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CAROLINA HURRICANES 2 @ NEW JERSEY DEVILS 3 (OT)
Goaltending match-up: Cam Ward (31/34, .912 SV%) vs. Johan Hedberg (20/22, .909 SV%)
Combos: Sergei Samsonov - Eric Staal - Erik Cole/ Jeff Skinner - Tuomo Ruutu - Chad LaRose/ Jiri Tlusty - Brandon Sutter - Pat Dwyer/ Zach Boychuk - Ryan Carter - Troy Bodie/ Jamie McBain - Joni Pitkanen/ Tim Gleason - Joe Corvo/ Ian White - Jay Harrison
Scratches: Jokinen
Top PP times: Staal (2:00), Pitkanen (1:47), Ruutu (1:24), Skinner (1:24), Gleason (1:21)
Trending: Jeff Skinner (2G, -2, 3 SOG) had a pair of goals in his only other appearance against the Devils. Joe Corvo (1A, -2, 0:59 PP, 2 SOG) continues to pile up points in 2011, while Joni Pitkanen (1A, no SOG) had four helpers in six games before tonight. Eric Staal (1A, no SOG) had 12-12-24 in 28 away games coming in.
Combos: Ilya Kovalchuk - Travis Zajac - Nick Palmieri/ Brian Rolston - Patrik Elias - Brian Rolston/ 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, Brodeur
Top PP times: N/A
Trending: Mattias Tedenby (2G, +2, no PP, 3 SOG) has points in two of three now after five without one. This was his second GWG of the season. Jason Arnott (1A, +2, 1 SOG) had six points in 12 outings coming in. Ilya Kovalchuk (1A, +1, 5 SOG) continues to find a way to produce for his owners. Travis Zajac (1A, +1, 2 SOG) has six points in his past three affairs.
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS 5 @ NEW YORK ISLANDERS 3
Goaltending match-up: James Reimer (31/34, .912 SV%) vs. Mikko Koskinen (21/26, .808 SV%)
Combos: Nikolai Kulemin - Mikhail Grabovski - Phil Kessel/ Clarke MacArthur - Tyler Bozak - Kris Versteeg/ Colby Armstrong - Darryl Boyce - Joey Crabb/ Fredrik Sjostrom - Tim Brent - Jay Rosehill/ Francois Beauchemin - Dion Phaneuf/ Tomas Kaberle - Luke Schenn/ Mike Komisarek - Brett Lebda
Scratches: Gunnarson, Mitchell, Gustavsson
Top PP times: Kessel (5:40), Kaberle (4:58), Grabovski (4:51), Kulemin (4:34), Phaneuf (4:33)
Trending: Nikolai Kulemin (1G, +1, 2 SOG) has goals in four of five with points in all five games this month. Phil Kessel (1A, +1, 4 SOG) had drawn blanks in five straight before tonight. Colby Armstrong (1G, 2A, +2, 1:35 PP, 2 SOG) has produced points in five straight, which was preceded by five without a point and then five with one. Tomas Kaberle (1G, 1A, +2, 2 PIM, 1 SOG) had produced 1-15-16 in 26 road games headed in here. He also had four points in four February games.
Combos: Matt Moulson - John Tavares - P.A. Parenteau/ Michael Grabner - Frans Nielsen - Kyle Okposo/ Rob Schremp - Jeremy Colliton - Josh Bailey/ Trevor Gillies - Zenon Konopka - Matt Martin/ Andrew MacDonald - Travis Hamonic/ Jack Hillen - Radek Martinek/ Ty Wishart - Milan Jurcina
Scratches: Gervais, Comeau, DiPietro
Top PP times: Parenteau (3:42), Moulson (3:32), Tavares (3:20), MacDonald (3:03), Bailey (3:03)
Trending: Kevin Poulin was slated to start, but was hurt in the warm-up. Welcome to the New York Islanders' season. Matt Moulson (1G, -1, 2 SOG) has points in B2B games after four without one, while John Tavares (1A, -2, 2 SOG) added to the 4-1-5 in 5 GP vs. TOR he had coming in. P.A. Parenteau (1A, -2, 2 PIM, no SOG) had eight points in 11 GP before tonight. In his past 11 GP coming in, Michael Grabner (1G, +1, 1:28 PP, 3 SOG) had 7G, 4A. Kyle Okposo (1A, +1, 2:11 PP, 3 SOG) opened the month with a three-pointer, then was blanked twice coming in here. Rob Schremp (1G, -2, 1:41 PP, 1 SOG) just had a two-goal game against the Sens, but not too much for awhile before that.
