Twitter: @Nichols_NHLPool/ Email: chris.nichols@sportsnet.rogers.com
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TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING 2 @ BUFFALO SABRES 4
Goaltending match-up: Dwayne Roloson (20/24, .833 SV%) vs. Jhonas Enroth (23/25, .920 SV%)
Combos: Simon Gagne - Steven Stamkos - Steve Downie/ Martin St. Louis - Vincent Lecavalier - Nate Thompson/ Ryan Malone - Dominic Moore - Teddy Purcell/ Sean Bergenheim - Adam Hall - Dana Tyrell/ Pavel Kubina - Victor Hedman/ Mike Lundin - Mattias Ohlund/ Brett Clark - Marc-Andre Bergeron
Scratches: Brewer, Jones, Smaby
Top PP times: Stamkos (1:23), St. Louis (1:23), Lecavalier (1:23), Gagne (1:13), MAB (1:13)
Trending: Ryan Malone (1G, +1, 5 PIM, 0:56 PP, 1 SOG) has points in each of his past two starts and this is the first month in which he has played two games since January. Vincent Lecavalier (1G, -1, 2 PIM, 3 SOG) has points in B2B games and his past few weeks have been particularly fruitful. Martin St. Louis (1A, 5 SOG) entered this evening tied with last year’s mark of 94 points. Teddy Purcell (1A, +1, 0:56 PP, 2 SOG) had just one point in eight games coming in, but before that was so hot. Victor Hedman (10:48 TOI) suffered some sort of lower-body injury in this one.
Combos: Thomas Vanek - Tim Connolly - Jason Pominville/ Tyler Ennis - Brad Boyes - Drew Stafford/ Nathan Gerbe - Paul Gaustad - Marc Mancari/ Matt Ellis - Rob Niedermayer - Cody McCormick/ Chris Butler - Tyler Myers/ Andrej Sekera - Mike Weber/ Steve Montador - Marc-Andre Gragnani
Scratches: Leopold, Grier, Morrisonn, Kaleta, Hecht, Miller
Top PP times: Stafford (1:48), Vanek (1:43), Connolly (1:29), Ennis (1:16), Gragnani (1:05)
Trending: Thomas Vanek (3G, +1, 6 SOG) had a three-pointer in his last tilt against the Lightning and had 15 points in 17 GP coming in here. This was his first hat trick of the season. Tim Connolly (1G, 2A, 2 SOG) had a goal the last time these teams met and his past few weeks have gone well for his poolies. Jason Pominville (2A, +1, 2 SOG) had racked up 29 points in 22 GP vs. TB before tonight, while Drew Stafford (1A, +1, 1 SOG) had consecutive two-pointers in April coming in here.
WASHINGTON CAPITALS 3 @ TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS 2 (SO)
Goaltending match-up: Michal Neuvirth (19/21, .905 SV%) vs. James Reimer (39/41, .951 SV%)
Combos: Alex Ovechkin - Marcus Johansson - Mike Knuble/ Marco Sturm - Nicklas Backstrom - Jason Arnott/ Jason Chimera - Brooks Laich - Eric Fehr/ Matt Hendricks - Boyd Gordon - Matt Bradley/ Karl Alzner - John Carlson/ Jeff Schultz - Scott Hannan/ John Erskine - Sean Collins
Scratches: Wideman, King, Semin, Beagle, Sloan
Top PP times: Laich (4:53), Ovechkin (4:36), Knuble (4:25), Backstrom (4:25), Johansson (3:56)
Trending: Alex Ovechkin (1G, 7 SOG) has played the Leafs 23 times now and he’s averaging a goal per game against them thanks to his first period PPG. THAT is domination. Brooks Laich (1A, 3 SOG) is riding a four-game assist streak and Marco Sturm (1A, -1, 1:44 PP, no SOG) had four points in four affairs coming in here. Shootout: Knuble
Combos: Clarke MacArthur - Mikhail Grabovski - Nikolai Kulemin/ Joffrey Lupul - Tyler Bozak - Phil Kessel/ Joey Crabb - Darryl Boyce - Nazem Kadri/ Jay Rosehill - Tim Brent - Mike Brown/ Dion Phaneuf - Keith Aulie/ Luke Schenn - Carl Gunnarsson/ Matt Lashoff - Mike Komisarek
Scratches: Armstrong, Sjostrom, Lebda, Gustavsson
Top PP times: Kessel (1:13), Bozak (1:13), Lupul (1:13), Phaneuf (1:13), Gunnarsson (1:12)
Trending: Nikolai Kulemin (1G, 0:11 PP, 3 SOG) reached the 30-goal mark here and he has markers in B2B games. He had six points in six outings headed in here too. Clarke MacArthur (1A, 0:11 PP, no SOG) had tallied 13 points in 16 GP coming in dating back to the start of March. Phil Kessel (1A, +1, 2 SOG) continues to build on his career high in points now, while Joffrey Lupul (1G, +1, 4 SOG) reached the 30-point plateau and had seven points in six outings coming in here.
