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FLORIDA PANTHERS 4 @ NEW JERSEY DEVILS 3 (OT)
Goaltending match-up: Tomas Vokoun (28/31, .903 SV%) vs. Johan Hedberg (24/28, .857 SV%)
Combos: Chris Higgins - Stephen Weiss - Michael Frolik/ Cory Stillman - Marty Reasoner - Radek Dvorak/ David Booth - Mike Santorelli - Rostislav Olesz/ Darcy Hordichuk - Scott Timmins - Steve Bernier/ Bryan Allen - Dennis Wideman/ Jason Garrison - Mike Weaver/ Dmitry Kulikov - Keaton Ellerby
Scratches: Matthias, Dadonov
Top PP times: Kulikov (2:56), Wideman (2:30), Santorelli (2:04), Weiss (2:00), Stillman (1:46)
Trending: Rostislav Olesz (1G, +1, no PP, 2 SOG) got the GWG and had three points in four games before tonight. David Booth (1A, 1:29 PP, 1 SOG) has points in two of three after having one in seven, while Michael Frolik (1A, -2, 1:24 PP, 3 SOG) has points in B2B games for the first time in a month. And he went that entire span without a single other point. Chris Higgins (1G, -1, 1:11 PP, 2 SOG) has points in three of his past five now. Dennis Wideman (1G, +1, 2 PIM, 5 SOG) had 25 points overall coming in here, but just one in his past seven before tonight. Mike Santorelli (1G, +1, 2 SOG) struck for his first career SHG. He had 3-8-11 in 14 GP last month and was pointless in his first two of February.
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 (4:12), Elias (3:55), Zubrus (3:38), Arnott (2:50), Greene (2:49)
Trending: Ilya Kovalchuk (1A, +1, 2 SOG) had a three-pointer the last time he met the Panthers and he had 10 points in his past 10 GP headed in here with a +3 rating in that time. Travis Zajac (1G, 1A, +2, 2:14 PP, 1 SOG) came into this evening with 26 points, but just one in six before tonight. Jason Arnott (1G, 1 SOG) scored twice when facing this team Jan. 23, but that was his only production in six tries overall headed in here.
BUFFALO SABRES 2 @ PITTSBURGH PENGUINS 3
Goaltending match-up: Ryan Miller (36/39, .923 SV%) vs. Marc-Andre Fleury (27/29, .931 SV%)
Combos: Thomas Vanek - Jochen Hecht - Jason Pominville/ Tyler Ennis - Paul Byron - Drew Stafford/ Nathan Gerbe - Tim Connolly - Cody McCormick/ Rob Niedermayer - Paul Gaustad - Mike Grier/ Andrej Sekera - Tyler Myers/ Jordan Leopold - Steve Montador/ Shaone Morrisonn - Mike Weber
Scratches: Butler, Rivet
Top PP times: Stafford (0:47), Weber (0:47), Vanek (0:47), Connolly (0:41), Morrisonn (0:41)
Trending: Paul Gaustad (1G, 1A, +2, no PP, 3 SOG) had five points last month. Rob Niedermayer (2A, +1, no PP, no SOG) has points in two of three, but had only nine points coming in.
Combos: Chris Kunitz - Evgeni Malkin - Pascal Dupuis/ Matt Cooke - Jordan Staal - Tyler Kennedy/ Michael Rupp - Max Talbot - Craig Adams/ Eric Tangradi - Dustin Jeffrey - Chris Conner/ Brooks Orpik - Kris Letang/ Paul Martin - Zbynek Michalek/ Alex Goligoski - Deryk Engelland
Scratches: Lovejoy, Godard, Asham
Top PP times: Letang (7:12), Staal (6:04), Kunitz (5:56), Jeffrey (5:31), Goligoski (5:17)
Trending: Evgeni Malkin (-2, 6:03 TOI) returned to action tonight, but then left injured again and did not return. Jordan Staal (1A, +1, 3 SOG) had just one helper in five games headed in here after that burst of six points in three games. Alex Goligoski (1A, -1, 2 SOG) has been a nice mix of depth points and good +/- this season, while Dustin Jeffrey (1G, +1, 2 SOG) has points in four of his last five starts. Pascal Dupuis (1A, -1, 0:10 PP, 1 SOG) has points in five of eight.
