Twitter: @Nichols_NHLPool/ Email: chris.nichols@sportsnet.rogers.com
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PITTSBURGH PENGUINS 1 @ NEW JERSEY DEVILS 2 (OT)
Goaltending match-up: Brent Johnson (28/30, .933 SV%) vs. Martin Brodeur (25/26, .962 SV%)
Combos: James Neal - Mark Letestu - Alex Kovalev/ Matt Cooke - Jordan Staal- Tyler Kennedy/ Max Talbot - Dustin Jeffrey - Pascal Dupuis/ Mike Rupp - Craig Adams - Chris Conner/ Paul Martin - Zbynek Michalek/ Matt Niskanen - Kris Letang/ Deryk Engelland - Ben Lovejoy
Scratches: Kunitz, Godard
Top PP times: Kovalev (3:42), Martin (3:32), Staal (2:38), Letestu (2:24), Neal (2:24)
Trending: Tyler Kennedy (1G, +1, 1:31 PP, 6 SOG) had never scored in 15 prior tries against the Devils. He had nine points in 14 GP overall before tonight, dating back to the start of February.
Combos: Ilya Kovalchuk - Travis Zajac - Nick Palmieri/ Brian Rolston - Patrik Elias - Dainius Zubrus/ Rod Pelley - David Steckel - Adam Mair/ Vladimir Zharkov - Jacob Josefson - David Clarkson/ Colin White - Anton Volchenkov/ Henrik Tallinder - Mark Fayne/ Anssi Salmela - Andy Greene
Scratches: Fraser, Tedenby
Top PP times: Kovalchuk (1:49), Rolston (1:49), Elias (1:49), Zubrus (1:00), Zajac (0:49)
Trending: Ilya Kovalchuk (1G, 3 SOG) delivered his 9th GWG of the season and sixth in the last month alone. Stud. Travis Zajac (1G, 5 PIM, 1 SOG) hadn’t scored since Feb. 6. Nick Palmieri (1A, no PP, no SOG) has had this prime line assignment for awhile, but had just five points in 14 GP before tonight. Patrik Elias (1A, 2 SOG) broke a four-game pointless skid and Brian Rolston (1A, 1 SOG) came into tonight with seven points in 14 GP.
NEW YORK RANGERS 4 @ OTTAWA SENATORS 1
Goaltending match-up: Henrik Lundqvist (28/29, .966 SV%) vs. Craig Anderson (23/27, .852 SV%)
Combos: Brandon Dubinsky - Artem Anisimov - Ryan Callahan/ Wojtek Wolski - Derek Stepan - Mats Zuccarello/ Sean Avery - Erik Christensen - Vinny Prospal/ Ruslan Fedotenko - Brian Boyle - Brandon Prust/ Marc Staal - Dan Girardi/ Matt Gilroy - Mike Sauer/ Bryan McCabe - Steve Eminger
Scratches: Gaborik, McDonagh, Biron
Top PP times: Wolski (3:37), Stepan (3:08), McCabe (3:05), Zuccarello (3:01), Dubinsky (3:01)
Trending: Vinny Prospal (1G, +1, 2:38 PP, 1 SOG) had five points in five games headed in here, while Sean Avery (1A, +1, 1:08 PP, 2 SOG) has points in B2B affairs and in three of six. Mats Zuccarello (1G, +1, 2 PIM, 1 SOG) has points in three of six now after three without one, while Ryan Callahan (1A, +1, 2 PIM, 2:42 PP, 1 SOG) had 10 points in 14 affairs coming in here. Wojtek Wolski (2A, +2, 3 SOG) hit the 30-point plateau here and has points in four of seven.
Combos: Colin Greening - Jason Spezza - Bobby Butler/ Erik Condra - Ryan Shannon - Marek Svatos/ Nick Foligno - Zack Smith - Chris Neil/ Ryan Potulny - Jesse Winchester - Francis Lessard/ Filip Kuba - Erik Karlsson/ Chris Phillips - Brian Lee/ Derek Smith - Sergei Gonchar
Scratches: Michalek, Alfredsson, Regin, Carkner, Leclaire
Top PP times: Spezza (3:37), Butler (2:50), Kuba (2:34), Gonchar (2:29), Karlsson (2:22)
Trending: Sergei Gonchar (1G, -1, 2 SOG) ruined the shutout bid and has points in B2B games for the first time since early January. Jason Spezza (1A, -2, 2 SOG) had 12 points in 12 GP coming in and Erik Karlsson (1A, -2, 4 PIM, 6 SOG) has a point in three of four now.
