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BOSTON BRUINS 3 @ CAROLINA HURRICANES 2
Goaltending match-up: Tim Thomas (43/45, .956 SV%) vs. Cam Ward (25/28, .893 SV%)
Combos: Michael Ryder - Marc Savard - Nathan Horton/ Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - Mark Recchi/ Milan Lucic - David Krejci - Tyler Seguin/ Blake Wheeler - Gregory Campbell - Shawn Thornton/ Zdeno Chara - Steve Kampfer/ Dennis Seidenberg - Johnny Boychuk/ Mark Stuart - Adam McQuaid
Scratches: Paille, Ference
Top PP times: Kampfer (5:10), Ryder (5:09), Savard (5:09), Horton (5:09), Boychuk (4:19)
Trending: Johnny Boychuk (1G, 2 PIM, 2 SOG) scored his first goal of the season and ended an eight-game pointless skid in the process. Marc Savard (1A, -1, 1 SOG) has points in three of his past four after four without one, while Michael Ryder (1A, -1, no SOG) carried a three-game goal streak coming in and has points in five of six. Zdeno Chara (1A, 2:04 PP, 4 SOG) was coming off his first career hat trick against this same team and has been really productive this month. Brad Marchand (1G, +1, 2 PIM, no PP, 2 SOG) has goals in four of six and points in five of seven, while Mark Recchi (2A, +1, 2:16 PP, 1 SOG) had six points in January before tonight. Milan Lucic (1G, 1:48 PP, 3 SOG) hadn’t scored since Dec. 16 and Steve Kampfer (1A, +1, 1 SOG) had five points on the month coming in.
Combos: Sergei Samsonov - Eric Staal - Erik Cole/ Jeff Skinner - Tuomo Ruutu - Chad LaRose/ Jussi Jokinen - Brandon Sutter - Pat Dwyer/ Zach Boychuk - Ryan Carter - Troy Bodie/ Jamie McBain - Joni Pitkanen/ Tim Gleason - Joe Corvo/ Ian White - Jay Harrison
Scratches: Tlusty
Top PP times: Staal (6:44), Cole (5:44), Jokinen (5:09), Pitkanen (5:07), McBain (4:20)
Trending: Jussi Jokinen (1G, 2 PIM, 3 SOG) had racked up 10 points in his prior six outings, while Eric Staal (1A, -1, 2 PIM, 1 SOG) had 26 points in his 20 home games headed in here. Joe Corvo (1A, 5 SOG) had 7A in 9 GP this month before tonight. Jeff Skinner (1A, +1, 2:44 PP, 4 SOG) had collected 10 points in nine games coming in. Tuomo Ruutu (1A, +2, 4 PIM, 2:43 PP, 1 SOG, 6 hits) has been a great play in pools for awhile and Chad LaRose (1G, +1, 2 PIM, no PP, 4 SOG) has points in three of five.
WASHINGTON CAPITALS 2 @ PHILADELPHIA FLYERS 3 (OT)
Goaltending match-up: Michal Neuvirth (7/8, .875 SV%) & Semyon Varlamov (20/22, .909 SV%) vs. Sergei Bobrovsky (23/25, .920 SV%)
Combos: Alex Ovechkin - Marcus Johansson - Brooks Laich/ Jason Chimera - Nicklas Backstrom - Mike Knuble/ Matt Hendricks - Mathieu Perreault - Boyd Gordon/ D.J. King - Dave Steckel - Jay Beagle/ Jeff Schultz - Mike Green/ Karl Alzner - John Carlson/ John Erskine - Scott Hannan
Scratches: Poti, Fehr
Top PP times: N/A
Trending: Alex Ovechkin (1G, 3 SOG) scored, which is an event this season. He only had one goal on the month coming in. Nicklas Backstrom (1A, +1, 3 SOG) has a point in seven of nine, while Marcus Johansson (1A, -2, 1 SOG) had three points in four games headed in here. Mike Knuble (1G, +1, 2 SOG) has points in four of eight.