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS 3 @ DETROIT RED WINGS 0
Goaltending match-up: Steve Mason (34/34) vs. Jimmy Howard (21/23, .913 SV%)
Combos: Rick Nash - Derick Brassard - Jakub Voracek/ Matt Calvert - Antoine Vermette - R.J. Umberger/ Chris Clark - Samuel Pahlsson - Derek Dorsett/ Andrew Murray - Derek MacKenzie - Jared Boll / Kris Russell - Grant Clitsome/ Anton Stralman - Jan Hejda/ Marc Methot - Fedor Tyutin
Scratches: Moore, Huselius, Klesla
Top PP times: Tyutin (3:15), Clitsome (3:00), Nash (2:58), Brassard (2:58), Voracek (2:58)
Trending: Antoine Vermette (1G, 1A, +2, 2 PIM, 2:32 PP, 2 SOG) has come up with points in five of his past seven outings, while R.J. Umberger (1A, +2, 2 PIM, 2:39 PP, 3 SOG) has the same. Matt Calvert (1A, +1, 2:39 PP, no SOG) has a point in three of four and he took the spot of Kristian Huselius in the top six to open this one.
Combos: Johan Franzen - Henrik Zetterberg - Todd Bertuzzi/ Jiri Hudler - Valtteri Filppula - Danny Cleary/ Kris Draper - Darren Helm - Patrick Eaves/ Drew Miller - Justin Abdelkader - Jan Mursak/ Nicklas Lidstrom - Niklas Kronwall/ Jonathan Ericsson - Brian Rafalski/ Jakub Kindl - Ruslan Salei
Scratches: Datsyuk, Holmstrom
Top PP times: Lidstrom (7:55), Rafalski (7:00), Franzen (6:28), Zetterberg (6:14), Bertuzzi (6:03)
Trending:
WASHINGTON CAPITALS 5 @ TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING 2
Goaltending match-up: Semyon Varlamov (23/25, .920 SV%) vs. Dwayne Roloson (31/35, .886 SV%)
Combos: Alex Ovechkin - Nicklas Backstrom - Jason Chimera/ Brooks Laich - Mathieu Perreault - Jay Beagle/ Matt Hendricks - Marcus Johansson - Mike Knuble/ Boyd Gordon - Dave Steckel - Matt Bradley/ Karl Alzner - John Carlson/ Jeff Schultz - Mike Green/ John Erskine - Scott Hannan
Scratches: King, Sloan
Top PP times: Green (6:44), Carlson (6:16), Ovechkin (5:04), Backstrom (4:39), Knuble (4:39)
Trending: Alex Ovechkin (1G, 3A, +3, 10 SOG) came into tonight with 25-30-55 in 40 GP vs. TB, including 1-4-5 in 4 GP this year. Nicklas Backstrom (2G, 2A, +3, 5 SOG) ended a three-game pointless spell here. Jason Chimera (1G, 1A, +2, 2 PIM, 2:02 PP, 2 SOG) had been blanked in his past three. Mike Green (1A, +2, 4 SOG) came into tonight on pace for 36 points after tallying 76 and 73 in his past two campaigns. John Carlson (1A, +2, 1 SOG) has points in five of his past nine from the back end.
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 (should play Sunday), Ritola, Smith
Top PP times: Stamkos (6:11), St. Louis (5:32), Lecavalier (5:10), Kubina (5:02), Downie (4:40)
Trending: Victor Hedman (1A, -1, 2:47 PP, 1 SOG) has picked up helpers in six of 10. Simon Gagne (2A, 2:42 PP, 1 SOG) had an impressive 35 points in 36 GP vs. WAS coming in and had five points in his last three games overall too. Teddy Purcell (1G, 1A, 3:06 PP, 4 SOG) had seven points in that time. Brett Clark (1G, 1:38 PP, 1 SOG) has points in three straight after a long stretch without one.
EDMONTON OILERS 3 @ ST. LOUIS BLUES 5
Goaltending match-up: Devan Dubnyk (21/26, .808 SV%) vs. Ty Conklin (29/32, .906 SV%)
Combos: Ryan Jones - Shawn Horcoff - Ales Hemsky/ Taylor Hall - Andrew Cogliano - Jordan Eberle/ Magnus Paajarvi - Sam Gagner - Linus Omark/ Steve MacIntyre - Colin Fraser - Liam Reddox/ Theo Peckham - Tom Gilbert/ Jim Vandermeer - Kurtis Foster/ Jeff Petry - Ladislav Smid
Scratches: Jacques, Penner, Strudwick
Top PP times: Omark (2:58), Foster (2:44), Horcoff (2:35), Hall (2:32), Hemsky (2:32), Eberle (2:32)
Trending: Jordan Eberle (2A, +1, 2 SOG) was back in action tonight and he chipped in for his owners right away. Taylor Hall (1G, +1, 2 PIM, 6 SOG) had 4-5-9 in 13 GP last month. Linus Omark (1A, -1, 3 SOG) has picked up points in three of his past four, but his productive has still been a little light to own him in anything but a really deep league or a keeper. Sam Gagner (1G, -1, 2:06 PP, 4 SOG) had racked up 13 points in his prior 11 GP vs. STL and has points in three of four overall. Andrew Cogliano (2A, +1, 0:01 PP, 2 SOG) has a point in six of 10 now.
