@Nichols_NHLPool on Twitter for timely NHL & poolie info, along with occasionally snarky comments.
Live blogging nightly: line combos, defensive pairings, analysis, statistical trends and more from every game on the NHL docket. Refresh the 'Live NHL Recap' page while the games are on to get new info as it is added.
Send in a brief fantasy hockey question, including all relevant league info, and it may be included in a future Hockey Hearsay blog during the week. One per person, please. Send it via Twitter for a possible response in the blog, or send via email (include your first name and hometown to represent!) if you'd prefer. chris.nichols@sportsnet.rogers.com
BOSTON BRUINS 3 @ CAROLINA HURRICANES 2
Goaltending match-up: Tim Thomas (25/27, .926 SV%) vs. Cam Ward (30/33, .909 SV%)
Combos: Milan Lucic - David Krejci - Nathan Horton/ Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - Mark Recchi/ Blake Wheeler - Tyler Seguin - Michael Ryder/ Daniel Paille - Gregory Campbell - Shawn Thornton/ Zdeno Chara - Steve Kampfer/ Dennis Seidenberg - Johnny Boychuk/ Andrew Ference - Adam McQuaid
Scratches: Stuart, Savard
Top PP times: N/A
Trending: Patrice Bergeron (1G, 3 SOG) has been unstoppable lately and Zdeno Chara (2A, +1, 8 SOG), who clutched out another hardest shot win at All-Star weekend, had 6-6-12 in 14 GP last month. Nathan Horton (1G, +1, 3 SOG) had just one goal last month and four points in all. David Krejci (1A, +1, 4 SOG) had eight points in nine games before tonight. Milan Lucic (+1, 5 PIM, 1 SOG) had just 2 PIM last month, so it was great to see him fight.
Combos: Sergei Samsonov - Eric Staal - Erik Cole/ Jeff Skinner - Tuomo Ruutu - Chad LaRose/ Jussi Jokinen - Brandon Sutter - Jiri Tlusty/ Pat Dwyner - Ryan Carter - Troy Bodie/ Jamie McBain - Joni Pitkanen/ Tim Gleason - Joe Corvo/ Ian White - Jay Harrison
Scratches:
Top PP times: Staal (5:57), Corvo (4:59), Pitkanen (4:47), Cole (3:36), Skinner (3:33)
Trending: Jamie McBain (1G, 2:53 PP, 4 SOG) had eight points last night and came into tonight with 17 on the season. Sergei Samsonov (2A, 2:56 PP, no SOG) has points in five of nine, while Erik Cole (2A, +1, 2 SOG) has his fourth three-game point streak of the season. Joe Corvo (1G, -2, 3 SOG) has points in six in a row now and in January he racked up 13 points in 14 GP.
OTTAWA SENATORS 1 @ NEW JERSEY DEVILS 2
Goaltending match-up: Robin Lehner (31/33, .939 SV%) vs. Martin Brodeur (15/16, .938 SV%)
Combos: Milan Michalek - Mike Fisher - Daniel Alfredsson/ Nick Foligno - Chris Kelly - Chris Neil/ Ryan Shannon - Zack Smith - Alex Kovalev/ Colin Greening - Peter Regin/ Chris Campoli - Sergei Gonchar/ Chris Phillips - Erik Karlsson/ Filip Kuba - Brian Lee/ Matt Carkner
Scratches: Winchester, Leclaire
Top PP times: Gonchar (4:25), Karlsson (4:25), Foligno (3:22), Kovalev (2:48), Alfredsson (2:39), Fisher (2:39)
Trending: Erik Karlsson (1A, -2, 2 SOG) had a couple of points the last time he played the Devils and had five points last month. Daniel Alfredsson (1A, -2, no SOG) had just one assist in six tries before tonight and Alex Kovalev (1G, 5 SOG) had been blanked in his past five starts – which were his only five starts of January.