Combos: Nikolay Zherdev - Mike Richards - Andreas Nodl/ Scott Hartnell - Danny Briere - Ville Leino/ James van Riemsdyk - Claude Giroux - Jeff Carter/ 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: JVR (1:10), Leino (1:10), Carle (1:10), Carter (1:10), Meszaros 1:04)
Trending: Jeff Carter (1G, 1A, +2, 2 SOG) opened the scoring only 1:31 in with an easy goal and he already had 9-9-18 in 19 GP vs. WAS coming in. He also has goals in each of his past four games. He had 29 SOG in 5 GP before tonight as well. Claude Giroux (1G, +2, 0:50 PP, 5 SOG) also potted one the last time he faced the Caps and has points in three straight after a period of one in six. Kimmo Timonen (1A, -1, 0:50 PP, no SOG) has points in six of seven. Matt Carle (1A, +2, no SOG) has 24 points on the season and 16 of them have come since the start of last month. Danny Briere (1A, 0:50 PP, 3 SOG) added his 41st point and 12th of this month alone.
DETROIT RED WINGS 1 @ PITTSBURGH PENGUINS 4
Goaltending match-up: Joey MacDonald (25/28, .893 SV%) vs. Marc-Andre Fleury (36/37, .973 SV%)
Combos: Johan Franzen - Henrik Zetterberg - Patrick Eaves/ Jiri Hudler - Valtteri Filppula - Todd Bertuzzi/ Kris Draper - Darren Helm - Drew Miller/ Tomas Tatar - Justin Abdelkader - Jan Mursak/ Nicklas Lidstrom - Niklas Kronwall/ Jonathan Ericsson - Brian Rafalski/ Ruslan Salei - Jakub Kindl
Scratches: Holmstrom, McCollum
Top PP times: Lidstrom (4:40), Rafalski (3:49), Franzen (3:34), Zetterberg (3:24), Kronwall (3:05)
Trending: Johan Franzen (1G, -1, 6 SOG) has scored in three of five, but it’s not like he’s ever a guy that leaves your lineup. He came into tonight with 18 points in his past 23 GP. Henrik Zetterberg (1A, -1, 5 SOG) had seven points and 30 SOG in seven games this month coming in here.
Combos: Chris Kunitz - Evgeni Malkin - Pascal Dupuis/ Matt Cooke - Jordan Staal - Tyler Kennedy/ Michael Rupp - Max Talbot - Chris Conner/ Craig Adams - Mark Letestu - Arron Asham/ Brooks Orpik - Kris Letang/ Paul Martin - Zbynek Michalek/ Alex Goligoski - Deryk Engelland
Scratches: Lovejoy, Crosby
Top PP times: Malkin, Letang, Kunitz, Letestu, Goligoski (1:16)
Trending: Jordan Staal (1G, +2, no PP, 2 SOG) has scored in each of his past three games and had five points in two coming in. Evgeni Malkin (1A, +1, 3 SOG) has points in five of eight, but so far hasn’t really delivered a stellar fantasy campaign. Tyler Kennedy (2A, +2, 2 SOG) has points in three in a row and had four January points before tonight. Chris Kunitz (1G, +1, 2 PIM, 4 SOG) had 20 points in 23 home games coming in. Pascal Dupuis (1A, +1, 2 SOG) has points in B2B games for the first time in more than a month.
MONTREAL CANADIENS 1 @ BUFFALO SABRES 2 (OT)
Goaltending match-up: Carey Price (37/39, .949 SV%) vs. Ryan Miller (29/30, .967 SV%)
Combos: Max Pacioretty - Scott Gomez - Brian Gionta/ Michael Cammalleri - Tomas Plekanec - Lars Eller/ Andrei Kostitsyn - Jeff Halpern - Travis Moen/ Tom Pyatt - David Desharnais - Mathieu Darche/ James Wisniewski - Roman Hamrlik/ Hal Gill - P.K. Subban/ Yannick Weber - Jaroslav Spacek
Scratches: Picard, Pouliot
Top PP times: Gionta (3:16), Subban (3:14), Gomez (3:13), Wisniewski (3:09), Hamrlik (2:43)
Trending: This was James Wisniewski’s (1A, 2 PIM, 1 SOG) 10th start with the Habs and his first period helper ensured his point-per-game average would remain. Roman Hamrlik (1A, 1 SOG) has points in four of eight from the back end. Michael Cammalleri seems to have a separated shoulder, while Max Pacioretty was hurt on a blast from Wisniewski. Jeff Halpern was also hurt.