CAROLINA HURRICANES 2 @ CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS 5
Goaltending match-up: Justin Peters (24/29, .828 SV%) vs. Corey Crawford (18/20, .900 SV%)
Combos: Cory Stillman - Eric Staal - Erik Cole/ Tuomo Ruutu - Jeff Skinner - Chad LaRose/ Jussi Jokinen - Brandon Sutter - Jiri Tlusty/ Jerome Samson - Pat Dwyer - Troy Bodie/ Joni Pitkanen - Jamie McBain/ Tim Gleason - Joe Corvo/ Bryan Allen - Jay Harrison
Scratches: Joslin
Top PP times: Pitkanen (3:16), Staal (2:59), Stillman (2:59), Corvo (2:51), Jokinen (2:27)
Trending: The line of Eric Staal (1G, -1, 2 SOG) centring Erik Cole (1A, -2, 1:01 PP, 1 SOG) and Cory Stillman (1A, -2, 1 SOG) really hasn’t missed a beat since adding Stillman back via trade and both Cole and Stillman might still be available for your stretch run drive in your FA pool. Jeff Skinner (1G, 1:33 PP, 3 SOG) came into tonight needing just two points to hit 50. Joe Corvo (1A, +1, no SOG) had chipped in 20 points in his past 29 GP from the back end before this outing. Jussi Jokinen (1A, +1, 2 SOG) had six points in seven tilts coming in here.
Combos: Patrick Sharp - Jonathan Toews - Patrick Kane/ Bryan Bickell - Dave Bolland - Marian Hossa/ Troy Brouwer - Jake Dowell - Michael Frolik/ Viktor Stalberg - Ryan Johnson - Tomas Kopecky/ Duncan Keith - Nick Leddy/ Niklas Hjalmarsson - Brent Seabrook/ Chris Campoli - Brian Campbell
Scratches: Hendry, Pisani, Scott
Top PP times: Kane (2:11), Toews (2:11), Sharp (2:11), Seabrook (2:00), Campbell (2:00)
Trending: Jonathan Toews (1G, +2, 5 SOG) struck early in this one and the Chicago captain has been playing some amazing hockey for awhile now. Patrick Sharp (2A, +2, 2 SOG) hit the 60-point plateau for the season tonight. Bryan Bickell (1G, 1A, +1, no PP, 2 SOG) had six points in 14 GP before tonight. Marian Hossa’s (2A, +1, 1:49 PP, 3 SOG) point streak has been stretched to six games and he hit the 40-point mark on the season here. Brent Seabrook (1A, +1, 2 PIM, 1 SOG) had chipped in nine points in 14 GP before this one got underway. Patrick Kane (1G, +2, 2 PIM, 1 SOG) hadn’t recorded a goal against the Canes in three prior tries. This was Chris Campoli’s (2A, +1, 0:55 PP, 1 SOG) second game with the Hawks and first time chipping in pointage. Dave Bolland (1G, +1, 1:49 PP, 3 SOG) has goals in B2B games after three without a point.
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS 3 @ CALGARY FLAMES 4
Goaltending match-up: Steve Mason (24/28, .857 SV%) vs. Miikka Kiprusoff (37/40, .925 SV%)
Combos: Rick Nash - Antoine Vermette - Jakub Voracek/ Matt Calvert - Derek McKenzie - R.J. Umberger/ Derek Dorsett - Samuel Pahlsson - Scottie Upshall/ Ethan Moreau - Chris Clark - Jared Boll/ Sami Lepisto - Jan Hejda/ Fedor Tyutin - Craig Rivet/ Kris Russell - Marc Methot
Scratches: Stralman, Clitsome, Murray
Top PP times: Russell (3:28), Umberger (3:28), Nash (3:28), Tyutin (2:58), Upshall (2:41)
Trending: Craig Rivet (1G, +1, 1:05 PP, 1 SOG) has been Mr. Healthy Scratch and hadn’t played since January 11, but he actually scored tonight. Nice. Antoine Vermette (1G, 1A, +2, 4 PIM, 6 SOG) ended a four-game pointless skid here and Jakub Voracek (2A, +2, 1:05 PP, 4 SOG) entered this evening 10 point shy of last year’s mark of 50 points.