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/ Henrik Tallinder - Anton Volchenkov/ Colin White - Andy Greene / Mark Fraser - Anssi Salmela
Scratches: Tedenby, Urbom, Fayne
Top PP times: Kovalchuk (1:56), Rolston (1:53), Clarkson (1:06), Zajac (0:57), Palmieri (0:54)
Trending: Ilya Kovalchuk (1A, +1, 3 SOG) had 37 points in 30 GP vs. OTT coming in and Nick Palmieri (1G, +1, 3 SOG) has points in four of seven. Brian Rolston’s (1A, +1, 2 PIM, 2 SOG) point streak reached six games and he had 11 points in eight tries before tonight. Patrik Elias (1A, +1, 0:35 PP, 3 SOG) has points in six straight and had 13 points in 12 GP last month.
FLORIDA PANTHERS 3 @ TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS 4 (SO)
Goaltending match-up: Scott Clemmensen (23/26, .885 SV%) vs. Jean-Sebastien Giguere (30/33, .909 SV%)
Combos: Chris Higgins - Stephen Weiss - Evgeny Dadonov/ Cory Stillman - Marty Reasoner - Radek Dvorak/ David Booth - Mike Santorelli - Rostislav Olesz/ Darcy Hordichuk - Scott Timmins - Michael Frolik/ Bryan Allen - Dennis Wideman/ Jason Garrison - Mike Weaver/ Dmitry Kulikov - Keaton Ellerby
Scratches: Matthias, Bernier
Top PP times: Kulikov (4:43), Wideman (4:18), Stillman (4:07), Weiss (3:36), Booth (3:24)
Trending: Stephen Weiss (1G, 1A, +1, 2 SOG) put the brakes on a five-game pointless skid and David Booth (1G, -2, 2 SOG) had just one point in seven tries coming in. He scored FLA's only shootout goal. Michael Frolik has now gone 12 games without a point. Chris Higgins (1A, +1, 3:09 PP, 4 SOG) was pretty productive in December and January when he was in the line-up. Cory Stillman (1G, 1A, 3 SOG) has been picking up the pace offensively over the past few weeks and Dmitry Kulikov (1A, 1 SOG) had six points in five games before this evening.
Combos: Clarke MacArthur - Mikhail Grabovski - Nikolai Kulemin/ Joey Crabb - Tyler Bozak - Phil Kessel/ Kris Versteeg - Darryl Boyce - Colby Armstrong/ Jay Rosehill - Tim Brent - Mike Brown/ Dion Phaneuf - Francois Beauchemin/ Tomas Kaberle - Luke Schenn/ Carl Gunnarsson - Mike Komisarek
Scratches: Sjostrom, Lebda, Gustavsson
Top PP times: Kaberle (4:56), Versteeg (3:50), Grabovski (3:45), Kulemin (3:07), MacArthur (3:02)
Trending: Mikhail Grabovski (1G, 1A, +1, 2 SOG) had a two-pointer as his only output in five outings coming in and Nikolai Kulemin (1G, 1A, +1, 5 SOG) had one point in seven before this evening. Kris Versteeg (1G, +1, 2 SOG) ended a six-game pointless drought here. Tomas Kaberle (1A, 1 SOG) has points in two of three. Tyler Bozak and Colby Armstrong scored in the shootout for the win.
NEW YORK ISLANDERS 4 @ ATLANTA THRASHERS 1
Goaltending match-up: Kevin Poulin (25/26, .962 SV%) vs. Ondrej Pavelec (29/33, .879 SV%)
Combos: Matt Moulson - John Tavares - P.A. Parenteau/ Michael Grabner - Frans Nielsen - Kyle Okposo/ Blake Comeau - Josh Bailey - Jeremy Colliton/ Matt Martin - Zenon Konopka - Rob Schremp/ Andrew MacDonald - Travis Hamonic/ Radek Martinek - Jack Hillen/ Bruno Gervais - Dylan Reese
Scratches: Wishart, Gillies
Top PP times: Parenteau, Okposo, Moulson, MacDonald, Tavares (0:37)
Trending: This was Kyle Okposo’s (2G, 1A, +2, 2 PIM, 6 SOG) sixth game back and really his first significant offensive contribution, so he’s starting to find his groove as he gets his skating legs, timing, etc back. John Tavares (2A, +2, 1 SOG) has been cruising for about six weeks now, while P.A. Parenteau (1G, 1A, +1, 1 SOG) added to the 30 points he already had coming in. Travis Hamonic (1G, 2 SOG) had four helpers last month and this was his first goal of the season. Michael Grabner (1A, +2, 1 SOG) had nine points in eight games coming in here.
