Twitter: @Nichols_NHLPool/ Email: chris.nichols@sportsnet.rogers.com
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ATLANTA THRASHERS 3 @ CAROLINA HURRICANES 2 (OT)
Goaltending match-up: Ondrej Pavelec (35/37, .946 SV%, first game back since wrist injury) vs. Cam Ward (26/29, .897 SV%)
Combos: Andrew Ladd - Bryan Little - Blake Wheeler/ Evander Kane - Nik Antropov - Anthony Stewart/ Radek Dvorak - Alex Burmistrov - Chris Thorburn/ Rob Schremp - Tim Stapleton - Eric Boulton/ Tobias Enstrom - Zach Bogosian/ Johnny Oduya - Mark Stuart/ Ron Hainsey - Paul Postma
Scratches: Byfuglien, Cormier
Top PP times: Enstrom (1:53), Bogosian (1:53), Kane (1:39), Wheeler (1:33), Antropov (1:03)
Trending: Tobias Enstrom (1G, -1, 6 SOG) needed a two-pointer here to match last year’s career high of 50 points. Evander Kane (1A, +1, 6 SOG) ended a six-game pointless skid here, while Blake Wheeler (1A, 4 PIM, 2 SOG) added to the 3-2-5 in 7 GP he had before tonight. Zach Bogosian (1A, -1, 1 SOG) collected his first points of March.
Combos: Cory Stillman - Eric Staal - Erik Cole/ Jeff Skinner - Jussi Jokinen - Tuomo Ruutu/ Chad LaRose - Brandon Sutter - Jiri Tlusty/ Jerome Samson - Pat Dwyer - Troy Bodie/ Joni Pitkanen - Jamie McBain/ Tim Gleason - Jay Harrison/ Bryan Allen - Joe Corvo
Scratches: Joslin
Top PP times: McBain (3:38), Jokinen (3:17), Corvo (3:11), Staal (3:05), Cole (2:59)
Trending: Erik Cole (1G, 4 SOG) has done really well against the Thrashers this season and he continued that again tonight. He had 35 points in 41 GP vs. ATL coming in here too. Cory Stillman (1A, 2:39 PP, 4 SOG) had four points in four games headed in here.
EDMONTON OILERS 0 @ WASHINGTON CAPITALS 5
Goaltending match-up: Nikolai Khabibulin (31/36, .861 SV%) vs. Braden Holtby (22/22, first NHL shutout, yay Twitter!)
Combos: Magnus Paajarvi - Shawn Horcoff - Jordan Eberle/ Ryan Jones - Sam Gagner - Linus Omark/ Liam Reddox - Andrew Cogliano - Alexandre Giroux/ Jean-Francois Jacques - Colin Fraser - Steve MacIntyre/ Ladislav Smid - Tom Gilbert/ Jim Vandermeer - Alex Plante/ Kurtis Foster - Jason Strudwick
Scratches: Hall, Peckham, Brule, Hemsky
Top PP times: Paajarvi (3:55), Foster (3:27), Gilbert (3:19), Horcoff (3:13), Omark (2:55)
Trending: Larsson! Larsson!
Combos: Alex Ovechkin - Marcus Johansson - Mike Knuble/ Marco Sturm - Jason Arnott - Alexander Semin/ Jason Chimera - Brooks Laich - Eric Fehr/ Matt Hendricks - Boyd Gordon - Matt Bradley/ Karl Alzner - John Carlson/ Jeff Schultz - Scott Hannan/ John Erskine - Dennis Wideman
Scratches: King, Backstrom, Beagle, Sloan, Varlamov
Top PP times: Wideman (6:37), Ovechkin (6:12), Knuble (5:14), Arnott (4:47), Semin (4:41)
Trending: Alex Ovechkin (2G, 1A, +1, 5 SOG) had 3-2-5 in 4 GP vs. EDM in his career headed in here. Alexander Semin (1G, 1A, +1, 2 PIM, 5 SOG) has points in four straight, so he’s beginning to find a groove. The give and go he worked with Marco Sturm (1A, +1, no PP, 3 SOG) for the fifth WAS goal was just filthy. So sweet. With no Nicklas Backstrom – an end to his incredible streak of not missing a game in his career until now – Marcus Johansson (1A, +1, 3:34 PP, 1 SOG) drew in as the L1 C and he and Ovechkin made some sweet music for Washington’s third goal. Jason Arnott (1A, +1, 2 PIM, 2 SOG) had 1-1-2 in 4 GP with WAS before adding more tonight, including his 900th career point. Eric Fehr (2G, +1, 2:33 PP, 2 SOG) was back in the line-up tonight after missing time with a shoulder injury. He had last played January 14th. John Carlson (1A, +1, 3:08 PP, 1 SOG) has points in four of six. Dennis Wideman (1A, +1, 3 SOG) only had one point in four games with the Caps before tonight’s third period addition.
