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TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS 2 @ BUFFALO SABRES 1
Goaltending match-up: Jean-Sebastien Giguere (9/9, left with an injury) & James Reimer (14/15, .933 SV%) vs. Ryan Miller (28/30, .933 SV%)
Combos: Clarke MacArthur - Mikhail Grabovski - Nikolai Kulemin/ Joffrey Lupul - Tyler Bozak - Phil Kessel/ Fredrik Sjostrom - Darryl Boyce - Christian Hanson/ Joey Crabb - Tim Brent - Jay Rosehill/ Dion Phaneuf - Keith Aulie/ Luke Schenn - Tomas Kaberle/ Mike Komisarek - Carl Gunnarsson
Scratches: Armstrong, Lebda
Top PP times: Phaneuf (3:25), Kaberle (3:25), Kessel (2:18), Bozak (2:18), Kulemin (2:08)
Trending: Phil Kessel (1G, 4 SOG) scored a couple of goals against the Bruins last night too, so another game where he finds the back of the net and we’ll have ourselves a streak. He actually has points in four of five now. Tomas Kaberle (1A, +1, 2 SOG) had seven points in eight games coming in, while Joffrey Lupul (1A, 2 PIM, 1:10 PP, 4 SOG) had two assists last night.
Combos: Thomas Vanek - Jochen Hecht - Jason Pominville/ Tyler Ennis - Tim Connolly - Drew Stafford/ Nathan Gerbe - Rob Niedermayer - Patrick Kaleta/ Cody McCormick - Paul Gaustad - Mike Grier/ Chris Butler - Tyler Myers/ Jordan Leopold - Andrej Sekera/ Shaone Morrisonn - Mike Weber
Scratches: Byron, Rivet
Top PP times: Myers (4:14), Stafford (4:01), Vanek (3:55), Connolly (3:55), Ennis (3:53), Hecht (3:53)
Trending: Drew Stafford (1A, -1, 3 SOG) didn't score tonight, but he did add his 35th point in his 38th start and that officially passes what he tallied in 71 GP last season. He has been the picture of inconsistency before this season, but so far so good when he's been healthy this year.
CAROLINA HURRICANES 2 @ NEW JERSEY DEVILS 3
Goaltending match-up: Cam Ward (19/22, .864 SV%) vs. Johan Hedberg (25/27, .926 SV%)
Combos: Chad LaRose - Eric Staal - Erik Cole/ Jeff Skinner - Brandon Sutter - Tuomo Ruutu/ Sergei Samsonov - Pat Dwyer - Jiri Tlusty/ Jerome Samson - Jussi Jokinen - Troy Bodie/ Tim Gleason - Jamie McBain/ Joni Pitkanen - Joe Corvo/ Jay Harrison - Brett Carson
Scratches: White, Carter
Top PP times: Corvo (1:54), Pitkanen (1:54), Staal (1:54), Ruutu (1:44), Skinner (1:44)
Trending: Tuomo Ruutu (1G, +1, 1 SOG) scored with seconds left and has points in four of six. Sergei Samsonov (1G, +1, 0:54 PP, 1 SOG) had a pair of two-pointers on the month coming in. Jamie McBain (1A, 0:46 PP, 3 SOG) has a point in three of eight now. Eric Staal (1A, -1, 2 SOG) added his 57th point of the season and had four in five coming in.
Combos: Ilya Kovalchuk - Travis Zajac - Nick Palmieri/ Brian Rolston - Patrik Elias - Dainius Zubrus/ MattiasTedenby - Jason Arnott - Vladimir Zharkov/ Rod Pelley - Tim Sestito - David Clarkson/ Anssi Salmela - Andy Greene/ Mark Fraser - Henrik Tallinder/ Colin White - Mark Fayne/ Jay Leach - Adam Mair
Scratches: Mair, Volchenkov, Leach
Top PP times: Minimal
Trending: Ilya Kovalchuk (1G, 2 SOG) has points in eight straight now, which includes every February game. He had 17 points in 15 GP coming in as well. Travis Zajac (1A, 1 SOG) had seven points in five affairs before this one, while Nick Palmieri (1A, no PP, 1 SOG) has points in three of eight. Brian Rolston (1G, 1A, +1, 2 SO)G has been rolling for more than a month now, while Patrik Elias (1G, 1A, +1, 3 SOG) has points in three straight and had 41 points overall coming in.