Combos: Andrew Ladd - Rich Peverley - Niclas Bergfors/ Evander Kane - Bryan Little - Anthony Stewart/ Freddy Modion - Alex Burmistrov - Nik Antropov/ Patrice Cormier - Tim Stapleton - Chris Thorburn/ Dustin Byfuglien - Johnny Oduya/ Brent Sopel - Freddy Meyer/ Ron Hainsey - Zach Bogosian
Scratches: Boulton, Enstrom
Top PP times: Byfuglien (1:21), Oduya (1:07), Bergfors (0:58), Kane (0:51), Little (0:51)
Trending: Nik Antropov (1A, 0:43 PP, 1 SOG) has collected points in five of six now.
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS 7 @ COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS 4
Goaltending match-up: Marty Turco (29/33, .879 SV%) vs. Steve Mason (17/22, .773 SV%) & Mathieu Garon (3/4, .750 SV%)
Combos: Troy Brouwer - Jonathan Toews - Patrick Kane/ Tomas Kopecky - Patrick Sharp - Marian Hossa/ Bryan Bickell - Dave Bolland - Fernando Pisani/ Viktor Stalberg - Jake Dowell - Jack Skille/ Duncan Keith - Brent Seabrook/ Niklas Hjalmarsson - Brian Campbell/ Nick Leddy - Nick Boynton
Scratches: Hendry, Johnson, Scott
Top PP times: Keith (4:06), Kane (3:47), Toews (3:18), Seabrook (3:12), Hossa (3:06)
Trending: This was Patrick Kane’s (1G, 1A, 1 SOG) 22nd career start vs. CBJ and he’s better than a point-per-game player against them now. Jonathan Toews (1G, 2A, +2, 2 PIM, 2 SOG) had 17 points in 20 road games coming in, while Patrick Sharp (1A, -3, 2 PIM, 2:53 PP, 2 SOG) piled on to the 46 points he had already. Duncan Keith (1G, +1, 3 SOG) hadn’t scored since Dec. 19 and had four helpers in six games coming in. Brent Seabrook (2A, 2 SOG) had just one point in five games coming in with 26 overall as the puck dropped. Marian Hossa (1G, 1A, -1, 2 SOG) has a modest three-game point streak going.
Combos: Rick Nash - Derick Brassard - Jakub Voracek/ Kristian Huselius - Antoine Vermette - R.J. Umberger/ Chris Clark - Samuel Pahlsson - Derek Dorsett/ Matt Calvert - Derek MacKenzie - Jared Boll / Kris Russell - Grant Clitsome/ Anton Stralman - Jan Hejda/ Marc Methot - Fedor Tyutin
Scratches: Murray, Klesla
Top PP times: Umberger (5:33), Clitsome (4:58), Brassard (4:42), Nash (4:39), Huselius (4:39)
Trending: Rick Nash (1A, -1, 6 SOG) came into tonight with 23-23-46 in 47 GP vs. CHI and Grant Clitsome (1A, +1, 1 SOG) kept on producing here. He had 2-4-6 in his only 7 GP coming in. Derek Brassard (1G, -1, 2 PIM, 3 SOG) had 11 points in 11 GP last month.
