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PHILADELPHIA FLYERS 3 @ ATLANTA THRASHERS 4 (SO)
Goaltending match-up: Brian Boucher (22/25, .880 SV%) vs. Ondrej Pavelec (21/24, .875 SV%)
Combos: Danny Briere - Claude Giroux - Jeff Carter/ Scott Hartnell - Mike Richards - Ville Leino/ Dan Carcillo - Kris Versteeg - James van Riemsdyk/ Jody Shelley - Blair Betts - Darroll Powe/ Andrej Meszaros - Matt Carle/ Kimmo Timonen - Braydon Coburn/ Sean O'Donnell - Erik Gustafsson
Scratches: Nodl, Pronger, Boynton, Zherdev
Top PP times: Giroux (2:41), Briere (2:12), Carter (2:12), Versteeg (2:00), JVR (1:57)
Trending: Claude Giroux (1G, 3 SOG) had 2-4-6 in 8 GP vs. ATL before scoring Philly’s first goal. Matt Carle (1A, +1, 1:19 PP, 1 SOG) entered this outing four points shy of last year’s mark of 35 points and he has points in seven of his past 11 now. Danny Briere (2G, 1A, +2, 2 PIM, 4 SOG) has points in five straight and he came into tonight needing four points to hit 60 for the season. Jeff Carter (1A, +1, 5 SOG) had 20 points in 22 GP vs. ATL coming in here. Ville Leino (1A, +1, 1:43 PP, 0 SOG) had a hat trick in his last game against this team.
Combos: Andrew Ladd - Bryan Little - Blake Wheeler/ Evander Kane - Tim Stapleton - Radek Dvorak/ Chris Thorburn - Nik Antropov - Anthony Stewart/ Eric Boulton - Alex Burmistrov - Rob Schremp/ Tobias Enstrom - Zach Bogosian/ Dustin Byfuglien - Ron Hainsey/ Johnny Oduya - Mark Stuart
Scratches: Cormier, Maxwell
Top PP times: Enstrom (4:38), Byfuglien (4:28), Schremp (3:30), Kane (3:26), Antropov (3:04)
Trending: Evander Kane (1A, +1, 4 SOG) has points in four of five and he hit the 40-point plateau here, while Bryan Little (1G, -2, 2:18 PP, 4 SOG) had four points in five games coming in here. Blake Wheeler (1A, -1, 2:38 PP, 4 SOG) had five points in five games before tonight and he’s been completely taking advantage of his trade out of Boston’s depth. He nearly had the OT GWG too. Nik Antropov (1G, +1, 1 SOG) has points in four of his past five. Shootout: Schremp, Wheeler
DETROIT RED WINGS 2 @ COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS 0
Goaltending match-up: Joey MacDonald (37/37) vs. Steve Mason (25/27, .926 SV%)
Combos: Johan Franzen - Pavel Datsyuk - Tomas Holmstrom/ Danny Cleary - Henrik Zetterberg - Todd Bertuzzi/ Valtteri Filppula - Mike Modano - Justin Abdelkader/ Patrick Eaves - Darren Helm - Kris Draper/ Nicklas Lidstrom - Jonathan Ericsson/ Niklas Kronwall - Brad Stuart/ Jakub Kindl - Brian Rafalski
Scratches: Salei, Hudler, Draper, Osgood
Top PP times: Lidstrom (4:10), Filppula (4:09), Rafalski (3:57), Modano (3:43), Datsyuk (3:42)
Trending: Valtteri Filppula (1G, 1 SOG) has scored in B2B games and has goals in three of six. Johan Franzen (1A, 2 PIM, 3:26 PP, 2 SOG) has been chipping in a decent amount of points, but the goals have been lacking since his monstrous five-goal affair at the start of last month. Darren Helm (1A, +1, no PP, 3 SOG) had four points in five games before tonight. Pavel Datsyuk was apparently injured in this one.