ST. LOUIS BLUES 4 @ COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS 3 (OT)
Goaltending match-up: Jaroslav Halak (19/22, .864 SV%) vs. Mathieu Garon (22/26, .846 SV%)
Combos: Chris Porter - Patrik Berglund - Chris Stewart/ Andy McDonald - David Backes - Matt D'Agostini/ Alex Steen - T.J. Oshie - T.J. Hensick/ Ryan Reaves - Adam Cracknell - Cam Janssen/ Barret Jackman - Alex Pietrangelo/ Kevin Shattenkirk - Ian Cole/ Carlo Colaiacovo - Nikita Nikitin
Scratches: Crombeen, Scatchard, Polak
Top PP times: Pietrangelo (2:54), Stewart (2:51), McDonald (2:51), Shattenkirk (2:43), Berglund (2:41)
Trending: Chris Stewart (2G, +2, 2 SOG) + STL = awesome. Talk about fitting like a glove with his new team. David Backes (1A, +1, 1:19 PP, 2 SOG) has points in B2B games after having one in eight. Alex Pietrangelo (1G, +2, 1 SOG) had just one point in six games before tonight. Alex Steen (1A, 1:06 PP, 2 SOG) had two points in eight tries before this evening. Check his injury status though. He got tangled up with Marc Methot in a corner and was helped off the ice.
Combos: Rick Nash - Derick Brassard - Jakub Voracek/ Matt Calvert - Antoine Vermette - R.J. Umberger/ Derek Dorsett - Samuel Pahlsson - Scottie Upshall/ Ethan Moreau - Derek MacKenzie - Jared Boll/ Grant Clitsome - Kris Russell/ Marc Methot - Jan Hejda/ Fedor Tyutin - Craig Rivet
Scratches: Lepisto, Stralman, Murray, Wilson, Clark
Top PP times: Tyutin (4:38), Umberger (4:22), Clitsome (4:16), Nash (3:47), Brassard (3:46)
Trending: Derick Brassard (1A, 1 SOG, 19:35 TOI) was back in action this evening to try to help his team’s push for the playoffs. Rick Nash (1A, +1, 1 SOG) had 36 points in 42 GP vs. STL coming in, while Jakub Voracek (1G, 2:34 PP, 2 SOG) added to the two points he had just tallied against the same Blues a few nights back. R.J. Umberger (1G, -2, 1 SOG) reached the 50-point plateau here and Antoine Vermette (1A, -2, 3:25 PP, 5 SOG) has points in three in a row. Grant Clitsome (1A, -1, 1 SOG) had 3-12-15 in 22 GP before tonight.
LOS ANGELES KINGS 2 @ DETROIT RED WINGS 1
Goaltending match-up: Jonathan Quick (28/29, .966 SV%) vs. Jimmy Howard (24/26, .923 SV%)
Combos: Dustin Penner - Anze Kopitar - Justin Williams/ Ryan Smyth - Jarret Stoll - Dustin Brown/ Alexei Ponikarovsky - Michal Handzus - Wayne Simmonds/ Kyle Clifford- Trevor Lewis - Brad Richardson/ Willie Mitchell - Drew Doughty/ Jack Johnson - Rob Scuderi/ Alec Martinez - Matt Greene
Scratches: Harrold, Westgarth, Drewiske
Top PP times: Doughty (3:11), Johnson (2:58), Kopitar (2:22), Williams (2:09), Penner (2:09)
Trending: Anze Kopitar (1G, 2 PIM, 3 SOG) had a couple of points the last time these teams met and had 16 in 18 overall vs. DET coming in. Dustin Brown (1A, +1, 4 SOG) only had one point in five games before this evening, while Dustin Penner (1A, +1, 4 SOG) has points in three of four with the Kings. Justin Williams (1A, +1, 2 SOG) had 13 points in 16 GP before this outing.