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS 4 @ NEW YORK RANGERS 3 (SO)
Goaltending match-up: Marc-Andre Fleury (26/29, .897 SV%) vs. Henrik Lundqvist (23/26, .885 SV%)
Combos: Chris Kunitz - Dustin Jeffrey - Pascal Dupuis/ Matt Cooke - Jordan Staal - Tyler Kennedy/ Michael Rupp - Max Talbot - Chris Conner/ Eric Godard - Craig Adams - Arron Asham/ Brooks Orpik - Kris Letang/ Paul Martin - Zbynek Michalek/ Alex Goligoski - Deryk Engelland
Scratches: Lovejoy, Letestu, Malkin
Top PP times: Dupuis (2:37), Letang (2:30), Kunitz (2:14), Jeffrey (1:47), Michalek (1:43)
Trending: Dustin Jeffrey (1G, +1, 2 SOG) had 2-2-4 in his 7 GP and he scored on this call-up, both in regulation and as the only goal of the shootout. Chris Kunitz (1G, 1A, +1, 3 SOG) had four points in six games coming in and Alex Goligoski (1A, +1, 0:49 PP, 2 SOG) added to the seven points in nine starts he had vs. NYR. Jordan Staal (10 PIM) was booted for this one and earned some PIM on the way for his owners.
Combos: Brandon Dubinsky - Artem Anisimov - Marian Gaborik/ Wojtek Wolski - Brian Boyle - Brandon Prust/ Mats Zuccarello - Derek Stepan - Ryan Callahan/ Sean Avery - Kris Newbury - Chris Drury/ Marc Staal - Dan Girardi/ Michael Del Zotto - Matt Gilroy/ Ryan McDonagh - Mike Sauer
Scratches: Fedotenko, Prospal, Eminger
Top PP times: Del Zotto (6:32), Callahan (6:14), Dubinsky (5:40), Zuccarello (4:57), Gaborik (4:37)
Trending: The Rangers got Brandon Dubinsky and Ryan Callahan back this evening. Dan Girardi too, although he only missed a few starts. Wojtek Wolski (1A, +1, 3:14 PP, no SOG) had 3-4-7 in 9 GP with NYR coming in and Marian Gaborik (1A, +1, 1 SOG) has points in three in a row for only the second time all season. Brian Boyle (1A, +1, 2:57 PP, 3 SOG) has points in four straight and six of seven.
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS 0 @ TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING 4
Goaltending match-up: Sergei Bobrovsky (3/6, .500 SV%) & Brian Boucher (15/16, .938 SV%) vs. Dwayne Roloson (38/38)
Combos: James van Riemsdyk - Mike Richards - Andreas Nodl/ Scott Hartnell - Danny Briere - Ville Leino/ Nikolay Zherdev - Claude Giroux - Jeff Carter/ Darroll Powe - Blair Betts - Dan Carcillo/ Matt Carle - Chris Pronger/ Kimmo Timonen - Braydon Coburn/ Andrej Meszaros - Sean O'Donnell
Scratches: Bartulis, Shelley
Top PP times: Briere (5:30), Hartnell (4:55), Giroux (4:55), Meszaros (4:55), Richards (3:05)
Trending:
Combos: Martin St. Louis - Steven Stamkos - Steve Downie/ Simon Gagne - Vincent Lecavalier - Teddy Purcell/ Sean Bergenheim - Dominic Moore/ Dana Tyrell - Nate Thompson - Adam Hall/ Brett Clark - Victor Hedman/ Randy Jones - Pavel Kubina/ Mattias Ohlund - Mike Lundin/ Matt Smaby
Scratches: Malone, Ritola, Smith
Top PP times: Kubina (2:54), Lecavalier (2:21), Downie (2:15), St. Louis (2:15), Gagne (1:43)
Trending: Of course Steven Stamkos (1G, +2, 1:08 PP, 1 SOG) scored. Teddy Purcell (2G, +2, 1:43 PP, 3 SOG) had a couple of points the last time these teams met and also has three straight multi-pointers overall. Simon Gagne (2A, +2, 2 PIM, 2 SOG) has points in three in a row and Martin St. Louis (2A, +2, 2 SOG) had 10 points in 13 GP overall last month. Vincent Lecavalier (1A, +2, 4 SOG) had seven points in that same span. Steve Downie (1G, +2, 1 SOG) has points in seven of 10. Dwayne Roloson picked up his fourth shutout in 11 tries with TB.
