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@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.

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DALLAS STARS 3 @ BOSTON BRUINS 6

Goaltending match-up: Andrew Raycroft (0/2) & Kari Lehtonen (29/32, .906 SV%) vs. Tuukka Rask (30/33, .909 SV%)

Combos: James Neal - Brad Richards - Loui Eriksson/ Brenden Morrow - Mike Ribeiro - Jamie Langenbrunner/ Steve Ott - Adam Burish - Raymond Sawada/ Brian Sutherby - Aaron Gagnon - Krys Barch/ Nicklas Grossman - Stephane Robidas/ Karlis Skrastins - Matt Niskanen/ Jeff Woywitka - Trevor Daley

Scratches: Fistric, Morin

Top PP times: Richards (9:10), Ribeiro (7:31), Robidas (7:20), Morrow (6:54), Eriksson (5:52)

Trending: Brad Richards (1G, -2, 2 PIM, 7 SOG) needed two points here to reach 60 for the season and Loui Eriksson (2A, -1, 4 SOG) added to the 20 points he had in 23 road games. Brenden Morrow (1G, -1, 5 SOG) had 11 points in 12 GP coming in.

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: Chara (5:17), Kampfer (4:21), Recchi (4:04), Bergeron (4:01), Krejci (3:28)

Trending: Three fights in the first four seconds of the game helped spark the Bruins to a 4-0 first period lead here in what would be a wild night. Patrice Bergeron (2G, 1A, +2, 4 SOG) had 18 points in 15 GP coming in here, while Mark Recchi (3A, +3, no SOG) had collected 12 points in 15 GP coming in. Zdeno Chara (1A, +2, 10 PIM, 3 SOG) actually only had 0-2-2 in 12 GP vs. DAL coming in, but he and Steve Ott (15 PIM) drew big PIM scores for their owners in the second period. Nathan Horton (1A, +1, 1:43 PP, 1 SOG) has points in each of his two February starts, while David Krejci (1A, 1 SOG) had nine points in 10 GP before tonight. Milan Lucic (1G, 2:27 PP, 2 SOG) had 4-2-6 in 11 GP last month with only 2 PIM, although he fought in his only other game of this month. A three-point night for Brad Marchand (1G, 2A, +3, 2 PIM, no PP, 3 SOG) brings him to 28 points on the season and 15 in his past 16 GP. Michael Ryder ended a five-game pointless stretch.

NEW JERSEY DEVILS 3 @ NEW YORK RANGERS 2

Goaltending match-up: Martin Brodeur (24/26, .923 SV%) vs. Henrik Lundqvist (9/12, .750 SV%) & Martin Biron (6/6)

Combos: Ilya Kovalchuk - Travis Zajac - Nick Palmieri/ Brian Rolston - Patrik Elias - Dainius Zubrus/ Vladimir Zharkov - Jason Arnott - Mattias Tedenby/ Rod Pelley - Tim Sestito - David Clarkson/ Henrik Tallinder - Mark Fayne/ Colin White - Anton Volchenkov/ Anssi Salmela - Andy Greene

Scratches: Fraser, Mair

Top PP times: Kovalchuk (3:47), Zubrus (2:44), Elias (2:41), Rolston (2:27), Clarkson (2:18)

Trending: Ilya Kovalchuk (1G, +1, 3 SOG) scored only 1:04 into this game and he had nine points in nine games headed in here. Dainius Zubrus (1G, 1A, +3, 2 PIM, 1 SOG) has points in B2B games for only the second time since October. Brian Rolston's (1G, +2, 4 SOG) point streak is at seven games now and he's been a really good fantasy asset since Jan. 9. Great to see after the whole waiver situation.

Combos: Vinny Prospal - Derek Stepan - Marian Gaborik/ Brandon Dubinsky - Artem Anisimov - Ryan Callahan/ Mats Zuccarello - Brian Boyle - Brandon Prust/ Sean Avery - Chris Drury - Wojtek Wolski/ Marc Staal - Dan Girardi/ Ryan McDonagh - Mike Sauer/ Michael Del Zotto - Matt Gilroy

Scratches: Fedotenko, Eminger

Top PP times: Zuccarello (8:03), Del Zotto (6:13), Dubinsky (5:20), Callahan (5:06), Gaborik (4:38)

Trending: Vinny Prospal (1G, -1, 16:33 TOI, 4:17 PP, 5 SOG) made his season debut tonight, going straight to his usual spot with Marian Gaborik (1A, -2, 3 SOG). The lines were mixed up once the Rangers fell behind though. Ryan Callahan (1G, +1, 2 SOG) got his team on the board in the second period and has goals in each of his two games back. Artem Anisimov (1A, +1, 2 SOG) has points in two straight after a dry spell. Mats Zuccarello (1A, -1, 1 SOG) had 4A in 2 GP coming in.