LOS ANGELES KINGS 4 @ COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS 3 (SO)
Goaltending match-up: Jonathan Quick (21/24, .875 SV%) vs. Mathieu Garon (26/29, .897 SV%)
Combos: Michal Handzus - Anze Kopitar - Wayne Simmonds/ Ryan Smyth - Jarret Stoll - Justin Williams/ Kyle Clifford - Andrei Loktionov - Dustin Brown/ Alexei Ponikarovsky - Trevor Lewis - Kevin Westgarth/ Willie Mitchell - Drew Doughty/ Rob Scuderi - Jack Johnson/ Alec Martinez - Matt Greene
Scratches: Harrold, Richardson, Drewiske
Top PP times: Doughty (3:55), Johnson (3:41), Williams (3:31), Kopitar (3:14), Brown (3:01)
Trending: Andrei Loktionov (1G, 1A, +2, 2:46 PP, 1 SOG) has points in three of five now and he’s really finding his groove both at the NHL level and also at his more familiar centre position. Justin Williams (1G, -1, 3 SOG) had two points the last time he faced the Jackets. Drew Doughty (1G, -1, 2 PIM, 2 SOG) picked up his 30th point of the season and has goals in B2B games now. Anze Kopitar (1A, 2 SOG) has four points in his last three now and has 54 overall. Shootout: Jarret Stoll
Combos: Rick Nash - Derick Brassard - Jakub Voracek/ Kristian Huselius - Antoine Vermette - R.J. Umberger/ Chris Clark - Samuel Pahlsson - Andrew Murray/ Matt Calvert - Derek MacKenzie - Jared Boll / Kris Russell - Grant Clitsome/ Anton Stralman - Jan Hejda/ Marc Methot - Fedor Tyutin
Scratches: Dorsett, Moreau, Klesla
Top PP times: Umburger (2:07), Clitsome (2:00), Nash (2:00), Huselius (1:36), Voracek (1:29)
Trending: Derick Brassard (0:43 TOI) left this game injured and was replaced by Derek MacKenzie (2A, +2, no PP, no SOG), who capitalized on the opportunity with this multi-pointer. Rick Nash (1G, 2A, +2, 5 SOG) not only scored twice in his last game against the Kings, but also had 14-11-25 in 28 GP vs. LOS coming in. Jakub Voracek (1G, 1A, +3, 1:29 PP, 5 SOG) had four points in four games before tonight. Grant Clitsome (1A, 2 PIM, 1 SOG) has points in four of eight this month. Kris Russell added his fourth point of the month.
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS 4 @ FLORIDA PANTHERS 2
Goaltending match-up: Sergei Bobrovsky (33/35, .943 SV%) vs. Tomas Vokoun (31/34, .912 SV%)
Combos: Dan Carcillo - Mike Richards - Kris Versteeg/ James van Riemsdyk - Claude Giroux - Jeff Carter/ Scott Hartnell - Danny Briere - Andreas Nodl/ Darroll Powe - Blair Betts - Jody Shelley/ Matt Carle - Chris Pronger/ Kimmo Timonen - Braydon Coburn/ Andrej Meszaros - Sean O'Donnell
Scratches: Bartulis, Leino, Zherdev
Top PP times: Briere (3:55), Hartnell (3:55), JVR (3:50), Timonen (3:46), Pronger (3:44)
Trending: Ville Leino was scratched from this one with a lower-body injury. This was Kris Versteeg’s (1A, +1, 0:03 PP, 1 SOG) second game with the Flyers and first time in the box score. Mike Richards (1G, +1, 3:14 PP, 3 SOG) only had two helpers in six tries this month coming in and he reached the 50-point plateau here. Danny Briere (1G, 2A, +3, 5 SOG) only had one point in six games coming out of the All-Star break. He also netted the ENG. Scott Hartnell (1A, +2, 6 SOG) has points in B2B affairs after five without one. James van Riemsdyk (1G, +1, 3 SOG) had a couple of points in his last game and has points in three of five. Chris Pronger (1A, +2, 2 PIM, 1 SOG) only had one point in six games headed in here. Andreas Nodl (1G, 1A, +2, 1:08 PP, 3 SOG) had a nice night, but hasn't done much for awhile.
Combos: Cory Stillman - Stephen Weiss - Jack Skille/ David Booth - Mike Santorelli - Radek Dvorak/ Chris Higgins - Marty Reasoner - Rostislav Olesz/ Darcy Hordichuk - Scott Timmins/ Keaton Ellerby - Dennis Wideman/ Jason Garrison - Mike Weaver/ Joe Callahan - Bryan Allen
Scratches: Kulikov
Top PP times: Stillman (3:40), Wideman (3:40), Skille (3:30), Higgins (3:24), Weiss (3:11)
Trending: David Booth (1G, 0:40 PP, 4 SOG) stopped a mini-slide of three games here, while Rostislav Olesz (1G, 0:34 PP, 3 SOG) did the same and has points in three of six. This was game No. 1000 for Cory Stillman, so congrats.