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS 1 @ MONTREAL CANADIENS 2 (OT)
Goaltending match-up: Corey Crawford (33/35, .943 SV%) vs. Carey Price (42/43, .977 SV%)
Combos: Viktor Stalberg - Jonathan Toews - Marian Hossa/ Troy Brouwer - Marcus Kruger - Patrick Kane/ Bryan Bickell - Jake Dowell - Tomas Kopecky/ Michael Frolik - Ryan Johnson - Fernando Pisani/ Duncan Keith - Brent Seabrook/ Niklas Hjalmarsson - Brian Campbell/ Nick Leddy - Chris Campoli
Scratches: Hendry, Sharp, Scott, Bolland
Top PP times: Kane (4:57), Keith (4:46), Toews (4:35), Hossa (4:35), Seabrook (4:00)
Trending: Patrick Kane (1G, +1, 5 SOG) had 30 goals last year and he began this evening four shy of that mark. Troy Brouwer (1A, +1, 1:36 PP, 1 SOG) only had two points dating back to the start of March coming in and he sustained what seemed to be a shoulder injury in this one, while Brent Seabrook (1A, -1, 3 SOG) had nine points in 15 GP coming in here.
Combos: Michael Cammalleri - Tomas Plekanec - Andrei Kostitsyn/ Mathieu Darche - Scott Gomez - Brian Gionta/ Travis Moen - David Desharnais - Benoit Pouliot/ Tom Pyatt - Lars Eller - Ryan White/ Hal Gill - P.K. Subban/ Roman Hamrlik - James Wisniewski/ Paul Mara - Brent Sopel
Scratches: Halpern, Picard, Weber
Top PP times: Wisniewski (3:10), Cammalleri (3:04), Subban (3:07), Kostitsyn (2:52), Plekanec (2:20)
Trending: Think P.K. Subban (1G, 4 PIM, 5 SOG) is even that much more loved in Montreal after this one? Sky's the limit for this kid. Michael Cammalleri (1G, +1, 5 SOG) opened the scoring tonight and has points in four straight, which is only the third time that’s happened all season. His longest streak of the season is seven, achieved in mid-December. This was Andrei Kostitsyn’s (1A, +1, 4 PIM, 5 SOG) fourth career game against the Hawks and fourth time with a point.
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS 2 @ OTTAWA SENATORS 5
Goaltending match-up: Sergei Bobrovsky (31/35, .886 SV%) vs. Craig Anderson (27/29, .931 SV%)
Combos: James van Riemsdyk - Mike Richards - Ville Leino/ Nikolay Zherdev - Claude Giroux - Jeff Carter/ Scott Hartnell - Danny Briere - Kris Versteeg/ Dan Carcillo - Darroll Powe - Andreas Nodl/ Braydon Coburn - Kimmo Timonen/ Sean O'Donnell - Andrej Meszaros/ Matt Carle - Danny Syvret
Scratches: Betts, Pronger, Boynton, Shelley, Briere
Top PP times: Richards (5:40), Giroux (5:40), Timonen (5:39), Zherdev (5:34), JVR (5:00)
Trending: Mike Richards (2G, -1, 6 SOG) had 10-9-19 in 20 GP vs. OTT before this multi-goal effort. Kimmo Timonen (2A, -2, no SOG) only had one point in seven tries coming in. Nikolay Zherdev (1A, -1, 4 SOG) has a point in all three April starts. Claude Giroux (1A, -1, 1 SOG) began the night with 32 points in his 39 road games.