Combos: Rick Nash - Derick Brassard - Jakub Voracek/ Scottie Upshall - Antoine Vermette - R.J. Umberger/ Jared Boll - Derek MacKenzie - Matt Calvert/ Ethan Moreau - Samuel Pahlsson - Derek Dorsett/ Kris Russell - Grant Clitsome/ Sami Lepisto - Jan Hejda/ Marc Methot - Fedor Tyutin
Scratches: Stralman, Murray, Rivet, Clark
Top PP times: Nash (7:18), Tyutin (7:06), Umberger (7:05), Clitsome (6:42), Voracek (5:55)
Trending:
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING 2 @ MONTREAL CANADIENS 3 (SO)
Goaltending match-up: Dwayne Roloson (27/29, .931 SV%) vs. Carey Price (35/37, .946 SV%)
Combos: Steven Stamkos - Dominic Moore - Martin St. Louis/ Simon Gagne - Vincent Lecavalier - Teddy Purcell/ Mattias Ritola - Nate Thompson - Adam Hall/ Sean Bergenheim - Dana Tyrell/ Eric Brewer - Mike Lundin/ Brett Clark - Mattias Ohlund/ Pavel Kubina - Marc-Andre Bergeron/ Victor Hedman
Scratches: B & R Jones, Downie, Smaby,
Top PP times: Stamkos (4:58), St. Louis (4:34), Gagne (4:34), Clark (3:31), Purcell (2:50)
Trending: The hot hands of Teddy Purcell (1G, -2, 2 SOG) continued to chip in pointage for his poolies this evening and Simon Gagne (1G, 1A, 2 PIM, 2 SOG) added to the four points in five games he had before tonight. Martin St. Louis (2A, -1, 2 SOG) entered this road start with 37 points in 34 away games. Brett Clark (1A, -1, 3 SOG) was coming off a three-assist effort against the Leafs. Shootout: Gagne
Combos: Michael Cammalleri - Lars Eller - Andrei Kostitsyn/ Travis Moen - Scott Gomez - Brian Gionta/ Ryan White - David Desharnais - Benoit Pouliot/ Nigel Dawes - Tom Pyatt - Aaron Palushaj/ Paul Mara - P.K. Subban/ Roman Hamrlik - James Wisniewski/ Alexandre Picard - Yannick Weber
Scratches: Plekanec, Halpern, Sopel, Gill
Top PP times: Hamrlik (4:10), Wisniewski (3:50), Gomez (3:24), Gionta (3:10), Picard (2:57)
Trending: Andrei Kostitsyn (1G, +1, 2:42 PP, 2 SOG) has been money over the past few weeks and he chipped in again here. David Desharnais (1A, +1, 2:20 PP, 2 SOG) has points in five of eight this month. Brian Gionta (1G, +1, 3 SOG) has points in five of eight in March as well. Shootout: Dawes, Cammalleri
NEW JERSEY DEVILS 1 @ OTTAWA SENATORS 3
Goaltending match-up: Martin Brodeur (22/24, .917 SV%) vs. Curtis McElhinney (33/34, .971 SV%)
Combos: Ilya Kovalchuk - Travis Zajac - Nick Palmieri/ Brian Rolston - Patrik Elias - Dainius Zubrus/ David Clarkson - Jacob Josefson - Mattias Tedenby/ Adam Mair - Dave Steckel - Vladimir Zharkov/ Colin White - Anton Volchenkov/ Andy Greene - Mark Fayne/ Anssi Salmela - Henrik Tallinder
Scratches: Fraser, Pelley
Top PP times: Kovalchuk (3:42), Elias (2:47), Rolston (2:33), Zubrus (2:30), Zajac (2:21)
Trending: Brian Rolston (1G, -1, 2 SOG) got the Devils on the board and has a point in six of his past seven now. Patrik Elias (1A, -2, 2 PIM, 4 SOG) pushed his point streak to five games, which is two shy of tying his best for this season. Jacob Josefson (1A, 1:46 PP, 1 SOG) had four points in five games before this evening.