MINNESOTA WILD 1 @ CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS 3
Goaltending match-up: Jose Theodore (34/36, .944 SV%) vs. Corey Crawford (33/34, .971 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/ Greg Zanon - Clayton Stoner/ Nick Schultz - Brent Burns/ Cam Barker - Jared Spurgeon
Scratches: Scandella
Top PP times: Burns (3:49), Brodziak (3:07), Clutterbuck (3:07), Havlat (3:07), PMB (2:38), Cullen (2:38)
Trending: Matt Cullen (1G, 2 PIM, 1 SOG) hadn't scored since Jan. 18 and had a two-pointer vs. COL as his only output in six games this month. Jared Spurgeon (1A, 1:48 PP, no SOG) has helpers in four of five from the back end. Mikko Koivu (1A, -1, 2:30 PP, 3 SOG) had 17 points in 21 GP vs. CHI coming in.
Combos: Patrick Sharp - Jonathan Toews - Patrick Kane/ Michael Frolik - Dave Bolland - Marian Hossa/ Troy Brouwer - Tomas Kopecky - Bryan Bickell/ Viktor Stalberg - Jake Dowell - John Scott/ Duncan Keith - Nick Leddy/ Niklas Hjalmarsson - Brent Seabrook/ Brian Campbell - Jordan Hendry
Scratches: Pisani, Boynton
Top PP times: Sharp (5:07), Brouwer (5:03), Keith (4:48), Hossa (4:46), Kopecky (4:46)
Trending: Marian Hossa (2A, +1, 5 SOG) had 6-5-11 in 13 GP vs. MIN coming in, which is pretty good given how defensive the Wild have been over the years. Dave Bolland (3A, +1, 4:32 PP, 2 SOG) has B2B multi-pointers now and had 12 points in 13 GP coming in. Brian Campbell (1G, 4 SOG) has points in B2B games after five without one and one in eight. Troy Brouwer (1G, 1 SOG) has goals in B2B starts and had nine points in 10 GP before this one began.
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS 3 @ COLORADO AVALANCHE 2 (OT)
Goaltending match-up: Marc-Andre Fleury (29/31, .935 SV%) vs. Peter Budaj (33/36, .917 SV%)
Combos: Brett Sterling - Jordan Staal - Nick Johnson/ Pascal Dupuis - Craig Adams - Tyler Kennedy/ Michael Rupp - Max Talbot - Chris Conner/ Ryan Craig - Joe Vitale - Tim Wallace/ Kris Letang - Brooks Orpik/ Paul Martin - Zbynek Michalek/ Alex Goligoski - Deryk Engelland
Scratches: Lovejoy, Cooke, Godard
Top PP times: Goligoski (6:28), Letang (6:26), Staal (5:09), Kennedy (5:09), Sterling (3:39)
Trending: Jordan Staal (1G, +1, 5 SOG) pushed his point streak to four games and Brett Sterling (1A, +2, 2 SOG) has points in all four of his games on this call-up. Nick Johnson (1A, +2, 5 PIM, 3:33 PP, 1 SOG) has points in three of his four games and he also fought here. Kris Letang (2A, +1, 1 SOG) has points in three straight after seven without one and one in 11. Paul Martin (1A, 2:38 PP, 1 SOG) had three February points before tonight. This was Joe Vitale's (1G, +1, 2 PIM, no PP, 1 SOG) fourth start and first NHL goal. Tyler Kennedy (1G, 5 SOG) blasted home the OT GWG and has six points in his past eight tries. Alex Goligoski (1A, +1, 1 SOG) added his 31st point and has points in each of his past three.
Combos: David Jones - Paul Stastny - Chris Stewart/ Kevin Porter - Mark Olver - Milan Hejduk/ Brandon Yip - Ryan O'Reilly - Daniel Winnik/ Cody McLeod - Philippe Dupuis - David Koci/ John-Michael Liles - Ryan O'Byrne/ Ryan Wilson - Kevin Shattenkirk/ Matt Hunwick - Cameron Gaunce
Scratches: Holos
Top PP times: Liles (3:05), Stewart (3:05), Stastny (2:43), Shattenkirk (2:43), Hejduk (2:23)
Trending: Cameron Gaunce (1G, no PP, 1 SOG) netted his first NHL marker in his third game. Chris Stewart (1G, +2, 3 SOG) stopped a five-game pointless skid here. Paul Stastny (1A, +2, 2 PIM, 3 SOG) has points in two of three after five without one.