Combos: Thomas Vanek - Jochen Hecht - Jason Pominville/ Tyler Ennis - Tim Connolly - Drew Stafford/ Cody McCormick - Rob Niedermayer - Mike Grier/ Nathan Gerbe - Paul Gaustad - Patrick Kaleta/ Shaone Morrisonn - Tyler Myers/ Jordan Leopold - Steve Montador/ Mike Weber - Andrej Sekera
Scratches: Butler, Rivet
Top PP times: Vanek (5:04), Pominville (5:04), Connolly (4:21), Leopold (4:08), Ennis (3:10)
Trending: Drew Stafford, who has been so productive, left the game injured with an apparent groin issue. Tyler Ennis (1G, 1A, 4 SOG) has goals in B2B games after nine games with only one assist. Thomas Vanek (2A, 3 SOG) has been lights-out this month and had 10 in 7 GP coming in. Tim Connolly (1A, 5 SOG) has a point in two of three after three without one. Jason Pominville (1G, 4 SOG) got the OT GWG, which also snapped a six-game goalless drought. He’s been pretty solid for his owners over the last six weeks though.
ANAHEIM DUCKS 2 @ OTTAWA SENATORS 1 (SO)
Goaltending match-up: Jonas Hiller (39/40, .975 SV%) vs. Brian Elliott (26/27, .963 SV%)
Combos: Matt Beleskey - Bobby Ryan - Corey Perry/ Jason Blake - Saku Koivu - Teemu Selanne/ Brandon McMillan - Maxim Lapierre - Joffrey Lupul/ Dan Sexton - Todd Marchant - George Parros/ Toni Lydman - Lubomir Visnovsky/ Luca Sbisa - Andy Sutton/ Paul Mara - Cam Fowler
Scratches: Lilja, Brookbank, Chipchura
Top PP times: N/A
Trending: Corey Perry’s (1G, +1, 6 SOG) first period goal lifted him to the 50-point plateau and he has sniped markers in three of four. Bobby Ryan (1A, +1, 1 SOG) had collected eight points in five games before tonight and he scored the game's only shootout goal. Matt Beleskey (1A, +1, 3 SOG) had 2-3-5 in 7 GP this month coming in, so he’s taking advantage of his L1 spot for a change. He’s had stints there before without really doing too much.
Combos: Milan Michalek - Chris Kelly - Daniel Alfredsson/ Nick Foligno - Mike Fisher - Bobby Butler/ Jarkko Ruutu- Corey Locke - Ryan Shannon/ Zack Smith - Jesse Winchester - Chris Neil/ Chris Campoli - Sergei Gonchar/ Chris Phillips - Erik Karlsson/ Filip Kuba - Brian Lee
Scratches: Regin, Leclaire
Top PP times: Gonchar (3:12), Fisher (3:00), Karlsson (2:59), Michalek (2:47), Alfredsson (2:47)
Trending: Mike Fisher (1G, +1, 7 SOG) has scored in two of three and has points in three of four, had an active game here and also hit the post on his shootout attempt. Erik Karlsson (1A, 1 SOG) had 3A and a -9 in 7 GP this month coming in, while Milan Michalek (1A, 3 SOG) had three points in three starts headed in.