Combos: Colin Greening - Jason Spezza - Bobby Butler/ Nick Foligno - Zack Smith - Chris Neil/ Erik Condra - Ryan Shannon - Marek Svatos/ Roman Wick - Jesse Winchester - Francis Lessard/ Filip Kuba - Erik Karlsson/ Chris Phillips - Brian Lee/ David Hale - Sergei Gonchar
Scratches: Michalek, Alfredsson, Regin, Carkner, Leclaire
Top PP times: Gonchar (3:46), Spezza (3:36), Karlsson (3:18), Shannon (2:39), Foligno (2:07)
Trending: Jason Spezza (2A, +1, 2 SOG) had seven points in six games coming in here and he reached the 40-point plateau for the season here at the end of the first period. This was game No. 51 for him. Ryan Shannon (1G, 3 SOG) has goals in B2B games with points in five of eight. Erik Karlsson (1A, +2, 2 PIM, 2 SOG) had seven points in seven affairs headed in here. Chris Neil (2G, +2, no PP, 2 SOG) not only scored, but also added an ENG at the end.
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS 0 @ FLORIDA PANTHERS 4
Goaltending match-up: Jean-Sebastien Giguere (22/25, .880 SV%) vs. Scott Clemmensen (24/24)
Combos: Clarke MacArthur - Mikhail Grabovski - Nikolai Kulemin/ Joffrey Lupul - Nazem Kadri - Phil Kessel/ Darryl Boyce - Tyler Bozak - Joey Crabb/ Fredrik Sjostrom - Tim Brent - Mike Brown/ Dion Phaneuf - Keith Aulie/ Luke Schenn - Carl Gunnarsson/ Brett Lebda - Matt Lashoff
Scratches: Komisarek, Armstrong, Rosehill, Reimer
Top PP times: Phaneuf (7:27), Grabovski (6:25), Kessel (5:45), Brent (5:26), MacArthur (5:06)
Trending:
Combos: Niclas Bergfors - Stephen Weiss - Sergei Samsonov/ David Booth - Marty Reasoner - Michal Repik/ Mike Duco - Mike Santorelli - Steve Bernier/ Darcy Hordichuk - Ryan Carter - Patrick Rissmiller/ Jason Garrison - Mike Weaver/ Dmitry Kulikov - Keaton Ellerby/ Clay Wilson - Joe Callahan
Scratches: Sulzer, Timmins
Top PP times: Weiss (2:56), Kulikov (2:56), Santorelli (2:36), Kulikov (2:36), Reasoner (1:51)
Trending: Sergei Samsonov (1G, 1A, +1, 3 SOG) had 1-4-5 in 8 GP with FLA coming in here. Dmitry Kulikov (1A, 2 PIM, no SOG) has points in five of seven now. Stephen Weiss (1G, 1A, +1, 3 SOG) had six points in eight outings for the month coming in, while Mike Santorelli (1G, 5 SOG) had 4A in 6 GP coming in here. Keaton Ellerby (1G, +1, 2 PIM, no PP, 1 SOG) has points in four of five now.
BOSTON BRUINS 3 @ NASHVILLE PREDATORS 4 (OT)
Goaltending match-up: Tuukka Rask (27/31, .871 SV%) vs. Pekka Rinne (35/38, .921 SV%)
Combos: Milan Lucic - David Krejci - Nathan Horton/ Rich Peverley - Patrice Bergeron - Mark Recchi/ Tyler Seguin - Chris Kelly - Michael Ryder/ Daniel Paille - Gregory Campbell - Shawn Thornton/ Zdeno Chara - Johnny Boychuk/ Tomas Kaberle - Adam McQuaid/ Dennis Seidenberg - Steve Kampfer
Scratches: Ference, Marchand
Top PP times: Kaberle (5:11), Lucic (5:10), Chara (5:04), Horton (4:29), Krejci (4:29)
Trending: Patrice Bergeron (1G, -1, 4:10 PP, 1 SOG) entered this tilt two points shy of last year's total of 52 points. He ended a six-game pointless skid here too. David Krejci (1G, +1, 3 SOG), on the other hand, has points in each of his past seven now. Milan Lucic (1A, +1, 5 SOG) continues to add to his career-high point total, while Nathan Horton (1A, +1, 1 SOG) had 17 points in 19 affairs headed in here. Mark Recchi (1A, -1, 3:29 PP, 1 SOG) only had one point on the month coming in. Tomas Kaberle (1A, +2, 1 SOG) had but 2A in 11 GP with BOS before tonight. Michael Ryder (1A, -1, 2 PIM, 2:28 PP, 7 SOG) has points in two of three after four without one and he entered tonight with 37 points overall.