Combos: Erik Condra - Jason Spezza - Bobby Butler/ Milan Michalek - Stephane Da Costa - Ryan Shannon/ Nick Foligno - Zack Smith - Chris Neil/ Roman Wick - Jesse Winchester - Francis Lessard/ Filip Kuba - Andre Benoit/ Chris Phillips - Brian Lee/ David Hale - Patrick Wiercioch
Scratches: Svatos, Alfredsson, Regin, Carkner, Gonchar, Karlsson
Top PP times: Spezza (7:46), Shannon (6:11), Kuba (6:09), Butler (5:59), Michalek (4:01)
Trending: Jason Spezza (1G, 3A, +2, 7 SOG) had 17 points in 22 GP vs. PHI coming in and Filip Kuba (2A, +1, 1 SOG) had chipped in points in four of his past five from the back end. Chris Neil (17 PIM, 0:09 PP, 1 SOG) had 19 PIM in his last game against the Flyers and racked up another big night here. Ryan Shannon (1G, 1A, 2 SOG) had a couple of assists the last time he met the Flyers and had eight points in 17 GP overall coming in. Bobby Butler (1G, 1A, +1, 2 SOG) has points in five of eight.
NEW JERSEY DEVILS 2 @ PITTSBURGH PENGUINS 4
Goaltending match-up: Johan Hedberg (23/27, .852 SV%) vs. Marc-Andre Fleury (22/24, .917 SV%)
Combos: Ilya Kovalchuk - Travis Zajac - Nick Palmieri/ Brian Rolston - Patrik Elias - Mattias Tedenby/ Dainius Zubrus - Jacob Josefson - David Clarkson/ Rod Pelley - David Steckel - Adam Mair/ Henrik Tallinder - Mark Fayne/ Anssi Salmela - Andy Greene/ Mark Fraser - Jay Leach
Scratches: White, Parise, Zharkov, Volchenkov
Top PP times: Kovalchuk (3:27), Rolston (2:18), Tedenby (2:06), Elias (1:56), Clarkson (1:51)
Trending: Nick Palmieri (1A, +1, 2 PIM, no PP, 1 SOG) had three points in three games before this evening. Brian Rolston (1G, 5 SOG) scored in the third and for the first time since March 17. He had a hat trick of assist to open April, but had nothing in six to end March. Patrik Elias (1A, no SOG) had five points in three starts coming in. Mattias Tedenby (1A, +1, 2 SOG) had been blanked in five straight before tonight.
Combos: James Neal - Mark Letestu - Alex Kovalev/ Chris Kunitz - Jordan Staal - Tyler Kennedy/ Pascal Dupuis - Max Talbot - Chris Conner/ Arron Asham - Craig Adams - Mike Rupp/ Zbynek Michalek - Paul Martin/ Brooks Orpik - Kris Letang/ Matt Niskanen - Ben Lovejoy
Scratches: Engelland, Jeffrey, Comrie, Cooke, Tangradi, Godard
Top PP times: Letang (4:01), Kovalev (3:01), Neal (2:55), Staal (2:27), Michalek (2:15)
Trending: Jordan Staal (1G, 1A, 2 PIM, 2 SOG) had three helpers against FLA in his last game and that ended a five-game pointless skid. James Neal (1A, -1, 2 SOG) had just one point in seven games before tonight. Alex Kovalev (1A, -1, 2 SOG) has a point in four of five. Chris Kunitz (1G, 2:04 PP, 4 SOG) is a new dad and he’s been a good play for poolies since mid-March, shortly after returning to the line-up. Pascal Dupuis (2G, +2, no PP, 3 SOG) netted what was basically an ENG goal with Hedberg scrambling to get back to the net after trying to get off for the extra attacker with Jersey on the PP late, but... add a goal against for Hedberg as he dove back and tried to get it.