NASHVILLE PREDATORS 2 @ PHILADELPHIA FLYERS 3

Goaltending match-up: Anders Lindback (26/29, .897 SV%) vs. Sergei Bobrovsky (26/28, .929 SV%)

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 (3:21), Suter (3:21), Erat (2:28), Kostitsyn (1:54), Hornqvist (1:42), Wilson (1:39), Goc (1:39)

Trending: Colin Wilson (1A, +1, 0:41 PP, 1 SOG) had 3-6-9 in 14 GP headed in here, while Marcel Goc (1G, 2 SOG) has points in B2B games after a period of one in eight.

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: Pronger (1:52), Leino (1:34), Carter (1:32), Timonen (1:30), Richards (1:30)

Trending: Jeff Carter (1G, 2A, +2, 5 SOG) had 9-13-22 in 25 home GP headed in here. Claude Giroux (2A, +2, 2 PIM, 1:06 PP, 3 SOG) came into tonight tied with last year's mark of 47 points. Kimmo Timonen (1A, +2, 3 SOG) had nine points in 13 GP before tonight. Mike Richards (1A, no SOG) had 28 points in his 25 home starts headed into this one. Ville Leino (2G, 2 SOG) had one point in six tries coming in. This is his second GWG of the season, which is the first time he's had more than one in a single campaign to date in his young career.

CAROLINA HURRICANES 0 @ TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS 3

Goaltending match-up: Cam Ward (38/41, .927 SV%) vs. James Reimer (27/27)

Combos: Sergei Samsonov - Eric Staal - Erik Cole/ Jeff Skinner - Tuomo Ruutu - Chad LaRose/ Pat Dwyer - Brandon Sutter - Jiri Tlusty/ Zach Boychuk - Ryan Carter - Troy Bodie/ Jamie McBain - Joni Pitkanen/ Tim Gleason - Joe Corvo/ Ian White - Jay Harrison

Scratches: Jokinen

Top PP times: Staal (3:32), Ruutu (3:32), Skinner (3:16), Samsonov (3:08), Cole (3:52)

Trending:

Combos: Clarke MacArthur - Mikhail Grabovski - Nikolai Kulemin/ Joey Crabb - Tyler Bozak - Phil Kessel/ Colby Armstrong - Darryl Boyce - Kris Versteeg/ Fredrik Sjostrom - Tim Brent - Jay Rosehill/ Francois Beauchemin - Dion Phaneuf/ Tomas Kaberle - Luke Schenn/ Mike Komisarek - Carl Gunnarsson

Scratches: Lebda, Gustavsson

Top PP times: Kaberle (3:37), Phaneuf (3:26), MacArthur (3:11), Grabovski (3:11), Kulemin (3:11)

Trending: Clarke MacArthur (1G, +1, 3 SOG) has points in two straight after one game with points in his past five. It was a three-assist effort vs. ANH though, so that's not bad. Nikolai Kulemin (1A, +1, 1 SOG) also has points in B2B efforts after five without one. Tomas Kaberle (1A, +1, 2 SOG) has points in three of four after five without one. Dion Phaneuf (1A, +1, 2 PIM, 2 SOG) has picked up helpers in four of his past six, while Kris Versteeg (1G, +1, 2 PIM, 1:56 PP, 5 SOG) has goals in B2B efforts after six games without a point. Colby Armstrong (1A, +2, 0:06 PP, 2 SOG) has helpers in two straight after the same period without a point.