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS 4 @ PITTSBURGH PENGUINS 1
Goaltending match-up: Steve Mason (32/33, .970 SV%) vs. Marc-Andre Fleury (21/25, .840 SV%)
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: Moore, Klesla, Murray
Top PP times: Umberger (2:24), Russell (2:14), Vermette (2:14), Huselius (2:14), Stralman (2:04)
Trending: Rick Nash (1G, 1A, +2, 1:52 PP, 4 SOG) opened the scoring tonight and had 12-11-23 in 26 road games headed into this start. Derick Brassard (2A, +2, 9 PIM, 0:17 PP, no SOG) had accumulated 12 points in 14 GP coming in here, while Jakub Voracek (1G, 1A, +2, 1:52 PP, 1 SOG) ended a brief three-game pointless skid. R.J. Umberger (2A, +2, 3 SOG) was coming off that four-pointer vs. EDM and he’s been on a nice little tear for awhile now. Antoine Vermette (1G, +2, 4 SOG) had seven points in eight games coming in. Kristian Huselius (1A, +1, no SOG) just had that three-pointer against the Oilers.
Combos: Matt Cooke - Jordan Staal - Chris Conner/ Tyler Kennedy - Dustin Jeffrey - Pascal Dupuis/ Michael Rupp - Max Talbot - Tim Wallace/ Eric Tangradi - Craig Adams - Eric Godard/ Brooks Orpik - Kris Letang/ Paul Martin - Zbynek Michalek/ Alex Goligoski - Ben Lovejoy
Scratches: Engelland, Kunitz, Malkin
Top PP times: Letang (1:59), Goligoski (1:25), Staal (1:25), Tangradi (1:25), Jeffrey (1:09)
Trending: Tyler Kennedy (1G, 0:50 PP, 3 SOG) also scored the last time he faced the Pens and has goals in three of four overall now. Paul Martin (1A, -1, 1:06 PP, 4 SOG) reached the 20-point plateau here.
SAN JOSE SHARKS 2 @ WASHINGTON CAPITALS 0
Goaltending match-up: Antti Niemi (25/25) vs. Michal Neuvirth (34/36, .944 SV%)
Combos: Patrick Marleau - Joe Thornton - Dany Heatley/ Ryane Clowe - Joe Pavelski - Devin Setoguchi/ Ben Eager - Logan Couture - Kyle Wellwood/ John McCarthy - Scott Nichol - Jamal Mayers/ Douglas Murray - Dan Boyle/ Marc-Edouard Vlasic - Kent Huskins/ Niclas Wallin - Jason Demers
Scratches: Joslin
Top PP times: Pavelski (1:51), Marleau (1:41), Heatley (1:41), Thornton (1:41), Boyle (1:41)
Trending: Logan Couture (1G, +1, 0:19 PP, 4 SOG) scored the game’s first goal in the third period and has goals in five of six with points in each of his past six starts. Dan Boyle (1G, +1, 3 SOG) hadn’t scored since Dec. 23. Dany Heatley (1A, +1, 6 SOG) has points in three of four and had 33 points in 30 GP vs. WAS coming in here. Devin Setoguchi (1A, +1, 0:19 PP, 1 SOG) pushed his point streak to six games.
Combos: Alex Ovechkin - Nicklas Backstrom - Jason Chimera/ Brooks Laich - Mathieu Perreault - Alexander Semin/ Matt Hendricks - Marcus Johansson - Mike Knuble/ Boyd Gordon - Dave Steckel - Matt Bradley/ Karl Alzner - John Carlson/ Jeff Schultz - Scott Hannan/ John Erskine - Tyler Sloan
Scratches: King, Green
Top PP times: Carlson (3:52), Semin (3:13), Ovechkin (3:10), Backstrom (2:47), Knuble (2:47)
Trending: Alexander Semin (17:47 TOI, 4 SOG) was back in action here after a long layoff, but Mike Green didn’t play. He’s hopeful for Saturday, which is Washington’s next game.
