Zharkov - Jason Arnott - Adam Mair/ Rod Pelley - Tim Sestito - David Clarkson/ Colin White - Andy Greene/ Henrik Tallinder - Mark Fayne/ Mark Fraser - Matt Corrente
Scratches: Tedenby, Volchenkov, Salmela
Top PP times: Kovalchuk (2:00), Elias (1:40), Zubrus (1:40), Arnott (1:09), Zajac (1:09)
Trending: Ilya Kovalchuk (2G, +2, 2 SOG) had 13 points in 18 GP coming in, which is progress on some level. -18 in that stretch though. Travis Zajac (1G, 1A, +3, 1 SOG) had been blanked in his prior three outings, while Brian Rolston (1G, 1A, +2, 0:51 PP, 2 SOG) has points in B2B games. Dainius Zubrus (1A, +2, no SOG) has points in three of four.
Combos: Martin St. Louis - Steven Stamkos - Ryan Malone/ Simon Gagne - Vincent Lecavalier - Sean Bergenheim/ Teddy Purcell - Dominic Moore - Steve Downie/ Dana Tyrell - Nate Thompson - Adam Hall/ Randy Jones - Pavel Kubina/ Mattias Ohlund - Mike Lundin/ Brett Clark - Victor Hedman
Scratches: Ritola, Smaby
Top PP times: St. Louis (3:08), Stamkos (3:08), Lecavalier (2:41), Malone (2:29), Gagne (2:29)
Trending: Steven Stamkos (1G, 1A, 3 SOG) scored fairly early on in this one and already had potted six goals in nine games vs. NJD coming in. Martin St. Louis (1G, 1A, 2 SOG) had three points in six outings before tonight, which is practically a drought by his excellent standards. His second period goal is worth catching the highlights for tonight. Vincent Lecavalier (1A, -3, 4 SOG) has points in three straight and he ended December with a four-game point streak too. Victor Hedman (1A, -1, no PP, 2 SOG) has points in B2B games for the first time since early last month.
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS 5 @ ATLANTA THRASHERS 2
Goaltending match-up: Sergei Bobrovsky (27/29, .931 SV%) vs. Ondrej Pavelec (31/35, .886 SV%)
Combos: Nikolay Zherdev - Mike Richards - Andreas Nodl/ Scott Hartnell - Danny Briere - Ville Leino/ James van Riemsdyk - Jeff Carter - Claude Giroux/ Darroll Powe - Blair Betts - Jody Shelley/ Kimmo Timonen - Braydon Coburn/ Matt Carle - Matt Walker/ Andrej Meszaros - Sean O'Donnell
Scratches: Bartulis, Carcillo
Top PP times: Richards (3:19), Timonen (3:18), Briere (2:51), Giroux (2:51), Hartnell (2:43)
Trending: Kimmo Timonen (1G, +3, 2 PIM, 2 SOG) has a point in all five outings this month and he scored his first goal since Oct. 30. Claude Giroux (1G, 1A, +3, 5 SOG) only had one point in six affairs before tonight. Another game, another appearance from the line of Danny Briere (1G, 4 SOG) , Ville Leino (1A, 2:10 PP, 1 SOG) and Scott Hartnell (1A, 3 SOG). Jeff Carter (1G, 1A, +3, 2:17 PP, 7 SOG) tallied the ENG and has points in three of four.
Combos: Andrew Ladd - Rich Peverley - Niclas Bergfors/ Evandere Kane - Bryan Little - Anthony Stewart/ Patrice Cormier - Alex Burmistrov - Spencer Machacek/ Eric Boulton - Chris Thorburn - Nik Antropov/ Dustin Byfuglien - Tobias Enstrom/ Zach Bogosian - Johnny Oduya/ Ron Hainsey - Brent Sopel
Scratches: Modin, Eager, Meyer
Top PP times: Byfuglien (4:04), Enstrom (4:03), Ladd (3:01), Bergfors (3:01), Peverley (3:01)
Trending: Andrew Ladd (1G, -1, 3 SOG) has points in all five January starts after wrapping December up with a six-game pointless skid. Niclas Bergfors (2A, -1, 2 SOG) has points in all five January starts. Tobias Enstrom (1A, -2, 2 PIM, no SOG) had seven points in four affairs coming in and Rich Peverley (1G, -1, 4 SOG) had three goals in four games before tonight.
COLORADO AVALANCHE 4 @ MINNESOTA WILD 1
Goaltending match-up: Craig Anderson (32/33, .970 SV%) vs. Anton Khudobin (14/17, .824 SV%)
Combos: Tomas Fleischmann - Matt Duchene - Chris Stewart/ David Jones - Paul Stastny - Milan Hejduk/ Daniel Winnik - Ryan O'Reilly - Kevin Porter/ Cody McLeod - Philippe Dupuis - David Koci/ John-Michael Liles - Ryan O'Byrne/ Ryan Wilson - Adam Foote/ Matt Hunwick - Kevin Shattenkirk
Scratches: Holos, Yip, Galiardi
Top PP times: Hejduk (2:09), Liles (2:07), Shattenkirk (2:07), Stastny 91:58), Fleischmann (1:56)
Trending: Chris Stewart (15>48 TOI, 1:45 PP, no SOG) was a sight for sore eyes tonight. Tomas Fleischmann (1G, +1, 2 SOG) had 19 points in 20 GP with COL coming in and John-Michael Liles (1A, +1, no SOG) has been fairly silent for poolies over his past month. Milan Hejduk (1G, +1, 2 SOG) had 42 points in 54 GP vs. MIN coming in and Paul Stastny (1A, -1, 2 PIM, 2 SOG) actually only had two points in six outings before this evening. Kevin Porter (1G, +2, 2 SOG) has goals in two of three after nine without a point. Ryan O’Reilly was taken off the ice via stretcher, immobilized. He was taken to the hospital as a precaution, but could apparently move his extremities.
Combos: Andrew Brunette - Mikko Koivu - Antti Miettinen/ Pierre-Marc Bouchard - Kyle Brodziak - Martin Havlat/ Chuck Kobasew - Matt Cullen - Cal Clutterbuck/ Eric Nystrom - John Madden - Brad Staubitz/ Nick Schultz - Brent Burns/ Clayton Stoner - Greg Zanon/ Jared Spurgeon - Marco Scandella
Scratches: Barker, Theodore
Top PP times: Burns (5:21), Koivu (4:13), Havlat (4:11), Clutterbuck (4:04), Brunette (3:53), Miettinen (3:53)
Trending: Mikko Koivu (1A, -1, 1 SOG), Andrew Brunette (1G, -1, 3 SOG) and Antti Miettinen (1A, -1, 4 SOG) haven't been together for this entire season, but they're one of the few lines around the league that have spent most of the past several campaigns skating on the same unit.