CALGARY FLAMES 4 @ ATLANTA THRASHERS 2

Goaltending match-up: Miikka Kiprusoff (22/24, .917 SV%) vs. Ondrej Pavelec (20/23, .870 SV%)

Combos: Alex Tanguay - Brendan Morrison - Jarome Iginla/ David Moss - Olli Jokinen - Rene Bourque/ Tim Jackman - Matt Stajan - Curtis Glencross/ Tom Kostopoulos - Mikael Backlund - Steve Staios/ Robyn Regehr - Jay Bouwmeester/ Mark Giordano - Cory Sarich/ Adam Pardy - Anton Babchuk

Scratches: Hagman, Mikkelson, Bouma

Top PP times: Giordano (3:56), Tanguay (3:45), Iginla (3:37), Morrison (3:19), Jokinen (2:41)

Trending: Mark Giordano (1G, 1A, +2, 2 SOG) has picked up points in four of his past six now on D, while Alex Tanguay (1A, +1, 1 SOG) needed a two-pointer here to reach 40 on the season. He already came into tonight with one more than last year. Olli Jokinen (1A, 2 SOG) had 30 points overall headed in here, but 21 had come since the start of December in 28 GP. Brendan Morrison (1G, +1, 1 SOG) pushed his point streak to six games. Mikael Backlund (1G, +1, no PP, 2 SOG) has come up with points in three of six after scoring a third period marker which was the go-ahead goal and turned out to be the GWG too.

Combos: Andrew Ladd - Bryan Little - Niclas Bergfors/ Evander Kane - Nik Antropov - Anthony Stewart/ Freddy Modion - Alex Burmistrov - Rich Peverley/ Patrice Cormier - Tim Stapleton - Chris Thorburn/ Dustin Byfuglien - Johnny Oduya/ Brent Sopel - Freddy Meyer/ Ron Hainsey - Zach Bogosian

Scratches: Boulton

Top PP times: Byfuglien (4:00), Bogosian (2:57), Antropov (2:15), Ladd (2:05), Kane (1:43)

Trending: This was Evander Kane's (2A, 4 PIM, 1:43 PP, no SOG) second game back in the line-up and first time in the box score. Bryan Little (1G, 1:34 PP, 2 SOG) had one point in five games before tonight, while Anthony Stewart (1G, 1:12 PP, 2 SOG) has points in three of six. Niclas Bergfors (1A, 1:34 PP, 3 SOG) came into this tilt with two points in his last seven and Nik Antropov (1A, +1, no SOG) has a point in seven of his past eight.

MINNESOTA WILD 4 @ COLORADO AVALANCHE 3

Goaltending match-up: Jose Theodore (38/41, .927 SV%) vs. Craig Anderson (21/25, .840 SV%)

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: Burns (3:32), Miettinen (3:17), Koivu (3:09), Brunette (3:09), PMB (3:04)

Trending: Andrew Brunette (2G, +1, 4 SOG) also scored in his last game against the Avs in mid-January and he had six points in seven games coming into tonight. Mikko Koivu (2A, +2, 4 SOG) had 13 in 13 coming in, while Antti Miettinen (1A, +2, no SOG) had 6-9-15 in 25 GP vs. COL before tonight. Kyle Brodziak (1G, 2:43 PP, 3 SOG) carried six points in six tilts into this game. Pierre-Marc Bouchard (1G, 1A, +1, 3 SOG) had collected 3-7-10 in 13 GP before this outing. Martin Havlat (1A, 4 PIM, 2:51 PP, 3 SOG) came into tonight just 10 points shy of the 54 he posted last season.

Combos: Ryan Stoa - Matt Duchene - Milan Hejduk/ T.J. Galiardi - Paul Stastny - Chris Stewart/ Daniel Winnik - Philippe Dupuis - Brandon Yip/ Cody McLeod - Kevin Porter/ John-Michael Liles - Ryan O'Byrne/ Kyle Cumiskey - Adam Foote/ Matt Hunwick - Kevin Shattenkirk/ Ryan Wilson

Scratches: Koci, O'Reilly, Jones

Top PP times: Liles (3:46), Stoa (3:36), Shattenkirk (3:35), Stastny (3:28), Yip (3:12)

Trending: Milan Hejduk (2G, +1, 2 PIM, 2:32 PP, 4 SOG) had 42 points in 43 GP coming in here, compared with 44 in 56 GP last season. Kevin Porter (1A, +1, 2:25 PP, 2 SOG) had three points in January. This was Chris Stewart's (1G, 1A, +1, 2:38 PP, 7 SOG) seventh game back and third time in the box score. His first goal in that time came in a mad scramble late in the third with the goalie pulled. Brandon Yip (1A, 5 PIM, 3 SOG) has four points in his past six starts thanks to the late helper.

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Chris Nichols

Remember that guy in the back of the class who had the newspaper stats sheets tucked away in his binder? That was me. You don’t even want to know how little I would have accomplished in school if I had today’s technology then.

I grew up loving all things...

 

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