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS 2 @ TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING 3 (SO)
Goaltending match-up: Mathieu Garon (20/22, .909 SV%) vs. Dwayne Roloson (28/30, .933 SV%)
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 (5:35), Brassard (3:28), Huselius (3:19), Russell (3:15), Umberger (3:04)
Trending: R.J. Umberger (1G, +1, 3 SOG) had 13 points in 23 GP before tonight dating back to the start of December. Antoine Vermette (1G, +1, 3 SOG) has points in three of five after three without one. Derick Brassard (1G, +1, 5 SOG) had six points on the month coming in, while Rick Nash (1A, +1, 2 PIM, 2:55 PP, 1 SOG) had eight and Jakub Voracek (1A, +1, 2:59 PP, 2 SOG) had six.
Combos: Simon Gagne - Steven Stamkos - Steve Downie/ Martin St. Louis - Vincent Lecavalier - Sean Bergenheim/ Ryan Malone - Dominic Moore - Teddy Purcell/ Dana Tyrell - Nate Thompson - Adam Hall/ Randy Jones - Pavel Kubina/ Mattias Ohlund - Mike Lundin/ Brett Clark - Victor Hedman
Scratches: Ritola, Smaby
Top PP times: Purcell (3:42), St. Louis (3:42), Stamkos (3:36), Kubina (3:36), Downie (3:17)
Trending: Steven Stamkos (2G, 2 PIM, 3 SOG) had 13-17-30 in 19 GP at home before scoring his first goal against the Jackets in three tries. Victor Hedman (1A, 2:05 PP, 1 SOG), who became the newest member of my keeper team yesterday in a straight-up swap for Tobias Enstrom with Dustin Byfuglien’s owner, has helpers in four straight. Ryan Malone won the game in the shootout.
LOS ANGELES KINGS 1 @ ST. LOUIS BLUES 2
Goaltending match-up: Jonathan Quick (24/26, .923 SV%) vs. Jaroslav Halak (26/27, .963 SV%)
Combos: Ryan Smyth - Anze Kopitar - Justin Williams/ Marco Sturm - Jarret Stoll - Dustin Brown/ Alexei Ponikarovsky - Michal Handzus - Kevin Westgarth/ Kyle Clifford- Brad Richardson - Trevor Lewis/ Jack Johnson - Drew Doughty/ Willie Mitchell - Rob Scuderi/ Alec Martinez - Matt Greene
Scratches: Harrold, Simmonds, Drewiske
Top PP times: Doughty (5:11), Stoll (4:46), Brown (4:24), Smyth (4:05), Kopitar (4:05)
Trending: Kyle Clifford (1G, +1, 5 PIM, 0:03 PP, 2 SOG) scored the only goal for the Kings, which was his second goal of the month and eighth point of the season.
Combos: Vladimir Sobotka - Patrik Berglund - T.J. Oshie/ Alex Steen - David Backes - Matt D'Agostini/ Brad Winchester - Jay McClement - Brad Boyes/ Chris Porter - Philip McRae - Ryan Reaves/ Erik Johnson - Eric Brewer/ Carlo Colaiacovo - Alex Pietrangelo/ Barret Jackman - Roman Polak
Scratches: Porter, Strachan, Janssen
Top PP times: Pietrangelo (5:54), Winchester (5:48), Steen (5:16), Backes (5:01), Johnson (4:10)
Trending: T.J. Oshie (-1, 17:53 TOI, 3:57 PP, 1:14 PK, 2 SOG) made his return to action after a long rehab from an ankle injury, which can be so difficult from which to return without a re-injury. Patrik Berglund (1G, -1, 4:04 PP, 2 SOG) has points in three in a row and he scored for the first time since Dec. 23. Alex Steen (1A, +1, 4 SOG) has been tearing it up since the start of December and Matt D’Agostini (1A, +1, 2:52 PP, 2 SOG) had four separate two-pointers on the month coming in. Carlo Colaiacovo was hurt tonight. Erik Johnson (1G, +1, 2 SOG) has his first four-game point streak rolling and Alex Pietrangelo (1A, 1 SOG) has points in three of four after four without one.