Combos: Henrik Zetterberg - Pavel Datsyuk - Danny Cleary/ Johan Franzen - Valtteri Filppula - Todd Bertuzzi/ Justin Abdelkader - Mike Modano - Tomas Holmstrom/ Jiri Hudler - Darren Helm - Kris Draper/ Nicklas Lidstrom - Brad Stuart/ Jonathan Ericsson - Niklas Kronwall/ Jakub Kindl - Ruslan Salei
Scratches: Eaves, Miller, Rafalski
Top PP times: Lidstrom (2:00), Kronwall (1:49), Hudler (1:37), Modano (1:37), Filppula (1:37), Modano (1:37)
Trending: Darren Helm (1G, +1, no PP, 3 SOG) carried a pair of two-point efforts in his past four tries into this evening. One of those multi-pointers came against this same L.A. team.
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS 3 @ TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING 4 (SO)
Goaltending match-up: Corey Crawford (27/30, .900 SV%) vs. Dwayne Roloson (28/31, .903 SV%)
Combos: Patrick Sharp - Jonathan Toews - Patrick Kane/ Bryan Bickell - Dave Bolland - Marian Hossa/ Fernando Pisani - Ryan Johnson - Tomas Kopecky/ Michael Frolik - Jake Dowell - Troy Brouwer/ Duncan Keith - Nick Leddy/ Chris Campoli - John Scott/ Niklas Hjalmarsson - Brent Seabrook
Scratches: Hendry, Stalberg, Campbell
Top PP times: Sharp (1:13), Keith (1:09), Kane (1:02), Toews (1:02), Campoli (0:58)
Trending: Jonathan Toews (1G, 2A, +2, 7 SOG) had 69 and 68-point campaigns coming into this season and he entered this evening with 65, so he’s clearly on his way to career highs. Patrick Kane (1G, 1A, +2, 2 SOG) pushed his point streak to seven games, but has been money for his poolies this season. Patrick Sharp (1G, 1A, +3, 3 SOG) came into tonight just five points shy of last year’s total of 66 points. Dave Bolland (4:51 TOI) left this one hurt.
Combos: Martin St. Louis - Steven Stamkos - Martin St. Louis/ Sean Bergenheim - Vincent Lecavalier - Simon Gagne/ Dana Tyrell - Nate Thompson - Adam Hall/ Blair Jones - Mattias Ritola - Teddy Purcell/ Mattias Ohlund - Eric Brewer/ Brett Clark - Victor Hedman/ Randy Jones - Pavel Kubina
Scratches: Jones, Downie, Ritola, Smaby
Top PP times: Stamkos (3:19), St. Louis (3:19), Lecavalier (3:19), MAB (2:41), Gagne (1:38)
Trending: Steven Stamkos (1G, 1A, +1, 2 PIM, 7 SOG) had scored three goals in his only two other starts against the Hawks. Martin St. Louis (1G, 1A, +1, 3 SOG) actually only had one point in four games this month before tonight, which is a veritable drought by his standards. Brett Clark (1A, +2, 1:19 PP, 1 SOG) had no points in six tries before tonight. Teddy Purcell (1G, +1, 0:41 PP, 3 SOG) had 12 points in 15 GP coming in. Victor Hedman’s (1A, +3, no PP, 1 SOG) points have been hit or miss, but he’s building momentum for next season. Simon Gagne (1A, +1, 2 SOG) ended a five-game pointless skid here. Shootout: St. Louis (Spin.....ooooooo....rama!)