Combos: Sergei Kostitsyn - Mike Fisher - Colin Wilson/ Martin Erat - David Legwand - Patric Hornqvist/ Nick Spaling - Jerred Smithson - Jordin Tootoo/ J.P. Dumont - Blake Geoffrion - Matt Halischuk/ Shea Weber - Ryan Suter/ Cody Franson - Shane O'Brien/ Kevin Klein - Jonathon Blum
Scratches: Ward
Top PP times: Weber (5:27), Suter (5:27), Erat (5:21), Legwand (5:11), Kostitsyn (2:54)
Trending: Shea Weber (1G, +1, 8 SOG) delivered the OT GWG and has markers in three of five as well. Sergei Kostitsyn (1G, 1A, +1, 2 PIM, 2 SOG) had really cooled off in the past few weeks. Colin Wilson (1G, 1A, +1, 1:56 PP, 1 SOG) had an eight-game pointless skid coming in, while Martin Erat (1A, +1, 2 PIM, 4 SOG) has points in six of seven and had four consecutive two-pointers in that stretch too. David Legwand (1G, 1A, +1, 2 SOG) had six points in six tilts coming in and Ryan Suter (2A, +1, 1 SOG) put the brakes on a four-game pointless spell here.
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS 0 @ DALLAS STARS 5
Goaltending match-up: Corey Crawford (7/10, .700 SV%) & Marty Turco (15/17, .882 SV%) vs. Kari Lehtonen (23/23)
Combos: Patrick Sharp - Jonathan Toews - Patrick Kane/ Troy Brouwer - Michael Frolik - Marian Hossa/ Viktor Stalberg - Ryan Johnson - Tomas Kopecky/ Fernando Pisani - Jake Dowell/ Duncan Keith - Nick Leddy/ Chris Campoli - John Scott/ Niklas Hjalmarsson - Brent Seabrook
Scratches: Hendry, Bickell, Bolland, Campbell
Top PP times: Kane (3:38), Keith (3:33), Hossa (3:27), Sharp (3:28), Toews (3:20)
Trending:
Combos: Steve Ott - Brad Richards - Jamie Langenbrunner/ Brenden Morrow - Mike Ribeiro - Brandon Segal/ Brian Sutherby - Jamie Benn - Tomas Vincour/ Toby Petersen - Tom Wandell - Jason Williams/ Nicklas Grossman - Stephane Robidas/ Alex Goligoski - Karlis Skrastins/ Jeff Woywitka - Trevor Daley
Scratches: Barch, Burish, Eriksson, Fistric
Top PP times: Goligoski (4:55), Richards (4:39), Robidas (4:32), Daley (3:47), Ott (3:36)
Trending: Jamie Benn (1G, 1A, +2, 4 SOG) has points in all nine games this month and he's scoring goals at will these days. Rack up another multi-point night for Brad Richards (2A, +2, 2 SOG), who had 24 points in 18 GP vs. CHI coming in here. Brenden Morrow (1G, 1A, +3, 3:26 PP, 2 SOG) tied and passed last year's total of 46 points tonight. Mike Ribeiro (2A, +3, 3:30 PP, no SOG) had 4-5-9 in 9 March games headed in.
COLORADO AVALANCHE 2 @ CALGARY FLAMES 5
Goaltending match-up: Brian Elliott (23/28, .821 SV%) vs. Miikka Kiprusoff (27/29, .931 SV%)
Combos: Mark Olver - Matt Duchene - Daniel Winnik/ Ryan Stoa - Paul Stastny - David Jones/ Cody McLeod - Ryan O'Reilly - Brandon Yip/ Kevin Porter - Jay McClement - Philippe Dupuis/ Erik Johnson - John-Michael Liles/ Matt Hunwick - Jonas Holos/ Ryan Wilson - Ryan O'Byrne
Scratches: Hejduk, Koci, Foote
Top PP times: Duchene (4:35), Stastny (4:21), Liles (4:07), Olver (3:03), Jones (3:02)
Trending: Mark Olver (1G, +1, 1 SOG) scored his first NHL goal here and has points in B2B games. This was the third game of his call-up. Matt Duchene (2A, +1, 5 SOG) has points in four of five.