VANCOUVER CANUCKS 3 @ COLORADO AVALANCHE 4 (OT)
Goaltending match-up: Roberto Luongo (26/30, .867 SV%) vs. Craig Anderson (40/43, .930 SV%)
Combos: Daniel Sedin - Henrik Sedin - Alexandre Burrows/ Mikael Samuelsson - Ryan Kesler - Sergei Shirokov/ Raffi Torres - Manny Malhotra - Jannik Hansen/ Tanner Glass - Mason Raymond - Jeff Tambellini/ Dan Hamhuis - Kevin Bieksa/ Alexander Edler - Christian Ehrhoff/ Keith Ballard - Christopher Tanev
Scratches: Alberts, Volpatti
Top PP times: Edler (3:05), Ehrhoff (2:54), Kesler (2:54), Sedins (2:54)
Trending: This was Sergei Shirokov's (1G, +1, no PP, 6 SOG) first game of the season, seventh of his career and he recorded his first NHL goal. He has 33 points in 39 GP in the AHL this season. Henrik Sedin (1A, -1, 2 PIM, 2 SOG) had 48 points in 61 GP vs. COL, while Daniel Sedin (1A, 6 SOG) had 46 in 56. Ryan Kesler (1G, 1A, +1, 3 SOG) had 5-3-8 in 9 GP this month coming in and Alexander Edler (1G, 1A, 6 SOG) had just three points in that span before this outing. Christian Ehrhoff (1A, 2 SOG) had five January points headed in.
Combos: Tomas Fleischmann - Matt Duchene - Chris Stewart/ David Jones - Paul Stastny - Milan Hejduk/ Daniel Winnik - Philipe Dupuis - Kevin Porter/ Cody McLeod - T.J. Galiardi - David Koci/ John-Michael Liles - Ryan O'Byrne/ Ryan Wilson - Adam Foote/ Matt Hunwick - Kevin Shattenkirk
Scratches: Cumiskey, Yip, O'Reilly
Top PP times: Liles (4:47), Stewart (4:25), Shattenkirk (4:19), Stastny (4:04), Duchene (3:50)
Trending: Milan Hejduk (1G, 2A, +1, 6 SOG) has been a money guy against the Canucks over his career, having already tallied 63 points in 71 GP. John-Michael Liles (1G, 2A, +1, 3 SOG) produced more in this game than he had all month. Paul Stastny (2A, +1, 2 PIM, 2 SOG) had 25 in 28 vs. VAN coming in and 19 in 21 at home. David Jones (2G, +1, 3:28 PP, 5 SOG) had four January points before this evening, where he also delivered the OT GWG. That was his third winner of the season, which matches last year's career high in that department. More last-minute production for Tomas Fleischmann (1A, -1, 3:18 PP, 1 SOG), who has been excellent with the Avs; while Kevin Shattenkirk (1A, +1, 1 SOG) has points in two of four after nine without one.
NASHVILLE PREDATORS 5 @ PHOENIX COYOTES 2
Goaltending match-up: Pekka Rinne (32/34, .941 SV%) vs. Ilya Bryzgalov (16/21, .762 SV%)
Combos: Colin Wilson - David Legwand - Patric Hornqvist/ Sergei Kostitsyn - Marcel Goc - Martin Erat/ Jerred Smithson - Nick Spaling - Joel Ward/ J.P. Dumont - Chris Mueller - Matt Halischuk/ Shea Weber - Ryan Suter/ Kevin Klein - Shane O'Brien/ Cody Franson - Alexander Sulzer
Scratches: Belak, Svatos, Bouillon
Top PP times: Ward (1:48), Erat (1:48), Weber (1:46), Suter (1:46), Dumont (1:46)
Trending: J.P. Dumont (3G, +3, 3 SOG) netted a hat trick here and had two goals in his last game, which gives him more markers in that span than his entire season the rest of the way. Patric Hornqvist (2G, +2, 0:47 PP, 4 SOG) stopped a five-game goalless stretch with his second multi-goal game of the month and Colin Wilson (1A, +2, 0:47 PP, no SOG) had six January points before tonight. Joel Ward (1A, 3 SOG) had a pair of two-pointers in four games headed in. Matt Halischuk (2A, +2, no PP, 1 SOG) netted his first points of the season in his second start.