COLORADO AVALANCHE 1 @ ST. LOUIS BLUES 3
Goaltending match-up: Peter Budaj (26/28, .929 SV%) vs. Jaroslav Halak (26/27, .963 SV%)
Combos: Mark Olver - Matt Duchene - Milan Hejduk/ David Jones - Jay McClement - Daniel Winnik/ Ryan Stoa - Ryan O'Reilly - Kevin Porter/ David Koci - Philippe Dupuis - Brandon Yip/ Cody McLeod/ Erik Johnson - Matt Hunwick/ Ryan O'Byrne - Ryan Wilson/ Jonas Holos
Scratches: Liles, Stastny, Gaunce, Foote
Top PP times: Johnson (2:43), Yip (1:49), Olver (1:49), Stoa (1:46), Porter (1:34)
Trending: Kevin Porter (1G, +1, 4 SOG) has a point in three of his past four now and Matt Duchene (1A, +1, 0:57 PP, 1 SOG) added to his season total of 62 here. He had been blanked in his first two April starts. Mark Olver (1A, +1, 12 PIM, no SOG) had five points in seven outings headed in here.
Combos: Andy McDonald - David Backes - T.J. Oshie/ Matt D'Agostini - Patrik Berglund - Chris Stewart/ Alex Steen - Vladimir Sobotka - Chris Porter/ Ryan Reaves - B.J. Crombeen - Cam Janssen/ Carlo Colaiacovo - Alex Pietrangelo/ Nikita Nikitin - Roman Polak/ Barret Jackman - Kevin Shattenkirk
Scratches: McRae
Top PP times: Pietrangelo (6:56), McDonald (6:53), Backes (6:44), Colaiacovo (6:06), D'Agostini (5:53)
Trending: David Backes (1G, +1, 4 SOG) is adding to his career high for points and he reached the 60-point plateau for the first time in his career. He’s also scored at least 30 goals twice in his career now. Andy McDonald (1G, 2A, +1, 9 SOG) had tallied 15 points in 17 GP before this outing, while Kevin Shattenkirk (1G, 1A, +1, 1 SOG) had racked up eight points in six tries from the blueline coming in. Carlo Colaiacovo (1A, -1, 1 SOG) has a point in six of 13 now.
ATLANTA THRASHERS 3 @ NASHVILLE PREDATORS 6
Goaltending match-up: Chris Mason (9/13, .692 SV%) & Ondrej Pavelec (9/11, .818 SV%) vs. Pekka Rinne (33/36, .917 SV%)
Combos: Andrew Ladd - Bryan Little - Blake Wheeler/ Nik Antropov - Alex Burmistrov - Evander Kane/ Chris Thorburn - Rob Schremp - Eric Boulton/ Anthony Stewart - Tim Stapleton - Ben Maxwell/ Ron Hainsey - Dustin Byfuglien/ Zach Bogosian - Johnny Oduya/ Mark Stuart - Andrey Zubarev
Scratches: Dvorak, Enstrom, Cormier
Top PP times: Byfuglien (2:06), Bogosian (2:06), Ladd (1:41), Little (1:41), Antropov (1:36)
Trending: Blake Wheeler (2G, +2, 0:25 PP, 9 SOG) broke the shutout bid to get his team started and added to the 5-8-13 in 19 GP with ATL he had coming in. Andrew Ladd (1A, +2, 1 SOG) only had two points in nine affairs headed in here. Evander Kane (1A, 0:25 PP, 2 SOG) has a point in three straight after five without one.
Combos: Martin Erat - David Legwand - Joel Ward/ Sergei Kostitsyn - Mike Fisher - Patric Hornqvist/ Colin Wilson - Blake Geoffrion - Matt Halischuk/ Jerred Smithson - Nick Spaling - Jordin Tootoo/ Ryan Suter - Shea Weber/ Shane O'Brien - Cody Franson/ Jonathon Blum - Kevin Klein
Scratches: Dumont
Top PP times: Weber (3:04), Ward (2:55), Suter (2:28), Legwand (2:19), Kostitsyn (1:47)
Trending: Sergei Kostitsyn (2G, 1A, +1, 2 PIM, 3 SOG) came into this clash only four points shy of 50 for the season, which tells you how great he’s been in the past few months. He had three points in his first 19 GP, remember. Patric Hornqvist (3A, +1, 0:39 PP, 1 SOG) had eight points in eight tilts coming in, while Martin Erat (1A, +1, 2 SOG) had a steady 16 points in 16 GP coming into this evening’s action. Jonathan Blum (1A, +2, 0:39 PP, 1 SOG) had 3-3-6 in 12 home games before this one started. Jordin Tootoo (2G, 1A, +3, 3 SOG) was back in the line-up tonight and he actually has goals in three of his past five starts overall. Mike Fisher (1G, +1, 1:24 PP, 2 SOG) has a five-game point streak riding along.