DALLAS STARS 2 @ CALGARY FLAMES 4
Goaltending match-up: Kari Lehtonen (27/31, .871 SV%) & Andrew Raycroft (0/0, 13 seconds of ice time) vs. Miikka Kiprusoff (22/24, .917 SV%)
Combos: Brenden Morrow - Mike Ribeiro - Loui Eriksson/ James Neal - Jason Williams - Tomas Vincour/ Steve Ott - Tom Wandell - Jamie Langenbrunner/ Brian Sutherby - Aaron Gagnon - Toby Petersen/ Marc Fistric - Stephane Robidas/ Karlis Skrastins - Matt Niskanen/ Jeff Woywitka - Trevor Daley
Scratches: Grossman, Ludwig, Richards
Top PP times: Ribeiro (2:46), Morrow (2:33), Eriksson (2:33), Williams (2:33), Robidas (2:12)
Trending: Jamie Langenbrunner (1G, 1A, +1, 2 PIM, 1:23 PP, 1 SOG) had 1-4-5 in 15 GP with DAL coming in here. James Neal (1A, 1:10 PP, 3 SOG) ended an eight-game pointless skid here. Brenden Morrow (1A, -1, 3 SOG) has points in five of seven and he needed two here to reach 40 on the season. Mike Ribeiro (1G, 2 SOG) only had one assist coming in. Trevor Daley (1A, 1:44 PP, 3 SOG) has a point in three of six.
Combos: Alex Tanguay - Brendan Morrison - Jarome Iginla/ Curtis Glencross - Olli Jokinen - David Moss/ Rene Bourque - Matt Stajan - Tim Jackman/ Tom Kostopoulos - Mikael Backlund - Niklas Hagman/ Robyn Regehr - Jay Bouwmeester/ Mark Giordano - Cory Sarich/ Steve Staios - Anton Babchuk
Scratches: Mikkelson, Bouma
Top PP times: Tanguay (3:53), Iginla (3:19), Morrison (2:56), Babchuk (2:47), Giordano (2:39)
Trending: Olli Jokinen (1G, 2:31 PP, 3 SOG) had 10 points in five games before adding more here, while Anton Babchuk (1A, 6 SOG) had five points in four games before this outing. Rene Bourque (2A, 2 SOG) had four points in five games coming into tonight. David Moss (1A, 2:27 PP, 3 SOG) was coming off that four-pointer @COL.
WASHINGTON CAPITALS 7 @ ANAHEIM DUCKS 6
Goaltending match-up: Semyon Varlamov (6/9, .667 SV%) & Michal Neuvirth (9/12, .750 SV%) vs. Curtis McElhinney (24/31, .774 SV%)
Combos: Alex Ovechkin - Nicklas Backstrom - Mike Knuble/ Brooks Laich - Marcus Johansson - Alexander Semin/ Jason Chimera - Mathieu Perreault - Matt Bradley/ Matt Hendricks - Dave Steckel - Boyd Gordon/ Karl Alzner - John Carlson/ Jeff Schultz - Scott Hannan/ John Erskine - Tyler Sloan
Scratches: King, McNeil, Green
Top PP times: Ovechkin (3:51), Carlson (2:59), Semin (2:28), Backstrom (2:28), Laich (2:28)
Trending: Alexander Semin (3G, +4, 4 SOG) hadn't scored in a loooonnnnggg time, but has points in B2B games now. This was his fourth hat trick of the season and seventh in his career. Alex Ovechkin (1G, 1A, -1, 3 SOG) has goals in three of six and had a pretty incredible 5-6-11 in 5 GP vs. ANH coming in. Nicklas Backstrom (2A, 3 SOG) ended a four-game pointless streak coming in, while Brooks Laich (1G, 1A, +2, 3 SOG) has points in four of six. Marcus Johansson (1A, +2, 1:23 PP, 3 SOG) has points in three of five. Mike Knuble (1G, -1, 1:23 PP, 3 SOG) has scored in three of seven this month.
Combos: Bobby Ryan - Ryan Getzlaf - Corey Perry/ Jason Blake - Saku Koivu - Teemu Selanne/ Dan Sexton - Brandon McMillan - Maxim Lapierre/ Todd Marchant - George Parros/ Toni Lydman - Lubomir Visnovsky/ Luca Sbisa - Andy Sutton/ Andreas Lilja - Cam Fowler/ Francois Beauchemin
Scratches: Brookbank, Mara, Chipchura
Top PP times: Visnovsky (3:15), Fowler (3:15), Selanne (3:14), Perry (3:14), Koivu (3:14)
Trending: Ryan Getzlaf (1G, 3A, -1, 0:16 PP, 1 SOG), Corey Perry (1G, 3A, 2 SOG) and Bobby Ryan (1G, 1A, -2, 0:16 PP, 2 SOG) came through with another big night for their owners. Teemu Selanne (1G, -1, 2 SOG) has owned the Caps in his career, having already tallied 18-16-34 in 22 GP. Saku Koivu (1A, -2, 2 SOG) had eight points in seven affairs coming in. Lubomir Visnovsky (1G, 3 SOG) only had one point in five games coming in here, but has been excellent overall.