MONTREAL CANADIENS 3 @ WASHINGTON CAPITALS 2 (SO)
Goaltending match-up: Carey Price (22/24, .917 SV%) vs. Semyon Varlamov (34/36, .944 SV%)
Combos: Max Pacioretty - Tomas Plekanec - Brian Gionta/ Andrei Kostitsyn - Scott Gomez - Lars Eller/ Benoit Pouliot - David Desharnais - Mathieu Darche/ Tom Pyatt - Jeff Halpern - Travis Moen/ James Wisniewski - Roman Hamrlik/ Hal Gill - P.K. Subban/ Yannick Weber - Jaroslav Spacek
Scratches: Picard
Top PP times: Wisniewski (7:58), Gionta (6:31), Subban (6:18), Pacioretty (6:17), Plekanec (6:09)
Trending: Brian Gionta (2G, +2, 7 SOG) had only three goals last month as his entire offensive output, so he’s kicking off February in a better way. He also added the only goal of the shootout. Andrei Kostitsyn (1A, 3:29 PP, 2 SOG) had five points in six games before tonight, while Tomas Plekanec (1A, +1, 2 PIM, 4 SOG) added to the 40 points he had last season. James Wisniewski (1A, +1, 2 SOG) had 12 points in 13 GP with the Habs before contributing more here.
Combos: Alex Ovechkin - Nicklas Backstrom - Mike Knuble/ Brooks Laich - Mathieu Perreault - Jason Chimera/ Matt Hendricks - Marcus Johansson - Jay Beagle/ Dave Steckel - Boyd Gordon - Matt Bradley/ Jeff Schultz - Mike Green/ Karl Alzner - John Carlson/ John Erskine - Scott Hannan
Scratches: King, Sloan
Top PP times: Carlson (2:56), Ovechkin (2:47), Green (2:39), Chimera (2:19), Backstrom (2:04), Laich (2:04)
Trending: Mathieu Perreault (1G, 1A, 1:57 PP, 3 SOG) had just one point last month, while Mike Knuble (1G, 2 PIM, 1:35 PP, 6 SOG) had only four. Mike Green (1A, -1, 2 SOG) had one point in eight tries before this evening.
COLORADO AVALANCHE @ ST. LOUIS BLUES
Game postponed due to stormy weather.
CALGARY FLAMES 3 @ NASHVILLE PREDATORS 2 (SO)
Goaltending match-up: Miikka Kiprusoff (25/27, .926 SV%) vs. Pekka Rinne (26/28, .929 SV%)
Combos: Alex Tanguay - Brendan Morrison - Jarome Iginla/ Niklas Hagman - Matt Stajan - Curtis Glencross/ David Moss - Olli Jokinen - Rene Bourque/ Tom Kostopoulos - Mikael Backlund - Tim Jackman/ Robyn Regehr - Jay Bouwmeester/ Mark Giordano - Cory Sarich/ Adam Pardy - Anton Babchuk
Scratches: Conroy, Staios, Mikkelson
Top PP times: Bouwmeester (5:46), Giordano (5:43), Tanguay (5:43), Iginla (5:41), Bourque (5:01)
Trending: Alex Tanguay (1A, 2 SOG) had a pair of two-pointers in four tries before this evening, while Matt Stajan (1G, +1, 0:37 PP, 3 SOG) came into tonight with three assists in three games. Tim Jackman (1A, +1, 2:33 PP, no SOG) had eight points in 13 GP last month. Rene Bourque scored the only goal of the shootout.