Combos: Scottie Upshall - Eric Belanger - Shane Doan/ Ray Whitney - Martin Hanzal - Radim Vrbata/ Taylor Pyatt - Lauri Korpikoski - Lee Stempniak/ Mikkel Boedker - Kyle Turris - Brett MacLean/ Oliver Ekman-Larsson - Michal Rozsival/ Keith Yandle - Derek Morris/ Sami Lepisto - Adrian Aucoin
Scratches: Jovanovski, Summers, Bissonnette
Top PP times: Yandle (5:16), Doan (5:01), Hanzal (4:25), Whitney (4:25), Vrbata (4:25)
Trending: Shane Doan (1A, -2, 3 SOG) had cooled off a little bit with only two points in six games coming in, while Keith Yandle (1A, -1, 3 SO)G has his second five-game point streak in the past few weeks. Adrian Aucoin has points in five of nine, while Lee Stempniak (1G, 1:24 PP, 2 SOG) has goals in three of six and had seven points in nine games headed in. Radim Vrbata (1G, 3 SOG) had four points in four games coming in.
MINNESOTA WILD 4 @ EDMONTON OILERS 1
Goaltending match-up: Anton Khudobin (31/32, .969 SV%) vs. Nikolai Khabibulin (22/26, .846 SV%)
Combos: Andrew Brunette - Mikko Koivu - Antti Miettinen/ Cal Clutterbuck - Kyle Brodziak - Martin Havlat/ Pierre-Marc Bouchard - Matt Cullen - Eric Nystrom/ Chuck Kobasew - John Madden - Brad Staubitz/ Nick Schultz - Brent Burns/ Clayton Stoner - Greg Zanon/ Jared Spurgeon - Cam Barker
Scratches: Scandella, Almond, Theodore
Top PP times: Brodziak (4:37), Spurgeon (4:28), Barker (3:17), Schultz (3:09), Havlat (3:01), Stoner (2:49)
Trending: Brent Burns (1G, 1A, +1, 15 PIM, 1:05 PP, 2 SOG) netted a couple of points the last time these teams met and stopped a seven-game pointless skid in the process. Martin Havlat (1A, +1, 2 PIM, 1 SOG) entered tonight with 17 points in 22 GP vs. EDM and 16 in 21 away from home. Matt Cullen (1G, 1A, 1:54 PP, 4 SOG) has points in B2B games for the first time since late November. Pierre-Marc Bouchard (1G, 1A, +2, 2:47 PP, 1 SOG) already had 29 points in 34 GP vs. EDM before adding more here. Andrew Brunette (1G, 2:54 PP, 1 SOG) converted a third period PP chance and has found the back of the net in three straight. Mikko Koivu (1A, -1, 2:13 PP, no SOG) is averaging a point-per-game on the road this year after 22 games.
Combos: Dustin Penner - Taylor Hall - Ales Hemsky/ Magnus Paajarvi - Sam Gagner - Linus Omark/ Ryan Jones - Andrew Cogliano - Liam Reddox/ Jean-Francois Jacques - Colin Fraser - Zack Stortini/ Theo Peckham - Tom Gilbert/ Jeff Petry - Ladislav Smid/ Kurtis Foster - Taylor Chorney
Scratches: MacIntyre, Strudwick, Brule
Top PP times: Foster (6:01), Gagner (5:52), Penner (5:15), Gilbert 5:13), Chorney (5:01)
Trending: Ales Hemsky. Concussion. Nooooooooooo!!! Magnus Paajarvi (1G, 3:53 PP, 5 SOG) broke the shutout bid at 16:16 of the third period with a PPG that broke an 0/44 drought for the Oil and has points in three of four. That's also seven straight games with at least two shots. Andrew Cogliano (1A, +1, 2:54 PP, 1 SOG) has five points in seven games and Taylor Chorney (1A, 1 SOG) has helpers in B2B affairs.