Combos: Curtis Glencross – Mikael Backlund – Jarome Iginla/ Alex Tanguay – Olli Jokinen – Rene Bourque/ Tom Kostopoulos – Matt Stajan – Ales Kotalik/ Niklas Hagman – Lance Bouma – Tim Jackman/ Robyn Regehr – Jay Bouwmeester/ Mark Giordano – Cory Sarich/ Steve Staios – Anton Babchuk
Scratches: Carson, Modin, Moss, Mikkelson
Top PP times: Babchuk (3:30), Iginla (2:54), Bouwmeester (2:49), Bourque (2:33), Glencross (2:16)
Trending: Jarome Iginla (2G, +1, 3 SOG) had two goals the last time he met the Avs. Curtis Glencross (1A, +1, 3 SOG) had been blanked in three coming in, but needed two points here to reach 40 for the second time in his career. Rene Bourque (1G, 1A, 2 PIM, 2 SOG) had 4-4-8 in 8 GP this month coming into this tilt. Jay Bouwmeester (2A, +2, no SOG) has points in four of his past eight now.
PHOENIX COYOTES 3 @ EDMONTON OILERS 1
Goaltending match-up: Ilya Bryzgalov (35/36, .972 SV%) vs. Nikolai Khabibulin (14/17, .824 SV%)
Combos: Lauri Korpikoski - Eric Belanger - Shane Doan/ Ray Whitney – Andrew Ebbett - Radim Vrbata/ Taylor Pyatt - Vernon Fiddler - Lee Stempniak/ Mikkel Boedker - Kyle Turris - Brett MacLean/ Keith Yandle - Derek Morris/ David Schlemko - Michal Rozsival/ Rostislav Klesla- Adrian Aucoin
Scratches: Hanzal, Bissonnette, Ekman-Larsson
Top PP times: Yandle (4:51), Whitney (4:27), Doan (4:20), Vrbata (3:51), Boedker (3:01)
Trending: Lee Stempniak (1G, +1, 2 PIM, 1:16 PP, 2 SOG) has goals in B2B games after a long stretch of zeroes, while Ray Whitney (1G, 1A, +1, 2 PIM, 1 SOG) had four points in his five March games before tonight. Eric Belanger (1A, +1, 4 PIM, 1:06 PP, no SOG) had chipped in five points in four games before this outing and Radim Vrbata (1G, 1A, +1, 3 SOG) has a modest three-game point streak rolling along. Shane Doan (1A, 1 SOG) has points in each of his past six and had 52 overall coming into this clash with the Oilers.
Combos: Ryan Jones - Andrew Cogliano - Jordan Eberle/ Alexandre Giroux - Ryan O'Marra - Liam Reddox/ Magnus Paajarvi - Colin Fraser - Linus Omark/ Steve MacIntyre - Chris Vande Velde - Teemu Hartikainen/ Ladislav Smid - Tom Gilbert/ Jim Vandermeer - Jeff Petry/ Jason Strudwick - Kurtis Foster
Scratches: Hall, Horcoff, Jacques, Peckham, Brule, Hemsky, Gagner
Top PP times: Paajarvi (9:41), Foster (8:12), Omark (8:03), Eberle (8:02), Giroux (7:52) Trending: Teemu Hartikainen (1A, 7:35 PP, 2 SOG) made his NHL debut tonight and jumped right into the box score. He has 17-25-42 in 66 GP in the AHL, including 27 PIM. He was a sixth round pick in 2008. Linus Omark (1A, 2 PIM, 1 SOG) only had that two-assist night against the Avs as his March pointage coming in. Magnus Paajarvi (1G, -2, 2 SOG) has points in three of seven.