BUFFALO SABRES 7 @ TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING 4
Goaltending match-up: Ryan Miller (30/34, .882 SV%) vs. Dwayne Roloson (21/28, .750 SV%)
Combos: Thomas Vanek - Jochen Hecht - Jason Pominville/ Tyler Ennis - Tim Connolly - Drew Stafford/ Nathan Gerbe - Paul Byron - Cody McCormick/ Rob Niedermayer - Paul Gaustad - Mike Grier/ Andrej Sekera - Tyler Myers/ Jordan Leopold - Chris Butler/ Shaone Morrisonn - Mike Weber
Scratches: Montador, Kaleta, Rivet
Top PP times: Leopold (5:02), Vanek (4:24), Ennis (3:54), Myers (3:21), Stafford (3:11),
Trending: Buffalo trailed 3-1 at one point and 3-2 headed into the third period. Drew Stafford (3G, +2, 4 PIM, 3 SOG) had 2G, 1A in his last game and has been surprisingly consistent this season when healthy. Jordan Leopold (1G, 2A, +3, 2 PIM, 3 SOG) had seven points in 14 GP coming in here. Thomas Vanek (2G, 1A, 2 SOG) already had 19 points in 14 GP coming into this tilt. Tyler Ennis (2A, +3, 2 SO)G had nine points in eight games coming into this clash. Tim Connolly (1G, +2, 2 PIM, 2:16 PP, 1 SOG) has come up with points in five of eight.
Combos: Martin St. Louis - Steven Stamkos - Steve Downie/ Simon Gagne - Vincent Lecavalier - Teddy Purcell/ Sean Bergenheim - Dominic Moore - Ryan Malone/ Dana Tyrell - Adam Hall/ Victor Hedman - Brett Clark/ Randy Jones - Pavel Kubina/ Marc-Andre Bergeron - Matt Smaby/ Mattias Ohlund
Scratches: Ritola, Lundin, Thompson
Top PP times: St. Louis (4:05), Lecavalier (4:03), Stamkos (3:57), Purcell (3:42), Gagne (3:01)
Trending: Vincent Lecavalier (2G, 1A, -1, 6 SOG) had four points in five games before tonight, while Brett Clark (1A, -2, 2:44 PP, 1 SOG) extended his point streak to five outings after a long string of zeroes. Ryan Malone (1A, +2, 2 PIM, 1 SOG) played his first game since Jan. 21 after missing time with a lower-body injury, but he also left this game hurt. Victor Hedman (1A, -1, 4 PIM, 2:22 PP, 4 SOG) has helpers in seven of his past 12 on D. Martin St. Louis (1A, -3, 4 SOG) and Steven Stamkos (1A, -2, 2 PIM, 4 SOG) picked up their usual pointage late in this one.
ST. LOUIS BLUES 2 @ FLORIDA PANTHERS 1
Goaltending match-up: Jaroslav Halak (30/31, .968 SV%) vs. Tomas Vokoun (26/28, .929 SV%)
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 - Alex Pietrangelo/ Eric Brewer - Erik Johnson/ Nikita Nikitin - Roman Polak
Scratches: Strachan
Top PP times: Nikitin (4:57), Oshie (4:45), Steen (4:42), Backes (4:29), D'Agostini (4:16)
Trending: David Backes (1G, +1, 4 SOG) had eight goals in 14 GP coming in here. Andy McDonald (1A, +1, 3 SOG) has points in two of three since returning to action. Brad Boyes (1A, +1, 3:31 PP, 1 SOG) has been averaging a point-per-game in the New Year. Matt D'Agostini (1G, +1, 3 SOG) scored the winner and has points in all three starts this month.
Combos: Chris Higgins - Stephen Weiss - Michael Frolik/ Rostislav Olesz - Marty Reasoner - Radek Dvorak/ David Booth - Mike Santorelli - Michal Repik/ Darcy Hordichuk - Scott Timmins - Steve Bernier/ Bryan Allen - Dennis Wideman/ Jason Garrison - Mike Weaver/ Dmitry Kulikov - Keaton Ellerby
Scratches: Stillman
Top PP times: Wideman (4:38), Weiss (4:04), Booth (3:35), Higgins (3:33), Frolik (2:52)
Trending: Dennis Wideman (1G, -1, 4 PIM, 2 SOG) had 10 points in 17 GP coming into this tilt and Stephen Weiss (1A, -1, 3 SOG) has opened February with points in three of four after five without one to close out January. Michael Frolik (1A, 2 PIM, 3 SOG) has points in each of his past three now after many moons without one.