Combos: Andy McDonald - David Backes - Brad Boyes/ Alex Steen - Patrik Berglund - T.J. Oshie/ Vladimir Sobotka - Jay McClement - Matt D'Agostini/ Brad Winchester - B.J. Crombeen - Cam Janssen/ Barret Jackman - Roman Polak/ Alex Pietrangelo - Erik Johnson/ Nikita Nikitin - Tyson Strachan
Scratches: Brewer, Halak
Top PP times: D'Agostini (3:05), Backes (3:05), Nikitin (3:05), Steen (2:57), Oshie (2:09)
Trending: The Blues finally had Andy McDonald (1A, +2, 2 PIM, 1:31 PP, 1 SOG) in their line-up here. T.J. Oshie (1G, 2 PIM, 1 SOG) had 1-0-1 in 5 GP since getting healthy headed in here, while Alex Pietrangelo (1G, +2, 1:39 PP, 2 SOG) has points in six of nine from the back end. Alex Steen (2A, -1, 2 SOG) had 24 points in 26 GP headed into this evening. Patrik Berglund (2A, 1:31 PP, 1 SOG) needed two points here to reach 30 for the season and he had seven points in seven games before this clash. Brad Boyes (1G, 1A, +2, 1:31 PP, 2 SOG) had a great January with 1-11-12 in 12 GP. Erik Johnson (1A, +2, 1:31 PP, 2 SOG) had 1-8-9 in 8 GP vs. EDM coming in and has points in five of nine overall now.
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS 3 @ VANCOUVER CANUCKS 4
Goaltending match-up: Marty Turco (28/32, .875 SV%) vs. Roberto Luongo (42/45, .933 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: Sharp (5:41), Hossa (5:37), Kane (5:26), Seabrook (5:10), Toews (4:55)
Trending: Jonathan Toews (1G, 1A, +2, 1 SOG) had 3-7-10 in 15 GP vs. VAN coming in here with 10 points in his past 11 GP overall before tonight. Brent Seabrook (2A, +1, 2 PIM, 1 SOG) only needed two points tonight to match last year's solid output of 30 points. Troy Brouwer (1A, +2, 2 PIM, 3:04 PP, 2 SOG) had six points in five affairs coming into this affair. Dave Bolland (1G, 3:27 PP, 2 SOG) began the night with 6-3-9 in 8 GP. Bryan Bickell (1A, -1, 1:30 PP, 3 SOG) had 11 points in 12 December GP, but then six in his next 12.
Combos: Daniel Sedin - Henrik Sedin - Alexandre Burrows/ Mason Raymond - Ryan Kesler - Mikael Samuelsson/ Raffi Torres - Manny Malhotra - Jannik Hansen/ Tanner Glass - Cody Hodgson - Jeff Tambellini/ Aaron Rome - Christian Ehrhoff/ Dan Hamhuis - Kevin Bieksa/ Chris Tanev - Keith Ballard
Scratches: Alberts, Volpatti, Sweatt
Top PP times: Sedins (4:52), Samuelsson (4:30), Kesler (4:18), Ehrhoff (3:42)
Trending: Christian Ehrhoff (1G, +1, 4 PIM, 3 SOG) opened the scoring tonight on a play that was - with the hindsight of slow-mo replay - absolutely offside and had 10 points in 16 GP coming in. Cody Hodgson (1A, 7:11 TOI, 0:23 PP, 3 SOG) has points in B2B games and this was his third NHL start. Mikael Samuelsson (1G, 1A, 2 PIM, 5 SOG) already had three different two-pointers in his past four starts before tonight with 18 SOG in his past four games coming in too. Henrik Sedin (1G, 2A, 5 SOG) had a goal the last time these teams met and had 11-18-29 in 37 GP vs. CHI coming in. Dan Hamhuis (1A, -1, 1:33 PP, no SOG) has points in six of eight now. Daniel Sedin (1G, 1A, 3 SOG) had 28 points in 25 home games headed in here. Alexandre Burrows (1A, +1, 0:57 PP, 4 SOG) pushed his point streak to six games, which is his longest of the season. He's already had another five-gamer and a pair of threes.