Combos: Sergei Kostitsyn - Marcel Goc - Martin Erat/ Colin Wilson - David Legwand - Patric Hornqvist/ Nick Spaling - Jerred Smithson - Joel Ward/ J.P. Dumont - Chris Mueller - Matt Halischuk/ Ryan Suter - Shea Weber/ Alexander Sulzer - Kevin Klein/ Shane O’Brien - Cody Franson
Scratches: Belak
Top PP times: Weber (5:18), Hornqvist (5:18), Suter (5:11), Wilson (4:51), Kostitsyn (4:38)
Trending: Sergei Kostitsyn (2A, +1, 2 SOG) has points in four of five again after a brief cold spell of no points in five. Shea Weber (1A, +1, 1 SOG) had 13 points in 13 GP last month. Patric Hornqvist (1G, -1, 5 SOG) collected his 16th goal of the season and ended a three-game stretch where he had no points. Martin Erat (1G, 1:50 PP, 2 SOG) has points in five of seven.
LOS ANGELES KINGS 0 @ MINNESOTA WILD 1 (SO)
Goaltending match-up: Jonathan Bernier (25/25) vs. Niklas Backstrom (27/27)
Combos: Andrei Loktionov - Anze Kopitar - Dustin Brown/ Ryan Smyth - Jarret Stoll - Justin Williams/ Brad Richardson - Michal Handzus - Alexei Ponikarovsky/ Kyle Clifford- Trevor Lewis - Wayne Simmonds/ Willie Mitchell - Drew Doughty/ Jack Johnson - Rob Scuderi/ Alec Martinez - Matt Greene
Scratches: Harrold, Westgarth, Drewiske
Top PP times:
Trending: Doughty (2:50), Kopitar (2:50), Smyth (2:47), Handzus (2:29), Johnson (2:26)
Combos: Andrew Brunette - Mikko Koivu - Antti Miettinen/ Cal Clutterbuck - Kyle Brodziak - Martin Havlat/ Pierre-Marc Bouchard - Matt Cullen - Chuck Kobasew/ Eric Nystrom - John Madden - Brad Staubitz/ Nick Schultz - Brent Burns/ Clayton Stoner - Greg Zanon/ Jared Spurgeon - Cam Barker
Scratches: Scandella
Top PP times: Havlat (2:29), Spurgeon (2:23), Clutterbuck (2:15), Burns (2:04), Brodziak (2:04)
Trending: Pierre-Marc scored the game's only goal, via shootout.
VANCOUVER CANUCKS 4 @ DALLAS STARS 1
Goaltending match-up: Cory Schneider (25/26, .962 SV%) vs. Kari Lehtonen (22/26, .846 SV%)
Combos: Daniel Sedin - Henrik Sedin - Alexandre Burrows/ Mason Raymond - Ryan Kesler - Mikael Samuelsson/ Raffi Torres - Manny Malhotra - Jannik Hansen/ Tanner Glass - Cody Hodgson - Aaron Volpatti/ Lee Sweatt - Christian Ehrhoff/ Dan Hamhuis - Kevin Bieksa/ Chris Tanev - Keith Ballard
Scratches: Tambellini, Alberts
Top PP times: Sedins (2:01), Ehrhoff (1:54), Samuelsson (1:54), Kesler (1:42)
Trending: Cody Hodgson (9:52 TOI, 0:39 PP, 2 SOG) made his long-awaited NHL debut after being the 10th overall pick in 2008. So let's see. Canucks box score means Daniel Sedin (2A, 3 SOG), Henrik Sedin (1A, 1 SOG), Alexandre Burrows (1G, 0:39 PP, 3 SOG) and Ryan Kesler (1G, +1, 2 PIM, 1:42 PP, 3 SOG). Check, check, check and check. Mikael Samuelsson (1G, 1A, 2 SOG) has multi-pointers in two of three now. Christian Ehrhoff (1G, 1A, 2 PIM, 2 SOG) reached the 30-point plateau here. He had eight points last month.