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS 0 @ DALLAS STARS 3
Goaltending match-up: Mathieu Garon (27/28, .964 SV%) vs. Kari Lehtonen (23/23)
Combos: R.J. Umberger - Derick Brassard - Jakub Voracek/ Kristian Huselius - Antoine Vermette - Tomas Kubalik/ Scottie Upshall - Samuel Pahlsson - Derek Dorsett/ Matt Calvert - Derek MacKenzie - Jared Boll/ Marc Methot - Fedor Tyutin/ Sami Lepisto - Craig Rivet/ Kris Russell - Grant Clitsome
Scratches: Stralman, Murray, Moreau, Hejda, Nash, Clark, Mason
Top PP times: Clitsome (3:46), Tyutin (3:26), Huselius (2:30), Vermette (2:30), Kubalik (2:30)
Trending:
Combos: Jamie Benn - Brad Richards - Loui Eriksson/ Brenden Morrow - Mike Ribeiro - Steve Ott/ Toby Petersen - Tom Wandell - Jamie Langenbrunner/ Jason Williams - Krys Barch - Brandon Segal/ Mark Fistric - Alex Goligoski/ Jeff Woywitka - Trevor Daley/ Karlis Skrastins - Stephane Robidas
Scratches: Grossman, Burish, Sutherby, Lukowich, Vincour
Top PP times: Goligoski (7:02), Richards (6:44), Eriksson (4:50), Benn (4:27), Morrow (4:04)
Trending: Brad Richards (1A, 1 SOG) has a point in each of his three April starts and had 18 points in 18 GP vs. CBJ coming in too. Alex Goligoski (1A, +2, 1 SOG) has been great with the Stars and he had 43 points in all coming into this tilt, including 12 in 19 with Dallas. Steve Ott (1G, +1, 3:36 PP, 1 SOG) had been blanked in his past five starts. Loui Eriksson (1G, +1, 5 SOG) and Brenden Morrow (1G, +1, 2 PIM, 5 SOG) added the freebie ENGs for their owners.
VANCOUVER CANUCKS 0 @ EDMONTON OILERS 2
Goaltending match-up: Roberto Luongo (20/22, .909 SV%) vs. Devan Dubnyk (26/26)
Combos: Daniel Sedin - Henrik Sedin - Alexandre Burrows/ Chris Higgins - Ryan Kesler - Mikael Samuelsson/ Raffi Torres - Mason Raymond - Jannik Hansen/ Tanner Glass - Maxim Lapierre - Jeff Tambellini/ Aaron Rome - Kevin Bieksa/ Keith Ballard - Christian Ehrhoff/ Yann Sauvé - Sami Salo
Scratches: Hamhuis, Tanev
Top PP times: Sedins (3:13), Kesler (2:58), Ehrhoff (2:58), Samuelsson (2:58)
Trending:
Combos: Teemu Hartikainen - Chris VandeVelde - Jordan Eberle/ Magnus Paajarvi - Ryan O'Marra - Ryan Jones/ Liam Reddox - Andrew Cogliano - Linus Omark/ Steve MacIntyre - J.F. Jacques - Jason Strudwick/ Ladislav Smid - Tom Gilbert/ Theo Peckham - Kurtis Foster/ Jim Vandermeer - Jeff Petry
Scratches: Hall, Horcoff, Fraser, Brule, Gilbert, Hemsky, Gagner
Top PP times: Foster (7:28), Vandevelde (6:12), Omark (6:12), Paajarvi (5:09), Eberle (4:42)
Trending: Ryan Jones (1G, 3:50, 4 SOG) had tallied six points in 15 GP dating back to the start of March coming in here. Jordan Eberle (1A, 3 SOG) had five points in seven outings coming into this clash. Magnus Paajarvi (1G, 6 SOG) just scored against the Canucks on Saturday too. Linus Omark (1A, 2 PIM, no SOG) had a two-pointer in that game.