Combos: Rene Bourque - Alex Tanguay - Jarome Iginla/ Curtis Glencross - Olli Jokinen - David Moss/ Niklas Hagman - Matt Stajan - Tim Jackman/ Freddy Modin - Brett Carson - Tom Kostopoulos/ Robyn Regehr - Jay Bouwmeester/ Mark Giordano - Cory Sarich/ Steve Staios - Anton Babchuk
Scratches: Morrison, Backlund, Mikkelson
Top PP times: Iginla (8:21), Tanguay (7:20), Giordano (6:25), Bourque (5:10), Jokinen (4:50) Trending: Jarome Iginla (1G, +1, 2 SOG) had 47 points in 39 GP vs. CBJ coming into this one, while Olli Jokinen (1G, 1A, 8 SOG) had just two points in five games before tonight. He’s been pretty productive overall for awhile now. Alex Tanguay’s (1A, +1, no SOG) point streak has been extended to seven games. Rene Bourque (1G, 1A, 4 SOG) has points in all three games this month and he recorded his 40th point of the season here. David Moss (1A, 3:26 PP, 2 SOG) has a point in four of five. Curtis Glencross (1G, 2A, +1, 3:14 PP, 3 SOG) had been blanked in four straight coming in. Anton Babchuk (1A, 4:30 PP, 1 SOG) had tallied 11 points in 11 GP coming in here, which is a pretty nice pace for any FA addition on D for poolies.
DALLAS STARS 3 @ ANAHEIM DUCKS 4 (OT)
Goaltending match-up: Kari Lehtonen (25/29, .862 SV%) vs. Dan Ellis (23/26, .885 SV%)
Combos: Brenden Morrow - Mike Ribeiro - Adam Burish/ Loui Eriksson - Jamie Benn - Tomas Vincour/ Krys Barch - Steve Ott - Jamie Langenbrunner/ Toby Petersen - Tom Wandell - Jason Williams/ Alex Goligoski - Stephane Robidas/ Mark Fistric - Karlis Skrastins/ Jeff Woywitka - Trevor Daley
Scratches: Grossman, Sutherby, Richards
Top PP times: Goligoski (4;21), Ribeiro (3:35), Morrow (3:35), Eriksson (3:13), Robidas (3:12)
Trending: Jamie Benn (1G, 2 PIM, 2:05 PP, 2 SOG) has points in three of four now, while Alex Goligoski (1A, no SOG) added to the 1-2-3 in 4 GP he had with Dallas coming in here. Brendan Morrow (1A, 6 SOG) came into this one just three points shy of the 46 he recorded last year. Loui Eriksson (1G, -1, 4 SOG) has points in four straight and he picked up his 60th point of the season here. Mike Ribeiro (1A, +1, no SOG) has a point in four straight and six of seven.
Combos: Bobby Ryan - Ryan Getzlaf - Corey Perry/ Brad Winchester - Brandon McMillan - Teemu Selanne/ Jarkko Ruutu - Todd Marchant - Dan Sexton/ George Parros - Kyle Chipchura/ Lubomir Visnovsky - Toni Lydman/ Francois Beauchemin - Cam Fowler/ Luca Sbisa - Andreas Lilja/ Sheldon Brookbank
Scratches: Sutton, Blake
Top PP times: Visnovsky (2:08), Perry (2:08), Getzlaf (2:08), Selanne (2:07), Fowler (1:47)
Trending: Lubomir Visnovsky (3G, 1A, +1, 4 SOG) only had four points dating back to the start of last month coming in here and what a huge night for the d-man. Bobby Ryan (1A, 1:09 PP, 3 SOG) had come into tonight with 13 points in 16 GP vs. DAL. Dan Sexton (1A, +1, no PP, 2 SOG) had four points in February. Teemu Selanne (1G, 1A, +1, 2 SOG) came into tonight with 13 points in 12 GP and he scored yet another clutch goal with just over a minute left in the third period to send it to overtime. Ryan Getzlaf (3A, -1, 2 PIM, 1 SOG) recorded his 50th point of '10-11 in the third period.