Combos: James Neal - Brad Richards - Loui Eriksson/ Brenden Morrow - Mike Ribeiro - Jamie Langenbrunner/ Steve Ott - Travis Morin - Adam Burish/ Brian Sutherby - Aaron Gagnon - Krys Barch/ Nicklas Grossman - Stephane Robidas/ Karlis Skrastins - Matt Niskanen/ Jeff Woywitka - Trevor Daley
Scratches: Benn, Fistric
Top PP times: Richards (8:58), Robidas (5:43), Morrow (5:43), Ribeiro (5:37), Eriksson (5:21)
Trending: Brad Richards (1A, -1, 5 SOG) had 15 points in 15 GP vs. VAN coming in and Loui Eriksson (1G, 4 SOG) ended a brief three-game pointless spell with his 50th point of what has been an amazing season.
PHOENIX COYOTES 3 @ SAN JOSE SHARKS 5
Goaltending match-up: Ilya Bryzgalov (33/37, .892 SV%) vs. Antti Niemi (24/27, .889 SV%) & Alex Stalock (9/9)
Combos: Scottie Upshall - Kyle Turris - Shane Doan/ Ray Whitney - Martin Hanzal - Radim Vrbata/ Taylor Pyatt - Eric Belanger - Lee Stempniak/ Paul Bissonnette - Andrew Ebbett - Lauri Korpikoski/ Keith Yandle - Derek Morris/ Ed Jovanovski - Adrian Aucoin/ Oliver Ekman-Larsson - Sami Lepisto
Scratches: Rozsival, Boedker
Top PP times: Yandle (4:52), Doan (3:30), Whitney (3:04), Vrbata (3:04), Hanzal (3:04)
Trending: Paul Bissonnette scored his first goal of the season, which may have resulted in a system-wide slowdown on Twitter. Keith Yandle's (1G, -2, 1 SOG) point pace is beyond ridiculous. Still. Shane Doan (1A, -1, 2 PIM, 4 SOG) had 27 points in 28 GP dating back to the start of December coming in here. Radim Vrbata (1G, -3, 7 SOG) had one point in six games before tonight, while Ray Whitney (1A, -3, no SOG) had nine points in nine games coming in.
Combos: Patrick Marleau - Joe Thornton - Devin Setoguchi/ Dany Heatley - Joe Pavelski - Ryane Clowe/ John McCarthy - Kyle Wellwood - Benn Ferriero/ Ben Eager - Jamal Mayers/ Douglas Murray - Dan Boyle/ Marc-Edouard Vlasic - Kent Huskins/ Niclas Wallin - Jason Demers/ Derek Joslin
Scratches: Nichol, Couture, Niittymaki
Top PP times: Pavelski (3:31), Marleau (3:21), Heatley (3:21), Thornton (3:21), Boyle (3:18)
Trending: Storybook NHL debut for Alex Stalock, who came into the game in relief of Niemi with 0-3 hole. Sharks win 5-3. Stalock faced 9 SOG in 30 min. Patrick Marleau (1G, 1A, +2, 1 SOG) scored a clutch SHG in the third period with nothing but effort and a great shot, which clawed the Sharks back from that 0-3 deficit to take the lead. Dany Heatley (1A, 2 PIM, 3 SOG) notched a pair of points the last time these teams met and he hadn't produced a point in three games since, until this evening. Joe Thornton (1G, +1, 2 SOG) picked up the easy ENG. Dan Boyle has helpers in four of six, while Joe Pavelski (2G, 1A, +1, 7 SOG) scored his first goal since Dec. 8. Devin Setoguchi (1A, +1, 1:22 PP, 3 SOG) had three goals in two games before the All-Star break. Ryane Clowe (1A, 1:22 PP, 1 SOG) had four points in his eight starts last month, including 14 PIM. Jason Demers (1A, +2, 1:12 PP, no SOG) has picked up helpers in four of eight. This was Kyle Wellwood's (1G, 1:22 PP, 2 SOG) fourth start with the Sharks and first box score appearance.