ST. LOUIS BLUES 4 @ LOS ANGELES KINGS 0
Goaltending match-up: Jaroslav Halak (17/17) vs. Jonathan Quick (35/39, .897 SV%)
Combos:Andy McDonald - David Backes - Matt D'Agostini/ Adam Cracknell - Patrik Berglund - Chris Stewart/ Chris Porter - T.J. Oshie - B.J. Crombeen/ Ryan Reaves - T.J. Hensick - Cam Janssen/ Carlo Colaiacovo - Alex Pietrangelo/ Ian Cole - Kevin Shattenkirk/ Nathan Oystrick - Roman Polak
Scratches: Jackman, Steen, Nikitin
Top PP times: Pietrangelo (3:48), Colaiacovo (3:46), McDonald (3:37), Berglund (3:32), Stewart (3:32)
Trending: Matt D'Agostini (2G, +3, 2:23 PP, 3 SOG) has scored in three of four with points in four straight now and this was his third multi-pointer in that span. Andy McDonald (1A, +2, 6 SOG) had eight points in six games coming in and David Backes (1A, +2, 2:28 PP, 1 SOG) had five points in five games headed into this clash with the Kings. Alex Pietrangelo (1G, 1A, +2, 4 SOG) ended his three-game pointless spell with a long bomb from just over the red line. T.J. Oshie (1G, +1, 2:28 PP, 6 SOG) has goals in three of his past six and points in four of seven.
Combos: Dustin Penner - Anze Kopitar - Justin Williams/ Ryan Smyth - Jarret Stoll - Dustin Brown/ Alexei Ponikarovsky - Michal Handzus - Wayne Simmonds/ Kyle Clifford- Trevor Lewis - Kevin Westgarth/ Willie Mitchell - Drew Doughty/ Jack Johnson - Rob Scuderi/ Alec Martinez - Matt Greene
Scratches: Harrold, Richardson, Drewiske
Top PP times: Johnson (1:36), Brown (1:12), Handzus (1:12), Ponikarovsky (1:12), Doughty (1:03)
Trending:
MINNESOTA WILD 2 @ SAN JOSE SHARKS 3
Goaltending match-up: Niklas Backstrom (47/50!, 940 SV%) vs. Antti Niemi (28/30, .933 SV%)
Combos: Andrew Brunette - Mikko Koivu - Antti Miettinen/ Pierre-Marc Bouchard - Kyle Brodziak - Martin Havlat/ Matt Cullen - John Madden - Cal Clutterbuck/ Eric Nystrom - Chuck Kobasew - Brad Staubitz/ Nick Schultz - Brent Burns/ Clayton Stoner - Greg Zanon/ Jared Spurgeon - Marco Scandella
Scratches: Zidlicky, Barker, Peters, Latendresse
Top PP times: Barely enough to note
Trending: Pierre-Marc Bouchard (1A, +1, 1 SOG) hit the 30-point mark for the season in this one and had five points in seven games headed in here. Martin Havlat (1A, +1, 2 PIM, 4 SOG) has been so good this season and he recorded his 60th point this evening. He had been blanked in his past three. Kyle Brodziak (1G, +1, 4 SOG) had a pair of two-pointers on the month coming into this tilt.
Combos: Patrick Marleau - Joe Thornton - Devin Setoguchi/ Ryane Clowe - Logan Couture - Ben Eager/ Torrey Mitchell - Joe Pavelski - Kyle Wellwood/ John McCarthy - Andrew Desjardins - Jamal Mayers/ Douglas Murray - Dan Boyle/ Marc-Edouard Vlasic - Justin Braun/ Ian White - Jason Demers
Scratches: Wallin, Heatley
Top PP times: Thornton (4:56), Boyle (4:53), Marleau (4:47), Setoguchi (4:29), Pavelski (3:59)
Trending: Wherefore art thou Dany Heatley, for thine poolies' stretch run? #heatseekingelbow Patrick Marleau (1G, 5 SOG) had nine points in seven games before his effort here. Joe Pavelski (2A, +1, 7 SOG) began the night seven points back of his career high of 59 points. Logan Couture (1G, 2:36 PP, 6 SOG) has goals in two of three with points in four of five. Jason Demers (1A, +1, 2:39 PP, 1 SOG) has a point in three of eight this month. Devin Setoguchi (1A, 6 SOG) only had one point in seven games before this evening.