CALGARY FLAMES 4 @ DALLAS STARS 3 (SO)
Goaltending match-up: Miikka Kiprusoff (31/34, .912 SV%) vs. Kari Lehtonen (31/34, .912 SV%)
Combos: Alex Tanguay - David Moss - Jarome Iginla/ Curtis Glencross - Olli Jokinen - Rene Bourque/ Niklas Hagman - Matt Stajan - Freddy Modin/ Tim Jackman - Mikael Backlund - Tom Kostopoulos/ Robyn Regehr - Jay Bouwmeester/ Mark Giordano - Cory Sarich/ Steve Staios - Anton Babchuk
Scratches: Carson, Morrison, Mikkelson
Top PP times: Iginla (2:00), Giordano (2:00), Bourque (2:00), Bachuk (1:00), Glencross (1:00)
Trending: Anton Babchuk (1G, +1, 1 SOG) has been on a nice roll offensively and Curtis Glencross (1A, +1, 1 SOG) has been one of the better FA additions over the last month or more. Rene Bourque (1G, +1, 2 PIM, 4 SOG) had five points in four games in March coming into this tilt, while Mikael Backlund (1A, no PP, no SOG) had five points dating back to the start of February coming into this one. Shootout: Tanguay, Glencross
Combos: Loui Eriksson - Brad Richards - Tomas Vincour/ Brenden Morrow - Mike Ribeiro - Adam Burish/ Toby Petersen - Jamie Benn - Jamie Langenbrunner/ Steve Ott - Tom Wandell - Jason Williams/ Alex Goligoski - Stephane Robidas/ Mark Fistric - Karlis Skrastins/ Jeff Woywitka - Trevor Daley
Scratches: Grossman, Barch, Sutherby
Top PP times: Richards (3:55), Morrow (3:55), Ribeiro (3:34), Goligoski (3:32), Eriksson (3:01)
Trending: Brad Richards (01, 22:11 TOI, no SOG) was finally back in the line-up for his owners, who have anxiously been waiting for his production. As usual, he created a lot of offensive opportunities... nothing to show for it here, including a denial in the shootout. Alex Goligoski (1A, -2, 5 SOG) has been tremendous since joining the Stars, while Jamie Benn (1G, +1, 1:49 PP, 6 SOG) has points in all five games this month as he hit the 40-point plateau. Steve Ott (1A, -1, 1:54 PP, no SOG) has points in four of seven. Mike Ribeiro (1G, 1 SOG) entered this one with nine points in nine affairs. Tomas Vincour (1G, +1, no PP, 1 SOG) collected his first NHL goal in his 14th start. Shootout: Ribeiro
NEW YORK RANGERS 2 @ ANAHEIM DUCKS 5
Goaltending match-up: Henrik Lundqvist (28/33, .848 SV%) vs. Dan Ellis (30/32, .938 SV%)
Combos: Sean Avery - Vinny Prospal - Marian Gaborik/ Brandon Dubinsky - Artem Anisimov - Ryan Callahan/ Wojtek Wolski - Derek Stepan - Mats Zuccarello/ Ruslan Fedotenko - Brian Boyle - Brandon Prust/ Marc Staal - Dan Girardi/ Ryan McDonagh - Mike Sauer/ Bryan McCabe - Matt Gilroy
Scratches: Christensen, Eminger, Biron
Top PP times: McCabe (4:26), Callahan (3:44), Gilroy (2:51), Dubinsky (2:39), Prospal (2:36), Gaborik (2:36)
Trending: Brandon Dubinsky (1G, -4, 6 SOG) got the Rangers on the board tonight and moved himself into new career high territory in the process. He had 44 points coming in, same as last year. He had 40, 41 and 44 points in his prior three seasons and this year his game clearly went to a new level. Ryan Callahan (1A, -4, 4 SOG) has crushed last year's totals on a per-game basis, while Artem Anisimov (1A, -2, 2 PIM, 1:07 PP, 1 SOG) added to the four points in four March games he had before tonight. This was Marian Gaborik's (1G, 3 SOG) second game back and first time with pointage. Vinny Prospal (1A, 1 SOG) has points in all five games this month and Derek Stepan (1A, 1:28 PP, 1 SOG) had eight points in 16 GP before tonight.
Combos: Bobby Ryan - Ryan Getzlaf - Corey Perry/ Brandon McMillan - Saku Koivu - Teemu Selanne/ Brad Winchester - Todd Marchant - Dan Sexton/ Jarkko Ruutu - Kyle Chipchura - Sheldon Brookbank/ Lubomir Visnovsky - Toni Lydman/ Francois Beauchemin - Luca Sbisa/ Andreas Lilja - Cam Fowler
Scratches: Parros, Sutton, Blake
Top PP times: Selanne (3:30), Visnovsky (3:29), Perry (3:13), Getzlaf (3:13), Fowler (3:12)
Trending: Lubomir Visnovsky (2G, 1A, +5, 5 SOG) already had a 3G, 1A effort two games ago. En fuego. What are the odds that one or all of Corey Perry (2G, 1A, +3, 5 SOG), Bobby Ryan (1G, 3A, +4, 2 PIM, 2:00 PP, 2 SOG) or Ryan Getzlaf (1A, +3, 2 SOG) won't make a box score appearance on any given night? They were playing the domination game tonight. Teemu Selanne (1A, +1, 3 SOG) had 15 points in 14 GP coming in here, while Saku Koivu (1A, +1, 2:17 PP, 1 SOG) made his return to active duty here.
